Interleukin-10 prevents the hypoxia-induced decreases in expressions of AMPA receptor subunit GluA1 and alpha subunit of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in hippocampal neurons.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) on the repeated brief hypoxia-induced changes in expressions of AMPA receptor subunit GluA1 and α- and β-subunit of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). The hypoxia-induced changes in the rat hippocampal slice CA1 neuronal activities were investigated by the method of field potentials recording. Subunit-specific antibodies staining of Western blots of hippocampal slice homogenates to characterize the receptor subunit GluA1 and α- and β-subunit of CaMKII were used. IL-10 (1ng/ml) abolished the development of posthypoxic hyperexcitability in the CA1 pyramidal neurons induced by repeated brief hypoxia. This neuroprotective effect of IL-10 was rapidly developed within 10min after hypoxic episodes and accompanied by reversions of the hypoxia-induced decreases in expressions of AMPA receptor subunit GluA1 and α-subunit of CaMKII. These findings provide some evidence about existence of the novel mechanism underlying the rapid neuroprotective effect of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 against hypoxia-induced neurological deteriorations.