title: Spinal cord early ischemic preconditioning activates the stabilized fraction of β-catenin after thoracoabdominal aortic occlusion in pigs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paraplegia after thoracoabdominal aortic surgery is a devastating complication attributed to motor neurons loss and dysfunction, due to spinal cord ischemia. β-Catenin is a protein that has been associated with cell survival and healing and many studies have correlated this protein with late ischemic preconditioning (IPC). Herein we investigate the potential contribution of β-catenin in an early IPC animal model, and its relationship with heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), suggesting a possible role of this protein as a first window of protection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 42 pigs were used in an experimental thoracoabdominal aortic occlusion model. Twelve animals were used for neurologic evaluation and were randomly assigned to 2 groups (A and B). The remaining 30 animals were used in experiments for biologic measurements and innunohistochemical studies, and were randomly assigned to 5 groups (1-5). Western blotting analysis and immunoprecipitations were performed to study the levels of β-catenin and its binding relationship with Hsp70. The cellular distribution of β-catenin at various time-points was investigated by immunohistochemical studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to neurologic evaluation, the animals in the IPC+ischemia group had significantly better neurologic scores compared with those in the ischemia group, indicating a protective role for IPC. The biologic measurements demonstrated a significant (P=0.03) increase in β-catenin levels and translocation of the protein in the nucleus at the end of ischemic preconditioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest a significant role of β-catenin in early IPC protection of spinal cord after thoracoabdominal occlusion, as IPC seems to trigger the activation of the β-catenin stabilized fraction and, thus, its survival pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery-Vascular Surgery Unit, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, and Department of Pathology, Hadjikosta General Hospital, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Kyrou
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Papakostas
authors.forename: Elli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ioachim
authors.forename: Urania
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Skoufi
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Koulouras
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arnaoutoglou
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angelidis
authors.forename: Miltiadis I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Matsagkas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019194:Ischemic Preconditioning / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013552:Swine; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D051176:beta Catenin