Creatine enhances survival of glutamate-treated neuronal/glial cells, modulates Ras/NF-κB signaling, and increases the generation of reactive oxygen species
✍ Scribed by Elena Juravleva; Tamar Barbakadze; David Mikeladze; Téa Kekelidze
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2004
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 112 KB
- Volume
- 79
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0360-4012
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
The protective effects of creatine against glutamate cytotoxicity have been demonstrated in neuronal cells and animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. The mechanisms underlying creatine neuroprotection against glutamate‐induced cell death are understood poorly. For the first time, we demonstrate a correlation between the protective effect of creatine and the modulation of Ras‐mediated redox‐dependent signaling pathways, which involve nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In primary cerebrocortical cultures of mixed neurons and glia, creatine significantly reduced glutamate‐induced cell death. The increase in cell survival was accompanied by increased generation of oxygen radicals and decreased levels of farnesylated Ras and IκB, an inhibitor of NF‐κB. Non‐farnesylated Ras and ROS‐dependent activation of NF‐κB have been shown to promote neuronal survival. Our data suggest that creatine may enhance survival signaling via activation of the Ras/NF‐κB system. Possible mechanisms underlying the protective effect of creatine are discussed, including normalization of cellular GTP levels. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.