Salsolinol, an endogenous neurotoxin, activates JNK and NF-kappaB signaling pathways in human neuroblastoma cells.

Abstract

Salsolinol, an endogenous neurotoxin, is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). In the present study, we have investigated the effects of salsolinol on the activation of two different signaling pathways that involve c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and nuclear factor-kappaB, (NF-kappaB) in human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Salsolinol treatment caused upregulation in the levels of c-Jun and phosphorylated c-Jun. It also caused degradation of IkappaBalpha and translocated the active NF-kappaB into the nucleus. The binding activity of NF-kappaB to DNA was enhanced by salsolinol in a concentration dependent manner. Furthermore, salsolinol decreased the levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and increased pro-apoptotic protein Bax, while enhancing the release of cytochrome-c from mitochondria. Mitochondrial complex-I activity was significantly decreased and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were increased in salsolinol treated cells. These results partly suggest that salsolinol-induced JNK and NF-kappaB signaling pathways may be involved in induction of apoptosis in human dopaminergic neurons, as seen in Parkinson's disease.

• Authors: Sawitri Wanpen, Patcharee Kooncumchoo, Shaik Shavali, Piyarat Govitrapong, Manuchair Ebadi
• Journal: Neurochemical research (Neurochem Res) Vol. 32 Issue 3 Pg. 443-50 (Mar 2007) ISSN: 0364-3190 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17268850 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Isoquinolines
• NF-kappa B
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Cytochromes c
• salsolinol
• JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• Electron Transport Complex I

Topics

• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cytochromes c (drug effects, metabolism)
• Electron Transport Complex I (drug effects, metabolism)
• Humans
• Isoquinolines (pharmacology)
• JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (metabolism)
• Mitochondria (drug effects, enzymology)
• NF-kappa B (physiology)
• Neuroblastoma
• Phosphorylation
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• Signal Transduction