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The IFN[gamma]-PKR Pathway in the Prefrontal Cortex Reactions to Chronic Excessive Alcohol Use
Journal article   Peer reviewed

The IFN[gamma]-PKR Pathway in the Prefrontal Cortex Reactions to Chronic Excessive Alcohol Use

Shakevia Johnson, Jeremy Duncan, Syed A Hussain, Gang Chen, Jia Luo, Channing Mclaurin, Warren May, Grazyna Rajkowska, Xiao-Ming Ou, Craig A Stockmeier, …
Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, Vol.39(3), pp.476-484
03/01/2015
DOI: 10.1111/acer.12650
PMCID: PMC5555843
PMID: 25704249

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Abstract

Byline: Shakevia Johnson, Jeremy Duncan, Syed A. Hussain, Gang Chen, Jia Luo, Channing Mclaurin, Warren May, Grazyna Rajkowska, Xiao-Ming Ou, Craig A. Stockmeier, Jun Ming Wang Keywords: Alcohol Use Disorders; Protein Kinase R; Interferon Gamma; Human Postmortem Brains Background Brain cell death is a major pathological consequence of alcohol neurotoxicity. However, the molecular cascades in alcohol-induced brain tissue injury are unclear. Methods Using Western blot and double immunofluorescence, we examined the expression of interferon (IFN)-induced protein kinase R (PKR), phosphorylated-PKR (p-PKR), and IFN gamma (IFN[gamma]) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of postmortem brains from subjects with alcohol use disorders (AUD). Results The protein levels of PKR, p-PKR, and IFN[gamma] were significantly increased in subjects with AUD compared with control subjects without AUD, and a younger age of onset of AUD was significantly correlated with higher protein levels of p-PKR. In addition, elevated PKR- and p-PKR-IR were observed in both neurons and astrocytes in the PFC of subjects with AUD compared to subjects without AUD. Conclusions The activation of the IFN[gamma]-PKR pathway in PFC of humans is associated with chronic excessive ethanol use with an age of onset dependent manner, and activation of this pathway may play a pivotal role in AUD-related brain tissue injury. This study provides insight into neurodegenerative key factors related to AUD and identifies potential targets for the treatment of alcohol-induced neurotoxicity.
Biological Response Modifiers Drinking of alcoholic beverages Interferon gamma

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