Astrogliosis in CNS pathologies: is there a role for microglia?

Understanding HIV compartments and reservoirs

The spectrum of HIV-1 cellular reservoirs is highly diversified, and their role varies according to the milieu of the anatomical sites in which the virus replicates. In this light, mechanisms underlying HIV-1 persistence in anatomical compartments may be profoundly different from what is observed in peripheral blood. This scenario is further complicated by sub-optimal drug penetration in tissues allowing persistent and cryptic HIV-1 replication in body districts despite undetectable viremia. On this basis, this review aims at providing recent insights regarding the critical role of HIV-1 cellular reservoirs in different anatomical compartments, and their relationship with the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection. A comprehensive definition of the complex interplay between the virus and its reservoir is critical in order to set up prophylactic and therapeutic strategies aimed at achieving the maximal virological suppression and hopefully in the near future the cure of HIV-1 infection (either functional or biological).

Neuroprotection for traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Despite extensive preclinical research supporting the effectiveness of neuroprotective therapies for brain trauma, there have been no successful randomized controlled clinical trials to date. TBI results in delayed secondary tissue injury due to neurochemical, metabolic and cellular changes; modulating such effects has provided the basis for neuroprotective interventions. To establish more effective neuroprotective treatments for TBI it is essential to better understand the complex cellular and molecular events that contribute to secondary injury. Here we critically review relevant research related to causes and modulation of delayed tissue damage, with particular emphasis on cell death mechanisms and post-traumatic neuroinflammation. We discuss the concept of utilizing multipotential drugs that target multiple secondary injury pathways, rather than more specific "laser"-targeted strategies that have uniformly failed in clinical trials. Moreover, we assess data supporting use of neuroprotective drugs that are currently being evaluated in human clinical trials for TBI, as well as promising emerging experimental multipotential drug treatment strategies. Finally, we describe key challenges and provide suggestions to improve the likelihood of successful clinical translation.

Neuroprotective role of liver growth factor "LGF" in an experimental model of cerebellar ataxia

Cerebellar ataxias (CA) comprise a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by a lack of motor coordination. They are caused by disturbances in the cerebellum and its associated circuitries, so the major therapeutic goal is to correct cerebellar dysfunction. Neurotrophic factors enhance the survival and differentiation of selected types of neurons. Liver growth factor (LGF) is a hepatic mitogen that shows biological activity in neuroregenerative therapies. We investigate the potential therapeutic activity of LGF in the 3-acetylpiridine (3-AP) rat model of CA. This model of CA consists in the lesion of the inferior olive-induced by 3-AP (40 mg/kg). Ataxic rats were treated with 5 µg/rat LGF or vehicle during 3 weeks, analyzing: (a) motor coordination by using the rota-rod test; and (b) the immunohistochemical and biochemical evolution of several parameters related with the olivo-cerebellar function. Motor coordination improved in 3-AP-lesioned rats that received LGF treatment. LGF up-regulated NeuN and Bcl-2 protein levels in the brainstem, and increased calbindin expression and the number of neurons receiving calbindin-positive projections in the cerebellum. LGF also reduced extracellular glutamate and GABA concentrations and microglia activation in the cerebellum. In view of these results, we propose LGF as a potential therapeutic agent in cerebellar ataxias.

Hot water extract of wheat bran attenuates white matter injury in a rat model of vascular dementia

Vascular dementia is characterized by white matter lesions involving the demyelination and activation of astrocytes and microglia. In a previous study, we showed that the supernatant of a laboratory-scale, hot water extract of ground whole wheat (TALE) attenuated white matter injury and astrocytic activation in a rat model of bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO). In the present study, we made several modifications to the hot water extraction process to remove starch and enable large-scale production. We used wheat bran (WB), which contains less starch, instead of ground whole wheat. In addition, we removed starch granules with a decanter before hot water extraction. The final product, wheat bran extract (WBE), contained 2.42% arabinose, a surrogate marker of arabinoxylan, which is an active constituent of WBE. Supplementation of the rat model of BCCAO with WBE (400 mg/kg/day) for 33 days attenuated white matter injury, which was assessed by Luxol Fast Blue staining, in the corpus callosum (cc) and optic tract (opt) regions. Attenuation of white matter injury in the opt region was accompanied by improvement of the pupillary light reflex. Immunochemical staining revealed that supplementation with WBE reduced astrocytic activation in the cc and opt regions and reduced microglial activation in the opt region. These findings indicate that supplementation with WBE is effective at attenuating white matter injury accompanied by the inhibition of astrocytic and microglial activation. Therefore, extracts from WB, a cheap by-product of wheat milling, can be developed as a nutraceutical to prevent vascular dementia, a disease for which there is no approved pharmaceutical treatment.

Nestin expression and glial response in the hippocampus of mice after trimethyltin treatment

Nestin is a protein of embryonic intermediate filaments expressed by multipotent neural stem cells. In the present study, the nestin expression pattern in the mouse hippocampus 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 days after treatment with trimethyltin (TMT) was examined to explore the possible role played by nestin in chemically induced hippocampal injury. TMT treatment (2.5mg/kg, intraperitoneally) selectively injured the dentate gyrus (DG) of the mouse hippocampus. The level of hippocampal mRNA encoding nestin increased significantly 2 and 3 days post-treatment and thereafter decreased (at 4 and 8 days post-treatment). The level of nestin protein significantly increased 2 - 4 days post-treatment, particularly in the injured region of the DG, and predominantly in glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes in the hippocampal DG. Ki67-positive proliferating cells were increased following TMT treatment and co-localized with nestin-positive reactive astrocytes. Thus, we suggest that nestin contributes to remodeling of the chemically injured DG via glial scar formation and the alteration of neurogenesis.

Stem cell therapy for central nerve system injuries: glial cells hold the key

Mammalian adult central nerve system (CNS) injuries are devastating because of the intrinsic difficulties for effective neuronal regeneration. The greatest problem to be overcome for CNS recovery is the poor regeneration of neurons and myelin-forming cells, oligodendrocytes. Endogenous neural progenitors and transplanted exogenous neuronal stem cells can be the source for neuronal regeneration. However, because of the harsh local microenvironment, they usually have very low efficacy for functional neural regeneration which cannot compensate for the loss of neurons and oligodendrocytes. Glial cells (including astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes and NG2 glia) are the majority of cells in CNS that provide support and protection for neurons. Inside the local microenvironment, glial cells largely influence local and transplanted neural stem cells survival and fates. This review critically analyzes current finding of the roles of glial cells in CNS regeneration, and highlights strategies for regulating glial cells’ behavior to create a permissive microenvironment for neuronal stem cells.

Microglia P2Y₆ receptors mediate nitric oxide release and astrocyte apoptosis

Background

During cerebral inflammation uracil nucleotides leak to the extracellular medium and activate glial pyrimidine receptors contributing to the development of a reactive phenotype. Chronically activated microglia acquire an anti-inflammatory phenotype that favors neuronal differentiation, but the impact of these microglia on astrogliosis is unknown. We investigated the contribution of pyrimidine receptors to microglia-astrocyte signaling in a chronic model of inflammation and its impact on astrogliosis.

Methods

Co-cultures of astrocytes and microglia were chronically treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and incubated with uracil nucleotides for 48 h. The effect of nucleotides was evaluated in methyl-[³H]-thymidine incorporation. Western blot and immunofluorescence was performed to detect the expression of P2Y₆ receptors and the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Nitric oxide (NO) release was quantified through Griess reaction. Cell death was also investigated by the LDH assay and by the TUNEL assay or Hoechst 33258 staining.

Results

UTP, UDP (0.001 to 1 mM) or PSB 0474 (0.01 to 10 μM) inhibited cell proliferation up to 43 ± 2% (n = 10, P <0.05), an effect prevented by the selective P2Y₆ receptor antagonist MRS 2578 (1 μM). UTP was rapidly metabolized into UDP, which had a longer half-life. The inhibitory effect of UDP (1 mM) was abolished by phospholipase C (PLC), protein kinase C (PKC) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors. Both UDP (1 mM) and PSB 0474 (10 μM) increased NO release up to 199 ± 20% (n = 4, P <0.05), an effect dependent on P2Y₆ receptors-PLC-PKC pathway activation, indicating that this pathway mediates NO release. Western blot and immunocytochemistry analysis indicated that P2Y₆ receptors were expressed in the cultures being mainly localized in microglia. Moreover, the expression of iNOS was mainly observed in microglia and was upregulated by UDP (1 mM) or PSB 0474 (10 μM). UDP-mediated NO release induced apoptosis in astrocytes, but not in microglia.

Conclusions

In LPS treated co-cultures of astrocytes and microglia, UTP is rapidly converted into UDP, which activates P2Y₆ receptors inducing the release of NO by microglia that causes astrocyte apoptosis, thus controlling their rate of proliferation and preventing an excessive astrogliosis.

Pathological potential of astroglial purinergic receptors

Acute brain injury and neurodegenerative disorders may result in astroglial activation. Astrocytes are able to determine the progression and outcome of these neuropathologies in a beneficial or detrimental way. Nucleotides, e.g. adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), released after acute or chronic neuronal injury, are important mediators of glial activation and astrogliosis.Acute injury may cause significant changes in ATP balance, resulting in (1) a decline of intracellular ATP levels and (2) an increase in extracellular ATP concentrations via efflux from the intracellular space. The released ATP may have trophic effects, but can also act as a proinflammatory mediator or cytotoxic factor, inducing necrosis/apoptosis as a universal "danger" signal. Furthermore, ATP, primarily released from astrocytes, is a means of communication between neurons, glial cells, and intracerebral blood vessels.Astrocytes express a heterogeneous battery of purinergic ionotropic and metabotropic receptors (P2XRs and P2YRs, respectively) to respond to extracellular nucleotides.In this chapter, we summarize the contemporary knowledge on the pathological potential of P2Rs in relation to changes of astrocytic functions, determined by distinct molecular signaling cascades, in a variety of diseases. We discuss specific aspects of reactive astrogliosis, with respect to the involvement of prominent receptor subtypes, such as the P2X7 and P2Y1/2Rs. Examples of purinergic signaling of microglia, oligodendrocytes, and blood vessels under pathophysiological conditions will also be presented.The understanding of the pathological potential of purinergic signaling in "controlling and fine-tuning" of astrocytic responses is important for identifying possible therapeutic principles to treat acute and chronic central nervous system diseases.

Microglial regulation of immunological and neuroprotective functions of astroglia

Microglia and astroglia play critical roles in the development, function, and survival of neurons in the CNS. However, under inflammatory conditions the role of astrogliosis in the inflammatory process and its effects on neurons remains unclear. Here, we used several types of cell cultures treated with the bacterial inflammogen LPS to address these questions. We found that the presence of astroglia reduced inflammation-driven neurotoxicity, suggesting that astrogliosis is principally neuroprotective. Neutralization of supernatant glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) released from astroglia significantly reduced this neuroprotective effect during inflammation. To determine the immunological role of astroglia, we optimized a highly-enriched astroglial culture protocol and demonstrated that LPS failed to induce the synthesis and release of TNF-α and iNOS/NO. Instead we found significant enhancement of TNF-α and iNOS expression in highly-enriched astroglial cultures required the presence of 0.5-1% microglia, respectively. Thus suggesting that microglial-astroglial interactions are required for LPS to induce the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and GDNF from astroglia. Specifically, we found that microglia-derived TNF-α plays a pivotal role as a paracrine signal to regulate the neuroprotective functions of astrogliosis. Taken together, these findings suggest that astroglia may not possess the ability to directly recognize the innate immune stimuli LPS, but rather depend on crosstalk with microglia to elicit release of neurotrophic factors as a counterbalance to support neuronal survival from the collateral damage generated by activated microglia during neuroinflammation.

The ubiquitin proteasome system in glia and its role in neurodegenerative diseases

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) is crucial for intracellular protein homeostasis and for degradation of aberrant and damaged proteins. The accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease, leading to the hypothesis that proteasomal impairment is contributing to these diseases. So far, most research related to the UPS in neurodegenerative diseases has been focused on neurons, while glial cells have been largely disregarded in this respect. However, glial cells are essential for proper neuronal function and adopt a reactive phenotype in neurodegenerative diseases, thereby contributing to an inflammatory response. This process is called reactive gliosis, which in turn affects UPS function in glial cells. In many neurodegenerative diseases, mostly neurons show accumulation and aggregation of ubiquitinated proteins, suggesting that glial cells may be better equipped to maintain proper protein homeostasis. During an inflammatory reaction, the immunoproteasome is induced in glia, which may contribute to a more efficient degradation of disease-related proteins. Here we review the role of the UPS in glial cells in various neurodegenerative diseases, and we discuss how studying glial cell function might provide essential information in unraveling mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases.

A20 deficiency causes spontaneous neuroinflammation in mice

Background

A20 (TNFAIP3) is a pleiotropic NFκB-dependent gene that terminates NFκB activation in response to inflammatory stimuli. The potent anti-inflammatory properties of A20 are well characterized in several organs. However, little is known about its role in the brain. In this study, we investigated the brain phenotype of A20 heterozygous (HT) and knockout (KO) mice.

Methods

The inflammatory status of A20 wild type (WT), HT and KO brain was determined by immunostaining, quantitative PCR, and Western blot analysis. Cytokines secretion was evaluated by ELISA. Quantitative results were statistically analyzed by ANOVA followed by a post-hoc test.

Results

Total loss of A20 caused remarkable reactive microgliosis and astrogliosis, as determined by F4/80 and GFAP immunostaining. Glial activation correlated with significantly higher mRNA and protein levels of the pro-inflammatory molecules TNF, IL-6, and MCP-1 in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of A20 KO, as compared to WT. Basal and TNF/LPS-induced cytokine production was significantly higher in A20 deficient mouse primary astrocytes and in a mouse microglia cell line. Brain endothelium of A20 KO mice demonstrated baseline activation as shown by increased vascular immunostaining for ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and mRNA levels of E-selectin. In addition, total loss of A20 increased basal brain oxidative/nitrosative stress, as indicated by higher iNOS and NADPH oxidase subunit gp91^phox levels, correlating with increased protein nitration, gauged by nitrotyrosine immunostaining. Notably, we also observed lower neurofilaments immunostaining in A20 KO brains, suggesting higher susceptibility to axonal injury. Importantly, A20 HT brains showed an intermediate phenotype, exhibiting considerable, albeit not statistically significant, increase in markers of basal inflammation when compared to WT.

Conclusions

This is the first characterization of spontaneous neuroinflammation caused by total or partial loss of A20, suggesting its key role in maintenance of nervous tissue homeostasis, particularly control of inflammation. Remarkably, mere partial loss of A20 was sufficient to cause chronic, spontaneous low-grade cerebral inflammation, which could sensitize these animals to neurodegenerative diseases. These findings carry strong clinical relevance in that they question implication of identified A20 SNPs that lower A20 expression/function (phenocopying A20 HT mice) in the pathophysiology of neuroinflammatory diseases.

Lack of presence of the human cytomegalovirus in human glioblastoma

Recent reports have indicated human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) to be associated with human glioblastoma carcinogenesis. In established examples of viral carcinogenesis, viral DNA and one or more of its products have been detected in most tumor cells of biopsies in the majority of cases. To test whether HCMV is associated with human glioblastoma based on this criterion, we measured the number of viral DNA molecules per cell in both frozen and paraffin-embedded tumor biopsies from 58 patients using real-time quantitative PCR (QPCR). Immunohistochemical and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to detect HCMV proteins and genome was performed in 10 cases using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded glioblastoma tissues. Southern blotting using DNA extracted from four glioblastoma cell lines together with immunoblotting using the four cell lines and five glioblastoma tissue samples were also performed. We further confirmed the immunoblot bands using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay. As a result, HCMV DNA was not detected in the tumor cells from any of the glioblastoma cases by QPCR detecting two different HCMV genes, in clear contrast to samples from patients with HCMV infection. Southern blotting and immunoblotting of cell lines and FISH using paraffin sections were all negative. However, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry using tissue samples were partly positive, but HCMV proteins were not detected by proteomic analysis, suggesting false positivity of the analyses. As our QPCR analysis could detect 10 copies of HCMV DNA mixed with DNA extracted from 10(4) HCMV-negative cells, we conclude that HCMV is not persistent, at least in the tumor cells, of developed human glioblastoma.

Astrocytes, but not microglia, are activated in oxaliplatin and bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy in the rat

Spinal microglia are widely recognized as activated by and contributing to the generation and maintenance of inflammatory and nerve injury related chronic pain; whereas the role of spinal astrocytes has received much less attention, despite being the first glial cells identified as activated following peripheral nerve injury. Recently it was suggested that microglia do not appear to play a significant role in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), but in contrast astrocytes appear to have a key role. In spite of the generalizability of astrocyte recruitment across chemotherapy drugs, its correlation to the onset of the behavioral CIPN phenotype has not been determined. The astroglial and microglial markers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and OX-42 were imaged here to examine glial reactivity in multiple models of CIPN over time and to contrast this response to that produced in the spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model. Microglia were strongly activated following SNL, but not activated at any of the time points observed following chemotherapy treatments. Astrocytes were activated following both oxaliplatin and bortezomib treatment in a manner that paralleled chemotherapy-evoked behavioral changes. Both the behavioral phenotype and activation of astrocytes were prevented by co-administration of minocycline hydrochloride in both CIPN models, suggesting a common mechanism.

Is brain gliosis a characteristic of chronic methamphetamine use in the human?

Animal data show that high doses of the stimulant drug methamphetamine can damage brain dopamine neurones; however, it is still uncertain whether methamphetamine, at any dose, is neurotoxic to human brain. Since gliosis is typically associated with brain damage and is observed in animal models of methamphetamine exposure, we measured protein levels (intact protein and fragments, if any) of markers of microgliosis (glucose transporter-5, human leukocyte antigens HLA-DRα [TAL.1B5] and HLA-DR/DQ/DPβ [CR3/43]) and astrogliosis (glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin, and heat shock protein-27) in homogenates of autopsied brain of chronic methamphetamine users (n=20) and matched controls (n=23). Intact protein levels of all markers were, as expected, elevated (+28%-1270%, P<0.05) in putamen of patients with the neurodegenerative disorder multiple system atrophy (as a positive control) as were concentrations of fragments of glial fibrillary acidic protein, vimentin and heat shock protein-27 (+170%-4700%, P<0.005). In contrast, intact protein concentrations of the markers were normal in dopamine-rich striatum (caudate, putamen) and in the frontal cortex of the drug users. However, striatal levels of cleaved vimentin and heat shock protein-27 were increased (by 98%-211%, P<0.05), with positive correlations (r=0.41-0.60) observed between concentrations of truncated heat shock protein-27 and extent of dopamine loss (P=0.006) and levels of lipid peroxidation products 4-hydroxynonenal (P=0.046) and malondialdehyde (P=0.11). Our failure to detect increased intact protein levels of commonly used markers of microgliosis and astrogliosis could be explained by exposure to methamphetamine insufficient to cause a toxic process associated with overt gliosis; however, about half of the subjects had died of drug intoxication suggesting that "high" drug doses might have been used. Alternatively, drug tolerance to toxic effects might have occurred in the subjects, who were all chronic methamphetamine users. Nevertheless, the finding of above-normal levels of striatal vimentin and heat shock protein-27 fragments (which constituted 10-28% of the intact protein), for which changes in the latter correlated with those of several markers possibly suggestive of damage, does suggest that some astrocytic "disturbance" had occurred, which might in principle be related to methamphetamine neurotoxicity or to a neuroplastic remodeling process. Taken together, our neurochemical findings do not provide strong evidence for either marked microgliosis or astrogliosis in at least a subgroup of human recreational methamphetamine users who used the drug chronically and shortly before death. However, a logistically more difficult quantitative histopathological study is needed to confirm whether glial changes occur or do not occur in brain of human methamphetamine (and amphetamine) users.

