Disruption of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) signaling is a key step in the development of cancer or neurodegeneration. For example, interference of the prosurvival IGF-I/AKT/ FOXO3 pathway by redox activation of the stress kinases p38 and JNK is instrumental in neuronal death by oxidative stress. However, in astrocytes, IGF-I retains its protective action against oxidative stress. The molecular mechanisms underlying this cell-specific protection remain obscure but may be relevant to unveil new ways to combat IGF-I/insulin resistance. Here, we describe that, in astrocytes exposed to oxidative stress by hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), p38 activation did not inhibit AKT (protein kinase B) activation by IGF-I, which is in contrast to our previous observations in neurons. Rather, stimulation of AKT by IGF-I was significantly higher and more sustained in astrocytes than in neurons either under normal or oxidative conditions. This may be explained by phosphorylation of the phosphatase PTEN at the plasma membrane in response to IGF-I, inducing its cytosolic translocation and preserving in this way AKT activity. Stimulation of AKT by IGF-I, mimicked also by a constitutively active AKT mutant, reduced oxidative stress levels and cell death in H 2 O 2 -exposed astrocytes, boosting their neuroprotective action in co-cultured neurons. These results indicate that armoring of AKT activation by IGF-I is crucial to preserve its cytoprotective effect in astrocytes and may form part of the brain defense mechanism against oxidative stress injury.
IGF-I2 is a pleiotropic growth factor with important prosurvival effects in neurons (1). One of the main downstream targets of IGF-I is the Ser/Thr kinase AKT (2), which mediates cell survival and proliferation (3). Upon its activation, the IGF-I receptor recruits and phosphorylates IRS docking proteins (4), which allows translocation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) to the plasma membrane where it catalyzes the formation of the lipid second messenger phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP 3 ) (5). AKT is recruited to the membrane by interaction with these messengers so that it can be fully activated by PDK1 and mTORC2 kinases (3,6). This pathway is switched off (to prevent uncontrolled proliferation) through activation of the lipid and protein phosphatase PTEN, which catalyzes PIP 3 dephosphorylation (4).Cell metabolism generates potentially harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS), which at moderate levels can act as second messengers (7). However, chronic and/or abrupt increases of ROS (uncontainable by detoxification through cellular defenses) generates oxidative stress, a pathological cellular condition that can interfere with redox-sensitive signaling pathways (7). Neurons are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress because of their low ROS detoxifying capacity (8).We previously described that oxidative stress interferes with the IGF-I/PI3K/AKT pathway by redox activation of p38 kinase to induce neuronal death (9). IGF-I signaling impairment by oxidative stress ha...