Sphingosine kinase 2 mediates cerebral preconditioning and protects the mouse brain against ischemic injury

Lai Ming Yung, Ying Wei, Tao Qin, Yumei Wang, Charles D. Smith, Christian Waeber

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and Purpose-: Cerebral preconditioning provides insights into endogenous mechanisms that protect the brain from ischemic injury. Hypoxia and the anesthetic isoflurane are powerful preconditioning agents. Recent data show that sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor stimulation improves outcome in rodent models of stroke. Endogenous sphingosine 1-phosphate levels are controlled by the expression and activity of sphingosine kinases (SPK). We hypothesize that SPK upregulation mediates preconditioning induced by isoflurane and hypoxia and reduces ischemic injury. Methods-: Male wild-type C57BL/J, SPK1 -/- and SPK2 -/- mice were exposed to isoflurane or hypoxia preconditioning before transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. Infarct volume and neurological outcome were measured 24 hours later. SPK inhibitors (SKI-II and ABC294640) were used to test the involvement of SPK2. Expressions of SPK1, SPK2, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α were determined. Primary cultures of mouse cortical neurons were exposed to isoflurane before glutamate-or hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death. Results-: Isoflurane preconditioning and hypoxia preconditioning significantly reduced infarct volume and improved neurological outcome in wild-type and SPK1 -/- mice but not in SPK2 -/- mice. Pretreatment with SKI-II or ABC294640 abolished the isoflurane preconditioning-induced tolerance. Western blot showed a rapid and sustained increase in SPK2 level, whereas SPK1 level was similar between preconditioned mice and controls. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α was upregulated in wild-type isoflurane-preconditioned mice but not in SPK2 -/-. Isoflurane preconditioning protected primary neurons against cell death, which was abolished in ABC294640-treated cells. Conclusions-: Applying genetic and pharmacological approaches, we demonstrate that neuronal SPK2 isoform plays an important role in cerebral preconditioning.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)199-204
Number of pages6
JournalStroke
Volume43
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Advanced and Specialized Nursing

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Sphingosine kinase 2 mediates cerebral preconditioning and protects the mouse brain against ischemic injury'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this