Abstract P747: Gpr68 Play a Protective Role in Ischemic Stroke in Mice

Introduction: Acidosis is one prevalent phenomenon in ischemic stroke. The literature has shown that protons directly gate acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) and proton-activated chloride channel, both lead to neuronal injury However, it is unclear whether protons activate metabotropic pathways in brain neurons. There are four proton-sensitive G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs): GPR4, GPR65, GPR68 and GPR132. It remains unknown whether any of these GPCRs mediate acid-induced signals in brain neurons or whether they contribute to ischemia-induced brain injury. Methods: Total RNA from human cortical tissue or mouse brain was isolated using TRIzol and an RNase Kit. Standard RT-PCR was performed to determine the expression of these GPCRs in the brain. An in vitro slice injury model was used for functional screening. To determine the effect of ischemia, WT and knockout male mice were subjected to MCAO. To study brain injury, brains were sectioned coronally at 1 mm intervals and stained by vital dye immersion: (2%) 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium hydrochloride (TTC). Locomotor analysis and corner test were used to assess behavior outcome. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) -mediated gene delivery was used to determine the outcome of GPR68 overexpression. Results: RT-PCR showed that brain tissue expressed GPR4, -65, and -68. The expression of GPR68 was evident at 30 cycles. In organotypic slices, compared to the WT, deleting GPR4 or GPR65 had no effect while deleting GPR68 significantly increased acidosis-induced neuronal injury. At both 24 hour and 72 hour after 45 minutes MCAO, GPR68 deletion increased brain injury (p=0.0020 for 24hour, p=0.0392 for 72hour, Mann-Whitney U test). WT and GPR68-/- mice did not differ in baseline locomotor activities or corner test. On the third day following MCAO, GPR68-/- exhibited significantly more left rotations (p=0.0287, Mann-Whitney U test) than WT animals. Lastly, mice receiving AAV-GPR68 exhibited an average infarct of 21.97 ± 12.4%, significantly (p = 0.0022, Mann-Whitney U test) smaller than those receiving AAV-GFP (37.2 ± 6.8%). Conclusion: These data showed that GPR68 functions as a neuroprotective proton receptor in the brain.