Age-related intraneuronal elevation of αII-spectrin breakdown product SBDP120 in rodent forebrain accelerates in 3×Tg-AD mice

Spectrins line the intracellular surface of plasmalemma and play a critical role in supporting cytoskeletal stability and flexibility. Spectrins can be proteolytically degraded by calpains and caspases, yielding breakdown products (SBDPs) of various molecular sizes, with SBDP120 being largely derived from caspase-3 cleavage. SBDPs are putative biomarkers for traumatic brain injury. The levels of SBDPs also elevate in the brain during aging and perhaps in Alzheimer's disease (AD), although the cellular basis for this change is currently unclear. Here we examined age-related SBDP120 alteration in forebrain neurons in rats and in the triple transgenic model of AD (3×Tg-AD) relative to non-transgenic controls. SBDP120 immunoreactivity (IR) was found in cortical neuronal somata in aged rats, and was prominent in the proximal dendrites of the olfactory bulb mitral cells. Western blot and densitometric analyses in wild-type mice revealed an age-related elevation of intraneuronal SBDP120 in the forebrain which was more robust in their 3×Tg-AD counterparts. The intraneuronal SBDP120 occurrence was not spatiotemporally correlated with transgenic amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression, β-amyloid plaque development, or phosphorylated tau expression over various forebrain regions or lamina. No microscopically detectable in situ activated caspase-3 was found in the nuclei of SBDP120-containing neurons. The present study demonstrates the age-dependent intraneuronal presence of an αII-spectrin cleavage fragment in mammalian forebrain which is exacerbated in a transgenic model of AD. This novel neuronal alteration indicates that impairments in membrane protein metabolism, possibly due to neuronal calcium mishandling and/or enhancement of calcium sensitive proteolysis, occur during aging and in transgenic AD mice.     

Calpain and caspase processing of caspase-12 contribute to the ER stress-induced cell death pathway in differentiated PC12 cells

Neuronal cell death after traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease and ischemic stroke may in part be mediated through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR). UPR results in induction of molecular chaperone GRP78 and the ER-resident caspase-12, whose activation has been proposed to be mediated by calpain and caspase processing, although their relative contribution remains unclear. In this study we induced ER stress with thapsigargin (TG), and determined the activation profile of calpain-2, caspase-3, caspase-7, and caspase-12 by analyses of protein levels, corresponding substrates and breakdown products (BDP). Specific calpain and caspase activity was assessed by analysis of αII-spectrin BDP of 145 kDa (SBDP145), BDP of 150 kDa (SBDP150) and BDP of 120 kDa (SBDP120). Decrease in pro-calpain-2 protein and increased SBDP145 levels by 3 h after TG treatment indicated early calpain activity. Active caspase-7 (p20) increase occurred after 8 h, followed by concomitant up-regulation of active caspase-3 and SBDP120 after 24 h. In vitro digestion experiments supported that SBDP120 was exclusively generated by active caspase-3 and validated that kinectin and co-chaperone p23 were calpain and caspase-7 substrates, respectively. Pro-caspase-12 protein processing by the specific action of calpain and caspase-3/7 was observed in a time-dependent manner. N-terminal pro-domain processing of pro-caspase-12 by calpain generated a 38 kDa fragment, while caspase-3/7 generated a 35 kDa fragment. Antibody developed specifically against the caspase-3/7 C-terminal cleavage site D³⁴¹ detected the presence of large subunit (p20) containing 23 kDa fragment that increased after 24 h of TG treatment. Significant caspase-12 enzyme activity was only detected after 24 h of TG treatment and was completely inhibited by caspase 3/7 inhibitor DEVD-fmk and partially by calpain inhibitor SNJ-1945. ER-stress-induced cell death pathway in TG-treated PC12 cells was characterized by up-regulation of GRP-78 and processing and activation of caspase-12 by the orchestrated proteolytic activity of calpain-2 and caspase-3/7.     

