Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Cytoskeletal integrity as a drug target.

M L Michaelis1, K I Seyb, S Ansar

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA. mlm@ku.edu

Current Alzheimer Research
|June 25, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Microtubules (MTs) are crucial for cell signaling and neuronal health. Stabilizing MTs protects neurons from toxic insults, suggesting MT-targeting drugs could treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Acute mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 inhibition improves functional recovery and vascular changes after ischaemic stroke in rat-monitored by 9.4 T magnetic resonance imaging.

Acta physiologica (Oxford, England)·2017
Same author

Protective effect of diallylsulphide against mercuric chloride-induced hepatic injury in rats.

Human & experimental toxicology·2016
Same author

Inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 in the acute phase of stroke improves long-term neurological outcome and promotes recovery processes in rats.

Acta physiologica (Oxford, England)·2015
Same author

Ameliorative effect of butylated hydroxyanisole against ferric nitrilotriacetate-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats.

Toxicology and industrial health·2015
Same author

Effect of Selenium on the Levels of Cytokines and Trace Elements in Toxin-Mediated Oxidative Stress in Male Rats.

Biological trace element research·2015
Same author

Antioxidant and nephroprotective potential of butylated hydroxyanisole against ferric nitrilotriacetate-induced oxidative stress and early tumor events.

Human & experimental toxicology·2015

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The cytoskeleton, particularly microtubules (MTs), plays a vital role in cellular structure, protein localization, and intracellular transport.
  • While traditionally studied for structural functions, the cytoskeleton's involvement in cell signaling, including signal transduction from the plasma membrane to the nucleus, is increasingly recognized.
  • Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are composed of the microtubule-associated protein tau, and amyloid peptides in AD can induce tau hyper-phosphorylation and cytoskeletal damage, implicating MT disruption in neurodegeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that drugs interacting with MTs can protect neurons against amyloid-beta (Abeta) toxicity by modulating early signaling events.
  • To investigate the role of the cytoskeletal network as a sensor and transducer of cellular stress signals in neurons.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized neuronal cell cultures challenged with various toxic stimuli.
  • Administered low concentrations of compounds designed to stabilize MTs.
  • Assessed the protective effects of these compounds against cytoskeletal disruption and neuritic dystrophy.

Main Results:

  • Low concentrations of MT-stabilizing compounds demonstrated a protective effect on post-mitotic neurons against toxic stimuli.
  • These agents successfully protected against the disruption of the cytoskeleton and neuritic dystrophy in neuronal cell cultures.

Conclusions:

  • The cytoskeletal network functions as a critical sensor and transducer of neuronal stress signals.
  • Modulating early signaling events through MT stabilization offers a promising therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative conditions.
  • Further development of agents that protect cytoskeletal integrity and cross the blood-brain barrier is necessary for in vivo applications in animal models.

Related Experiment Videos