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Zuckerman A, Siedhoff HR, Balderrama A, Li R, Sun GY, Cifu DX, Cernak I, Cui J, Gu Z. Individualized high-resolution analysis to categorize diverse learning and memory deficits in tau rTg4510 mice exposed to low-intensity blast. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1397046. [PMID: 38948027 PMCID: PMC11212475 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1397046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) resulting from low-intensity blast (LIB) exposure in military and civilian individuals is linked to enduring behavioral and cognitive abnormalities. These injuries can serve as confounding risk factors for the development of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease-related dementias (ADRD). Recent animal studies have demonstrated LIB-induced brain damage at the molecular and nanoscale levels. Nevertheless, the mechanisms linking these damages to cognitive abnormalities are unresolved. Challenges preventing the translation of preclinical studies into meaningful findings in "real-world clinics" encompass the heterogeneity observed between different species and strains, variable time durations of the tests, quantification of dosing effects and differing approaches to data analysis. Moreover, while behavioral tests in most pre-clinical studies are conducted at the group level, clinical tests are predominantly assessed on an individual basis. In this investigation, we advanced a high-resolution and sensitive method utilizing the CognitionWall test system and applying reversal learning data to the Boltzmann fitting curves. A flow chart was developed that enable categorizing individual mouse to different levels of learning deficits and patterns. In this study, rTg4510 mice, which represent a neuropathology model due to elevated levels of tau P301L, together with the non-carrier genotype were exposed to LIB. Results revealed distinct and intricate patterns of learning deficits and patterns within each group and in relation to blast exposure. With the current findings, it is possible to establish connections between mice with specific cognitive deficits to molecular changes. This approach can enhance the translational value of preclinical findings and also allow for future development of a precision clinical treatment plan for ameliorating neurologic damage of individuals with mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amitai Zuckerman
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Heather R. Siedhoff
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Ashley Balderrama
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Runting Li
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Grace Y. Sun
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Biochemistry Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - David X. Cifu
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Ibolja Cernak
- Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine, Belmont University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jiankun Cui
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Zezong Gu
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
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2
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Song H, Tomasevich A, Paolini A, Browne KD, Wofford KL, Kelley B, Kantemneni E, Kennedy J, Qiu Y, Schneider ALC, Dolle JP, Cullen DK, Smith DH. Sex differences in the extent of acute axonal pathologies after experimental concussion. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:79. [PMID: 38705966 PMCID: PMC11070329 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02735-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Although human females appear be at a higher risk of concussion and suffer worse outcomes than males, underlying mechanisms remain unclear. With increasing recognition that damage to white matter axons is a key pathologic substrate of concussion, we used a clinically relevant swine model of concussion to explore potential sex differences in the extent of axonal pathologies. At 24 h post-injury, female swine displayed a greater number of swollen axonal profiles and more widespread loss of axonal sodium channels than males. Axon degeneration for both sexes appeared to be related to individual axon architecture, reflected by a selective loss of small caliber axons after concussion. However, female brains had a higher percentage of small caliber axons, leading to more extensive axon loss after injury compared to males. Accordingly, sexual dimorphism in axonal size is associated with more extensive axonal pathology in females after concussion, which may contribute to worse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailong Song
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, University of Pennsylvania, 3320 Smith Walk, 105 Hayden Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Alexandra Tomasevich
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, University of Pennsylvania, 3320 Smith Walk, 105 Hayden Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Andrew Paolini
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, University of Pennsylvania, 3320 Smith Walk, 105 Hayden Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kevin D Browne
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, University of Pennsylvania, 3320 Smith Walk, 105 Hayden Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kathryn L Wofford
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, University of Pennsylvania, 3320 Smith Walk, 105 Hayden Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Brian Kelley
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, University of Pennsylvania, 3320 Smith Walk, 105 Hayden Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Eashwar Kantemneni
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, University of Pennsylvania, 3320 Smith Walk, 105 Hayden Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Justin Kennedy
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, University of Pennsylvania, 3320 Smith Walk, 105 Hayden Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yue Qiu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, University of Pennsylvania, 3320 Smith Walk, 105 Hayden Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Andrea L C Schneider
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jean-Pierre Dolle
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, University of Pennsylvania, 3320 Smith Walk, 105 Hayden Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - D Kacy Cullen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, University of Pennsylvania, 3320 Smith Walk, 105 Hayden Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration and Restoration, Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Douglas H Smith
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, University of Pennsylvania, 3320 Smith Walk, 105 Hayden Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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Rowland JA, Martindale SL. Considerations for the assessment of blast exposure in service members and veterans. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1383710. [PMID: 38685944 PMCID: PMC11056521 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1383710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Blast exposure is an increasingly present occupational hazard for military service members, particularly in modern warfare scenarios. The study of blast exposure in humans is limited by the lack of a consensus definition for blast exposure and considerable variability in measurement. Research has clearly demonstrated a robust and reliable effect of blast exposure on brain structure and function in the absence of other injury mechanisms. However, the exact mechanisms underlying these outcomes remain unclear. Despite clear contributions from preclinical studies, this knowledge has been slow to translate to clinical applications. The present manuscript empirically demonstrates the consequences of variability in measurement and definition across studies through a re-analysis of previously published data from the Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Study 34. Methods Definitions of blast exposure used in prior work were examined including Blast TBI, Primary Blast TBI, Pressure Severity, Distance, and Frequency of Exposure. Outcomes included both symptom report and cognitive testing. Results Results demonstrate significant differences in outcomes based on the definition of blast exposure used. In some cases the same definition was strongly related to one type of outcome, but unrelated to another. Discussion The implications of these results for the study of blast exposure are discussed and potential actions to address the major limitations in the field are recommended. These include the development of a consensus definition of blast exposure, further refinement of the assessment of blast exposure, continued work to identify relevant mechanisms leading to long-term negative outcomes in humans, and improved education efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared A. Rowland
- Salisbury VA Healthcare System, Salisbury, NC, United States
- Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)-6 Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness, Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham, NC, United States
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Sarah L. Martindale
- Salisbury VA Healthcare System, Salisbury, NC, United States
- Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)-6 Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness, Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham, NC, United States
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
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4
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Fesharaki-Zadeh A, Datta D. An overview of preclinical models of traumatic brain injury (TBI): relevance to pathophysiological mechanisms. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1371213. [PMID: 38682091 PMCID: PMC11045909 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1371213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting millions annually worldwide. Although the majority of TBI patients return to premorbid baseline, a subset of patient can develop persistent and often debilitating neurocognitive and behavioral changes. The etiology of TBI within the clinical setting is inherently heterogenous, ranging from sport related injuries, fall related injuries and motor vehicle accidents in the civilian setting, to blast injuries in the military setting. Objective Animal models of TBI, offer the distinct advantage of controlling for injury modality, duration and severity. Furthermore, preclinical models of TBI have provided the necessary temporal opportunity to study the chronic neuropathological sequelae of TBI, including neurodegenerative sequelae such as tauopathy and neuroinflammation within the finite experimental timeline. Despite the high prevalence of TBI, there are currently no disease modifying regimen for TBI, and the current clinical treatments remain largely symptom based. The preclinical models have provided the necessary biological substrate to examine the disease modifying effect of various pharmacological agents and have imperative translational value. Methods The current review will include a comprehensive survey of well-established preclinical models, including classic preclinical models including weight drop, blast injury, fluid percussion injury, controlled cortical impact injury, as well as more novel injury models including closed-head impact model of engineered rotational acceleration (CHIMERA) models and closed-head projectile concussive impact model (PCI). In addition to rodent preclinical models, the review will include an overview of other species including large animal models and Drosophila. Results There are major neuropathological perturbations post TBI captured in various preclinical models, which include neuroinflammation, calcium dysregulation, tauopathy, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, axonopathy, as well as glymphatic system disruption. Conclusion The preclinical models of TBI continue to offer valuable translational insight, as well as essential neurobiological basis to examine specific disease modifying therapeutic regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Dibyadeep Datta