Concurrent calpain and caspase-3 mediated proteolysis of alpha II-spectrin and tau in rat brain after methamphetamine exposure: a similar profile to traumatic brain injury

Neurotoxicity in rat cortex and hippocampus following acute methamphetamine administration was characterized and compared to changes following traumatic brain injury. Doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg of methamphetamine produced significant increases in calpain- and caspase-cleaved alpha II-spectrin and tau protein fragments, suggesting cell injury or death. Changes in proteolytic products were significantly increased over vehicle controls. Use of fragment specific biomarkers detected prominent calpain-mediated protein fragments in the cortex and hippocampus while caspase-mediated protein fragments were also detected in the hippocampus. Remarkably, proteolytic product increases at the 40 mg/kg dose after 24 h were as high as those observed in experimental traumatic brain injury. Use of calpain and caspase proteolytic inhibitors may be useful in preventing methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity.     

Spillway-Induced Salmon Head Injury Triggers the Generation of Brain αII-Spectrin Breakdown Product Biomarkers Similar to Mammalian Traumatic Brain Injury

Recent advances in biomedical research have resulted in the development of specific biomarkers for diagnostic testing of disease condition or physiological risk. Of specific interest are αII-spectrin breakdown products (SBDPs), which are produced by proteolytic events in traumatic brain injury and have been used as biomarkers to predict the severity of injury in humans and other mammalian brain injury models. This study describes and demonstrates the successful use of antibody-based mammalian SBDP biomarkers to detect head injury in migrating juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) that have been injured during passage through high-energy hydraulic environments present in spillways under different operational configurations. Mortality and injury assessment techniques currently measure only near-term direct mortality and easily observable acute injury. Injury-based biomarkers may serve as a quantitative indicator of subacute physical injury and recovery, and aid hydropower operators in evaluation of safest passage configuration and operation actions for migrating juvenile salmonids. We describe a novel application of SBDP biomarkers for head injury for migrating salmon. To our knowledge, this is the first documented cross-over use of a human molecular biomarker in a wildlife and operational risk management scenario.     

Multiple alphaII-spectrin breakdown products distinguish calpain and caspase dominated necrotic and apoptotic cell death pathways

Apoptosis and oncotic necrosis in neuronal and glial cells have been documented in many neurological diseases. Distinguishing between these two major types of cell death in different neurological diseases is needed in order to better reveal the injury mechanisms so as to open up opportunities for therapy development. Accumulating evidence suggests apoptosis and oncosis epitomize the extreme ends of a broad spectrum of morphological and biochemical events. Biochemical markers that can distinguish between the calpain and caspase dominated types of cell death would help in this process. In this study, three chemical agents, maitotoxin (MTX), staurosporine (STS) and thylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), were used to induce different types of cell death in PC12 neuronal-like cells. MTX-induced necrosis, as determined by the increased levels of calpain-specific cleaved fragments of spectrin by antibodies specific to the calpain-cleaved 150 kDa αII-spectrin breakdown product (SBDP150) and 145 kDa αII-spectrin breakdown product (SBDP145). In this paradigm, there were no detectable SBDP150i and SBDP120 fragments as determined by antibodies specific to the caspase-cleaved specific fragments similar to those seen in the EDTA-mediated apoptotic PC-12 cells. In contrast to the calpain specific MTX necrosis treatment and the caspase EDTA apoptotic treatment is the STS treatment which induced both proteases as shown by the increase in all the SBDP fragments. Furthermore, compared to SBDP150, SBDP145 appears to be a more specific and sensitive biomarker for calpain activation. Taken together, our results suggested calpains and caspases which dominate the two major types of cell death could be independently discriminated by specifically examining the multiple αII-spectrin cleavage breakdown products.     

Development and characterization of antibodies specific to caspase-3-produced alpha II-spectrin 120 kDa breakdown product: marker for neuronal apoptosis

