泻根醇酸对NMDA诱导的PC12细胞损伤的保护作用研究

钙离子内流、Ca2+/钙调蛋白(Ca M)依赖的蛋白激酶Ⅱ(CaMKⅡ)和c AMP应答元件结合蛋白(CREB)的磷酸化是NMDA诱导细胞凋亡的重要过程。本实验探讨了泻根醇酸(BA)对N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸(NMDA)诱导的PC12细胞损伤的保护作用及可能机制。MTT法测定细胞活力、测定LDH释放率、Fura-2/AM荧光标记法测定细胞内钙离子浓度,Western blot法测定CaMKⅡ、p-CaMKⅡ、CREB、p-CREB、Bax、Bcl-2蛋白表达。结果显示,与模型组相比,BA给药组细胞活力显著升高,LDH释放减少,[Ca2+]i降低,p-CREB,Bcl-2表达上调,Bax表达下调。BA能够通过Ca2+-CaMKⅡ-CREB信号通路保护NMDA诱导的PC12细胞损伤,进而有望成为脑缺血疾病的神经保护药物。     

预缺血通过NMDA受体抑制海马CA1区Bcl-2磷酸化的研究

目的:研究预缺血以及联合给予预缺血和NMDA(N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸)受体抑制剂MK801后对大鼠海马CA1区Bcl-2的磷酸化以及海马CA1区锥体细胞凋亡的影响。方法:采用SD大鼠四动脉结扎全脑缺血及预缺血模型,给药组大鼠在预缺血前1h给予腹腔注射MK801 3mg/kg。用免疫印迹法分析不同处理下大鼠海马CA1区Bcl-2的蛋白表达及其磷酸化水平,焦油紫染色法分析海马CA1区锥体细胞的凋亡情况。结果:脑缺血再灌注组相对于Sham组Bcl-2的磷酸化水平以及海马CA1区锥体细胞的凋亡水平显著增高,预缺血组相对于缺血再灌注组Bcl-2的磷酸化水平以及海马CA1区锥体细胞的凋亡水平显著降低;而预缺血前给予MK801组相对于预缺血组Bcl-2磷酸化水平以及海马CA1区锥体细胞的凋亡水平显著增高;而Bcl-2的蛋白表达水平在以上不同处理条件下均无明显变化。结论:NMDA受体介导了预缺血抑制脑缺血再灌注诱导增加Bcl-2磷酸化以及海马CA1区锥体细胞凋亡。     

细胞色素c的释放是多巴胺诱导PC12细胞凋亡的重要环节

通过末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导dUTP缺口翻译法和DNA凝胶电泳观察多巴胺(DA)对PC12细胞凋亡的诱导作用, 并经蛋白质印迹法检测胞浆细胞色素c、Bcl-2和Bax蛋白以及活化型半胱氨酸蛋白酶3(caspase-3)水平. 结果表明, 在DA诱导PC12细胞凋亡的过程中, 可见PC12细胞中活化型caspase-3蛋白表达, 胞浆中细胞色素c水平明显增高, 同时Bcl-2蛋白水平下降, 而Bax蛋白水平明显增加. 环孢菌素A预处理对细胞色素c释放和caspase-3激活有明显的抑制作用, 而对Bcl-2和Bax蛋白影响不明显. 结果提示, Bcl-2和Bax蛋白、细胞色素c以及caspase-3可能参与DA诱导PC12细胞凋亡, 线粒体细胞色素c向胞浆释放可能是其中的中心环节.     

震惊反射系统在研究小鼠感觉运动门控功能中的应用

感觉运动门控功能异常与多种精神疾病相关,前脉冲抑制是常用的测量感觉运动门控的重要行为学参数。该文介绍了用震惊反射系统测定C57BL/6J品系小鼠前脉冲抑制的实验方法,并用N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体非竞争拮抗剂MK-801(Dizocilpine,地卓西平)成功构建了药物诱发前脉冲抑制缺失的小鼠模型。     

右美托咪定对大鼠海马神经元生长发育的影响及其机制

目的:探讨右美托咪定(DEX)对新生大鼠海马神经元发育过程及脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)-酪氨酸受体激酶B(Trk B)信号通路分子表达的影响。方法:从新生的大鼠分离出海马神经元细胞进行体外培养,将细胞接种于96孔板,实验分为4组(对照组、1μmol/L DEX处理组、5μmol/L DEX处理组、50μmol/L DEX处理组),每组设置6复孔,分别给予不同浓度的右美托咪定1、5和50μmol/L处理,于处理后2、4、6、8、10 d检测细胞活性,于处理后10 d检测细胞凋亡情况、q-PCR检测突触素(SYN)和突触后密度蛋白95(PSD95)的mRNA表达水平,分析BDNF、Trk B及N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体(NMDA)蛋白表达情况。结果:与对照组相比,不同剂量DEX处理组的神经元细胞活力无显著差异,1μmol/L和5μmol/L DEX处理组中SYN和PSD95 mRNA的表达和Trk B蛋白均无显著性差异(P>0.05),而50μmol/L DEX处理组中SYN和PSD95 mRNA的表达显著升高(P<0.01),BDNF蛋白表达水平显着上调(P<0.01),p-N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体的表达增加(P<0.01)。结论:50μmol/L DEX对大鼠海马神经元有一定的作用,其可能通过上调BDNF的表达和N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体的磷酸化水平来实现。     

脑缺血／再灌对海马磷酸酪氨酸蛋白含量的影响及其机制的研究

目的和方法：采用蒙古沙土鼠双侧颈总动脉结扎（BCAO）前脑缺血模型,研究N－甲基D－门冬氨酸（NMDA）受体（NR）非竞争性拮抗剂氯胺酮（ketamine,KT)、L－型电压门控钙离子通道（L－type voltage gatd calcium channel,L型VGCC）拮抗剂硝苯吡啶（Nifedipine ND）及非NR拮抗剂6,7－二硝基喹恶啉上卫四（6,7－dinitroquinoxaline-2,3dione DNQX)对沙土鼠脑缺血及缺血／再灌海马可溶性（S3）、突触体（P2）和颗粒性（P3）部分中磷酸酪氨酸蛋白（p-tyr-pr）含量变化的影响。结果：①缺血15min,三部分（P2,P3,S3）p-tyr-pr含量均下降,而S3部分p-tyr-pr含量下降更明显;随着脑缺血再灌时间的延长,三部分P-tyr-Pr含量均逐渐升高。S3部分恢复快,P2与P3部分相比,升高的速度较慢,但升高的幅度较大,且再灌后期变化不大;②脑缺血前腹腔注射KT或ND,均可部分地拮抗缺血再灌引起的p-tyr-pr含量的升高,而DNQX对此无影响。结论：缺血／再灌引起的p-tyr-pr变化与NR通道及L型VGCC有关,而与非NR无关。     

线粒体与细胞凋亡调控

细胞凋亡是一个受到一系列相关基因严格调控的细胞死亡过程。线粒体是细胞凋亡调控的活动中心。在凋亡因子的刺激下,线粒体释放出不同促凋亡因子如细胞色素C、Smac／Diablo等,激活细胞内凋亡蛋白酶Caspase。我们发现,活化后的Caspase可以反过来作用于线粒体,引发更大量线粒体细胞色素c的释放,构成细胞色素c释放的正反馈调节机制,从而导致电子传递链的中断、膜电势的丧失、胞内ROS的升高以及线粒体产生ATP功能的完全丧失。Bcl-2家族蛋白在细胞色素C释放和细胞凋亡调控中起关键作用。     

NMDA受体介导脑缺血/再灌注诱导GluR6 巯基亚硝基化的研究

目的:研究脑缺血再灌注以及联合给予脑缺血和NMDA(N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸)受体抑制剂MK801对大鼠海马CA1区Glu R6巯基亚硝基化以及海马CA1区锥体细胞凋亡的影响。方法:采用四动脉结扎法构建大鼠全脑缺血再灌注模型,给予SD大鼠腹腔注射NMDA受体特异性抑制剂MK801(3 mg/kg)。主要运用'生物素转化法'(Biotin-Switch method)、SDS-PAGE、免疫印迹、焦油紫染色等方法对Glu R6的巯基亚硝基化(S-亚硝基化)、蛋白表达水平以及海马CA1区锥体细胞的凋亡水平进行研究。结果:脑缺血/再灌注显著促进Glu R6的巯基亚硝基化以及海马CA1区锥体细胞的凋亡,给予NMDA受体特异性抑制剂MK801能够显著抑制脑缺血/复灌诱导增加的Glu R6的S-亚硝基化以及海马CA1区锥体细胞的凋亡。结论:脑缺血/再灌注早期NMDA受体介导了Glu R6的巯基亚硝基化以及海马CA1区锥体细胞的凋亡,从而为临床治疗缺血再灌注脑损伤提供了理论依据。     

Bcl-2家族蛋白调控线粒体膜通透性和细胞色素C释放的新机制

Bcl-2家族蛋白在调控线粒体功能和细胞色素C释放中起重要作用。最近发现Bcl-2分子通过与其他促凋亡分子相互作用调控线粒体外膜通透性,其具体分子机制尚不完全清楚。本课题组采用化学生物学方法,在研究Bax/Bak非依赖的细胞凋亡途径中,发现了一些小分子化合物能够诱导Bim表达量急剧升高,Bim能转位到线粒体上,与Bcl-2相互作用增强,并直接促进Bcl-2构象变化。有意义的是,Bim可以诱导Bcl-2功能发生转换并能够形成大的复合体通道来介导细胞色素C释放。研究结果提示Bcl-2分子可变成促凋亡分子,参与Bax/Bak非依赖的细胞色素C释放和细胞凋亡。     

脑缺血/再灌对蒙古沙土鼠海马突触体酪氨酸磷酸化的影响

用蒙古沙土鼠双侧颈总动脉结扎（ＢＣＡＯ）前脑缺血模型,研究缺血／再灌对海马突触体蛋白酪氨酸磷酸休的影响及ＮＭＤＡ受体（ＮＲ）非竞争性拮抗剂氯胺酮（Ｋｅｔａｍｉｎｅ,ＫＴ）、Ｌ－型电压门控钙离子通道（Ｌ－ｔｙｐｅ ｖｏｌｔａｇｅ ｇａｔｅｄｃａｌｃｉｕｍ ｃｈａｎｎｅｌ,Ｌ－型ＶＧＣＣ）拮抗剂硝苯吡啶（ｎｉｆｅｄｉｐｉｎｅ,ＮＤ）及非ＮＲ拮抗６,７－二硝基喹恶啉上卫四（６,７－ｄｉ－ｎｉｔｒｏｐｕ     

Insulin blocks cytochrome c release in the reperfused brain through PI3-K signaling and by promoting Bax/Bcl-XL binding

The critical event of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis following transient global brain ischemia is the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. In vitro studies have shown that insulin can signal specifically via phosphatidylinositol-3-OH-kinase (PI3-K) and Akt to prevent cytochrome c release. Therefore, insulin may exert its neuroprotective effects during brain reperfusion by blocking cytochrome c release. We hypothesized that insulin acts through PI3-K, Akt, and Bcl-2 family proteins to inhibit cytochrome c release following transient global brain ischemia. We found that a single bolus of insulin given immediately upon reperfusion inhibited cytochrome c release for at least 24 h, and produced a fivefold improvement in neuronal survival at 14 days. Moreover, insulin's ability to inhibit cytochrome c release was completely dependent on PI3-K signaling and insulin induces phosphorylation of Akt through PI3-K. In untreated animals, there was an increase in mitochondrial Bax at 6 h of reperfusion, and Bax binding to Bcl-X_L was disrupted at the mitochondria. Insulin prevented both these events in a PI3-K-dependent manner. In summary, insulin regulates cytochrome c release through PI3-K likely by activating Akt, promoting the binding between Bax and Bcl-X_L, and by preventing Bax translocation to the mitochondria.     

