Tetrahydrocurcumin ameliorates homocysteinylated cytochrome-c mediated autophagy in hyperhomocysteinemia mice after cerebral ischemia.

Abstract

High levels of homocysteine (Hcy) known as hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), contribute to autophagy and ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R). Previous studies have shown that I/R injury and HHcy cause increased cerebrovascular permeability; however, the associated mechanism remains obscure. Interestingly, during HHcy, cytochome-c becomes homocysteinylated (Hcy-cyto-c). Cytochrome-c (cyto-c) transports electrons and facilitates bioenergetics in the system. However, its role in autophagy during ischemia/reperfusion injury is unclear. Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) is a major herbal antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether THC ameliorates autophagy during ischemia/reperfusion injury by reducing homocysteinylation of cyto-c in hyperhomocysteinemia pathological condition. To test this hypothesis, we employed 8-10-week-old male cystathionine-beta-synthase heterozygote knockout (CBS⁺/⁻) mice (genetically hyperhomocystemic mice). Experimental group was: CBS⁺/⁻, CBS⁺/⁻ + THC (25 mg/kg in 0.1% DMSO dose); CBS ⁺/⁻/I/R, and CBS⁺/⁻/I/R + THC (25 mg/kg in 0.1% DMSO dose). Ischemia was performed for 30 min and reperfusion for 72 h. THC was injected intra-peritoneally (I.P.) once daily for a period of 3 days after 30 min of ischemia. The infarct area was measured using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Permeability was determined by brain edema and Evans Blue extravasation. The brain tissues were analyzed for oxidative stress, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), damage-regulated autophagy modulator (DRAM), and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) by Western blot. The mRNA levels of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolases (SAHH) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genes were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to determine the homocysteinylation of cyto-c. We found that brain edema and Evans Blue leakage were reduced in I/R + THC-treated groups as compared to sham-operated groups along with reduced brain infarct size. THC also decreased oxidative damage and ameliorated the homocysteinylation of cyto-c in-part by MMP-9 activation which leads to autophagy in I/R groups as compared to sham-operated groups. This study suggests a potential therapeutic role of dietary THC in cerebral ischemia.

• Authors: Neetu Tyagi, Natia Qipshidze, Charu Munjal, Jonathan C Vacek, Naira Metreveli, Srikanth Givvimani, Suresh C Tyagi
• Journal: Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN (J Mol Neurosci) Vol. 47 Issue 1 Pg. 128-38 (May 2012) ISSN: 1559-1166 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22212488 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• tetrahydrocurcumin
• Cytochromes c
• Curcumin

Topics

• Animals
• Antioxidants (pharmacology)
• Autophagy (drug effects, physiology)
• Brain Ischemia (drug therapy, enzymology, pathology)
• Curcumin (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Cytochromes c (metabolism, physiology)
• Hyperhomocysteinemia (drug therapy, enzymology, pathology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Knockout
• Reperfusion Injury (drug therapy, enzymology, pathology)