Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) protects against methylglyoxal-induced PC12 cell apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/GCLc/redox signaling pathway.

Abstract

Patients with long-standing diabetes commonly develop diabetic encephalopathy, which is characterized by cognitive impairment and dementia. Oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell apoptosis is a contributing factor. Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 has recently become an attractive treatment modality for patients with diabetes. It also readily enters the brain, prevents neuronal cell apoptosis, and improves the cognitive impairment characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, we investigated whether GLP-1 could protect against oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell apoptosis in pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. PC12 cells were exposed to 1 mM methylglyoxal (MG) or MG plus 3.30 microg/ml GLP-1. Cell apoptosis, expression and phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin/gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLc), and redox balance were then determined. The data showed that MG induced PC12 apoptosis in accordance with the redox (glutathione (GSH) and GSH/glutathione disulfide [GSSG]) imbalance. GLP-1 protected against this MG-induced apoptosis, which corresponded to the phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR, as well as the upregulation of GCLc and the restoration of the redox imbalance. Inhibitors of PI3K (LY294002), Akt (Akt-I), and mTOR (rapamycin) reduced the GLP-1-induced GCLc upregulation and its protection against MG-induced PC12 apoptosis. The GLP-1-induced redox restoration was also attenuated by rapamycin. In conclusion, the neuroprotective effect of GLP-1 is due to an enhancement of PI3K/Akt/mTOR/GCLc/redox signaling.

• Authors: R Kimura, M Okouchi, H Fujioka, A Ichiyanagi, F Ryuge, T Mizuno, K Imaeda, N Okayama, Y Kamiya, K Asai, T Joh
• Journal: Neuroscience (Neuroscience) Vol. 162 Issue 4 Pg. 1212-9 (Sep 15 2009) ISSN: 1873-7544 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19463904 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Pyruvaldehyde
• Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
• Protein Kinases
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
• TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
• Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Catalytic Domain
• Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (pharmacology)
• Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase (physiology)
• Oxidation-Reduction
• Oxidative Stress
• PC12 Cells
• Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases (physiology)
• Protein Kinases (physiology)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt (physiology)
• Pyruvaldehyde (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Signal Transduction
• TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases