Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and its specific target gene heme oxygenase-1 are involved in acute cerebral ischemia. However, very few studies have examined in detail the changes in the hypoxia-inducible factor-1/heme oxygenase-1 signaling pathway in chronic cerebral ischemia. Prof. Zhongxin Xu and team from China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Jilin University clarified that the hypoxia-inducible factor-1/heme oxygenase-1 signaling pathway is activated following chronic cerebral ischemia and involved in the development of cognitive impairment induced by chronic cerebral ischemia. Additionally, cilostazol treatment can decrease hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and heme oxygenase-1 expression levels, and protect against cognitive impairment induced by chronic cerebral ischemic injury through an anti-apoptotic mechanism. These findings are published in the Neural Regeneration Research (Vol. 8, No. 19, 2013).
Amplified bands of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and heme oxygenase-1 mRNA appeared in the frontal cortex of chronic cerebral ischemic rats at 3, 6, 9 weeks. Cilostazol reduced hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and heme oxygenase-1 expression and activity.
(Photo Credit: Neural Regeneration Research)
Source: Neural Regeneration Research