Mechanism of DNA fragmentation during hypoxia in the cerebral cortex of newborn piglets

Effect of Concurrent Src Kinase Inhibition with Short-Duration Hypothermia on Ca2+/Calmodulin Kinase IV Activity and Neuropathology after Hypoxia-Ischemia in the Newborn Swine Brain

BACKGROUND

Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) results in increased activation of Ca2+/calmodulin kinase IV (CaM kinase IV) mediated by Src kinase. Therapeutic hypothermia ameliorates neuronal injury in the newborn.

HYPOTHESIS

Inhibition of Src kinase concurrently with hypothermia further attenuates the hypoxia-induced increased activation of CaM kinase IV compared with hypothermia alone.

DESIGN/METHODS

Ventilated piglets were exposed to HI, received saline or a selective Src kinase inhibitor (PP2), and were cooled to 33°C. Neuropathology, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phosphocreatine (PCr) concentrations, and CaM kinase IV activity were determined.

RESULTS

The neuropathology mean score (mean ± SD) was 0.4 ± 0.43 in normoxia-normothermia (p < 0.05 vs. hypoxia-normothermia), 3.5 ± 0.89 in hypoxia-normothermia (p < 0.05 vs. normoxia-normothermia), 0.7 ± 0.73 in hypoxia-hypothermia (p < 0.05 vs. normoxia-normothermia), and 0.5 ± 0.70 in normoxia-hypothermia (p < 0.05 vs. hypoxia-normothermia). The CaM kinase IV activity in cerebral tissue (pmol Pi/mg protein/min; mean ± SD) was 2,002 ± 729 in normoxia-normothermia, 1,704 ± 18 in normoxia-hypothermia, 6,017 ± 2,510 in hypoxia-normothermia, 4,104 ± 542 in hypoxia-hypothermia (p < 0.05 vs. normoxia-hypothermia), and 2,165 ± 415 in hypoxia-hypothermia with PP2 (p < 0.05 vs. hypoxia-hypothermia). The hypoxic groups with and without hypothermia or Src kinase inhibitor were comparable in the levels of ATP and PCr, indicating that they were similar in their degree of energy failure prior to treatments. Hypothermia or Src kinase inhibitor (PP2) did not restore the ATP and PCr levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Hypothermia and Src kinase inhibition attenuated apoptotic cell death and improved neuropathology after hypoxia. The combination of short-duration hypothermia with Src kinase inhibition following hypoxia further attenuates the increased activation of CaM kinase IV compared to hypothermia alone in the newborn swine brain.

Effect of Src Kinase inhibition on Cytochrome c, Smac/DIABLO and Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF) Following Cerebral Hypoxia-Ischemia in Newborn Piglets

We have previously shown that cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) results in activation of Src kinase in the newborn piglet brain. We investigated the regulatory mechanism by which the pre-apoptotic proteins translocate from mitochondria to the cytosol during HI through the Src kinase. Newborn piglets were divided into 3 groups (n = 5/group): normoxic (Nx), HI and HI pre-treated with Src kinase inhibitor PP2 (PP2 + HI). Brain tissue HI was verified by neuropathological analysis and by Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and Phosphocreatine (PCr) levels. We used western blots, immunohistochemistry, H&E and biochemical enzyme assays to determine the role of Src kinase on mitochondrial membrane apoptotic protein trafficking. HI resulted in decreased ATP and PCr levels, neuropathological changes and increased levels of cytochrome c, Smac/DIABLO and AIF in the cytosol while their levels were decreased in mitochondria compared to Nx. PP2 decreased the cytosolic levels of pre-apoptotic proteins, attenuated the neuropathological changes and apoptosis and decreased the HI-induced increased activity of caspase-3. Our data suggest that Src kinase may represent a potential target that could interrupt the enzymatic activation of the caspase dependent cell death pathway.

Decreased Expression of Inhibitor of Caspase-Activated DNase (ICAD) in Renal Cell Carcinoma - Tissue Microarray of Human Samples

Although primary localised tumours of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can be treated relatively successfully with surgery, metastatic RCC has poor prognosis because of late diagnosis and resistance to therapies. In the present study, we were interested in profiling the protein expression of “inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase” (ICAD), an apoptosis inhibitor, in kidney cancer and its paired normal kidney. Immunohistochemistry with automated batch staining and morphometry using digital pathology were used to compare ICAD in 121 RCC specimens with their paired normal kidney tissue. Tissue microarray of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissue was used. Intensity and localisation of ICAD were compared between normal and cancer samples, and against grading within the cancers. The results demonstrated that, in this cohort, ICAD was highly expressed in the proximal tubular epithelium of normal kidney, and significantly decreased in clear cell RCC tissue (p < 0.05) as well as other subtypes of RCC (p < 0.01) compared with normal kidney. There was a tendency towards nuclear localisation of ICAD in clear cell RCC, but not in other subtypes of RCC. No significant association was found between ICAD intensity and grade of RCC. In summary, down-regulation of ICAD occurs in RCC. ICAD normally inhibits DNA fragmentation and apoptosis; thus, its down-regulation was unexpected in a cancer known for its resistance to apoptosis. However, these RCC samples were from primary, not metastatic, RCC sites, and down-regulated ICAD may be part of a progressive pathway that promotes RCC metastasis.

Underlying mechanism of protection from hypoxic injury seen with n-butanol extract of Potentilla anserine L. in hippocampal neurons

The alcohol and n-butanol extract of Potentilla anserine L. significantly protects myocardium from acute ischemic injury. However, its effects on rat hippocampal neurons and the mechanism of protection remain unclear. In this study, primary cultured hippocampal neurons from neonatal rats were incubated in 95% N₂ and 5% CO₂ for 4 hours. Results indicated that hypoxic injury decreased the viability of neurons, increased the expression levels of caspase-9 and caspase-3 mRNA, as well as cytochrome c, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3 protein. Pretreatment with 0.25, 0.062 5, 0.015 6 mg/mL n-butanol extract of Potentilla anserine L. led to a significant increase in cell viability. Expression levels of caspase-9 and caspase-3 mRNA, as well as cytochrome c, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3 protein, were attenuated. The neuroprotective effect of n-butanol extract of Potentilla anserine L. was equivalent to tanshinone IIA. Our data suggest that the n-butanol extract of Potentilla anserine L. could protect primary hippocampal neurons from hypoxic injury by deactivating mitochondrial cell death.