C3a and C5a anaphylatoxins are cytokine-like polypeptides generated during complement (C) system activation and released at the inflammatory site. They exert several biological activities through binding to the G-protein-coupled receptors C3aR and C5aR, respectively. Cloning and Northern blot experiments have indicated that both receptors are expressed by myeloid as well as nonmyeloid cells (e.g., endothelial and epithelial cells). To better understand the roles of C anaphylatoxins during inflammation, we investigated their effects on the expression of cytokine and chemokine genes by cultured human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC constitutively expressed both anaphylatoxin receptors, and addition of physiological concentrations of C3a or C5a (nM range) caused a strong up-regulation of IL-8, IL-1beta, and RANTES mRNA in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Conversely, a decrease in IL-6 mRNA was observed, but only with C5a stimulation. These variations in mRNA levels were inhibited by pretreatment with anti-C5aR and anti-C3aR antibodies as well as pertussis toxin, indicating that G-proteins are involved in anaphylatoxin-activated signal transduction pathways. Finally, we showed that C3a and C5a both strongly activate downstream MAP kinase signaling pathways (p44 and p42 Erk kinases).
The sphingomyelin-derived messenger ceramides provoke neuronal apoptosis through caspase-3 activation, while the neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) promotes neuronal survival and inhibits caspase-3 activity. However, the mechanisms leading to the opposite regulation of caspase-3 by C2-ceramide and PACAP are currently unknown. Here, we show that PACAP prevents C2-ceramide-induced inhibition of mitochondrial potential and C2-ceramide-evoked cytochrome c release. C2-ceramide stimulated Bax expression, but had no effect on Bcl-2, while PACAP abrogated the action of C2-ceramide on Bax and stimulated Bcl-2 expression. The effects of C2-ceramide and PACAP on Bax and Bcl-2 were blocked, respectively, by the JNK inhibitor L-JNKI1 and the MEK inhibitor U0126. L-JNKI1 prevented the alteration of mitochondria induced by C2-ceramide while U0126 suppressed the protective effect of PACAP against the deleterious action of C2-ceramide on mitochondrial potential. Moreover, L-JNKI1 inhibited the stimulatory effect of C2-ceramide on caspase-9 and -3 and prevented C2-ceramide-induced cell death. U0126 blocked PACAP-induced Bcl-2 expression, abrogated the inhibitory effect of PACAP on ceramide-induced caspase-9 activity, and promoted granule cell death. The present study reveals that C2-ceramide and PACAP exert opposite effects on Bax and Bcl-2 through, respectively, JNK-and ERK-dependent mechanisms. These data indicate that the mitochondrial pathway plays a pivotal role in the pro-and anti-apoptotic effects of C2-ceramide and PACAP.
Alcohol exposure during development can cause brain malformations and neurobehavioral abnormalities. In view of the teratogenicity of ethanol, identification of molecules that could counteract the neurotoxic effects of alcohol deserves high priority. Here, we report that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) can prevent the deleterious effect of ethanol on neuronal precursors. Exposure of cultured cerebellar granule cells to ethanol inhibited neurite outgrowth and provoked apoptotic cell death. Incubation of granule cells with PACAP prevented ethanol-induced apoptosis, and this effect was not mimicked by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, suggesting that PAC1 receptors are involved in the neurotrophic activity of PACAP. Ethanol exposure induced a strong increase of caspase-2, -3, -6, -8, and -9 activities, DNA fragmentation, and mitochondrial permeability. Cotreatment of granule cells with PACAP provoked a significant inhibition of all of the apoptotic markers investigated although the neurotrophic activity of PACAP could only be ascribed to inhibition of caspase-3 and -6 activities. These data demonstrate that PACAP is a potent protective agent against ethanol-induced neuronal cell death. The fact that PACAP prevented ethanol toxicity even when added 2 h after alcohol exposure, suggests that selective PACAP agonists could have potential therapeutic value for the treatment of fetal alcohol syndrome.cerebellum ͉ fetal alcohol syndrome ͉ development ͉ caspases
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