Antihypoxic effects of neuroglobin in hypoxia-preconditioned mice and SH-SY5Y cells

This work aims at investigating the neuroprotective effects of neuroglobin (Ngb) in vivo and in vitro. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to examine Ngb mRNA and protein levels in the mouse cortex after acute and repeated exposure to hypoxia. The cDNAs of mouse Ngb were cloned and transfected into SH-SY5Y cells to examine Ngb function in vitro. Expression of Ngb and mRNA was upregulated in the cortex of mice preconditioned by repetitive exposure to hypoxia. Tolerance to hypoxia of Ngb-transformed SH-SY5Y cells was enhanced. These results suggest that Ngb might be involved in hypoxic preconditioning which protects neurons from hypoxic injury.