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| IJCEP Copyright © 2007-All rights reserved. |
| International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology |
Int J Clin Exp Pathol 1(2):134-146;2008
Original Article
Retinoblastoma Protein Phosphorylation at Multiple Sites is Associated with
Neurofibrillary Pathology in Alzheimer Disease
Akanksha Thakur, Sandra L. Siedlak, Sheronica L. James, David J. Bonda, Akanksha Rao, Kate M. Webber, Antoni Camins, Mercé Pallàs,
Gemma Casadesus, Hyoung-gon Lee, Robert Bowser, Arun K. Raina, George Perry, Mark A. Smith and Xiongwei Zhu
Department of Pathology and 3Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Cornell Road, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Unitat de
Farmacologia i Farmacognòsia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Nucli Universitari de Pedralbes, Barcelona, Spain;
Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; College of Science, University of
Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Received 19 July 2007; accepted 22 July 2007; available online 1 January 2008
Abstract: The re-expression of multiple cell cycle markers representing various cell cycle phases in postmitotic pyramidal neurons
suggests that neurons in Alzheimer disease (AD) attempt to re-enter the cell cycle. Entry into the cell cycle requires activation of G1 to S
phase cell cycle proteins, among which retinoblastoma protein (pRb) is a key regulator. pRb inhibits the transcription of cell cycle proteins
in the nucleus of healthy cells by interaction and consequent blocking of the active site of E2F, dependent upon the phosphate
stoichiometry and combination of the locations of their 16 potential phosphorylation sites on pRb. Therefore, to determine whether pRb is
involved in the aberrant cell cycle phenotype in AD neurons, a systematic immunocytochemical evaluation of the phosphorylation status of
pRb protein using antibodies specific for multiple phosphorylation sites (i.e., pSpT249/252, pS612, pS795, pS807, pS811 and pT821)
was carried out in the hippocampal regions of brains from AD patients. Increased levels of phospho-pRb (ppRb) for all these
phosphorylation sites were noted in the brains of AD patients as compared to control cases. More importantly, redistribution of ppRb from
the nucleus to the cytoplasm of susceptible neurons, with significant localization in neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques, was
observed. Additional studies revealed extensive co-localization between phospho-p38 and ppRb, implicating that p38 activation may
contribute to cell cycle abnormalities through pRb phosphorylation. Taken together, these data supports the concept of neuronal cell cycle
re-entry in AD and indicates a crucial role for pRb in this process. (IJCEP707009).
Key Words: Alzheimer disease, cell cycle, hyperphosphorylation, p38, retinoblastoma protein
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondences to: Xiongwei Zhu, PhD, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Cornell Road,
Cleveland, Ohio 44106 USA, Tel: 216-368-5903, Fax: 216-368-8964, Email: xiongwei.zhu@case.edu
Original Article
Retinoblastoma Protein Phosphorylation at Multiple Sites is Associated with
Neurofibrillary Pathology in Alzheimer Disease
Akanksha Thakur, Sandra L. Siedlak, Sheronica L. James, David J. Bonda, Akanksha Rao, Kate M. Webber, Antoni Camins, Mercé Pallàs,
Gemma Casadesus, Hyoung-gon Lee, Robert Bowser, Arun K. Raina, George Perry, Mark A. Smith and Xiongwei Zhu
Department of Pathology and 3Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Cornell Road, Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Unitat de
Farmacologia i Farmacognòsia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Nucli Universitari de Pedralbes, Barcelona, Spain;
Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; College of Science, University of
Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
Received 19 July 2007; accepted 22 July 2007; available online 1 January 2008
Abstract: The re-expression of multiple cell cycle markers representing various cell cycle phases in postmitotic pyramidal neurons
suggests that neurons in Alzheimer disease (AD) attempt to re-enter the cell cycle. Entry into the cell cycle requires activation of G1 to S
phase cell cycle proteins, among which retinoblastoma protein (pRb) is a key regulator. pRb inhibits the transcription of cell cycle proteins
in the nucleus of healthy cells by interaction and consequent blocking of the active site of E2F, dependent upon the phosphate
stoichiometry and combination of the locations of their 16 potential phosphorylation sites on pRb. Therefore, to determine whether pRb is
involved in the aberrant cell cycle phenotype in AD neurons, a systematic immunocytochemical evaluation of the phosphorylation status of
pRb protein using antibodies specific for multiple phosphorylation sites (i.e., pSpT249/252, pS612, pS795, pS807, pS811 and pT821)
was carried out in the hippocampal regions of brains from AD patients. Increased levels of phospho-pRb (ppRb) for all these
phosphorylation sites were noted in the brains of AD patients as compared to control cases. More importantly, redistribution of ppRb from
the nucleus to the cytoplasm of susceptible neurons, with significant localization in neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic plaques, was
observed. Additional studies revealed extensive co-localization between phospho-p38 and ppRb, implicating that p38 activation may
contribute to cell cycle abnormalities through pRb phosphorylation. Taken together, these data supports the concept of neuronal cell cycle
re-entry in AD and indicates a crucial role for pRb in this process. (IJCEP707009).
Key Words: Alzheimer disease, cell cycle, hyperphosphorylation, p38, retinoblastoma protein
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondences to: Xiongwei Zhu, PhD, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, 2103 Cornell Road,
Cleveland, Ohio 44106 USA, Tel: 216-368-5903, Fax: 216-368-8964, Email: xiongwei.zhu@case.edu