Trifluoromethyl ketones show culture age-dependent inhibitory effects on low K(+)-induced apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons.

We previously reported that two trifluoromethyl ketones, 3,3,3-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione (TF1) and 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-phenyl-2-propanone (TF2), have neuroprotective effects against low K(+)-induced apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) exposed at 12-13 days in vitro (DIV). On the other hand, these compounds showed weak neuroprotective potency against 7 DIV CGNs. It is reported that actinomycin D (Act-D), cycloheximide (CHX), and caspase-3 inhibitors prevent the apoptosis of CGNs induced by K+ deprivation. However, these experiments are generally performed using 7 DIV CGNs. We investigated and compared the antiapoptotic efficacy of these drugs and newly-discovered TF1 and TF2 to protect DIV 7 and 12-13 CGNs from death induced by K+ deprivation. Apoptosis of CGNs induced by K+ withdrawal at 13 DIV was potently inhibited by Act-D and CHX similar to those at 7 DIV. Caspase-3 inhibitors moderately suppressed cell death during low K(+)-induced apoptosis both exposed 7 and 13 DIV. Serine protease inhibitor N-tosyl-L-phenylalanyl chloromethylketone (TPCK) had no effect on K(+)-deprivation-induced apoptosis of CGNs at both 7 and 12 DIV. This study showed that there are different pathways of apoptosis in CGNs depending on the culture age.