Effects of hepatocyte growth factor on phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and hippocampal cell death in rats with transient forebrain ischemia.

Abstract

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been implicated in protection against several types of cell injuries. We investigated the effects of human recombinant HGF (hrHGF) on the selective neuronal cell death in the hippocampal CA1 region after transient forebrain ischemia in rats and explored the nature of the intracellular signaling pathway for the protection against this neuronal injury. hrHGF was injected continuously into the hippocampal CA1 region directly using an osmotic pump from 10 min to 72 h after the start of reperfusion. The marked increase in the number of TUNEL-positive cells found in the CA1 region after ischemia was almost completely abolished by the hrHGF treatment. Akt phosphorylation as well as IkappaB phosphorylation, which has been implicated in events downstream of the Akt, was not affected by hrHGF treatment. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation was decreased in the CA1 region with time after ischemia. hrHGF increased or recovered ERK phosphorylation without changing the total amount of ERK protein. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that phosphorylated ERK was colocalized with a neuronal nucleus marker NeuN in the hippocampal CA1 region of ischemic rats with hrHGF treatment at the early period after reperfusion. These results suggest that the protective effects of hrHGF against neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 after transient forebrain ischemia could be related to an ERK-dependent pathway.

• Authors: Makiko Niimura, Norio Takagi, Keiko Takagi, Hiroshi Funakoshi, Toshikazu Nakamura, Satoshi Takeo
• Journal: European journal of pharmacology (Eur J Pharmacol) Vol. 535 Issue 1-3 Pg. 114-24 (Mar 27 2006) ISSN: 0014-2999 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 16516191 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• I-kappa B Proteins
• Recombinant Proteins
• Hepatocyte Growth Factor
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
• Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Brain Ischemia (physiopathology)
• Dentate Gyrus (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
• Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases (metabolism)
• Hepatocyte Growth Factor (genetics, pharmacology)
• Hippocampus (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
• Humans
• I-kappa B Proteins (metabolism)
• Immunoblotting
• In Situ Nick-End Labeling
• Male
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 (metabolism)
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 (metabolism)
• Neurons (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
• Phosphorylation (drug effects)
• Prosencephalon (blood supply)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt (metabolism)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Recombinant Proteins (pharmacology)
• Time Factors