Reversal of established traumatic brain injury-induced, anxiety-like behavior in rats after delayed, post-injury neuroimmune suppression

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety disorders. Yet, there are presently no therapeutic interventions to prevent the development of post-traumatic anxiety or effective treatments once it has developed. This is because, in large part, of a lack of understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. Recent research suggests that chronic neuroinflammatory responses to injury may play a role in the development of post-traumatic anxiety in rodent models. Acute peri-injury administration of immunosuppressive compounds, such as Ibudilast (MN166), have been shown to prevent reactive gliosis associated with immune responses to injury and also prevent lateral fluid percussion injury (LFPI)-induced anxiety-like behavior in rats. There is evidence in both human and rodent studies that post-traumatic anxiety, once developed, is a chronic, persistent, and drug-refractory condition. In the present study, we sought to determine whether neuroinflammation is associated with the long-term maintenance of post-traumatic anxiety. We examined the efficacy of an anti-inflammatory treatment in decreasing anxiety-like behavior and reactive gliosis when introduced at 1 month after injury. Delayed treatment substantially reduced established LFPI-induced freezing behavior and reactive gliosis in brain regions associated with anxiety and continued neuroprotective effects were evidenced 6 months post-treatment. These results support the conclusion that neuroinflammation may be involved in the development and maintenance of anxiety-like behaviors after TBI.

Primary cultured astrocytes from old rats are capable to activate the Nrf2 response against MPP+ toxicity after tBHQ pretreatment

Astrocytes are key players for brain physiology, protecting neurons by releasing antioxidant enzymes; however, they are also susceptible to damage by neurotoxins. Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2) is a central regulator of the antioxidant response, and therefore, pharmacologic inducers are often used to activate this transcription factor to induce cellular protection. To date, it still remains unknown if cells from aged animals are capable of developing this response. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to determine if cortical astrocytes derived from old rats are able to respond to tertbuthyl-hydroquinene (tBHQ) pretreatment and stimulate the Nrf2-antioxidant response pathway to induce an antioxidant strategy against MPP+ toxicity, one of the most used molecules to model Parkinson's disease. Our results show that, although astrocytes from adult and old rats were more susceptible to MPP+ toxicity than astrocytes from newborn rats, when pretreated with tertbuthyl-hydroquinene, they were able to transactivate Nrf2, increasing antioxidant enzymes and developing cellular protection. These results are discussed in terms of the doses used to create protective responses.

The neglected co-star in the dementia drama: the putative roles of astrocytes in the pathogeneses of major neurocognitive disorders

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia are the major causes of cognitive disorders worldwide. They are characterized by cognitive impairments along with neuropsychiatric symptoms, and that their pathogeneses show overlapping multifactorial mechanisms. Although AD has long been considered the most common cause of dementia, individuals afflicted with AD commonly exhibit cerebral vascular abnormalities. The concept of mixed dementia has emerged to more clearly identify patients with neurodegenerative phenomena exhibiting both AD and cerebral vascular pathologies-vascular damage along with β-amyloid (Aβ)-associated neurotoxicity and τ-hyperphosphorylation. Cognitive impairment has long been commonly explained through a 'neuro-centric' perspective, but emerging evidence has shed light over the important roles that neurovascular unit dysfunction could have in neuronal death. Moreover, accumulating data have been demonstrating astrocytes being the essential cell type in maintaining proper central nervous system functioning. In relation to dementia, the roles of astrocytes in Aβ deposition and clearance are unclear. This article emphasizes the multiple events triggered by ischemia and the cytotoxicity exerted by Aβ either alone or in association with endothelin-1 and receptor for advanced glycation end products, thereby leading to neurodegeneration in an 'astroglio-centric' perspective.

Neural stem cell transplantation in an animal model of traumatic brain injury

The central nervous system (CNS) can be damaged by a wide range of conditions resulting in loss of specific populations of neurons and/or glial cells and in the development of defined psychiatric or neurological symptoms of varying severity. As the CNS has limited inherent capacity to regenerate lost tissue and self-repair, the development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of CNS insults remains a serious scientific challenge with potential important clinical applications. In this context, strategies involving transplantation of specific cell populations, such as stem cells and neural stem cells (NSCs), to replace damaged cells offers an opportunity for the development of cell-based therapies. Along these lines, in this review we describe a protocol which involves transplantation of NPCs, genetically engineered to overexpress the neurogenic molecule Cend1 and have thus the potency to differentiate with higher frequency towards the neuronal lineage in a rodent model of stab wound cortical injury.

Caspase 3 involves in neuroplasticity, microglial activation and neurogenesis in the mice hippocampus after intracerebral injection of kainic acid

BACKGROUND

The roles of caspase 3 on the kainic acid-mediated neurodegeneration, dendritic plasticity alteration, neurogenesis, microglial activation and gliosis are not fully understood. Here, we investigate hippocampal changes using a mouse model that receive a single kainic acid-intracerebral ventricle injection. The effects of caspase 3 inhibition on these changes were detected during a period of 1 to 7 days post kainic acid injection.

RESULT

Neurodegeneration was assessed by Fluoro-Jade B staining and neuronal nuclei protein (NeuN) immunostaining. Neurogenesis, gliosis, neuritic plasticity alteration and caspase 3 activation were examined using immunohistochemistry. Dendritic plasticity, cleavvage-dependent activation of calcineurin A and glial fibrillary acidic protein cleavage were analyzed by immunoblotting. We found that kainic acid not only induced neurodegeneration but also arouse several caspase 3-mediated molecular and cellular changes including dendritic plasticity, neurogenesis, and gliosis. The acute caspase 3 activation occurred in pyramidal neurons as well as in hilar interneurons. The delayed caspase 3 activation occurred in astrocytes. The co-injection of caspase 3 inhibitor did not rescue kainic acid-mediated neurodegeneration but seriously and reversibly disturb the structural integrity of axon and dendrite. The kainic acid-induced events include microglia activation, the proliferation of radial glial cells, neurogenesis, and calcineurin A cleavage were significantly inhibited by the co-injection of caspase 3 inhibitor, suggesting the direct involvement of caspase 3 in these events. Alternatively, the kainic acid-mediated astrogliosis is not caspase 3-dependent, although caspase 3 cleavage of glial fibrillary acidic protein occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide the first direct evidence of a causal role of caspase 3 activation in the cellular changes during kainic acid-mediated excitotoxicity. These findings may highlight novel pharmacological strategies to arrest disease progression and control seizures that are refractory to classical anticonvulsant treatment.

