Celecoxib-Dependent Neuroprotection in a Rat Model of Transient Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion (tMCAO) Involves Modifications in Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) and Proteasome

Stroke is one of the main causes of death and disability worldwide. Ischemic stroke results in unfolded/misfolded protein accumulation in endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a condition known as ER stress. We hypothesized that previously reported neuroprotection of celecoxib, a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2, in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model, relies on the ER stress decrease. To probe this hypothesis, Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 1 h of tMCAO and treated with celecoxib or vehicle 1 and 24 h after ischemia. Protein and mRNA levels of the main hallmarks of ER stress, unfolded protein response (UPR) activation, UPR-induced cell death, and ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy, the main protein degradation pathways, were measured at 12 and 48 h of reperfusion. Celecoxib treatment decreased polyubiquitinated protein load and ER stress marker expression such as glucose-related protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein) homologous protein (CHOP), and caspase 12 after 48 h of reperfusion. Regarding the UPR activation, celecoxib promoted inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) pathway instead of double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase-like ER kinase (PERK) pathway. Furthermore, celecoxib treatment increased proteasome catalytic subunits transcript levels and decreased p62 protein levels, while the microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3B) II/I ratio remained unchanged. Thus, the ability of celecoxib treatment on reducing the ER stress correlates with the enhancement of IRE1-UPR pathway and UPS degradation. These data support the ability of anti-inflammatory therapy in modulating ER stress and reveal the IRE1 pathway as a promising therapeutic target in stroke therapy. Graphical abstract

Automated summary

The study suggests that Celecoxib may exert neuroprotection by reducing ER stress, enhancing the IRE1-UPR pathway and UPS degradation, providing a potential new therapeutic target for stroke treatment.