Nerve growth factor-induced protection of brain capillary endothelial cells exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation involves attenuation of Erk phosphorylation.
Nerve growth factor (NGF) was recently characterized as an angiogenic factor inducing proliferation, migration, and capillary sprouting in endothelial cells (ECs) of different vascular beds. While NGF neuroprotective effects on neurons were described, its survival-inducing effects on brain capillary ECs were not yet addressed. Using a model of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) followed by reoxygenation, we demonstrated that NGF conferred protection in brain capillary ECs. These cells express TrkA and p75(NTR) receptors and respond to NGF by stimulation of Erk1/2 phosphorylation and stimulation of proliferation and migration. The NGF protective effect was dose-dependent, inhibited by NGF/TrkA antagonist, K252a, and required presence of NGF during both OGD and reoxygenation phases while the major protective effect was related to decreased cell death during the reoxygenation phase. A causal relationship was found between NGF-induced protection and attenuation of OGD-induced Erk1/2 phosphorylation, supporting the death-promoting role of insult-induced Erk1/2 phosphorylation in the brain capillary ECs. These results emphasize the importance of NGF in the process of EC survival in response to ischemic injury and suggest fine-tuning regulation of Erk1/2 phosphorylation, extending the neuroprotective impact of NGF from sympathetic neuroendocrine cells to brain capillary ECs as the other element in the neurovascular tandem.
Lecht
Shimon
S
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12065, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.
Arien-Zakay
Hadar
H
Marcinkiewicz
Cezary
C
Lelkes
Peter I
PI
Lazarovici
Philip
P
D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D020917:Receptor, trkA; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D005947:Glucose; D010100:Oxygen