Chemokines and their receptors in intracerebral hemorrhage

Neuron-Derived Exosomes Promote the Recovery of Spinal Cord Injury by Modulating Nerve Cells in the Cellular Microenvironment of the Lesion Area

During spinal cord injury (SCI), the homeostasis of the cellular microenvironment in the injured area is seriously disrupted, which makes it extremely difficult for injured neurons with regenerative ability to repair, emphasizing the importance of restoring the cellular microenvironment at the injury site. Neurons interact closely with other nerve cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and regulate these cells. However, the specific mechanisms by which neurons modulate the cellular microenvironment remain unclear. Exosomes were isolated from the primary neurons, and their effects on astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), neurons, and neural stem cells were investigated by quantifying the expression of related proteins and mRNA. A mouse SCI model was established, and neuron-derived exosomes were injected into the mice by the caudal vein to observe the recovery of motor function in mice and the changes in the nerve cells in the lesion area. Neuron-derived exosomes could reverse the activation of microglia and astrocytes and promote the maturation of OPCs in vivo and in vitro. In addition, neuron-derived exosomes promoted neurite outgrowth of neurons and the differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons. Moreover, our experiments showed that neuron-derived exosomes enhanced motor function recovery and nerve regeneration in mice with SCI. Our findings highlight that neuron-derived exosomes could promote the repair of the injured spinal cord by regulating the cellular microenvironment of neurons and could be a promising treatment for spinal cord injury.

The roles of chemokines following intracerebral hemorrhage in animal models and humans

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one common yet devastating stroke subtype, imposing considerable burdens on families and society. Current guidelines are limited to symptomatic treatments after ICH, and the death rate remains significant in the acute stage. Thus, it is crucial to promote research to develop new targets on brain injury after ICH. In response to hematoma formation, amounts of chemokines are released in the brain, triggering the infiltration of resident immune cells in the brain and the chemotaxis of peripheral immune cells via the broken blood-brain barrier. During the past decades, mounting studies have focused on the roles of chemokines and their receptors in ICH injury. This review summarizes the latest advances in the study of chemokine functions in the ICH. First, we provide an overview of ICH epidemiology and underlying injury mechanisms in the pathogenesis of ICH. Second, we introduce the biology of chemokines and their receptors in brief. Third, we outline the roles of chemokines in ICH according to subgroups, including CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CCL12, CCL17, CXCL8, CXCL12, and CX3CL1. Finally, we summarize current drug usage targeting chemokines in ICH and other cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. This review discusses the expressions of these chemokines and receptors under normal or hemorrhagic conditions and cell-specific sources. Above all, we highlight the related data of these chemokines in the progression and outcomes of the ICH disease in preclinical and clinical studies and point to therapeutic opportunities targeting chemokines productions and interactions in treating ICH, such as accelerating hematoma absorption and alleviating brain edema.

Brain edema formation and therapy after intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) accounts for about 10% of all strokes in the United States of America causing a high degree of disability and mortality. There is initial (primary) brain injury due to the mechanical disruption caused by the hematoma. There is then secondary injury, triggered by the initial injury but also the release of various clot-derived factors (e.g., thrombin and hemoglobin). ICH alters brain fluid homeostasis. Apart from the initial hematoma mass, ICH causes blood-brain barrier disruption and parenchymal cell swelling, which result in brain edema and intracranial hypertension affecting patient prognosis. Reducing brain edema is a critical part of post-ICH care. However, there are limited effective treatment methods for reducing perihematomal cerebral edema and intracranial pressure in ICH. This review discusses the mechanisms underlying perihematomal brain edema formation, the effects of sex and age, as well as how edema is resolved. It examines progress in pharmacotherapy, particularly focusing on drugs which have been or are currently being investigated in clinical trials.

MyD88-TLR4-dependent choroid plexus activation precedes perilesional inflammation and secondary brain edema in a mouse model of intracerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

The functional neurological outcome of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) strongly relates to the degree of secondary brain injury (ICH-SBI) evolving within days after the initial bleeding. Different mechanisms including the incitement of inflammatory pathways, dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), activation of resident microglia, and an influx of blood-borne immune cells, have been hypothesized to contribute to ICH-SBI. Yet, the spatiotemporal interplay of specific inflammatory processes within different brain compartments has not been sufficiently characterized, limiting potential therapeutic interventions to prevent and treat ICH-SBI.

