Expression Profile of Rat Hippocampal Neurons Treated with the Neuroprotective Compound 2,4-Dinitrophenol: Up-Regulation of cAMP Signaling Genes

2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) is classically known as a mitochondrial uncoupler and, at high concentrations, is toxic to a variety of cells. However, it has recently been shown that, at subtoxic concentrations, DNP protects neurons against a variety of insults and promotes neuronal differentiation and neuritogenesis. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the beneficial neuroactive properties of DNP are still largely unknown. We have now used DNA microarray analysis to investigate changes in gene expression in rat hippocampal neurons in culture treated with low micromolar concentrations of DNP. Under conditions that did not affect neuronal viability, high-energy phosphate levels or mitochondrial oxygen consumption, DNP induced up-regulation of 275 genes and down-regulation of 231 genes. Significantly, several up-regulated genes were linked to intracellular cAMP signaling, known to be involved in neurite outgrowth, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal survival. Differential expression of specific genes was validated by quantitative RT-PCR using independent samples. Results shed light on molecular mechanisms underlying neuroprotection by DNP and point to possible targets for development of novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders.

Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq/Brazil)

Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq/Brazil)

Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ/Brazil)

Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ/Brazil)

Instituto Nacional de Neurociencia Translacional (INNT/Brazil) (INCT)

Instituto Nacional de Neurociencia Translacional (INNT/Brazil) (INCT)

Associacao Beneficente Alzira Denise Hertzog Silva (ABADHS)

Associação Beneficente Alzira Denise Hertzog da Silva (ABADHS)

Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)