Effects of immunosuppressants, calcineurin inhibition, and blockade of endoplasmic reticulum calcium channels on free fatty acid efflux from the ischemic/reperfused rat cerebral cortex.

Abstract

Elevated levels of free fatty acids (FFA) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neuronal injury and death induced by cerebral ischemia. This study evaluated the effects of immunosuppressants agents, calcineurin inhibitors and blockade of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium channels on free fatty acid formation and efflux in the ischemic/reperfused (I/R) rat brain. Changes in the extracellular levels of arachidonic, docosahexaenoic, linoleic, myristic, oleic and palmitic acids in cerebral cortical superfusates during four-vessel occlusion-elicited global cerebral ischemia were examined using a cortical cup technique. A 20-min period of ischemia elicited large increases in the efflux of all six FFAs, which were sustained during the 40 min of reperfusion. Cyclosporin A (CsA) and trifluoperazine, which reportedly inhibit the I/R elicited opening of a mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore, were very effective in suppressing ischemia/reperfusion evoked release of all six FFAs. FK506, an immunosuppressant which does not directly affect the MPT, but is a calcineurin inhibitor, also suppressed the I/R-evoked efflux of FFAs, but less effectively than CsA. Rapamycin, a derivative of FK506 which does not inhibit calcineurin, did not suppress I/R-evoked FFA efflux. Gossypol, a structurally unrelated inhibitor of calcineurin, was also effective, significantly reducing the efflux of docosahexaenoic, arachidonic and oleic acids. As previous experiments had implicated elevated Ca(2+) levels in the activation of phospholipases with FFA formation, agents affecting endoplasmic reticulum stores were also evaluated. Dantrolene, which blocks the ryanodine receptor (RyR) channel of the ER, significantly inhibited I/R-evoked release of docosahexaenoic, arachidonic, linoleic and oleic acids. Ryanodine, which can either accentuate or block Ca(2+) release, significantly enhanced ischemia/reperfusion-elicited efflux of linoleic acid, with non-significant increases in the efflux of myristic, arachidonic, palmitic and oleic acids. Xestospongin C, an inhibitor of the inositol triphosphate (IP(3)R) channel, failed to affect I/R-evoked FFA efflux. Thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the Ca(2+)-ATPase ER uptake pump, elicited significant elevations in the efflux of myristic, arachidonic and linoleic acids, in the absence of ischemia. Collectively, the data suggest an involvement of both ER and mitochondrial Ca(2+) stores in the chain of events which lead to PLA(2) activation and FFA formation.

• Authors: J W Phillis, F G Diaz, M H O'Regan, J G Pilitsis
• Journal: Brain research (Brain Res) Vol. 957 Issue 1 Pg. 12-24 (Dec 06 2002) ISSN: 0006-8993 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12443975 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Calcineurin Inhibitors
• Calcium Channels
• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Macrocyclic Compounds
• Oxazoles
• xestospongin A
• Ryanodine
• Trifluoperazine
• Thapsigargin
• Cyclosporine
• Calcineurin
• Dantrolene
• Gossypol
• Sirolimus
• Tacrolimus

Topics

• Animals
• Calcineurin (metabolism)
• Calcineurin Inhibitors
• Calcium Channels (metabolism)
• Cerebral Cortex (drug effects, metabolism)
• Cyclosporine (pharmacology)
• Dantrolene (pharmacology)
• Endoplasmic Reticulum (metabolism)
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Fatty Acids, Nonesterified (metabolism)
• Gossypol (pharmacology)
• Immunosuppressive Agents (pharmacology)
• Macrocyclic Compounds
• Male
• Oxazoles (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Reperfusion Injury (metabolism)
• Ryanodine (pharmacology)
• Sirolimus (pharmacology)
• Tacrolimus (pharmacology)
• Thapsigargin (pharmacology)
• Trifluoperazine (pharmacology)