Diphosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinases in brain ischemic tolerance in rat

Remote limb ischaemic conditioning produces cardioprotection in rats with testicular ischaemia-reperfusion injury

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? Can remote limb ischaemic conditioning produce cardioprotection in rats with testicular ischaemia-reperfusion injury? What is the main finding and its importance? Testicular ischaemia-reperfusion (TI/R)-injured rats were predisposed to myocardial reperfusion-induced atrioventricular block. Remote limb ischaemia preconditioning and postconditioning protected TI/R hearts against ischaemia-provoked ventricular arrhythmia and ultimately reduced the incidence of sudden cardiac death, with a possible role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibition and connexin 43 activation.

ABSTRACT

Remote ischaemic conditioning can protect hearts against arrhythmia. Testicular ischaemia-reperfusion (TI/R) injury is associated with electrocardiographic abnormalities. We investigated the effect of remote limb ischaemia preconditioning (RIPre) and postconditioning (RIPost) on arrhythmogenesis in TI/R rats, and determined the potential role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/connexin 43 (Cx43) signalling. Rats were randomized to sham-operated, control, TI/R, RIPre and RIPost groups. TI/R rats were more predisposed to myocardial reperfusion-induced atrioventricular block (AVB). RIPre and RIPost reduced the incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) or AVB, and duration of ventricular tachyarrhythmias during myocardial reperfusion. RIPre and RIPost decreased myocardial I/R-induced phosphorylation level of JNK, while preserving myocardial Cx43 expression in TI/R rats. Taken together, TI/R rats were predisposed to myocardial reperfusion-induced AVB. RIPre and RIPost protected TI/R hearts against ischaemia-provoked ventricular arrhythmia and ultimately reduced the incidence of SCD by suppressing JNK activation and restoring Cx43 expression.

Ceramide from sphingomyelin hydrolysis differentially mediates mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation following cerebral ischemia in rat hippocampal CA1 subregion

Objective

To explore the role that ceramide plays in the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) during cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.

Methods

Rats were subjected to ischemia by the four-vessel occlusion (4-VO) method. The sphingomyelinase inhibitor TPCK was administered to the CA1 subregion of the rat hippocampus before inducing ischemia. Western blot was used to examine the activity of extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) using antibodies against ERK, JNK and diphosphorylated ERK and JNK.

Results

At 1h reperfusion post-ischemia, JNK reached its peak activity while ERK was undergoing a sharp inactivation (P < 0.05). The level of diphosphorylated JNK was significantly reduced but the sharp inactivation of ERK was visibly reversed (P < 0.05) by the sphingomyelinase inhibitor.

Conclusion

The ceramide signaling pathway is up-regulated through sphingomyelin hydrolysis in brain ischemia, promoting JNK activation and suppressing ERK activation, culminating in the ischemic lesion.

Glutathione peroxidase overexpression causes aberrant ERK activation in neonatal mouse cortex after hypoxic preconditioning

BACKGROUND

Preconditioning of neonatal mice with nonlethal hypoxia (HPC) protects the brain from hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury. Overexpression of human glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1), which normally protects the developing murine brain from HI injury, reverses HPC protection, suggesting that a certain threshold of hydrogen peroxide concentration is required for activation of HPC signaling.

METHODS

Activation (phosphorylation) of extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and Akt, and induction of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α were assessed in the cortex, one of the main structures affected by HI and protected by HPC, at different time points after reoxygenation in wild-type (WT) and GPx1-overexpressing animals.

RESULTS

GPx1 overexpression prevented both the global and nuclear increase in activated ERK at 0.5 h after HPC and caused a significant decrease in phospho-ERK (pERK)/ERK levels at 24 h after HPC. In contrast, HIF-1α induction at the end of hypoxia was unaffected by GPx1 overexpression. In the cortex of preconditioned WT animals, enhanced pERK staining was primarily observed in neurons and to a lower extent in astrocytes and endothelial cells, with a nuclear prominence.

CONCLUSION

Aberrant activation of ERK probably explains the paradoxical reversal of HPC protection by GPx1 overexpression. The results identify hydrogen peroxide as an important mediator of neuroprotective ERK signaling.

Ras family small GTPase-mediated neuroprotective signaling in stroke

Selective neuronal cell death is one of the major causes of neuronal damage following stroke, and cerebral cells naturally mobilize diverse survival signaling pathways to protect against ischemia. Importantly, therapeutic strategies designed to improve endogenous anti-apoptotic signaling appear to hold great promise in stroke treatment. While a variety of complex mechanisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of stroke, the overall mechanisms governing the balance between cell survival and death are not well-defined. Ras family small GTPases are activated following ischemic insults, and in turn, serve as intrinsic switches to regulate neuronal survival and regeneration. Their ability to integrate diverse intracellular signal transduction pathways makes them critical regulators and potential therapeutic targets for neuronal recovery after stroke. This article highlights the contribution of Ras family GTPases to neuroprotective signaling cascades, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family protein kinase- and AKT/PKB-dependent signaling pathways as well as the regulation of cAMP response element binding (CREB), Forkhead box O (FoxO) and hypoxiainducible factor 1(HIF1) transcription factors, in stroke.

Heme oxygenase-1 regulates the JNK signaling pathway through the MLK3-MKK7-JNK3 signaling module in brain ischemia injury

Although previous researches indicated that heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) plays a conspicuous role in neuronal injury induced by reperfusion following the brain ischemia, reasonable mechanisms for the role of HO-1 are not clear. In this work, we investigated whether HO-1 was involved in the regulation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway and neuronal cell injury induced by the brain ischemia followed by reperfusion. Cobaltic protoporphyrin (CoPP), an activator of HO-1, was administrated to induce the overexpression of HO-1 by intracerebroventricular infusion 20 min before ischemia. The results showed that the combination of HO-1-mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3), MLK3-mitogen-activated kinase kinase 7 (MKK7) and MKK7-JNK3 increased to a peak at 6h of reperfusion following 15 min of ischemia induced by four-vessel occlusion in rats, and these effects were downregulated by CoPP. In addition, CoPP could inhibit the activation of JNK3, c-Jun and caspase-3. Furthermore, pretreatment with CoPP significantly increased the survival of neurons after 5 days of reperfusion. In contrast, all of the above effects of CoPP were reversed by zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP), a selective inhibitor of HO-1. Our results suggested that HO-1 could protect neurons against brain ischemic injury by downregulating the JNK signaling pathway through the MLK3-MKK7-JNK3 signaling module.

