Abstract TP271: Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Differentially Regulates Its Receptor in the Brain and Immune System After Stroke

Objective: To identify how leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) regulates antioxidant neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory signaling through the expression and trafficking of its receptor (LIFR). Hypothesis: LIF treatment after stroke confers neuroprotection by increasing protein expression and membrane localization of LIFR in neural cells and splenocytes. Methods: Genomatix software was used to identify binding sites for the LIF-dependent transcription factors specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and myeloid zinc finger-1 (MZF-1) in the LIFR promoter. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion or sham surgery and injected with PBS or LIF (125 μg/kg) (n=8 per group) at 6, 24 and 48 h post-MCAO. Levels of LIFR, MZF-1, and Sp1 were measured using western blotting. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine localization of Sp1, LIF receptor, MZF-1, and superoxide dismutase 3, a LIF-inducible enzyme. Results: LIF (1.494 OD ± 0.161) significantly increased brain LIFR levels in ipsilateral tissue a...