Effect of cholecystokinin on experimental neuronal aging

Abstract

AIM: To observe the effect of cholecystokinin (CCK) on lipofusin value, neuronal dendrite and spine ultrastructure, and total cellular protein during the process of experimental neuronal aging.

METHODS: Experimental neuronal aging study model was established by NBA₂ cellular serum-free culture method. By using single intracellular lipofusin value from microspectrophotometry, morphology of neuronal dendrites and spines from the scanner electron microscopy, and total cellular protein as the indexes of experimental neuronal aging, we observed the effect of CCK₈ on the process of experimental neuronal aging.

RESULTS: Under the condition of serum-free culture, intracellular fluorescence value (%) increased with the extension of culture time (1 d 8.51±3.43; 5 d 10.12±3.03; 10 d 20.54±10.3; 15 d 36.88±10.49; ^bP<0.01). When CCK was added to serum-free culture medium, intracellular lipofusin value (%) decreased remarkably after consecutive CCK reaction for 10 and 15 d (control 36.88±10.49; 5 d 32.03±10.01; 10 d 14.37±5.55; 15 d 17.31±4.80; ^bP<0.01). As the time of serum-free culturing was prolonged, the number of neuronal dendrite and spine cells decreased. The later increased in number when CCK₈ was added. CCK₈ could improve the total cellular protein in the process of experimental neuronal aging.

CONCLUSION: CCK₈ may prolong the process of experimental neuronal aging by maintaining the structure and the number of neuronal dendrite and spine cells and changing the total cellular protein.

INTRODUCTION

Aging is a universal phenomenon, and the common feature of all cellular organisms. Finding the reasons for aging and the ways to postpone its process has theoretical implications and extensive application value.

Neuronal aging is a core subject in geriatrics. As the neuronal aging is relatively long, it is difficult to conduct in vitro experiments. On the contrary, an in vivo experiment, which is relatively easy to control its experimental condition and its short cycle of cell culture, is considered a realistic method of neuronal aging study.

Mice neuroblastoma cell culture is widely recognized by scholars as an experimental neuronal model in organic chemistry, immunochemistry, pharmacology, and neuropeptide researches. Cai et al[1] devised an experimental neuronal aging model by culturing mice neuroblastoma cells under the condition of serum-free culture. This model is easy to use due to avoidance of the influence of serum.

Neuropeptide is a kind of internal active substances inside the brain. It is speculated that there are probably 200 kinds of neuropeptides existing in the mammal brain and 60% synaptic connections are related to neuropeptides. Some of the neuropeptides can function both as transmitters and modulators. CCK includes CCK₈, CCK₃₉ and CCK₃₃. Pro-CCK gives rise to CCK₈ within the brain.CCK, which is one kind of neurotransmitters[2], is commonly found in the central nervous system[3,4]. It not only regulates food absorption and body weight[5], but also plays an important role in sensitivity[6], reflection[7], growth, learning[8], emotion, memory[9], adaptive development and brain plasticity[10].

Some research findings have revealed that neuropeptide is remarkably low in brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the aged people, especially those who suffer from diseases in relation to aging, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD)[11], etc. The cholinergic neurons in cerebral cortex degenerate severely in AD, while CCK could protect and slow the degenerative process of cholinergic neurons[12,13]. There are degeneration and loss of substantia nigra dopamine(DA), decreased DA neurotransmitters in PD patients while CCK could regulate and increase DA transmitter[14] and its activity[15]. These results suggest that CCK may regulate and strengthen neuronal aging process. This study was to observe CCK influence on some biological indexes in neuronal aging process by a neuronal aging model established using serum-free culture of mice neuroblastoma cell line.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell line

Neuroblastoma A₂ (NBA₂) from American Type Culture Collection was a gift from Professor Larry Davis of University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

Chemicals

Beef serum (Shanghai Biological Experimental Cell Biological Technology Company), Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM, Life Technologies USA), insulin (Shanghai Biochemical Drug Factory), trypsin, beef serum albumin and [Tyr-So3H27]- cholecystokinin fragment 26-33 amide (CCK₈ No.C-9271, Sigma) were used in our study.

Cell culture medium

Culture medium with serum (BD) contained 10% beef serum DMEM, NaHCO₃ 3.7 g/L, gentamicin 50000 u/L. Serum-free culture medium (AID): beef serum albumin 500 mg, insulin 5 mg, gentamicin 50000 u were added into 1 liter DMEM. Culture medium with peptides (AID -CCK): CCK₈ was added into AID culture medium, CCK₈ concentration was 10^-7 mol/L.

Experimental equipments

Equipments used included Nikon phase reversal contrast microscope, LNA-III type CO₂ culture box, Hitachi low temperature freezer and JSM-840 scan electron microscope (These equipments are all made in Japan). UMSP-30 microspectrometry and its MOP-Videoplan image analysis system were products of OPTON in Germany. FACStar Plus type fluency cytometer was produced by Becton Dickinson in USA.

Development of NAB₂ cell culture and neuronal aging experimental model

This model was established by Yan Cai and described as follows. Preparation of cell samples: NBA₂ cells were inoculated into a culture bottle containing a 10 mm×20 mm slide inside, cultured for 24 h in 50 mL/L CO₂ at 37 °C with BSD culture medium. The original culture medium was discarded and cells were rinsed 3 times with Hanks solution, then AID culture medium was added, replaced with fresh AID culture medium every other day, cells were inoculated every several d, and the first set of cultured cells was collected on d 1, 5, 10, and 15, and tested on the same day.

Test of CCK₈ influence on lipofusin fluorescence value

Based on the method in our laboratory[1], inoculated cells were assigned to AID group and CCK group randomly. The CCK experimental group was subdivided into 5-d CCK, 10-d CCK, and 15-d CCK groups according to the different reaction periods of CCK. The incubation time for both control and experimental groups was 15 d. BSD solution in experimental group was replaced and the cells were washed 3 times with Hanks solution, then AID-CCK medium was added for incubation. AID-CCK was changed every 2 d. The old solution was discarded when CCK action reached the pre-determined date, serum-free solution was added and stayed for 15 d for test. One hundred percent reference standard was set by 1% fluorescence intensity on green plastic slides. Lipofusin value was randomly tested in 30 cells from each group. By using a computer, data on these cells were collected for statistical analysis.

Electron microscopic observation of cell microvilli

The cells after 3 d of secondary culture were digested by 0.125% trypsin and collected and calculated through BD culture solution. Then, 10⁶ cells were inoculated into medium containing a 10 mm×10 mm cover slide, incubated for 24 h under the condition of 50 mL/L CO₂ at 37 °C, washed 3 times with Hanks solution. The cover slide was taken out randomly from BD culture solution and fixed by 2% glutaraldehyde. The rest of the cells were divided randomly into serum-free and CCK groups, AID or AID- CCK medium was added respectively. The cover slide with attached cells was taken out and fixed by 2% glutaraldehyde. The cells were washed 3 times with phosphate buffer solution and fixed for 1 h by 1% osmic acid, dehydrated by achohol, stained by uranium isoamyl acetate, dried by marginal place and coated by gold using ion sputter-coater and then observed by scanning electron microscope manufactured by JEOL of Japan.

Total cellular protein tested by flow cytometer

FD, AID and CCK₈-AID solutions were added to culture NBA₂ cells. After 1, 5, 10 d, single cell suspension was made by the cells grown into layers at the concentration of 6×10⁶/mL. The cells were fixed by a final concentration of 75% alchohol for 24 h. Protein was stained by 1ug/mL FITC, analysed by flow cytometer. The equipment was the FACS tar plus produced by Becton Dickinson Co. Ltd. USA, argon (Ar) laser activator was used as laser light, at output power 200 mW, activator wave 488 nm. The fluorescence was tested by 585 filter. The total protein content in 3000-5000 cells was measured for each group. Data were input into MP310 computer and the mean, median, mode and the peak of cellular total proteins were obtained by CELL Fit software of Becton Dickinson Co. Ltd.

Statistical analysis

Statistic analysis of lipofusin fluorescence value was based on POMS analysis of variance software.

RESULTS

Influence of serum-free culture on NBA₂ cellular lipofusin value

The accumulated intracellular fluorescence lipofusin value increased as the time of serum-free culture increased, reaching the highest value on d 15 (P<0.01) (Table 1).

Table 1.

Influence of serum-free culture on NBA₂ cellular lipofusin (mean±SD).

Group	Cell number	Lipofusin fluorescence value (%)
1-d	30	8.51±3.43
5-d	30	10.12±3.03
10-d	30	20.54±10.34b
15-d	30	36.88±10.49d

^bP<0.01 vs 1-d group and 5-d group;

^dP<0.01 vs 1-d group and 10-d group.

CCK₈ influence on experimental neuronal lipofusin

CCK₈ action for 10 and 15 d could decrease intracellular lipofusin value significantly (Table 2).

Table 2.

CCK₈ influence on experimental neuronal lipofusin (mean±SD).

Group	Cell number	Lipofusin fluorescence value (%)
Control	30	36.88±10.49
5-d	30	32.03±10.01
10-d	30	14.37±5.55f
15-d	30	17.31±4.80f

^fP<0.01 vs control group.

Influence of serum-free culture on surface of NBA₂ cell ultrastructure

The cell body of the cells cultured with serum solution turned round and oval, and dense microvilli were observed (Figure 1A). Microvilli shaped like hassock were evenly distributed, 4-6 μm in length and projected to all directions and some of them were curl-like (Figure 1B). On d 5 of serum-free incubation, cells turned spindle or triangle. Dendrites were grown with a lot of spines at its terminal (Figure 2A). The spines projected peripherally with ends split, at 3-5 μm in length (Figure 2B). On d 10 of serum-free culture, the nodi from the surface of the cells were getting bigger (Figure 3A), the dendrites of the local cell were bigger and the number of the spines was fewer at 1-2 μm in length (Figure 3B). On d 15 of serum-free culture, the nodi on the surface of cells were maximal and the dendrites were getting smaller (Figure 4A). The ends of the dendrites were deadwood like and spines disappeared (Figure 4B).

Figure 1.

NBA₂ cells with serum culture medium and microvilli of NBA₂ cells. A: NBA2 cells with serum culture medium ×2000; B: Microvilli of NBA2 cells with serum culture medium ×10000.

Figure 2.

Cells and microprocess of cells on d 5 of serum-free incubation. A: Cells on d 5 of serum-free incubation ×1000; B: Microprocess of cells on d 5 of serum-free incubation ×10000.

Figure 3.

Cells and microvilli of cells on d 10 of serum-free incubation. A: Cells on d 10 of serum-free incubation ×2000; B: Microvilli of cells on d 10 of serum-free incubation ×10000.

Figure 4.

Cultured cells on d 15 of serum-free incubation and end of the process on d 8 of serum-free incubation. A: Cultured cells on d 15 of serum-free incubation ×2000; B: End of the process on d 8 of serum-free incubation ×10000.

CCK₈ influence on experimental neuronal cell surface ultrastructure

On d 5 of CCK₈ action, cells looked star-like with long and more dendrites, and more spines appeared at both ends of each dendrite. On d 15, nodal granules (particles) on cell surface were smaller than those in serum-free culture group (Figure 5A). A number of spines could be found at the end of each dendrite(Figure 5B).

Figure 5.

CCK₈ influence on nodal granules and microvilli on d 15. A: CCK₈ influence on nodal granules ×1000; B: CCK₈ influence on microvilli ×10000.

Influence of serum-free culture on NBA₂ total cellular protein

On d 1 of non-serum incubation, the mean, median, mode and peak of total cellular protein all decreased remarkably. On d 5 of serum-free incubation, the mean, median, mode of total cellular protein all increased, while the peak significantly decreased. On d 10 of serum-free incubation, the mean, median, mode and peak of total cellular protein increased (Table 3).

Table 3.

Influence of serum-free culture on NBA₂ total cellular protein.

Group	Days of culture	Cell number	Total cellular protein (channel)
			Mean	Median	Mode	Peak
BD	1	5000	487	469	358	13
AID		2837	355	349	345	7
BD	5	5000	575	562	561	44
AID		5000	676	651	631	31
BD	10	5000	501	497	513	23
AID		5000	626	620	629	26

CCK₈ influence on total cellular protein in process of experimental neuronal aging

On d 1 of CCK₈ action, the mean, median, mode and peak of total cellular protein increased. On d 5 of CCK₈ action, there was an increase in the mode but a decrease in the peak. On d 10 of CCK₈ action, the mean, median, mode and peak dropped remarkably (Table 4).

Table 4.

CCK₈ influence on total cellular protein in process of experimental neuronal aging.

Group	Day of culture	Cell number	Total cellular protein (channel)
			Mean	Median	Mode	Peak
AID	1	2837	355	349	345	7
CCK8+AID		5000	582	605	665	7
AID	5	5000	676	651	631	31
CCK8+AID		5000	543	452	553	28
AID	10	5000	626	620	629	26
CCK8+AID		5000	502	471	508	17

DISCUSSION

Cai et al[1] designed 5 different kinds of culture medium for establishing an experimental neuronal aging model, and they found that serum-free culture medium consisting of insulin, albumin, DMEM could maintain an equilibrium and even standstill status after a period of growing time of NBA₂ cells. As the culture time extended, differentiation appeared, which is helpful for the observation of cellular aging. Our experiment adopted AID as serum-free culture medium.

Generally speaking, lipofusin is a residual substance produced by autophagocytosis of the improper structure and function of subcellular components by lysosomes. This element is accumulated as age increases[16]. There is a great deal of lipofusin in aged human beings, animals and AD animal model[17,18]. The yellow pigment ultrastructure is covered by heterogeneous membrane and contains high-density molecules and vesicles of lipid. It is a biological marker indicating the decline of the whole cell function, and that may be the etiology of the neuronal loss. Its deposit may cause changes of cellular components, such as the amount of cellular liquid and the number of mitochondria, decrease of roughly surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (RER), simplification of the Golgi complex and empty vesicle formation. Lipofusin is the result of aging, and may generate auto-fluorescence and can be measured by spectrometry.

The experimental results suggested that intracellular liopfusin fluorescence value dropped to the lowest on d 1, and the intracellular lipofusin fluorescence value increased considerably after every 5 d as the culture time extended, and reached the highest on d 15 (P<0.01). The tendency towards increase in accumulation of the intracellular fluorescence value in NBA₂ is parallel to the increase of neuronal intracellular fluorescence value along with increase of age in mammals and humans. Therefore, the intracellular fluorescence value of lipofusin can be used as a good index for experimental neuronal aging model.

Lipofusin fluorescence value by continuous action of CCK₈ of 10 and 15 d groups was much lower than that in control group (P<0.01), but still higher than serum-free culture 1 d group, indicating that CCK₈ could lower the speed of accumulation of lipofusin but could not prevent the generation of lipofusin. This suggests that CCK₈ could postpone the process of experimental neuronal aging but could not prevent the general tendency of experimental neuronal aging.

Every point of the whole dendrite could connect with the terminal of axon from other neurons and generate synapse. A variety of the dendrites of neurons have microvilli known as dendritic spines, which especially connect with synapse and conduct neuronal action. The morphological changes related to aging include the decrease of the brain volume and weight and enlargement of ventricles, the etiology of which was attributed partly to the loss of neurons. The loss of process and synapse of the aging brain is in selected region rather than in the whole brain[19]. The pathological changes in aging brain are the generation of neuronal tangle[20] and senile plague[21,22] and degeneration and loss of neurons[23], dendrites[24], spines[25] and synapses[26]. Experimental results suggest dendrites were generated on d 5 of serum-free incubation and different kinds of dendrites and spines were grown. As the incubation time extended, the number of dendrites and spines decreased and later they even disappeared. The shape of dendrites was damaged. These changes are similar to the morphology of the aging and AD brain and indicate NBA₂ cells grow and become mature through division and multiplication and differentiation. Maturity and aging reflect the process of neuronal aging. Under the action of CCK₈, cells generate more dendrites as well as spines. Morphologically dendrites and spines remained intact on d 15, demonstrating that CCK₈ promotes the growth of dendrites and spines of experimental neurons, by maintaining the structure integrity of dendrites and spines. In addition, CCK₈ could delay degeneration and disappearance of dendrites and spines.

Protein is the material foundation of life. Protein is not only the major component of cell tissue but also participates in most physical activities. Most of the physiological functions in the body are fulfilled through protein, and protein always plays a key role in it. Therefore, life is a special motion of the protein. In elderly people, aged animals and aging related disorders such as AD and PD, the quantity of proteins could change remarkably in brain tissue and CSF. Some researchers have found that the quantity of amyloid precursor protein (APP)[27], abeta 40 and abeta 42[28], Tau proteins[29,30] is increased, while cytochrome C oxidase[31], growth-associated protein-43[32], neurosin[33] and calcium binding protein calbindin-D (28K)[34] are decreased in brain tissue and CSF of the elder people, aged animals and AD patients. These increased proteins related to aging and aging correlated diseases are neurotoxic proteins. The increase of these proteins could lead to neurological aging and characteristic changes of AD disease such as senile plague and neuritic tangles. The decreased proteins in aging and AD patients are enzyme or neuron growth factors essential to metabolism in the body. The decrease of these proteins affects the normal metabolism of neurons and finally leads to death of the neurons, indicating that total cellular protein could change remarkably, and is accompanied with aging process. It needs further investigation to identify the specific kind of protein changes.

Our results suggest that CCK₈ changes the total cellular protein of the experimental neuronal aging and decreases the generation and accumulation of intracellular lipofusin, promotes the growth of dendrites and spines and delays their degeneration. Hence, CCK₈ protects the aging process of experimental neuronal aging.