Toll-like receptor 4-mediated myeloid differentiation factor 88-dependent signaling pathway is activated by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in hippocampal CA1 region in mice

The Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)-dependent signaling pathway plays an essential role in inflammation resulting from invading microbes. However, whether the signaling pathway is activated in the inflammatory reaction of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and its mechanism is still unclear. In this experiment mice were randomly divided into sham group, ischemia/reperfusion group and TLR4-blocked group with different time points of reperfusion at 12, 24, 48 and 72 h . Mice cerebral ischemia was induced by occlusion of common carotid arteries (CCA) bilaterally. TLR4 signaling pathway was inhibited using specific anti-TLR4 binding protein to prevent TLR4 from interacting with its receptors. We determined the result of TLR4 antibodies-blocking and mice cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injuries by Western blot, and evaluated neuronal damage in the hippocampus. We also determined expression of TLR4 mRNA and MyD88 mRNA by in situ hybridization (ISH), activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB by electrophoretic mobility-shift analysis (EMSA), and expression of interrleukin (IL)-1beta protein by Western blot. The results demonstrated that TLR4-mediated MyD88-dependent signaling pathway activated by ischemia-reperfusion may be involved in the mechanism of ischemia-reperfusion through upregulation of NF-kappaB, IL-1beta.

Action of ERK5 in ischemic tolerance suggests its probable participation in the signaling mechanism

Here we examined the effects of ischemia preconditioning and ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, on the activation and its nucleus translocation of ERK5 in hippocampal CA1 region. Our results showed ERK5 was not activated in rat hippocampus CA1 region. But in cytosol extracts preconditioned with 3 min of sublethal ischaemia, ERK5 activation was enhanced significantly, with two peaks occurring at 3 hr and 3 days, respectively. This activation returned to base level 3 days later. The results lead us to conclude that preconditioning increased the activations of ERK5 during reperfusion after lethal ischemia through NMDA receptor. Preconditioning increased the activation and nucleus translocation of ERK5 during reperfusion after lethal ischemia through the NMDA receptor. These findings might provide some clues to understanding the mechanism underlying ischemia tolerance and to finding clinical therapies for stroke using the endogenous neuroprotection.

Neuroprotection of preconditioning against ischemic brain injury in rat hippocampus through inhibition of the assembly of GluR6-PSD95-mixed lineage kinase 3 signaling module via nuclear and non-nuclear pathways

Our previous studies showed that the assembly of the GluR6-PSD95-mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) signaling module played an important role in rat ischemic brain injury. In this study, we aimed to elucidate whether ischemic preconditioning could downregulate the assembly of the GluR6-PSD95-MLK3 signaling module and suppress the activation of MLK3, MKK4/7, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). As a result, ischemic preconditioning could not only inhibit the assembly of the GluR6-PSD95-MLK3 signaling module, diminish the phosphorylation of the transcription factor c-Jun, downregulate Fas ligand expression, attenuate the phosphorylation of 14-3-3 and Bcl-2 and the translocation of Bax to mitochondria, but also increase the release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase-3. In contrast, both GluR6 antisense ODNs (oligodeoxynucleotides) and 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5-nitro-1 H-benz[g]indole-2,3-dione-3-oxime (NS102), an antagonist of GluR6 receptor, prevented the above effects of preconditioning, which shows that suppressing the expression of GluR6 or inhibiting GluR6 activity contributes negatively to preconditioning-induced ischemia tolerance. Taken together, our results indicate that preconditioning can inhibit the over-assembly of the GluR6-PSD95-MLK3 signaling module and the JNK3 activation. GluR6 subunit-containing kainite receptors play an important role in the preconditioning-induced neuronal survival and provide new insight into stroke therapy.

TLR4-mediated MyD88-dependent signaling pathway is activated by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in cortex in mice

To study whether the signaling pathway is activated in the inflammatory reaction of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and its mechanism. The mice were randomly divided into sham group, ischemia-reperfusion group and TLR4-blocked group with different time points of reperfusion 12h, 24h, 48h and 72h group. We observed the different expression of TLR4 mRNA and MyD88 mRNA, activation of NF-kappaB and the TNF-alpha and IL-1beta protein levels in each group at different time point after ischemia-reperfusion. Mice cerebral ischemia was induced by occlusion of common carotid arteries (CCA) bilaterally. TLR4 signaling pathway could be inhibited by specific anti-TLR4 binding protein to prevent TLR4 from interacting with its receptors. We determined the result of TLR4 antibodies-blocking and mice cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injuries by Western blot, and evaluated neuronal damage in cortex. We also determined the expression of TLR4 mRNA and MyD88 mRNA by in situ hybridization (ISH), the activation of NF-kappaB by EMSA, and the expression of TNF-alpha protein by Western blot. Anti-TLR4 binding TLR4 receptors before reperfusion was effective; There was distinct difference among each group respecting neuronal damage; The expression of TLR4 mRNA and MyD88 mRNA, the activation of NF-kappaB, and the expression of TNF-alpha protein showed clear difference as well. LR4-mediated MyD88-dependent signaling pathway activated by ischemia-reperfusion may be involved in the mechanism of ischemia-reperfusion through upregulation of NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha.

Preconditioning with hyperbaric oxygen attenuates brain edema after experimental intracerebral hemorrhage

OBJECT

Preconditioning with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) reduces ischemic brain damage. Activation of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p44/42 MAPK) has been associated with preconditioning-induced brain ischemic tolerance. This study investigated if preconditioning with HBO2 protects against intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)-induced brain edema formation and examined the role of p44/42 MAPK in such protection.

METHODS

The study had three experimental groups. In Group 1, Sprague-Dawley rats received two, three, or five consecutive sessions of preconditioning with HBO2 (3 ata, 100% oxygen, 1 hour daily). Twenty-four hours after preconditioning with HBO2, rats received an infusion of autologous blood into the caudate. They were killed 1 or 3 days later for brain edema measurement. Rats in Group 2 received either five sessions of preconditioning with HBO2 or control pretreatment and were killed 24 hours later for Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. In Group 3, rats received an intracaudate injection of PD098059 (an inhibitor of p44/42 MAPK activation) before the first of five sessions of preconditioning with HBO2. Twenty-four hours after the final preconditioning with HBO2, rats received an intracaudate blood infusion. Brain water content was measured 24 hours after ICH.

RESULTS

Fewer than five sessions of preconditioning with HBO2 did not significantly attenuate brain edema after ICH. Five sessions of preconditioning with HBO2 reduced perihematomal edema 24 and 72 hours after ICH (p < 0.05). Strong p44/42 MAPK immunoreactivity was detected in the basal ganglia 24 hours after preconditioning with HBO2. Intracaudate infusion of PD098059 abolished HBO2 preconditioning-induced protection against ICH-induced brain edema formation.

CONCLUSIONS

Preconditioning with HBO2 protects against brain edema formation following ICH. Activation of the p44/42 MAPK pathway contributes to that protection. Preconditioning with HBO2 may be a way of limiting brain injury during invasive neurosurgical procedures that cause bleeding.

