Delayed post-ischemic administration of CDP-choline increases EAAT2 association to lipid rafts and affords neuroprotection in experimental stroke

Neurobiol Dis. 2008 Jan;29(1):123-31. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2007.08.004. Epub 2007 Aug 21.

Abstract

Glutamate transport is the only mechanism for maintaining extracellular glutamate concentrations below excitotoxic levels. Among glutamate transporters, EAAT2 is responsible for up to 90% of all glutamate transport and has been reported to be associated to lipid rafts. In this context, we have recently shown that CDP-choline induces EAAT2 translocation to the membrane. Since CDP-choline preserves membrane stability by recovering levels of sphingomyelin, a glycosphingolipid present in lipid rafts, we have decided to investigate whether CDP-choline increases association of EAAT2 transporter to lipid rafts. Flotillin-1 was used as a marker of lipid rafts due to its known association to these microdomains. After gradient centrifugation, we have found that flotillin-1 appears mainly in fractions 2 and 3 and that EAAT2 protein is predominantly found colocalised with flotillin-1 in fraction 2. We have also demonstrated that CDP-choline increased EAAT2 levels in fraction 2 at both times examined (3 and 6 h after 1 g/kg CDP-choline administration). In agreement with this, [(3)H] glutamate uptake was also increased in flotillin-associated vesicles obtained from brain homogenates of animals treated with CDP-choline. Exposure to middle cerebral artery occlusion also increased EAAT2 levels in lipid rafts, an effect which was further enhanced in those animals receiving 2 g/kg CDP-choline 4 h after the occlusion. Infarct volume measured at 48 h after ischemia showed a reduction in the group treated with CDP-choline 4 h after occlusion. In summary, we have demonstrated that CDP-choline redistributes EAAT2 to lipid raft microdomains and improves glutamate uptake. This effect is also found after experimental stroke, when CDP-choline is administered 4 h after the ischemic occlusion. Since we have also shown that this delayed post-ischemic administration of CDP-choline induces a potent neuroprotection, our data provides a novel target for neuroprotection in stroke.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Fractionation / methods
  • Cytidine Diphosphate Choline / administration & dosage*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Membrane Microdomains / drug effects*
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism
  • Neuroprotective Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Cytidine Diphosphate Choline