Alpha II-spectrin (alpha-fodrin) is a demonstrated endogenous substrate for caspase-3 in neurons undergoing unscheduled apoptotic death. We have previously identified the caspase cleavage site that yields the distinctive 120 kDa spectrin breakdown product (SBDP120) as (DSLD(1478)*SVEAL). Here, by using a synthetic peptide (NH(2)-SVEALC) mimicking the neo-N-terminal of SBDP120 as antigen, we report the development of chicken antibodies that specifically recognize the SBDP120 generated by in vitro caspase-3 digestion of bovine alpha-spectrin on Western blot. These anti-SBDP120 antibodies recognize SBDP120 generated by two apoptotic challenges (staurosporine, EGTA) to human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Yet they neither react with intact alpha-spectrin nor its other fragments on Western blots. These anti-SBDP120 work equally well in detecting SBDP120 generated in rat cerebellar granule neurons undergoing potassium withdrawal-induced apoptosis. In immunocytochemical studies, these antibodies also specifically stained apoptotic SH-SY5Y or CGN's undergoing apoptosis in a caspase- inhibitor-sensitive manner. These anti-SBDP120s might become powerful markers for apoptotic neurons in various neurological or neurodegenerative conditions in vivo.     

Calpain mediates caspase-dependent apoptosis initiated by hydrogen peroxide in pancreatic acinar AR42J cells

Abstract

Several studies have shown that oxidative stress induces apoptosis in many cellular systems including pancreatic acinar cells. However, the exact molecular mechanisms leading to apoptosis remain partially understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of the cytosolic cysteine protease calpain in H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in pancreatic AR42J cells. Apoptosis was evaluated using flow cytometric analysis of sub-G1 DNA populations, electron-microscopic analysis, caspase-3-specific αII-spectrin breakdown, and measuring the proteolytic activities of the initiator caspase-12 and caspase-8, and the executioner caspase-3. H₂O₂ induced an increase in the calpain proteolytic activity immediately after starting the experiments that tended to return to a nearly normal level after 8 h and could be attributed to m-calpain. Whereas no caspase-12, caspase-8 and caspase-3 activations could be detected within the first 0.5 h, significantly increased proteolytic activities were observed after 8 h compared with the control. At the same time, the cells showed first ultrastructural hallmarks of apoptosis and a decreased viability. In addition, αII-spectrin fragmentation was identified using immunoblotting that could be attributed to both calpain and caspase-3. Calpain inhibition reduced the activities of caspase-12, caspase-8, and caspase-3 leading to a decrease in the number of apoptotic cells. Immunoblotting analyses of caspase-12 and caspase-8 indicate that calpain may be involved in the activation process of both proteases. The results suggest that H₂O₂-induced apoptosis of AR42J cells requires activation of m-calpain initiating the endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced caspase-12 pathway and a caspase-8-dependent pathway. The findings also suggest that calpain may be involved in the execution phase of apoptosis.     

Tyrosine phosphorylation regulates alpha II spectrin cleavage by calpain

Spectrins, components of the membrane skeleton, are implicated in various cellular functions. Understanding the diversity of these functions requires better characterization of the interacting domains of spectrins, such as the SH3 domain. Yeast two-hybrid screening of a kidney cDNA library revealed that the SH3 domain of alpha II-spectrin binds specifically isoform A of low-molecular-weight phosphotyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP). The alpha II-spectrin SH3 domain does not interact with LMW-PTP B or C nor does LMW-PTP A interact with the alpha I-spectrin SH3 domain. The interaction of spectrin with LMW-PTP A led us to look for a tyrosine-phosphorylated residue in alpha II-spectrin. Western blotting showed that alpha II-spectrin is tyrosine phosphorylated in vivo. Using mutagenesis on recombinant peptides, we identified the residue Y1176 located in the calpain cleavage site of alpha II-spectrin, near the SH3 domain, as an in vitro substrate for Src kinase and LMW-PTP A. This Y1176 residue is also an in vivo target for kinases and phosphatases in COS cells. Phosphorylation of this residue decreases spectrin sensitivity to calpain in vitro. Similarly, the presence of phosphatase inhibitors in cell culture is associated with the absence of spectrin cleavage products. This suggests that the Y1176 phosphorylation state could modulate spectrin cleavage by calpain and may play an important role during membrane skeleton remodeling.     

