calpain and Heart-Arrest

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is the leading cause of poor neurological prognosis after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We previously reported that the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation mediates CIRI. Here, we explored the potential ERK/calpain-2 pathway role in CIRI using a rat model of cardiac arrest (CA).. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats suffered from CA/CPR-induced CIRI, received saline, DMSO, PD98059 (ERK1/2 inhibitor, 0.3 mg/kg), or MDL28170 (calpain inhibitor, 3.0 mg/kg) after spontaneous circulation recovery. The survival rate and the neurological deficit score (NDS) were utilized to assess the brain function. Hematoxylin stain, Nissl staining, and transmission electron microscopy were used to evaluate the neuron injury. The expression levels of p-ERK, ERK, calpain-2, neuroinflammation-related markers (GFAP, Iba1, IL-1β, TNF-α), and necroptosis proteins (TNFR1, RIPK1, RIPK3, p-MLKL, and MLKL) in the brain tissues were determined by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Fluorescent multiplex immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the p-ERK, calpain-2, and RIPK3 co-expression in neurons, and RIPK3 expression levels in microglia or astrocytes.. At 24 h after CA/CPR, the rats in the saline-treated and DMSO groups presented with injury tissue morphology, low NDS, ERK/calpain-2 pathway activation, and inflammatory cytokine and necroptosis protein over-expression in the brain tissue. After PD98059 and MDL28170 treatment, the brain function was improved, while inflammatory response and necroptosis were suppressed by ERK/calpain-2 pathway inhibition.. Inflammation activation and necroptosis involved in CA/CPR-induced CIRI were regulated by the ERK/calpain-2 signaling pathway. Inhibition of that pathway can reduce neuroinflammation and necroptosis after CIRI in the CA model rats.

Topics: Animals; Brain Ischemia; Calpain; Dipeptides; Disease Models, Animal; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; Flavonoids; Heart Arrest; Inflammation; Male; Necroptosis; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reperfusion Injury; Signal Transduction

The aim of the study was to assess the level of calpain and its endogenous substrates--microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) and fodrin in the rodent model of global cerebral ischaemia caused by temporary cardiac arrest accurately mimics cardiac infarct and reperfusion in human. The effects of 10 min global ischaemia were measured immediately and in several post-resuscitation periods (1 h, 24 h, and 7 days). In Western blots we observed a significant, time-dependent increase in the expression of enzyme's protein. The proteolytic effect of its activity was also time-dependent and evidenced 24 h after ischaemic episode as an increased level of 150-kDa alpha-fodrin breakdown product (FBDP). Parallel to these changes, expression of MAP-2 protein was lowered. Additionally, the electron microscopic studies of synapses showed a decreased number of synaptic vesicles early after ischaemic insult. In conclusion, our results show a temporal pattern of changes in calpain proteolytic activity and protein expression in the applied model of brain ischaemia caused by cardiac arrest and reperfusion. In these conditions calpain-mediated degradation of cytoskeleton may be involved in the disturbances in synaptic vesicles transport and hence to the changes in neurotransmission.

Topics: Animals; Blotting, Western; Brain Ischemia; Calpain; Carrier Proteins; Cytoskeletal Proteins; Disease Models, Animal; Heart Arrest; Male; Microfilament Proteins; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reperfusion Injury; Synaptic Vesicles; Time Factors