The Molecular Pathway of Argon-Mediated Neuroprotection.
The noble gas argon has attracted increasing attention in recent years, especially because of its neuroprotective properties. In a variety of models, ranging from oxygen-glucose deprivation in cell culture to complex models of mid-cerebral artery occlusion, subarachnoid hemorrhage or retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in animals, argon administration after individual injury demonstrated favorable effects, particularly increased cell survival and even improved neuronal function. As an inert molecule, argon did not show signs of adverse effects in the in vitro and in vivo model used, while being comparably cheap and easy to apply. However, the molecular mechanism by which argon is able to exert its protective and beneficial characteristics remains unclear. Although there are many pieces missing to complete the signaling pathway throughout the cell, it is the aim of this review to summarize the known parts of the molecular pathways and to combine them to provide a clear insight into the cellular pathway, starting with the receptors that may be involved in mediating argons effects and ending with the translational response.
Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. felix.ulbrich@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Felix
F
Ulbrich
Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, 79106 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. ulrich.goebel@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Ulrich
U
Goebel
D000818:Animals; D001128:Argon / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D000066829:Neuroprotection / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D001128:Argon
argon; cytokines; cytoprotection; heat shock proteins; mitogen-activated protein kinases; molecular pathway; neuroprotection; toll-like receptors; transcription factor