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Abstract
Neurons cultured from rodent central nervous system tissues represent important tools in the study of neurodegenerative disease mechanisms and neuroregenerative processes, including the survival- and axon growth-promoting properties of neurotrophic factors. This chapter presents a detailed protocol for the preparation of rat and mouse cortical, hippocampal, and striatal neuron cell cultures, using either embryonic or postnatal tissue with enzymatic digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Facci
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Stephen D Skaper
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
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Murugaiyah V, Mattson MP. Neurohormetic phytochemicals: An evolutionary-bioenergetic perspective. Neurochem Int 2015; 89:271-80. [PMID: 25861940 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2015.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Revised: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The impact of dietary factors on brain health and vulnerability to disease is increasingly appreciated. The results of epidemiological studies, and intervention trials in animal models suggest that diets rich in phytochemicals can enhance neuroplasticity and resistance to neurodegeneration. Here we describe how interactions of plants and animals during their co-evolution, and resulting reciprocal adaptations, have shaped the remarkable characteristics of phytochemicals and their effects on the physiology of animal cells in general, and neurons in particular. Survival advantages were conferred upon plants capable of producing noxious bitter-tasting chemicals, and on animals able to tolerate the phytochemicals and consume the plants as an energy source. The remarkably diverse array of phytochemicals present in modern fruits, vegetables spices, tea and coffee may have arisen, in part, from the acquisition of adaptive cellular stress responses and detoxification enzymes in animals that enabled them to consume plants containing potentially toxic chemicals. Interestingly, some of the same adaptive stress response mechanisms that protect neurons against noxious phytochemicals are also activated by dietary energy restriction and vigorous physical exertion, two environmental challenges that shaped brain evolution. In this perspective article, we describe some of the signaling pathways relevant to cellular energy metabolism that are modulated by 'neurohormetic phytochemicals' (potentially toxic chemicals produced by plants that have beneficial effects on animals when consumed in moderate amounts). We highlight the cellular bioenergetics-related sirtuin, adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) pathways. The inclusion of dietary neurohormetic phytochemicals in an overall program for brain health that also includes exercise and energy restriction may find applications in the prevention and treatment of a range of neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikneswaran Murugaiyah
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Mark P Mattson
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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Seo JY, Yan BC, Park JH, Ahn JH, Kim IH, Lee JC, Kwon YG, Kim YM, Cho JH, Won MH. Comparison of the immunoreactivities of NMDA receptors between the young and adult hippocampal CA1 region induced by experimentally transient cerebral ischemia. J Neurol Sci 2012; 325:108-14. [PMID: 23287813 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2012.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Revised: 12/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Young gerbils are much more resistant to transient cerebral ischemia than the adult. In the present study, we observed that about 90% of CA1 pyramidal cells in the adult hippocampus died 4days post-ischemia; however, about 56% of them in the young hippocampus died at 7days post-ischemia. To compare excitotoxicity between them, we carried out immunoreactivities of NMDA receptor 1 (NMDAR1) and NMDAR2A/B in the hippocampal CA1 region (CA1) induced by 5min of transient cerebral ischemia in the young and adult gerbils. Their immunoreactivities and protein levels in the young sham-group were much lower than those in the adult sham-group. Four days after ischemia-reperfusion, they were significantly decreased in the adult ischemia-group; however, in the young ischemia-group, they were much higher than those in the adult. Seven days after ischemia-reperfusion, NMDAR1 immunoreactivity and its level in the young were much higher than those in the adult; NMDAR2A/B immunoreactivity and its level in the young were lower than in the adult. In brief, the immunoreactivities of NMDARs were not decreased in the ischemic CA1 region of the young 4days after transient cerebral ischemia. This finding indicates that longer maintenance of NMDARs may contribute to less and more delayed neuronal death/damage in the young CA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong Yeol Seo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, 200-702 South Korea
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4
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Abstract