Inhibition of MLK3-MKK4/7-JNK1/2 pathway by Akt1 in exogenous estrogen-induced neuroprotection against transient global cerebral ischemia by a non-genomic mechanism in male rats

Numerous studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of estrogen in experimental cerebral ischemia. To investigate molecular mechanisms of estrogen neuroprotection in global ischemia, immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and Nissel-staining analysis were used. Our results showed that chronic pretreatment with beta-estradiol 3-benzoate (E2) enhanced Akt1 activation and reduced the activation of mixed-lineage kinase 3 (MLK3), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4/7 (MKK4/7), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2) in the hippocampal CA1 subfield during reperfusion after 15 min of global ischemia. In addition, E2 reduced downstream JNK nuclear and non-nuclear components, c-Jun and Bcl-2 phosphorylation and Fas ligand protein expression induced by ischemia/reperfusion. Administration of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY 294,002 prevented both activation of Akt1 and inhibition of MLK3, MKK4/7 and JNK1/2. The interaction between ERalpha and the p85 subunit of PI3K was also examined. E2 and antiestrogen ICI 182,780 promoted and prevented this interaction, respectively. Furthermore, ICI 182,780 blocked both the activation of Akt1 and the inhibition of MLK3, MKK4/7 and JNK1/2. Photomicrographs of cresyl violet-stained brain sections showed that E2 reduced CA1 neuron loss after 5 days of reperfusion, which was abolished by ICI 182,780 and LY 294,002. Our data indicate that in response to estrogen, ERalpha interacts with PI3K to activate Akt1, which may inhibit the MLK3-MKK4/7-JNK1/2 pathway to protect hippocampal CA1 neurons against global cerebral ischemia in male rats.

Sustained activation of Src-family tyrosine kinases by ischemia: A potential mechanism mediating extracellular signal-regulated kinase cascades in hippocampal dentate gyrus

In the present report, we investigated the association between the sustained activation of Src family tyrosine kinases (primarily Src kinase) with the biphasic phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) induced by ischemia in the rat hippocampal CA3/dentate gyrus subfield. Post-ischemia reperfusion resulted in the phosphorylation of ERK in a Ras-dependent manner; down-regulation of NMDA receptors or Src family protein kinases by ketamine or 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl) pyrazolo[3,4-d] pyrimidine (PP2) potently antagonized the activation of ERK, indicating that NMDA receptors and Src family tyrosine kinases are essential for the up-regulation of ERK activity following ischemic stimuli. Additionally, an ischemia-induced association between RKIP and Raf-1 resulted in the inhibition of the ERK signaling cascade through an inhibition of Src-mediated Raf-1 phosphorylation at Tyr340/341 residues. This ischemia-induced inhibition of ERK was not associated with other downstream pathways involving Raf-1 phosphorylation at Ser 259 elicited by protein kinase B (Akt). Dissociation of Raf-1 from RKIP by 24 h reperfusion or (4S)-3-[(E)-but-2-enoyl]-4-benzyl-2-oxazolidinone (locostatin) influenced the second phase of ERK activation elicited by the Src-Raf cassette. We propose that, following ischemia, the Src family tyrosine kinases are critical for modulation of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK cascade, in which RKIP is involved in biphasic phosphorylation of ERK via a blockade of Src-Raf cascades.

Ischemic preconditioning negatively regulates plenty of SH3s-mixed lineage kinase 3-Rac1 complex and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 signaling via activation of Akt

Activation of Akt/protein kinase B has been recently reported to play an important role in ischemic tolerance. We here demonstrate that the decreased protein expression and phosphorylation of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10 (PTEN) underlie the increased Akt-Ser-473 phosphorylation in the hippocampal CA1 subfield in ischemic preconditioning (IPC). Co-immunoprecipitation analysis reveals that Akt physically interacts with Rac1, a small Rho family GTPase required for mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) autophosphorylation, and both this interaction and Rac1-Ser-71 phosphorylation induced by Akt are promoted in preconditioned rats. In addition, we show that Akt activation results in the disassembly of the plenty of SH3s (POSH)-MLK3-Rac1 signaling complex and down-regulation of the activation of MLK3/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Akt activation results in decreased serine phosphorylation of 14-3-3, a cytoplasmic anchor of Bax, and prevents ischemia-induced mitochondrial translocation of Bax, release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-3. The expression of Fas ligand is also decreased in the CA1 region. Akt activation protects against apoptotic neuronal death as shown in TUNEL staining following IPC. Intracerebral infusion of LY294002 before IPC reverses the increase in Akt phosphorylation and the decrease in JNK signaling activation, as well as the neuroprotective action of IPC. Our results suggest that activation of pro-apoptotic MLK3/JNK3 cascade can be suppressed through activating anti-apoptotic phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathway induced by a sublethal ischemic insult, which provides a functional link between Akt and the JNK family of stress-activated kinases in ischemic tolerance.

Effect of sublethal 6-hydroxydopamine on the response to subsequent oxidative stress in dopaminergic cells: evidence for preconditioning

Exposure to sublethal stress can trigger endogenous protection against subsequent, higher levels of stress. We tested for this preconditioning phenomenon in a model of Parkinson's disease by applying 6-hydroxydopamine to the dopaminergic MN9D cell line. Exposure to sublethal concentrations of 6-hydroxydopamine (5-10 microM) protected against the toxic effects of a subsequent exposure to a higher concentration (50 microM), as measured by the Hoechst assay for nuclear viability. This was accompanied by little or no protection against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced lactate dehydrogenase release, decline in ATP, or reduction in (3)H-dopamine uptake. The antioxidant, N-acetyl cysteine (20 mM), when applied during preconditioning, abolished protection, as did the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide (0.2 microM). Preconditioning did not affect superoxide dismutase or glutathione peroxidase enzymes, or levels of heat shock protein-72. However, Bcl-2 protein levels rose with preconditioning. Preconditioning rapidly increased phosphorylation of kinases ERK1/2, Akt and JNK, and was abolished by pharmacological inhibitors of their activity. Finally, sublethal 6-hydroxydopamine preconditioned against the toxicity of proteasome inhibitor, MG-132 (1 microM). Thus, exposure of a dopaminergic cell line to sublethal oxidative stress can protect against additional oxidative stress due to translational and post-translational modifications, as well as confer 'cross-tolerance' against a different insult, proteasome inhibition.

