title: Neuroprotection against ischaemic brain injury by a GluR6-9c peptide containing the TAT protein transduction sequence.
abstract: It is well documented that N-methyl-D-aspartate and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate receptors play a pivotal role in ischaemic brain injury. Recent studies have shown that kainate (KA) receptors are involved in neuronal cell death induced by seizure, which is mediated by the GluR6*PSD-95*MLK3 signalling module and subsequent c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation. Here we investigate whether GluR6 mediated JNK activation is correlated with ischaemic brain injury. Our results show that cerebral ischaemia followed by reperfusion can enhance the assembly of the GluR6*PSD-95*MLK3 signalling module and JNK activation. As a result, activated JNK can not only phosphorylate the transcription factor c-Jun and up-regulate Fas L expression but can also phosphorylate 14-3-3 and promote Bax translocation to mitochondria, increase the release of cytochrome c and increase caspase-3 activation. These results indicate that GluR6 mediated JNK activation induced by ischaemia/reperfusion ultimately results in neuronal cell death via nuclear and non-nuclear pathways. Furthermore, the peptides we constructed, Tat-GluR6-9c, show a protective role against neuronal death induced by cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion through inhibiting the GluR6 mediated signal pathway. In summary, our results indicate that the KA receptor subunit GluR6 mediated JNK activation is involved in ischaemic brain injury and provides a new approach for stroke therapy.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Dong-Sheng
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Xiao-Tian
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ya-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Qiu-Hua
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing-Zhi
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yan-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zong
authors.forename: Tian-Le
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Guang-Yi
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; D008297:Male; D048057:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 10 / Q000378:metabolism; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D015202:Protein Engineering; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000097767:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 11; D000097806:GluK2 Kainate Receptor
chemical_list: D015696:Gene Products, tat; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; D048057:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 10; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D000097767:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 11; D000097806:GluK2 Kainate Receptor