Early increase of apoptosis-linked gene-2 interacting protein X in areas of kainate-induced neurodegeneration

Neuroscience. 2004;123(4):887-95. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2003.10.036.

Abstract

Apoptosis-linked gene-2 interacting protein X (Alix) is thought to be involved in both cell death and vesicular trafficking. We examined Alix expression 2 h, 6 h and 24 h after triggering seizure-dependent neuronal death by i.p. kainic acid injection. In the hippocampus, intense, transient immunolabelling was observed in the strata lucidum, oriens and radiatum, areas of high synaptic activity. The similarity of this distribution to those of synaptophysin and endophilin suggests a presynaptic localisation. Alix labelling was increased in neuronal cell bodies in kainate-sensitive regions before or concomitant with the first signs of oedema and/or neuronal eosinophilia. The increase persisted 24 h after kainate-injection in CA3 and the piriform cortex which are areas with massive swelling and numerous pyknotic neurons. This suggests that Alix may play an early role in the mechanisms leading to cell death. Taken together, our results suggest that Alix may be a molecular link between synaptic functioning and neuronal death.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing*
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western / methods
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Death / physiology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Kainic Acid
  • Male
  • Nerve Degeneration / chemically induced
  • Nerve Degeneration / metabolism*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Synaptophysin / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists
  • PDCD6IP protein, human
  • Pdcd6ip protein, rat
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • SH3GL2 protein, human
  • Synaptophysin
  • Kainic Acid