Specific JNK inhibition by D-JNKI1 protects Purkinje cells from cell death in Lurcher mutant mouse

Cerebellum. 2008;7(4):534-8. doi: 10.1007/s12311-008-0070-8.

Abstract

In the Lurcher mutant mouse (+/Lc), Purkinje cells (PCs) selectively die due to the mutation that converts alanine to threonine in the glutamate ionotropic receptor GRID 2, thus resulting in a constitutively leaky cation channel. This intrinsic cell death determines a target-dependent cell death of granule cells and olivary neurons and cerebellum cytoarchitecture is severely disrupted in the adult Lurcher mutant. Although the +/Lc mutant has been widely characterized, less is known about the molecules involved in +/Lc PC death. We, here, used organotypic cerebellar slice cultures from P0 mice to investigate the role of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in +/Lc PC death by using D-JNKI1 as very specific tool to inhibit its action. Our results showed that D-JNKI1 treatment increased the number of +/Lc PC at 14 DIV of 3.6-fold. Conversely, this specific JNK inhibitor cell permeable peptide did not increase PC number in +/+ treated versus untreated cultures. These results clearly indicate that JNK plays an important role in +/Lc PC mechanism of cell death.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine / genetics
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cell Death
  • Cell Membrane Permeability
  • Cerebellum / cytology*
  • Cerebellum / pathology
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Neurologic Mutants / physiology*
  • Mutation
  • Neurons / enzymology
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Peptides / physiology*
  • Purkinje Cells / cytology
  • Receptors, Glutamate / genetics*
  • Threonine / genetics

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Receptors, Glutamate
  • glutamate receptor delta 2
  • Threonine
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 4
  • D-JNKI-1
  • Alanine