Loss of mitochondrial membrane integrity and release of apoptogenic factors are a key step in the signaling cascade leading to neuronal cell death in various neurological disorders, including ischemic injury. Emerging evidence has suggested that the intramitochondrial protein apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) translocates to the nucleus and promotes caspase-independent cell death induced by glutamate toxicity, oxidative stress, hypoxia, or ischemia. However, the mechanism by which AIF is released from mitochondria after neuronal injury is not fully understood. In this study, we identified calpain I as a direct activator of AIF release in neuronal cultures challenged with oxygen-glucose deprivation and in the rat model of transient global ischemia. Normally residing in both neuronal cytosol and mitochondrial intermembrane space, calpain I was found to be activated in neurons after ischemia and to cleave intramitochondrial AIF near its N terminus. The truncation of AIF by calpain activity appeared to be essential for its translocation from mitochondria to the nucleus, because neuronal transfection of the mutant AIF resistant to calpain cleavage was not released after oxygen-glucose deprivation. Adeno-associated virus-mediated overexpression of calpastatin, a specific calpain-inhibitory protein, or small interfering RNAmediated knockdown of calpain I expression in neurons prevented ischemia-induced AIF translocation. Moreover, overexpression of calpastatin or knockdown of AIF expression conferred neuroprotection against cell death in neuronal cultures and in hippocampal CA1 neurons after transient global ischemia. Together, these results define calpain I-dependent AIF release as a novel signaling pathway that mediates neuronal cell death after cerebral ischemia.

Background and Purpose-Neuronal replacement has recently gained attention as a potential therapeutic target under ischemic conditions. However, the oligodendrogenic infrastructure is equally critical for restoration of brain function and is also sensitive to ischemic injury. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a neuroprotective molecule that stimulates neuronal replacement after neonatal hypoxia/ischemia (H/I) when delivered soon after the onset of reperfusion. Because EPO can improve recovery of neurological function in the absence of tissue protection, we hypothesize that EPO may improve neurological function via enhancement of white matter recovery after H/I. Thus, we sought to determine the effects of delayed administration of EPO on white matter injury and recovery of neurological function after neonatal H/I. Methods-EPO (1000 U/kg) was injected intraperitoneally at multiple time points beginning 48 hours after H/I in postnatal day 7 rats. The effects of EPO on oligodendrogenesis, white matter injury, and neurogenesis were evaluated using bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and cell-specific immunohistochemistry. Neurological function was assessed by sensorimotor behavioral tests. Results-Delayed administration of EPO was incapable of reducing brain volume loss but significantly increased oligodendrogenesis and maturation of oligodendrocytes and attenuated white matter injury after H/I. These effects occurred concurrently with enhanced neurogenesis. Delayed EPO treatment improved behavioral neurological outcomes 14 days after H/I injury. Conclusions-Our study demonstrates that delayed administration of EPO promotes oligodendrogenesis and attenuates white matter injury concurrently with increased neurogenesis. These effects likely contribute to the observed improvement in neurological functional outcomes.

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