LanCL1 attenuates ischemia-induced oxidative stress by Sirt3-mediated preservation of mitochondrial function

Lanthionine synthetase C-like protein 1 (LanCL1) is homologous to prokaryotic lanthionine cyclases, and has been shown to have novel functions in neuronal redox homeostasis. A recent study showed that LanCL1 expression was developmental and activity-dependent regulated, and LanCL1 transgene protected neurons against oxidative stress. In the present study, the potential protective effects of LanCL1 against ischemia was investigated in an in vitro model mimicked by oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in neuronal HT22 cells. We found that OGD exposure induced a temporal increase and persistent decreases in the expression of LanCL1 at both mRNA and protein levels. Overexpression of LanCL1 by lentivirus (LV-LanCL1) transfection preserved cell viability, reduced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and attenuated apoptosis after OGD. These protective effects were accompanied by decreased protein radical formation, lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, LanCL1 significantly stimulated mitochondrial enzyme activities and SOD2 deacetylation in a Sirt3-dependent manner. The results of western blot analysis showed that LanCL1-induced activation of Sirt3 was dependent on Akt-PGC-1α pathway. Knockdown of PGC-1α expression using small interfering RNA (siRNA) or blocking Akt activation using specific antagonist partially prevented the protective effects of LanCL1 in HT22 cells. Taken together, our results show that LanCL1 protects against OGD through activating the Akt-PGC-1α-Sirt3 pathway, and may have potential therapeutic value for ischemic stroke.