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Parvalbumin overexpression alters immune-mediated increases in intracellular calcium, and delays disease onset in a transgenic model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosisIntracellular calcium is increased in vulnerable spinal motoneurons in immune-mediated as well as transgenic models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To determine whether intracellular calcium levels are influenced by the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin, we developed transgenic mice overexpressing parvalbumin in spinal motoneurons. ALS immunoglobulins increased intracellular calcium and spontaneous transmitter release at motoneuron terminals in control animals, but not in parvalbumin overexpressing transgenic mice. Parvalbumin transgenic mice interbred with mutant SOD1 (mSOD1) transgenic mice, an animal model of familial ALS, had significantly reduced motoneuron loss, and had delayed disease onset (17%) and prolonged survival (11%) when compared with mice with only the mSOD1 transgene. These results affirm the importance of the calcium binding protein parvalbumin in altering calcium homeostasis in motoneurons. The increased motoneuron parvalbumin can significantly attenuate the immune-mediated increases in calcium and to a lesser extent compensate for the mSOD1-mediated 'toxic-gain-of-function' in transgenic mice.
Document ID
20040088666
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Beers, D. R.
(Ronny and Linda Finger MDA/ALS Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine Department of Neurology, Houston, Texas 77030, United States)
Ho, B. K.
Siklos, L.
Alexianu, M. E.
Mosier, D. R.
Mohamed, A. H.
Otsuka, Y.
Kozovska, M. E.
McAlhany, R. E.
Smith, R. G.
Appel, S. H.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of neurochemistry
Volume: 79
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0022-3042
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal

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