Preconditioning-induced activation of ERK5 is dependent on moderate Ca2+ influx via NMDA receptors and contributes to ischemic tolerance in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats

Accumulating evidence implicates activation (phosphorylation) of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) during nonlethal ischemic preconditioning in the protection of hippocampal CA1 neuron against subsequent ischemic events. In this paper, we undertook to identify the role of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 5 in cerebral ischemic preconditioning (CIP). Three minutes of ischemia was induced as preconditioning stimulus. Three days later, 6 min of ischemia was induced. The levels of ERK5 protein expression and its activation were detected with or without the CIP in hippocampal CA1 and the dentate gyrus (DG) regions. Our results showed that ERK5 was activated selectively in hippocampal CA1 region with, but not without, the ischemic preconditioning. Notably, during the later phase of reperfusion, the rise in ERK5 activation was strong and persistent with a peak occurring at the third day. The activation peak was effectively prevented and ERK5 protein expression was significantly decreased by intracerebroventricular infusion of ERK5 antisense oligonucleotide (every 24 h for 3 days before the preconditioning), but not by sense oligonucleotide or vehicle. Subsequently, the CA1 neuronal loss was largely elevated. Moreover, both MK801 (10 microM), an antagonist of NMDA receptor, and EGTA (100 mM, but neither 50 nor 150 mM), an extracellular Ca2+ chelator, not only effectively inhibited the ERK5 activation but also markedly abolished CIP-induced survival of the CA1 neurons. These results suggested that activation of the ERK5 pathway by CIP was at least partly dependent on moderate Ca2+ influx via NMDA receptor, which might contribute to ischemic tolerance in hippocampal CA1 region of rats.

Ischaemic preconditioning: therapeutic implications for stroke?

Ischaemic preconditioning (IPC), also known as ischaemic tolerance (IT), is a phenomenon whereby tissue is exposed to a brief, sublethal period of ischaemia, which activates endogenous protective mechanisms, thereby reducing cellular injury that may be caused by subsequent lethal ischaemic events. The first description of this phenomenon was in the heart, which was reported by Murry and co-workers in 1986. Subsequent studies demonstrated IPC in lung, kidney and liver tissue, whereas more recent studies have concentrated on the brain. The cellular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of IPC remain largely unknown. This phenomenon, which has been demonstrated by using various injury paradigms in both cultured neurons and animal brain tissue, may be utilised to identify and characterise therapeutic targets for small-molecule, antibody, or protein intervention. This review will examine the experimental evidence demonstrating the phenomenon termed IPC in models of cerebral ischaemia, the cellular mechanisms that may be involved and the therapeutic implications of these findings.

Knock-down of POSH expression is neuroprotective through down-regulating activation of the MLK3-MKK4-JNK pathway following cerebral ischaemia in the rat hippocampal CA1 subfield

We investigated the expression and subcellular localization of the multidomain protein POSH (plenty of SH3s) by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis, as well as its role in the selective activation of mixed-lineage kinases (MLKs) 3, MAP kinase kinase (MKK) 4, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) and the c-Jun signalling cascade in the rat hippocampal CA1 region following cerebral ischaemia. Our results indicated that the cytosol immunoreactivity of POSH was strong in the CA1-CA3 pyramidal cell but weak in the DG granule cell of the rat hippocampus both in sham control and after reperfusion. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that the interactions of MLK3, MKK4 and phospho-JNKs with POSH were persistently enhanced during the early (30 min) and the later reperfusion period (from 1 to 3 days) compared with sham controls. Consistently, MLK3-MKK4-JNK activation was rapidly increased with peaks both at 30 min and 3 days of reperfusion. Intracerebroventricular infusion of POSH antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (AS-ODNs) not only significantly reduced the protein level of POSH, markedly decreased its interactions with MLK3, MKK4 and phospho-JNKs, but also attenuated the activation of the JNK signalling pathway. In addition, infusion of POSH AS-ODNs significantly increased the neuronal density in the CA1 region at 5 days of reperfusion. Our results suggest that POSH might serve as a scaffold mediating JNK signalling activation in the hippocampal CA1 region following cerebral ischaemia, and POSH AS-ODNs exerts its protective effects on ischaemic injury through a mechanism of inhibition of the MLK3-MKK4-JNK signalling pathway, involving c-Jun and caspase 3 activation.

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), through NMDA receptors and L-Voltage-gated channels, modulates the serine phosphorylation of GluR6 during cerebral ischemia and early reperfusion period in rat hippocampus

Recent studies have shown that GluR6 is involved in the modulation of neuronal cell death. It has been shown that PKA can phosphorylate recombinant GluR6 homomeric receptors and that this phosphorylation of GluR6 was suggested to underlie an enhancement of whole-cell current responses. Here, we try to find out whether brain ischemia and reperfusion could induce any change in the serine phosphorylation of GluR6. Our results showed that the serine phosphorylation of GluR6 increased in hippocampus during brain ischemia and early reperfusion period. Then, we used several drugs to investigate the mechanism of modulating the serine phosphorylation of GluR6. KT5720, a specific cell-permeable inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA), had no effect on the increase in serine phosphorylation of GluR6 induced by brain ischemia or reperfusion. On the other hand, KN-62, a selective inhibitor of rat brain Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), diminished the increase in serine phosphorylation of GluR6. Moreover, our results showed that either MK801 (a NMDA receptor antagonist) or Nifedipine (a L-type Ca2+ channel (L-VGCC) blocker) decreased the increase in serine phosphorylation. In conclusion, our results suggest that CaMKII, activated through NMDA receptors and L-VGCCs, mediated the serine phosphorylation of GluR6 during brain ischemia and early reperfusion period.

Ischemic tolerance in the brain

Endogenous tolerance to cerebral ischemia is nature's strategy for neuroprotection. Exploring the physiologic and molecular mechanism of this phenomenon may give us new means of protection against ischemia and other degenerative disorders. This article reviews the currently available experimental methods to induce ischemic tolerance in the brain and gives a brief summary of the potential mode of action.

The neuroprotection of insulin on ischemic brain injury in rat hippocampus through negative regulation of JNK signaling pathway by PI3K/Akt activation

Current studies demonstrated that cell survival is determined by a balance among signaling cascades, including those that recruit the Akt and JNK pathways. In our present work, the relationship between Akt1 and JNK1/2 was evaluated after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in the hippocampus in a four-vessel occlusion model of Sprague-Dawley rats. This paper was based on our present and previous studies. Firstly, Akt1 had one active peak during reperfusion following 15 min ischemia. Secondly, two peaks of JNK1/2 activation occurred during reperfusion, respectively. Thirdly, the phosphorylation of JNK substrates c-Jun and Bcl-2, and the activation of a key protease of caspase-3 were detected. They only had one active peak, respectively, during reperfusion. To clarify the mechanism of Akt1 activation and further define whether JNK1/2 activation could be regulated by Akt1 through PI3K pathway, LY294002 and insulin were, respectively, administrated to the rats prior to ischemia. Our research indicated that LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, significantly suppressed Akt1 activation. Furthermore, LY294002 significantly strengthened both peaks of JNK1/2 activation, c-Jun activation, Bcl-2 phosphorylation, and the activation of caspase-3 during reperfusion. In contrast, insulin, a PI3K agonist, not only obviously activated Akt1 during early and later reperfusion, but also inhibited phosphorylation of JNK1/2, c-Jun, and Bcl-2 and attenuated the activation of caspase-3. In addition, pretreatment of insulin significantly increased the number of the surviving CA1 pyramidal cells at 5 days of reperfusion. Consequently, our results indicated that the cross-talk between Akt1 and JNK1/2 could be mediated by insulin receptor through PI3K in rat hippocampus during reperfusion. This signaling pathway might play a neuroprotective role against ischemic insults via inhibition of the JNK pathway, involving the death effector of caspase-3.