Neurons cultured from rodent central nervous system tissues represent an important tool in the study of neurodegenerative disease mechanisms and neuroregenerative processes, including the survival- and axon growth-promoting properties of neurotrophic factors. This chapter presents a detailed protocol for the preparation of rat and mouse cortical and hippocampal neuron cell cultures using either embryonic or postnatal tissue with enzymatic digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Facci
- Department of Pharmacology and Anesthesiology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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5
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Panickar KS, Anderson RA. Mechanisms underlying the protective effects of myricetin and quercetin following oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced cell swelling and the reduction in glutamate uptake in glial cells. Neuroscience 2011; 183:1-14. [PMID: 21496478 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.03.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2010] [Revised: 03/24/2011] [Accepted: 03/29/2011] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The protective effects of the flavonoid polyphenols, myricetin and quercetin, were investigated on key features of ischemic injury in cultures including cell swelling and the reduction in glutamate uptake. C6 glial cells were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 5 h and cell swelling was determined 90 min after the end of OGD. OGD-induced swelling was significantly blocked by both quercetin and myricetin although higher concentrations were required for quercetin. OGD-induced free radical production, a contributing factor in cell swelling, was significantly reduced by both myricetin and quercetin. However, depolarization of the inner mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ(m)), the blockade of which generally reduces swelling, was significantly diminished by myricetin, but not quercetin. This indicated that quercetin could reduce swelling despite its inability to prevent depolarization of ΔΨ(m) possibly through other signaling pathways. Increased intracellular calcium ([Ca²+](i)) is an important characteristic of ischemic injury and is implicated in swelling. Both myricetin and quercetin attenuated the increase in [Ca²+](i). Further, a reduction in [Ca²+](i), through the use of nifedipine, nimodipine, verapamil, dantrolene, or BAPTA-AM, significantly reduced OGD-induced cell swelling indicating that one possible mechanism by which such flavonoids attenuate cell swelling may be through regulating [Ca²+](i). OGD-induced decrease in glutamate uptake was attenuated by myricetin, but not quercetin. Cyclosporin A, a blocker of the mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) pore, but not FK506 (that does not block the mPT), attenuated the decline in glutamate uptake after OGD, indicating the involvement of the mPT in glutamate uptake. Our results indicated that while blockade of ΔΨ(m) may be sufficient to reduce swelling, it may not be a necessary factor, and that flavonoids reduce cell swelling by regulating [Ca²+](i). The differential effects of myricetin and quercetin on OGD-induced reduction on glutamate uptake may be due to their differential effects on mitochondria.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Panickar
- Diet, Genomics, and Immunology Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
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Chwiej J, Sarapata A, Janeczko K, Stegowski Z, Appel K, Setkowicz Z. X-ray fluorescence analysis of long-term changes in the levels and distributions of trace elements in the rat brain following mechanical injury. J Biol Inorg Chem 2010; 16:275-83. [PMID: 21049302 PMCID: PMC3032205 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-010-0724-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2010] [Accepted: 10/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This paper describes the results of the application of X-ray fluorescence microscopy to the qualitative, topographic and quantitative elemental analysis of nervous tissue from rats with neocortical brain injury. The tissue samples were analyzed with a 15 μm beam defined by the size of the polycapillary focus. Raster scanning of the samples generated 2D cartographies, revealing the distributions of elements such as P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn. Special emphasis was placed on the analysis of the areas neighboring the lesion site and the hippocampal formation tissue. The results obtained for rats with mechanical brain injuries were compared with those recorded for controls and animals with pilocarpine-induced seizures. There were no significant differences in the elemental compositions of gray and white matter between injured and uninjured brain hemispheres. A higher level of Ca was observed in the gray matter of both of the hemispheres in brains with neocortical injuries. A similar relation was noticed for Fe in the white matter. A comparative study of hippocampal formation tissue showed a statistically significant decrease in the mass per unit area of P in the dentate gyrus (DG) and the hilus (H) of DG for animals with brain lesions in comparison with the control group. Analogous relations were found for Cu in the DG and Zn in sector 3 of Ammon’s horn (CA3) and the DG. It is important to note that identical changes in the same areas were observed for animals with pilocarpine-induced seizures in our previous study.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Chwiej
- Department of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH-University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland.
