期刊
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
卷 7, 期 4, 页码 299-309出版社
ACADEMIC PRESS INC
DOI: 10.1006/nbdi.2000.0301
关键词
prion protein; apoptosis; L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels; nicardipine
资金
- Telethon [E.0975] Funding Source: Medline
Prion diseases are neurodegenerative pathologies characterized by the accumulation, in the brain, of altered forms of the prion protein (PrP), named PrPSc. A synthetic peptide homologous to residues 106-126 of PrP (PrP106-126) was reported to maintain the neurodegenerative characteristics of PrPSc. We investigated the intracellular mechanisms involved in PrP106-126-dependent degeneration of primary cultures of cerebellar granule neurons. Prolonged exposure of such neurons to PrP106-126 induced apoptotic cell death. The L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel blocker nicardipine reproduced this effect, suggesting that blockade of Ca2+ entry through this class of calcium channels may be responsible for the granule cell degeneration. Microfluorometric analysis showed that PrP106-126 caused a reduction in cytosolic calcium levels, elicited by depolarizing K+ concentrations in these neurons. Electrophysiological studies demonstrated that PrP106-126 and nicardipine selectively reduce the L-type calcium channel current. These data demonstrate that PrP106-126 alters the activity of L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels in rat cerebellar granule cells and suggest that this phenomenon is related to the cell death induced by the peptide. (C) 2000 Academic Press.
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