- Division of Aging and Geriatric Psychiatry, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, United States
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Sachdeva T, Ganpule SG. Twenty Years of Blast-Induced Neurotrauma: Current State of Knowledge. Neurotrauma Rep 2024; 5:243-253. [PMID: 38515548 PMCID: PMC10956535 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2024.0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Blast-induced neurotrauma (BINT) is an important injury paradigm of neurotrauma research. This short communication summarizes the current knowledge of BINT. We divide the BINT research into several broad categories-blast wave generation in laboratory, biomechanics, pathology, behavioral outcomes, repetitive blast in animal models, and clinical and neuroimaging investigations in humans. Publications from 2000 to 2023 in each subdomain were considered. The analysis of the literature has brought out salient aspects. Primary blast waves can be simulated reasonably in a laboratory using carefully designed shock tubes. Various biomechanics-based theories of BINT have been proposed; each of these theories may contribute to BINT by generating a unique biomechanical signature. The injury thresholds for BINT are in the nascent stages. Thresholds for rodents are reasonably established, but such thresholds (guided by primary blast data) are unavailable in humans. Single blast exposure animal studies suggest dose-dependent neuronal pathologies predominantly initiated by blood-brain barrier permeability and oxidative stress. The pathologies were typically reversible, with dose-dependent recovery times. Behavioral changes in animals include anxiety, auditory and recognition memory deficits, and fear conditioning. The repetitive blast exposure manifests similar pathologies in animals, however, at lower blast overpressures. White matter irregularities and cortical volume and thickness alterations have been observed in neuroimaging investigations of military personnel exposed to blast. Behavioral changes in human cohorts include sleep disorders, poor motor skills, cognitive dysfunction, depression, and anxiety. Overall, this article provides a concise synopsis of current understanding, consensus, controversies, and potential future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarun Sachdeva
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
| | - Shailesh G. Ganpule
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
- Department of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
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6
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Elder GA, Gama Sosa MA, De Gasperi R, Perez Garcia G, Perez GM, Abutarboush R, Kawoos U, Zhu CW, Janssen WGM, Stone JR, Hof PR, Cook DG, Ahlers ST. The Neurovascular Unit as a Locus of Injury in Low-Level Blast-Induced Neurotrauma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1150. [PMID: 38256223 PMCID: PMC10816929 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Blast-induced neurotrauma has received much attention over the past decade. Vascular injury occurs early following blast exposure. Indeed, in animal models that approximate human mild traumatic brain injury or subclinical blast exposure, vascular pathology can occur in the presence of a normal neuropil, suggesting that the vasculature is particularly vulnerable. Brain endothelial cells and their supporting glial and neuronal elements constitute a neurovascular unit (NVU). Blast injury disrupts gliovascular and neurovascular connections in addition to damaging endothelial cells, basal laminae, smooth muscle cells, and pericytes as well as causing extracellular matrix reorganization. Perivascular pathology becomes associated with phospho-tau accumulation and chronic perivascular inflammation. Disruption of the NVU should impact activity-dependent regulation of cerebral blood flow, blood-brain barrier permeability, and glymphatic flow. Here, we review work in an animal model of low-level blast injury that we have been studying for over a decade. We review work supporting the NVU as a locus of low-level blast injury. We integrate our findings with those from other laboratories studying similar models that collectively suggest that damage to astrocytes and other perivascular cells as well as chronic immune activation play a role in the persistent neurobehavioral changes that follow blast injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A. Elder
- Neurology Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA;
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.A.G.S.); (R.D.G.)
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (C.W.Z.); (P.R.H.)
| | - Miguel A. Gama Sosa
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.A.G.S.); (R.D.G.)
- General Medical Research Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA
| | - Rita De Gasperi
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.A.G.S.); (R.D.G.)
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA;
| | - Georgina Perez Garcia
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA;
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA;
| | - Gissel M. Perez
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA;
| | - Rania Abutarboush
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical ResearchCommand, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (R.A.); (U.K.); (S.T.A.)
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Usmah Kawoos
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical ResearchCommand, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (R.A.); (U.K.); (S.T.A.)
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Carolyn W. Zhu
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (C.W.Z.); (P.R.H.)
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA;
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - William G. M. Janssen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - James R. Stone
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, 480 Ray C Hunt Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA;
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (C.W.Z.); (P.R.H.)
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - David G. Cook
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA;
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Stephen T. Ahlers
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical ResearchCommand, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (R.A.); (U.K.); (S.T.A.)
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Li C, Chen S, Siedhoff HR, Grant D, Liu P, Balderrama A, Jackson M, Zuckerman A, Greenlief CM, Kobeissy F, Wang KW, DePalma RG, Cernak I, Cui J, Gu Z. Low-intensity open-field blast exposure effects on neurovascular unit ultrastructure in mice. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:144. [PMID: 37674234 PMCID: PMC10481586 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01636-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) induced by low-intensity blast (LIB) is a serious health problem affecting military service members and veterans. Our previous reports using a single open-field LIB mouse model showed the absence of gross microscopic damage or necrosis in the brain, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) identified ultrastructural abnormalities of myelin sheaths, mitochondria, and synapses. The neurovascular unit (NVU), an anatomical and functional system with multiple components, is vital for the regulation of cerebral blood flow and cellular interactions. In this study, we delineated ultrastructural abnormalities affecting the NVU in mice with LIB exposure quantitatively and qualitatively. Luminal constrictive irregularities were identified at 7 days post-injury (DPI) followed by dilation at 30 DPI along with degeneration of pericytes. Quantitative proteomic analysis identified significantly altered vasomotor-related proteins at 24 h post-injury. Endothelial cell, basement membrane and astrocyte end-foot swellings, as well as vacuole formations, occurred in LIB-exposed mice, indicating cellular edema. Structural abnormalities of tight junctions and astrocyte end-foot detachment from basement membranes were also noted. These ultrastructural findings demonstrate that LIB induces multiple-component NVU damage. Prevention of NVU damage may aid in identifying therapeutic targets to mitigate the effects of primary brain blast injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China
| | - Shanyan Chen
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - Heather R Siedhoff
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - DeAna Grant
- Electron Microscopy Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Pei Liu
- Charles W. Gehrke Proteomic Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Ashley Balderrama
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - Marcus Jackson
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
| | - Amitai Zuckerman
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - C Michael Greenlief
- Charles W. Gehrke Proteomic Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Firas Kobeissy
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Neurotrauma, Multiomics & Biomarkers (CNMB), Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30310-1458, USA
- Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA, 30033, USA
| | - Kevin W Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Neurotrauma, Multiomics & Biomarkers (CNMB), Neuroscience Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30310-1458, USA
- Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA, 30033, USA
| | - Ralph G DePalma
- Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, 20420, USA
- Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Ibolja Cernak
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA, 31207, USA
| | - Jiankun Cui
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - Zezong Gu
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, One Hospital Drive, Medical Science Building, M741, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA.
