Protease nexin-1 and thrombin modulate neuronal Ca2+ homeostasis and sensitivity to glucose deprivation-induced injury

Protease nexin-I (PN-1) is a 44 kDa serine proteinase inhibitor that rapidly inhibits thrombin by forming SDS stable complexes with serine at the catalytic site of the protease. Levels of both PN-1 and thrombin are increased in the brain in response to insults such as ischemia, suggesting roles in neural injury and repair processes. We now report that PN-1-protected cultured rat hippocampal neurons against glucose deprivation- induced damage (GDID), and the protection was abolished by equimolar thrombin. PN-1 reduced resting intracellular free calcium levels ([Ca²⁺],) and attenuated the elevation of [Ca²⁺], normally associated with GDID. Thrombin reduced neuronal survival and caused a significant increase in [Ca²⁺],. Submaximally toxic levels of thrombin exacerbated GDID. Calcium responses to thrombin were attenuated in neurons contacting PN-1 immunoreactive astrocytes. These findings suggest that PN-1 and thrombin play important roles in modulating neuronal calcium responses, and vulnerability, to metabolic/excitotoxic insults.