Chemokine-like factor 1 (CKLF1) is a novel
C-C chemokine, and plays important roles in immune response and brain development. In previous study, we have found that the expression of CKLF1 increased after focal
cerebral ischemia and inhibition of CKLF1 using antagonist
C19 peptide protected against
cerebral ischemia. However, few studies have focused on the role of CKLF1 on neuronal apoptosis. The objective of present study is to investigate the role of CKLF1 on neuronal apoptosis by applying anti-CKLF1
antibodies in rat focal
cerebral ischemia and reperfusion model.
Antibodies against CKLF1 was applied to the right cerebral ventricle immediately after transient
middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and
infarct volume, neurological score,
glucose metabolism and apoptosis-related
protein were measured. Treatment with anti-CKLF1 antibody decreased
infarct volume and neurological score, and inhibited neuronal apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner at 24h after reperfusion. Anti-CKLF1 antibody also reduced the level of phosphorylation of Akt (P-Akt), and led to decrease of
pro-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 associated X
protein (Bax) and increase of
anti-apoptotic protein B cell lymphoma-2
protein (Bcl-2) and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, and inhibited
caspase-3 at last. In addition, positron emission tomography (PET) indicated that anti-CKLF1 antibody increased
glucose metabolism in ischemic hemisphere. These results suggest that CKLF1 is associated with neuronal apoptosis after
cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Neutralization of CKLF1 with
antibodies shows
neuroprotective effects against
cerebral ischemia, which may be involved in inhibition of Akt pathway, regulation of apoptosis-related
protein expression, and improvement
glucose metabolism in ischemic hemisphere. Therefore, CKLF1 may be a novel target for the treatment of
stroke.