title: Adenosine modulates ERK1/2, PI3K/Akt, and p38MAPK activation in the brain of the anoxia-tolerant turtle Trachemys scripta.
abstract: The fate of cells under anoxic or ischemic stress is determined by intracellular signaling pathways including the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K/Akt), which affect downstream members of the apoptotic cascade. The freshwater turtle Trachemys scripta is extremely tolerant of anoxia, surviving up to 48 h at room temperature and for weeks at 3 degrees C in the complete absence of oxygen. We investigated the relationship between the neuroprotective purine adenosine, which increases greatly in the anoxic turtle brain, and MAPK and Akt activation during both short (1 h) and long-term (4 h) anoxia. ERK1/2 and Akt were significantly upregulated during the first hour of transition to full anoxia, but returned to baseline by 4 h anoxia. Conversely, p38MAPK levels were suppressed by a mean 71% at 1 h anoxia but also returned to baseline by 4 h anoxia. Systemic administration of the general adenosine receptor antagonist aminophylline abrogated the increases in both phosphorylated ERK1/2 and Akt, as well as the initial suppression of p38MAPK. The differential modulation of the MAPK/Akt pathways may be critical for neuronal protection during the initial transition to the hypometabolic state during anoxia, when physiologic stress is likely to be greatest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, USA. smilton@fau.edu
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Milton
authors.forename: Lynda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Dirk
authors.forename: Laurie F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: Howard M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Prentice
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000628:Aminophylline / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D058915:Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1 / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014426:Turtles / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D058915:Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1; D000628:Aminophylline; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000241:Adenosine