The mammalian Chk2 kinase is thought to mediate ATM‐dependent signaling in response to DNA damage. The physiological role of mammalian Chk2 has now been investigated by the generation of Chk2‐deficient mice. Although Chk2−/− mice appeared normal, they were resistant to ionizing radiation (IR) as a result of the preservation of splenic lymphocytes. Thymocytes and neurons of the developing brain were also resistant to IR‐induced apoptosis. The IR‐induced G1/S cell cycle checkpoint, but not the G2/M or S phase checkpoints, was impaired in embryonic fibroblasts derived from Chk2−/− mice. IR‐induced stabilization of p53 in Chk2−/− cells was 50–70% of that in wild‐type cells. Caffeine further reduced p53 accumulation, suggesting the existence of an ATM/ATR‐dependent but Chk2‐independent pathway for p53 stabilization. In spite of p53 protein stabilization and phosphorylation of Ser23, p53‐dependent transcriptional induction of target genes, such as p21 and Noxa, was not observed in Chk2−/− cells. Our results show that Chk2 plays a critical role in p53 function in response to IR by regulating its transcriptional activity as well as its stability.
Streptozotocin (STZ), a glucose analogue known to induce diabetes in experimental animals, causes DNA strand breaks and subsequent activation of poly(ADPribose) polymerase (Parp). Because Parp uses NAD as a substrate, extensive DNA damage will result in reduction of cellular NAD level. In fact, STZ induces NAD depletion and cell death in isolated pancreatic islets in vitro. Activation of Parp therefore is thought to play an important role in STZ-induced diabetes. In the present study, we established Parp-deficient (Parp ؊/؊ ) mice by disrupting Parp exon 1 by using the homologous recombination technique. These mice were used to examine the possible involvement of Parp in STZ-induced -cell damage in vivo. The wild-type (Parp ؉/؉ ) mice showed significant increases in blood glucose concentration from 129 mg͞dl to 218, 370, 477, and 452 mg͞dl on experimental days 1, 7, 21, and 60, respectively, after a single injection of 180 mg STZ͞kg body weight. In contrast, the concentration of blood glucose in Parp ؊/؊ mice remained normal up to day 7, slightly increased on day 21, but returned to normal levels on day 60. STZ injection caused extensive necrosis in the islets of Parp ؉/؉ mice on day 1, with subsequent progressive islet atrophy and loss of functional  cells from day 7. In contrast, the extent of islet -cell death and dysfunction was markedly less in Parp ؊/؊ mice. Our findings clearly implicate Parp activation in islet -cell damage and glucose intolerance induced by STZ in vivo.Various types of DNA damage produced by many environmental chemicals or reactive oxygen species generated by inflammatory reactions contribute to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) through the induction of -cell death in pancreatic islets (1-3). Acute exposure to streptozotocin [2-deoxy-2-(3-methyl-3-nitrosourea)l-D-glucopyranose, STZ] induces massive -cell death and diabetes mellitus in experimental animals (4, 5). STZ also causes a rapid depletion of cellular NAD in islets (6-9), but this depletion is prevented by injection of nicotinamide immediately before or soon after the administration of STZ (10). Okamoto and colleagues (2, 11) demonstrated that STZ induces DNA strand breaks and activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (Parp) with subsequent reduction of NAD levels in the isolated pancreatic islets in vitro. These findings suggest the involvement of Parp as a key molecule in STZ-induced -cell death and diabetes through extensive poly(ADP-ribose) formation and NAD depletion, leading to reduction of ATP level and cell death. In agreement with this hypothesis, Parp inhibitors such as 3-aminobenzamide or nicotinamide prevent the depletion of NAD and induction of STZ-induced -cell death (12, 13). However, because Parp inhibitors possess other effects, such as scavenging hydrogen peroxide (14), it is not clear whether and how Parp activity contributes to -cell death and the development of diabetes in vivo. Thus, engineering of a Parp-deficient animal model would be useful for investigating the role of Parp in S...
The Kϩ Cl Ϫ cotransporter KCC2 plays an important role in chloride homeostasis and in neuronal responses mediated by ionotropic GABA and glycine receptors. The expression levels of KCC2 in neurons determine whether neurotransmitter responses are inhibitory or excitatory. KCC2 expression is decreased in developing neurons, as well as in response to various models of neuronal injury and epilepsy. We investigated whether there is also direct modulation of KCC2 activity by changes in phosphorylation during such neuronal stressors.
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the mature central nervous system (CNS). The developmental switch of GABAergic transmission from excitation to inhibition is induced by changes in Cl− gradients, which are generated by cation-Cl− co-transporters. An accumulation of Cl− by the Na+-K+-2Cl− co-transporter (NKCC1) increases the intracellular Cl− concentration ([Cl−]i) such that GABA depolarizes neuronal precursors and immature neurons. The subsequent ontogenetic switch, i.e., upregulation of the Cl−-extruder KCC2, which is a neuron-specific K+-Cl− co-transporter, with or without downregulation of NKCC1, results in low [Cl−]i levels and the hyperpolarizing action of GABA in mature neurons. Development of Cl− homeostasis depends on developmental changes in NKCC1 and KCC2 expression. Generally, developmental shifts (decreases) in [Cl−]i parallel the maturation of the nervous system, e.g., early in the spinal cord, hypothalamus and thalamus, followed by the limbic system, and last in the neocortex. There are several regulators of KCC2 and/or NKCC1 expression, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Therefore, regionally different expression of these regulators may also contribute to the regional developmental shifts of Cl− homeostasis. KCC2 and NKCC1 functions are also regulated by phosphorylation by enzymes such as PKC, Src-family tyrosine kinases, and WNK1–4 and their downstream effectors STE20/SPS1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase (SPAK)-oxidative stress responsive kinase-1 (OSR1). In addition, activation of these kinases is modulated by humoral factors such as estrogen and taurine. Because these transporters use the electrochemical driving force of Na+ and K+ ions, topographical interaction with the Na+-K+ ATPase and its modulators such as creatine kinase (CK) should modulate functions of Cl− transporters. Therefore, regional developmental regulation of these regulators and modulators of Cl− transporters may also play a pivotal role in the development of Cl− homeostasis.
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