METHODS

We used a whole-blood injection model in mice, to systematically characterized the spatial and temporal dynamics of inflammatory processes after ICH using 7-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), spatial RNA sequencing (spRNAseq), functional BBB assessment, and immunofluorescence average-intensity-mapping.

RESULTS

We identified a pronounced early response of the choroid plexus (CP) peaking at 12-24 h that was characterized by inflammatory cytokine expression, epithelial and endothelial expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules, and the accumulation of leukocytes. In contrast, we observed a delayed secondary reaction pattern at the injection site (striatum) peaking at 96 h, defined by gene expression corresponding to perilesional leukocyte infiltration and correlating to the delayed signal alteration seen on MRI. Pathway analysis revealed a dependence of the early inflammatory reaction in the CP on toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling via myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88). TLR4 and MyD88 knockout mice corroborated this observation, lacking the early upregulation of adhesion molecules and leukocyte infiltration within the CP 24 h after whole-blood injection.

CONCLUSIONS

We report a biphasic brain reaction pattern after ICH with a MyD88-TLR4-dependent early inflammatory response of the CP, preceding inflammation, edema and leukocyte infiltration at the lesion site. Pharmacological targeting of the early CP activation might harbor the potential to modulate the development of ICH-SBI.

Elevated Serum CCL23 Levels at Admission Predict Delayed Cerebral Ischemia and Functional Outcome after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

(1) Background: CC chemokine ligand 23 (CCL23) is a chemokine implicated in the inflammatory response following brain damage. The aim of this study is to identify the change in serum CCL23 levels within 24 h after aSAH and whether serum CCL23 levels are associated with initial clinical severity, delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and functional outcome in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). (2) Methods: 102 patients with aSAH and 61 controls were included in this prospective observational study. All clinical data were collected prospectively, and their serum CCL23 levels were measured. Initial clinical severity was reflected by the Hunt-Hess score and mFisher score. Functional outcome was evaluated in terms of the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at 6-month follow-up. (3) Results: Patients with aSAH had higher serum CCL23 levels than controls. The temporal profile of serum CCL23 levels and neutrophils count exhibited a sustained increase within 24 h after aSAH. Serum CCL23 levels were related to blood neutrophils count, blood CRP levels, and initial clinical severity. Serum CCL23 level was an independent predictor of DCI and 6-month poor outcome in aSAH patients. (4) Conclusions: Serum CCL23 levels emerged as an independent predictor for DCI and poor outcome in patients with aSAH.

Mechanism and Regulation of Microglia Polarization in Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most lethal subtype of stroke, but effective treatments are lacking, and neuroinflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis. In the innate immune response to cerebral hemorrhage, microglia first appear around the injured tissue and are involved in the inflammatory cascade response. Microglia respond to acute brain injury by being activated and polarized to either a typical M1-like (pro-inflammatory) or an alternative M2-like (anti-inflammatory) phenotype. These two polarization states produce pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory. With the discovery of the molecular mechanisms and key signaling molecules related to the polarization of microglia in the brain, some targets that regulate the polarization of microglia to reduce the inflammatory response are considered a treatment for secondary brain tissue after ICH damage effective strategies. Therefore, how to promote the polarization of microglia to the M2 phenotype after ICH has become the focus of attention in recent years. This article reviews the mechanism of action of microglia’s M1 and M2 phenotypes in secondary brain injury after ICH. Moreover, it discusses compounds and natural pharmaceutical ingredients that can polarize the M1 to the M2 phenotype.

Role of Immune and Inflammatory Mechanisms in Stroke: A Review of Current Advances

Stroke accounts for a large proportion of morbidity and mortality burden in China. Moreover, there is a high prevalence of the leading risk factors for stroke, including hypertension and smoking. Understanding the underlying mechanisms and developing effective therapeutic interventions for patients with stroke is a key imperative. The pathophysiology of stroke involves a complex interplay between the immune and inflammatory mechanisms. Focal brain inflammation triggered by neuronal cell death and the release of factors such as damage-associated molecular patterns can further exacerbate neuronal injury; in addition, impairment of the blood-brain barrier, oxidative stress, microvascular dysfunction, and brain edema cause secondary brain injury. Immune cells, including microglia and other infiltrating inflammatory cells, play a key role in triggering focal and global brain inflammation. Anti-inflammatory therapies targeting the aforementioned mechanisms can alleviate primary and secondary brain injury in the aftermath of a stroke. Further experimental and clinical studies are required to explore the beneficial effects of anti-inflammatory drugs in stroke.

