Role of apoptosis-inducing factor in perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury

Perinatal complications,such as asphyxia,can cause brain injuries that are often associated with subsequent neurological deficits,such as cerebral palsy or mental retardation.The mechanisms of perinatal brain injury are not fully understood,but mitochondria play a prominent role not only due to their central function in metabolism but also because many proteins with apoptosis-related functions are located in the mitochondrion.Among these proteins,apoptosis-inducing factor has already been shown to be an important factor involved in neuronal cell death upon hypoxia-ischemia,but a better understanding of the mechanisms behind these processes is required for the development of more effective treatments during the early stages of perinatal brain injury.In this review,we focus on the molecular mechanisms of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy,specifically on the importance of apoptosis-inducing factor.The relevance of apoptosis-inducing factor is based not only because it participates in the caspase-independent apoptotic pathway but also because it plays a crucial role in mitochondrial energetic functionality,especially with regard to the maintenance of electron transport during oxidative phosphorylation and in oxidative stress,acting as a free radical scavenger.We also discuss all the different apoptosis-inducing factor isoforms discovered,focusing especially on apoptosis-inducing factor 2,which is only expressed in the brain and the functions of which are starting now to be clarified.Finally,we summarized the interaction of apoptosis-inducing factor with several proteins that are crucial for both apoptosis-inducing factor functions(prosurvival and pro-apoptotic)and that are highly important in order to develop promising therapeutic targets for improving outcomes after perinatal brain injury.

Effects of 3-aminobenzamide on expressions of poly（ADP ribose） polymerase and apoptosis inducing factor in cardiomyocytes of rats with acute myocardial infarction

Background Poly（ADP-ribose） polymerase （PARP） plays an important role in cell survival and death. However, the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated the effect of inhibition of PARP on acute myocardial infarction （AMI） at different time points in rats. Methods AMI was induced in rats by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. One group received 3-aminobenzamide （3-AB, a kind of PARP inhibitor） （30 mg/kg） by intraperitoneal injection. The changes of ultramicrostructure of cardiocytes in infarction region were noted, PARP cleavage was measured by Western blotting, and expressions of protein of PARP and apoptosis inducing factor （AIF） were measured by immunohistochemical staining after treatment with 3-AB for 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 1 week, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Results Few damages to the ultramicrostructure of cardiocytes were observed after treatment with 3-AB. PARP cleavage was detected as early as 4 hours and markedly increased by 6 hours following AMI without 3-AB, but was not found until 6 hours following AMI treated with 3-AB. There were significant differences between 3-AB and AMI groups at the same time points. The expression of PARP was observed gradually increased, but that of AIF was suppressed for 6 hours after treatment of 3-AB, compared with AMI groups in positive cells at the same time points. There was significantly less cleavage of PARP and more PARP expression in 3-AB treated group compared with AMI and control groups at all matched time points. Conclusions Our results suggest that 3-AB inhibits degradation of PARP, increases the expression of PARP protein, and suppresses the expression of AIF protein. Inhibition of PARP activity may protect cardiocytes in rats with AMI and reduce apoptosis.

Expression of tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand receptor in glioblastoma

BACKGROUND： Receptors for tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand （TRAIL） include death receptor 4, death receptor 5, decoy receptor 1, and decoy receptor 2. Activation of death receptor 4 and 5 selectively kills tumor cells. OBJECTIVE： To detect TRAIL receptor expression in glioblastoma by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, and to compare this expression to that in normal brain tissue. DESIGN： Observational analysis. SETTING： Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University; Henan Tumor Pathology Key Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS： Twenty-five patients （17 males and 8 females） who received glioblastoma resection were selected from the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, between September 2003 to June 2004. All glioblastoma samples were diagnosed pathologically. Twenty patients （12 males and 8 females） with craniocerebral injury who received normal brain tissue resection were selected in the same time period. There were no significant differences in sex and age between glioblastoma patients or between craniocerebral injury patients （P 〉 0.05）. All patients and appropriate relatives provided informed consent, and this study was approved by the local research ethics committee. METHODS： Polyclonal antibody against TRAIL receptors and an immunohistochemical kit （batch number： 200502） were purchased from Boster Company, Wuhan. Immunohistochemistry： Expression of death receptor 4, death receptor 5, decoy receptor l, and decoy receptor 2 were observed in both glioblastoma and normal brain tissue. The experiment was performed according to the kit instructions, and positive staining was brown-yellow. Assessment： There were no positive signals （-）; weakly positive signals, positive cells 〈 25% （＋）; weakly positive signals, positive cells 25%-50% （＋＋）; strongly positive signals, positive cells 50%-75% （＋＋＋）; strongly positive signals, positive cells 〉 75% （＋＋＋＋）. Evaluation： Expression levels of TRAIL receptors were estimated in both normal brain tissue and glioblastoma. Expression of decoy receptor 1 and decoy receptor 2 mRNA in glioblastoma were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and expression of decoy receptor in glioblastoma was estimated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Comparison of death receptor and decoy receptor protein expression between glioblastoma and normal brain tissue; decoy receptor mRNA expression in glioblastoma. RESULTS： Death receptor protein expression was strongly positive （＋＋＋） in glioblastoma, while it was weakly positive （＋, ＋＋） in normal brain tissue. Therefore, expression rate of death receptor protein in the glioblastoma was significantly higher than that in the normal brain tissue （.~ 2 = 18.48, 23.03, P 〈 0.01）. Decoy receptor protein expression in the glioblastoma was significantly lower than that in the normal brain tissue （ x2 = 6.65, 18.76, P 〈 0.01）. The level of decoy receptor mRNA expression in glioblastoma was significantly higher than those of protein expression （ x 2 = 9.82, 10.09, P〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： High expression of death receptor and low expression of decoy receptor are frequently observed in glioblastoma, suggesting that TRAIL receptor genes show an anti-tumor and expressive response during the initiation and development of the tumor. There are significant differences in decoy receptor expression between normal brain tissue and glioblastoma, suggesting that the restricted expression of decoy receptor in glioblastoma is regulated at the post-transcriptional level.

Chloride channel blocker 4,4-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid inhibits nitric oxide-induced apoptosis in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

Apoptosis in cultured rat hippocampal neurons was induced using the nitric oxide donor 3-morpholinosydnonimine, and cells were treated with the chloride channel blocker, 4,4- diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2＇-disulfonic acid. Results showed that the survival rate of neurons was significantly increased after treatment with 4,4-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2＇-disulfonic acid, and the rate of apoptosis decreased. In addition, the expression of the apoptosis-related proteins poly（adenosine diphosphate-ribose）polymerase-1 and apoptosis-inducing factor were significantly reduced. Our experimental findings indicate that the chloride channel blocker 4,4- diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2＇-disulfonic acid can antagonize apoptotic cell death of hippocampal neurons by inhibiting the expression of the apoptosis-related proteins poly（adenosine diphosphate-ribose）polymerase-1 and apoptosis-inducing factor.

Apoptosis and Expression of Protein TRAIL in Granulosa Cells of Rats with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

The relationship between apoptosis of granulosa cells and follicle development arrest in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) rats, and the contribution of tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) in apoptosis of granulosa cells were explored. By using sodium prasterone sulfate rat PCOS model was induced. The apoptosis of granulosa cells in ovaries of rats was observed by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL), and the expression of TRAIL protein and mRNA in granulosa cells was detected by using immunhistochemical staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively. The apoptotic rate and the expression of protein TRAIL in granulosa cells were significantly higher in antral follicles from the PCOS rats than in those from the control rats (P<0.01, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in apoptotic rate and the expression of TRAIL protein in granulosa cells of preantral follicles between the PCOS rats and the control rats (P>0.05). No apoptosis and the expression of TRAIL protein in granulosa cells of primordial follicles were found in the two groups. The expression of TRAIL mRNA was significantly stronger in granulosa cells from the PCOS rats than in those from the con- trol rats (P<0.01). It was suggested that the apoptotic rate in granulosa cells was significantly higher in antral follicle from the PCOS rats than in those from the control rats. TRAIL played a role in regu- lating the apoptosis of granulosa cells in PCOS rats.

Effects of moxibustion at bilateral Feishu(BL13)and Xinshu(BL15)combined with benazepril on myocardial cells apoptosis index and apoptosis-related proteins cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor in rats with chronic heart failure

OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of moxibustion at bilateral Feishu(BL13)and Xinshu(BL15)combined with benazepril on myocardial cells apoptosis index,the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins cytochrome c(Cyt-C)and apoptosis-inducing factor(AIF)in chronic heart failure(CHF)rats.METHODS:Sixty-five rats were randomly divided into normal group(n=10)and model-I group(n=55).After modeling,CHF rats in model-I group were divided into model group,moxibustion group,benazepril group,moxibustion plus benazepril group(abbreviated as aibei group,the same below),10 rats in each group.Echocardiogram index was examined by echocardiography.Hemodynamic indices were measured by rat cardiac function meter.Serum B-type brain natriuretic peptide(BNP)was detected by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay.Myocardial cells apoptosis index was detected by terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling staining.Pathological changes of myocardial tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.The expression levels of Cyt-C and AIF in myocardial tissues were detected by Western blot.RESULTS:Compared with normal group,ejection fraction and left ventricular diameter shortening rate in model-Ⅰgroup were significantly reduced,myocardial cells of rats in model group exhibited unclear transverse striations,cells swellings and vacuoles,cardiac functions were deteriorated,serum BNP level,myocardial cells apoptosis index,and the expression levels of Cyt-C and AIF were significantly increased.Compared with model group,myocardial cells of rats in moxibustion group,benazepril group,and aibei group were dyed more evenly,muscle fibers were arranged relatively neatly,cardiac functions were improved,serum BNP level,myocardial cells apoptosis index,and the expression levels of Cyt-C and AIF were significantly decreased.Compared with aibei group,cardiac functions were worsened,myocardial cells apoptosis index,and the expression levels of Cyt-C and AIF were increased.CONCLUSION:Moxibustion at bilateral Feishu(BL13)and Xinshu(BL15)combined with benazepril could improve CHF better than moxibustion at bilateral Feishu(BL13)and Xinshu(BL15)or benazepril alone.The mechanisms might be that they can inhibit the expressions of Cyt-C and AIF,and inhibit the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes.

Noise exposure induced cochlear hair cell death pathways in guinea pig

Objective To understand the mechanism of noise exposure induced outer hair cells(OHCs) death pathways. Methods Thirty two guinea pigs were used in this study. The animals were either exposed for 4 h/day to broadband noise at 122 dB SPL (A-weighted) for 2 consecutive days or perfused with MNNG. After auditory test, the cochleae of animals were dissected. Propidium iodide (PI), a DNA intercalating fluorescent probe, was used to trace morphological changes in OHC nuclei. F-actin staining was used to determine missing OHCs. Caspase-3 was detected in living organ of Corti whole mounts using the fluorescent probe. The single strand DNA (ssDNA) in apoptotic OHCs in guinea pigs and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) in hair cells in guinea pigs were examined by immunohistology method. Whole mounts of organ of Corti were prepared. Morphological and fluorescent changes were examined under a confocal microscope. Results (1) Both apoptotic and necrotic hair cells appeared following noise exposure. (2) Noise exposure induced single strand DNA in apoptotic OHCs but not in the normal OHCs. (3) Either after noise exposure or after MNNG perfusion, apoptotic OHCs were featured by nuclear condensation or fragmentation with caspase-3 activation, whereas necrotic OHCs were characterized by nuclear swelling without caspase-3 activation. (4) In normal organ of Corti, AIF was located in the mitochondria areas. After noise exposure, AIF was translocated from mitochondria in apoptotic and necrotic OHCs. Conclusion These findings indicate that noise exposure damages DNA in the OHC, which triggers action of Caspase-3. Subsequently, AIF is translocated to the nucleus, leading to DNA damage and OHCs death.