Ⅱ型糖尿病大鼠海马Alzheimer病样Tau蛋白过度磷酸化修饰及机制探讨

Tau蛋白过度磷酸化是Alzheimer病 (Alzheimer′s disease, AD) 的一个重要特征.本研究检测了Ⅱ型糖尿病大鼠海马tau蛋白磷酸化水平,对其形成机制进行探讨. 以同龄正常Wistar大鼠作为对照,高脂高蛋白高糖饮食加小剂量链脲佐菌素（streptozotocin,STZ）注射诱导造Ⅱ型糖尿病模型（T2DM组）.放免法检测血浆胰岛素;葡萄糖氧化酶法检测血浆葡萄糖;蛋白质印迹技术检测各组大鼠海马内总tau蛋白、tau蛋白上部分位点磷酸化、神经细胞膜上胰岛素受体及葡萄糖转运子3（glucose transport 3,GLUT3）水平;表面等离子共振技术（surface plasmon resonance, SPR）检测细胞膜上胰岛素受体与血浆胰岛素结合力;γ32-P标记的ATP和特异性底物肽检测海马内胰岛素信号传导系统中的关键酶糖原合酶激酶-3β（glycogen synthase kinase-3β, GSK-3β）活性.结果显示,T2DM组血浆血糖、血浆胰岛素及运用HOMA-IR公式计算的胰岛素抵抗指数显著高于对照组.蛋白质印迹结果显示两组大鼠海马回总tau蛋白水平无差异;T2DM组中tau蛋白在Ser199、Thr212、Ser214、Thr217、Ser396及Ser422位点上的磷酸化水平均显著高于对照组;T2DM组海马神经细胞膜上胰岛素受体水平及与胰岛素结合的功能均显著低于对照组;GSK-3β活性检测结果显示,T2DM组大鼠模型海马回中GSK-3β活性明显增高.研究结果表明,Ⅱ型糖尿病中由于胰岛素抵抗导致GSK-3β激活从而出现AD样tau蛋白的过度磷酸化,葡萄糖代谢紊乱也可能在tau蛋白的过度磷酸化起一定作用.     

糖元合成酶激酶3β对微管相关蛋白tau的磷酸化作用

tau蛋白是中枢神经系统中重要的微管相关蛋白,其功能受磷酸化调节.异常过度磷酸化的tau蛋白是阿尔茨海默病患者脑中神经纤维缠结的主要组成部分.糖元合成酶激酶3β(glycogen synthase kinase-3β,GSK-3β)是重要的tau蛋白激酶之一,它虽可催化tau蛋白多个位点的磷酸化,但对不同位点,其催化效率不同.通过位点特异性、磷酸化依赖的tau蛋白抗体,用免疫印迹技术,检测GSK-3β对tau蛋白位点特异性的磷酸化作用及动力学.用双倒数作图,计算GSK-3β催化tau磷酸化以及各个位点磷酸化的Km值,并结合培养细胞中的实验,研究GSK-3β对tau蛋白磷酸化作用的位点特异性.结果显示,GSK-3β催化tau蛋白多个位点的磷酸化,其中包括Thr181、Ser199、Ser202、Thr205、Thr212、Thr217、Thr231、Ser396和Ser404,对不同的位点磷酸化作用,其Km值不同,GSK-3β对Ser396的Km值最低,即对Ser396位点的亲和性最高,催化其磷酸化的能力最强.在培养的细胞中,也显示了GSK-3β的表达引起Ser396位点的磷酸化最明显.     

糖尿病大鼠脑GSK-3与PP-2A失调诱导tau蛋白过度磷酸化

探讨胰岛素缺乏的糖尿病大鼠皮层糖原合酶激酶-3(GSK-3)及蛋白磷酯酶-2A(PP-2A)变化及其对tau蛋白磷酸化的作用.用链脲佐菌素(streptozotocin,STZ)建立胰岛素缺乏的糖尿病大鼠模型,用放射性配体结合实验检测了GSK-3和PP-2A的活性,蛋白质印迹检测了tau蛋白的磷酸化水平及PP-2A的表达.结果提示:在糖尿病大鼠皮层,GSK-3活性升高,PP-2A活性及表达降低,tau蛋白在Ser198/Ser199/Ser202和Ser396/Ser404位点磷酸化.应用GSK-3的选择性抑制剂Li2CO3后,GSK-3活性降低,PP-2A活性及表达恢复,tau蛋白在Ser198/Ser199/Ser202和Ser396/Ser404位点磷酸化水平降低.研究提示:糖尿病大鼠皮层GSK-3升高可能抑制PP-2A的活性,升高的GSK-3和降低的PP-2A协同促进tau蛋白的磷酸化.     

