ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a potent hematopoietic growth factor that both enhances the survival and drives the differentiation and proliferation of myeloid lineage cells. Recent studies have suggested that GM-CSF has a neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia injury, but the molecular mechanisms have been unclear. This study aimed to investigate the influences of a short-acting (half-life 3.5 hours) G-CSF and a long-acting (half-life 40 hours) pegylated G-CSF on the JNK signaling pathway after cerebral ischemia reperfusion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 52 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: a sham group (n = 4), a vehicle with saline (n = 16), a short-acting G-CSF treatment group (n = 16) and a long-acting G-CSF treatment group (n = 16). The cerebral ischemia reperfusion model was established for the sham group and G-CSF treatment groups by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Five days post reperfusion, rats were sacrificed and the brains were removed. Changes in neurological function after cerebral ischemia reperfusion was evaluated according to Neurological Severity Score (NSS) and the lesion volume and infarct size were measured by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The numbers of apoptotic neurons in these ischemic areas: left cerebral cortex, striatum and hippocampus were calculated by TUNEL assay, and expression of JNK/P-JNK, c-jun/P-c-jun in these areas was detected by Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the saline vehicle group ((249.68±23.36) mm(3), (19.27±3.37)%), G-CSF-treated rats revealed a significant reduction in lesion volume (long-acting: (10.89±1.90)%, P < 0.01; short-acting G-CSF: (11.69±1.41)%, P < 0.01) and infarct size (long-acting: (170.53±18.47) mm3, P < 0.01; short-acting G-CSF: (180.74±16.93) mm3, P < 0.01) as well as less neuron functional damage (P < 0.01) and a smaller number of apoptotic neurons in ischemic areas (P < 0.01). The activity of P-JNK and P-c-jun in the cerebral ischemia reperfusion-damaged cortex and hippocampus was significantly decreased in all G-CSF-treated rats (P < 0.05). However, between the long-acting and short-acting G-CSF sets, there were no significant differences found in the activity of P-JNK and P-c-jun in the cortex, hippocampus and striate body (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Hypodermic injection of 50 µg/kg G-CSF attenuated the damage caused by cerebral ischemia reperfusion in rats, which might be associated with down-regulated activation of the P-JNK and P-c-jun pathway after cerebral ischemia reperfusion. Long-acting G-CSF may be a novel choice for both clinical and basic research in treating cerebral ischemia.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Brain Ischemia , Drug Therapy , Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor , Therapeutic Uses , Neuroprotective Agents , Therapeutic Uses , Rats, Sprague-DawleyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the changes of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET) serum level in the Guangxi BA-MA minipigs whose carotid arteries were injured by balloon denudation and in the patients with carotid stent assisted angioplasty.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve Guangxi BA-MA minipigs were chosen. High fat/cholesterol feeding and endovascular balloon denudation were used to create a carotid artery atherosclerotic stenosis animal model. Blood samples were collected from peripheral veins before starting the procedure, and again, at 2 and 3 weeks after the procedure, respectively. Serum NO and ET concentrations of blood samples were tested. Nineteen patients with carotid artery stenosis who underwent stent assisted angioplasty were randomly selected, and their serum NO and ET were tested using the same methods as above.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the animal group, there was a significant decrease of mean NO concentration at 2 weeks after carotid injury (t-test, P < 0.05), however, no significant change of ET was observed. A very significant increase of ET was observed at 3 weeks after the procedure (t-test, P < 0.01). In the patient group, there were no significant differences among serum NO or ET concentration of peripheral vein blood before, immediately after, and 6 h after the endovascular treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In this study, a decrease of NO concentration and an increase of ET concentration of peripheral vein blood are found in BA-MA minipigs after carotid arteries are injured by balloon denudation, which might be a cue for the formation of atherosclerosis. However, no significant changes are observed in this group of patients who underwent carotid angioplasty treatment. Therefore, further studies are needed.</p>