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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Ex Vivo Calcium Imaging for Drosophila Model of Epilepsy
Published on: October 13, 2023
Expression of calcineurin and its interacting proteins in epileptic fowl
Ashakumary Lakshmikuttyamma1, Ponniah Selvakumar, Chandrashekhar Charavaryamath
1Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Research Division, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Abstract:
Calcineurin (CaN), a Ca2+-calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein phosphatase, is important for Ca2+-mediated signal transduction. The main objective of this study was to examine the potential role of CaN in epileptic brain and its involvement in neuronal apoptosis. We investigated CaN expression and its interaction with various signaling molecules in normal, carrier and epileptic brain tissues of chicken. Our results revealed higher Ca2+-CaM-dependent phosphatase activity of CaN and a correspondingly strong immunoreactive band of CaN A in epileptic and carrier brain samples compared with normal brain. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis showed a higher level of expression of CaN in epileptic brain tissue. However, the intensity of immunoreactivity was less in carrier than epileptic brain. We observed that the interaction of CaN with m-calpain and micro-calpain was strong in carrier and epileptic chickens compared with that in normal birds. In addition, the interaction of CaN with Bcl-2, caspase-3 and p53 was greater in carrier and epileptic fowl than in normal chickens. The greater interaction of CaN with various apoptotic factors in epileptic chickens adds to our understanding of the mechanism of CaN signaling in neuronal apoptosis.
Insights
Calcineurin (CaN) activity and expression increase in epileptic chicken brains, suggesting its role in neuronal apoptosis. CaN interacts more with apoptotic factors in epileptic and carrier chickens.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Calcineurin (CaN) is a calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase crucial for calcium-mediated signal transduction.
- Epilepsy is associated with neuronal dysfunction and apoptosis, but the underlying molecular mechanisms require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Calcineurin (CaN) in the epileptic brain.
- To examine the involvement of CaN in neuronal apoptosis in chickens.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of CaN expression and activity in normal, carrier, and epileptic chicken brain tissues.
- Immunohistochemical analysis to assess CaN levels.
- Investigation of CaN interactions with signaling molecules like m-calpain, micro-calpain, Bcl-2, caspase-3, and p53.
Main Results:
- Elevated Ca2+-CaM-dependent phosphatase activity and CaN A expression in epileptic and carrier chicken brains compared to normal brains.
- Increased CaN expression in epileptic brain tissue, with higher intensity than in carrier brains.
- Stronger interaction of CaN with m-calpain, micro-calpain, Bcl-2, caspase-3, and p53 in epileptic and carrier chickens.
Conclusions:
- Calcineurin (CaN) plays a significant role in the epileptic brain.
- Increased CaN activity and expression correlate with enhanced interactions with apoptotic factors, suggesting CaN's involvement in neuronal apoptosis in epilepsy.
