CEPO (carbamylated erythropoietin)-Fc protects hippocampal cells in culture against beta amyloid-induced apoptosis: considering Akt/GSK-3β and ERK signaling pathways.

The tissue-protective properties of erythropoietin (EPO) have been described in several neurodegenerative diseases models, but erythrocytosis following EPO treatment may lead to deleterious effects. Carbamylated erythropoietin, an EPO derivative lacking hematopoietic side effects, has shown protective properties in some studies. However, it is not known if CEPO protects primary hippocampal cells against Aβ toxicity. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of CEPO-Fc on biochemical alterations in Akt, GSK-3β, and ERK signaling and cell death induced by Aβ in isolated hippocampal cell culture. The embryonic hippocampal cells were obtained from 18-19 day rat embryos. The cells were exposed with Aβ (20 µM) in the absence or presence of CEPO-Fc (1 or 5 IU) and PI3k and ERK inhibitors. CEPO-Fc at the dose of 5 IU significantly prevented the cell loss and caspase-3 cleavage caused by Aβ. Additionally, CEPO-Fc noticeably reversed Aβ mediated decrement of Akt and GSK-3β phosphorylation. With exposure to LY294002, PI3 kinase inhibitor, Akt phosphorylation diminished and CEPO-Fc protective effects disappeared. Furthermore, while CEPO-Fc nullified Aβ-induced increment of phospho-ERK, inhibition of ERK activity by PD98059, had no effect on Aβ-mediated caspase-3 cleavage and cell toxicity. These results imply that protective effects of CEPO-Fc seem to be mainly exerted through the PI3K/Akt pathway rather than ERK signaling. This study suggested that CEPO-Fc prevents Aβ-induced cell toxicity as well as Akt/GSK-3β and ERK alterations in isolated hippocampal cells. These findings might provide a new perspective on CEPO-Fc protective properties as a prospective remedial factor for neurodegenerative diseases like AD.