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Cesium chloride protects cerebellar granule neurons from apoptosis induced by low potassium
Author(s) -
Zhong Jin,
Yao Weiguo,
Lee Weihua
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2007.07.003
Subject(s) - neuroprotection , protein kinase b , apoptosis , kinase , mapk/erk pathway , pharmacology , neurodegeneration , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biology , neuroscience , cancer research , medicine , biochemistry , disease
Neuronal apoptosis plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, and neuroprotective agents targeting apoptotic signaling could have therapeutic use. Here we report that cesium chloride, an alternative medicine in treating radiological poison and cancer, has neuroprotective actions. Serum and potassium deprivation induced cerebellar granule neurons to undergo apoptosis, which correlated with the activation of caspase‐3. Cesium prevented both the activation of caspase‐3 and neuronal apoptosis in a dose‐dependent manner. Cesium at 8 mM increased the survival of neurons from 45 ± 3% to 91 ± 5% of control. Cesium's neuroprotection was not mediated by PI3/Akt or MAPK signaling pathways, since it was unable to activate either Akt or MAPK by phosphorylation. In addition, specific inhibitors of PI3 kinase and MAP kinase did not block cesium's neuroprotective effects. On the other hand, cesium inactivated GSK3β by phosphorylation of serine‐9 and GSK3β‐specific inhibitor SB415286 prevented neuronal apoptosis. These data indicate that cesium's neuroprotection is likely via inactivating GSK3β. Furthermore, cesium also prevented H 2 O 2 ‐induced neuronal death (increased the survival of neurons from 72 ± 4% to 89 ± 3% of control). Given its relative safety and good penetration of the brain blood barrier, our findings support the potential therapeutic use of cesium in neurodegenerative diseases.