罗格列酮改善胰岛素抵抗大鼠海马Alzheimer病样tau蛋白磷酸化水平

Tau蛋白过度磷酸化是Alzheimer病(AD)发病的关键事件.由于2型糖尿病是AD的风险因子,并且胰岛素抵抗是2型糖尿病的特征,检测了胰岛素抵抗大鼠大脑海马tau蛋白磷酸化水平,以及运用胰岛素增敏剂罗格列酮(TZD)后磷酸化的变化,发现胰岛素抵抗组大鼠海马tau蛋白呈过度磷酸化改变,但运用TZD后,tau蛋白的磷酸化状态有所恢复.由于糖原合成激酶-3β(GSK-3β)位于胰岛素信号转导途径中,并且是tau蛋白的重要磷酸激酶,研究检测罗格列酮干预前后GSK-3β活性,发现均升高.研究结果表明,肥胖时胰岛素抵抗导致细胞内胰岛素信号转导途径中,GSK-3β活性上调可能是引起大鼠海马内tau蛋白过度磷酸化的一个重要原因;虽然TZD可抑制tau蛋白的过度磷酸化,但可能不是通过下调GSK-3β活性的途径.     

微管相关蛋白tau在动物死亡后被快速去磷酸化

tau蛋白是神经细胞中主要的微管相关蛋白, 它的异常过度磷酸化被认为是阿尔茨海默病 (AD) 致病过程中的关键因素. 由于法律、社会、家庭等诸多因素使得获取的人脑组织标本常常在死亡后2~3 h以上,因此了解死亡不同时间后tau蛋白磷酸化的改变,对研究tau蛋白的功能及在AD致病过程中作用显得十分重要. 用位点特异的、磷酸化依赖的抗tau蛋白抗体检测正常大鼠脑中tau蛋白磷酸化程度及死亡后其磷酸化的变化情况,再用非同位素的点印迹技术测定鼠脑中tau蛋白激酶、磷酸酶在不同温度下的活性. 结果发现,正常鼠脑中tau蛋白除了Ser262,Ser409,Ser422外,在Thr181,Ser199,Ser202,Thr205,Thr212,Ser214,Thr217,Ser396和Ser404存在不同程度的磷酸化,并且在死亡后3 h,出现tau的多位点的去磷酸化及tau蛋白迁移加快,6 h后更为明显,但tau蛋白水平即使在大鼠死亡后6 h,仍未见有明显的改变. 用点印迹测定蛋白激酶和磷酸酶活性结果显示,tau蛋白激酶、磷酸酶活性均有温度依赖性降低,在25℃时激酶活性降低远大于磷酸酶活性的降低,tau蛋白在死亡后的快速去磷酸化与相对高的磷酸酶作用有关.     

吴茱萸次碱对高糖诱导的阿尔茨海默病大鼠认知障碍的影响*

目的: 探讨吴茱萸次碱对高糖诱导的阿尔茨海默病(AD)大鼠认知功能障碍的影响及其机制。方法: 健康成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组(n=20):对照组、高糖组和吴茱萸次碱组。对照组大鼠行常规饲料和自来水饲养;高糖组大鼠行常规饲料和20%蔗糖水饲养;吴茱萸次碱组行0.01%吴茱萸次碱饲料和20%蔗糖水饲养。三组大鼠饲养24周后行Morris水迷宫实验检测大鼠学习记忆和认知功能,Western blot实验检测各组大鼠tau蛋白在Thr205和Ser214位点以及GSK-3β在丝氨酸9位点糖原合成酶激酶-3β(S9-GSK-3β)和PP2A在络氨酸307位点蛋白磷酸酯酶-2A(Y307-PP2A)的磷酸化水平;免疫组织化学进一步验证各组大鼠大脑海马和皮层tau蛋白在Thr205位点上的表达情况。结果: 与对照组比较,高糖组Morris水迷宫大鼠潜伏期明显升高,穿越平台次数和目标象限停留时间均明显降低(P均＜0.05),免疫组织化学染色中tau蛋白在Thr205位点上的磷酸化水平显著增高(P＜ 0.05),Western blot实验tau蛋白在Thr205和Ser214位点的磷酸化水平显著增高,pS9-GSK-3β的磷酸化水平显著降低(P均＜0.05);与高糖组相比,吴茱萸次碱组Morris水迷宫大鼠潜伏期明显降低,穿越平台次数和目标象限停留时间明显升高(P均＜0.05),免疫组织化学染色中tau蛋白在Thr205位点的磷酸化水平显著降低(P＜0.05);Western blot实验tau蛋白在Thr205和Ser214位点磷酸化水平显著降低,pS9-GSK-3β的磷酸化水平显著增高(P均＜ 0.05)。结论: 吴茱萸次碱可减轻高糖诱导的AD样大鼠认知功能障碍,其机制可能是通过增强海马pS9-GSK-3β磷酸化水平,下调GSK-3β活性,进而降低tau蛋白相关位点的过度磷酸化实现的。     

肥胖及2型糖尿病大鼠Alzheimer病样Tau蛋白过度磷酸化修饰及机制探讨

Tau蛋白异常过度磷酸化修饰在阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimerdisease,AD)发病机理中起非常重要的作用,而2型糖尿病是AD的风险因素之一.采用蛋白质印迹研究2型糖尿病及单纯肥胖大鼠脑中海马回tau蛋白磷酸化程度,发现在这两种大鼠模型中海马tau蛋白在多个位点上都呈现过度磷酸化状态.同时,胰岛素信号传导系统中的关键酶糖原合成激酶-3β(glycogensynthasekinase-3β,GSK-3β)活性在这两种大鼠模型的海马回中明显增高,经脑立体定位法向大鼠海马回注射GSK-3β抑制剂氯化锂(LiCl),可阻止2型糖尿病及肥胖大鼠模型中的GSK-3β激活,但仅阻止单纯肥胖大鼠海马回tau蛋白过度磷酸化.另外,海马神经细胞膜上胰岛素受体β亚基水平在两种实验模型中显著下降.研究结果表明,2型糖尿病及肥胖可能通过增高胰岛素抵抗,从而导致GSK-3β激活和tau蛋白的过度磷酸化来提高AD的发病风险.2型糖尿病脑中低下的葡萄糖代谢也可能在tau蛋白的过度磷酸化起一定作用.     

褪黑素对异丙肾上腺素诱导大鼠tau蛋白过度磷酸化的预防作用

异常过度磷酸化的微管相关蛋白tau是阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)患者大脑中神经原纤维缠结的主要组成部分.迄今为止,尚无有效的措施阻止tau蛋白的过度磷酸化.为探讨褪黑素(melatonin,Mel)对AD样tau蛋白过度磷酸化的预防作用,我们以β受体激动剂异丙肾上腺素(isoproterenol,IP)来复制AD样tau蛋白过度磷酸化的动物模型,在大鼠双侧海马注射IP前,以褪黑素作为保护组药物,于腹腔连续注射5 d.应用磷酸化位点特异性抗体(PHF-1和Tau-1)作免疫印迹和免疫组织化学检测tau蛋白的磷酸化水平,并用非磷酸化依赖的总tau蛋白抗体(111e)进行标准化.免疫印迹结果显示在注射IP 48 h后,tau蛋白在PHF-1表位的免疫反应显著增强,在Tau-1表位显著减弱,表明tau蛋白在Ser396/Ser404(PHF-1)和Ser199/Ser202(Tau-1)位点有过度磷酸化.免疫组织化学染色结果与免疫印迹结果相似,主要检测到在大鼠海马CA3区的神经纤维有tau蛋白过度磷酸化.褪黑素预处理大鼠可有效地阻止IP诱导tau蛋白在Tau-1和PHF-1位点的过度磷酸化.上述结果提示褪黑素可预防大鼠脑组织中由异丙肾上腺素引起的AD样tau蛋白的过度磷酸化.     

抑制褪黑素生物合成对大鼠Tau蛋白磷酸化的影响

目的 研究抑制褪黑素的生物合成对大鼠海马Tau蛋白磷酸化的影响。方法 侧脑室注射氟哌啶醇并腹腔注射加强,利用免疫组化检测大鼠海马区域Tau蛋白磷酸化情况;HPLC检测血清中褪黑素水平。结果 模型组大鼠海马Tau蛋白在Ser199/Ser202和Ser396/Ser404位点均发生异常过度磷酸化,褪黑素治疗组较模型组的磷酸化程度轻。结论 褪黑素水平的降低可能与AD样Tau蛋白异常过度磷酸化相关,外源性补充褪黑素可以减轻Tau蛋白的异常过度磷酸化。     

糖尿病大鼠脑细胞周期依赖性蛋白激酶5和蛋白激酶A参与调节Tau蛋白磷酸化

细胞周期依赖性蛋白激酶5(cyclin-dependent kinase5,Cdk-5)及蛋白激酶A(protein kinaseA,PKA)是调节Tau蛋白磷酸化的重要激酶,其对糖尿病(diabetes mellitus,DM)大鼠脑内Tau蛋白磷酸化的作用如何,目前尚不明确.为探讨胰岛素缺乏的DM大鼠海马Cdk-5及PKA对Tau蛋白磷酸化的作用,用链脲佐菌素(streptozotocin,STZ)建立DM大鼠模型,Fura-2负载及荧光测定细胞内游离Ca2 浓度,免疫沉淀法测定Cdk-5活性,放射性配体结合实验检测PKA的活性,蛋白质印迹检测Tau蛋白磷酸化的水平.结果提示:在DM大鼠海马神经元,Ca2 浓度升高,Cdk-5及PKA活性升高,Tau蛋白在Ser198/Ser199/Ser202和Ser396/Ser404位点的磷酸化增强.Cdk-5的特异性抑制剂roscovitine可降低DM大鼠Cdk-5活性,但不能降低PKA活性,使Tau蛋白在Ser198/Ser199/Ser202位点磷酸化水平降低,但不降低Ser396/Ser404位点的磷酸化,roscovitine处理正常大鼠后,上述酶的活性及Tau蛋白的磷酸化无明显变化.首次从整体水平上证实DM大鼠海马Cdk-5及PKA活性升高,协同促进Tau蛋白在Ser198/Ser199/Ser202位点和Ser396/Ser404位点的磷酸化,神经元内游离Ca2 浓度升高可能起重要作用.     

PKA modulates GSK-3beta- and cdk5-catalyzed phosphorylation of tau in site- and kinase-specific manners

Phosphorylation of tau protein is regulated by several kinases, especially glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta), cyclin-dependent protein kinase 5 (cdk5) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Phosphorylation of tau by PKA primes it for phosphorylation by GSK-3beta, but the site-specific modulation of GSK-3beta-catalyzed tau phosphorylation by the prephosphorylation has not been well investigated. Here, we found that prephosphorylation by PKA promotes GSK-3beta-catalyzed tau phosphorylation at Thr181, Ser199, Ser202, Thr205, Thr217, Thr231, Ser396 and Ser422, but inhibits its phosphorylation at Thr212 and Ser404. In contrast, the prephosphorylation had no significant effect on its subsequent phosphorylation by cdk5 at Thr181, Ser199, Thr205, Thr231 and Ser422; inhibited it at Ser202, Thr212, Thr217 and Ser404; and slightly promoted it at Ser396. These studies reveal the nature of the inter-regulation of tau phosphorylation by the three major tau kinases.     

Differential effects of an O-GlcNAcase inhibitor on tau phosphorylation

Abnormal hyperphosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau plays a crucial role in neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau into neurofibrillary tangles is also a hallmark brain lesion of AD. Tau phosphorylation is regulated by tau kinases, tau phosphatases, and O-GlcNAcylation, a posttranslational modification of proteins on the serine or threonine residues with β-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). O-GlcNAcylation is dynamically regulated by O-GlcNAc transferase, the enzyme catalyzing the transfer of GlcNAc to proteins, and N-acetylglucosaminidase (OGA), the enzyme catalyzing the removal of GlcNAc from proteins. Thiamet-G is a recently synthesized potent OGA inhibitor, and initial studies suggest it can influence O-GlcNAc levels in the brain, allowing OGA inhibition to be a potential route to altering disease progression in AD. In this study, we injected thiamet-G into the lateral ventricle of mice to increase O-GlcNAcylation of proteins and investigated the resulting effects on site-specific tau phosphorylation. We found that acute thiamet-G treatment led to a decrease in tau phosphorylation at Thr181, Thr212, Ser214, Ser262/Ser356, Ser404 and Ser409, and an increase in tau phosphorylation at Ser199, Ser202, Ser396 and Ser422 in the mouse brain. Investigation of the major tau kinases showed that acute delivery of a high dose of thiamet-G into the brain also led to a marked activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), possibly as a consequence of down-regulation of its upstream regulating kinase, AKT. However, the elevation of tau phosphorylation at the sites above was not observed and GSK-3β was not activated in cultured adult hippocampal progenitor cells or in PC12 cells after thiamet-G treatment. These results suggest that acute high-dose thiamet-G injection can not only directly antagonize tau phosphorylation, but also stimulate GSK-3β activity, with the downstream consequence being site-specific, bi-directional regulation of tau phosphorylation in the mammalian brain.     

