Thiazolidinedione (TZD) class of peroxisome proliferator receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonists display neuroprotective effects in experimental Parkinson's disease (PD) models. Neurons and microglia express PPAR-γ, therefore both of them are potential targets for neuroprotection, although the role of each cell type is not clear. Moreover, receptor-dependent as well as receptor-independent mechanisms have been involved. This study further investigated mechanisms of TZD-mediated neuroprotection in PD. We investigated the rosiglitazone effect in the progressive MPTP/probenecid (MPTPp) model of PD. C57BL/6J mice received MPTP (25 mg/kg) plus probenecid (100 mg/kg) twice per week for 5 weeks. Rosiglitazone (10 mg/kg) was given daily until sacrifice, starting on the fourth week of MPTPp treatment, in presence of an ongoing neurodegeneration with microgliosis. Changes in PPAR-γ levels were measured by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons and CD11b-positive microglia of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Chronic MPTPp treatment induced a PPAR-γ overexpression in both TH-positive neurons and microglia (139.9% and 121.7% over vehicle, respectively). Rosiglitazone administration to MPTPp-treated mice, reverted PPAR-γ overexpression in microglia without affecting TH-positive neurons. Thereafter, changes in CD11b and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) immunoreactivity in microglia were evaluated in the SNc. MPTPp progressively increased CD11b immunoreactivity, conferring to microglia a highly activated morphology. Moreover, TNF-α levels were increased (457.38% over vehicle) after MPTPp. Rosiglitazone administration counteracted the increase in CD11b immunoreactivity caused by MPTPp. Moreover, rosiglitazone reverted TNF-α expression to control levels. Nigrostriatal degeneration was assessed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) measurement of striatal dopamine, and counting of TH-positive neurons in the SNc. MPTPp treatment caused a severe decline of striatal dopamine and a partial degeneration of the SNc. Rosiglitazone arrested the degenerative process in both areas. Results suggest that PPAR-γ expression in microglia and TNF-α production by these cells are crucial changes by which rosiglitazone exerts neuroprotection in PD.

Rosiglitazone decreases peroxisome proliferator receptor-gamma levels in microglia and inhibits TNF-alpha production: new evidences on neuroprotection in a progressive Parkinson's disease model.

CARTA, ANNAROSA;FRAU, LUCIA;SPIGA, SATURNINO;CARBONI, EZIO
2011-01-01

Abstract

Thiazolidinedione (TZD) class of peroxisome proliferator receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) agonists display neuroprotective effects in experimental Parkinson's disease (PD) models. Neurons and microglia express PPAR-γ, therefore both of them are potential targets for neuroprotection, although the role of each cell type is not clear. Moreover, receptor-dependent as well as receptor-independent mechanisms have been involved. This study further investigated mechanisms of TZD-mediated neuroprotection in PD. We investigated the rosiglitazone effect in the progressive MPTP/probenecid (MPTPp) model of PD. C57BL/6J mice received MPTP (25 mg/kg) plus probenecid (100 mg/kg) twice per week for 5 weeks. Rosiglitazone (10 mg/kg) was given daily until sacrifice, starting on the fourth week of MPTPp treatment, in presence of an ongoing neurodegeneration with microgliosis. Changes in PPAR-γ levels were measured by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons and CD11b-positive microglia of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Chronic MPTPp treatment induced a PPAR-γ overexpression in both TH-positive neurons and microglia (139.9% and 121.7% over vehicle, respectively). Rosiglitazone administration to MPTPp-treated mice, reverted PPAR-γ overexpression in microglia without affecting TH-positive neurons. Thereafter, changes in CD11b and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) immunoreactivity in microglia were evaluated in the SNc. MPTPp progressively increased CD11b immunoreactivity, conferring to microglia a highly activated morphology. Moreover, TNF-α levels were increased (457.38% over vehicle) after MPTPp. Rosiglitazone administration counteracted the increase in CD11b immunoreactivity caused by MPTPp. Moreover, rosiglitazone reverted TNF-α expression to control levels. Nigrostriatal degeneration was assessed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) measurement of striatal dopamine, and counting of TH-positive neurons in the SNc. MPTPp treatment caused a severe decline of striatal dopamine and a partial degeneration of the SNc. Rosiglitazone arrested the degenerative process in both areas. Results suggest that PPAR-γ expression in microglia and TNF-α production by these cells are crucial changes by which rosiglitazone exerts neuroprotection in PD.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11584/109624
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 51
  • Scopus 121
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 115
social impact