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Tan F, Guio-Aguilar P, Downes C, Zhang M, O’Donovan L, Callaway J, Crack P. The σ1 receptor agonist 4-PPBP elicits ERK1/2 phosphorylation in primary neurons: A possible mechanism of neuroprotective action. Neuropharmacology 2010; 59:416-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2010.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2009] [Revised: 05/28/2010] [Accepted: 05/28/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Crespo-Biel N, Camins A, Canudas AM, Pallàs M. Kainate-induced toxicity in the hippocampus: potential role of lithium. Bipolar Disord 2010; 12:425-36. [PMID: 20636640 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-5618.2010.00825.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We investigated the neuroprotective effects of lithium in an experimental neurodegeneration model gated to kainate (KA) receptor activation. METHODS The hippocampus from KA-treated mice and hippocampal cell cultures were used to evaluate the pathways regulated by chronic lithium pretreatment in both in vivo and in vitro models. RESULTS Treatment with KA, as measured by fragmentation of alpha-spectrin and biochemically, induced the activation of calpain resulting in p35 cleavage to p25, indicating activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (cdk5) and glycogen synthase kinase-3ss (GSK-3ss) and an increase in tau protein phosphorylation. Treatment with lithium reduced calpain activation and reduced the effects of cdk5 and GSK-3ss on tau. KA treatment of cultures resulted in neuronal demise. According to nuclear condensed cell counts, the addition of lithium to neuronal cell cultures (0.5-1 mM) a few days before KA treatment had neuroprotective and also antiapoptotic effects. The action of lithium on calpain/cdk5 and GSK-3ss pathways produced similar results in vivo. As calpain is activated by an increase in intracellular calcium, we showed that lithium reduced calcium concentrations in basal and KA-treated hippocampal cells, which was accompanied by an increase in NCX3, a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger pump. CONCLUSION A robust neuroprotective effect of lithium in the excitotoxic process induced by KA in mouse hippocampus was demonstrated via modulation of calcium entry and the subsequent inhibition of the calpain pathway. These mechanisms may act in an additive way with other mechanisms previously described for lithium, suggesting that it may be useful as a possible therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Crespo-Biel
- Unitat de Farmacologia i Farmacognòsia i Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB) i Centro de Investigación de Biomedicina en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Nucli Universitari de Pedralbes, Barcelona, Spain
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The brain uncoupling protein UCP4 attenuates mitochondrial toxin-induced cell death: role of extracellular signal-regulated kinases in bioenergetics adaptation and cell survival. Neurotox Res 2009; 16:14-29. [PMID: 19526295 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-009-9039-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2008] [Revised: 01/11/2009] [Accepted: 02/27/2009] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Increased bioenergetics demand can stimulate compensatory increases in glucose metabolism. We previously reported that neural cells expressing the brain uncoupling protein UCP4 exhibit enhanced dependency on glucose for support of cellular bioenergetics and survival. The switch from oxidative toward glycolytic metabolism reduces the production of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increases cellular resistance to toxicity induced by 3-nitropropionic acid, a mitochondrial complex II inhibitor that compromises cellular bioenergetics. In this study we elucidate the underlying mechanism whereby expression of UCP4 promotes bioenergetics adaptation and cell survival. We found that activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) is necessary and sufficient for the increased dependency on glucose utilization. Pharmacological inhibition of ERKs not only abrogated bioenergetics adaptation but also reduced the activation of cAMP-responsive element-binding (CREB) protein suggesting that CREB protein signaling contributes in part to UCP4-dependent cell death rescue from 3-nitropropionic acid-induced toxicity. We also demonstrated that activation of ERKs by growth factors ameliorated the bioenergetics compromise and reduced cellular toxicity induced by 3-nitropropionic acid. Collectively, our results support the involvement of ERKs in UCP4 dependent bioenergetics adaptation and cell survival.