Role of protein phosphatase-2A and -1 in the regulation of GSK-3, cdk5 and cdc2 and the phosphorylation of tau in rat forebrain

In Alzheimer disease brain the activities of protein phosphatase (PP)-2A and PP-1 are decreased and the microtubule-associated protein tau is abnormally hyperphosphorylated at several sites at serine/threonine. Employing rat forebrain slices kept metabolically active in oxygenated artificial CSF as a model system, we investigated the role of PP-2A/PP-1 in the regulation of some of the major abnormally hyperphosphorylated sites of tau and the protein kinases involved. Treatment of the brain slices with 1.0 microM okadaic acid inhibited approximately 65% of PP-2A and produced hyperphosphorylation of tau at Ser 198/199/202, Ser 396/404 and Ser 422. No significant changes in the activities of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) and cyclin dependent protein kinases cdk5 and cdc2 were observed. Calyculin A (0.1 microM) inhibited approximately 50% PP-1, approximately 20% PP-2A, 50% GSK-3 and approximately 30% cdk5 but neither inhibited the activity of cyclin AMP dependent protein kinase A (PKA) nor resulted in the hyperphosphorylation of tau at any of the above sites. Treatment of brain slices with 1 microM okadaic acid plus 0.1 microM calyculin A inhibited approximately 100% of both PP-2A and PP-1, approximately 80% of GSK-3, approximately 50% of cdk5 and approximately 30% of cdc2 but neither inhibited PKA nor resulted in the hyperphosphorylation of tau at any of the above sites. These studies suggest (i) that PP-1 upregulates the phosphorylation of tau at Ser 198/199/202 and Ser 396/404 indirectly by regulating the activities of GSK-3, cdk5 and cdc2 whereas PP-2A regulates the phosphorylation of tau directly by dephosphorylation at the above sites, and (ii) that a decrease in the PP-2A activity leads to abnormal hyperphosphorylation of tau at Ser 198/199/202, Ser 396/404 and Ser 422.     

Involvement of aberrant glycosylation in phosphorylation of tau by cdk5 and GSK-3beta

Microtubule-associated protein tau is abnormally hyperphosphorylated, glycosylated, and aggregated in affected neurons in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We recently found that the glycosylation might precede hyperphosphorylation of tau in AD. In this study, we investigated the effect of glycosylation on phosphorylation of tau catalyzed by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (cdk5) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). The phosphorylation of the longest isoform of recombinant human brain tau, tau₄₄₁, at various sites was detected by Western blots and by radioimmuno-dot-blot assay with phosphorylation-dependent and site-specific tau antibodies. We found that cdk5 phosphorylated tau₄₄₁ at Thr-181, Ser-199, Ser-202, Thr-205, Thr-212, Ser-214, Thr-217, Thr-231, Ser-235, Ser-396, and Ser-404, but not at Ser-262, Ser-400, Thr-403, Ser-409, Ser-413, or Ser-422. GSK-3β phosphorylated all the cdk5-catalyzed sites above except Ser-235. Deglycosylation by glycosidases depressed the subsequent phosphorylation of AD-tau (i) with cdk5 at Thr-181, Ser-199, Ser-202, Thr-205, and Ser-404, but not at Thr-212; and (ii) with GSK-3β at Thr-181, Ser-202, Thr-205, Ser-217, and Ser-404, but not at Ser-199, Thr-212, Thr-231, or Ser-396. These data suggest that aberrant glycosylation of tau in AD might be involved in neurofibrillary degeneration by promoting abnormal hyperphosphorylation by cdk5 and GSK-3β.     

