Glial inflammation and neurodegeneration induced by candoxin, a novel neurotoxin from Bungarus candidus venom: global gene expression analysis using microarray.

Abstract

Candoxin (PDB #1JGK), a three-finger neurotoxin from Bungarus candidus venom, inhibits post-synaptic neuromuscular and neuronal alpha7nACh-receptors, and induces delayed cell-death throughout the glial population. When applied to cultured human glial cell lines, candoxin (CDX) induced cell death in a concentration (EC(50) approximately 1muM) and time dependent manner. Results of TUNEL-histochemistry further confirm CDX-induced brain (hippocampus, frontal cortex, and temporal regions) damage when administered intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v) in adult mice. In this study, we explored differential gene expression profiles following exposure of human glial (Hs 683) cell lines to CDX at various time intervals using Affymetrix-GeneChips. By means of MAS and GeneSpring analyses, 105 genes whose expression was significantly (P<0.01) altered by at least 3-fold were selected. Results of the genome analysis reveal that the potential role of CDX at molecular level involves the regulation of genes in signal transduction, ubiquitin-inflammation, mitochondrial-dysfunction, and damage-response pathways. In addition, using QRT-PCR and rationally designed specific CDX-binding peptide (P-NT.II), we identified the genes-IL7R, IL13RA2, IL-1beta, TNFRSF12A, GADD45A, CD44 and IFI44-that might play an important role in CDX-induced glial inflammation, DNA-damage and degeneration. These findings reveal new insight into the molecular mechanisms of glial-driven neurodegeneration after exposure to neurotoxins.

• Authors: A Pachiappan, M M Thwin, J Manikandan, P Gopalakrishnakone
• Journal: Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology (Toxicon) Vol. 46 Issue 8 Pg. 883-99 (Dec 15 2005) ISSN: 0041-0101 [Print] England
• PMID: 16309724 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• DNA Primers
• Snake Venoms
• candoxin

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Brain (drug effects)
• Bungarus
• Cell Line
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Cluster Analysis
• DNA Primers
• Gene Expression Profiling
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Histocytochemistry
• Humans
• In Situ Nick-End Labeling
• Mass Spectrometry
• Mitochondria (drug effects)
• Neuroglia (drug effects, metabolism)
• Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Sequence Analysis, Protein
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• Snake Venoms (genetics, isolation & purification, toxicity)
• Toxicogenetics (methods)