The Timing of Raf/ERK and AKT Activation in Protecting PC12 Cells against Oxidative Stress.

ABSTRACT: Acute brain injuries such as ischemic stroke or traumatic brain injury often cause massive neural death and irreversible brain damage with grave consequences. Previous studies have established that a key participant in the events leading to neural death is the excessive production of reactive oxygen species. Protecting neuronal cells by activating their endogenous defense mechanisms is an attractive treatment strategy for acute brain injuries. In this work, we investigate how the precise timing of the Raf/ERK and the AKT pathway activation affects their protective effects against oxidative stress. For this purpose, we employed optogenetic systems that use light to precisely and reversibly activate either the Raf/ERK or the AKT pathway. We find that preconditioning activation of the Raf/ERK

SUBMITTER: Ong Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4833326 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature