Induction of cell cycle arrest and morphological differentiation by Nurr1 and retinoids in dopamine MN9D cells.

Dopamine cells are generated in the ventral midbrain during embryonic development. The progressive degeneration of these cells in patients with Parkinson's disease, and the potential therapeutic benefit by transplantation of in vitro generated dopamine cells, has triggered intense interest in understanding the process whereby these cells develop. Nurr1 is an orphan nuclear receptor essential for the development of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. However, the mechanism by which Nurr1 promotes dopamine cell differentiation has remained unknown. In this study we have used a dopamine-synthesizing cell line (MN9D) with immature characteristics to analyze the function of Nurr1 in dopamine cell development. The results demonstrate that Nurr1 can induce cell cycle arrest and a highly differentiated cell morphology in these cells. These two functions were both mediated through a DNA binding-dependent mechanism that did not require Nurr1 interaction with the heterodimerization partner retinoid X receptor. However, retinoids can promote the differentiation of MN9D cells independently of Nurr1. Importantly, the closely related orphan receptors NGFI-B and Nor1 were also able to induce cell cycle arrest and differentiation. Thus, the growth inhibitory activities of the NGFI-B/Nurr1/Nor1 orphan receptors, along with their widespread expression patterns both during development and in the adult, suggest a more general role in control of cell proliferation in the developing embryo and in adult tissues.     

Neuropilin1 is a direct downstream target of Nurr1 in the developing brain stem

The orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 is expressed in the developing and adult central nervous system. Previous studies have shown that Nurr1 is essential for the generation of midbrain dopamine neurons. Furthermore, Nurr1 is critical for respiratory functions associated with the brain stem. Very few Nurr1 regulated genes have been identified and it remains unclear how Nurr1 influences the function and development of neurons. To identify novel Nurr1 target genes we have searched for regulated genes in the dopaminergic MN9D cell line. These experiments identified Neuropilin-1 (Nrp1), a receptor protein involved in axon guidance and angiogenesis, as a novel Nurr1 target gene. Nrp1 expression was rapidly up-regulated by Nurr1 in MN9D cells and in situ hybridization analysis showed that Nrp1 was coexpressed with Nurr1 in the brain stem dorsal motor nucleus. Importantly, Nrp1 expression was down-regulated in this area in Nurr1 null mice. Moreover, two functional Nurr1 binding sites were identified in the Nrp1 promoter and Nurr1 was found to be recruited to these sites in MN9D cells, further supporting that Nrp1 is a direct downstream target of Nurr1. Taken together, our findings suggest that Nurr1 might influence the processes of axon guidance and/or angiogenesis via the regulation of Nrp1 expression.     

Alpha-synuclein inhibits aromatic amino acid decarboxylase activity in dopaminergic cells

Alpha-synuclein is a presynaptic protein strongly implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD). Because dopamine neurons are invariably compromised during pathogenesis in PD, we have been exploring the functions of alpha-synuclein with particular relevance to dopaminergic neuronal cells. We previously discovered reduced tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity and minimal dopamine synthesis in stably-transfected MN9D cells overexpressing either wild-type or A53T mutant (alanine to threonine at amino acid 53) alpha-synuclein. TH, the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine synthesis, converts tyrosine to l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), which is then converted to dopamine by the enzyme, aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). We confirmed an interaction between alpha-synuclein and AADC in striatum. We then sought to determine whether wild-type or A53T mutant alpha-synuclein might have affected AADC activity in dopaminergic cells. Using HPLC with electrochemical detection, we measured dopamine and related catechols after L-DOPA treatments to bypass the TH step. We discovered that while alpha-synuclein did not reduce AADC protein levels, it significantly reduced AADC activity and phosphorylation in our cells. These novel findings further support a role for alpha-synuclein in dopamine homeostasis and may explain, at least in part, the selective vulnerability of dopamine neurons that occurs in PD.     

Proneural bHLH neurogenin 2 differentially regulates Nurr1-induced dopamine neuron differentiation in rat and mouse neural precursor cells in vitro

Roles of Nurr1 and neurogenin 2 (Ngn2) have been shown in midbrain dopamine (DA) neuron development. We present here rat and mouse species-dependent differences of Nurr1 and Ngn2 actions in DA neuron differentiation. Nurr1 exogene expression caused an efficient generation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive DA cells from rat neural precursor cells (NPCs). Nurr1-induced TH+ cell yields were low and highly variable depending on the origins of NPCs in mouse cultures. Coexpression of Ngn2 repressed Nurr1-induced generation of TH+ cells in rat cultures. In clear contrast, a robust enhancement in Nurr1-induced DA cell yields was observed in mouse NPCs by Ngn2. These findings imply that DA neurons may develop differently in the midbrains of these two species.     

核受体相关因子1表达下调对多巴胺能细胞酪氨酸羟化酶和神经突起生长的影响

将合成的核受体相关因子1（nuclear receptor-related factor 1,Nurr1）特异性短发夹寡核苷酸（small-hairpin RNA,shRNA）序列插入真核表达载体pSilen Circle（pSC）,构建Nurr1基因特异性shRNA真核表达载体,转染体外培养多巴胺能神经前体细胞系MN9D,分别采用实时荧光定量PCR和Western blot方法检测其对MN9D细胞内源Nurr1的干扰作用及其对酪氨酸羟化酶（tyrosine hydroxylase,TH）表达的影响,并在倒置显微镜下观察MN9D细胞神经突起生长的情况,探讨Nurr1 shRNA表达载体对多巴胺能细胞表型标记物删和以神经突起延长为特征的细胞成熟的影响。结果表明,脂质体组细胞和转染阴性对照质粒的MN9D细胞内Nurr1、TH的表达正常,而转染Nurr1 shRNA真核表达载体（pSC-N1和pSC-N2）的MN9D细胞内Nurr1和TH的mRNA水平明显降低,Nurr1 mRNA的下降率分别为62．3％和45．6％,TH mRNA的下降率分别为76.3％和62．6％。同时Nurr1和TH蛋白的表达亦明显下调,Nurr1蛋白的下降率分别为57．4％和72．0％,TH蛋白的下降率分别为79．1％和70．1％。另外,转染Nurr1 shRNA真核表达质粒的MN9D细胞神经突起延长有所减少,但是与正常细胞无明显差异。结果提示：Nurr1 shRNA真核表达载体能显著下调MN9D细胞内源Nurr1和TH mRNA和蛋白的表达,同时可能对MN9D细胞的神经突起延长有一定的抑制作用。Nurr1 shRNA表达载体的成功构建为多巴胺能神经元发育以及帕金森病相关基因的功能研究奠定了基础。     

Stem cell potential in Parkinson's disease and molecular factors for the generation of dopamine neurons

Parkinson's disease (PD) involves the loss of dopamine (DA) neurons, making it the most expected neurodegenerative disease to be treated by cell replacement therapy. Stem cells are a promising source for cell replacement therapy due to their ability to self-renew and their pluripotency/multipotency that allows them to generate various types of cells. However, it is challenging to derive midbrain DA neurons from stem cells. Thus, in this review, I will discuss the molecular factors that are known to play critical roles in the generation and survival of DA neurons. The developmental process of DA neurons and functions of extrinsic soluble factors and homeodomain proteins, forkhead box proteins, proneural genes, Nurr1 and genes involved in epigenetic control are discussed. In addition, different types of stem cells that have potential for future cell replacement therapy are reviewed.     

Marked disparity between age-related changes in dopamine and other presynaptic dopaminergic markers in human striatum

Because age-related changes in brain dopaminergic innervation are assumed to influence human disorders involving dopamine (DA), we measured the levels of several presynpatic DAergic markers [DA, homovanillic acid, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), and dopamine transporter (DAT)] in post-mortem human striatum (caudate and putamen) from 56 neurologically normal subjects aged 1 day to 103 years. Striatal DA levels exhibited pronounced (2- to 3-fold) post-natal increases through adolescence and then decreases during aging. Similarly, TH and AADC increased almost 100% during the first 2 post-natal years; however, the levels of TH and, to a lesser extent, AADC then declined to adult levels by approximately 30 years of age. Although VMAT2 and DAT levels closely paralleled those of TH, resulting in relatively constant TH to transporter ratios during development and aging, a modest but significant decline (13%) in DAT levels was observed in only caudate during aging. This biphasic post-natal pattern of the presynaptic markers suggests that striatal DAergic innervation/neuropil appears to continue to develop well past birth but appears to become overelaborated and undergo regressive remodeling during adolescence. However, during adulthood, a striking discrepancy was observed between the loss of DA and the relative preservation of proteins involved in its biosynthesis and compartmentation. This suggests that declines in DA-related function during adulthood and senescence may be explained by losses in DA per se as opposed to DAergic neuropil.     

