A role for hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in desferoxamine neuroprotection

Neurosci Lett. 2005 May 6;379(2):96-100. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2004.12.080.

Abstract

The newborn brain has increased vulnerability to hypoxia-ischemia from maturational differences in the oxidative stress response. We hypothesized that desferoxamine (DFO), an iron chelator, would provide protection in an in vitro model of ischemia in part through activation of the hypoxia-inducible gene hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha). Hippocampal neurons from E16 CD1 mice were exposed to 3 h of oxygen and glucose deprivation with and without pretreatment with 10 mmol/L DFO in the presence and absence of 2 micromol/L antisense oligonucleotides specific for HIF-1alpha (antiHIF-1alpha). DFO pretreatment resulted in 45% reduction in cell death (p = 0.006). This protection was diminished with transfection of antiHIF-1alpha (p = 0.049). Blocking HIF-1alpha reduces DFO protection suggesting that DFO protects through iron chelation and HIF-1alpha induction.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Cell Count / methods
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Hypoxia / drug effects
  • Cell Hypoxia / physiology
  • Deferoxamine / therapeutic use*
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
  • Glucose / deficiency
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hypoxia / prevention & control*
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Mice
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Oligoribonucleotides, Antisense / pharmacology
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Transfection / methods
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Oligoribonucleotides, Antisense
  • Transcription Factors
  • tau Proteins
  • Glucose
  • Deferoxamine