Xiangning Jiang

Regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and induction of vascular endothelial growth factor in a rat neonatal stroke model

Stroke is a devastating condition occurring in at least 1 in 4000 live births in the neonatal period. Since hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha can modulate ischemic injury via induction of target genes that may protect cells against ischemia, and is induced after preconditioning by hypoxia in the neonatal rat brain hypoxia-ischemia model, we evaluated whether HIF-1alpha is induced after focal ischemia-reperfusion, a model for neonatal stroke. We developed an ischemia-reperfusion model in postnatal day 10 (P10) rats by transiently occluding the middle cerebral artery (MCA) for 1.5 h. The MCA territory was reperfused for 0, 4, 8, or 24 h and the expression of HIF-1alpha and its target gene, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were delineated. HIF-1alpha protein and VEGF protein peaked at 8 h, and declined subsequently at 24 h in injured cortex following 1.5 h of MCA occlusion. Double-immunolabeling indicated that both HIF-1alpha and VEGF are expressed together in neurons with a similar time course of expression. The presence of HIF-1alpha and VEGF after moderate ischemia-reperfusion injury suggests potential avenues to exploit for neuroprotection.

Manipulation of antioxidant pathways in neonatal murine brain.

To assess the role of brain antioxidant capacity in the pathogenesis of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, we measured the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in both human-superoxide dismutase-1 (hSOD1) and human-GPX1 overexpressing transgenic (Tg) mice after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). We have previously shown that mice that overexpress the hSOD1 gene are more injured than their wild-type (WT) littermates after HI, and that H2O2 accumulates in HI hSOD1-Tg hippocampus. We hypothesized that lower GPX activity is responsible for the accumulation of H2O2. Therefore, increasing the activity of this enzyme through gene manipulation should be protective. We show that brains of hGPX1-Tg mice, in contrast to those of hSOD-Tg, have less injury after HI than WT littermates: hGPX1-Tg, median injury score = 8 (range, 0–24) versus WT, median injury score = 17 (range, 2–24), p < 0.01. GPX activity in hSOD1-Tg mice, 2 h and 24 h after HI, showed a delayed and bilateral decline in the cortex 24 h after HI (36.0 ± 1.2 U/mg in naive hSOD1-Tg versus 29.1 ± 1.7 U/mg in HI cortex and 29.2 ± 2.0 for hypoxic cortex, p < 0.006). On the other hand, GPX activity in hGPX1-Tg after HI showed a significant increase by 24 h in the cortex ipsilateral to the injury (48.5 ± 5.2 U/mg, compared with 37.2 ± 1.5 U/mg in naive hGPX1-Tg cortex, p < 0.008). These findings support the hypothesis that the immature brain has limited GPX activity and is more susceptible to oxidative damage and may explain the paradoxical effect seen in ischemic neonatal brain when SOD1 is overexpressed.

Differential vulnerability of immature murine neurons to oxygen-glucose deprivation.

In vivo studies support selective neuronal vulnerability to hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in the developing brain. Since differences in intrinsic properties of neurons might be responsible, pure cultures containing immature neurons (6-8 days in vitro) isolated from mouse cortex and hippocampus, regions chosen for their marked vulnerability to oxidative stress, were studied under in vitro ischemic conditions-oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Twenty-four hours of reoxygenation after 2.5 h of OGD induced significantly greater cell death in hippocampal than in cortical neurons (67.8% vs. 33.4%, P = 0.0068). The expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) protein, production of nitric oxide (NO), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and intracellular levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), were measured as indicators of oxidative stress. Hippocampal neurons had markedly higher nNOS expression than cortical neurons by 24 h of reoxygenation, which coincided with an increase in NO production, and significantly greater ROS accumulation. GPx activity declined significantly in hippocampal but not in cortical neurons at 4 and 24 h after OGD. The decrease in GSH level in hippocampal neurons correlated with the decline of GPx activity. Our data suggest that developing hippocampal neurons are more sensitive to OGD than cortical neurons. This finding supports our in vivo studies showing that mouse hippocampus is more vulnerable than cortex after neonatal HI. An imbalance between excess prooxidant production (increased nNOS expression, and NO and ROS production) and insufficient antioxidant defenses created by reduced GPx activity and GSH levels may, in part, explain the higher susceptibility to OGD of immature hippocampal neurons.

Exogenous low dose hydrogen peroxide increases hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha protein expression and induces preconditioning protection against ischemia in primary cortical neurons

HIF-1 is believed to play a critical role in hypoxia/ischemia (H/I) preconditioning protection in neonatal brain. Recently, it has been shown that hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) may contribute to H/I preconditioning in rat primary neurons. We hypothesize that H(2)O(2) produced during H/I preconditioning may increase HIF-1alpha protein expression and contribute to H/I preconditioning protection in the immature brain. To test this hypothesis, we used 6-8 days in vitro (DIV) primary cortical neurons from embryonic day 16 CD1 mouse brains and preconditioned them with 10 min of oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) or exogenous H(2)O(2) at doses from 5 to 50 microM. Both OGD and low dose H(2)O(2) (15 microM) preconditioning provided neuronal protection 24 h later against a 2 h OGD insult. Cell survival was 34.9+/-1.8% and 35.8+/-3.8% with OGD and H(2)O(2) preconditioning respectively vs. 20.0+/-0.4% without preconditioning (P<0.01). After OGD preconditioning, HIF-1alpha protein increased at 4 h and peaked at 8h, then declined at 18 h and increased again to reach another peak at 32 h. HIF-1alpha protein following H(2)O(2) preconditioning increased at 8h and peaked at 32 h. For both preconditioning paradigms, HIF-1alpha expression level declined to baseline at 72 h. Our results suggest that low levels of H(2)O(2) may up-regulate HIF-1alpha protein and thereby mediate H/I preconditioning protection.

Activated Src kinases interact with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor after neonatal brain ischemia

Neonatal stroke is associated with the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR)–mediated excitotoxic brain injury. Src family kinases (SFKs) are considered to be the molecular hub for NMDAR regulation. We determined the relationship between SFKs activation and NMDAR tyrosine phosphorylation after neonatal hypoxia‐ischemia (HI) and investigated the neuroprotective potential of a selective SFKs inhibitor, PP2 (4‐amino‐5‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐7‐(t‐butyl) pyrazolo [3, 4‐d] pyramidine), against neonatal brain ischemic injury.

HIF-1α-Deficient Mice Have Increased Brain Injury after Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia

Evidence suggests that the activation of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) may promote cell survival in hypoxic or ischemic brain. To help understand the role of HIF-1α in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, mice with conditional neuron-specific inactivation of HIF-1α underwent hypoxia-ischemia (HI). Mice heterozygous for Cre recombinase under the control of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II promoter were bred with homozygous ‘floxed’ HIF-1α transgenic mice. The resulting litters produced mice with a forebrain predominant neuronal deletion of HIF-1α (HIF-1αΔ/Δ), as well as littermates without the deletion. In order to verify reduction of HIF-1α at postnatal day 7, HIF-1αΔ/Δ and wild-type mice were exposed to a hypoxic stimulus (8% oxygen) or room air for 1 h, followed by immediate collection of brain cortices for determination of HIF-1α expression. Results of Western blotting of mouse cortices exposed to hypoxia stimulus or room air confirmed that HIF-1αΔ/Δ cortex expressed a minimal amount of HIF-1α protein compared to wild-type cortex with the same hypoxic stimulus. Subsequently, pups underwent the Vannucci procedure of HI at postnatal day 7: unilateral ligation of the right common carotid artery followed by 30 min of hypoxia (8% oxygen). Immunofluorescent staining of brains 24 h after HI confirmed a relative lack of HIF-1α in the HIF-1αΔ/Δ cortex compared to the wild type, and that HIF-1α in the wild type is located in neurons. HIF-1α expression was determined in mouse cortex 24 h after HI. Histological analysis for the degree of injury was performed 5 days after HI. HIF-1α protein expression 24 h after HI showed a large increase of HIF-1α in the hypoxic-ischemic cortex of the wild-type compared to the hypoxic only cortex. Histological analysis revealed that HI injury was increased in the neuronally deficient HIF-1αΔ/Δ mouse brain (p < 0.05) and was more severe in the cortex. Genetic reduction of neuronal HIF-1α results in a worsening of injury after neonatal HI, with a region-specific role for HIF-1α in the setting of neonatal brain injury.

Enhanced NMDA receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and increased brain injury following neonatal hypoxia–ischemia in mice with neuronal Fyn overexpression

The Src family kinases (SFKs) Src and Fyn are implicated in hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury in the developing brain. However, it is unclear how these particular SFKs contribute to brain injury. Using neuron-specific Fyn overexpressing (OE) mice, we investigated the role of neuronal Fyn in neonatal brain HI. Wild type (WT) and Fyn OE mice were subjected to HI using the Vannucci model at postnatal day 7. Brains were scored five days later for evaluation of damage using cresyl violet and iron staining. Western blotting with postsynaptic density (PSD)-associated synaptic membrane proteins and co-immunoprecipitation with cortical lysates were performed at various time points after HI to determine NMDA receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and Fyn kinase activity. Fyn OE mice had significantly higher mortality and brain injury compared to their WT littermates. Neuronal Fyn overexpression led to sustained NR2A and NR2B tyrosine phosphorylation and enhanced NR2B phosphorylation at tyrosine (Y) 1472 and Y1252 in synaptic membranes. These early changes correlated with higher calpain activity 24h after HI in Fyn OE mice relative to WT animals. Our findings suggest a role for Fyn kinase in neuronal death after neonatal HI, possibly via up-regulation of NMDA receptor tyrosine phosphorylation.

Cellular and molecular introduction to brain development

Advances in the study of brain development over the last decades, especially recent findings regarding the evolutionary expansion of the human neocortex, and large-scale analyses of the proteome/transcriptome in the human brain, have offered novel insights into the molecular mechanisms guiding neural maturation, and the pathophysiology of multiple forms of neurological disorders. As a preamble to reviews of this issue, we provide an overview of the cellular, molecular and genetic bases of brain development with an emphasis on the major mechanisms associated with landmarks of normal neural development in the embryonic stage and early postnatal life, including neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation, cortical neuronal migration, evolution and folding of the cerebral cortex, synaptogenesis and neural circuit development, gliogenesis and myelination. We will only briefly depict developmental disorders that result from perturbations of these cellular or molecular mechanisms, and the most common perinatal brain injuries that could disturb normal brain development.

Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia Differentially Upregulates MAGUKs and Associated Proteins in PSD-93–Deficient Mouse Brain

Background and Purpose— Postsynaptic density (PSD)-93 and PSD-95 are the major membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs) at excitatory synapses of the brain linking the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) with neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), which contributes to cell death after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI). We investigated whether deletion of PSD-93 would dissociate the NMDAR from nNOS and be neuroprotective. Methods— Postnatal day 7 wild-type (+/+), heterozygous (+/−), and homozygous (−/−) PSD-93 knockout mice were subjected to HI by permanent ligation of the right carotid artery, followed by exposure to 8% O2/92% N2 for 1 hour. Brains were scored 5 days later for damage with cresyl violet and iron stains. Western blot and coimmunoprecipitation were used to determine the expression and association of the major PSD proteins. Results— There was no significant difference between PSD-93 (−/−) and (+/+) mice in mortality or degree of brain injury. In the absence of PSD-93, PSD-95 still interacted with NR2B and nNOS. Under physiological conditions, PSD-95, nNOS, NR2A, and NR2B were unaltered in the (−/−) pups. However, at 24 hours after HI, protein expression of PSD-95, nNOS, and NR2A but not NR2B was markedly higher in the (−/−) than in the (+/+) pups. In (+/+) pups, HI resulted in decreased expression of NR2A but not NR2B in cortex and decreased NR2A and NR2B expression in hippocampus, but this reduction was not observed in (−/−) pups. Conclusions— PSD-93 is not essential for baseline synaptic function but may participate in regulation of NMDAR-associated signaling pathways after HI injury. Deletion of PSD-93 alone does not provide neuroprotection after neonatal HI, possibly a result, in part, of upregulation of PSD-95. MAGUKs may substitute for one another, allowing normal NMDAR function in the postnatal period.

Role of vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein in VEGF induced blood–brain barrier permeability in endothelial cell monolayers

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of central nervous system (CNS) disorders such as stroke and hypoxic–ischemic brain injury. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in angiogenesis and vasogenic edema during stroke and hypoxia. However, the role of VEGF in BBB permeability after hypoxia has not been fully elucidated. We therefore investigated VEGF effects in an in vitro BBB model using rbcec4 endothelial cell line with the stimulation of VEGF or hypoxia. In this study, BBB permeability was studied using 14C‐sucrose detection. The expression of BBB tight junction protein ZO‐1, and the expression and phosphorylation of vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), VEGF and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) were determined using fluorescent immunocytochemistry and western blot analyses. We found that hypoxia upregulated VEGF expression, and VEGF increased BBB permeability. Hypoxia also increased VASP phosphorylation, which was mediated, in part, through VEGFR2. We also found that VASP at tight junctions was co‐localized with ZO‐1 in cell–cell contacts. Our findings show that VASP phosphorylation is affected by hypoxia and VEGFR2 inhibition suggesting a role for VASP in BBB permeability.