Ethyl pyruvate attenuates cerebral hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in neuroblastoma cells: Role of GAS6/Axl signaling.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke, caused neurological dysfunction due to inadequate blood supply to brain, has a high morbidity and mortality. Ethyl pyruvate (EP), a simple aliphatic ester derived from pyruvic acid, has the advantages of safety and stability. Studies have confirmed that EP has anti-oxidative, anti-inflammation, anti-tumor, and other pharmacological effects, and it demonstrates significant therapeutic effects on multiple diseases. GAS6 and its high affinity Axl receptor play an important role in cell adhesion, anti-apoptosis, proliferation and migration by activating downstream signal transduction pathways. Previous studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of the GAS6/Axl axis.

METHODS: A series of experimental methods were employed to confirm the effect of EP against cerebral hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR) injury.

RESULTS: In this study, the protective effect and mechanism of EP on HR injury in N2a cells was explored. The results found that treatment with EP could increase HR-injured neuronal viability, improve cell morphology, and reduce LDH release and ROS accumulation, thereby exhibiting a neuroprotective effect. Furthermore, EP treatment restored the down-regulated expression of GAS6, Axl, NQO1, PGC-1α, NRF1, and UCP2 caused by HR injury. Specifically, it was observed that the neuroprotective effect of EP was partially inhibited by GAS6 siRNA.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, these results suggest that EP treatment attenuates HR-induced oxidative stress injury in neuroblastoma cells via activating GAS6/Axl signaling.