Selective release of calpain produced alphalI-spectrin (alpha-fodrin) breakdown products by acute neuronal cell death

Activation of calpain results in the breakdown of alpha II spectrin (alpha-fodrin), a neuronal cytoskeleton protein, which has previously been detected in various in vitro and in vivo neuronal injury models. In this study, a 150 kDa spectrin breakdown product (SBDP150) was found to be released into the cell-conditioned media from SH-SY5Y cells treated with the calcium channel opener maitotoxin (MTX). SBDP150 release can be readily quantified on immunoblot using an SBDP150-specific polyclonal antibody. Increase of SBDP150 also correlated with cell death in a time-dependent manner. MDL28170, a selective calpain inhibitor, was the only protease inhibitor tested that significantly reduced MTX-induced SBDP150 release. The cell-conditioned media of cerebellar granule neurons challenged with excitotoxins (NMDA and kainate) also exhibited a significant increase of SBDP150 that was attenuated by pretreatment with an NMDA receptor antagonist, R(-)-3-(2-carbopiperazine-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP), and MDL28170. In addition, hypoxic/hypoglycemic challenge of cerebrocortical cultures also resulted in SBDP150 liberation into the media. These results support the theory that an antibody-based detection of SBDP150 in the cell-conditioned media can be utilized to quantify injury to neural cells. Furthermore, SBDP150 may potentially be used as a surrogate biomarker for acute neuronal injury in clinical settings.     

Molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious neurodisorder commonly caused by car accidents, sports related events or violence. Preventive measures are highly recommended to reduce the risk and number of TBI cases. The primary injury to the brain initiates a secondary injury process that spreads via multiple molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of TBI. The events leading to both neurodegeneration and functional recovery after TBI are generalized into four categories: (i) primary injury that disrupts brain tissues; (ii) secondary injury that causes pathophysiology in the brain; (iii) inflammatory response that adds to neurodegeneration; and (iv) repair-regeneration that may contribute to neuronal repair and regeneration to some extent following TBI. Destructive multiple mediators of the secondary injury process ultimately dominate over a few intrinsic protective measures, leading to activation of cysteine proteases such as calpain and caspase-3 that cleave key cellular substrates and cause cell death. Experimental studies in rodent models of TBI suggest that treatment with calpain inhibitors (e.g., AK295, SJA6017) and neurotrophic factors (e.g., NGF, BDNF) can prevent neuronal death and dysfunction in TBI. Currently, there is still no precise therapeutic strategy for the prevention of pathogenesis and neurodegeneration following TBI in humans. The search continues to explore new therapeutic targets and development of promising drugs for the treatment of TBI.     

Synergistic activation of caspase-3 by m-calpain after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia: a mechanism of "pathological apoptosis"?

The relative contributions of apoptosis and necrosis in brain injury have been a matter of much debate. Caspase-3 has been identified as a key protease in the execution of apoptosis, whereas calpains have mainly been implicated in excitotoxic neuronal injury. In a model of unilateral hypoxia-ischemia in 7-day-old rats, caspase-3-like activity increased 16-fold 24 h postinsult, coinciding with cleavage of the caspase-3 proenzyme and endogenous caspase-3 substrates. This activation was significantly decreased by pharmacological calpain inhibition, using CX295, a calpain inhibitor that did not inhibit purified caspase-3 in vitro. Activation of caspase-3 by m-calpain, but not mu-calpain, was facilitated in a dose-dependent manner in vitro by incubating cytosolic fractions, containing caspase-3 proform, with calpains. This facilitation required the presence of some active caspase-3 and could be abolished by including the specific calpain inhibitor calpastatin. This indicates that initial cleavage of caspase-3 by m-calpain, producing a 29-kDa fragment, facilitates the subsequent cleavage into active forms. This is the first report to our knowledge suggesting a direct link between the early, excitotoxic, calcium-mediated activation of calpain after cerebral hypoxia-ischemia and the subsequent activation of caspase-3, thus representing a tentative pathway of "pathological apoptosis."     

