Survival effect of PDGF-CC rescues neurons from apoptosis in both brain and retina by regulating GSK3beta phosphorylation

J Exp Med. 2010 Apr 12;207(4):867-80. doi: 10.1084/jem.20091704. Epub 2010 Mar 15.

Abstract

Platelet-derived growth factor CC (PDGF-CC) is the third member of the PDGF family discovered after more than two decades of studies on the original members of the family, PDGF-AA and PDGF-BB. The biological function of PDGF-CC remains largely to be explored. We report a novel finding that PDGF-CC is a potent neuroprotective factor that acts by modulating glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) activity. In several different animal models of neuronal injury, such as axotomy-induced neuronal death, neurotoxin-induced neuronal injury, 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinson's dopaminergic neuronal death, and ischemia-induced stroke, PDGF-CC protein or gene delivery protected different types of neurons from apoptosis in both the retina and brain. On the other hand, loss-of-function assays using PDGF-C null mice, neutralizing antibody, or short hairpin RNA showed that PDGF-CC deficiency/inhibition exacerbated neuronal death in different neuronal tissues in vivo. Mechanistically, we revealed that the neuroprotective effect of PDGF-CC was achieved by regulating GSK3beta phosphorylation and expression. Our data demonstrate that PDGF-CC is critically required for neuronal survival and may potentially be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Inhibition of the PDGF-CC-PDGF receptor pathway for different clinical purposes should be conducted with caution to preserve normal neuronal functions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Antibodies / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Brain / blood supply
  • Brain / cytology*
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain Ischemia / pathology
  • Brain Ischemia / physiopathology
  • Brain Ischemia / prevention & control
  • Capillary Permeability / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / physiology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / blood supply
  • Cerebral Cortex / drug effects
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / genetics
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
  • Lymphokines / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Lymphokines / pharmacology
  • Lymphokines / physiology*
  • Lymphokines / therapeutic use
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • N-Methylaspartate / pharmacology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / chemically induced
  • Nerve Growth Factors / genetics
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Optic Nerve Injuries / drug therapy
  • Optic Nerve Injuries / pathology
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / chemically induced
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / metabolism
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / pathology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Phosphorylation / physiology
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / physiology*
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / therapeutic use
  • Rats
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / genetics
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / immunology
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / metabolism
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / genetics
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / immunology
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Retina / cytology*
  • Retina / drug effects
  • Retina / metabolism
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / cytology
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / drug effects
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / metabolism
  • Retinal Vessels / anatomy & histology
  • Retinal Vessels / drug effects
  • Stroke Volume / physiology
  • Substantia Nigra / drug effects
  • Substantia Nigra / metabolism
  • Substantia Nigra / pathology
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / genetics
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Lymphokines
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
  • platelet-derived growth factor C
  • N-Methylaspartate
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha
  • Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Gsk3b protein, mouse
  • Gsk3b protein, rat
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE19207