A Novel Target of Action of Minocycline in NGF-Induced Neurite Outgrowth in PC12 Cells: Translation Initiation Factor eIF4AI

BACKGROUND: Minocycline, a second-generation tetracycline antibiotic, has potential activity for the treatment of several neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. However, its mechanisms of action remain to be determined. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We found that minocycline, but not tetracycline, significantly potentiated nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells, in a concentration dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that the endoplasmic reticulum protein inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP(3)) receptors and several common signaling molecules (PLC-γ, PI3K, Akt, p38 MAPK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and Ras/Raf/ERK/MAPK pathways) might be involved in the active mechanism of minocycline. Moreover, we found that a marked increase of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4AI protein by minocycline, but not tetracycline, might be involved in the active mechanism for NGF-induced neurite outgrowth. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These findings suggest that eIF4AI might play a role in the novel mechanism of minocycline. Therefore, agents that can increase eIF4AI protein would be novel therapeutic drugs for certain neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.