title: Effects of hypoxia preconditioning on expression of metallothionein-1,2 and heme oxygenase-1 before and after kainic acid-induced seizures.
abstract: Global hypoxia preconditioning provides neuroprotection against a subsequent, normally damaging challenge. While the mechanistic pathways are unknown, changes in the expression of stress-related proteins are implicated. Hypoxia preconditioning attenuates the brain edema and neuropathology associated with kainic acid-induced status epilepticus in a protein synthesis-dependent manner when a kainic acid challenge is given up to one week post-preconditioning. Kainic acid initiates a glutamate-driven status epilepticus causing a Ca2+ and oxidative stress, resulting in injury to the piriform cortex and hippocampus. Stress-related gene expression [e.g. metallothioneins (MTs), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)] is enhanced during seizures in vulnerable brain areas, (e.g. piriform cortex). This study explores the effects of hypoxia preconditioning on expression of MT-1, MT-2 and HO-1 before and after kainic acid-induced seizures. Analysis of MT-1, MT-2 and HO-1 expression, through Western and Northern blotting, indicates that there is a variable pattern of induction and suppression of these two genes following hypoxia preconditioning alone as well as after kainic acid-induced seizures compared to non-preconditioned animals. These findings suggest that hypoxia preconditioning induces an adaptive response that prevents kainic acid seizure-associated neuropathology even when robust seizures occur. This may involve a variety of stress-related proteins, working in concert, each with their own individual expression profiles. Induction of this type of neuroprotection pharmacologically, or through preconditioning, will provide a better understanding of the stress response in brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160-7417, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Samson
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Pazdernik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism*; D007608:Kainic Acid; D008297:Male; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C491055:Mt2A protein, rat; C407523:metallothionein isoform 1; D008668:Metallothionein; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D007608:Kainic Acid