Antidepressants reduce neuroinflammatory responses and astroglial alpha-synuclein accumulation in a transgenic mouse model of multiple system atrophy

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the pathological accumulation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) within oligodendroglial cells. This accumulation is accompanied by neuroinflammation with astrogliosis and microgliosis, that leads to neuronal death and subsequent parkinsonism and dysautonomia. Antidepressants have been explored as neuroprotective agents as they normalize neurotrophic factor levels, increase neurogenesis and reduce neurodegeneration, but their anti-inflammatory properties have not been fully characterized. We analyzed the anti-inflammatory profiles of three different antidepressants (fluoxetine, olanzapine and amitriptyline) in the MBP1-hα-syn transgenic (tg) mouse model of MSA. We observed that antidepressant treatment decreased the number of α-syn-positive cells in the basal ganglia of 11-month-old tg animals. This reduction was accompanied with a similar decrease in the colocalization of α-syn with astrocyte markers in this brain structure. Consistent with these results, antidepressants reduced astrogliosis in the hippocampus and basal ganglia of the MBP1-hα-syn tg mice, and modulated the expression levels of key cytokines that were dysregulated in the tg mouse model, such as IL-1β. In vitro experiments in the astroglial cell line C6 confirmed that antidepressants inhibited NF-κB translocation to the nucleus and reduced IL-1β protein levels. We conclude that the anti-inflammatory properties of antidepressants in the MBP1-hα-syn tg mouse model of MSA might be related to their ability to inhibit α-syn propagation from oligodendrocytes to astroglia and to regulate transcription factors involved in cytokine expression. Our results suggest that antidepressants might be of interest as anti-inflammatory and α-syn-reducing agents for MSA and other α-synucleinopathies.

Development of NMDAR antagonists with reduced neurotoxic side effects: a study on GK11

The NMDAR glutamate receptor subtype mediates various vital physiological neuronal functions. However, its excessive activation contributes to neuronal damage in a large variety of acute and chronic neurological disorders. NMDAR antagonists thus represent promising therapeutic tools that can counteract NMDARs' overactivation. Channel blockers are of special interest since they are use-dependent, thus being more potent at continuously activated NMDARs, as may be the case in pathological conditions. Nevertheless, it has been established that NMDAR antagonists, such as MK801, also have unacceptable neurotoxic effects. Presently only Memantine is considered a safe NMDAR antagonist and is used clinically. It has recently been speculated that antagonists that preferentially target extrasynaptic NMDARs would be less toxic. We previously demonstrated that the phencyclidine derivative GK11 preferentially inhibits extrasynaptic NMDARs. We thus anticipated that this compound would be safer than other known NMDAR antagonists. In this study we used whole-genome profiling of the rat cingulate cortex, a brain area that is particularly sensitive to NMDAR antagonists, to compare the potential adverse effects of GK11 and MK801. Our results showed that in contrast to GK11, the transcriptional profile of MK801 is characterized by a significant upregulation of inflammatory and stress-response genes, consistent with its high neurotoxicity. In addition, behavioural and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed marked inflammatory reactions (including astrogliosis and microglial activation) in MK801-treated, but not GK11-treated rats. Interestingly, we also showed that GK11 elicited less inflammation and neuronal damage, even when compared to Memantine, which like GK11, preferentially inhibits extrasynaptic NMDAR. As a whole, our study suggests that GK11 may be a more attractive therapeutic alternative in the treatment of CNS disorders characterized by the overactivation of glutamate receptors.

Role of astrocytes in major neurological disorders: the evidence and implications

Given the huge amount and great complexity of astrocyte functions in the maintenance of brain homeostasis, it is easily understood how alterations in their physiology may be involved in the pathogenesis of many, if not all, neurological disorders. This assumption is strongly supported by accumulated evidence produced in humans and in experimental models of pathology. Based on these considerations, it is reasonable to encourage studies aimed at improving the knowledge about the implicated mechanisms, and astroglial cells can be considered as the innovative target for new, and possibly more effective, drug therapies.

Proteome of brain glia: the molecular basis of diverse glial phenotypes

Several different types of nonneuronal glial cells with diverse phenotypes are present in the CNS, and all have distinct indispensible functions. Although glial cells primarily provide neurons with metabolic and structural support in the healthy brain, they may switch phenotype from a "resting" to a "reactive" state in response to pathological insults. Furthermore, this reactive gliosis is an invariant feature of the pathogeneses of CNS maladies. The glial proteome serves as a signature of glial phenotype, and not only executes physiological functions, but also acts as a molecular mediator of the reactive glial phenotype. The glial proteome is also involved in intra- and intercellular communications as exemplified by glia-glia and neuron-glia interactions. The utilization of authoritative proteomic tools and the bioinformatic analyses have helped to profile the brain glial proteome and explore the molecular mechanisms of diverse glial phenotypes. Furthermore, technologic innovations have equipped the field of "glioproteomics" with refined tools for studies of the expression, interaction, and function of glial proteins in the healthy and in the diseased CNS. Glioproteomics is expected to contribute to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of CNS pathophysiology and to the discovery of biomarkers and theragnostic targets in CNS disorders.

Astrocytes acquire resistance to iron-dependent oxidative stress upon proinflammatory activation

Background

Astrocytes respond to local insults within the brain and the spinal cord with important changes in their phenotype. This process, overall known as “activation”, is observed upon proinflammatory stimulation and leads astrocytes to acquire either a detrimental phenotype, thereby contributing to the neurodegenerative process, or a protective phenotype, thus supporting neuronal survival. Within the mechanisms responsible for inflammatory neurodegeneration, oxidative stress plays a major role and has recently been recognized to be heavily influenced by changes in cytosolic iron levels. In this work, we investigated how activation affects the competence of astrocytes to handle iron overload and the ensuing oxidative stress.

Methods

Cultures of pure cortical astrocytes were preincubated with proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor α) or conditioned medium from lipopolysaccharide-activated microglia to promote activation and then exposed to a protocol of iron overload.

Results

We demonstrate that activated astrocytes display an efficient protection against iron-mediated oxidative stress and cell death. Based on this evidence, we performed a comprehensive biochemical and molecular analysis, including a transcriptomic approach, to identify the molecular basis of this resistance.

Conclusions

We propose the protective phenotype acquired after activation not to involve the most common astrocytic antioxidant pathway, based on the Nrf2 transcription factor, but to result from a complex change in the expression and activity of several genes involved in the control of cellular redox state.

Astrocyte loss and astrogliosis in neuroinflammatory disorders

Neuroinflammation can lead to either damage of astrocytes or astrogliosis. Astrocyte loss may be caused by cytotoxic T cells as seen in Rasmussen encephalitis, auto-antibodies such as in neuromyelitis optica (aquaporin-4 antibodies), or cytokines such as TNF-α in major depressive disorder. Interleukins-1 and -6 appear to be important molecular mediators of astrogliosis. Chronic focal lesions in multiple sclerosis are characterized by a very dense astrogliosis. Other mechanisms, such as astrocytic β2 adrenergic receptor deficiency, upregulation of endothelin-1 and tissue transglutaminase, may contribute to astroglial scarring in multiple sclerosis.

Mild traumatic brain injury results in depressed cerebral glucose uptake: An (18)FDG PET study

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in humans and rats induces measurable metabolic changes, including a sustained depression in cerebral glucose uptake. However, the effect of a mild TBI on brain glucose uptake is unclear, particularly in rodent models. This study aimed to determine the glucose uptake pattern in the brain after a mild lateral fluid percussion (LFP) TBI. Briefly, adult male rats were subjected to a mild LFP and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)FDG), which was performed prior to injury and at 3 and 24 h and 5, 9, and 16 days post-injury. Locomotor function was assessed prior to injury and at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after injury using modified beam walk tasks to confirm injury severity. Histology was performed at either 10 or 21 days post-injury. Analysis of function revealed a transient impairment in locomotor ability, which corresponds to a mild TBI. Using reference region normalization, PET imaging revealed that mild LFP-induced TBI depresses glucose uptake in both the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres in comparison with sham-injured and naïve controls from 3 h to 5 days post-injury. Further, areas of depressed glucose uptake were associated with regions of glial activation and axonal damage, but no measurable change in neuronal loss or gross tissue damage was observed. In conclusion, we show that mild TBI, which is characterized by transient impairments in function, axonal damage, and glial activation, results in an observable depression in overall brain glucose uptake using (18)FDG-PET.

In vivo molecular markers for pro-inflammatory cytokine M1 stage and resident microglia in trimethyltin-induced hippocampal injury

Microglia polarization to the classical M1 activation state is characterized by elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines; however, a full profile has not been generated in the early stages of a sterile inflammatory response recruiting only resident microglia. We characterized the initial M1 state in a hippocampal injury model dependent upon tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor signaling for dentate granule cell death. Twenty-one-day-old CD1 male mice were injected with trimethyltin (TMT 2.3 mg/kg, i.p.) and the hippocampus was examined at an early stage (24-h post-dosing) of neuronal death. Glia activation was assessed using a custom quantitative nuclease protection assay. We report elevated mRNA levels for glia response such as ionizing calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (Gfap); Fas, hypoxia inducible factor alpha, complement component 1qb, TNF-related genes (Tnf, Tnfaip3, Tnfrsfla); interleukin-1 alpha, Cd44, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (Ccl)2, Cc14, integrin alpha M, lipocalin (Lcn2), and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (Spp1). These changes occurred in the absence of changes in matrix metalloproteinase 9 and 12, neural cell adhesion molecule, metabotropic glutamate receptor (Grm)3, and Ly6/neurotoxin 1 (Lynx1), as well as, a decrease in neurotrophin 3, glutamate receptor subunit epsilon (Grin)-2b, and neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor, type 3. The M2 anti-inflammatory marker, transforming growth factor beta-1 (Tgfb1) was elevated. mRNAs associated with early stage of injury-induced neurogenesis including fibroblast growth factor 21 and Mki67 were elevated. In the "non-injured" temporal cortex receiving projections from the hippocampus, Lynx1, Grm3, and Grin2b were decreased and Gfap increased. Formalin fixed-paraffin-embedded tissue did not generate a comparable profile.

P2X7 receptors regulate engulfing activity of non-stimulated resting astrocytes

We previously demonstrated that P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) expressed by cultured mouse astrocytes were activated without any exogenous stimuli, but its roles in non-stimulated resting astrocytes remained unknown. It has been reported that astrocytes exhibit engulfing activity, and that the basal activity of P2X7Rs regulates the phagocytic activity of macrophages. In this study, therefore, we investigated whether P2X7Rs regulate the engulfing activity of mouse astrocytes. Uptake of non-opsonized beads by resting astrocytes derived from ddY-mouse cortex time-dependently increased, and the uptaken beads were detected in the intracellular space. The bead uptake was inhibited by cytochalasin D (CytD), an F-actin polymerization inhibitor, and agonists and antagonists of P2X7Rs apparently decreased the uptake. Spontaneous YO-PRO-1 uptake by ddY-mouse astrocytes was reduced by the agonists and antagonists of P2X7Rs, but not by CytD. Down-regulation of P2X7Rs using siRNA decreased the bead uptake by ddY-mouse astrocytes. In addition, compared to in the case of ddY-mouse astrocytes, SJL-mouse astrocytes exhibited higher YO-PRO-1 uptake activity, and their bead uptake was significantly greater. These findings suggest that resting astrocytes exhibit engulfing activity and that the activity is regulated, at least in part, by their P2X7Rs.

Adhesion to carbon nanotube conductive scaffolds forces action-potential appearance in immature rat spinal neurons

In the last decade, carbon nanotube growth substrates have been used to investigate neurons and neuronal networks formation in vitro when guided by artificial nano-scaled cues. Besides, nanotube-based interfaces are being developed, such as prosthesis for monitoring brain activity. We recently described how carbon nanotube substrates alter the electrophysiological and synaptic responses of hippocampal neurons in culture. This observation highlighted the exceptional ability of this material in interfering with nerve tissue growth. Here we test the hypothesis that carbon nanotube scaffolds promote the development of immature neurons isolated from the neonatal rat spinal cord, and maintained in vitro. To address this issue we performed electrophysiological studies associated to gene expression analysis. Our results indicate that spinal neurons plated on electro-conductive carbon nanotubes show a facilitated development. Spinal neurons anticipate the expression of functional markers of maturation, such as the generation of voltage dependent currents or action potentials. These changes are accompanied by a selective modulation of gene expression, involving neuronal and non-neuronal components. Our microarray experiments suggest that carbon nanotube platforms trigger reparative activities involving microglia, in the absence of reactive gliosis. Hence, future tissue scaffolds blended with conductive nanotubes may be exploited to promote cell differentiation and reparative pathways in neural regeneration strategies.

Interleukin-1β promotes long-term potentiation in patients with multiple sclerosis

The immune system shapes synaptic transmission and plasticity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). These synaptic adaptations are believed to drive recovery of function after brain lesions, and also learning and memory deficits and excitotoxic neurodegeneration; whether inflammation influences synaptic plasticity in MS patients is less clear. In a cohort of 59 patients with MS, we found that continuous theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation did not induce the expected long-term depression (LTD)-like synaptic phenomenon, but caused persisting enhancement of brain cortical excitability. The amplitude of this long-term potentiation (LTP)-like synaptic phenomenon correlated with the concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the cerebrospinal fluid. In MS and EAE, the brain and spinal cord are typically enriched of CD3(+) T lymphocyte infiltrates, which are, along with activated microglia and astroglia, a major cause of inflammation. Here, we found a correlation between the presence of infiltrating T lymphocytes in the hippocampus of EAE mice and synaptic plasticity alterations. We observed that T lymphocytes from EAE, but not from control mice, release IL-1β and promote LTP appearance over LTD, thereby mimicking the facilitated LTP induction observed in the cortex of MS patients. EAE-specific T lymphocytes were able to suppress GABAergic transmission in an IL-1β-dependent manner, providing a possible synaptic mechanism able to lower the threshold of LTP induction in MS brains. Moreover, in vivo blockade of IL-1β signaling resulted in inflammation and synaptopathy recovery in EAE hippocampus. These data provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of MS.

Interactions between blood-borne Streptococcus pneumoniae and the blood-brain barrier preceding meningitis

Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is a Gram-positive bacterium and the predominant cause of bacterial meningitis. Meningitis is thought to occur as the result of pneumococci crossing the blood-brain barrier to invade the Central Nervous System (CNS); yet little is known about the steps preceding immediate disease development. To study the interactions between pneumococci and the vascular endothelium of the blood-brain barrier prior to meningitis we used an established bacteremia-derived meningitis model in combination with immunofluorescent imaging. Brain tissue of mice infected with S. pneumoniae strain TIGR4, a clinical meningitis isolate, was investigated for the location of the bacteria in relation to the brain vasculature in various compartments. We observed that S. pneumoniae adhered preferentially to the subarachnoid vessels, and subsequently, over time, reached the more internal cerebral areas including the cerebral cortex, septum, and choroid plexus. Interestingly, pneumococci were not detected in the choroid plexus till 8 hours-post infection. In contrast to the lungs, little to no leukocyte recruitment to the brain was observed over time, though Iba-1 and GFAP staining showed that microglia and astrocytes were activated as soon as 1 hour post-infection. Our results imply that i) the local immune system of the brain is activated immediately upon entry of bacteria into the bloodstream and that ii) adhesion to the blood brain barrier is spatiotemporally controlled at different sites throughout the brain. These results provide new information on these two important steps towards the development of pneumococcal meningitis.

Reciprocal modulation between microglia and astrocyte in reactive gliosis following the CNS injury

Reactive gliosis, also known as glial scar formation, is an inflammatory response characterized by the proliferation of microglia and astrocytes as well as astrocytic hypertrophy following injury in the central nervous system (CNS). The glial scar forms a physical and molecular barrier to isolate the injured area from adjacent normal nervous tissue for re-establishing the integrity of the CNS. It prevents the further spread of cellular damage but represents an obstacle to regrowing axons. In this review, we integrated the current findings to elucidate the tightly reciprocal modulation between activated microglia and astrocytes in reactive gliosis and proposed that modification of cellular response to the injury or cellular reprogramming in the glial scar could lead advances in axon regeneration and functional recovery after the CNS injury.

Determining the threshold for alcohol-induced brain damage: new evidence with gliosis markers

BACKGROUND

Chronic intake of ethanol (EtOH) has been linked to serious health consequences such as cardiac and liver problems, cognitive impairments, and brain damage. Alcohol's detrimental effects depend upon the dose, duration, and pattern of exposure with binge drinking as one of the most common, but most damaging, patterns of intake. Little is known about the threshold of the damaging effects of alcohol. Therefore, these experiments sought to determine a threshold for brain damage using various markers of neurodegeneration.

METHODS

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered nutritionally complete liquid diet containing either EtOH (25% w/v) or isocaloric dextrose every 8 hours for either 1 (mean dose, 13.4 ± 0.3 g/kg/d; mean blood EtOH concentration (BEC), 336.2 ± 18.8 mg/dl) or 2 days (mean dose, 10.9 ± 0.3 g/kg/d; mean BEC, 369.8 ± 18.1 mg/dl). On the basis of a known time course of various neurodegeneration-associated events, rats were perfused transcardially immediately following, 2 days after, or 7 days post EtOH exposure. To label actively dividing cells, some animals were injected with BromodeoxyUridine (BrdU) 2 hours prior to perfusion. Tissue was then analyzed for the presence of BrdU (cell proliferation), FluoroJade B (degenerative neurons), and vimentin (reactive astrogliosis) immunoreactivity.

RESULTS

One or 2 days of EtOH exposure failed to alter cell proliferation at any of the time points analyzed. However, significant 2- to 9-fold increases in neuronal degeneration in limbic cortex and clear evidence of reactive gliosis as indicated by a 2- to 8-fold upregulation in vimentin immunoreactivity in the hippocampus were observed following as little as 1 day of binge EtOH exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that as little as 1 day (24 hours) of high BEC, binge-like EtOH exposure is enough to elicit signs of alcohol-induced brain damage in adult rats. Further, reactive gliosis may be a more sensitive marker of alcohol-induced damage in the hippocampus.

Controlled activity of mouse astrocytes on electrospun PCL nanofiber containing polysaccharides from brown seaweed

The central nervous system (CNS), once injured, rarely recovers original function mainly due to its limited regeneration ability. Astrocytes are cells that play critical roles in neural regeneration. Several biomaterials have been studied to replace and regenerate lost tissues within injured CNS. Seaweeds have extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) with bioactive properties such as antiviral and antioxidant properties. In this study, astrocyte activity was assessed, after being cultured on an electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous mat containing a brown seaweed EPS. Laminarin and fucoidan, two main components of EPS extract from the brown seaweed, were concluded to increase or decrease astrocyte activity with respect to their concentration. When the concentration was under 10 μg/ml, the astrocytes tended to increase their viability. In contrast, over 10 μg/ml EPS in media suppressed the viability of astrocytes. In addition, when contained in PCL nanofiber, the EPS extract was also proven to influence astrocyte activity in the same way as the case when astrocytes were exposed to EPS in solution. This implies that the brown seaweed EPS-PCL nanofiber mat can be used for temporal control of astrocyte activity by EPS concentration. Through this research, we propose that the electrospun EPS-PCL nanofiber could be used as a nanomedicine or scaffold to treat CNS injuries.

