Activation of Protein Kinase C Delta following Cerebral Ischemia Leads to Release of Cytochrome C from the Mitochondria via Bad Pathway
2011

How Protein Kinase C Delta Affects Cytochrome C Release After Brain Injury

Sample size: 9 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Dave Kunjan R., Bhattacharya Sanjoy K., Saul Isabel, DeFazio R. Anthony, Dezfulian Cameron, Lin Hung Wen, Raval Ami P., Perez-Pinzon Miguel A.

Primary Institution: Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America

Hypothesis

Does the activation of protein kinase C delta (δPKC) after cerebral ischemia lead to cytochrome c release from mitochondria?

Conclusion

The study concludes that δPKC initiates cytochrome c release via phosphorylation of PP2A and subsequent dephosphorylation of Bad, identifying δPKC, PP2A, and additional mitochondrial proteins as potential therapeutic targets for ischemic neuroprotection.

Supporting Evidence

  • δPKC translocates to the mitochondria following cerebral ischemia.
  • Inhibition of δPKC prevents cytochrome c release, favoring neuronal survival.
  • Post-ischemic δPKC activation leads to dephosphorylation of Bad, promoting apoptosis.
  • PLSCR3 phosphorylation does not mediate cytochrome c release after ischemia.
  • PP2A activation is crucial for the release of cytochrome c via Bad and Bax pathways.

Takeaway

When the brain is injured, a protein called δPKC helps release another protein called cytochrome c from tiny parts of the cell called mitochondria, which can lead to cell death. This study found ways to block that process to help protect the brain.

Methodology

The study used a rat model of cardiac arrest and an in vitro model of oxygen glucose deprivation to analyze the mechanisms of δPKC activation and its effects on cytochrome c release.

Limitations

The study's findings from in vitro models may not fully extrapolate to in vivo conditions, and the specific subcellular interactions of δPKC and PP2A remain unclear.

Participant Demographics

Male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 250–300 g were used in the experiments.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0022057

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