• Cora H Nijboer, Cobi J Heijnen, Michael A van der Kooij, Jitske Zijlstra, Cindy T J van Velthoven, Carsten Culmsee, Frank van Bel, Henrik Hagberg, and Annemieke Kavelaars.
• Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Developmental Origins of Disease, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
• Ann. Neurol. 2011 Aug 1;70(2):255-64.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether inhibition of mitochondrial p53 association using pifithrin-μ (PFT-μ) represents a potential novel neuroprotective strategy to combat perinatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain damage.MethodsSeven-day-old rats were subjected to unilateral carotid artery occlusion and hypoxia followed by intraperitoneal treatment with PFT-μ, an inhibitor of p53 mitochondrial association or PFT-α an inhibitor of p53 transcriptional activity. Cerebral damage, sensorimotor and cognitive function, apoptotic pathways (cytosolic cytochrome c, Smac/DIABLO, active caspase 3), and oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation and PARP-1 cleavage) were investigated.ResultsPFT-μ treatment completely prevented the HI-induced increase in mitochondrial p53 association at 3 hours and reduced neuronal damage at 48 hours post-HI. PFT-μ had long-term (6-10 weeks post-HI) beneficial effects as sensorimotor and cognitive outcome improved and infarct size was reduced by ~79%. Neuroprotection by PFT-μ treatment was associated with strong inhibition of apoptotic pathways and reduced oxidative stress. Unexpectedly, PFT-μ also inhibited HI-induced upregulation of p53 target genes. However, the neuroprotective effect of inhibiting only p53 transcriptional activity by PFT-α was significantly smaller and did not involve reduced oxidative stress.InterpretationWe are the first to show that prevention of mitochondrial p53 association by PFT-μ strongly improves functional outcome and decreases lesion size after neonatal HI. PFT-μ not only inhibits mitochondrial release of cytochrome c, but also inhibits oxidative stress. We propose that as a consequence nuclear accumulation of p53 and transcription of proapoptotic target genes are prevented. In conclusion, targeting p53 mitochondrial association by PFT-μ may develop into a novel and powerful neuroprotective strategy.Copyright © 2011 American Neurological Association.

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