Protective effects of calcium ions via L-type calcium channels and NMDA receptors on prostaglandin E-induced apoptosis in rat cortical cells.

Calcium ions mediate a variety of physiological responses of developing neurons including survival. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of calcium influx through L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) or NMDA receptors on prostaglandin E (PGE)-induced apoptosis in rat cortical cells. Cultures of rat cortical cells were prepared from an embryonic day 18 rat neocortex.

Anti-inflammatory effects of lipoic acid through inhibition of GSK-3β in lipopolysaccharide-induced BV-2 microglial cells.

Activated microglial cells play an important role in immune and inflammatory responses in CNS and play a role in neurodegenerative diseases. We examined the effects of lipoic acid (LA) on inflammatory responses of BV-2 microglial cells activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and explored the underlying mechanisms of action of LA. BV-2 cells treated with LPS showed an up-regulation of mRNA of the pro-inflammatory molecules, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).

Protective action of nipradilol mediated through S-nitrosylation of Keap1 and HO-1 induction in retinal ganglion cells.

Nipradilol (Nip), which has α1- and β-adrenoceptor antagonist and nitric oxide (NO)-donating properties, has clinically been used as an anti-glaucomatous agent in Japan. NO mediates cellular signaling pathways that regulate physiological functions. The major signaling mechanisms mediated by NO are cGMP-dependent signaling and protein S-nitrosylation-dependent signalings.

Apoptosis induced by SRC-family tyrosine kinase inhibitors in cultured rat cortical cells.

In the central nervous system, members of the Src family of tyrosine kinases (SFKs) are widely expressed and are abundant in neurons. The purpose of this study is to examine whether glycogen synthase-3 (GSK-3) is involved in SFK inhibitor-induced apoptosis. PP2 and SU6656, SFK inhibitors, increased apoptotic cell death with morphological changes that were characterized by cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, or nuclear fragmentation.