Integrated Multiomics Analysis Identifies a Novel Biomarker Associated with Prognosis in Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Existing treatments for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are unable to satisfactorily prevent development of secondary brain injury after ICH and multiple pathological mechanisms are involved in the development of the injury. In this study, we aimed to identify novel genes and proteins and integrated their molecular alternations to reveal key network modules involved in ICH pathology. A total of 30 C57BL/6 male mice were used for this study. The collagenase model of ICH was employed, 3 days after ICH animals were tested neurological. After it, animals were euthanized and perihematomal brain tissues were collected for transcriptome and TMT labeling-based quantitative proteome analyses. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and regularized Canonical Correlation Analysis (rCCA) were performed to integrated multiomics data. For validation of hub genes and proteins, qRT-PCR and Western blot were carried out. The candidate biomarkers were further measured by ELISA in the plasma of ICH patients and the controls. A total of 2218 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 353 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between the ICH model group and control group were identified. GSEA revealed that immune-related gene sets were prominently upregulated and significantly enriched in pathways of inflammasome complex, negative regulation of interleukin-12 production, and pyroptosis during the ICH process. The rCCA network presented two highly connective clusters which were involved in the sphingolipid catabolic process and inflammatory response. Among ten hub genes screened out by integrative analysis, significantly upregulated Itgb2, Serpina3n, and Ctss were validated in the ICH group by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Plasma levels of human SERPINA3 (homologue of murine Serpina3n) were elevated in ICH patients compared with the healthy controls (SERPINA3: 13.3 ng/mL vs. 11.2 ng/mL, p = 0.015). Within the ICH group, higher plasma SERPINA3 levels with a predictive threshold of 14.31 ng/mL (sensitivity = 64.3%; specificity = 80.8%; AUC = 0.742, 95% CI: 0.567-0.916) were highly associated with poor outcome (mRS scores 4-6). Taken together, the results of our study exhibited molecular changes related to ICH-induced brain injury by multidimensional analysis and effectively identified three biomarker candidates in a mouse ICH model, as well as pointed out that Serpina3n/SERPINA3 was a potential biomarker associated with poor functional outcome in ICH patients.

Neuron-derived exosomes-transmitted miR-124-3p protect traumatically injured spinal cord by suppressing the activation of neurotoxic microglia and astrocytes

Background

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a catastrophic injury that can cause irreversible motor dysfunction with high disability. Exosomes participate in the transport of miRNAs and play an essential role in intercellular communication via transfer of genetic material. However, the miRNAs in exosomes which derived from neurons, and the underlying mechanisms by which they contribute to SCI remain unknown.

Methods

A contusive in vivo SCI model and a series of in vitro experiments were carried out to explore the therapeutic effects of exosomes. Then, a miRNA microarray analysis and rescue experiments were performed to confirm the role of neuron-derived exosomal miRNA in SCI. Western blot, luciferase activity assay, and RNA-ChIP were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Results

The results indicated that neuron-derived exosomes promoted functional behavioral recovery by suppressing the activation of M1 microglia and A1 astrocytes in vivo and in vitro. A miRNA array showed miR-124-3p to be the most enriched in neuron-derived exosomes. MYH9 was identified as the target downstream gene of miR-124-3p. A series of experiments were used to confirm the miR-124-3p/MYH9 axis. Finally, it was found that PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling cascades may be involved in the modulation of microglia by exosomal miR-124-3p.

Conclusion

A combination of miRNAs and neuron-derived exosomes may be a promising, minimally invasive approach for the treatment of SCI.

