title: Dynamic changes of the anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins Bcl-w, Bcl-2, and Bax with Smac/Diablo mitochondrial release after photothrombotic ring stroke in rats.
abstract: The anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-w and Bcl-2 and the pro-apoptotic protein Bax may mediate cell death or survival via regulation of the mitochondria including second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac)/direct inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP)-binding protein with low pI (DIABLO) release. This study aimed to explore alterations in Bcl-w, Bcl-2, and Bax and the relationship between these proteins and Smac/DIABLO by means of in situ hybridization, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, and Western blots after low- and high-intensity photothrombotic ring stroke. At 4 h after low-intensity irradiation, we found widespread bcl-w overexpression on both the mRNA and protein levels in the bilateral cortex except the ring lesion region and in subcortical regions. A prolonged elevation of Bcl-2 with relatively unchanged Bax in the mitochondrial fraction was demonstrated from 4 to 72 h. These upregulated anti-apoptotic proteins combined with little Smac/DIABLO release might be associated with increased cell survival and thereby remarkable morphological recovery after low-intensity irradiation. After high-intensity irradiation, we observed decreased bcl-w and bcl-2 mRNA with increased Bcl-2 protein in the cytosolic fraction, whereas the Bax protein remained in scattered ischaemic cells in the ring lesion and the region at risk that corresponded with release of Smac/DIABLO from mitochondria to the cytosol at 1-24 h. These changes might be related to the massive cell death observed after high-intensity irradiation. Taken together, the balance and the location of anti-apoptotic proteins vs. pro-apoptotic proteins could be associated with the translocation of Smac/DIABLO from the mitochondria to the cytosol and therefore closely related to cell death or survival after focal cerebral ischaemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Medicine, Umeå Stroke Centre, Umeå University Hospital, S-901 87, Sweden.
authors.forename: Xiao-Lei
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Tommy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Inga-Maj
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brännström
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wester
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis / Q000378:metabolism; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D020521:Stroke / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C491073:BCL2L2 protein, human; C494828:Bax protein, rat; C491072:Bcl2l2 protein, rat; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C489013:DIABLO protein, rat; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein