d-609 and Brain-Edema

Neuron apoptosis and inflammatory responses contribute to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-induced early brain injury (EBI), which is the main aspect that affects patients' outcome. Previous research has demonstrated that phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) plays critical roles in cell apoptosis and various inflammatory responses, and that tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate (D609), a well known PC-PLC inhibitor, is a powerful agent to protect brain from cerebral ischemic injury and SAH-induced cerebral vasospasm. However, the association between PC-PLC and SAH-induced EBI is undetermined. Therefore, we sought to investigate whether PC-PLC was implicated in SAH-induced EBI. Compared with sham group, an upregulation of PC-PLC activity was detected in the brain tissue and serum of SAH group. Pharmacological blockade of PC-PLC by D609 attenuated neurological behavior impairment, brain edema and blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage induced by SAH. In addition, D609 treatment significantly inhibited SAH-induced inflammatory response and neuron apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibition of PC-PLC in primary-cultured rat cortical neurons attenuated oxyhemoglobin (OxyHb)-induced apoptosis morphology and decrease in survival rate. In conclusion, our data suggest that PC-PLC participates in SAH-induced EBI.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain; Brain Edema; Bridged-Ring Compounds; Cells, Cultured; Cerebral Cortex; Disease Models, Animal; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Male; Nervous System Diseases; Neurons; Norbornanes; Oxyhemoglobins; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage; Thiocarbamates; Thiones; Time Factors; Type C Phospholipases; von Willebrand Factor

Despite 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2) and tricyclodecan-9-yl-xanthogenate (D609) having multiple effects on cancer cells, mechanistically, both of them down-regulate hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We hypothesize HIF-1alpha plays an essential role in cerebral ischemia as a pro-apoptosis regulator; 2ME2 and D609 decrease the levels of HIF-1alpha and VEGF, that might contribute to protecting brain from ischemia injury. A total of 102 male Sprague-Dawley rats were split into five groups: sham, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), MCAO + dimethyl sulfoxide, MCAO + 2ME2, and MCAO + D609. 2ME2 and D609 were injected intraperitoneally 1 h after reperfusion. Rats were killed at 24 h and 7 days. At 24 h, 2ME2 and D609 reduce the levels of HIF-1alpha and VEGF (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), depress the expression of HIF-1alpha, VEGF, BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19 kDa interacting protein 3 (BNIP3) and cleaved caspase 3 (western blot and immunohistochemistry) in the brain infarct area. Double fluorescence labeling shows HIF-1alpha positive immunoreactive materials are co-localized with BNIP3 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling inside the nuclei of neurons. At 7 days, 2ME2 and D609 reduce the infarct volume (2,3,7-triphenyltetrazolium chloride) and blood-brain barrier extravasation, decrease the mortality and improve the neurological deficits. In conclusion, 2ME2 and D609 are powerful agents to protect brain from cerebral ischemic injury by inhibiting HIF-1alpha expression, attenuating the superfluous expression of VEGF to avoid blood-brain barrier disruption and suppressing neuronal apoptosis via BNIP3 pathway.

Topics: 2-Methoxyestradiol; Animals; Apoptosis; Blood-Brain Barrier; Brain Edema; Brain Infarction; Brain Ischemia; Bridged-Ring Compounds; Caspase 3; Cerebral Cortex; Disease Models, Animal; Down-Regulation; Estradiol; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; Male; Membrane Proteins; Mitochondrial Proteins; Neuroprotective Agents; Norbornanes; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Signal Transduction; Thiocarbamates; Thiones; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A