Neuroinflammation after traumatic brain injury: opportunities for therapeutic intervention

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide, yet despite extensive efforts to develop neuroprotective therapies for this devastating disorder there have been no successful outcomes in human clinical trials to date. Following the primary mechanical insult TBI results in delayed secondary injury events due to neurochemical, metabolic and cellular changes that account for many of the neurological deficits observed after TBI. The development of secondary injury represents a window of opportunity for therapeutic intervention to prevent progressive tissue damage and loss of function after injury. To establish effective neuroprotective treatments for TBI it is essential to fully understand the complex cellular and molecular events that contribute to secondary injury. Neuroinflammation is well established as a key secondary injury mechanism after TBI, and it has been long considered to contribute to the damage sustained following brain injury. However, experimental and clinical research indicates that neuroinflammation after TBI can have both detrimental and beneficial effects, and these likely differ in the acute and delayed phases after injury. The key to developing future anti-inflammatory based neuroprotective treatments for TBI is to minimize the detrimental and neurotoxic effects of neuroinflammation while promoting the beneficial and neurotrophic effects, thereby creating optimal conditions for regeneration and repair after injury. This review outlines how post-traumatic neuroinflammation contributes to secondary injury after TBI, and discusses the complex and varied responses of the primary innate immune cells of the brain, microglia, to injury. In addition, emerging experimental anti-inflammatory and multipotential drug treatment strategies for TBI are discussed, as well as some of the challenges faced by the research community to translate promising neuroprotective drug treatments to the clinic.

Effects of intravenous administration of human umbilical cord blood stem cells in 3-acetylpyridine-lesioned rats

Cerebellar ataxias include a heterogeneous group of infrequent diseases characterized by lack of motor coordination caused by disturbances in the cerebellum and its associated circuits. Current therapies are based on the use of drugs that correct some of the molecular processes involved in their pathogenesis. Although these treatments yielded promising results, there is not yet an effective therapy for these diseases. Cell replacement strategies using human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (HuUCBMCs) have emerged as a promising approach for restoration of function in neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this work was to investigate the potential therapeutic activity of HuUCBMCs in the 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP) rat model of cerebellar ataxia. Intravenous administered HuUCBMCs reached the cerebellum and brain stem of 3-AP ataxic rats. Grafted cells reduced 3-AP-induced neuronal loss promoted the activation of microglia in the brain stem, and prevented the overexpression of GFAP elicited by 3-AP in the cerebellum. In addition, HuUCBMCs upregulated the expression of proteins that are critical for cell survival, such as phospho-Akt and Bcl-2, in the cerebellum and brain stem of 3-AP ataxic rats. As all these effects were accompanied by a temporal but significant improvement in motor coordination, HuUCBMCs grafts can be considered as an effective cell replacement therapy for cerebellar disorders.

Poor cerebral inflammatory response in eIF2B knock-in mice: implications for the aetiology of vanishing white matter disease

Background

Mutations in any of the five subunits of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B) can lead to an inherited chronic-progressive fatal brain disease of unknown aetiology termed leucoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter (VWM). VWM is one of the most prevalent childhood white matter disorders, which markedly deteriorates after inflammation or exposure to other stressors. eIF2B is a major housekeeping complex that governs the rate of global protein synthesis under normal and stress conditions. A previous study demonstrated that Eif2b5^R132H/R132H mice suffer delayed white matter development and fail to recover from cuprizone-induced demyelination, although eIF2B enzymatic activity in the mutant brain is reduced by merely 20%.

Principal Findings

Poor astrogliosis was observed in Eif2b5^R132H/R132H mice brain in response to systemic stress induced by peripheral injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Even with normal rates of protein synthesis under normal conditions, primary astrocytes and microglia isolated from mutant brains fail to adequately synthesise and secrete cytokines in response to LPS treatment despite proper induction of cytokine mRNAs.

Conclusions

The mild reduction in eIF2B activity prevents the appropriate increase in translation rates upon exposure to the inflammatory stressor LPS. The data underscore the importance of fully-functional translation machinery for efficient cerebral inflammatory response upon insults. It highlights the magnitude of proficient translation rates in restoration of brain homeostasis via microglia-astrocyte crosstalk. This study is the first to suggest the involvement of microglia in the pathology of VWM disease. Importantly, it rationalises the deterioration of clinical symptoms upon exposure of VWM patients to physiological stressors and provides possible explanation for their high phenotypic variability.

Different expression patterns of Phactr family members in normal and injured mouse brain

Phosphatase and actin regulators (Phactrs) are a novel family of proteins expressed in the brain, and they exhibit both strong modulatory activity of protein phosphatase 1 and actin-binding activity. Phactrs are comprised of four family members (Phactr1-4), but their detailed expression patterns during embryonic and postnatal development are not well understood. We found that these family members exhibit different spatiotemporal mRNA expression patterns. Phactr4 mRNA was found in neural stem cells in the developing and adult brains, whereas Phactr1 and 3 appeared to be expressed in post-mitotic neurons. Following traumatic brain injury which promotes neurogenesis in the neurogenic region and gliogenesis in the injury penumbra, the mRNA expression of phactr2 and 4 was progressively increased in the injury penumbra, and phactr4 mRNA and protein induction was observed in reactive astrocytes. These differential expression patterns of phactrs imply specific functions for each protein during development, and the importance of Phactr4 in the reactive gliosis following brain injury.

Acute neuroimmune modulation attenuates the development of anxiety-like freezing behavior in an animal model of traumatic brain injury

Chronic anxiety is a common and debilitating result of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in humans. While little is known about the neural mechanisms of this disorder, inflammation resulting from activation of the brain's immune response to insult has been implicated in both human post-traumatic anxiety and in recently developed animal models. In this study, we used a lateral fluid percussion injury (LFPI) model of TBI in the rat and examined freezing behavior as a measure of post-traumatic anxiety. We found that LFPI produced anxiety-like freezing behavior accompanied by increased reactive gliosis (reflecting neuroimmune inflammatory responses) in key brain structures associated with anxiety: the amygdala, insula, and hippocampus. Acute peri-injury administration of ibudilast (MN166), a glial cell activation inhibitor, suppressed both reactive gliosis and freezing behavior, and continued neuroprotective effects were apparent several months post-injury. These results support the conclusion that inflammation produced by neuroimmune responses to TBI play a role in post-traumatic anxiety, and that acute suppression of injury-induced glial cell activation may have promise for the prevention of post-traumatic anxiety in humans.