scholarly journals γ-Glutamylcysteine Alleviates Ischemic Stroke-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis by Inhibiting ROS-Mediated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Hui-qin Li ◽  
Sheng-nan Xia ◽  
Si-yi Xu ◽  
Pin-yi Liu ◽  
Yue Gu ◽  
...  

Ischemic stroke is a severe and acute neurological disorder with limited therapeutic strategies currently available. Oxidative stress is one of the critical pathological factors in ischemia/reperfusion injury, and high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may drive neuronal apoptosis. Rescuing neurons in the penumbra is a potential way to recover from ischemic stroke. Endogenous levels of the potent ROS quencher glutathione (GSH) decrease significantly after cerebral ischemia. Here, we aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-GC), an immediate precursor of GSH, on neuronal apoptosis and brain injury during ischemic stroke. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) were used to mimic cerebral ischemia in mice, neuronal cell lines, and primary neurons. Our data indicated that exogenous γ-GC treatment mitigated oxidative stress, as indicated by upregulated GSH and decreased ROS levels. In addition, γ-GC attenuated ischemia/reperfusion-induced neuronal apoptosis and brain injury in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, transcriptomics approaches and subsequent validation studies revealed that γ-GC attenuated penumbra neuronal apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) and inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling pathway in OGD/R-treated cells and ischemic brain tissues. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report that γ-GC attenuates ischemia-induced neuronal apoptosis by suppressing ROS-mediated ER stress. γ-GC may be a promising therapeutic agent for ischemic stroke.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Yongfei Dong ◽  
Chengyun Hu ◽  
Chunxia Huang ◽  
Jie Gao ◽  
Wanxiang Niu ◽  
...  

The interleukins (ILs) are a pluripotent cytokine family that have been reported to regulate ischemic stroke and cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. IL-22 is a member of the IL-10 superfamily and plays important roles in tissue injury and repair. However, the effects of IL-22 on ischemic stroke and cerebral I/R injury remain unclear. In the current study, we provided direct evidence that IL-22 treatment decreased infarct size, neurological deficits, and brain water content in mice subjected to cerebral I/R injury. IL-22 treatment remarkably reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, monocyte chemotactic protein- (MCP-) 1, and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α, both in serum and the ischemic cerebral cortex. In addition, IL-22 treatment also decreased oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis in mice after cerebral I/R injury. Moreover, IL-22 treatment significantly increased Janus tyrosine kinase (JAK) 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 phosphorylation levels in mice and PC12 cells, and STAT3 knockdown abolished the IL-22-mediated neuroprotective function. These findings suggest that IL-22 might be exploited as a potential therapeutic agent for ischemic stroke and cerebral I/R injury.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaowei Sun ◽  
Hao Liu ◽  
Zhongren Sun ◽  
Beng Zhang ◽  
Xinyu Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Acupuncture treatment possesses the neuroprotection potential to attenuate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenic mechanism of cerebral I/R injury. Whether acupuncture protects against cerebral I/R injury via regulating ER stress remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the role of ER stress in the neuroprotection of acupuncture against cerebral I/R injury and its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Cerebral I/R injury was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Acupuncture was carried out at Baihui (GV 20), Hegu (L14), and Taichong (Liv3) acupoints in rats immediately after reperfusion. The infarct volumes, neurological score, ER stress, autophagy and apoptosis were determined. Results: Acupuncture treatment decreased infarct volume, neurological score and suppressed ER stress via inactivation of ATF-6, PERK, and IRE1 pathways in MCAO rats. Attributing to ER stress suppression, 4-PBA (ER stress inhibitor) promoted the beneficial effect of acupuncture against cerebral I/R injury. Whereas, ER stress activator tunicamycin significantly counteracted the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture. In addition, acupuncture restrained autophagy via regulating ER stress in MCAO rats. Finally, ER stress took part in the neuroprotective effect of acupuncture against apoptosis in cerebral I/R injury. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that acupuncture offers neuroprotection against cerebral I/R injury, which is attributed to repressing ER stress-mediated autophagy and apoptosis.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Lu ◽  
Chengtang Lv ◽  
Yuechao Zhao ◽  
Yao Li ◽  
Chengyue Ji ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundSpinal cord ischemia reperfusion injury (SCIRI) is a complication of aortic aneurysm repair or spinal cord surgery that is associated with permanent neurological deficits. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have been shown to be potential therapeutic options for improving motor functions after SCIRI. Due to their easy access and multi-directional differentiation potential, adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) are preferable for this application. However, the effects of ADSC-derived sEVs (ADSC-sEVs) on SCIRI have not been reported.ResultsWe found that ADSC-sEVs inhibited SCIRI induced neuronal apoptosis, degradation of tight junction proteins and suppressed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. However, in the presence of the ER stress inducer, tunicamycin, its anti-apoptotic and blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) protective effects were significantly reversed. We found that ADSC-sEVs contain tumor necrosis factor-(TNF) stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6) whose overexpression inhibited ER stress in vivo by modulating the PI3K/AKT pathway.ConclusionsADSC-sEVs inhibit neuronal apoptosis and BSCB disruption in SCIRI by transmitting TSG-6, which suppresses ER stress by modulating the PI3K/AKT pathway.


