Effects of neuroglobin overexpression on mitochondrial function and oxidative stress following hypoxia/reoxygenation in cultured neurons.
Neuroglobin (Ngb) is a recently discovered tissue globin with a high affinity for oxygen that is widely and specifically expressed in neurons of vertebrate central and peripheral nervous systems. Our laboratory and others have shown Ngb overexpression can protect neurons against hypoxic/ischemic insults, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined the effects of Ngb overexpression on mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and neurotoxicity in primary cortical neurons following hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). Ngb-overexpressing transgenic neurons (Ngb-Tg) were significantly protected against H/R-induced cell death. Rates of decline in ATP levels, MTT reduction, and mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly ameliorated in Ngb-Tg neurons. Furthermore, Ngb overexpression reduced superoxide anion generation after H/R, whereas glutathione levels were significantly improved compared with WT controls. Taken together, these data suggest that Ngb is neuroprotective against hypoxia, in part by improving mitochondria function and decreasing oxidative stress.
Liu
Jianxiang
J
Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02129, USA.
Yu
Zhanyang
Z
Guo
Shuzhen
S
Lee
Sun-Ryung
SR
Xing
Changhong
C
Zhang
Chenggang
C
Gao
Yan
Y
Nicholls
David G
DG
Lo
Eng H
EH
Wang
Xiaoying
X
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000379:methods; D000860:Hypoxia; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010617:Phenanthridines / Q000378:metabolism; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D010617:Phenanthridines; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C058428:hydroethidine; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D005914:Globins; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D005978:Glutathione