Photo of Gary E. Isom
Gary E. Isom
Professor Emeritus of Toxicology
E-mail: geisom@purdue.edu
Specialization: Neurotoxicology
Education
B.S. - 1969 - Idaho State University
Ph.D. - 1973 - Washington State University
Research

The primary focus of our research is on selective vulnerability of the nervous system to neurotoxic chemicals. We are using two compounds, cyanide and trimethyltin, as model neurotoxicants that produce selective lesions in the brain. Following subacute exposure to cyanide necrotic lesions develop within the striatum and basal ganglia, brain areas that are involved in regulation of movement. These animals developed a Parkinson-like syndrome similar to that reported in human toxicity following cyanide exposure. On the other hand, neurons in the cortical brain areas undergo an apoptotic cell death in which gene activation appears to initiate cell death. We have characterized and documented that cyanide produces selective brain lesions by necrotic or apoptotic processes, and we have developed a tissue culture model for studying the underlying mechanisms of the cell death. Initially, cyanide activates the NMDA glutamate receptor system leading to activation of a series of intraneuronal cascades resulting in excessive production of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide. These products then produce oxidative stress and active redox sensitive transcription factors and the intracellular apoptotic cascade. In the case of trimethyltin, low doses produce selective loss of the dentate granule cells of the hippocampus, a brain area involved in short term memory. This cell loss involves apoptotic death linked to oxidative stress. Studies are directed at determining the sequence of intracellular cascades selectively activated by trimethyltin and the relationship to this type of neuronal death. We are presently addressing why select brain areas are vulnerable to this injury and how the oxidative stress leads to neuronal apoptosis. By understanding these toxic responses in detail, insight to the causes of neurodegenerative diseases will be gained and the potential etiologic role of environmental exposure to chemicals in neurodegeneration can be determined.

Lab Members
Representative Publications

Shou, Y., Li, N., Li, L., Borowitz, J. and Isom, G.E.: NFkB-mediated upregulation of Bcl-Xs and BAX contributes to cytochrome c release in cyanide-induced apoptosis. J. Neurochemistry 81: 842-852, 2002.
 
Jones, D.C., Prabhakaran, K., Gunasekar, P.G., Li, L., Shou, Y., Borowitz, J.L. and Isom, G.E.: Cyanide enhancement of dopamine-induced apoptosis in mesencephalic cells involves mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Neurotoxicol. 24: 333-342, 2003.
 
Shou, Y., Li, L, Prabhakaran, K., Borowitz, J.L. and Isom, G.E.: p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase regulates Bax translocation in cyanide-induced apoptosis. Toxicological Sci. 75: 99-107, 2003.
 
Shou, Y., Li, L., Prabhakaran, K., Borowitz, J.L. and Isom, G.E.: Calcineurin mediated Bad translocation regulates cyanide-induced neuronal apoptosis. Biochemical J. 379: 805-813, 2004.
 
Prabhakaran, K., Li, L., Borowitz, J.L. and Isom, G.E.: Caspase inhibition switches the mode of cell death induced by cyanide by enhancing reactive oxygen species generation and PARP-1 activation. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 195: 194-202, 2004.