Stroke-induced subventricular zone proliferation is promoted by tumor necrosis factor-α-converting enzyme protease activity

Cerebral stroke induces proliferation of subventricular zone (SVZ) neural progenitor cells in adult rodent brain. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme (TACE) proteolysis sheds the nonamyloidogenic soluble ectodomain of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and is a convertase for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha). The resulting soluble peptides of APP and TNF alpha are mitogenic for neural progenitor cells of the SVZ. Therefore, we hypothesized a role for TACE proteolysis in stroke-induced neurogenesis. Using laser-capture microdissection, we found TACE transcription was increased in SVZ cells of ischemic brain. Immunohistochemistry revealed TACE protein was upregulated in SVZ neuroblasts. Intraventricular infusion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha protease inhibitor-2 (TAPI-2) decreased bromodeoxyuridine incorporation in SVZ cells of rats subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion. Furthermore, primary culture SVZ neurospheres from ischemic brain overexpress TACE and its substrates APP and TNF-alpha. These cells proliferated more rapidly, possessed increased TACE protease-dependent alpha-secretase activity, and released more soluble APP and TNF alpha compared with nonischemic control. In addition, TAPI-2 reduced SVZ neuroblast migration out of SVZ explants in vitro. These findings indicate TACE proteolysis as a promoter of stroke-induced SVZ progenitor cell neurogenesis, and suggest this protease activity may represent an attractive therapeutic target for stroke recovery.