The protective role of Bax Inhibitor-1 against chronic mild stress through the inhibition of monoamine oxidase A

The anti-apoptotic protein Bax inhibitor-1 (BI-1) is a regulator of apoptosis linked to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. It has been hypothesized that BI-1 protects against neuron degenerative diseases. In this study, BI-1(−/−) mice showed increased vulnerability to chronic mild stress accompanied by alterations in the size and morphology of the hippocampi, enhanced ROS accumulation and an ER stress response compared with BI-1(+/+) mice. BI-1(−/−) mice exposed to chronic mild stress showed significant activation of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), but not MAO-B, compared with BI-1(+/+) mice. To examine the involvement of BI-1 in the Ca(2+)-sensitive MAO activity, thapsigargin-induced Ca(2+) release and MAO activity were analyzed in neuronal cells overexpressing BI-1. The in vitro study showed that BI-1 regulates Ca(2+) release and related MAO-A activity. This study indicates an endogenous protective role of BI-1 under conditions of chronic mild stress that is primarily mediated through Ca(2+)-associated MAO-A regulation.