Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

The loss of α- and β-tubulin proteins are a pathological hallmark of chronic alcohol consumption and natural brain ageing

Labisso, Wajana; Raulin, Ana-Caroline; Nwidu, Lucky; Kocon, Artur; Wayne, Declan; Erdozain, Amaia; Morentin, Benito; Schwendener, Daniela; Allen, George; Enticott, Jack; Gerdes, Henry; Johnson, Laura; Grzeskowiak, John; Drizou, Fryni; Tarbox, Rebecca; Osna, Natalia; Kharbanda, Kusum; Callado, Luis; Carter, Wayne

The loss of α- and β-tubulin proteins are a pathological hallmark of chronic alcohol consumption and natural brain ageing Thumbnail


Authors

Wajana Labisso

Ana-Caroline Raulin

Lucky Nwidu

Artur Kocon

Declan Wayne

Amaia Erdozain

Benito Morentin

Daniela Schwendener

George Allen

Jack Enticott

Henry Gerdes

Laura Johnson

John Grzeskowiak

Fryni Drizou

Rebecca Tarbox

Natalia Osna

Kusum Kharbanda

Luis Callado



Abstract

Repetitive excessive alcohol intoxication leads to neuronal damage and brain shrinkage. We examined cytoskeletal protein expression in human post-mortem tissue from Brodmann’s area 9 of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Brain samples from 44 individuals were divided into equal groups of 11 control, 11 alcoholic, 11 non-alcoholic suicides, and 11 suicide alcoholics matched for age, sex, and post-mortem delay. Tissue from alcoholic cohorts displayed significantly reduced expression of α- and β-tubulins, and increased levels of acetylated α-tubulin. Protein levels of histone deacetylase-6 (HDAC6), and the microtubule-associated proteins MAP-2 and MAP-tau were reduced in alcoholic cohorts, although for MAPs this was not significant. Tubulin gene expressions increased in alcoholic cohorts but not significantly. Brains from rats administered alcohol for 4 weeks also displayed significantly reduced tubulin protein levels and increased α-tubulin acetylation. PFC tissue from control subjects had reduced tubulin protein expression that was most notable from the sixth to the eighth decade of life. Collectively, loss of neuronal tubulin proteins are a hallmark of both chronic alcohol consumption and natural brain ageing. The reduction of cytosolic tubulin proteins could contribute to the brain volumetric losses reported for alcoholic patients and the elderly.

Citation

Labisso, W., Raulin, A., Nwidu, L., Kocon, A., Wayne, D., Erdozain, A., …Carter, W. (2018). The loss of α- and β-tubulin proteins are a pathological hallmark of chronic alcohol consumption and natural brain ageing. Brain Sciences, 8(9), Article 175. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci8090175

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 2, 2018
Online Publication Date Sep 11, 2018
Publication Date Sep 11, 2018
Deposit Date Sep 17, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Brain Sciences
Publisher MDPI
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 8
Issue 9
Article Number 175
DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci8090175
Keywords acetylation; ageing; alcoholism; alcohol-related brain damage; α-tubulin; β-tubulin; HDAC6; MAP-2; MAP-tau; pre-frontal cortex
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1077001
Publisher URL http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/8/9/175

Files




You might also like



Downloadable Citations