Neuroprotection of ischemic preconditioning is mediated by thioredoxin 2 in the hippocampal CA1 region following a subsequent transient cerebral ischemia.
Preconditioning by brief ischemic episode induces tolerance to a subsequent lethal ischemic insult, and it has been suggested that reactive oxygen species are involved in this phenomenon. Thioredoxin 2 (Trx2), a small protein with redox-regulating function, shows cytoprotective roles against oxidative stress. Here, we had focused on the role of Trx2 in ischemic preconditioning (IPC)-mediated neuroprotection against oxidative stress followed by a subsequent lethal transient cerebral ischemia. Animals used in this study were randomly assigned to six groups; sham-operated group, ischemia-operated group, IPC plus (+) sham-operated group, IPC + ischemia-operated group, IPC + auranofin (a TrxR2 inhibitor) + sham-operated group and IPC + auranofin + ischemia-operated group. IPC was subjected to a 2 minutes of sublethal transient ischemia 1 day prior to a 5 minutes of lethal transient ischemia. A significant loss of neurons was found in the stratum pyramidale (SP) of the hippocampal CA1 region (CA1) in the ischemia-operated-group 5 days after ischemia-reperfusion; in the IPC + ischemia-operated-group, pyramidal neurons in the SP were well protected. In the IPC + ischemia-operated-group, Trx2 and TrxR2 immunoreactivities in the SP and its protein level in the CA1 were not significantly changed compared with those in the sham-operated-group after ischemia-reperfusion. In addition, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) expression, superoxide anion radical ( O2-) production, denatured cytochrome c expression and TUNEL-positive cells in the IPC + ischemia-operated-group were similar to those in the sham-operated-group. Conversely, the treatment of auranofin to the IPC + ischemia-operated-group significantly increased cell damage/death and abolished the IPC-induced effect on Trx2 and TrxR2 expressions. Furthermore, the inhibition of Trx2R nearly cancelled the beneficial effects of IPC on SOD2 expression, O2- production, denatured cytochrome c expression and TUNEL-positive cells. In brief, this study shows that IPC conferred neuroprotection against ischemic injury by maintaining Trx2 and suggests that the maintenance or enhancement of Trx2 expression by IPC may be a legitimate strategy for therapeutic intervention of cerebral ischemia.
Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea.
Jae-Chul
JC
Lee
Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea.
Joon Ha
JH
Park
Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea.
In Hye
IH
Kim
Pharmacology & Toxicology Department, Shinpoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Ansan, South Korea.
Geum-Sil
GS
Cho
Department of Biomedical Science and Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea.
Ji Hyeon
JH
Ahn
Department of Biomedical Science and Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea.
Hyun-Jin
HJ
Tae
Department of Biomedical Science and Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea.
Soo Young
SY
Choi
Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea.
Jun Hwi
JH
Cho
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Research Institute of Oral Sciences, College of Dentistry, Kangnung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, South Korea.
Dae Won
DW
Kim
Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
Young-Guen
YG
Kwon
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Hallym University, Chuncheon, South Korea.
Il Jun
IJ
Kang
Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea.
Moo-Ho
MH
Won
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea.
Young-Myeong
YM
Kim
D000818:Animals; D001310:Auranofin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005849:Gerbillinae; D019194:Ischemic Preconditioning / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000066829:Neuroprotection / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D011897:Random Allocation; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D054482:Thioredoxin Reductase 2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D013879:Thioredoxins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2
D001310:Auranofin; D045304:Cytochromes c; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D013481:Superoxides; D054482:Thioredoxin Reductase 2; D013879:Thioredoxins; D000099156:Superoxide Dismutase 2
delayed neuronal death; ischemia-reperfusion; oxidative stress; superoxide anion; superoxide dismutase 2; thioredoxin 2