Modification of ubiquitin-C-terminal hydrolase-L1 by cyclopentenone prostaglandins exacerbates hypoxic injury

Abstract

Cyclopentenone prostaglandins (CyPGs), such as 15-deoxy-Δ 12,14 -prostaglandin J 2 (15d-PGJ 2), are active prostaglandin metabolites exerting a variety of biological effects that may be important in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases. Ubiquitin-C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) is a brain specific deubiquitinating enzyme whose aberrant function has been linked to neurodegenerative disorders. We report that [15d-PGJ 2] detected by quadrapole mass spectrometry (MS) increases in rat brain after temporary focal ischemia, and that treatment with 15d-PGJ 2 induces accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins and exacerbates cell death in normoxic and hypoxic primary neurons. 15d-PGJ 2 covalently modifies UCH-L1 and inhibits its hydrolase activity. Pharmacologic inhibition of UCH-L1 exacerbates hypoxic neuronal death while transduction with a TAT–UCH-L1 fusion protein protects neurons from hypoxia. These studies indicate that UCH-L1 function is important in hypoxic neuronal death and that excessive production of CyPGs after stroke may exacerbate ischemic injury by modification and inhibition of UCH-L1.