大脑胰岛素信号途径受损导致2型糖尿病时阿尔茨海默病发病风险增高

大脑胰岛素不仅可调节血糖,而且可改善记忆和认知,而大脑胰岛素缺乏常导致Alzheimer病（Alzheimer’s disease, AD）的发生. 本研究检测了正常及2型糖尿病（type 2 diabetes, T2D）大鼠外周及大脑胰岛素信号传导途径,以探讨T2D时由于大脑胰岛素异常导致AD发病的可能性.以同龄正常SD大鼠为对照（CTL组）,高糖、高脂、高蛋白饮食加链脲佐菌素（streptozotocin, STZ）腹腔注射建造T2D大鼠模型（T2D组）.葡萄糖氧化酶法检测血浆血糖,放免法检测脑脊液及血浆胰岛素,免疫印迹技术检测大脑海马tau蛋白上部分位点磷酸化水平,大脑及肝脏、肌肉组织胰岛素信号传导途径中磷脂酰肌醇3 激酶（phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase, PI3K）/ 蛋白激酶B（protein kinase B,Akt)、糖原合成激酶3β（glycogen synthase kinase 3β, GSK 3β）活性. 结果显示：和对照组相比,T2D大鼠血浆葡萄糖水平及胰岛素水平显著升高,脑脊液胰岛素水平显著降低,大脑海马组织tau蛋白上所检测位点均呈过度磷酸化改变,海马及外周组织（肝脏、肌肉）胰岛素信号传导途径PI3K/Akt活性均显著下降,GSK 3β活性升高. 研究结果表明：2型糖尿病大鼠大脑胰岛素缺乏及其信号传导途径下调可能是导致阿尔茨海默病发病的重要原因.     

Alkaloids enriched extract from Dendrobium nobile Lindl. attenuates tau protein hyperphosphorylation and apoptosis induced by lipopolysaccharide in rat brain

Neurofibrillary tangles, one of the characteristic pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD), are composed of paired helical filaments mainly with hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Inhibition of the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein is an effective therapy for AD. The current study was designed to investigate the protective effects of alkaloids enriched extract from Dendrobium Nobile Lindl. (EDNLA), a Chinese medicinal herb, on hyperphosphorylation of tau protein in AD brain. Rats were administrated intragastrically with different doses of DNLA (20, 40 mg/kg) every 8 h for one day, followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 μg) injecting into the bilateral ventricle. Two hours later, the hippocampi of each group were collected to examine the hyperphosphorylated tau protein by western blotting. Additional rats were treated by EDNLA thrice daily for one week, to examine the effects on LPS-induced apoptosis in the brain. LPS injection significantly increased the expression of hyperphosphorylated tau protein at Ser396, Ser199-202, Ser404, Thr231, Thr205 sites and GSK-3β increased, LPS also induced apoptosis in the brain. EDNLA dramatically ameliorated these abnormal changes (P < 0.05). The present study demonstrated that EDNLA attenuates LPS-induced hyperphosphorylation of tau protein in rat's hippocampus and protects against LPS-induced apoptosis in rat brain.     

褪黑素与维生素 E 对抗花萼海绵诱癌素毒性作用的差异

最近的研究发现,褪黑素对花萼海绵诱癌素 (calyculin A , CA) 引起的骨架蛋白神经细丝异常过度磷酸化有保护作用 . 为进一步探讨褪黑素对骨架蛋白τ异常过度磷酸化的保护作用及其机制,分别用 CA, CA+ 褪黑素或 CA+ 维生素 E 处理鼠野生型成神经瘤细胞 (N2awt) ,采用 MTT 法测定细胞存活率,用免疫印迹法测定τ蛋白磷酸化水平,用 ³²P- 特异底物标记技术检测 GSK-3 和 PP-2A 活性,并进一步测定了细胞内脂质过氧化产物丙二醛含量,细胞内过氧化氢酶、超氧化物歧化酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性 . 结果显示：褪黑素不仅对 CA 引起的抗氧化酶活性降低和脂质过氧化的保护作用强于经典抗氧化剂维生素 E ,而且对τ蛋白磷酸化的保护作用也强于经典抗氧化剂维生素 E ;褪黑素可同时激活 PP-2A 又抑制 GSK-3 ,而维生素 E 同时抑制两种酶的活性 . 研究提示：褪黑素既通过抗氧化作用,也通过调节细胞内磷酸化平衡对抗 CA 对神经细胞的毒性作用 .