Selective,reversible caspase-3 inhibitor is neuroprotective and reveals distinct pathways of cell death after neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury

Hypoxia-ischemia (H-I) in the developing brain results in brain injury with prominent features of both apoptosis and necrosis. A peptide-based pan-caspase inhibitor is neuroprotective against neonatal H-I brain injury, suggesting a central role of caspases in brain injury. Because previously studied peptide-based caspase inhibitors are not potent and are only partially selective, the exact contribution of specific caspases and other proteases to injury after H-I is not clear. In this study, we explored the neuroprotective effects of a small, reversible caspase-3 inhibitor M826. M826 selectively and potently inhibited both caspase-3 enzymatic activity and apoptosis in cultured cells in vitro. In a rat model of neonatal H-I, M826 blocked caspase-3 activation and cleavage of its substrates, which begins 6 h and peaks 24 h after H-I. Although M826 significantly reduced DNA fragmentation and brain tissue loss, it did not prevent calpain activation in the cortex. This activation, which is associated with excitotoxic/necrotic cell injury, occurred within 30 min to 2 h after H-I even in the presence of M826. Similar to calpain activation, we found evidence of caspase-2 processing within 30 min to 2 h after H-I that was not affected by M826. Caspase-2 processing appeared to be secondary to calpain-mediated cleavage and was not associated with caspase-2 activation. These data suggest that caspase-3 specifically contributes to delayed cell death and brain injury after neonatal H-I and that calpain activation is associated with and likely a marker for the early component of excitotoxic/necrotic brain injury previously demonstrated in this model.     

Temporal profile and cell subtype distribution of activated caspase-3 following experimental traumatic brain injury

This study investigated the temporal expression and cell subtype distribution of activated caspase-3 following cortical impact-induced traumatic brain injury in rats. The animals were killed and examined for protein expression of the proteolytically active subunit of caspase-3, p18, at intervals from 6 h to 14 days after injury. In addition, we also investigated the effect of caspase-3 activation on proteolysis of the cytoskeletal protein alpha-spectrin. Increased protein levels of p18 and the caspase-3-specific 120-kDa breakdown product to alpha-spectrin were seen in the cortex ipsilateral to the injury site from 6 to 72 h after the trauma. Immunohistological examinations revealed increased expression of p18 in neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes from 6 to 72 h following impact injury. In contrast, no evidence of caspase-3 activation was seen in microglia at all time points investigated. Quantitative analysis of caspase-3-positive cells revealed that the number of caspase-3-positive neurons exceeded the number of caspase-3-positive glia cells from 6 to 72 h after injury. Moreover, concurrent assessment of nuclear histopathology using hematoxylin identified p18-immunopositive cells exhibiting apoptotic-like morphological profiles in the cortex ipsilateral to the injury site. In contrast, no evidence of increased p18 expression or alpha-spectrin proteolysis was seen in the ipsilateral hippocampus, contralateral cortex, or hippocampus up to 14 days after the impact. Our results are the first to demonstrate the concurrent expression of activated caspase-3 in different CNS cells after traumatic brain injury in the rat. Our findings also suggest a contributory role of activated caspase-3 in neuronal and glial apoptotic degeneration after experimental TBI in vivo.     

Neuroprotective Mechanism of Taurine due to Up-regulating Calpastatin and Down-regulating Calpain and Caspase-3 during Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Aims Taurine as an endogenous substance possesses a number of cytoprotective properties. In the study, we have evaluated the neuroprotective effect of taurine and investigated whether taurine exerted neuroprotection through affecting calpain/calpastatin or caspase-3 actions during focal cerebral ischemia, since calpain and caspase-3 play central roles in ischemic neuronal death. Methods Male Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo), and 22 h of reperfusion. Taurine was administrated intravenously 1 h after MCAo. The dose–responses of taurine to MCAo were determined. Next, the effects of taurine on the activities of calpain, calpastatin and caspase-3, the levels of calpastatin, microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) and αII-spectrin, and the apoptotic cell death in penumbra were evaluated. Results Taurine reduced neurological deficits and decreased the infarct volume 24 h after MCAo in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 50 mg/kg of taurine significantly increased the calpastatin protein levels and activities, and markedly reduced the m-calpain and caspase-3 activities in penumbra 24 h after MCAo, however, it had no significant effect on μ-calpain activity. Moreover, taurine significantly increased the MAP-2 and αII-spectrin protein levels, and markedly reduced the ischemia-induced TUNEL staining positive score within penumbra 24 h after MCAo. Conclusions Our data demonstrate the dose-dependent neuroprotection of taurine against transient focal cerebral ischemia, and suggest that one of protective mechanisms of taurine against ischemia may be blocking the m-calpain and caspase-3-mediated apoptotic cell death pathways.     