Effects of polyamines on apoptosis induced by simulated ischemia/reperfusion injury in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes

We incubated neonatal Sprague-Dawley rat cardiomyocytes in primary culture in a medium simulating ischemia (consisting of hypoxia plus serum deprivation) for 2 h, then re-incubated them for 24 h in normal culture medium to establish a model of simulated ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Apoptotic cell death was measured by MTT assay, TUNEL staining and flow cytometry. Morphological alterations were assessed by transmission electron microscopy, the expression of caspases-3 and -9 and Bcl-2 and the release of cytochrome c by Western blotting, and the intracellular free-calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) by laser confocal scanning microscopy. The results showed that pretreatment with 10 micromol/l spermine or spermidine significantly inhibited apoptosis in the I/R cells, suppressed the expression of caspases-3 and -9 and cytochrome c release, up-regulated Bcl-2 expression and decreased [Ca2+]i. However, pretreatment with 10 micromol/l putrescine had the opposite effects. Evidence for this "double-edged" effect of polyamines on apoptosis in I/R-injured cardiomyocytes is presented for the first time. It may suggest a novel pharmacological target for preventing and treating cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury.     

A pathway of neuronal apoptosis induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation: roles of nuclear factor-kappaB and Bcl-2

As a model of the reperfusion injury found in stroke, we have exposed neurons to hypoxia followed by reoxygenation. Neurons treated with hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) respond by activating nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB), releasing cytochrome c from their mitochondria, and ultimately dying. Further supporting an apoptotic mechanism, expression of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-x proteins was increased following H/R. In this model, adenoviral-mediated transduction of lkappaB expression inhibited NFkappaB activation and significantly accelerated cytochrome c release and caspase-dependent neuronal death. At the same time, expression of mutated lkappaB prevented the increased expression of endogenous Bcl-2 and Bcl-x. In the presence of mutated lkappaB, singular overexpression of only Bcl-2 by adenoviral-mediated transduction significantly inhibited cytochrome c release, caspase-3-like activation, and cell death in response to H/R. These findings suggest a pathway where NFkappaB activation induces overexpression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-x, which function to prevent apoptotic cell death following H/R treatments.     

Both ischemic preconditioning and ghrelin administration protect hippocampus from ischemia/reperfusion and upregulate uncoupling protein-2

Background  

A major endogenous protective mechanism in many organs against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is ischemic preconditioning (IPC). By moderately uncoupling the mitochondrial respiratory chain and decreasing production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), IPC reduces apoptosis induced by I/R by reducing cytochrome c release from the mitochondria. One element believed to contribute to reduce ROS production is the uncoupling protein UCP2 (and UCP3 in the heart). Although its implication in IPC in the brain has been shown in vitro, no in vivo study of protein has shown its upregulation. Our first goal was to determine in rat hippocampus whether UCP2 protein upregulation was associated with IPC-induced protection and increased ROS production. The second goal was to determine whether the peptide ghrelin, which possesses anti-oxidant and protective properties, alters UCP2 mRNA levels in the same way as IPC during protection.     

Appearance of shortened Bcl-2 and Bax proteins and lack of evidence for apoptosis in rat forebrain after severe experimental traumatic brain injury

To investigate whether apoptosis plays a role in traumatic brain injury (TBI), we examined the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins and the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c in rat brains using Western blot analysis. Bcl-2 at the predicted 26 kDa was not detected in controls and TBI groups. However, at 1 h post-TBI, a shortened Bcl-2 protein with a molecular size of approximately 14.5 kDa was detected in the injured hemisphere (R). At 4 and 12 h post TBI, an additional bcl-2 band ( approximately 10 kDa) was detected in R. Both bands disappeared at 14 days post-injury. The predicted 21-kDa band of Bax was detected in both controls and TBI animals. In addition, two shortened Bax proteins ( approximately 18 kDa) were detected after TBI. The time course of appearance was similar to that of Bcl-2 described above. In the present study, neither cytochrome c release from mitochondria nor DNA fragmentation was detected in the forebrains of sham and TBI groups. Treatment of animals with an antioxidant N-acetylcysteine administered ip greatly diminished the levels of shortened Bcl-2 and Bax proteins. These findings suggest that the induction of shortened Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in rat brains may be associated with reactive oxygen species generated after TBI.     

Apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain protects against cell death by interfering with Bax activation

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is associated with an extensive loss of myocardial cells. The apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) is a protein that is highly expressed in heart and skeletal muscle and has been demonstrated to protect the heart against I/R injury (Gustafsson, A. B., Sayen, M. R., Williams, S. D., Crow, M. T., and Gottlieb, R. A. (2002) Circulation 106, 735-739). In this study, we have shown that transduction of TAT-ARCL31F, a mutant of ARC in the caspase recruitment domain, did not reduce creatine kinase release and infarct size after I/R. TAT-ARCL31F also failed to protect against hydrogen peroxide-mediated cell death in H9c2 cells, suggesting that the caspase recruitment domain is important in mediating ARC's protective effects. In addition, we report that ARC co-immunoprecipitated with the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, which causes cytochrome c release when activated. TAT-ARC, but not TAT-ARCL31F, prevented Bax activation and cytochrome c release in hydrogen peroxide-treated H9c2 cells. TAT-ARC was also effective in blocking cytochrome c release after ischemia and reperfusion, whereas TAT-ARCL31F had no effect on cytochrome c release. In addition, recombinant ARC protein abrogated Bax-induced cytochrome c release from isolated mitochondria. This suggests that ARC can protect against cell death by interfering with activation of the mitochondrial death pathway through the interaction with Bax, preventing mitochondrial dysfunction and release of pro-apoptotic factors.     

Hypothermia Protects the Brain from Transient Global Ischemia/Reperfusion by Attenuating Endoplasmic Reticulum Response-Induced Apoptosis through CHOP

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in the pathology of cerebral ischemia. Apoptotic cell death occurs during prolonged period of stress or when the adaptive response fails. Hypothermia blocked the TNF or Fas-mediated extrinsic apoptosis pathway and the mitochondria pathway of apoptosis, however, whether hypothermia can block endoplasmic reticulum mediated apoptosis is never known. This study aimed to elucidate whether hypothermia attenuates brain cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) damage by suppressing ER stress-induced apoptosis. A 15 min global cerebral ischemia rat model was used in this study. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells in hippocampus CA1 were assessed after reperfusion of the brain. The expressions of C/EBP-homolo gous protein (CHOP) and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) in ischemic hippocampus CA1 were measured at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after reperfusion. The results showed that hypothermia significantly attenuated brain I/R injury, as shown by reduction in cell apoptosis, CHOP expression, and increase in GRP78 expression. These results suggest that hypothermia could protect brain from I/R injury by suppressing ER stress-induced apoptosis.     

Diazepam promotes ATP recovery and prevents cytochrome c release in hippocampal slices after in vitro ischemia

Benzodiazepines protect hippocampal neurons when administered within the first few hours after transient cerebral ischemia. Here, we examined the ability of diazepam to prevent early signals of cell injury (before cell death) after in vitro ischemia. Ischemia in vitro or in vivo causes a rapid depletion of ATP and the generation of cell death signals, such as the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. Hippocampal slices from adult rats were subjected to 7 min of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and assessed histologically 3 h after reoxygenation. At this time, area CA1 neurons appeared viable, although slight abnormalities in structure were evident. Immediately following OGD, ATP levels in hippocampus were decreased by 70%, and they recovered partially over the next 3 h of reoxygenation. When diazepam was included in the reoxygenation buffer, ATP levels recovered completely by 3 h after OGD. The effects of diazepam were blocked by picrotoxin, indicating that the protection was mediated by an influx of Cl(-) through the GABA(A) receptor. It is interesting that the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil did not prevent the action of diazepam, as has been shown in other studies using the hippocampus. Two hours after OGD, the partial recovery of ATP levels occurred simultaneously with an increase of cytochrome c (approximately 400%) in the cytosol. When diazepam was included in the reoxygenation buffer, it completely prevented the increase in cytosolic cytochrome c. Thus, complete recovery of ATP and prevention of cytochrome c release from mitochondria can be achieved when diazepam is given after the loss of ATP induced by OGD.