Inhibition of Tau Phosphorylation as a Potential Strategy in Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease

1. Introduction

At present, Parkinson’s disease (PD) has become the third most common neuropathy following cerebrovascular diseases and epilepsy, and is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is growing evidence that neuronal apoptosis plays a key role in the mechanism in PD, AD and other neurodegenerative diseases [Mattson, 2000; Yuan & Yankner, 2000]. Therefore, regulating neuronal apoptosis signaling pathway will provide a theoretical basis to reveal the mechanism of neuronal apoptosis; and on the basis of research, development of anti- neuronal apoptosis drugs to selectively interfere with critical target of apoptosis signaling pathway would be an important means in prevention of neurodegenerative diseases effectively.

Although subject to intensive research, the etiology of PD is still enigmatic, which in turn has hindered the development of effective treatment. Today, PD treatment is basically symptomatic, and no neuroprotective therapies are available. The current therapy for PD mainly aims at replacing the lost neurotransmitters. The signs and symptoms of PD can be alleviated with drugs that enhance dopamine function, among which, levodopa is considered the most effective one. The most severe shortcoming of levodopa treatment is that it fails to alter the progression of PD. Patients with advanced PD may develop a variety of motor complications associated with levodopa therapy, such as switching phenomena and dyskinesia [Rylander et al., 2010]. More disappointing is the therapeutic effect of levodopa weakens after about two years (Marsden & Parkes, 1977). Therefore, there is still an urgent need of finding more beneficial treatment strategy for the disease. Here, we proposed a neuroprotective drugs to effectively control the course of PD: it can inhibit substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons from "primary" progressive loss, so as to achieve the purpose of effective treatment of Parkinson’s Disease.

2. Inhibition of tau phosphorylation as a potential strategy in treating PD

Dopamine neurons have a strong ability of physiological compensation before the disease is clinically evident. Generally, the disease become clinically evident (decompensated state) when the dopamine neuron loss is sufficiently severe (greater than 75% of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons) [Lloyd, 1977]. It is well known that programmed cell death (apoptosis) plays a key role in the neurodegenerative processes in PD [Büeler, 2010; Nagatsu & Sawada, 2007]. Several intraneuronal pathways are implicated in N-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6- tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) -induced neuronal apoptosis [Chung et al., 2010; Ethell & Fei, 2009; Karunakaran et al., 2008; Saporito et al., 2010]. These include c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) signaling, p53 activation, cell cycle re-activation, Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3)/Tau signaling pathway, signaling through bcl-2 family proteins and so on. The neurotoxin MPTP is converted in the brain into 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium iodide [MPP (+)] by the enzyme monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). MPP (+) is a selective inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I and is widely used in rodent and cell models to elicit neurochemical alterations associated with PD. We had found 10μmol/L MPP (+) activated JNK, phosphorylated c-Jun and induced neuronal apoptosis. It decreased the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunopositive cells and reduced cytoplasmic volume. SP600125 [Bennet et al., 2001], the specific inhibitor of JNK protected dopaminergic neurons and increased the number of TH immunopositive cells via inhibiting c-Jun phosphorylation. These results indicated that SP600125 inhibited the activation of JNK and therefore protected dopaminergic mesencephalic neurons from apoptosis induced by MPP(+), which suggested that JNK might be a new target of influencing neuronal apoptosis [Wang et al., 2004]. Therefore, we had first proposed a new strategy for PD treatment, which is using a specific inhibitor of JNK. Of course, there are a great number of “targets” to interfere with nigral dopaminergic neuronal apoptosis, such as GSK-3β, also named as Tau protein kinase I (TPK I).

2.1. The tau protein

Tau is a low molecular weight component of cytoskeletal structures. It is one of several types of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) which regulate the assembly and stability of microtubule networks. Although microtubule networks exist in all kinds of animal and plant cells, the mRNAs encoding tau proteins are expressed predominantly in neurons, where these tau proteins are localized mostly to axons [Higuchi et al., 2002]. They are abundant in neurons in the central nervous system and are less common elsewhere. This unique feature suggests that Tau may have neuron-specific functions. In a healthy person, tau protein interacts with a compound called tubulin to strengthen the neural tubes in the axons of neurons. The neural tubes essentially act like train tracks for signals to pass along the axon. Disruption in the level of tau protein can lead to instability in the neural tubes, which makes it difficult for neurons to pass signals along [Kowall & Kosik, 1987]. When tau proteins are defective, and no longer stabilize microtubules properly, they can result in dementias, such as Alzheimer's disease [Sergeant et al., 2008].

