The Journal of Neuroscience, January 1, 2002, 22(1):274-283
Changes in Gene Expression Linked to Methamphetamine-Induced
Dopaminergic Neurotoxicity
Tao
Xie1,
Liqiong
Tong1,
Tanya
Barrett3,
Jie
Yuan1,
George
Hatzidimitriou1,
Una D.
McCann2,
Kevin G.
Becker3,
David M.
Donovan3, and
George A.
Ricaurte1
Departments of 1 Neurology and
2 Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, and the
3 Research Resources Branch, Intramural Research Program,
National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore,
Maryland 21224-6825
The purpose of these studies was to examine the role of gene
expression in methamphetamine (METH)-induced dopamine (DA)
neurotoxicity. First, the effects of the mRNA synthesis inhibitor,
actinomycin-D, and the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, were
examined. Both agents afforded complete protection against METH-induced DA neurotoxicity and did so independently of effects on core
temperature, DA transporter function, or METH brain levels, suggesting
that gene transcription and mRNA translation play a role in METH
neurotoxicity. Next, microarray technology, in combination with an
experimental approach designed to facilitate recognition of relevant
gene expression patterns, was used to identify gene products linked to
METH-induced DA neurotoxicity. This led to the identification of
several genes in the ventral midbrain associated with the neurotoxic
process, including genes for energy metabolism [cytochrome
c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1), reduced nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide ubiquinone oxidoreductase chain 2, and
phosphoglycerate mutase B], ion regulation (members of sodium/hydrogen
exchanger and sodium/bile acid cotransporter family), signal
transduction (adenylyl cyclase III), and cell differentiation and
degeneration (N-myc downstream-regulated gene 3 and tau
protein). Of these differentially expressed genes, we elected to
further examine the increase in COX1 expression, because of data
implicating energy utilization in METH neurotoxicity and the known role
of COX1 in energy metabolism. On the basis of time course studies,
Northern blot analyses, in situ hybridization results,
and temperature studies, we now report that increased COX1 expression
in the ventral midbrain is linked to METH-induced DA neuronal injury.
The precise role of COX1 and other genes in METH neurotoxicity remains
to be elucidated.
Key words:
amphetamines; neurotoxicity; dopamine; neurodegeneration; cytochrome c oxidase; microarray
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