Análise da expressão de RNA mensageiro e proteica de UCP-2 em hipocampo de ratos com epilepsia induzida pela pilocarpina

Abstract

Neuroprotection is a desired process evoked in many human neurodegenerative disorders, yet the basic mechanisms involved are not completely understood. Here, we exploited the fact that pilocapine epilepsy model remarkably induces seizure-induced excitotoxic cell death. High mRNA levels of the mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP2) were increased in a time-coursed manner during initial 7 days after pilocarpine administration. Increases of AKT mRNA and phosphorylation were found concomitantly with UCP2 gene expression. Thus, inhibition of UCP2 expression by antisense oligonucleotides assay blunted AKT expression and increased pro-apoptotic factors expression. This mechanism highlights the neuroprotective action of UCP2, acting via AKT phosphorylation and apoptosis factors inhibition, in order to increases neuron survival acutely after status epilepticus onset.