Sodium valproate exerts neuroprotective effects in vivo through CREB-binding protein-dependent mechanisms but does not improve survival in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model.

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Date publication

mai 2007

Auteurs

Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr LOEFFLER Jean-Philippe


Tous les auteurs :
Rouaux C, Panteleeva I, Rene F, Gonzalez de Aguilar JL, Echaniz-Laguna A, Dupuis L, Menger Y, Boutillier AL, Loeffler JP

Résumé

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by motoneuron (MN) degeneration, generalized weakness, and muscle atrophy. The premature death of MNs is thought to be a determinant in the onset of this disease. In a transgenic mouse model of ALS expressing the G86R mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (mSOD1), we demonstrated previously that CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein)-binding protein (CBP) and histone acetylation levels were specifically decreased in nuclei of degenerating MNs. We show here that oxidative stress and mSOD1 overexpression can both impinge on CBP levels by transcriptional repression, in an MN-derived cell line. Histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) treatment was able to reset proper acetylation levels and displayed an efficient neuroprotective capacity against oxidative stress in vitro. Interestingly, HDACi also upregulated CBP transcriptional expression in MNs. Moreover, when injected to G86R mice in vivo, the HDACi sodium valproate (VPA) maintained normal acetylation levels in the spinal cord, efficiently restored CBP levels in MNs, and significantly prevented MN death in these animals. However, despite neuroprotection, mean survival of treated animals was not significantly improved (

Référence

J Neurosci. 2007 May 23;27(21):5535-45.