title: Apolipoprotein E protects astrocytes from hypoxia and glutamate-induced apoptosis.
abstract: Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is predominantly synthesized by astrocytes in the brain. In this study, we investigated the role of apoE in astrocyte apoptosis. We demonstrated that apoE protects astrocytes from hypoxia-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Glutamate release from astrocytic cultures is significantly lower from WT mice than from apoE knockout mice. Furthermore, the protective effect of apoE is mimicked by an NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801. Finally, the apoE activator T0901317 significantly reduced the effect of glutamate-induced apoptosis of astrocytes. These results suggest that apoE protects astrocytes from hypoxia-induced apoptosis associated to NMDA receptor activation. Approaches that elevate apoE secretion in astrocytes might provide a novel strategy in the protection of neuronal ischemic injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Xuehua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Zhaohua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Xiaochuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053318:Apolipoprotein E3 / Q000494:pharmacology; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000494:pharmacology; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
chemical_list: D053318:Apolipoprotein E3; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D013449:Sulfonamides; C423915:T0901317; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides