DUSP10 alleviates ischemic stroke-induced neuronal damage by restricting p38/JNK pathway

Neuronal apoptosis is considered one of the hallmarks of ischemic stroke. Dual specificity phosphatase 10 (DUSP10), a member of the dual-specificity phosphatase family, which is involved in the regulation of apoptosis process. This study aimed to investigate the effect of on apoptosis in primary cortical neurons exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) and mice suffered from transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R). The results showed that DUSP10 overexpression improved survival and reduced apoptosis in neurons subjected to OGD/R, which was manifested by decreased apoptotic proteins (cleaved caspase 3 and bax) and TUNEL+ cells, as well as increased the anti-apoptotic protein (bcl-2). DUSP10 overexpression inhibited the p38/JNK signaling pathway after OGD/R treatment, whilst DUSP10 knockdown had opposite effects. In addition, the p38 inhibitor SB203580 or JNK inhibitor SP600125 attenuated the increased apoptosis of OGD/R-stimulated neurons treated with DUSP10 silencing. Consistently, DUSP10 knockdown exacerbated infarct volume in MCAO/R injury. The data of Nissl staining and TUNEL-NeuN double staining revealed that DUSP10 interference aggravated neuronal damage in the ischemic penumbra of mice. Furthermore, DUSP10 inhibition activated the p38/JNK axis accompanied by enhanced phosphorylation of p38 and JNK in vivo. In summary, DUSP10 is a neuroprotective agent against ischemic stroke-induced neuronal damage via suppressing the p38/JNK signaling pathway.