Abstract |
Aluminum maltolate (Al-malt) causes neurodegeneration following in vivo exposure, and apoptosis plays a prominent role. The objective of this study was to define the form of cell death induced by Al-malt and to establish an in vitro model system amenable to mechanistic investigations of Al-malt-induced cell death. Neuro-2a cells, a murine neuroblastoma cell line, were treated with Al-malt for 24 h, following which mode of cell death and alterations in apoptosis-related gene expression were studied. Al-malt concentration-dependently increased cell death. The mode of cell death was a combination of apoptosis and necrosis. Treatment with Al-malt resulted in caspase 3 activation and the externalization of phosphatidyl serine, both indicative of apoptosis. In addition, nuclear condensation and fragmentation were evident. Interestingly, pretreatment with cycloheximide ( CHX), a potent protein synthesis inhibitor markedly reduced Al-malt-induced apoptosis, indicating that altered gene expression was critical for this form of cell death. Pretreatment with CHX had no effect on necrosis induced by Al-malt. Analysis of gene expression showed that p53 mRNA was increased following treatment with Al-malt. This increase was accompanied by a marked inhibition of Bcl2 expression and an increase in BAX expression, a pattern of gene expression suggestive of a pro-apoptotic shift. Results show for the first time that p53 is induced by Al in neuron-like cells and suggest that the p53-dependent intrinsic pathway may be responsible for Al-induced apoptosis. Future studies investigating the role of p53 in Al neurotoxicity both in vivo and in vitro are warranted.
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Authors | Victor J Johnson, Sang-Hyun Kim, Raghubir P Sharma |
Journal | Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology
(Toxicol Sci)
Vol. 83
Issue 2
Pg. 329-39
(Feb 2005)
ISSN: 1096-6080 [Print] United States |
PMID | 15537749
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Bax protein, mouse
- Organometallic Compounds
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
- Pyrones
- RNA, Messenger
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
- bcl-2-Associated X Protein
- aluminum maltolate
- Aluminum
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Topics |
- Aluminum
(toxicity)
- Animals
- Apoptosis
(drug effects)
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Survival
(drug effects)
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Gene Expression
- Genes, p53
- Mice
- Necrosis
(chemically induced)
- Neuroblastoma
(drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
- Organometallic Compounds
(toxicity)
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
(genetics, metabolism)
- Pyrones
(toxicity)
- RNA, Messenger
(metabolism)
- Signal Transduction
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
(genetics, metabolism)
- bcl-2-Associated X Protein
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