Rapid alterations of BDNF protein levels in the rat brain after focal ischemia: evidence for increased synthesis and anterograde axonal transport.

Cellular localization and tissue levels of BDNF protein were studied using immunocytochemistry and enzyme immunoassay, respectively, in the cortex and striatum at different reperfusion times (0-24 h) after 2 h of unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. The distribution of neuronal injury was analyzed in NeuN-, cresyl violet-, and Fluoro-Jade-stained sections. At 2 h postischemia, but not at later time points, there was a several-fold increase of the number of BDNF-immunoreactive (-ir) cells in the ipsilateral cingulate and frontal cortices outside the damaged area. Animals with cortical injury showed loss of BDNF-ir fibers in the striatum at 2-24 h, whereas rats with cell damage confined to the striatum exhibited no such change. At 2-16 h, strongly BDNF-ir fibers were observed along the myelinated fascicles medially in the striatum, in the anterior commissure, and in the corpus callosum ipsilateral to the MCAO. BDNF protein levels were increased (by 133-213%) at 2 h in the cingulate and frontal cortices and decreased (by 40%) at 24 h in the striatum. These findings show that the increased expression of BDNF mRNA in cortical neurons previously demonstrated after transient focal ischemia is accompanied by elevated levels of BDNF protein. The rapid decline of BDNF protein levels suggests a pronounced release or anterograde axonal transport in the postischemic phase. The reduction of BDNF protein in the striatum of animals with cortical damage provides further evidence for anterograde transport, which is also supported by the accumulation of BDNF protein in several preterminal fiber systems. The changes of BDNF protein after focal ischemia could play a role for survival and plasticity of cortical and striatal neurons.

Kokaia Z ，Andsberg G ，Yan Q ，Lindvall O ... -  《EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY》

Regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene expression after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion with and without brain damage.

Kokaia Z ，Zhao Q ，Kokaia M ，Elmér E ，Metsis M ，Smith ML ，Siesjö BK ，Lindvall O ... -  《EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY》

Divergent regulatory mechanisms governing BDNF mRNA expression in cerebral cortex and substantia nigra in response to striatal target ablation.

Rite I ，Machado A ，Cano J ，Venero JL ... -  《EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY》

Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (Stat3) after focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

JAK-STAT is the major downstream signal pathway of interleukin-6 (IL-6) cytokine family and is regulated by Tyr705 phosphorylation of Stat3. The present study examined the extent and the localization of phosphorylated Stat3 protein in brain tissue after focal ischemia in rats. The localizations of unphosphorylated and phosphorylated Stat3 were immunohistochemically examined in rats after 0.5 to 168 h of reperfusion following 1.5 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), induced by the intraluminal suture method. Absolute phosphorylated Stat3 immunoreactive cell counts were made in the cerebral cortex (ischemic core, peri-ischemia region, and contralareral cortex) and lateral striatal regions on both the ischemic and the contralateral sides. Stat3 protein was localized diffusely in cortical and striatal neurons in the sham-operated animals. Although weak Stat3 staining was detected in damaged neurons in the ischemic region, activated microglia, astrocytes, and endothelial cells clearly expressed Stat3 in this region. On the other hand, the sham group showed no phosphorylated Stat3 immunoreactivity. Phosphorylated Stat3 immunoreactivity was first detected in neurons after 3.5 h of reperfusion in each cortical and striatal region. Thereafter, Stat3 phosphorylation was marked in neurons in the peri-infarct region, peaked at 24 h, and then gradually declined throughout the reperfusion period. Endothelial cells expressed phosphorylated Stat3 in the ischemic core at 48 h of reperfusion. To identify the cellular source of phosphorylated Stat3, lectin histochemical study and immunohistochemical study with anti-microtubule-associated proten-2 and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein antibodies were carried out. Double-staining immunohistochemistry with these cellular makers revealed phosphorylated Stat3 to be present in neurons, but in neither astrocytes nor microglia/macrophages. These results were also confirmed be western blot analysis. The present results indicate that Stat3 activation occurs in neurons and endothelial cells only during post-ischemic reperfusion despite widespread expression of IL-6 cytokines.

Suzuki S ，Tanaka K ，Nogawa S ，Dembo T ，Kosakai A ，Fukuuchi Y ... -  《EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY》

Expression of the gene encoding the pro-apoptotic BNIP3 protein and stimulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) protein following focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Hypoxia is a common cause of cell death and is implicated in many disease processes including stroke and chronic degenerative disorders. In response to hypoxia, cells express a variety of genes which allow adaptation to altered metabolic demands, decreased oxygen demands, and the removal of irreversibly damaged cells. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that regulates the adaptive response to hypoxia in cells. In this study, we reported an early, time-related, gradual up-regulation of HIF-1alpha, and a moderate increase in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)- and erythropoietin (Epo)-levels following transient focal ischemia. Moreover, we demonstrated, for the first time a specific localization of the pro-apoptotic regulator BNIP3 in striatal and cortical neurons after transient focal ischemia in rats. Prolonged intranuclear BNIP3 immunoreactivity was associated with delayed neuronal death. Experiments showed protein increases on Western blots of brain tissue with peaks at 48h after ischemia. Epo responds to ischemia in an early stage, whereas VEGF and BNIP3 accumulate in cells at later times after ischemia. This suggests the possibility that BH3-only proteins might be one of the major downstream effectors of HIF-1alpha in hypoxic cell death. These findings open the possibility that the hypoxia-regulated pro-apoptotic protein BNIP3 enters the nucleus and could interact with other proteins involved in DNA structure, transcription or mRNA splicing after focal brain ischemia.

Althaus J ，Bernaudin M ，Petit E ，Toutain J ，Touzani O ，Rami A ... -  《NEUROCHEMISTRY INTERNATIONAL》