Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) protects cortical neurons in vitro from oxidant injury by activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and induction of Bcl-2

► Exogenous PEDF induces a dose-dependent increase in Bcl-2 and neuronal survival. ► Blocking Bcl-2 with siRNA reduces PEDF- induced increases in neuronal survival. ► PEDF pretreatment mitigates H 2O 2 effects on viability, Bcl-2 and caspase 3. ► Inhibition of ERK reduces ability of PEDF to protect neurons from H 2O 2. ► PEDF may be useful in preserving viability of oxidatively challenged neurons. Mitigating oxidative stress-induced damage is critical to preserve neuronal function in diseased or injured brains. This study explores the mechanisms contributing to the neuroprotective effects of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) in cortical neurons. Cultured primary neurons are exposed to PEDF and H 2O 2 as well as inhibitors of phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) or extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Neuronal survival, cell death and levels of caspase 3, PEDF, phosphorylated ERK1/2, and Bcl-2 are measured. The data show cortical cultures release PEDF and that H 2O 2 treatment causes cell death, increases activated caspase 3 levels and decreases release of PEDF. Exogenous PEDF induces a dose-dependent increase in Bcl-2 expression and neuronal survival. Blocking Bcl-2 expression by siRNA reduced PEDF-induced increases in neuronal survival. Treating cortical cultures with PEDF 24 h before H 2O 2 exposure mitigates oxidant-induced decreases in neuronal survival, Bcl-2 expression, and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and also reduces elevated caspase 3 level and activity. PEDF pretreatment effect on survival is blocked by inhibiting ERK or PI3K. However, only inhibition of ERK reduced the ability of PEDF to protect neurons from H 2O 2-induced Bcl-2 decrease and neuronal death. These data demonstrate PEDF-mediated neuroprotection against oxidant injury is largely mediated via ERK1/2 and Bcl-2 and suggest the utility of PEDF in preserving the viability of oxidatively challenged neurons.