Neuroprotective effects of preconditioning ischaemia on ischaemic brain injury through inhibition of mixed-lineage kinase 3 via NMDA receptor-mediated Akt1 activation

A number of works show that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway responds actively in cerebral ischaemia and reperfusion. We undertook our present studies to clarify the role of mixed-lineage kinase 3 (MLK3), a MAPK kinase kinase (MAPKKK) in MAPK cascades, in global ischaemia and ischaemic tolerance. The mechanism concerning NMDA receptor-mediated Akt1 activation underlying ischaemic tolerance, was also investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 6 min of ischaemia and differing times of reperfusion. Our results showed MLK3 was activated in the hippocampal CA1 region with two peaks occurring at 30 min and 6 h, respectively. This activation returned to base level 3 days later. Both preconditioning with 3 min of sublethal ischaemia and NMDA pretreatment inhibited the 6-h peak of activation. However, pretreatment of ketamine before preconditioning reversed the inhibiting effect of preconditioning on MLK3 activation at 6 h of reperfusion. In the case of Akt1, however, preconditioning and NMDA pretreatment enhanced Akt1 activation at 10 min of reperfusion. Furthermore, ketamine pretreatment reversed preconditioning-induced increase of Akt1 activation. We also noted that pretreatment of LY294002 before preconditioning reversed both the inhibition of MLK3 activation at 6 h of reperfusion and the increase in Akt1 activation at 10 min of reperfusion. The above-mentioned results lead us to conclude that, in the hippocampal CA1 region, preconditioning inhibits MLK3 activation after lethal ischaemia and reperfusion and, furthermore, this effect is mediated by Akt1 activation through NMDA receptor stimulation.

The role of nitric oxide in the development of cortical spreading depression-induced tolerance to transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) has been documented to confer ischemic tolerance on brain. Although nitric oxide (NO) is a crucial mediator in preconditioning under certain circumstances, the role of NO in CSD-induced neuroprotection is unclear. We examined the effect of L-NAME, an inhibitor of NO synthase, on CSD-induced tolerance against transient focal cerebral ischemia. A solution of 0.5 M KCl was applied for 2 h on the right hemisphere to induce CSD. Animals received either vehicle or L-NAME (4 mg/kg, iv) 30 min before CSD. Temporary occlusion (120 min) of the right middle cerebral artery was induced 4 days after preconditioning and the infarct volume was measured. Additionally, ERK 1/2 activation and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in the cerebral cortex were examined by Western blotting analysis immediately after cessation of CSD, or at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 h after CSD. CSD reduced infarct volume from 275 +/- 15 mm3 (mean +/- SEM) in the non-CSD group to 155 +/- 14 mm3 in the CSD group (P < 0.05). L-NAME abolished this protection (281 +/- 14 mm3; P < 0.05 vs. CSD group). Elevated ERK activation and COX-2 expression were observed immediately after or 8 h after preconditioning, respectively. Those responses are significantly augmented by L-NAME (3-fold for ERK and 4-fold for COX-2). These results suggest a crucial role of NO in the establishment of preconditioning with CSD.

Neuroprotective effects of inhibiting N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, P2X receptors and the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade: A quantitative analysis in organotypical hippocampal slice cultures subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation

Cell death was assessed by quantitative analysis of propidium iodide uptake in rat hippocampal slice cultures transiently exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation, an in vitro model of brain ischemia. The hippocampal subfields CA1 and CA3, and fascia dentata were analyzed at different stages from 0 to 48 h after the insult. Cell death appeared at 3 h and increased steeply toward 12 h. Only a slight additional increase in propidium iodide uptake was seen at later intervals. The mitogen-activated protein kinases extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 were activated immediately after oxygen and glucose deprivation both in CA1 and in CA3/fascia dentata. Inhibition of the specific mitogen-activated protein kinase activator mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase by PD98059 or U0126 offered partial protection against oxygen and glucose deprivation-induced cell damage. The non-selective P2X receptor antagonist suramin gave neuroprotection of the same magnitude as the N-methyl-D-aspartate channel blocker MK-801 (approximately 70%). Neuroprotection was also observed with the P2 receptor blocker PPADS. Immunogold data indicated that hippocampal slice cultures (like intact hippocampi) express several isoforms of P2X receptors at the synaptic level, consistent with the idea that the effects of suramin and PPADS are mediated by P2X receptors. Virtually complete neuroprotection was obtained by combined blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, P2X receptors, and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase. Both P2X receptors and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors mediate influx of calcium. Our results suggest that inhibition of P2X receptors has a neuroprotective potential similar to that of inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. In contrast, our comparative analysis shows that only partial protection can be achieved by inhibiting the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, one of the downstream pathways activated by intracellular calcium overload.

Signal transduction pathways involved in melatonin-induced neuroprotection after focal cerebral ischemia in mice

Because of its favorable action profile in humans, melatonin is a particularly interesting candidate as a neuroprotectant in acute ischemic stroke. Until now, the signaling mechanisms mediating melatonin's neuroprotective actions remained essentially uninvestigated. Herein, we examined the effects of melatonin, administered either orally for 9 wk as a stroke prophylactic (4 mg/kg/day) or intraperitoneally immediately after reperfusion onset (4 mg/kg), on the activation of signal transduction pathways in mice submitted to 90 min of intraluminal middle cerebral artery occlusion, followed by 24 hr of reperfusion. In these studies, melatonin significantly reduced ischemic infarct size by approximately 30-35%, as compared with animals receiving diluent (sham) treatment, independent of whether the indole was administered prior to or after ischemia. Under both conditions, animals receiving melatonin exhibited elevated phosphorylated Akt levels in their brains, as determined by Western blots. Additionally, phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK)-1/-2 and Jun kinase (JNK)-1/-2 were increased following prophylactic, but not acute, melatonin treatment. Our data suggest a role of phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase/Akt signaling in acute melatonin-induced neuroprotection, while ERK-1/-2 and/or JNK-1/-2 rather appear to be involved in melatonin's long-term effects.

