title: Ferulic acid prevents cerebral ischemic injury-induced reduction of hippocalcin expression.
abstract: Intracellular calcium overload is a critical pathophysiological factor in ischemic injury. Hippocalcin is a neuronal calcium sensor protein that buffers intracellular calcium levels and protects cells from apoptotic stimuli. Ferulic acid exerts a neuroprotective effect in cerebral ischemia through its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation activity. This study investigated whether ferulic acid contributes to hippocalcin expression during cerebral ischemia and glutamate exposure-induced neuronal cell death. Rats were immediately treated with vehicle or ferulic acid (100 mg/kg, i.v.) after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Brain tissues were collected 24 h after MCAO and followed by assessment of cerebral infarct. Ferulic acid reduced MCAO-induced infarct regions. A proteomics approach elucidated a decrease in hippocalcin in MCAO-operated animals, ferulic acid attenuates the injury-induced decrease in hippocalcin expression. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses confirmed that ferulic acid prevents the injury-induced decrease in hippocalcin. In cultured HT22 hippocampal cells, glutamate exposure increased the intracellular Ca(2+) levels, whereas ferulic acid attenuated this increase. Moreover, ferulic acid attenuated the glutamate toxicity-induced decrease in hippocalcin expression. These findings can suggest the possibility that ferulic acid exerts a neuroprotective effect through modulating hippocalcine expression and regulating intracellular calcium levels.
authors: Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 660-701, South Korea. pokoh@gnu.ac.kr
authors: Phil-Ok
authors: PO
authors: Koh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015536:Down-Regulation; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D051597:Hippocalcin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D040901:Proteomics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003373:Coumaric Acids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D051597:Hippocalcin; D018698:Glutamic Acid; C004999:ferulic acid; D002118:Calcium