Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB protects dopaminergic neurons via activation of Akt/ERK/CREB pathways to upregulate tyrosine hydroxylase.

Aims The neurotropic growth factor PDGF-BB was shown to have vital neurorestorative functions in various animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous studies indicated that the regenerative property of PDGF-BB contributes to the increased intensity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) fibers in vivo. However, whether PDGF-BB directly modulates the expression of TH, and the underlying mechanism is still unknown. We will carefully examine this in our current study. Method MPTP-lesion mice received PDGF-BB treatment via intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) administration, and the expression of TH in different brain regions was assessed by RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry staining. The molecular mechanisms of PDGF-BB-mediated TH upregulation were examined by RT-PCR, Western blot, ChIP assay, luciferase reporter assay, and immunocytochemistry. Results We validated a reversal expression of TH in MPTP-lesion mice upon i.c.v administration of PDGF-BB for seven days. Similar effects of PDGF-BB-mediated TH upregulation were also observed in MPP+ -treated primary neuronal culture and dopaminergic neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y cells. We next demonstrated that PDGF-BB rapidly activated the pro-survival PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways, as well as the downstream CREB in SH-SY5Y cells. We further confirmed the significant induction of p-CREB in PDGF-BB-treated animals in vivo. Using a genetic approach, we demonstrated that the transcription factor CREB is critical for PDGF-BB-mediated TH expression. The activation and nucleus translocation of CREB were promoted in PDGF-BB-treated SH-SY5Y cells, and the enrichment of CREB on the promoter region of TH gene was also increased upon PDGF-BB treatment. Conclusion Our data demonstrated that PDGF-BB directly regulated the expression of TH via activating the downstream Akt/ERK/CREB signaling pathways. Our finding will further support the therapeutic potential of PDGF-BB in PD, and provide the possibility that targeting PDGF signaling can be harnessed as an adjunctive therapy in PD in the future.