Downregulation of COX-2 and JNK expression after induction of ischemic tolerance in the gerbil brain

The response of the inducible isoform of the prostaglandin H2 synthase (COX-2) and the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in post-ischemic neuronal damage was assessed in a model of ischemic tolerance in Mongolian Gerbils. After a single 6-min bilateral carotid occlusion, histological damage was evident in the CA1 region of hippocampus, correlated with a high expression of JNK and COX-2 mRNA. However, in the group of animals with a 2-min ischemia and the tolerance group, in which a 2-min bilateral carotid occlusion was followed 3 days later by a 6-min ischemia, no hippocampal or cortical damage was detected. Accordingly, the JNK and COX-2 mRNA levels remained unaffected. We suggest that the level of JNK and COX-2 expression may determine the outcome as either post-ischemic cell death or tolerance.

Genome-wide gene expression analysis for induced ischemic tolerance and delayed neuronal death following transient global ischemia in rats

Genome-wide gene expression analysis of the hippocampal CA1 region was conducted in a rat global ischemia model for delayed neuronal death and induced ischemic tolerance using an oligonucleotide-based DNA microarray containing 8,799 probes. The results showed that expression levels of 246 transcripts were increased and 213 were decreased following ischemia, corresponding to 5.1% of the represented probe sets. These changes were divided into seven expression clusters using hierarchical cluster analysis, each with distinct conditions and time-specific patterns. Ischemic tolerance was associated with transient up-regulation of transcription factors (c-Fos, JunB Egr-1, -2, -4, NGFI-B), Hsp70 and MAP kinase cascade-related genes (MKP-1), which are implicated cell survival. Delayed neuronal death exhibited complex long-lasting changes of expression, such as up-regulation of proapoptotic genes (GADD153, Smad2, Dral, Caspase-2 and -3) and down-regulation of genes implicated in survival signaling (MKK2, and PI4 kinase, DAG/PKC signaling pathways), suggesting an imbalance between death and survival signals. Our study provides a differential gene expression profile between delayed neuronal death and induced ischemic tolerance in a genome-wide analysis, and contributes to further understanding of the complex molecular pathophysiology in cerebral ischemia.

Antioxidant N-acetylcysteine and AMPA/KA receptor antagonist DNQX inhibited mixed lineage kinase-3 activation following cerebral ischemia in rat hippocampus

We measured the MLK3 expression, activity and backphosphorylation following cerebral ischemia. Our data showed that MLK3 protein levels were unalterable during ischemia and reperfusion. However, during ischemia MLK3 activity gradually increased and reached its peak at 30 min of ischemia. While its backphosphorylation reduced from 5 min of ischemia to 30 min of ischemia. In addition, we also detected MLK3 alteration at various time points of reperfusion after 15 min of ischemia, which showed that MLK3 activity increased twice, whereas MLK3 backphosphorylation was similarly consistent with its activity during reperfusion. To further analyze the reason of MLK3 activation, antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole proprionate (AMPA)/kainate (KA) receptor antagonist 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3(1H, 4H)-dione (DNQX) were given to the rats 20 min prior to ischemia. The results illustrated that NAC preferably inhibited the MLK3 activation during the ischemia and the early reperfusion, whereas DNQX effectively attenuated the MLK3 activation of the late reperfusion. We think that MLK3 activation is certainly associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and AMPA/KA receptor in response to ischemic insult.

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) during reperfusion of ischemic spinal cord

The extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) participate in numerous signaling pathways and are abundantly expressed in the CNS. It has been proposed that ERK activation promotes survival in models of neuronal injury. Inhibition of MEK, the upstream kinase that activates ERK, however, leads to neuroprotection in models of cerebral ischemia and trauma, suggesting that in this context ERK activation contributes to cellular damage. The effect of ischemia and reperfusion on activity and expression of ERK was investigated using a reversible model of rabbit spinal cord ischemia. Active ERK was observed in nai;ve animals, which decreased during 15 to 60 min of ischemia. Upon reperfusion, a robust activation of ERK was observed in animals occluded for 60 min that remained permanently paraplegic. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed increased staining of phosphorylated ERK (pERK) in glial cells and faint nuclear staining in motor neurons of animals occluded for 60 min and reperfused for 18 h. In contrast ERK activity did not increase in animals occluded for 15 min that regained motor function. No evidence of increased pERK immunoreactivity in motor neurons or nuclear translocation was noted in these animals. ERK1 was demonstrated to be identical to a p46 c-Jun/ATF-2 kinase previously shown to be activated by reperfusion after a 60-min occlusion. The results suggest that activation of ERK during reperfusion of ischemic spinal cord participates in the cellular pathways leading to neuronal damage.

Opposite reaction of ERK and JNK in ischemia vulnerable and resistant regions of hippocampus: involvement of mitochondria

Delayed ischemic death of neurones is observed selectively in CA1 region of hippocampus at 3-4 days of reperfusion. Signals generated immediately during and after ischemia are further propagated by a variety of kinases, proteases and phosphatases. Tissue samples from dorsal (vulnerable) and abdominal (resistant) parts of gerbil hippocampi were collected to determine the activation state of key signaling molecules: Akt, Raf-1, JNK, ERK1/2 in the course of reperfusion after 5 min of global cerebral ischemia. Western blot analysis of phosphorylated forms of the kinases revealed persistent activation of JNK, being limited mostly to vulnerable CA1 region. On the contrary, activation of ERK, although observed transiently in both parts, was enhanced for a longer time in the abdominal hippocampus. The levels of the active/phosphorylated Akt and Raf-1 kinases did not change significantly during the recovery period. No significant correlation between postischemic JNK activation and c-Jun phosphorylation or its contribution to AP1-like complex formation was found. In contrast, the amount of active JNK linked with mitochondrial membranes was significantly increased and preceded neuronal death in CA1. In the same period of time the AP1 complex, augmented in CA1 region, did not appear to contain a classical c-Fos protein. These results are consistent with the theory that either long-lasting activation of JNK and/or contrasting ERK and JNK activities in critical time of reperfusion, contribute to selective apoptosis of CA1 neurons. This, in connection with the translocation of activated JNK to mitochondria and time/regional differences in AP1 binding protein complexes can affect final postischemic outcome.

Activation of stress signaling molecules in bat brain during arousal from hibernation

Induction of glucose-regulated proteins (GRPs) is a ubiquitous intracellular response to stresses such as hypoxia, glucose starvation and acidosis. The induction of GRPs offers some protection against these stresses in vitro, but the specific role of GRPs in vivo remains unclear. Hibernating bats present a good in vivo model to address this question. The bats must overcome local high oxygen demand in tissue by severe metabolic stress during arousal thermogenesis. We used brain tissue of a temperate bat Rhinolopus ferrumequinum to investigate GRP induction by high metabolic oxygen demand and to identify associated signaling molecules. We found that during 30 min of arousal, oxygen consumption increased from nearly zero to 11.9/kg/h, which was about 8.7-fold higher than its active resting metabolic rate. During this time, body temperature rose from 7 degrees C to 35 degrees C, and levels of TNF-alpha and lactate in brain tissue increased 2-2.5-fold, indicating a high risk of oxygen shortage. Concomitantly, levels of GRP75, GRP78 and GRP94 increased 1.5-1.7-fold. At the same time, c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) activity increased 6.4-fold, and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) activity decreased to a similar degree (6.1-fold). p38 MAPK activity was very low and remained unchanged during arousal. In addition, survival signaling molecules protein kinase B (Akt) and protein kinase C (PKC) were activated 3- and 5-fold, respectively, during arousal. Taken together, our results showed that bat brain undergoes high oxygen demand during arousal from hibernation. Up-regulation of GRP proteins and activation of JNK, PKCgamma and Akt may be critical for neuroprotection and the survival of bats during the repeated process.

