Increased expression of apoptosis-linked gene 2 (ALG2) in the rat brain after temporary focal cerebral ischemia.
Calcium is an important mediator of programmed cell death induced by transient cerebral ischemia, and calcium-binding proteins have been implicated in calcium-regulated signal transduction. Apoptosis-linked gene 2 is a calcium-binding protein required for cell death induced by different apoptotic stimuli. By Western blot analysis, we found that apoptosis-linked gene 2 protein was expressed in normal brains, and that expression increased in ischemic brains after 20 or 90 min of transient focal cerebral ischemia. Immunocytochemistry showed increased apoptosis-linked gene 2 protein expression in frontal cortex, a region where neurons underwent ischemic stress but still survived, after 20 or 90 min of focal cerebral ischemia. Apoptosis-linked gene 2 protein was also up-regulated in the ischemic border-zone of parietal cortex 24h after 20 min of focal ischemia, and was remarkably over-expressed in the caudate-putamen and parietal cortex, (where cells are destined to die) 24h after 90 min of ischemia. The expression pattern of apoptosis-linked gene 2 protein was similar to that of deoxyribonucleic acid damage detected by Klenow labeling assay. Our results suggest that apoptosis-linked gene 2 may be involved in the regulation of cell death after transient focal cerebral ischemia.
Li
W
W
Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh 15261, USA.
Jin
K
K
Nagayama
T
T
He
X
X
Chang
J
J
Minami
M
M
Graham
S H
SH
Simon
R P
RP
Greenberg
D A
DA
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D015870:Gene Expression; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins