Neural progenitor cells are protected against MPTP by MAO-B inhibitors

Xi Jun He1, Koji Uetsuka, Hiroyuki Nakayama

  • 1Department of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan. aaa37172@mail.goo.ne.jp

Neurotoxicology
|July 9, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors protect neural progenitor cells (NPCs) from MPTP-induced neurotoxicity. Pretreatment with MAO-B inhibitors prevented apoptosis in NPCs, demonstrating their protective role in MPTP neurotoxicity.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuropharmacology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), a metabolite of MPTP, is known to cause neurotoxic effects on the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system.
  • Previous research indicated that MPTP administration induces apoptosis in migrating neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in adult mice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the involvement of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) in the neurotoxicity of MPTP towards NPCs.
  • To evaluate the protective effects of MAO-B inhibitors against MPTP-induced NPC apoptosis.

Main Methods:

  • Administration of MPTP to mice, with and without pretreatment with MAO-B inhibitors (R(-)-deprenyl and Ro 16-6491).
  • Assessment of apoptosis in NPCs within the subventricular zone (SVZ) and rostral migratory stream (RMS).
  • Measurement of nigrostriatal dopamine levels.

Main Results:

  • MPTP markedly induced apoptosis in NPCs in the SVZ and RMS.
  • Pretreatment with MAO-B inhibitors significantly protected both nigrostriatal dopamine levels and NPCs against MPTP.
  • MPTP-induced NPC apoptosis was observed in both juvenile and older mice, unlike the age-dependent susceptibility of the dopamine system.

Conclusions:

  • MAO-B plays a significant role in MPTP-induced neurotoxicity to NPCs.
  • MAO-B inhibitors offer substantial protection to NPCs against MPTP.
  • NPCs exhibit a different susceptibility profile to MPTP compared to the dopamine system, as they are not age-dependent.