Role of mitogen- and stress-activated kinases in ischemic injury

Protein kinase-mediated signaling cascades constitute the major route by which cells respond to their extracellular environment. Of these, three well-characterized mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are those that use the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) or the stress-activated protein kinase (p38/SAPK2 or JNK/SAPK) pathways. Mitogenic stimulation of the MAPK-ERK1/2 pathway modulates the activity of many transcription factors, leading to biological responses such as proliferation and differentiation. In contrast, the p38/SAPK2 and JNK/SAPK (c-Jun amino-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase) pathways are only weakly, if at all, activated by mitogens, but are strongly activated by stress stimuli. There is now a growing body of evidence showing that these kinase signaling pathways become activated following a variety of injury stimuli including focal cerebral ischemia. Whether their activation, however, is merely an epiphenomenon of the process of cell death, or is actually involved in the mechanisms underlying ischemia-induced degeneration, remains to be fully understood. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of kinase pathway activation following cerebral ischemia and discusses the evidence supporting a role for these kinases in the mechanisms underlying ischemia-induced cell death.

Nuclear factor kappaB activation is mediated by NMDA and non-NMDA receptor and L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel following severe global ischemia in rat hippocampus

Recent studies suggest that nuclear factor NF-kappaB may be involved in excitotoxin-induced cell apopotosis. To analyze the variation of NF-kappaB, levels of NF-kappaB were measured after the rats were subjected to 30 min of four-vessel occlusion and sacrificed in selected reperfusion time points. Induction of NF-kappaB consisting mainly of p65 and p50 subunits was detected by Western blot with anti p65, p50 antibodies, respectively. DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB was performed by electrophoretic mobility-shift analysis. Our studies indicate that ischemia-induced NF-kappaB nuclear translocation is time-dependent. Inductions or binding activity of NF-kappaB in nucleus increased about 10-fold from 6 to 12 h as compared with that of the control group, then gradually declined in the following 24, 72 h. To further analyze the regulation by ionotropic glutamate receptor and L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel (L-VGCC) in vivo, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist ketamine, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate/kainate receptor antagonist 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3 (1H,4H)-dione and L-VGCC antagonist nifedipine were given 20 min prior to 30 min of ischemia. The NF-kappaB nuclear translocation was completely blocked by these three antagonists in a dose-dependent manner after ischemia/reperfusion 6 h. Increased phosphorylation of the NF-kappaB regulatory unit IkappaB-alpha was detected by Western blot. Decrement of IkappaB-alpha was found after 3 h reperfusion in the cytoplasm following global ischemia, which was also blocked by such three antagonists. These results illustrate that glutamate-gated ionotropic NMDA or non-NMDA receptors and voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels are important routes to mediate NF-kappaB activation during brain ischemic injury. Active NF-kappaB may attend the excitotoxin-induced cell death in turn. Our studies also suggest that IkappaB-alpha is an important regulatory unit that controls the activation of NF-kappaB after its phosphorylation and degradation and resynthesis in rat hippocampus following global ischemia.

Thrombin-receptor activation and thrombin-induced brain tolerance

The authors previously found that pretreatment with a low dose of thrombin attenuates the brain edema induced by a large dose of thrombin or an intracerebral hemorrhage, and reduces infarct volume after focal cerebral ischemia (i.e., thrombin preconditioning). This study investigated whether thrombin preconditioning is caused by activation of the thrombin receptor, also called protease-activated receptor. In the in vivo studies, thrombin-induced brain tolerance was eliminated by RPPGF (Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe), a thrombin-receptor antagonist. Pretreatment with a thrombin-receptor agonist reduced the amount of edema induced by a large dose of thrombin infused into the ipsilateral basal ganglia 7 days later (81.3 +/- 0.7% vs. 82.6 +/- 0.8% in the control, P < 0.05). In the in vitro study, low doses of thrombin (1 or 2 U/mL) did not induce cell death. However, doses greater than 5 U/mL resulted in dose-dependent lactate dehydrogenase release (P < 0.01). Thrombin and thrombin receptor-activating peptide preconditioning reduced lactate dehydrogenase release induced by a high dose of thrombin (10 and 20 U/mL), whereas RPPGF blocked the effect of thrombin preconditioning in vitro. Western blots indicated that p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinases were activated after thrombin preconditioning. Finally, inhibition of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinases activation by PD98059 abolished the thrombin-preconditioning effect. Results indicate that thrombin-induced brain tolerance is in part achieved through activation of the thrombin receptor. Activation of the thrombin receptor in the brain may be neuroprotective. The protective effect of thrombin preconditioning is achieved through the p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal-transduction pathway.

Normobaric hypoxia induces tolerance to focal permanent cerebral ischemia in association with an increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and its target genes, erythropoietin and VEGF, in the adult mouse brain

Tolerance to cerebral ischemia is achieved by preconditioning sublethal stresses, such as ischemia or hypoxia, paradigms in which the decrease of O2 availability may constitute an early signal inducing tolerance. In accordance with this concept, this study shows that hypoxia induces tolerance against focal permanent ischemia in adult mice. Normobaric hypoxia (8% O2 of 1-hour, 3-hour, or 6-hour duration), performed 24 hours before ischemia, reduces infarct volume by approximately 30% when compared with controls. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying this neuroprotection, the authors investigated the effects of preconditioning on cerebral expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and its target genes, erythropoietin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Hypoxia, whatever its duration (1 hour, 3 hours, 6 hours), rapidly increases the nuclear content of HIF-1alpha as well as the mRNA levels of erythropoietin and VEGF. Furthermore, erythropoietin and VEGF are upregulated at the protein level 24 hours after 6 hours of hypoxia. The authors' findings show that (1) hypoxia elicits a delayed, short-lasting (<72 hours) tolerance to focal permanent ischemia in the adult mouse brain; (2) HIF-1 target genes could contribute to the establishment of tolerance; and (3) this model might be a useful paradigm to further study the mechanisms of ischemic tolerance, to identify new therapeutic targets for stroke.

