Kaori H Yamada,
Dorothy A Kozlowski,
Stacey E Seidl,
Steven Lance,
Adam J Wieschhaus,
Premanand Sundivakkam,
Chinnaswamy Tiruppathi,
Imran Chishti,
Ira M Herman,
Shafi M Kuchay,
Athar H Chishti
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ABSTRACT: Calpains are calcium-regulated cysteine proteases that have been implicated in the regulation of cell death pathways. Here, we used our calpain-1 null mouse model to evaluate the function of calpain-1 in neural degeneration following a rodent model of traumatic brain injury. In vivo, calpain-1 null mice show significantly less neural degeneration and apoptosis and a smaller contusion 3 days post-injury than wild type littermates. Protection from traumatic brain injury corroborated with the resistance of calpain-1 neurons to apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. Biochemical analysis revealed that caspase-3 activation, extracellular calcium entry, mitochondrial membrane permeability, and release of apoptosis-inducing factor from mitochondria are partially blocked in the calpain-1 null neurons. These findings suggest that the calpain-1 knock-out mice may serve as a useful model system for neuronal protection and apoptosis in traumatic brain injury and other neurodegenerative disorders in which oxidative stress plays a role.
Journal of Biological Chemistry 02/2012; 287(16):13182-93. · 4.77 Impact Factor
