The cytokines SDF-1alpha and -1beta are two alternatively spliced variants of the CXC (alpha) chemokines that are highly conserved among species. SDF-1alpha was shown to function as a B-cell maturation factor, a ligand for the CXCR4 (LESTR/fusin) chemokine receptor, thereby inhibiting replication of T cell-tropic HIV-1 strains and inducing cell death in human neuronal cell lines. In this report the cloning of the rat SDF-1beta cDNA and a new SDF-1 isoform, SDF-1gamma, are presented. Using Northern blot analysis, the expression pattern of both isoforms was studied in different tissues and it is shown that during postnatal development of the central and peripheral nervous system SDF-1beta- and SDF-1gamma-mRNA expression is inversely regulated. Whilst SDF-1beta-mRNA is the predominant isoform in embryonic and early postnatal nerve tissue, SDF-1gamma-mRNA is expressed at higher levels in adulthood. After peripheral nerve lesion a transient increase in SDF-1beta-mRNA expression is observed. As revealed by in situ hybridization, neurons and Schwann cells are the main cellular sources of both SDF-1beta and SDF-1gamma mRNAs in the nervous system. Computer-assisted analysis revealed that both transcripts encode secreted peptides with putative proteolytic cleavage sites which might generate novel neuropeptides.
cAMP has neurotrophic effects in the nervous system. We have investigated whether there is a correlation between CAMP-induced neurite outgrowth and induction of chromogranin B and synapsin I gene expression. These genes encode marker proteins of distinct populations of vesicles in neurons, neuroendocrine and endocrine cells, and in addition, they contain a cAMP response element (CRE) in their upstream regions, making it likely that CAMP-induced neuronal differentiation might be accompanied by increased transcription of these genes. We increased intracellular CAMP levels in neuronal and neuroendocrine cells and analyzed the levels of chromogranin B and synapsin I mRNA. Our data revealed that, while chromogranin B mRNA was in fact induced following cAMP stimulation, synapsin I mRNA was not affected. To analyze the cis-acting sequences, we constructed hybrid genes containing the upstream region of the mouse chromogranin B gene fused to a reporter gene. Similar plasmids containing the synapsin I or the glucagon promoter were constructed. Transfections of neuronal and endocrine cells, together with deletion mutagenesis, revealed that the CRE of the chromogranin B gene mediated the effect of cAMP upon transcription. This effect was mimicked by overexpression of the catalytic subunit of the CAMP-dependent protein kinase. In addition, overexpression of the negative-acting CRE-binding protein CREB-2 revealed that the chromogranin B CRE functions as a bifunctional genetic regulatory element in that it mediates basal as well as CAMP-stimulated transcription. Synapsin I gene expression, however, was not induced by either elevated intracellular cAMP concentration or by overexpression of protein kinase A, although a similar pattern of proteins, including CREB, bound to the synapsin I and chromogranin B CRE in vitro. Thus while the CRE element in the chromogranin B gene promoter is responsive to CAMP, the same element, when present in the synapsin I promoter, does not confer cAMP inducibility.
The alpha chemokine receptor CXCR4 is used as the major coreceptor for the cell entry of T-cell-tropic human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) isolates. Activation of this coreceptor by its natural ligand SDF1alpha is associated with an intracellular Ca(2+) increase. Because the HIV-1 glycoprotein 120 (gp120) is shedded from the surface of HIV-1-infected cells and is regarded as an injurious molecule in the pathogenesis of HIV-1-associated encephalopathy (HIVE), we investigated the effects of gp120 on the intracellular Ca(2+) regulation of astrocytes and neurons. After 5 days in vitro (DIV), SDF1alpha (50 nM) elicited a pertussis toxin-sensitive intracellular Ca(2+) increase due to Ca(2+) release from internal stores that was reduced by a blocking monoclonal antibody against the CXCR4 receptor in astrocytes and neurons. Parallel with the development of the SDF1alpha response, cells became sensitive to direct application of gp120 (1.25 microg/ml), which, similarly to SDF1alpha, elicited a transient intracellular Ca(2+) increase. However, short-term incubation with gp120 for 60 to 120 min induced a reduction of glutamate- or ATP-evoked intracellular Ca(2+) responses only in astrocytes and not in neurons, although functional CXCR4 receptors were expressed in both cell types. Therefore, our data strongly suggest that the CXCR4 receptor-mediated intracellular signaling pathway of gp120 differs in astrocytes and neurons.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.