Factor XII protects neurons from apoptosis by epidermal and hepatocyte growth factor receptor-dependent mechanisms

Background Factor XII (FXII) is a serine protease that participates in the intrinsic coagulation pathway. Several studies have shown that plasma FXII exerts a deleterious role in cerebral ischemia and traumatic brain injury by promoting thrombo-inflammation. Nevertheless, the impact of FXII on neuronal cell fate remains unknown. Objectives We investigated the role of FXII and FXIIa in neuronal injury and apoptotic cell-death. Methods We tested the neuroprotective roles of FXII and FXIIa in an experimental model of neuronal injury induced by stereotaxic intracerebral injection of N-Methyl-D-Aspartic acid (NMDA) in vivo and in a model of apoptotic death of murine primary neuronal cultures through serum-deprivation in vitro. Results Here, we found that exogenous FXII and FXIIa reduce brain lesions induced by NMDA injection in vivo. Furthermore, FXII protects cultured neurons from apoptosis through a growth factor-like effect. This mechanism was triggered by direct interaction with epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and subsequent activation of this receptor. Interestingly, the "proteolytically" active and two-chain form of FXII, FXIIa, exerts its protective effects by an alternative signaling pathway. FXIIa activates the pro-form of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) into HGF, which in turn activated HGF receptor (HGFR) pathway. Conclusion This study describes two novel mechanisms of action of FXII and identifies neurons as target cells for the protective effects of single and two-chain forms of FXII. Therefore, inhibition of FXII in neurological disorders may have deleterious effects by preventing its beneficial effects on neuronal survival.