The Short Isoform of DNAJB6 Protects against 1-Methyl-4-phenylpridinium Ion-Induced Apoptosis in LN18 Cells via Inhibiting Both ROS Formation and Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Loss.

In a previous study, we found that the short isoform of DNAJB6 (DNAJB6(S)) had been decreased in the striatum of a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD) induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). DNAJB6, one of the heat shock proteins, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of PD. In this study, we explored the cytoprotective effect of DNAJB6(S) against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion- (MPP-) induced apoptosis and the underlying molecular mechanisms in cultured LN18 cells from astrocytic tumors. We observed that MPP significantly reduced the cell viability and induced apoptosis in LN18 glioblastoma cells. DNAJB6(S) protected LN18 cells against MPP-induced apoptosis not only by suppressing Bax cleavage but also by inhibiting a series of apoptotic events including loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species, and activation of caspase-9. These observations suggest that the cytoprotective effects of DNAJB6(S) may be mediated, at least in part, by the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.