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA.
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8
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Hellewell SC, Granger DA, Cernak I. Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Results in Spatially Distinct Gray Matter Alteration Alongside Hormonal Alteration: A Preliminary Investigation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076797. [PMID: 37047768 PMCID: PMC10094760 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Blast-induced neurotrauma (BINT) frequently occurs during military training and deployment and has been linked to long-term neuropsychological and neurocognitive changes, and changes in brain structure. As military personnel experience frequent exposures to stress, BINT may negatively influence stress coping abilities. This study aimed to determine the effects of BINT on gray matter volume and hormonal alteration. Participants were Canadian Armed Forces personnel and veterans with a history of BINT (n = 12), and first responder controls (n = 8), recruited due to their characteristic occupational stress professions. Whole saliva was collected via passive drool on the morning of testing and analyzed for testosterone (pg/mL), cortisol (μg/dL), and testosterone/cortisol (T/C) ratio. Voxel-based morphometry was performed to compare gray matter (GM) volume, alongside measurement of cortical thickness and subcortical volumes. Saliva analyses revealed distinct alterations following BINT, with significantly elevated testosterone and T/C ratio. Widespread and largely symmetric loci of reduced GM were found specific to BINT, particularly in the temporal gyrus, precuneus, and thalamus. These findings suggest that BINT affects hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and -gonadal axis function, and causes anatomically-specific GM loss, which were not observed in a comparator group with similar occupational stressors. These findings support BINT as a unique injury with distinct structural and endocrine consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Hellewell
- Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Douglas A Granger
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ibolja Cernak
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Columbus, GA 31902, USA
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9
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Bibineyshvili Y, Schiff ND, Calderon DP. Dexmedetomidine-mediated sleep phase modulation ameliorates motor and cognitive performance in a chronic blast-injured mouse model. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1040975. [DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1040975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple studies have shown that blast injury is followed by sleep disruption linked to functional sequelae. It is well established that improving sleep ameliorates such functional deficits. However, little is known about longitudinal brain activity changes after blast injury. In addition, the effects of directly modulating the sleep/wake cycle on learning task performance after blast injury remain unclear. We hypothesized that modulation of the sleep phase cycle in our injured mice would improve post-injury task performance. Here, we have demonstrated that excessive sleep electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns are accompanied by prominent motor and cognitive impairment during acute stage after secondary blast injury (SBI) in a mouse model. Over time we observed a transition to more moderate and prolonged sleep/wake cycle disturbances, including changes in theta and alpha power. However, persistent disruptions of the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) spindle amplitude and intra-spindle frequency were associated with lasting motor and cognitive deficits. We, therefore, modulated the sleep phase of injured mice using subcutaneous (SC) dexmedetomidine (Dex), a common, clinically used sedative. Dex acutely improved intra-spindle frequency, theta and alpha power, and motor task execution in chronically injured mice. Moreover, dexmedetomidine ameliorated cognitive deficits a week after injection. Our results suggest that SC Dex might potentially improve impaired motor and cognitive behavior during daily tasks in patients that are chronically impaired by blast-induced injuries.
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10
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Jiang S, Welch P, Sanders S, Gan RZ. Mitigation of Hearing Damage After Repeated Blast Exposures in Animal Model of Chinchilla. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2022; 23:603-616. [PMID: 35906449 PMCID: PMC9613841 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-022-00862-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022] Open
Abstract
High-intensity sound or blast-induced hearing impairment is a common injury for Service members. Epidemiology studies revealed that the blast-induced hearing loss is associated with the traumatic brain injury (TBI), but the mechanisms of the formation and prevention of auditory injuries require further investigation. Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, has been reported as a potential treatment strategy for TBI-caused memory deficits; however, there is no study on therapeutics of GLP-1R for blast-induced hearing damage. This paper reports our current study on progressive hearing damage after repeated exposures to low-level blasts in the animal model of chinchilla and the mitigation of hearing damage using liraglutide. Chinchillas were divided into three groups (N = 7 each): blast control, pre-blast treatment, and post-blast treatment. All animals were exposed to six consecutive blasts at the level of 3-5 psi (21-35 kPa) on Day 1. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) was measured on Day 1 (pre- and post-blast) and Days 4, 7, and 14 after blast exposure. Upon the completion of the experiment on Day 14, the brain tissues of animals were harvested for immunofluorescence studies. Significant damage was revealed in blast-exposed chinchillas by increased ABR thresholds, decreased ABR wave I amplitudes, and cell apoptosis in the inferior colliculus in the blast control chinchillas. Treatment with liraglutide appeared to reduce the severity of blast-induced hearing injuries as observed from the drug-treated chinchillas comparing to the blast controls. This study bridges the gap between TBI and hearing impairment and suggests a possible intervention for blast-induced hearing loss for Service members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangyuan Jiang
- School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 865 Asp Avenue, Room 200, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Paige Welch
- School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 865 Asp Avenue, Room 200, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Sarah Sanders
- School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 865 Asp Avenue, Room 200, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Rong Z Gan
- School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 865 Asp Avenue, Room 200, Norman, OK, 73019, USA.
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11
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Chen S, Siedhoff HR, Zhang H, Liu P, Balderrama A, Li R, Johnson C, Greenlief CM, Koopmans B, Hoffman T, DePalma RG, Li DP, Cui J, Gu Z. Low-intensity blast induces acute glutamatergic hyperexcitability in mouse hippocampus leading to long-term learning deficits and altered expression of proteins involved in synaptic plasticity and serine protease inhibitors. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 165:105634. [PMID: 35077822 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurocognitive consequences of blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) pose significant concerns for military service members and veterans with the majority of "invisible injury." However, the underlying mechanism of such mild bTBI by low-intensity blast (LIB) exposure for long-term cognitive and mental deficits remains elusive. Our previous studies have shown that mice exposed to LIB result in nanoscale ultrastructural abnormalities in the absence of gross or apparent cellular damage in the brain. Here we tested the hypothesis that glutamatergic hyperexcitability may contribute to long-term learning deficits. Using brain slice electrophysiological recordings, we found an increase in averaged frequencies with a burst pattern of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in hippocampal CA3 neurons in LIB-exposed mice at 1- and 7-days post injury, which was blocked by a specific NMDA receptor antagonist AP5. In addition, cognitive function assessed at 3-months post LIB exposure by automated home-cage monitoring showed deficits in dynamic patterns of discrimination learning and cognitive flexibility in LIB-exposed mice. Collected hippocampal tissue was further processed for quantitative global-proteomic analysis. Advanced data-independent acquisition for quantitative tandem mass spectrometry analysis identified altered expression of proteins involved in synaptic plasticity and serine protease inhibitors in LIB-exposed mice. Some were correlated with the ability of discrimination learning and cognitive flexibility. These findings show that acute glutamatergic hyperexcitability in the hippocampus induced by LIB may contribute to long-term cognitive dysfunction and protein alterations. Studies using this military-relevant mouse model of mild bTBI provide valuable insights into developing a potential therapeutic strategy to ameliorate hyperexcitability-modulated LIB injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanyan Chen
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO 65201, USA; Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Heather R Siedhoff
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO 65201, USA; Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Pei Liu
- Charles W. Gehrke Proteomics Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Ashley Balderrama
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO 65201, USA; Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Runting Li
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO 65201, USA; Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Catherine Johnson
- Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, USA
| | - C Michael Greenlief
- Charles W. Gehrke Proteomics Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | | | - Timothy Hoffman
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO 65201, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Ralph G DePalma
- Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington DC 20420, USA; Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - De-Pei Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Jiankun Cui
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO 65201, USA; Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
| | - Zezong Gu
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO 65201, USA; Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
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12
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Siedhoff HR, Chen S, Song H, Cui J, Cernak I, Cifu DX, DePalma RG, Gu Z. Perspectives on Primary Blast Injury of the Brain: Translational Insights Into Non-inertial Low-Intensity Blast Injury. Front Neurol 2022; 12:818169. [PMID: 35095749 PMCID: PMC8794583 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.818169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Most traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) during military deployment or training are clinically "mild" and frequently caused by non-impact blast exposures. Experimental models were developed to reproduce the biological consequences of high-intensity blasts causing moderate to severe brain injuries. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms of low-intensity blast (LIB)-induced neurological deficits have been understudied. This review provides perspectives on primary blast-induced mild TBI models and discusses translational aspects of LIB exposures as defined by standardized physical parameters including overpressure, impulse, and shock wave velocity. Our mouse LIB-exposure model, which reproduces deployment-related scenarios of open-field blast (OFB), caused neurobehavioral changes, including reduced exploratory activities, elevated anxiety-like levels, impaired nesting behavior, and compromised spatial reference learning and memory. These functional impairments associate with subcellular and ultrastructural neuropathological changes, such as myelinated axonal damage, synaptic alterations, and mitochondrial abnormalities occurring in the absence of gross- or cellular damage. Biochemically, we observed dysfunctional mitochondrial pathways that led to elevated oxidative stress, impaired fission-fusion dynamics, diminished mitophagy, decreased oxidative phosphorylation, and compensated cell respiration-relevant enzyme activity. LIB also induced increased levels of total tau, phosphorylated tau, and amyloid β peptide, suggesting initiation of signaling cascades leading to neurodegeneration. We also compare translational aspects of OFB findings to alternative blast injury models. By scoping relevant recent research findings, we provide recommendations for future preclinical studies to better reflect military-operational and clinical realities. Overall, better alignment of preclinical models with clinical observations and experience related to military injuries will facilitate development of more precise diagnosis, clinical evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather R. Siedhoff
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Shanyan Chen
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Hailong Song
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Jiankun Cui
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Ibolja Cernak
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, GA, United States
| | - David X. Cifu
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Ralph G. DePalma
- Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, United States
- Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Zezong Gu
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, United States
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13
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Siedhoff HR, Chen S, Balderrama A, Sun GY, Koopmans B, DePalma RG, Cui J, Gu Z. Long-Term Effects of Low-Intensity Blast Non-Inertial Brain Injury on Anxiety-Like Behaviors in Mice: Home-Cage Monitoring Assessments. Neurotrauma Rep 2022; 3:27-38. [PMID: 35141713 PMCID: PMC8820222 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2021.0063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury induced by low-intensity blast (LIB) exposure poses concerns in military personnel. Using an open-field, non-inertial blast model and assessments by conventional behavioral tests, our previous studies revealed early-phase anxiety-like behaviors in LIB-exposed mice. However, the impact of LIB upon long-term anxiety-like behaviors requires clarification. This study applied a highly sensitive automated home-cage monitoring (HCM) system, which minimized human intervention and environmental changes, to assess anxiety-like responses in mice 3 months after LIB exposure. Initial assessment of 72-h spontaneous activities in a natural cage condition over multiple light and dark phases showed altered sheltering behaviors. LIB-exposed mice exhibited a subtle, but significantly decreased, duration of short shelter visits as compared to sham controls. Other measured responses between LIB-exposed mice and sham controls were insignificant. When behavioral assessments were performed in a challenged condition using an aversive spotlight, LIB-exposed mice demonstrated a significantly higher frequency of movements of shorter distance and duration per movement. Taken together, these findings demonstrated the presence of chronic anxiety-like behaviors assessed by the HCM system under both natural and challenged conditions in mice occurring post-LIB exposure. This model thus provides a platform to test for screening and interventions on anxiety disorders occurring after LIB non-inertial brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather R. Siedhoff
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital Research Service, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Shanyan Chen
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital Research Service, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Ashley Balderrama
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital Research Service, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Grace Y. Sun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Ralph G. DePalma
- Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jiankun Cui
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital Research Service, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Zezong Gu
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital Research Service, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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14
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Zhvania M, Japaridze N, Tizabi Y, Sharikadze I, Pochkhidze N, Cheishvili L. Anxiety and ultrastructural consequences of chronic mild stress in rats. Neurosci Lett 2021; 771:136390. [PMID: 34896437 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Detrimental consequences following exposure to severe stress, either acute or chronic are well recognized. Chronic mild stress (CMS) is also a leading cause of emotional distress and neuropsychiatric conditions such as anxiety disorders. However, the neurobiological substrates of the latter, particularly at the ultrastructural levels have not been adequately investigated. In this study, adult male Wistar rats were subjected to 4 h daily mild restraint for 20 days and their behavior in open field and elevated plus maze (EPM) were evaluated 24 h after the last restraint. Anxiety-like behavior was evident in CMS exposed rats by increases in rearing and grooming in the open field and the avoidance of open arms in the EPM. Concomitant ultrastructural alterations such as chromatolysis, agglutination of synaptic vesicles or mitochondrial damage were also observed in the central nucleus of amygdala (CNA), an area intimately involved in emotional and fear response, in CMS exposed rats. These results while confirming detrimental consequences of CMS, also suggest that ultrastructural alterations in CNA may be a basis for CMS-induced anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mzia Zhvania
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University. 3/5 K. Cholokashvili Avenue, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia; Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture I. Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine. 14 Gotua Street, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia.
| | - Nadezhda Japaridze
- Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture I. Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine. 14 Gotua Street, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia; School of Medicine, New Vision University. 1A Evgeni Mikeladze Street, Tbilisi 0159, Georgia
| | - Yousef Tizabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Irina Sharikadze
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University. 3/5 K. Cholokashvili Avenue, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia
| | - Nino Pochkhidze
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University. 3/5 K. Cholokashvili Avenue, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia; Department of Brain Ultrastructure and Nanoarchitecture I. Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine. 14 Gotua Street, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia
| | - Levan Cheishvili
- School of Natural Sciences and Medicine, Ilia State University. 3/5 K. Cholokashvili Avenue, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia
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15
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Axonopathy precedes cell death in ocular damage mediated by blast exposure. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11774. [PMID: 34083587 PMCID: PMC8175471 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90412-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) of varied types are common across all populations and can cause visual problems. For military personnel in combat settings, injuries from blast exposures (bTBI) are prevalent and arise from a myriad of different situations. To model these diverse conditions, we are one of several groups modeling bTBI using mice in varying ways. Here, we report a refined analysis of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage in male C57BL/6J mice exposed to a blast-wave in an enclosed chamber. Ganglion cell layer thickness, RGC density (BRN3A and RBPMS immunoreactivity), cellular density of ganglion cell layer (hematoxylin and eosin staining), and axon numbers (paraphenylenediamine staining) were quantified at timepoints ranging from 1 to 17-weeks. RNA sequencing was performed at 1-week and 5-weeks post-injury. Earliest indices of damage, evident by 1-week post-injury, are a loss of RGC marker expression, damage to RGC axons, and increase in glial markers expression. Blast exposure caused a loss of RGC somas and axons—with greatest loss occurring by 5-weeks post-injury. While indices of glial involvement are prominent early, they quickly subside as RGCs are lost. The finding that axonopathy precedes soma loss resembles pathology observed in mouse models of glaucoma, suggesting similar mechanisms.
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16
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Shakkour Z, Issa H, Ismail H, Ashekyan O, Habashy KJ, Nasrallah L, Jourdi H, Hamade E, Mondello S, Sabra M, Zibara K, Kobeissy F. Drug Repurposing: Promises of Edaravone Target Drug in Traumatic Brain Injury. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:2369-2391. [PMID: 32787753 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666200812221022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Edaravone is a potent free-radical scavenger that has been in the market for more than 30 years. It was originally developed in Japan to treat strokes and has been used there since 2001. Aside from its anti-oxidative effects, edaravone demonstrated beneficial effects on proinflammatory responses, nitric oxide production, and apoptotic cell death. Interestingly, edaravone has shown neuroprotective effects in several animal models of diseases other than stroke. In particular, edaravone administration was found to be effective in halting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression during the early stages. Accordingly, after its success in Phase III clinical studies, edaravone has been approved by the FDA as a treatment for ALS patients. Considering its promises in neurological disorders and its safety in patients, edaravone is a drug of interest that can be repurposed for traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment. Drug repurposing is a novel approach in drug development that identifies drugs for purposes other than their original indication. This review presents the biochemical properties of edaravone along with its effects on several neurological disorders in the hope that it can be adopted for treating TBI patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaynab Shakkour
- American University of Beirut, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hawraa Issa
- PRASE and Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences - I, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Helene Ismail
- American University of Beirut, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ohanes Ashekyan
- American University of Beirut, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Karl John Habashy
- Faculty of Medicine, American, University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Leila Nasrallah
- American University of Beirut, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hussam Jourdi
- Biology & Environmental Sciences Division at University of Balamand, Souk El Gharb, Aley, Lebanon
| | - Eva Hamade
- PRASE and Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences - I, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Stefania Mondello
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Mirna Sabra
- Faculty of Medicine, Lebanese University, Neuroscience Research Center (NRC), Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Kazem Zibara
- PRASE and Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences - I, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Firas Kobeissy
- American University of Beirut, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Beirut, Lebanon
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17
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Traumatic Brain Injury: Ultrastructural Features in Neuronal Ferroptosis, Glial Cell Activation and Polarization, and Blood-Brain Barrier Breakdown. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051009. [PMID: 33923370 PMCID: PMC8146242 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The secondary injury process after traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in motor dysfunction, cognitive and emotional impairment, and poor outcomes. These injury cascades include excitotoxic injury, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, ion imbalance, inflammation, and increased vascular permeability. Electron microscopy is an irreplaceable tool to understand the complex pathogenesis of TBI as the secondary injury is usually accompanied by a series of pathologic changes at the ultra-micro level of the brain cells. These changes include the ultrastructural changes in different parts of the neurons (cell body, axon, and synapses), glial cells, and blood–brain barrier, etc. In view of the current difficulties in the treatment of TBI, identifying the changes in subcellular structures can help us better understand the complex pathologic cascade reactions after TBI and improve clinical diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this review is to summarize and discuss the ultrastructural changes related to neurons (e.g., condensed mitochondrial membrane in ferroptosis), glial cells, and blood–brain barrier in the existing reports of TBI, to deepen the in-depth study of TBI pathomechanism, hoping to provide a future research direction of pathogenesis and treatment, with the ultimate aim of improving the prognosis of patients with TBI.
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18
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Rutter B, Song H, DePalma RG, Hubler G, Cui J, Gu Z, Johnson CE. Shock Wave Physics as Related to Primary Non-Impact Blast-Induced Traumatic Brain Injury. Mil Med 2021; 186:601-609. [PMID: 33499439 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usaa290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Blast overpressure exposure, an important cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI), may occur during combat or military training. TBI, most commonly mild TBI, is considered a signature injury of recent combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Low intensity primary blast-induced TBI (bTBI), caused by exposure to an explosive shock wave, commonly leaves no obvious physical external signs. Numerous studies have been conducted to understand its biological effects; however, the role of shock wave energy as related to bTBI remains poorly understood. This report combines shock wave analysis with established biological effects on the mouse brain to provide insights into the effects of shock wave physics as related to low intensity bTBI outcomes from both open-air and shock tube environments. METHODS Shock wave peak pressure, rise time, positive phase duration, impulse, shock velocity, and particle velocity were measured using the Missouri open-air blast model from 16 blast experiments totaling 122 mice to quantify physical shock wave properties. Open-air shock waves were generated by detonating 350-g 1-m suspended Composition C-4 charges with targets on 1-m elevated stands at 2.15, 3, 4, and 7 m from the source. RESULTS All mice sustained brain injury with no observable head movement, because of mice experiencing lower dynamic pressures than calculated in shock tubes. Impulse, pressure loading over time, was found to be directly related to bTBI severity and is a primary shock physics variable that relates to bTBI. DISCUSSION The physical blast properties including shock wave peak pressure, rise time, positive phase duration, impulse, shock velocity, and particle velocity were examined using the Missouri open-air blast model in mice with associated neurobehavioral deficits. The blast-exposed mice sustained ultrastructural abnormalities in mitochondria, myelinated axons, and synapses, implicating that primary low intensity blast leads to nanoscale brain damage by providing the link to its pathogenesis. The velocity of the shock wave reflected back from the target stand was calculated from high-speed video and compared with that of the incident shock wave velocity. Peak incident pressure measured from high sample rate sensors was found to be within 1% of the velocity recorded by the high-speed camera, concluding that using sensors in or close to an animal brain can provide useful information regarding shock velocity within the brain, leading to more advanced knowledge between shock wave physics and tissue damage that leads to bTBIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Rutter
- Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65401, USA
| | - Hailong Song
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Ralph G DePalma
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, Office of Research and Development, NW 20420, USA.,Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Graham Hubler
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Jiankun Cui
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.,Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Zezong Gu
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.,Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Catherine E Johnson
- Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65401, USA
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19
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Belding JN, Englert RM, Fitzmaurice S, Jackson JR, Koenig HG, Hunter MA, Thomsen CJ, da Silva UO. Potential Health and Performance Effects of High-Level and Low-Level Blast: A Scoping Review of Two Decades of Research. Front Neurol 2021; 12:628782. [PMID: 33776888 PMCID: PMC7987950 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.628782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although blast exposure has been recognized as a significant source of morbidity and mortality in military populations, our understanding of the effects of blast exposure, particularly low-level blast (LLB) exposure, on health outcomes remains limited. This scoping review provides a comprehensive, accessible review of the peer-reviewed literature that has been published on blast exposure over the past two decades, with specific emphasis on LLB. We conducted a comprehensive scoping review of the scientific literature published between January 2000 and 2019 pertaining to the effects of blast injury and/or exposure on human and animal health. A three-level review process with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria was used. A full-text review of all articles pertaining to LLB exposure was conducted and relevant study characteristics were extracted. The research team identified 3,215 blast-relevant articles, approximately half of which (55.4%) studied live humans, 16% studied animals, and the remainder were non-subjects research (e.g., literature reviews). Nearly all (99.49%) of the included studies were conducted by experts in medicine or epidemiology; approximately half of these articles were categorized into more than one medical specialty. Among the 51 articles identified as pertaining to LLB specifically, 45.1% were conducted on animals and 39.2% focused on human subjects. Animal studies of LLB predominately used shock tubes to induce various blast exposures in rats, assessed a variety of outcomes, and clearly demonstrated that LLB exposure is associated with brain injury. In contrast, the majority of LLB studies on humans were conducted among military and law enforcement personnel in training environments and had remarkable variability in the exposures and outcomes assessed. While findings suggest that there is the potential for LLB to harm human populations, findings are mixed and more research is needed. Although it is clear that more research is needed on this rapidly growing topic, this review highlights the detrimental effects of LLB on the health of both animals and humans. Future research would benefit from multidisciplinary collaboration, larger sample sizes, and standardization of terminology, exposures, and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N. Belding
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Robyn M. Englert
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Shannon Fitzmaurice
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jourdan R. Jackson
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Hannah G. Koenig
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Michael A. Hunter
- Defense Health Group, Leidos, San Diego, CA, United States
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Cynthia J. Thomsen
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Uade Olaghere da Silva
- Health and Behavioral Sciences Department, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, United States
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20
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Explosive-driven double-blast exposure: molecular, histopathological, and behavioral consequences. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17446. [PMID: 33060648 PMCID: PMC7566442 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74296-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury generated by blast may induce long-term neurological and psychiatric sequelae. We aimed to identify molecular, histopathological, and behavioral changes in rats 2 weeks after explosive-driven double-blast exposure. Rats received two 30-psi (~ 207-kPa) blasts 24 h apart or were handled identically without blast. All rats were behaviorally assessed over 2 weeks. At Day 15, rats were euthanized, and brains removed. Brains were dissected into frontal cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum, and brainstem. Western blotting was performed to measure levels of total-Tau, phosphorylated-Tau (pTau), amyloid precursor protein (APP), GFAP, Iba1, αII-spectrin, and spectrin breakdown products (SBDP). Kinases and phosphatases, correlated with tau phosphorylation were also measured. Immunohistochemistry for pTau, APP, GFAP, and Iba1 was performed. pTau protein level was greater in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and brainstem and APP protein level was greater in cerebellum of blast vs control rats (p < 0.05). GFAP, Iba1, αII-spectrin, and SBDP remained unchanged. No immunohistochemical or neurobehavioral changes were observed. The dissociation between increased pTau and APP in different regions in the absence of neurobehavioral changes 2 weeks after double blast exposure is a relevant finding, consistent with human data showing that battlefield blasts might be associated with molecular changes before signs of neurological and psychiatric disorders manifest.
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21
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Aravind A, Ravula AR, Chandra N, Pfister BJ. Behavioral Deficits in Animal Models of Blast Traumatic Brain Injury. Front Neurol 2020; 11:990. [PMID: 33013653 PMCID: PMC7500138 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Blast exposure has been identified to be the most common cause for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in soldiers. Over the years, rodent models to mimic blast exposures and the behavioral outcomes observed in veterans have been developed extensively. However, blast tube design and varying experimental parameters lead to inconsistencies in the behavioral outcomes reported across research laboratories. This review aims to curate the behavioral outcomes reported in rodent models of blast TBI using shockwave tubes or open field detonations between the years 2008–2019 and highlight the important experimental parameters that affect behavioral outcome. Further, we discuss the role of various design parameters of the blast tube that can affect the nature of blast exposure experienced by the rodents. Finally, we assess the most common behavioral tests done to measure cognitive, motor, anxiety, auditory, and fear conditioning deficits in blast TBI (bTBI) and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aswati Aravind
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials and Medicine, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Arun Reddy Ravula
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials and Medicine, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Namas Chandra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials and Medicine, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Bryan J Pfister
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials and Medicine, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States
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22
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Hubler GK, Hoffman SW, Andreadis TD, DePalma RG. Pulsed Microwave Energy Transduction of Acoustic Phonon Related Brain Injury. Front Neurol 2020; 11:753. [PMID: 32849213 PMCID: PMC7417645 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulsed microwaves above specific energy thresholds have been reported to cause brain injury in animal models. The actual physical mechanism causing brain damage is unexplained while the clinical reality of these injuries remains controversial. Here we propose mechanisms by which pulsed microwaves may injure brain tissue by transduction of microwave energy into damaging acoustic phonons in brain water. We have shown that low intensity explosive blast waves likely initiate phonon excitations in brain tissues. Brain injury in this instance occurs at nanoscale subcellular levels as predicted by physical consideration of phonon interactions in brain water content. The phonon mechanism may also explain similarities between primary non-impact blast-induced mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and recent clinical and imaging findings of unexplained brain injuries observed in US embassy personnel possibly due to directed radiofrequency radiation. We describe experiments to elucidate mechanisms, RF frequencies and power levels by which pulsed microwaves potentially injure brain tissue. Pathological documentation of nanoscale brain blast injury has been supported experimentally using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrating nanoscale cellular damage in the absence of gross or light microscopic findings. Similar studies are required to better define pulsed microwave brain injury. Based upon existing findings, clinical diagnosis of both low intensity blast and microwave-induced brain injury likely will require diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a specialized water based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham K Hubler
- The School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Stuart W Hoffman
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, Office of Research and Development, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Tim D Andreadis
- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Tactical Electronic Warfare Division, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Ralph G DePalma
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Research and Development, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC, United States.,Department of Surgery, Uniformed University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
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23
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Behavioral and neuroanatomical effects on exposure to White noise in rats. Neurosci Lett 2020; 728:134898. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.134898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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24
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Smith KD, Chen T, Gan RZ. Hearing Damage Induced by Blast Overpressure at Mild TBI Level in a Chinchilla Model. Mil Med 2020; 185:248-255. [DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usz309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
The peripheral auditory system and various structures within the central auditory system are vulnerable to blast injuries, and even blast overpressure is at relatively mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) level. However, the extent of hearing loss in relation to blast number and time course of post-blast is not well understood. This study reports the progressive hearing damage measured in chinchillas after multiple blast exposures at mild TBI levels (103–138 kPa or 15–20 psi).
Materials and Methods
Sixteen animals (two controls) were exposed to two blasts and three blasts, respectively, in two groups with both ears plugged with foam earplugs to prevent the eardrum from rupturing. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) were measured in pre- and post-blasts. Immunohistochemical study of chinchilla brains were performed at the end of experiment.
Results
Results show that the ABR threshold and DPOAE level shifts in 2-blast animals were recovered after 7 days. In 3-blast animals, the ABR and DPOAE shifts remained at 26 and 23 dB, respectively after 14 days. Variation of auditory cortex damage between 2-blast and 3-blast was also observed in immunofluorescence images.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that the number of blasts causing mild TBI critically affects hearing damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle D Smith
- School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 865 Asp Avenue, Norman, OK 73019
| | - Tao Chen
- School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 865 Asp Avenue, Norman, OK 73019
| | - Rong Z Gan
- School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 865 Asp Avenue, Norman, OK 73019
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25
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Effect of mild blast-induced TBI on dendritic architecture of the cortex and hippocampus in the mouse. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2206. [PMID: 32042033 PMCID: PMC7010659 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59252-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been designated as a signature injury of modern military conflicts. Blast trauma, in particular, has come to make up a significant portion of the TBIs which are sustained in warzones. Though most TBIs are mild, even mild TBI can induce long term effects, including cognitive and memory deficits. In our study, we utilized a mouse model of mild blast-related TBI (bTBI) to investigate TBI-induced changes within the cortex and hippocampus. We performed rapid Golgi staining on the layer IV and V pyramidal neurons of the parietal cortex and the CA1 basilar tree of the hippocampus and quantified dendritic branching and distribution. We found decreased dendritic branching within both the cortex and hippocampus in injured mice. Within parietal cortex, this decreased branching was most evident within the middle region, while outer and inner regions resembled that of control mice. This study provides important knowledge in the study of how the shockwave associated with a blast explosion impacts different brain regions.
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26
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Harper MM, Rudd D, Meyer KJ, Kanthasamy AG, Anantharam V, Pieper AA, Vázquez-Rosa E, Shin MK, Chaubey K, Koh Y, Evans LP, Bassuk AG, Anderson MG, Dutca L, Kudva IT, John M. Identification of chronic brain protein changes and protein targets of serum auto-antibodies after blast-mediated traumatic brain injury. Heliyon 2020; 6:e03374. [PMID: 32099918 PMCID: PMC7029173 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to needing acute emergency management, blast-mediated traumatic brain injury (TBI) is also a chronic disorder with delayed-onset symptoms that manifest and progress over time. While the immediate consequences of acute blast injuries are readily apparent, chronic sequelae are harder to recognize. Indeed, the identification of individuals with mild-TBI or TBI-induced symptoms is greatly impaired in large part due to the lack of objective and robust biomarkers. The purpose of this study was to address these need by identifying candidates for serum-based biomarkers of blast TBI, and also to identify unique or differentially regulated protein expression in the thalamus in C57BL/6J mice exposed to blast using high throughput qualitative screens of protein expression. To identify thalamic proteins differentially or uniquely associated with blast exposure, we utilized an antibody-based affinity-capture strategy (referred to as "proteomics-based analysis of depletomes"; PAD) to deplete thalamic lysates from blast-treated mice of endogenous thalamic proteins also found in control mice. Analysis of this "depletome" detected 75 unique proteins, many with associations to the myelin sheath. To identify blast-associated proteins eliciting production of circulating autoantibodies, serum antibodies of blast-treated mice were immobilized, and their immunogens subsequently identified by proteomic analysis of proteins specifically captured following incubation with thalamic lysates (a variant of a strategy referred to as "proteomics-based expression library screening"; PELS). This analysis identified 46 blast-associated immunogenic proteins, including 6 shared in common with the PAD analysis (ALDOA, PHKB, HBA-A1, DPYSL2, SYN1, and CKB). These proteins and their autoantibodies are appropriate for further consideration as biomarkers of blast-mediated TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M. Harper
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, IA, USA
- The University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Danielle Rudd
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Kacie J. Meyer
- The University of Iowa Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | | | - Andrew A. Pieper
- Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Department of Psychiatry Case Western Reserve University, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Edwin Vázquez-Rosa
- Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Department of Psychiatry Case Western Reserve University, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Min-Kyoo Shin
- Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Department of Psychiatry Case Western Reserve University, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Kalyani Chaubey
- Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Department of Psychiatry Case Western Reserve University, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Yeojung Koh
- Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Department of Psychiatry Case Western Reserve University, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Lucy P. Evans
- The University of Iowa Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- The University of Iowa Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- The University of Iowa Department of Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Alexander G. Bassuk
- The University of Iowa Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- The University of Iowa Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Michael G. Anderson
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, IA, USA
- The University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- The University of Iowa Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Laura Dutca
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Indira T. Kudva
- Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, USA
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27
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Chen M, Song H, Cui J, Johnson CE, Hubler GK, DePalma RG, Gu Z, Xia W. Proteomic Profiling of Mouse Brains Exposed to Blast-Induced Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Reveals Changes in Axonal Proteins and Phosphorylated Tau. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 66:751-773. [PMID: 30347620 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent form of dementia, is characterized by two pathological hallmarks: Tau-containing neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid-β protein (Aβ)-containing neuritic plaques. The goal of this study is to understand mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)-related brain proteomic changes and tau-related biochemical adaptations that may contribute to AD-like neurodegeneration. We found that both phosphorylated tau (p-tau) and the ratio of p-tau/tau were significantly increased in brains of mice collected at 3 and 24 h after exposure to 82-kPa low-intensity open-field blast. Neurological deficits were observed in animals at 24 h and 7 days after the blast using Simple Neuroassessment of Asymmetric imPairment (SNAP) test, and axon/dendrite degeneration was revealed at 7 days by silver staining. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to analyze brain tissue labeled with isobaric mass tags for relative protein quantification. The results from the proteomics and bioinformatic analysis illustrated the alterations of axonal and synaptic proteins in related pathways, including but not being limited to substantia nigra development, cortical cytoskeleton organization, and synaptic vesicle exocytosis, suggesting a potential axonal damage caused by blast-induced mTBI. Among altered proteins found in brains suffering blast, microtubule-associated protein 1B, stathmin, neurofilaments, actin binding proteins, myelin basic protein, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, and synaptotagmin I were representative ones involved in altered pathways elicited by mTBI. Therefore, TBI induces elevated phospho-tau, a pathological feature found in brains of AD, and altered a number of neurophysiological processes, supporting the notion that blast-induced mTBI as a risk factor contributes to AD pathogenesis. LC/MS-based profiling has presented candidate target/pathways that could be explored for future therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Chen
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Office of Research and Development, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA, USA.,Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hailong Song
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jiankun Cui
