Relationship between the MAPK/ERK pathway and neurocyte apoptosis after cerebral infarction in rats.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) pathway and neurocyte apoptosis after cerebral infarction in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Neural stem cells were isolated from rats by establishing the cerebral infarction model and sham model. Isolated cells were cultured in complete culture medium in vitro. Real-time quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of ERK1 and ERK2 in the MARK pathway. Western blotting was applied to examine the activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway and neuron-specific markers. The expression of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was detected via immunofluorescence. Cell activity and apoptosis were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTS:

The mRNA expressions of ERK1 and ERK2 in neural stem cells increased in a time-dependent manner after cerebral infarction in rats. The expressions of ERK1, ERK2, cyclin D1, Nestin, NSE and glial fibrillary acidic-protein (GFAP) in neural stem cells were significantly decreased after being treated with SCH772984. Cell activity, proliferation and differentiation were markedly inhibited. However, cleaved-caspase 3 protein and apoptosis rate were remarkably increased.

CONCLUSIONS:

The MAPK/ERK pathway seriously affects neurocyte apoptosis after cerebral infarction in rats. When the MAPK/ERK pathway is inhibited, neurocyte apoptosis is remarkably increased after cerebral infarction in rats.

• Authors: Q-C Wang, L Lu, H-J Zhou
• Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci) Vol. 23 Issue 12 Pg. 5374-5381 (Jun 2019) ISSN: 2284-0729 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 31298390 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Indazoles
• Nes protein, rat
• Nestin
• Piperazines
• SCH772984
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects, physiology)
• Cell Differentiation (drug effects, physiology)
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects, physiology)
• Cells, Cultured
• Cerebral Infarction (pathology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Humans
• Indazoles (pharmacology)
• MAP Kinase Signaling System (drug effects, physiology)
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 (analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 (analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Nestin (analysis, metabolism)
• Neural Stem Cells (drug effects, pathology)
• Neurons (drug effects, pathology)
• Piperazines (pharmacology)
• Primary Cell Culture
• Rats