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Huang H, Fan S, Ji X, Zhang Y, Bao F, Zhang G. Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Protects against Experimental Spinal Cord Trauma Injury by Regulating Expression of the Proteins MKP-1 and p-ERK. J Int Med Res 2009; 37:511-9. [PMID: 19383246 DOI: 10.1177/147323000903700227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study explored the tissue-protective effect of erythropoietin in rats after experimental spinal cord injury (SCI) produced by dropping a weight onto surgically exposed spinal cord. Sixty rats were randomized to sham operation (spinal cord exposure; control), SCI plus intraperitoneal saline injection, or SCI plus intraperitoneal erythropoietin injection. Locomotor function was evaluated with Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scores 1 day (24 h) and 7 days later, and rats were then killed for analysis of lesion site tissue. Compared with saline-treated SCI rats, erythropoietin-treated SCI rats showed significantly less locomotor dysfunction and faster locomotor recovery. Immunohistochemistry showed that erythropoietin-treated SCI rats had a significantly lower phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) protein expression and a significantly higher mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) protein expression than saline-treated SCI rats. Haematoxylin–eosin staining showed progressive disruption of dorsal white matter and neuron loss after SCI; lesions were less severe and there was more neuron regeneration in the erythropoietin group than in the saline group. It is concluded that erythropoietin reduces pathological changes and SCI severity via down-regulation of p-ERK and up-regulation of MKP-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Huang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu, China
| | - S Fan
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - X Ji
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu, China
| | - Y Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu, China
| | - F Bao
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu, China
| | - G Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu, China
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Crespo-Biel N, Camins A, Pallàs M, Canudas A. Evidence of calpain/cdk5 pathway inhibition by lithium in 3-nitropropionic acid toxicity in vivo and in vitro. Neuropharmacology 2009; 56:422-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2008.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2008] [Revised: 09/09/2008] [Accepted: 09/15/2008] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Gomez-Niño A, Agapito MT, Obeso A, Gonzalez C. Effects of mitochondrial poisons on glutathione redox potential and carotid body chemoreceptor activity. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2008; 165:104-11. [PMID: 18996500 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2008.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2008] [Revised: 10/24/2008] [Accepted: 10/28/2008] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Low oxygen sensing in chemoreceptor cells involves the inhibition of specific plasma membrane K(+) channels, suggesting that mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) link hypoxia to K(+) channel inhibition, subsequent cell depolarization and activation of neurotransmitter release. We have used several mitochondrial poisons, alone and in combination with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and quantify their capacity to alter GSH/GSSG levels and glutathione redox potential (E(GSH)) in rat diaphragm. Selected concentrations of mitochondrial poisons with or without NAC were tested for their capacity to activate neurotransmitter release in chemoreceptor cells and to alter ATP levels in intact rat carotid body (CB). We found that rotenone (1 microM), antimycin A (0.2 microg/ml) and sodium azide (5mM) decreased E(GSH); NAC restored E(GSH) to control values. At those concentrations mitochondrial poisons activated neurotransmitter release from CB chemoreceptor cells and decreased CB ATP levels, NAC being ineffective to modify these responses. Additional experiments with 3-nitroprionate (5mM), lower concentrations of rotenone and dinitrophenol revealed variable relationships between E(GSH) and chemoreceptor cell neurotransmitter release responses and ATP levels. These findings indicate a lack of correlation between mitochondrial-generated modifications of E(GSH) and chemoreceptor cells activity. This lack of correlation renders unlikely that alteration of mitochondrial production of ROS is the physiological pathway chemoreceptor cells use to signal hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Gomez-Niño
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Fisiología, Universidad de Valladolid, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Valladolid, Spain
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Ciccarelli R, D'Alimonte I, Ballerini P, D'Auro M, Nargi E, Buccella S, Di Iorio P, Bruno V, Nicoletti F, Caciagli F. Molecular Signalling Mediating the Protective Effect of A1 Adenosine and mGlu3 Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Activation against Apoptosis by Oxygen/Glucose Deprivation in Cultured Astrocytes. Mol Pharmacol 2007; 71:1369-80. [PMID: 17293559 DOI: 10.1124/mol.106.031617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocyte death may occur in neurodegenerative disorders and complicates the outcome of brain ischemia, a condition associated with high extracellular levels of adenosine and glutamate. We show that pharmacological activation of A(1) adenosine and mGlu3 metabotropic glutamate receptors with N(6)-chlorocyclopentyladenosine (CCPA) and (-)2-oxa-4-aminocyclo-[3.1.0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (LY379268), respectively, protects cultured astrocytes against apoptosis induced by a 3-h exposure to oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD). Protection by CCPA and LY379268 was less than additive and was abrogated by receptor blockade with selective competitive antagonists or pertussis toxin. Both in control astrocytes and in astrocytes exposed to OGD, CCPA and LY379268 induced a rapid activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, which are known to support cell survival. In cultures exposed to OGD, CCPA and LY379268 reduced the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38/MAPK, reduced the levels of the proapoptotic protein Bad, increased the levels of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-X(L), and were highly protective against apoptotic death, as shown by nuclear 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining and measurements of caspase-3 activity. All of these effects were attenuated by treatment with 1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis(methylthio)butadiene (U0126) and 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-1(4H)-benzopyran-4-one hydrochloride (LY294002), which inhibit the MAPK and the PI3K pathways, respectively. These data suggest that pharmacological activation of A(1) and mGlu3 receptors protects astrocytes against hypoxic/ischemic damage by stimulating the PI3K and ERK1/2 MAPK pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Ciccarelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Chieti, Medical School, Via dei Vestini 29, pal. B, 66013 Chieti, Italy.
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