Neurotrophin regulation of energy homeostasis in the central nervous system

G. R. Jackson, K. Werrbach-Perez, Z. Pan, D. Sampath, J. R. Perez-Polo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

Our hypothesis is that one cause of neuronal cell death and shrinkage in the aged central nervous system is an inability of neurons to maintain oxidant homeostasis in the face of increased levels of reactive oxygen species, decreased endogenous antioxidants, and impaired energy metabolism associated with physiological senescence, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases. Since treatment with nerve growth factor (NGF) reverses behavioral impairments in aged rats and stimulates cholinergic activity in the basal forebrain, while brain-derived neurotrophic factor appears to play a similar role in the striatum, we propose that neurotrophin-mediated cell-sparing reflects effects on oxidant homeostasis. Neurotrophins may play a similar cell-sparing role in hypoxic/ischemic injury to the nervous system, which also is mediated in pan by reactive oxygen species. The degradation of one such species, H2O2, is catalyzed by catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH Px). The activity of the latter enzyme is dependent on glutathione reductase and the availability of NADPH for regeneration of reduced GSH. The GSH redox cycle is also regulated by enzymes of the hexose monophosphate shunt. NGF protects PC 12 cells from H2O2 injury by stimulating the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes including catalase, GSH Px, gIucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, the rate-limiting enzyme for glutathione synthesis. NGF also enhances recovery from the NAD+ losses occurring as a consequence of H2O2 treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)285-290
Number of pages6
JournalDevelopmental Neuroscience
Volume16
Issue number5-6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1994
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Catalase
  • Glutathione
  • Glutathione peroxidase
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Nerve growth factor
  • Neurotrophin
  • Oxidative stress
  • PC12 cells

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Developmental Neuroscience

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