title: Common patterns of bcl-2 family gene expression in two traumatic brain injury models.
abstract: Cell death/survival following traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be a result of alterations in the intracellular ratio of death and survival factors. Bcl-2 family genes mediate both cell survival and the initiation of cell death. Using lysate RNase protection assays, mRNA expression of the anti-cell death genes Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, and the pro-cell death gene Bax, was evaluated following experimental brain injuries in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Both the lateral fluid-percussion (LFP) and the lateral controlled cortical impact (LCI) models of TBI showed similar patterns of gene expression. Anti-cell death bcl-2 and bcl-xL mRNAs were attenuated early and tended to remain depressed for at least 3 days after injury in the cortex and hippocampus ipsilateral to injury. Pro-cell death bax mRNA was elevated in these areas, usually following the decrease in anti-cell death genes. These common patterns of gene expression suggest an important role for Bcl-2 genes in cell death and survival in the injured brain. Understanding the regulation of these genes may facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies for a condition that currently has no proven pharmacologic treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA. kstrauss@uc.edu
authors.forename: Kenneth I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Raj K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Narayan
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raghupathi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D005810:Multigene Family; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
chemical_list: C494828:Bax protein, rat; C494813:Bcl2l1 protein, rat; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein