Diminished Akt phosphorylation in neurons lacking glutathione peroxidase-1 (Gpx1) leads to increased susceptibility to oxidative stress-induced cell death.
We have previously identified an increased susceptibility of glutathione peroxidase-1 (Gpx1)-/- mice to neuronal apoptosis following mid-cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. This study was designed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in elevated neuronal cell death arising from an altered endogenous oxidant state. This was addressed in both an in vitro and in vivo model of oxidative stress in the form of exogenous H2O2 and cerebral ischaemia, respectively. Increased levels of cell death were detected in primary neurons lacking Gpx1 following the addition of exogenous H2O2. This increased apoptosis correlated with a down-regulation in the activation of the phospho-inositide 3-kinase [PI3K]-Akt survival pathway. The importance of this pathway in protecting against H2O2-induced cell death was highlighted by the increased susceptibility of wildtype neurons to apoptosis when treated with the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002. The Gpx1-/- mice also demonstrated elevated neuronal cell death following MCA occlusion. Although Akt phosphorylation was detected in the Gpx1-/- brains, activation was not seen in later reperfusion events, as demonstrated in wildtype brains. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of Akt phosphorylation in protecting against neuronal cell death following cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion. Our results suggest that the increased susceptibility of Gpx1-/- neurons to H2O2-induced apoptosis and neuronal cell death in vivo following cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury can be attributed in part to diminished activation of Akt. Perturbations in key anti-apoptotic mechanisms as a result of an altered redox state may have implications in the study of oxidative stress-mediated neuropathologies.
Taylor
Juliet M
JM
Centre for Functional Genomics and Human Disease, Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Ali
Ugur
U
Iannello
Rocco C
RC
Hertzog
Paul
P
Crack
Peter J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016877:Oxidants / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D000094765:Glutathione Peroxidase GPX1
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D016877:Oxidants; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051025:bcl-Associated Death Protein; D000094765:Glutathione Peroxidase GPX1; C494820:Bad protein, mouse; C000722068:Gpx1 protein, mouse