Objective-To determine the role of prostacyclin (PGI 2 ) in protecting endothelial cells (ECs) from apoptosis and elucidate the protective mechanism. Methods and Results-To evaluate the effect of PGI 2 on EC survival, we treated ECs with Ad-COX1/PGIS (Ad-COPI), which augmented selectively PGI 2 production or carbaprostacyclin (cPGI 2 ) followed by H 2 O 2 for 4 hours. Ad-COPI inhibited annexin V-positive cells and blocked caspase 3 activation. cPGI 2 inhibited apoptosis in a concentrationdependent manner. L-165041 had a similar effect, suggesting the involvement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-␦ (PPAR␦). ECs expressed functional PPAR␦. PPAR␦ overexpression enhanced whereas PPAR␦ knockdown by small interfering RNA abrogated the antiapoptotic action of cPGI 2 and L-165041. Our results show for the first time that PGI 2 stimulated 14-

Objective-Brain expresses abundant lipocalin-type prostaglandin (PG) D 2 (PGD 2 ) synthase but the role of PGD 2 and its metabolite, 15-deoxy-⌬ 12,14 PGJ 2 (15d-PGJ 2 ) in brain protection is unclear. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of 15d-PGJ 2 on neuroprotection. Methods and Results-Adenoviral transfer of cyclooxygenase-1 (Adv-COX-1) was used to amplify the production of 15d-PGJ 2 in ischemic cortex in a rat focal infarction model. Cortical 15d-PGJ 2 in Adv-COX-1-treated rats was increased by 3-fold over control, which was correlated with reduced infarct volume and activated caspase 3, and increased peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-␥ (PPAR␥) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Intraventricular infusion of 15d-PGJ 2 resulted in reduction of infarct volume, which was abrogated by a PPAR␥ inhibitor. Rosiglitazone infusion had a similar effect. 15d-PGJ 2 and rosiglitazone at low concentrations suppressed H 2 O 2 -induced rat or human neuronal apoptosis and necrosis and induced PPAR␥ and HO-1 expression. The anti-apoptotic effect was abrogated by PPAR␥ inhibition. Key Words: COX-1 Ⅲ 15d-PGJ 2 Ⅲ PPAR␥ Ⅲ apoptosis Ⅲ stroke P rostaglandin (PG) H synthase-1 (also known as cyclooxygenase-1 [COX-1]) is constitutively expressed in almost all mammalian cells. 1 It is a bifunctional enzyme with a cyclooxygenase activity that converts arachidonic acid to PG G 2 (PGG 2 ) and a peroxidase activity that converts PGG 2 to PGH 2 . 2 PGH 2 is converted to diverse prostanoids by specific enzymes. COX-1 plays an important role in maintaining physiological homeostasis and protecting brain tissues from ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. COX-1 deleted mice are highly susceptible to ischemic brain infarction, 3 whereas COX-1 overexpression protects brain from I/R damage, which is abrogated by a selective COX-1 inhibitor. 4 COX-1 overexpression in ischemic brain augments the production of PGI 2 , PGD 2 , and PGE 2 , and suppresses leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4 ) and LTC 4 . As LTB 4 and LTC 4 have been shown to be detrimental to brain tissue, whereas PGI 2 is protective, 5-7 COX-1 overexpression tilts the eicosanoid balance toward tissue protection. PGD 2 is elevated in COX-1 overexpressed brain tissues but its role in brain I/R injury is unclear. Brain is enriched in lipocalin-type PGD synthase (L-PGDS), which catalyzes the formation of abundant PGD 2 . 8 The role of PGD 2 in I/R brain injury is unclear. As 15-deoxy-⌬ 12,14 ; PGJ 2 (15d-PGJ 2 ), a nonenzymatic product of PGD 2 , was shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties through activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-␥ (PPAR␥), 9 -13 PGD 2 has been implicated in tissue protection. However, it has recently been argued that the tissue 15d-PGJ 2 level is too low to elicit an anti-inflammatory action in vivo, especially in vascular tissues. 14 In view of abundant expression of L-PGDS and PGD 2 in brain, we postulated that 15d-PGJ 2 contributes to cerebral protection. Our experimental findings show a considerable amount of 15d-PGJ 2 in ischemia brain, which...

Background Thiazolidinediones (TZD) were reported to protect against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Their protective actions are considered to be PPAR-γ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ)-dependent. However, it is unclear how PPAR-γ activation confers resistance to I/R. Methods and Results We evaluated the effects of rosiglitazone or PPAR-γ overexpression on cerebral infarction in a rat model and investigated the anti-apoptotic actions in N2-A neuroblastoma cell model. Rosiglitazone or PPAR-γ overexpression significantly reduced infarct volume. The protective effect was abrogated by PPAR-γ siRNA. In mice with knockin of a PPAR-γ domain negative mutant, infarct volume was enhanced. Proteomic analysis reveals that brain 14-3-3ε was highly upregulated in rats treated with rosiglitazone. 14-3-3ε upregulation was abrogated by PPAR-γ siRNA or antagonist. Promoter analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation reveal that rosiglitazone induced PPAR-γ binding to specific regulatory elements on 14-3-3ε promoter and thereby increased 14-3-3ε transcription. 14-3-3ε siRNA abrogated the anti-apoptotic actions of rosiglitazone or PPAR-γ overexpression while 14-3-3ε recombinant proteins rescued brain tissues and N2-A cells from ischemia-induced damage and apoptosis. Elevated 14-3-3ε enhanced binding of phosphorylated Bad, and protected mitochondrial membrane potential. Conclusions Ligand-activated PPAR-γ confers resistance to neuronal apoptosis and cerebral infarction by driving 14-3-3ε transcription. 14-3-3ε upregulation enhances sequestration of phosphorylated Bad and thereby suppresses apoptosis.