The key target of neuroprotection after the onset of ischemic stroke: secretory pathway Ca^(2+)-ATPase 1

The regulatory mechanisms of cytoplasmic Ca2＋ after myocardial infarction-induced Ca2＋ overload involve secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 1 and the Golgi apparatus and are well understood. However, the effect of Golgi apparatus on Ca2＋ overload after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion remains unclear. Four-vessel occlusion rats were used as animal models of cerebral ischemia. The expression of secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 1 in the cortex and hippocampus was detected by immunoblotting, and Ca2＋ concentrations in the cytoplasm and Golgi vesicles were determined. Results showed an overload of cytoplasmic Ca2＋ during ischemia and reperfusion that reached a peak after reperfusion. Levels of Golgi Ca2＋ showed an opposite effect. The expression of Golgi-specific secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 1 in the cortex and hippocampus decreased before ischemia and reperfusion, and increased after reperfusion for 6 hours. This variation was similar to the alteration of calcium in separated Golgi vesicles. These results indicate that the Golgi apparatus participates in the formation and alleviation of calcium overload, and that secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 1 tightly responds to ischemia and reperfusion in nerve cells. Thus, we concluded that secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 1 plays an essential role in cytosolic calcium regulation and its expression can be used as a marker of Golgi stress, responding to cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. The secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 1 can be an important neuroprotective target of ischemic stroke.

Changes in secretory pathway Ca^(2+)-ATPase 2 following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

This study aimed to investigate changes in secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 2 expression following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and to define the role of Ca2＋-ATPases in oxidative stress. A rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury was established using the unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion method. Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-PCR assay results showed that compared with the control group, the expression of secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 2 protein and mRNA in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of male rats did not significantly change during the ischemic period. However, secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 2 protein and mRNA expression reduced gradually at 1, 3, and 24 hours during the reperfusion period. Our experimental findings indicate that levels of secretory pathway Ca2＋-ATPase 2 protein and mRNA expression in brain tissue change in response to cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Effect of Calmodulin and Voltage-dependent Ca^(2+) Channel on the Proliferation of Heptoma Cells Induced by Epidermal Growth Factor

The effect of thyrosine kinase, calmodulin and voltage-dependent Ca 2+ channel on the proliferation of hepatoma cells induced by EGF was studied. Hepatoma cell line SMMC7721 was cultured in RPMI1640 serum-free medium. DNA synthesis rate of hepatoma cells was measured by 3H-TdR incorporation. 10 -9 mol/L EGF could significantly stimulate the proliferation of hepatoma cells (P<0.05), and this effect might be significantly inhibited by tyrosine kinase inhibitor (P<0.001). Calmodulin inhibitor W-7 had no effect on the basic phase of cultured hepatoma cells (P> 0.05), but it had very significantly inhibitory effect on the proliferation of hepatoma cells induced by EGF (P<0.001). Voltage-dependent Ca 2+ channel inhibitor Varapamil had no inhibition on the proliferation of hepatoma cells induced by EGF (P>0.05). It had no effect on the basic phase of cultured hepatoma cells (P>0.05). It is suggested that tyrosine kinase and Ca 2+-calmodulin-dependent pathway may play a critical role on the proliferation of heptoma cells induced by EGF, and voltage-dependent Ca 2+ channel is independent of the effect of EGF.

Oxidative stress, antioxidants and intestinal calcium absorption

The disequilibrium between the production of reactive oxygen(ROS) and nitrogen(RNS) species and their elimination by protective mechanisms leads to oxidative stress. Mitochondria are the main source of ROS as by-products of electron transport chain. Most of the time the intestine responds adequately against the oxidative stress, but with aging or under conditions that exacerbate the ROS and/or RNS production, the defenses are not enough and contribute to developing intestinal pathologies. The endogenous antioxidant defense system in gut includes glutathione(GSH) and GSH-dependent enzymes as major components. When the ROS and/or RNS production is exacerbated, oxidative stress occurs and the intestinal Ca2+ absorption is inhibited. GSH depleting drugs such as DLbuthionine-S,R-sulfoximine, menadione and sodium deoxycholate inhibit the Ca2+ transport from lumen to blood by alteration in the protein expression and/or activity of molecules involved in the Ca2+ transcellular and paracellular pathways through mechanisms of oxidative stress, apoptosis and/or autophagy. Quercetin, melatonin, lithocholic and ursodeoxycholic acids block the effect of those drugs in experimental animals by their antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and/or anti-autophagic properties. Therefore, they may become drugs of choice for treatment of deteriorated intestinal Ca2+ absorption under oxidant conditions such as aging, diabetes, gut inflammation and other intestinal disorders.