Activation of calpains, calpastatin and spectrin cleavage in the brain during the pathology of fatal murine cerebral malaria

Neuronal calpains appear to be activated uncontrollably by sustained elevation of cytosolic calcium levels under pathological conditions as well as neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we have characterized calpain activation in cytosolic extract of mice cerebral cortex and cerebellum using an experimental model of fatal murine cerebral malaria (FMCM). Pathology of FMCM resulted in the increase in activity of calpains in both cerebral cortex and cerebellum. Western blot analysis revealed an increase in the levels of mu-calpain (calpain-1) in the cytosolic fraction of infected cerebral cortex and cerebellum although a decrease in the level of m-calpain was observed in the cytosolic fraction of infected cerebellum and cerebral cortex. Calpain activation was further confirmed by monitoring the formation of calpain-specific spectrin breakdown products (SBDP). Protease-specific SBDP revealed the formation of calpain-generated 150kDa product in the infected cerebral cortex and cerebellum. The specific signature fragment of calpain activation and spectrin breakdown after Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection provide a strong evidence of the role of calpains during the cell death in cerebral cortex and cerebellum. Given the role of calpains in neurodegeneration and cell death, our results strongly suggest that calpains are important mediators of cell injury and neurological sequelae associated with FMCM.     

Mechanisms of calpain mediated proteolysis of voltage gated sodium channel α-subunits following in vitro dynamic stretch injury

Although enhanced calpain activity is well documented after traumatic brain injury (TBI), the pathways targeting specific substrate proteolysis are less defined. Our past work demonstrated that calpain cleaves voltage gated sodium channel (NaCh) α-subunits in an in vitro TBI model. In this study, we investigated the pathways leading to NaCh cleavage utilizing our previously characterized in vitro TBI model, and determined the location of calpain activation within neuronal regions following stretch injury to micropatterned cultures. Calpain specific breakdown products of α-spectrin appeared within axonal, dendritic, and somatic regions 6 h after injury, concurrent with the appearance of NaCh α-subunit proteolysis in both whole cell or enriched axonal preparations. Direct pharmacological activation of either NMDA receptors (NMDArs) or NaChs resulted in NaCh proteolysis. Likewise, a chronic (6 h) dual inhibition of NMDArs/NaChs but not L-type voltage gated calcium channels significantly reduced NaCh proteolysis 6 h after mechanical injury. Interestingly, an early, transient (30 min) inhibition of NMDArs alone significantly reduced NaCh proteolysis. Although a chronic inhibition of calpain significantly reduced proteolysis, a transient inhibition of calpain immediately after injury failed to significantly attenuate NaCh proteolysis. These data suggest that both NMDArs and NaChs are key contributors to calpain activation after mechanical injury, and that a larger temporal window of sustained calpain activation needs consideration in developing effective treatments for TBI.     

Curcumin Suppressed Anti-apoptotic Signals and Activated Cysteine Proteases for Apoptosis in Human Malignant Glioblastoma U87MG Cells

Glioblastoma is the most malignant human brain tumor that shows poor response to existing therapeutic agents. Search continues for an effective therapy for controlling this deadliest brain tumor. Curcumin (CCM), a polyphenolic compound from Curcuma longa, possesses anti-cancer properties in both in vitro and in vivo. In the present investigation, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of CCM against human malignant glioblastoma U87MG cells. Trypan blue dye exclusion test showed decreased viability of U87MG cells with increasing dose of CCM. Wright staining and ApopTag assay, respectively, showed the morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis in U87MG cells treated with 25 μM and 50 μM of CCM for 24 h. Western blotting showed activation of caspase-8, cleavage of Bid to tBid, increase in Bax:Bcl-2 ratio, and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria followed by activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 for apoptosis. Also, CCM treatments increased cytosolic level of Smac/Diablo to suppress the inhibitor-of-apoptosis proteins and down regulated anti-apoptotic nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), favoring the apoptosis. Increased activities of calpain and caspase-3 cleaved 270 kDa α-spectrin at specific sites generating 145 kDa spectrin break down product (SBDP) and 120 kDa SBDP, respectively, leading to apoptosis in U87MG cells. Results show that CCM is an effective therapeutic agent for suppression of anti-apoptotic factors and activation of calpain and caspase proteolytic cascades for apoptosis in human malignant glioblastoma cells. Special issue in honor of Naren Banik.     

