Vasoactive intestinal peptide attenuates cytochrome c translocation, and apoptosis, in rat hippocampal stem cells.
While widely distributed in the brain, one area with concentrated levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is the hippocampus. In this study, rat hippocampal stem cells were used to examine VIP's effects on apoptotic cell death induced by withdrawal of trophic support. In the apoptotic cascade, the translocation of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm activates caspases, resulting in cell death. VIP decreased this translocation of cytochrome c in a dose-dependent manner, and reduced apoptosis. This demonstrates that VIP regulates neuronal apoptosis and may contribute to stem cell homeostasis.
Antonawich
Francis J
FJ
Department of Neurology, HSC T12-020, S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8121, USA. fantonawich@notes.cc.sunysb.edu
Said
Sami I
SI
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide