title: Effect of semax and its C-terminal fragment Pro-Gly-Pro on the expression of VEGF family genes and their receptors in experimental focal ischemia of the rat brain.
abstract: The synthetic peptide Semax (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) is used successfully in acute stroke therapy. In spite of numerous studies on the subject, many aspects of the neuroprotective effects of the peptide remain unknown. We studied the action of Semax and its C-terminal tripeptide Pro-Gly-Pro on the expression of the VEGF gene family (Vegf-a, Vegf-b, Vegf-c, Vegf-d, and Plgf) and their receptors (Vegfr-1, Vegfr-2, and Vegfr-3) in the frontoparietal cortex region of the rat brain at 3, 24, and 72 h after permanent left middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). The relative mRNA level of the genes studied was assessed using real-time reverse transcription-PCR. The Vegf-b and Vegf-d genes were most affected by the peptides, which resulted in their most noticeable activation at 3 h after pMCAO. The level of Vegf-d transcripts decreased considerably, whereas the mRNA level of the Vegf-b gene was significantly increased after 72 h of treatment with each of the peptides. In addition, the effects of the peptides on the expression of the Vegf-b and Vegf-d genes were the opposite of the action of ischemia. It is suggested that the identified effects of the peptides diminish the effects of ischemia, thus participating in the positive therapeutic effect of Semax on ischemic stroke.
authors: Human Molecular Genetics Department, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 123182 Kurchatov sq. 2, Moscow, Russia. medvedevaekaterina@yandex.ru
authors: Ekaterina V
authors: EV
authors: Medvedeva
authors: Veronika G
authors: VG
authors: Dmitrieva
authors: Oksana V
authors: OV
authors: Povarova
authors: Svetlana A
authors: SA
authors: Limborska
authors: Veronika I
authors: VI
authors: Skvortsova
authors: Nikolay F
authors: NF
authors: Myasoedov
authors: Lyudmila V
authors: LV
authors: Dergunova
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011392:Proline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C113164:prolyl-glycyl-proline; C048487:ACTH (4-7), Pro-Gly-Pro-; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011392:Proline; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor