Gambogic amide, a selective agonist for TrkA receptor that possesses robust neurotrophic activity, prevents neuronal cell death.

Abstract

Nerve growth factor (NGF) binds to TrkA receptor and triggers activation of numerous signaling cascades, which play critical roles in neuronal plasticity, survival, and neurite outgrowth. To mimic NGF functions pharmacologically, we developed a high-throughput screening assay to identify small-molecule agonists for TrkA receptor. The most potent compound, gambogic amide, selectively binds to TrkA, but not TrkB or TrkC, and robustly induces its tyrosine phosphorylation and downstream signaling activation, including Akt and MAPKs. Further, it strongly prevents glutamate-induced neuronal cell death and provokes prominent neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. Gambogic amide specifically interacts with the cytoplasmic juxtamembrane domain of TrkA receptor and triggers its dimerization. Administration of this molecule in mice substantially diminishes kainic acid-triggered neuronal cell death and decreases infarct volume in the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model of stroke. Thus, gambogic amide might not only establish a powerful platform for dissection of the physiological roles of NGF and TrkA receptor but also provide effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and stroke.

• Authors: Sung-Wuk Jang, Masashi Okada, Iqbal Sayeed, Ge Xiao, Donald Stein, Peng Jin, Keqiang Ye
• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A) Vol. 104 Issue 41 Pg. 16329-34 (Oct 09 2007) ISSN: 0027-8424 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17911251 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Amides
• Nerve Growth Factors
• Xanthones
• gambogic acid
• Receptor, trkA
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt

Topics

• Amides (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Cell Line
• Cerebral Infarction (drug therapy, pathology)
• Hippocampus (drug effects, pathology)
• MAP Kinase Signaling System (drug effects)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Nerve Growth Factors (pharmacology)
• Neurites (drug effects, ultrastructure)
• Neurons (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
• PC12 Cells
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt (metabolism)
• Rats
• Receptor, trkA (agonists)
• Xanthones (chemistry, pharmacology)