Neuroinflammation after Intracerebral Hemorrhage and Potential Therapeutic Targets

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a catastrophic illness causing significant morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in surgical technique addressing primary brain injury caused by ICH, little progress has been made treating the subsequent inflammatory cascade. Pre-clinical studies have made advancements identifying components of neuroinflammation, including microglia, astrocytes, and T lymphocytes. After cerebral insult, inflammation is initially driven by the M1 microglia, secreting cytokines (e.g., interleukin-1β [IL-1β] and tumor necrosis factor-α) that are involved in the breakdown of the extracellular matrix, cellular integrity, and the blood brain barrier. Additionally, inflammatory factors recruit and induce differentiation of A1 reactive astrocytes and T helper 1 (Th1) cells, which contribute to the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, augmenting M1 polarization and potentiating inflammation. Within 7 days of ICH ictus, the M1 phenotype coverts to a M2 phenotype, key for hematoma removal, tissue healing, and overall resolution of inflammation. The secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-4, IL-10) can drive Th2 cell differentiation. M2 polarization is maintained by the secretion of additional anti-inflammatory cytokines by the Th2 cells, suppressing M1 and Th1 phenotypes. Elucidating the timing and trigger of the anti-inflammatory phenotype may be integral in improving clinical outcomes. A challenge in current translational research is the absence of an equivalent disease animal model mirroring the patient population and comorbid pathophysiologic state. We review existing data and describe potential therapeutic targets around which we are creating a bench to bedside translational research model that better reflects the pathophysiology of ICH patients.

Loss of Endothelial Laminin α5 Exacerbates Hemorrhagic Brain Injury

Endothelial cells make laminin-411 and laminin-511. Although laminin-411 is well studied, the role of laminin-511 remains largely unknown due to the embryonic lethality of lama5-/- mutants. In this study, we generated endothelium-specific lama5 conditional knockout (α5-TKO) mice and investigated the biological functions of endothelial lama5 in blood-brain barrier (BBB) maintenance under homeostatic conditions and the pathogenesis of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). First, the BBB integrity of α5-TKO mice was measured under homeostatic conditions. Next, ICH was induced in α5-TKO mice and their littermate controls using the collagenase model. Various parameters, including injury volume, neuronal death, neurological score, brain edema, BBB integrity, inflammatory cell infiltration, and gliosis, were examined at various time points after injury. Under homeostatic conditions, comparable levels of IgG or exogenous tracers were detected in α5-TKO and control mice. Additionally, no differences in tight junction expression, pericyte coverage, and astrocyte polarity were found in these mice. After ICH, α5-TKO mice displayed enlarged injury volume, increased neuronal death, elevated BBB permeability, exacerbated infiltration of inflammatory cells (leukocytes, neutrophils, and mononuclear cells), aggravated gliosis, unchanged brain edema, and worse neurological function, compared to the controls. These findings suggest that endothelial lama5 is dispensable for BBB maintenance under homeostatic conditions but plays a beneficial role in ICH.

Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio Is an Independent Predictor for Neurological Deterioration and 90-Day Mortality in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND Lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) is an independent predictive factor of clinical outcome of acute ischemic stroke and cancer, but the predictive effect of LMR in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the impact of peripheral LMR on the neurological deterioration (ND) during the initial week after spontaneous ICH onset, as well as 90-day mortality. MATERIAL AND METHODS The clinical data of 558 consecutive patients with ICH were retrospectively analyzed. LMR is calculated by absolute lymphocyte count divided by absolute monocyte count. RESULTS Of these patients, 166 patients experienced ND during the first week after admission and 72 patients died within 90 days. Multivariate analysis indicated that white blood cells (WBC), absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), LMR were significantly associated with ND during the initial week after ICH onset and also were associated with 90-day mortality. Moreover, NLR and LMR showed a higher predictive ability in ND during the initial week after ICH onset than 90-day mortality in receiver operating characteristic analysis. The best cut-off points of NLR and LMR in predicting ND and 90-day mortality were 10.24 and 2.21 and 16.81 and 2.19, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that LMR on admission is a predictive factor for ND during the initial week after ICH onset, as well as 90-day mortality.

Modulators of microglial activation and polarization after intracerebral haemorrhage

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is the most lethal subtype of stroke but currently lacks effective treatment. Microglia are among the first non-neuronal cells on the scene during the innate immune response to ICH. Microglia respond to acute brain injury by becoming activated and developing classic M1-like (proinflammatory) or alternative M2-like (anti-inflammatory) phenotypes. This polarization implies as yet unrecognized actions of microglia in ICH pathology and recovery, perhaps involving microglial production of proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Furthermore, alternatively activated M2-like microglia might promote phagocytosis of red blood cells and tissue debris, a major contribution to haematoma clearance. Interactions between microglia and other cells modulate microglial activation and function, and are also important in ICH pathology. This Review summarizes key studies on modulators of microglial activation and polarization after ICH, including M1-like and M2-like microglial phenotype markers, transcription factors and key signalling pathways. Microglial phagocytosis, haematoma resolution, and the potential crosstalk between microglia and T lymphocytes, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in the ICH brain are described. Finally, the clinical and translational implications of microglial polarization in ICH are presented, including the evidence that therapeutic approaches aimed at modulating microglial function might mitigate ICH injury and improve brain repair.

Detection of high serum concentration of CXC chemokine ligand-12 in acute intracerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

CXC chemokine ligand-12 (CXCL12), a member of the CXC chemokine subfamily, is involved in both focal angiogenesis and inflammatory reactions. We examined serum CXCL12 concentration in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients and its correlation to stroke severity and outcome.

METHODS

The study was carried out on 105 ICH patients on 105 healthy controls. Serum samples were at admission obtained to measure CXCL12 concentrations. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and hematoma volume were recorded to assess stroke severity.

RESULTS

As compared to the controls, CXCL12 concentrations were significantly increased in the patients. Also, non-survivors within 6months and patients with an unfavorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score>2) at 6months had higher CXCL12 concentrations than other remaining ones. CXCL12 concentrations had positive correlation with NIHSS scores and hematoma volume. Serum CXCL12 significantly discriminated patients at risk of 6-month mortality and 6-month unfavorable outcome under receiver operating characteristic curve. Moreover, serum CXCL12 was independently associated with the mortality, overall survival and unfavorable outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum CXCL12 concentrations are enhanced after ICH and CXCL12 in serum has the potential to reflect severity and prognosis following hemorrhagic stroke.

MiR-126 Affects Brain-Heart Interaction after Cerebral Ischemic Stroke

Cardiovascular diseases are approximately three times higher in patients with neurological deficits than in patients without neurological deficits. MicroRNA-126 (MiR-126) facilitates vascular remodeling and decreases fibrosis and is emerging as an important factor in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and cerebral stroke. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that decreased miR-126 after ischemic stroke may play an important role in regulating cardiac function. Wild-type (WT), specific conditional-knockout endothelial cell miR-126 (miR-126^EC-/-), and miR-126 knockout control (miR-126^fl/fl) mice were subjected to distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAo) (n = 10/group). Cardiac hemodynamics and function were measured using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. Mice were sacrificed at 28 days after dMCAo. WT mice subjected to stroke exhibited significantly decreased cardiac ejection fraction and increased myocyte hypertrophy, fibrosis as well as increased heart inflammation, infiltrating macrophages, and oxidative stress compared to non-stroke animals. Stroke significantly decreased serum and heart miR-126 expression and increased miR-126 target genes, vascular cell adhesion protein-1, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 gene, and protein expression in the heart compared to non-stroke mice. MiR-126^EC-/- mice exhibited significantly decreased cardiac function and increased cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, fibrosis, and inflammatory factor expression after stroke compared to miR-126^fl/fl stroke mice. Exosomes derived from endothelial cells of miR-126^EC-/- (miR-126^EC-/-EC-Exo) mice exhibited significantly decreased miR-126 expression than exosomes derived from miR-126^fl/fl (miR-126^fl/fl-EC-Exo) mice. Treatment of cardiomyocytes subjected to oxygen glucose deprivation with miR-126^fl/fl-EC-Exo exhibited significantly decreased hypertrophy than with miR-126^EC-/-EC-Exo treatment. Ischemic stroke directly induces cardiac dysfunction. Decreasing miR-126 expression may contribute to cardiac dysfunction after stroke in mice.

Neuroinflammation after intracerebral hemorrhage

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a particularly severe type of stroke for which no specific treatment has been established yet. Although preclinical models of ICH have substantial methodological limitations, important insight into the pathophysiology has been gained. Mounting evidence suggests an important contribution of inflammatory mechanisms to brain damage and potential repair. Neuroinflammation evoked by intracerebral blood involves the activation of resident microglia, the infiltration of systemic immune cells and the production of cytokines, chemokines, extracellular proteases and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Previous studies focused on innate immunity including microglia, monocytes and granulocytes. More recently, the role of adaptive immune cells has received increasing attention. Little is currently known about the interactions among different immune cell populations in the setting of ICH. Nevertheless, immunomodulatory strategies are already being explored in ICH. To improve the chances of translation from preclinical models to patients, a better characterization of the neuroinflammation in patients is desirable.