title: Delayed peripheral administration of a GPE analogue induces astrogliosis and angiogenesis and reduces inflammation and brain injury following hypoxia-ischemia in the neonatal rat.
abstract: Glycine 2-methyl proline glutamate (G-2mPE) is a proline-modified analogue to the naturally existing N-terminal tripeptide glycine-proline-glutamate that is a cleaved product from insulin-like growth factor-1. G-2mPE is designed to be more enzymatically resistant than glycine-proline-glutamate and to increase its bioavailability. The current study has investigated the protective effects of G-2mPE following hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the neonatal brain. On postnatal day 7, Wistar rats were exposed to hypoxia-ischemia (HI). HI was induced by unilateral ligation of the left carotid artery followed by hypoxia (7.7% O2, 36 degrees C) for 60 min. The drug treatment started 2 h after the insult, and the pups were given either 1.2 mg/kg (bolus), 1.2 mg/ml once a day for 7 days, or vehicle. The degree of brain damage was determined histochemically by thionin/acid fuchsin staining. G-2mPE's anti-inflammatory properties were investigated by IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-18 ELISA, and effects on apoptosis by caspase 3 activity. Vascularization was determined immunohistochemically by the total length of isolectin-positive blood vessels. Effect on astrocytosis was also determined in the hippocampus. Animals treated with multiple doses of G-2mPE demonstrated reduced overall brain injury 7 days after HI, particularly in the hippocampus and thalamus compared to vehicle-treated rats. The expression of IL-6 was decreased in G-2mPE-treated animals compared to vehicle-treated pups, and both the capillary length and astrogliosis were increased in the drug-treated animals. There was no effect on caspase 3 activity. This study indicates that peripheral administration of G-2mPE, starting 2 h after a hypoxic-ischemic insult, reduces the degree of brain injury in the immature rat brain. The normalization of IL-6 levels and the promotion of both neovascularization and reactive astrocytosis may be potential mechanisms that underlie its protective effects.
authors.affiliation: The Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Pernilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Svedin
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mathai
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaoyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gustavsson
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hagberg
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mallard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005911:Gliosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009842:Oligopeptides; C523252:glycine 2-methyl proline glutamate; D053148:Caspase 3; C062053:glycyl-prolyl-glutamic acid