This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 35/2/590    most recent 01.STR.0000110790.05859.DAv1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gum, E. T. Articles by Panter, S. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gum, E. T. Articles by Panter, S. S. Related Collections Oxidant stress

(Stroke. 2004;35:590.)
© 2004 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Human Serum Albumin and its N-Terminal Tetrapeptide (DAHK) Block Oxidant-Induced Neuronal Death

Elizabeth T. Gum, MS; Raymond A. Swanson, MD; Conrad Alano, PhD; Jialing Liu, PhD; Shwuhuey Hong, BS; Philip R. Weinstein, MD S. Scott Panter, PhD

From the Departments of Neurology (E.T.G., R.A.S., C.A.) and Neurosurgery (J.L., S.H., P.R.W., S.S.P.), San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California at San Francisco.

Correspondence to Dr S. Scott Panter, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Neurology (127), 4150 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121. E-mail sspanter{at}hotmail.com

Background and Purpose— Studies using animal models of stroke have shown that human serum albumin (HSA) significantly ameliorates cerebral ischemic injury after both transient and permanent ischemia, even when administered after the onset of ischemia or reperfusion. The mechanism of this effect remains uncertain, and prior studies suggest both indirect hemodynamic and direct cytoprotective effects. HSA is a potent antioxidant, in part because of its strong copper-binding capacity. Here we examined the effect of HSA on oxidant-induced neuronal death in a cortical cell culture system.

Methods— Murine cortical cultures were exposed to oxidative stress generated by hydrogen peroxide and by a mixture of copper plus ascorbic acid. We examined the ability of HSA and a tetrapeptide occupying its N-terminus (DAHK) to prevent neuronal death after these challenges.

Results— H₂O₂ and CuCl₂/ascorbic acid were used at concentrations that, in the absence of HSA, killed >90% of the neurons. HSA provided complete protection at a concentration of 37.5 µmol/L and 50% protection at 3.75 µmol/L. The copper-binding tetrapeptide DAHK had nearly identical potency and efficacy. HSA and DAHK were also equally effective in preventing neuronal death induced by CuCl₂/ascorbic acid.

Conclusions— HSA has potent antioxidant properties, probably due to binding of copper and other transition metals. HSA extravasation into ischemic brain may provide neuroprotection by limiting metal-catalyzed oxidant stress. The tetrapeptide DAHK may be an effective, small-molecular-weight alternative to HSA as a therapeutic agent for stroke.

Key Words: albumins • antioxidants • copper • ischemia • neurons