Alterations of Akt1 (PKBα) and p70S6K in Transient Focal Ischemia

Abstract

The serine-threonine kinase Akt1 promotes cell survival through inhibition of apoptosis. One of the potential downstream targets of Akt1 is p70 S6 kinase, p70S6K, an enzyme implicated in the regulation of protein synthesis. In this study, we investigated the changes in total and phosphorylated levels of Akt1 and p70S6K during transient focal ischemia. Male Wistar rats were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 1, 4, and 24 h of reperfusion. The expression of total and phosphorylated forms of Akt1 and p70S6K were examined by Western blot analysis. Phosphorylation of Akt1 on Ser473 transiently increased at 1 and 4 h of reperfusion, whereas phosphorylation of Akt1 on Thr308 was reduced during reperfusion. The levels of total Akt1 remained unchanged at 1 and 4 h of reperfusion, but decreased significantly at 24 h of reperfusion. Phosphorylation of p70S6K on Thr389 decreased at 1, 4, and 24 h of reperfusion, while the levels of total p70S6K protein remained unchanged at 1 and 4 h of reperfusion but decreased at 24 h of reperfusion. The results show that cell survival pathways, such as Akt1 and p70S6K signaling, are suppressed after transient focal ischemia, which may contribute to the development of neuronal cell death after an ischemic insult.

Keywords

• Akt1 kinase
• middle cerebral artery occlusion
• p70 S6 kinase
• neuronal death
• apoptosis