Effects of Social Defeat Stress on Microtubule Regulating Proteins and Tubulin Polymerization
- Author:
Thi-Hung LE
1
;
Jung-Mi OH
;
Fatima Zahra RAMI
;
Ling LI
;
Sung-Kun CHUN
;
Young-Chul CHUNG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience 2024;22(1):129-138
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective:Microtubule (MT) stability in neurons is vital for brain development; instability is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. The present study examined the effects of social defeat stress (SDS) on MT-regulating proteins and tubulin polymerization.
Methods:After 10 days of SDS, defeated mice were separated into susceptible (Sus) and unsusceptible (Uns) groups based on their performance in a social avoidance test. Using extracted brain tissues, we measured the expression levels of α-tubulin, acetylated α-tubulin, tyrosinated α-tubulin, MT-associated protein-2 (MAP2), stathmin (STMN1), phospho stathmin serine 16 (p-STMN1 [Ser16]), phospho stathmin serine 25 (p-STMN1 [Ser25]), phospho stathmin serine 38 (p-STMN1 [Ser38]), stathmin2 (STMN2), phospho stathmin 2 serine 73 (p-STMN2 [Ser73]), 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP-78), and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)-homologous protein (CHOP) using Western blot assay. The tubulin polymerization rate was also measured.
Results:We observed increased and decreased expression of acetylated and tyrosinated α-tubulin, respectively, decreased expression of p-STMN1 (Ser16) and increased expression of p-STMN1 (Ser25), p-STMN2 (Ser73) and GRP-78 and CHOP in the prefrontal cortex and/or hippocampus of defeated mice. A reduced tubulin polymerization rate was observed in the Sus group compared to the Uns and Con groups.
Conclusion:Our findings suggest that SDS has detrimental effects on MT stability, and a lower tubulin polymerization rate could be a molecular marker for susceptibility to SDS.