Dopaminergic neuronal differentiation from rat embryonic neural precursors by Nurr1 overexpression

In vitro expanded CNS precursors could provide a renewable source of dopamine (DA) neurons for cell therapy in Parkinson's disease. Functional DA neurons have been derived previously from early midbrain precursors. Here we demonstrate the ability of Nurr1, a nuclear orphan receptor essential for midbrain DA neuron development in vivo, to induce dopaminergic differentiation in naïve CNS precursors in vitro. Independent of gestational age or brain region of origin, Nurr1‐induced precursors expressed dopaminergic markers and exhibited depolarization‐evoked DA release in vitro. However, these cells were less mature and secreted lower levels of DA than those derived from mesencephalic precursors. Transplantation of Nurr1‐induced DA neuron precursors resulted in limited survival and in vivo differentiation. No behavioral improvement in apomorphine‐induced rotation scores was observed. These results demonstrate that Nurr1 induces dopaminergic features in naïve CNS precursors in vitro. However, additional factors will be required to achieve in vivo function and to unravel the full potential of neural precursors for cell therapy in Parkinson's disease.     

Characterization of the striatal dopaminergic neurotransmission in MEN2B mice with elevated cerebral tissue dopamine

The Ret receptor tyrosine kinase is the common signaling receptor for the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family ligands. The Met918Thr mutation leads to constitutive activation of Ret and is responsible for dominantly inherited cancer syndrome MEN2B. Previously, we found that the mice carrying the mutation (MEN2B mice) have profoundly increased tissue dopamine (DA) concentrations in the striatum as well as increased striatal levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter. The aim of this study was to characterize the striatal dopaminergic neurotransmission in MEN2B mice and to clarify the mechanisms by which they compensate their over-production of DA. We found that tyrosine hydroxylase activity and DA synthesis are increased in MEN2B mice. Augmented effects of α-methyl-para-tyrosine (αMT, an inhibitor of TH) and tetrabenazine (VMAT2 blocker) on DA levels suggest that also storage of DA is increased in MEN2B mice. There was no difference in the basal extracellular DA concentrations or potassium-evoked DA release between the genotypes. The effects of cocaine and haloperidol were also similar between the genotypes as assessed by in vivo microdialysis. However, with in vivo voltammetry we found increase in stimulated DA release in MEN2B mice and detailed analysis of DA overflow showed that uptake of DA was also enhanced in MEN2B mice. Thus, our data show that enhanced synthesis of DA leading to increased storage and releasable pools in pre-synaptic terminals in MEN2B mice apparently also leads to increased DA release, which in turn is compensated by higher dopamine transporter activity.     

The beta-chemokines CCL2 and CCL7 are two novel differentiation factors for midbrain dopaminergic precursors and neurons

β-chemokines are secreted factors that regulate diverse functions in the adult brain, such as neuro-immune responses and neurotransmission, but their function in the developing brain is largely unknown. We recently found that the orphan nuclear receptor, Nurr1, up regulates CCL2 and CCL7 in neural stem cells, suggesting a possible function of β-chemokines in midbrain development. Here we report that two β-chemokines, CCL2 and CCL7, and two of their receptors, CCR1 and CCR2, are expressed and developmentally regulated in the ventral midbrain (VM). Moreover, we found that the expression of CCL7 was down regulated in the Nurr1 knockout mice, linking CCL7 to dopamine (DA) neuron development. When the function of CCL2 and CCL7 was examined, we found that they selectively enhanced the differentiation of Nurr1+ precursors into DA neurons, but not their survival or progenitor proliferation in primary precursor cultures. Moreover, both CCL2 and CCL7 promoted neuritogenesis in midbrain DA neuron cultures. Thus, our results show for the first time a function of β-chemokines in the developing brain and identify β-chemokines as novel class of pro-differentiation factors for midbrain DA neurons. These data also suggest that β-chemokines may become useful tools to enhance the differentiation of DA cell preparations for cell replacement therapy and drug discovery in Parkinson's disease (PD).     

