Neuroglobin upregulation offers neuroprotection in traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate rat neuroglobin (rNGB) expression level after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and further study its neuroprotective effects in TBI when it was overexpressed in adenoviral vector.


METHODS
The Wistar rats (280-320  g) were divided into control, 12 and 36 hours after TBI groups (n = 3) and their TBI model was established. Subsequently, NGB expression level was examined by Western blot and immunohistochemical. Beyond that, adenoviral vectors pAdEasy-rNGB-GFP and pAdEasy-GFP  were constructed and transfected into the rat brain respectively (pAdEasy-GFP was control), and the neuroprotective effects were examined by immunohistochemical.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemical and Western blot results demonstrated that NGB expression level was increased at 12  and 36 hours after TBI injury compare with control. Meanwhile, the pAdEasy-rNGB-GFP transfected rats suffered less necrosis and apoptosis compare to control.


CONCLUSIONS
NGB was upregulated in TBI and overexpressed rNGB had a significant neuroprotection in TBI. However,  the mechanism remained unknown. This study suggested that rNGB overexpression may be a new strategy for treating of TBI.
Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.
Aijia
A
Shang
Xingjun
X
Feng
Hangyan
H
Wang
Jing
J
Wang
Xingyi
X
Hang
Ying
Y
Yang
Zhongfeng
Z
Wang
Dingbiao
D
Zhou
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005914:Globins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D005914:Globins