Cortical spreading depression transiently activates MAP kinases

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) has been shown to have neuroprotective effects when administered in advance of cerebral ischemia. The mechanism by which CSD induces its neuroprotective effect however remains to be elucidated. Since MAP kinases have been shown to impart neuroprotection in ischemic preconditioning paradigms, we attempted to determine the role CSD may have in the activation of MAPK. We show that CSD is capable of increasing the phosphorylation of ERK in a MEK-dependent manner. This phosphorylation is, however, transient, as phosphorylated ERK levels return to control levels 45 min after 2 h of CSD elicitation. Immunohistochemical analysis reveals that the phosphorylated form of ERK is located ubiquitously in cells of the CSD-treated cortex while CSD-elicited MEK phosphorylation resides solely in the nuclei. These data suggest that CSD may act via the MAP kinase pathways to mediate preconditioning.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase in ischemic tolerance

The alterations and involvement of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) activation were examined in the hippocampal CA1 region in a rat model of global brain ischemic tolerance. Western blotting study showed that ERK activation (diphosphorylation) level was decreased (3.75-, 0.56-, and 0.23-fold vs sham control) and JNK activation level was increased (3.82-, 4.63-, and 5.30-fold vs sham control) 3 days after more severe ischemic insults (6 min, 8 min, and 10 min of ischemia, respectively). These alterations were significantly prevented by pretreatment with preconditioning ischemia, which also provided neuronal protection against ischemic injury. Inhibition of ERK activation after preconditioning ischemia by PD98059, a specific ERK kinase inhibitor, significantly prevented the inhibitory effects of preconditioning ischemia on both JNK activation and ischemic injury. The results suggest that ERK activation after preconditioning ischemia may result in the prevention of JNK activation and thus be involved in the protective responses in ischemic tolerance in hippocampal CA1 region.

Inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase results in neurodegenerative changes in the axotomised dorsal root ganglion neurons: evidence for a neuroprotective role of nitric oxide in vivo

In axotomised adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG), many neurons show a marked increase in expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). It has been established that NO functions as a neuron-glial signalling molecule by generating cGMP in glia cells that surround the neuron in DRG. Furthermore, in cultures of dissociated DRG deprived of nerve growth factor, many neurons expressed nNOS and cGMP and subsequently died if either enzyme's activity was inhibited suggesting that NO-cGMP pathway could be neuroprotective in stressed DRG neurons. This has now been tested in vivo. It was found, 10 days after sciatic axotomy that nNOS was expressed in 36% of DRG neurons in the L5 and L6 ganglia giving rise to the damaged nerve, compared with 6% in contralateral ganglia. Almost all nNOS neurons and 24% of non-nNOS neurons expressed c-Jun in their nuclei. Ten days following axotomy, treatment with the relatively selective nNOS-blocker, 1-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl) imidazole (TRIM), caused morphology changes in approximately 50% of neurons that consisted of vacuolations, blebbing and highly irregular cell boundaries. Sham operated, TRIM treated, nerve-sectioned, vehicle treated, and controls did not show these changes. These observations further support the view that NO could be neuroprotective in some injured/stressed primary sensory neurons.

c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation in hippocampal CA1 region was involved in ischemic injury

To clarify the role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (NK) activation in brain ischemia, temporospatial alteration of active (diphosphorylated) JNK1/2 immunoreactivity in hippocampus after brain ischemia in rat was investigated. Western immunoblot study showed that JNK1/2 diphosphorylation level was increased biphasically in CA1 but not CA3/dentate gyrus (DG) after 10 min of ischemia. Cerebral ventricular infusion of JNK1/2 antisense oligonucleotides not only significantly decreased JNK1/2 protein expression and the activation level but also significantly decreased CA1 pyramidal cell death (demonstrated by cresyl violet staining) and DNA fragmentation (demonstrated by in situ end-labeling of DNA). These results suggest that JNK1/2 were selectively activated and involved in the selective cell death in hippocampal CA1 subfield after cerebral ischemia.

Activation of p44/42 mitogen activated protein kinases in thrombin-induced brain tolerance

BACKGROUND

Our recent studies have shown that prior intracerebral injection of a low dose of thrombin attenuates the brain edema formation that results from either an intracerebral hematoma, an intracerebral injection of a large dose of thrombin or cerebral ischemia. The aim of the current study is to investigate whether thrombin-induced tolerance (thrombin preconditioning; TPC) is associated with activation of p44/42 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases.

METHODS

This study contained three parts. In the first, rats received an intracerebral infusion of either saline or one unit thrombin (the TPC dose) into the right caudate nucleus. After 1, 3 and 7 days, the rats will be killed and brains used to detect p44/42 MAP kinases activation using Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. In the second and third parts, rats received intracerebral infusions of either vehicle, one unit thrombin (TPC) or one unit thrombin and 5 nmol PD 098059. These rats were either killed to detect kinases activation after 24 h or received a second intracerebral infusion of five-unit thrombin 7 days later with brain edema being assessed after a further 24 h.

RESULTS

Western blot analysis demonstrated that p44/42 MAP kinases were activated in the ipsilateral basal ganglia after the intracerebral infusion of thrombin one unit. Cells immunoreactive for activated p44/42 MAP kinases were found in the ipsilateral basal ganglia and ipsilateral cortex. PD 098059, a MAP kinase kinase inhibitor, abolished thrombin-induced activation of p44/42 MAP kinases. TPC suppressed thrombin-induced brain edema while PD 098059 blocked this protective effect. The water contents in the ipsilateral basal ganglia 24 h after infusion of thrombin five units were 82.6+/-0.8%, 79.2+/-0.4% and 81.8+/-1.9% in the control, TPC alone and TPC plus PD 098059 groups, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Thrombin can activate p44/42 MAP kinases within the brain and the protective effects of thrombin preconditioning on brain edema formation are related to this activation.

Postischemic temperature as a modulator of the stress response in brain: dissociation of heat shock protein 72 induction from ischemic tolerance after bilateral carotid artery occlusion in the gerbil

Brief ischemia induces tolerance to subsequent more severe insults, and induction of the 70 kDa heat shock/stress protein, hsp72, has been suggested to play a role. This study tested the requirement for hsp72 expression in a gerbil tolerance model in which postischemic temperature was varied to modulate the level of hsp72 induction. Gerbils were subjected to 2 min bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and kept under halothane anesthesia for 90 min, during which rectal temperature was either maintained at 37 degrees C (normothermic, NT) or elevated to 39.5 degrees C (hyperthermic, HT) during 15-60 min recirculation. Hsp72 mRNA expression was determined by in situ hybridization with a (35)S-labeled oligonucleotide probe at 3, 24 and 48 h. Separate groups were subjected to a test challenge of 5 min ischemia 48 h after the priming insult, and CA1 neuron counts were obtained at 1 week. Significant protection was observed in both NT and HT groups. However, while 90% of hippocampi from NT animals showed detectable protection of CA1 neurons, less than half showed detectable hsp72 mRNA induction. These results indicate that, within the limits of experimental detection, hsp72 expression is not required for induction of ischemic tolerance.