Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience (Jan 2018)

Pin1 Promotes Regulated Necrosis Induced by Glutamate in Rat Retinal Neurons via CAST/Calpain2 Pathway

  • Shuchao Wang,
  • Lvshuang Liao,
  • Mi Wang,
  • Hongkang Zhou,
  • Yanxia Huang,
  • Zhen Wang,
  • Dan Chen,
  • Dan Ji,
  • Xiaobo Xia,
  • Yong Wang,
  • Fengxia Liu,
  • Jufang Huang,
  • Kun Xiong

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2017.00425
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (Pin1) can interact with calpastatin (CAST) and regulate CAST/calpain2, under excessive glutamate conditions, and subsequently regulate necrosis in rat retinal neurons. Glutamate triggered CAST/calpain2-mediated necrosis regulation in primary cultured retinal neurons, as demonstrated by propidium iodide-staining and lactate dehydrogenase assay. Co-IP results and a computer simulation suggested that Pin1 could bind to CAST. Western blot, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and phosphorylation analysis results demonstrated that CAST was regulated by Pin1, as proven by the application of juglone (i.e., a Pin1 specific inhibitor). The retinal ganglion cell 5 cell line, combined with siRNA approach and flow cytometry, was then used to verify the regulatory pathway of Pin1 in CAST/calpain2-modulated neuronal necrosis that was induced by glutamate. Finally, in vivo studies further confirmed the role of Pin1 in CAST/calpain2-modulated necrosis following glutamate excitation, in the rat retinal ganglion cell and inner nuclear layers. In addition, a flash electroretinogram study provided evidence for the recovery of impaired visual function, which was induced by glutamate, with juglone treatment. Our work aims to investigate the involvement of the Pin1-CAST/calpain2 pathway in glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity.

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