2.2. Normal functions of tau phosphorylation

Protein phosphorylation is widely used to regulate cellular processes, because it can affect binding between two proteins. Phosphorylation is a process that adds a phosphate group to a protein, particularly on the amino acid serine, threonine or tyrosine. For the Tau protein, its association with microtubules is inhibited if certain residues in its microtubule binding domain are phosphorylated [Gendron & Petrucelli, 2009]. The phosphorylation of tau plays a physiological role in regulating the affinity of tau for microtubules. Though less well studied, phosphorylation also regulates the binding of tau to signaling molecules and could thus influence tau-mediated signaling [Reynolds et al., 2008]. The kinases that phosphorylate tau can be divided into two major groups, according to motif specificity: proline-directed protein kinases (PDPK) and non-proline-directed protein kinases (non-PDPK). The PDPK include cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (cdk5), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and several stress-activated protein kinases. GSK3-β is often described as a PDPK but the proline is not always required for phosphorylation by GSK3-β.The phosphorylation of tau by these kinases inhibits the ability of tau to promote microtubule assembly and facilitates the polymerization of tau into paired helical filaments (PHFs) [Evans et al., 2000]. Among the non-PDPK are cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), and microtubule affinity regulating kinase (MARK). Unbound tau may then be hyperphosphorylated by other kinases. In fact, the phosphorylation of tau by MARK may be a prerequisite for the action of downstream kinases, including GSK-3β and Cdk5 [Nishimura et al., 2004].

Recently, Tau has received great attention because mounting evidence has indicated that hyperphosphorylation of Tau is the origin of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In an AD brain, too many residues in the Tau protein are phosphorylated [Buerger et al., 2006; Schönknecht et al., 2003 ]

2.3. Phosphorylation of tau in PD

Hyperphosphorylation and accumulation of Tau in neurons and glial cells result in PHFs and is one of the main pathologic hallmarks in many neurodegenerative disorders such as AD and other Tauopathies [Sato et al., 2006]. Phospho-Tau (Ser396) has been found in synaptic-enriched fractions in AD frontal cortex at entorhinal/transentorhinal, limbic and neocortical stages [Muntané et al., 2008]. GSK-3β- immunoprecipitated sarcosyl-insoluble fractions from AD patients can phosphorylate recombinant Tau [Ferrer et al., 2005]. Densitometric studies show between 20% and 40% phospho-Tau (Ser396) in synaptic-enriched fractions of the frontal cortex in PD [Muntané et al., 2008]. Moreover, Tau- immunoreactive Lewy bodies (LBs) are detected in the medulla of 80% of individuals with sporadic PD or dementia with LBs, where Tau is often localized at the periphery of LBs [Ishizawa et al., 2003]. We also found MPP (+)/MPTP induced abnormal phosphorylation of Tau at Ser396 in nigra in PD models. To investigate whether Tau is phosphorylated in MPTP-treated dopaminergic neurons, we examined the histochemical localization of Tau (Ser396) phosphorylation level in SNc following treatment with MPTP. TH immunofluorescence was used to detect DA neurons. Three months old adult male C₅₇ black mice were given MPTP at a dose of 30mg/kg ip. once daily for 7 days. SNc slices were prepared 6 h after the third MPTP injection, and double-labeled with antibodies against TH and phospho-Tau (Ser396). We found that in MPTP-treated mice, nearly all TH positive cells exhibited the increased levels in phopspho-Tau, whereas no loss of TH positive cells was observed. Furthermore, many TH negative cells were stained with phopspho-Tau, but the levels were unchanged between MPTP-treated and untreated mice [Wang et al., 2007]. Cell counting results showed that in MPTP-treated group the percentage of phopspho-Tau stained neurons in TH positive cells was increased to 98%, while the control was just 37%. These results suggest that after MPTP treatment, Tau is selectively phosphorylated in dopaminergic neurons. Similarly, Qureshi HY found that exposure of human neuroblastoma M17 cells to MPTP enhances intracellular alpha-synuclein protein level, stimulates Tau protein phosphorylation at Ser262 and induces apoptosis [Qureshi & Paudel, 2010].

2.4. Preventing tau phosphorylation rescued neurons

A cdk5 inhibitory peptide (CIP) selectively inhibited p25/Cdk5 activity and suppressed the aberrant Tau phosphorylation and reduced apoptosis in cortical neurons [Zheng et al., 2005]. In SH-SY5Y-cotransfected cells expressing α-Syn and human dopamine transporter (hDAT), both LiCl and TDZD-8 blocked GSK-3β activation in a dose-dependent manner, with concomitant decreases in hyperphosphorylation of Tau and cell death [Duka & Sidhu, 2006; Duka et al., 2009]. A GSK-3beta specific inhibitor, L803-mt, attenuated Tau phosphorylation and rescued DA neurons from cell death in mesencephalic cultures [Chung et al., 2010]. We had reported that AR-A014418, a specific inhibitor of GSK-3β, reduced the levels of phospho-Tau (Ser396), protected nigral neurons from apoptosis, and restored the depletion of dopamine evoked by MPTP in C₅₇BL/6N mice [Wang et al.,2007].

2.5. Two anticancer drugs dephosphorylated tau and rescued dopaminergic neurons

2.5.1. Chromomycin A3 protected cultured dopaminergic neurons from apoptosis induced by MPP(+)

Chromomycin A3 (Fig.1.) is a glycosidic antibiotic produced at the fermentation of a strainof Streptomyces griseus. It is also called toyomycin or aburamycin. It is not only an antibacterial antibiotic, but also an antitumor antibiotic that inhibits RNA synthesis, especially in solid tumors. Chromomycin belongs to the DNA-interactive Drugs. The compound blocks macromolecule synthesis by a specific, reversible interaction with DNA in the presence of bivalent metal ions. Binding to DNA minor groove mediates an efficient competitive inhibition of DNA gyrase and significantly affects topoisomerase II activity [Hou et al., 2008].

Figure 1.

Chemical structure of Chromomycin A3 [from sigmaaldrich]

Chromomycin A3 has also been shown to be a potent inhibitor of neuronal apoptosis induced by glutathione depletion-induced oxidative stress and DNA-damaging agent Camptothecin [Chatterjee et al., 2001]. Mechanistic studies suggest that chromomycin A3 antagonizes enhanced DNA binding of the transcription factors Sp1 and Sp3 to their cognate "G-C" box, induced by oxidative stress or DNA damage [Chatterjee et al., 2001]. Furthermore, by inhibiting transcription, chromomycin A3 can inhibit protein biosynthesis. Miller identified chromomycin A3 that inhibited NF-kappaB signaling in a NF-kappaB mediated beta-lactamase reporter gene assay. It induced caspase 3/7 activity and had an inhibitory effect on cervical cancer cell growth [Miller et al., 2010]. We know that oxidative stress and elevation of intracellular calcium levels are particularly important inducers of NF-kappaB activation. Activation of NF-kappaB can interrupt apoptotic biochemical cascades at relatively early steps, before mitochondrial dysfunction and oxyradical production. The available data identify NF-kappaB as an important regulator of evolutionarily conserved biochemical and molecular cascades designed to prevent cell death and promote neuronal plasticity [Mattson et al., 2000]. Together, these results suggest that chromomycin A3 may be effective agents for the treatment of neurological diseases associated with aberrant activation of apoptosis and highlight the potential use of sequence-selective DNA-binding drugs as neurological therapeutics. Last year, we reported that chromomycin A3 inhibited Tau phosphorylation at Ser396 and therefore protected dopaminergic mesencephalic neurons from apoptosis induced by MPP (+) [Wang et al., 2010].

2.5.2. Mithramycin prevented MPP(+)-induced cultured neuronal apoptosis

Chromomycin A3 and mithramycin (also known as MIT and plicamycin) are two DNA binding anticancer antibiotics, acting via inhibition of replication and transcription during macromolecular biosynthesis. The clinical use of chromomycin A3 is limited because of its immuno suppressive properties and greater cytotoxic effects. But mithramycin is one of the older chemotherapy drugs, which has been in use for decades. Mithramycin (Fig.2.) selectively binds to G-C-rich DNA in the presence of Mg (2+) or Zn (2+), inhibiting RNA and DNA polymerase action [Majee & Chakrabarti, 1999]. It also inhibits c-myc expression and induces myeloid differentiation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells [Dutcher, 1997]. This drug is prescribed primarily in the treatment of malignant tumors of the testis. It is also prescribed in the treatment of hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria associated with cancer [Rosol & Capen, 1987]. It is given by intravenous route only. It was discontinued as of 2000 by the manufacturer based on decreased demand.

Figure 2.

Chemical structure of mithramycin [from sigmaaldrich]

Renewed interest in mithramycin resulted in about 50 mithramycin related publications in the first half of 2010 alone. Most publications mentioned anti-cancer abilities of the compound, but other medical conditions were also referred, such as: Huntington's disease (HD) neurodegeneration [BirZeit P.A, on line]. Recent research shows that it is helpful in treating motor symptoms and prolonging life in a mouse model of HD [Ferrante et al., 2004].

Figure 3.

Mithramycin inhibited MPP (+)–induced apoptosis in cultured dopaminergic neurons. Dopaminergic mesencephalic neurons were obtained from 14-day-old fetal rats. At DIV5, 10 μM MPP(+) was used to induce neuronal apoptosis for 48h. Specific TH-antibody was used to detect dopaminergic neurons. (a) control, Fluorescent micrograph by fluorescence microscope showing TH positive cells visualized with FITS (green); (b) 10μM MPP(+) decreased TH positive cells and reduced cytoplasmic volume; (c) 0.2μM mithramycin, and (d) 0.5μM mithramycin rescued TH positive cells. Scale bar = 50μm.

Pharmacological treatment of a transgenic mouse model of HD (R6/2) with mithramycin extended survival by 29.1%, greater than any single agent reported to date. Increased survival was accompanied by improved motor performance and markedly delayed neuropathological sequelae. Voisin screened candidate therapeutic compounds that were identified previously in cell culture/animal studies in a C. elegans HD model and found that two FDA approved drugs, lithium chloride and mithramycin, independently and in combination suppressed HD neurotoxicity [Voisine et al., 2007]. Because it is Food and Drug Administration-approved, researchers thought mithramycin is a promising drug for the treatment of HD. Since mithramycin has enhanced neuronal survival and neuroprotection, it may protect dopaminergic neurons. We also use cultured dopaminergic mesencephalic neurons with MPP (+) as PD cell model.Fig. 4. TUNEL figures of inhibitory effect of mithramycin on dopaminergic neuronal apoptosis induced by MPP (+). Dopaminergic mesencephalic neurons were obtained from 14-day-old fetal rats. At DIV5, 10 μM MPP(+) was used to induce neuronal apoptosis for 48h. Specific TH-antibody was used to detect dopaminergic neurons. (a) Positive control. Strong TUNEL labeling showed apoptotic bodies in all kinds of cells; (b) control, vehicle-treated Neurons;(c) 10 μM MPP (+) induced neurons apoptosis (green) and decreased TH immunopositive cells (red). White arrow showed apoptotic dopaminergic neurons (yellow). (d) Fewer TUNEL-positive cells were shown with 1.0 μM mithramycin treatment. Scale bar = 50μm.

The embryos were removed at embryonic day 14 from pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats that had been anesthetized, then decerebrated. Ventral mesencephalon were dissected and collected. Cell suspensions prepared by mechanical trituration precoated overnight with 1 mg/ml polyethylenimine in borate buffer, pH 8.3. The cells were then maintained for maturation and differentiation in DMEM/F12 culture medium. Cultures were treated at DIV1 and every three days 250 µL of culture medium were replaced by medium supplemented with treatments. At DIV5, 250 µL of 500 µL medium were replaced by fresh medium supplemented or not with mithramycin at 200, 500, 1000 nM and 10 µM of MPP (+) were added. After 48 h, cells were fixed for 15 min with a 4% formaldehyde solution, washed three times with 500 µL PBS then submitted to TH immunostaining to allow analysis of DA neurons. Undoubtedly, MPP (+) induced apoptosis in cultured dopaminergic mesencephalic neurons. It decreased the number of TH positive cells and reduced cytoplasmic volume. 200, 500 and 1000 nM mithramycin rescued TH immunopositive cells from cytotoxic MPP (+) (Fig.3.). To detect DNA fragmentation, we used TUNEL. TUNEL is one of the main methods for detecting apoptotic programmed cell death. We found 1.0 μM mithramycin reduced MPP (+)-caused TUNEL-positive cells (Fig.4.)

Mithramycin not only increased the number of TH immunopositive cells, but also showed protective action in a dose-dependent manner (Table 1). Interesting, mithramycin also decreased the levels of phosphorylated Tau (Fig.5).

Mithramycin (μmol/L)	Neuronal Survival ( % control)
0	32.8 ± 2.7
0.2	42.8 ± 5.2 *
0.5	57.1 ± 6.3 **
1.0	65.9 ± 7.3 **
2.0	76.3 ± 8.7 **
5.0	87.3 ± 8.4 **

Table 1.

Protective effect of mithramycin on dopaminergic neuronal apoptosis induced by MPP (+) in a concentration-denpendent manner. * P<0.05, ** P<0.01, compared with control. Control neurons were maintained in DMEM/F12 medium. Neuronal survival was calculated as percentage neuronal survival = (TH positive cells with different concentrations of mithramycin and 10 μM MPP (+) for 48 h / TH positive cells in control medium) ×100. Mean±S.E. (n = 3 independent experiments).

Figure 4.

Mithramycin attenuated Tau (Ser396) phosphorylation induced by MPP (+) in cultured dopaminergic neurons. Detection of p-Tau (Ser396) expression in cultured fetal dopaminergic mesencephalic neurons by immunohistochemistry was at 12 h after MPP (+) treatment. Specific TH-antibody was used to detect dopaminergic neurons. (a) Control, vehicle-treated cultures stained for TH (green) and phospho-Tau (Ser396) (red). (b) A culture treated with 10 μM MPP(+) for 12 h. Note more Tau (Ser396) were phosphorylated, resulting in neurons staining with salmon pink (white arrows). (c) Photomicrograph of a culture treated with 1.0 μM mithramycin. Note MPP (+) increased Tau (ser396) phosphorylation in TH positive neurons which can be prevented by mithramycin. Scale bar=50μm.

Because mithramycin is Food and Drug Administration-approved, it may be a promising drug for the treatment of PD.

3. Conclusions

Among kinases involved in Tau modifications, two are the most relevant: Tau protein kinase I (TPK I) also named GSK-3β and Tau kinase II (TPK II), which is a complex of two subunits: cdk5 and p35 [Alejandra et al., 1999]. In addition to hyperphosphorylation of Tau, p-GSK-3β has the capacity to phosphorylate several transcription factors (such as Jun, Myc, HSF-1, and cAMP response element-binding protein within the nucleus) and the multifunctional protein-catenin, as well as the nerve growth factor receptor [Muntané et al., 2008]. This means different roads meat in Tau (Fig.6). As one of the numerous substrates of GSK-3β/cdk5/p35, Tau has limited roles. The adverse reactions of inhibiting Tau phosphorylation must be less than those of inhibiting GSK-3β activity. Since tau plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease [Lei et al., 2010], blockade of tau by specific inhibitors may prevent or effectively slow the progression of PD and other neurodegenerative diseases. It is exciting possibility a drug will soon be developed, as there is a patent for the use of aminoindazole derivatives for the inhibition of tau phosphorylation (United States Patent 7629374). This made it possible, which is inhibiting Tau phosphorylation as a potential strategy in treating PD. On the other side, mithramycin and chromomycin A3 are both in clinical use to treat malignant neoplasms. Ultilising approved drugs in "off label" indications can speed up the delivery of new therapies.

Figure 5.

The Simple diagram of GSK-3β/Tau signal pathways.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No.30400124 and No.81030024); the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (Grants No.93510089010000003); the funds for good middle-aged/young technology talents of Southern Medical University (Grants No. C1010098).