Presynaptic dopaminergic properties of differentiated mouse embryonic stem cells

This study characterized the presynaptic dopaminergic properties of neuronally differentiated mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. Approximately 30% of the ES cells expressed tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity when co-cultured with PA6 cells. These cultures expressed high affinity, sodium-dependent dopamine uptake as well as depolarization-induced and calcium-dependent dopamine release of this transmitter. These and other important dopaminergic genes found expressed in these cultures by RT-PCR included Nurr1, vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), TH, dopamine transporter (DAT), and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) receptors c-Ret and GFRalpha1. These results demonstrate that differentiated ES cells have the presynaptic functions for maintaining dopaminergic homeostasis, which may be essential for their long-term use in restoring CNS levels of this transmitter.     

Endogenous dopamine (DA) renders dopaminergic cells vulnerable to challenge of proteasome inhibitor MG132

This study demonstrated that dopaminergic MN9D and PC12 cells were more vulnerable than non-dopaminergic N2A cells to the challenge by proteasome inhibitor MG132, which could be alleviated by reductants and alpha-methyl tyrosine (alpha-MT), a specific tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor. Furthermore, challenging non-dopaminergic N2A cells with exogenous DA could aggravate MG132-induced cell viability decrease, which could be abrogated by reductants but not by alpha-MT. It was observed that alpha-MT could decrease endogenous DA content in dopaminergic MN9D and PC12 cells while N2A cells could take in exogenous DA into cytosol. The endogenous DA in dopaminergic cells was demonstrated to inhibit proteasome activity in the cells and further sensitize the proteasome to MG132 inhibition. In addition, the endogenous DA was also implicated for the increased level of lipid peroxidation and ubiquitinated proteins as well as inclusion bodies formation when non-dopaminergic cells were challenged with exogenous DA. Taken together it is proposed that endogenous DA in dopaminergic neurons could promote selective dopaminergic neurodegeneration, especially under the conditions of exopathic or idiopathic defects of ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS), which may be abolished by reductant remedy.     

Endogenous dopamine (DA) renders dopaminergic cells vulnerable to challenge of proteasome inhibitor MG132

This study demonstrated that dopaminergic MN9D and PC12 cells were more vulnerable than non-dopaminergic N2A cells to the challenge by proteasome inhibitor MG132, which could be alleviated by reductants and alpha-methyl tyrosine (alpha-MT), a specific tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor. Furthermore, challenging non-dopaminergic N2A cells with exogenous DA could aggravate MG132-induced cell viability decrease, which could be abrogated by reductants but not by alpha-MT. It was observed that alpha-MT could decrease endogenous DA content in dopaminergic MN9D and PC12 cells while N2A cells could take in exogenous DA into cytosol. The endogenous DA in dopaminergic cells was demonstrated to inhibit proteasome activity in the cells and further sensitize the proteasome to MG132 inhibition. In addition, the endogenous DA was also implicated for the increased level of lipid peroxidation and ubiquitinated proteins as well as inclusion bodies formation when non-dopaminergic cells were challenged with exogenous DA. Taken together it is proposed that endogenous DA in dopaminergic neurons could promote selective dopaminergic neurodegeneration, especially under the conditions of exopathic or idiopathic defects of ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), which may be abolished by reductant remedy.     

昆虫多巴胺及其受体的研究进展及展望

多巴胺(dopamine, DA)是一种重要的神经递质,通过特异地结合其相关的多巴胺受体(dopamine receptors, DARs)发挥作用。昆虫DARs可分为D1-like DARs, D2-like DARs和多巴胺/蜕皮激素受体(dopamine/ecdysteroid receptor, DopEcR)。D1-like DARs包含两种亚型即DOP1和DOP2,都能偶联G_s蛋白引起胞内cAMP上升,且DOP2还能偶联G_q蛋白引起胞内Ca²⁺浓度升高;D2-like DARs只有一种亚型DOP3,偶联G_i蛋白导致胞内cAMP下降;DopEcR可以同时被DA和蜕皮激素激活。本文综述了近年来关于昆虫DA的调控、多巴胺神经元、DARs的药理学特性及生理功能等方面的研究进展。DA合成、转运和降解过程中的基因调控昆虫的多种表型,如表皮黑化、翅的颜色和图案等。DA在多巴胺神经元中合成和释放,不同类型的多巴胺神经元参与调控不同的功能。随着近年来单细胞测序和DA实时成像技术的兴起,这将有利于进一步探讨...