Molecular Mechanism of Inositol Hexaphosphate-mediated Apoptosis in Human Malignant Glioblastoma T98G Cells

Glioblastoma is the deadliest brain tumor in humans. Current therapies are mostly ineffective and new agents need to be explored for controlling this devastating disease. Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) is a phytochemical that is widely found in corns, cereals, nuts, and high fiber-content foods. Previous studies demonstrated anti-cancer properties of IP6 in several in vitro and in vivo tumor models. However, therapeutic efficacy of IP6 has not yet been evaluated in glioblastoma. Here, we explored the molecular mechanism of action of IP6 in human malignant glioblastoma T98G cells. The viability of T98G cells decreased following treatment with increasing doses of IP6. T98G cells exposed to 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mM IP6 for 24 h showed morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis. Western blotting indicated changes in expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins resulting in an increase in Bax:Bcl-2 ratio and upregulation of cytosolic levels of cytochrome c and Smac/Diablo, suggesting involvement of mitochondria-dependent caspase cascade in apoptosis. IP6 downregulated cell survival factors such as baculovirus inhibitor-of-apoptosis repeat containing-2 (BIRC-2) protein and telomerase to promote apoptosis. Upregulation of calpain and caspase-9 occurred in course of apoptosis. Increased activities of calpain and caspase-3 cleaved 270 kD α-spectrin at specific sites generating 145 kD spectrin break down product (SBDP) and 120 kD SBDP, respectively. Increased caspase-3 activity also cleaved inhibitor of caspase-3-activated DNase and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Collectively, our results demonstrated that IP6 down regulated the survival factors BIRC-2 and telomerase and upregulated calpain and caspase-3 activities for apoptosis in T98G cells. Special issue in honor of Naren Banik.     

Dual vulnerability of tau to calpains and caspase-3 proteolysis under neurotoxic and neurodegenerative conditions

Axonally specific microtubule-associated protein tau is an important component of neurofibrillary tangles found in AD (Alzheimer''s disease) and other tauopathy diseases such as CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). Such tau aggregate is found to be hyperphosphorylated and often proteolytically fragmented. Similarly, tau is degraded following TBI (traumatic brain injury). In the present study, we examined the dual vulnerability of tau to calpain and caspase-3 under neurotoxic and neurodegenerative conditions. We first identified three novel calpain cleavage sites in rat tau (four-repeat isoform) as Ser¹³⁰↓Lys¹³¹, Gly¹⁵⁷↓Ala¹⁵⁸ and Arg³⁸⁰↓Glu³⁸¹. Fragment-specific antibodies to target the major calpain-mediated TauBDP-35K (35 kDa tau-breakdown product) and the caspase-mediated TauBDP-45K respectively were developed. In rat cerebrocortical cultures treated with excitotoxin [NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate)], tau is significantly degraded into multiple fragments, including a dominant signal of calpain-mediated TauBDP-35K with minimal caspase-mediated TauBDP-45K. Following apoptosis-inducing EDTA treatment, tau was truncated only to TauBDP-48K/45K-exclusively by caspase. Cultures treated with another apoptosis inducer STS (staurosporine), dual fragmentation by calpain (TauBDP-35K) and caspase-3 (TauBDP-45K) was observed. Tau was also fragmented in injured rat cortex following TBI in vivo to BDPs of 45–42 kDa (minor), 35 kDa and 15 kDa, followed by TauBDP-25K. Calpain-mediated TauBDP-35K-specific antibody confirmed robust signals in the injured cortex, while caspase-mediated TauBDP-45K-specific antibody only detected faint signals. Furthermore, intravenous administration of a calpain-specific inhibitor SNJ-1945 strongly suppressed the TauBDP-35K formation. Taken together, these results suggest that tau protein is dually vulnerable to calpain and caspase-3 proteolysis under different neurotoxic and injury conditions.