Journal: bioRxiv
Article Title: ATF4 activates a transcriptional program that chronically suppresses mTOR activity promoting neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease models
doi: 10.1101/2025.06.09.658667
Figure Lengend Snippet: A. Cortical neurons were transduced with Ad-ATF4 or Ad-GFP (50-MOI) for 24 hours and mRNA levels of Sesn2, Trib3 and Ddit4 were determined by qRT-PCR. Expression is reported as fold increase over untransduced neurons from the same culture (n=5; t-test, *p<0.05). B. ATF4+/+ and ATF4-/- cortical neurons were treated with MPP+ (50µM) or 6-OHDA (10µM) for 16 hours and Sesn2, Trib3 and Ddit4 mRNA levels was determined by qRT-PCR. Expression is reported as fold increase over vehicle treated neurons from the same culture (n=3-4; t-test, *p<0.05). C. ATF4+/+ and ATF4-/- cortical neurons were treated with MPP+ (50μM) or 6-OHDA (10μM) for the indicated times and SESN2 and DDIT4 protein levels were assessed by western blot and quantified by densitometry and normalized to the loading control Actin or Cyclophilin B (n=3; 2-way-ANOVA *p<0.05). D. Mesencephalic neurons derived from ATF4+/+ and ATF4-/- mice were treated with MPP+ (25μM) or 6-OHDA (5μM) for 16 hours and Sesn2, Trib3 and Ddit4 mRNA levels were assessed in dopaminergic neurons using multiplex RNAScope fluorescence in situ hybridization combined with tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining. Representative images showing PD neurotoxin induced expression of Sesn2, Trib3 and Ddit4 mRNA fluorescence puncta in wildtype and ATF4-deficient dopaminergic (TH+) neurons (left scale bar=20uM, right scale bar=5uM). Data represent the mean ± SEM number of transcripts per DA neuron (n=3, 2-way-ANOVA, *p<0.05). E. Wildtype and ATF4-deficient mesencephalic neurons were seeded with α-Syn PFFs (5μg/ml) for 9 days and Sesn2, Trib3 and Ddit4 mRNA levels were assessed in dopaminergic neurons using multiplex RNAScope fluorescence in situ hybridization combined with tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining. Data represent the mean ± SEM number of transcripts per DA neuron (n=3, t-test, *p<0.05). F-H. RNA was isolated from N2 animals or atfs-1 LoF animals treated with MPP+ [100uM] or 6-OHDA [100uM] and a-syn or a- syn::atfs-1LoF animals at indicated time points. Heat maps represent fold change in gene expression over time as calculated by RT-qPCR. Values were normalized to act-1 housekeeping mRNA and fold change was calculated based on normalized mRNA levels in untreated or wildtype animals at respective time points (n=3, 2way-ANOVA, *p<0.05).
Article Snippet: Lentiviruses expressing shRNAs specifically targeting Trib3, SESN2 and DDIT4 were purchased from Vectorbuilder (shCTRL VB# VB010000-009mxc, shTrib3 VB# VB230127- 1198jed, shSESN2 VB# VB230127-1195msp, shDDIT4 VB# VB230127-1197gke).
Techniques: Transduction, Quantitative RT-PCR, Expressing, Western Blot, Control, Derivative Assay, Multiplex Assay, RNAscope, Fluorescence, In Situ Hybridization, Immunostaining, Isolation, Gene Expression