Author(s):  
Shilin Zhu ◽  
Jianghong Tang ◽  
Lan Lan ◽  
Feng Su

IntroductionOxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis are strongly associated with the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. In this study, we aimed to determine whether miR-34a was involved in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, oxidative stress, and neuronal apoptosis by targeting brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).Material and methodsRats received middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery to simulate I/R injury. At 24 h after MCAO surgery, neurological deficits and infarct volumes were evaluated according to Longa’s scale and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium (TTC) chloride staining. Neuronal apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), and the expression of miR-34a and associated proteins were detected by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blotting. Several markers of oxidative stress were detected using commercial kits, and the interaction between miR-34a and BDNF was measured by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP).ResultsThe results showed that miR-34a was upregulated (p < 0.05), whereas BDNF was downregulated (p < 0.05) in the MCAO rats, and this negative correlation was accompanied by clear oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis. RIP demonstrated a clear interaction between miR-34a and BDNF. Furthermore, miR-34a was also found to inhibit oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis, increase BDNF expression, and ameliorate neurological deficits and infarct volumes (p < 0.05) seen in the MCAO rats.ConclusionsThese data suggested that inhibition of miR-34a ameliorated cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by targeting BDNF. This mechanism represents a novel and promising target for the treatment of strokes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Zhao ◽  
Huanming Li ◽  
Qian Gao ◽  
Jin Xu ◽  
Yongjie Zhu ◽  
...  

Berberine (BBR) has a neuroprotective effect against ischemic stroke, but its specific protective mechanism has not been clearly elaborated. This study explored the effect of BBR on the canopy FGF signaling regulator 2 (CNPY2) signaling pathway in the ischemic penumbra of rats. The model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) was established by the thread embolization method, and BBR was gastrically perfused for 48 h or 24 h before operation and 6 h after operation. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: the Sham group, BBR group, CIRI group, and CIRI + BBR group. After 2 h of ischemia, followed by 24 h of reperfusion, we confirmed the neurologic dysfunction and apoptosis induced by CIRI in rats (p &lt; 0.05). In the ischemic penumbra, the expression levels of CNPY2-regulated endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis proteins (CNPY2, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase-like ER kinase (PERK), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and Caspase-3) were significantly increased, but these levels were decreased after BBR treatment (p &lt; 0.05). To further verify the inhibitory effect of BBR on CIRI-induced neuronal apoptosis, we added an endoplasmic reticulum-specific agonist and a PERK inhibitor to the treatment. BBR was shown to significantly inhibit the expression of apoptotic proteins induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress agonist, while the PERK inhibitor partially reversed the ability of BBR to inhibit apoptotic protein (p &lt; 0.05). These results confirm that berberine may inhibit CIRI-induced neuronal apoptosis by downregulating the CNPY2 signaling pathway, thereby exerting a neuroprotective effect.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaowei Sun ◽  
Hao Liu ◽  
Zhongren Sun ◽  
Beng Zhang ◽  
Xinyu Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Acupuncture treatment possesses the neuroprotection potential to attenuate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenic mechanism of cerebral I/R injury. Whether acupuncture protects against cerebral I/R injury via regulating ER stress remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the role of ER stress in the neuroprotection of acupuncture against cerebral I/R injury and its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Cerebral I/R injury was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Acupuncture was carried out at Baihui (GV 20), Hegu (L14), and Taichong (Liv3) acupoints in rats immediately after reperfusion. The infarct volumes, neurological score, ER stress, autophagy and apoptosis were determined. Results: Acupuncture treatment decreased infarct volume, neurological score and suppressed ER stress via inactivation of ATF-6, PERK, and IRE1 pathways in MCAO rats. Attributing to ER stress suppression, 4-PBA (ER stress inhibitor) promoted the beneficial effect of acupuncture against cerebral I/R injury. Whereas, ER stress activator tunicamycin significantly counteracted the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture. In addition, acupuncture restrained autophagy via regulating ER stress in MCAO rats. Finally, ER stress took part in the neuroprotective effect of acupuncture against apoptosis in cerebral I/R injury. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that acupuncture offers neuroprotection against cerebral I/R injury, which is attributed to repressing ER stress-mediated autophagy and apoptosis.


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