Neurotrophic factors are crucial for the survival and maintenance of neurons in the adult central nervous system (CNS). Nerve growth factor (NGF) is known to play an important part in survival and maintenance of cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain (BF). Thus, pharmacological agents that enhance the expression of NGF may be proven to be effective in preventing neuronal degeneration. Little is known about mechanisms of regulation of NGF expression in the adult CNS. Moreover, it is yet unknown whether aging alters these mechanisms. This proposal will test the hypothesis that noradrenaline regulates the expression of NGF and other neurotrophins in the CNS of adult and aged rats. Data in support of this hypothesis have been obtained during the previous award period. In adult and aged rats, the activation of central beta-adrenergic receptors (BAR) increases NGF biosynthesis (mRNA and protein) in the cerebral cortex only. The anatomical specificity of this induction was confirmed by the fact that the mRNA for basic fibroblast growth factor was induced in additional brain areas. In adult rats, the cortical levels of NGF mRNA are also increased noradrenergic agonists which do not activate BAR suggesting that the noradrenergic input to the cerebral cortex is crucial for the expression of the NGF gene. This proposal will test whether the proposed pharmacological treatments also increase the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3, two other members of the neurotrophin family. The molecular mechanisms underlying the anatomical specificity of NGF induction will be investigated using neuroanatomical correlates (in situ hybridization). These studies will be complemented by experiments designed to test whether the proposed pharmacological manipulations activate the transcription factor AP-1 in the cerebral cortex of adult and aged rats. At the same time, correlative studies will be performed in adult and aged rats to establish whether the pharmacologically-induced NGF exerts biological activity by determining the activation of the high affinity NGF receptor trkA, and by assessing cholinergic function measured by choline acetyltransferase activity and choline uptake. Results from these studies will provide i) new insights into the mechanisms that regulate the expression of growth factors in the CNS and ii) a pharmacological basis for the development of a new therapeutic approach to neurodegenerative diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01NS029664-04A2
Application #
2267788
Study Section
Neurological Sciences Subcommittee 1 (NLS)
Project Start
1991-08-06
Project End
1999-07-31
Budget Start
1995-09-30
Budget End
1996-07-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Georgetown University
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
049515844
City
Washington
State
DC
Country
United States
Zip Code
20057
Mocchetti, Italo (2011) Pharmacological regulation of gene expression. Pharmacol Res 64:323-6
McCauslin, Christine Seitz; Heath, Victoria; Colangelo, Anna Maria et al. (2006) CAAT/enhancer-binding protein delta and cAMP-response element-binding protein mediate inducible expression of the nerve growth factor gene in the central nervous system. J Biol Chem 281:17681-8
Colangelo, Anna Maria; Mallei, Alessandra; Johnson, Peter F et al. (2004) Synergistic effect of dexamethasone and beta-adrenergic receptor agonists on the nerve growth factor gene transcription. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 124:97-104
Mallei, Alessandra; Shi, Bitao; Mocchetti, Italo (2002) Antidepressant treatments induce the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in cortical and hippocampal neurons. Mol Pharmacol 61:1017-24
Shi, B; Mocchetti, I (2000) Dexamethasone induces TrkA and p75NTR immunoreactivity in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Exp Neurol 162:257-67
Colangelo, A M; Follesa, P; Mocchetti, I (1998) Differential induction of nerve growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA in neonatal and aged rat brain. Brain Res Mol Brain Res 53:218-25
Teng, Y D; Mocchetti, I; Wrathall, J R (1998) Basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors protect spinal motor neurones in vivo after experimental spinal cord injury. Eur J Neurosci 10:798-802
Shi, B; Rabin, S J; Brandoli, C et al. (1998) Dexamethasone induces hypertrophy of developing medial septum cholinergic neurons: potential role of nerve growth factor. J Neurosci 18:9326-34
Marini, A M; Rabin, S J; Lipsky, R H et al. (1998) Activity-dependent release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor underlies the neuroprotective effect of N-methyl-D-aspartate. J Biol Chem 273:29394-9
Colangelo, A M; Johnson, P F; Mocchetti, I (1998) beta-adrenergic receptor-induced activation of nerve growth factor gene transcription in rat cerebral cortex involves CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein delta. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95:10920-5

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