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA.,Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Catherine E Johnson
- Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, USA
| | - Graham K Hubler
- Sidney Kimmel Institute for Nuclear Renaissance, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Ralph G DePalma
- Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA Department of Surgery, Uniformed University of the Health Science, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Zezong Gu
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA.,Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Weiming Xia
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Office of Research and Development, Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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28
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Harper MM, Woll AW, Evans LP, Delcau M, Akurathi A, Hedberg-Buenz A, Soukup DA, Boehme N, Hefti MM, Dutca LM, Anderson MG, Bassuk AG. Blast Preconditioning Protects Retinal Ganglion Cells and Reveals Targets for Prevention of Neurodegeneration Following Blast-Mediated Traumatic Brian Injury. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:4159-4170. [PMID: 31598627 PMCID: PMC6785841 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.19-27565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of multiple blast exposures and blast preconditioning on the structure and function of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), to identify molecular pathways that contribute to RGC loss, and to evaluate the role of kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO) inhibition on RGC structure and function. Methods Mice were subjected to sham blast injury, one single blast injury, or three blast injuries separated by either 1 hour or 1 week, using a blast intensity of 20 PSI. To examine the effect of blast preconditioning, mice were subjected to sham blast injury, one single 20-PSI injury, or three blast injuries separated by 1 week (5 PSI, 5 PSI, 20 PSI and 5 PSI, 5 PSI, 5 PSI). RGC structure was analyzed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and function was analyzed by the pattern electroretinogram (PERG). BRN3A-positive cells were quantified to determine RGC density. RNA-seq analysis was used to identify transcriptional changes between groups. Results Analysis of mice with multiple blast exposures of 20 PSI revealed no significant differences compared to one 20-pounds per square inch (PSI) exposure using OCT, PERG, or BRN3A cell counts. Analysis of mice exposed to two preconditioning 5-PSI blasts prior to one 20-PSI blast showed preservation of RGC structure and function. RNA-seq analysis of the retina identified multiple transcriptomic changes between conditions. Pharmacologic inhibition of KMO preserved RGC responses compared to vehicle-treated mice. Conclusions Preconditioning protects RGC from blast injury. Protective effects appear to involve changes in KMO activity, whose inhibition is also protective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M. Harper
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Addison W. Woll
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Lucy P. Evans
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Michael Delcau
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Abhigna Akurathi
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Adam Hedberg-Buenz
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Dana A. Soukup
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Nickolas Boehme
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Marco M. Hefti
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Laura M. Dutca
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Michael G. Anderson
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Alexander G. Bassuk
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
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29
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Boutté AM, Thangavelu B, LaValle CR, Nemes J, Gilsdorf J, Shear DA, Kamimori GH. Brain-related proteins as serum biomarkers of acute, subconcussive blast overpressure exposure: A cohort study of military personnel. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221036. [PMID: 31408492 PMCID: PMC6692016 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Repeated exposure to blast overpressure remains a major cause of adverse health for military personnel who, as a consequence, are at a higher risk for neurodegenerative disease and suicide. Acute, early tracking of blast related effects holds the promise of rapid health assessment prior to onset of chronic problems. Current techniques used to determine blast-related effects rely upon reporting of symptomology similar to that of concussion and neurocognitive assessment relevant to operational decrement. Here, we describe the results of a cross sectional study with pared observations. The concentration of multiple TBI-related proteins was tested in serum collected within one hour of blast exposure as a quantitative and minimally invasive strategy to augment assessment of blast-exposure effects that are associated with concussion-like symptomology and reaction time decrements. We determined that median simple reaction time (SRT) was slowed in accordance with serum Nf-L, tau, Aβ-40, and Aβ-42 elevation after overpressure exposure. In contrast, median levels of serum GFAP decreased. Individual, inter-subject analysis revealed positive correlations between changes in Nf-L and GFAP, and in Aβ-40 compared to Aβ-42. The change in Nf-L was negatively associated with tau, Aβ-40, and Aβ-42. Participants reported experiencing headaches, dizziness and taking longer to think. Dizziness was associated with reaction time decrements, GFAP or NfL suppression, as well as Aβ peptide elevation. UCH-L1 elevation had a weak association with mTBI/concussion history. Multiplexed serum biomarker quantitation, coupled with reaction time assessment and symptomology determined before and after blast exposure, may serve as a platform for tracking adverse effects in the absence of a head wound or diagnosed concussion. We propose further evaluation of serum biomarkers, which are often associated with TBI, in the context of acute operational blast exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela M. Boutté
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Bharani Thangavelu
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Christina R. LaValle
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey Nemes
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Janice Gilsdorf
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Deborah A. Shear
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gary H. Kamimori
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
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Chen T, Smith K, Jiang S, Zhang T, Gan RZ. Progressive hearing damage after exposure to repeated low-intensity blasts in chinchillas. Hear Res 2019; 378:33-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2019.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Yang B, Fritsche KL, Beversdorf DQ, Gu Z, Lee JC, Folk WR, Greenlief CM, Sun GY. Yin-Yang Mechanisms Regulating Lipid Peroxidation of Docosahexaenoic Acid and Arachidonic Acid in the Central Nervous System. Front Neurol 2019; 10:642. [PMID: 31275232 PMCID: PMC6591372 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Phospholipids in the central nervous system (CNS) are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Besides providing physical properties to cell membranes, these PUFAs are metabolically active and undergo turnover through the “deacylation-reacylation (Land's) cycle”. Recent studies suggest a Yin-Yang mechanism for metabolism of ARA and DHA, largely due to different phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) mediating their release. ARA and DHA are substrates of cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases resulting in an array of lipid mediators, which are pro-inflammatory and pro-resolving. The PUFAs are susceptible to peroxidation by oxygen free radicals, resulting in the production of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) from ARA and 4-hydroxyhexenal (4-HHE) from DHA. These alkenal electrophiles are reactive and capable of forming adducts with proteins, phospholipids and nucleic acids. The perceived cytotoxic and hormetic effects of these hydroxyl-alkenals have impacted cell signaling pathways, glucose metabolism and mitochondrial functions in chronic and inflammatory diseases. Due to the high levels of DHA and ARA in brain phospholipids, this review is aimed at providing information on the Yin-Yang mechanisms for regulating these PUFAs and their lipid peroxidation products in the CNS, and implications of their roles in neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Kevin L Fritsche
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - David Q Beversdorf
- Departments of Radiology, Neurology and Psychological Sciences, and the Thompson Center, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Zezong Gu
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - James C Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - William R Folk
- Biochemistry Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - C Michael Greenlief
- Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Grace Y Sun
- Biochemistry Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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Song H, Chen M, Chen C, Cui J, Johnson CE, Cheng J, Wang X, Swerdlow RH, DePalma RG, Xia W, Gu Z. Proteomic Analysis and Biochemical Correlates of Mitochondrial Dysfunction after Low-Intensity Primary Blast Exposure. J Neurotrauma 2019; 36:1591-1605. [PMID: 30484371 PMCID: PMC6909772 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.6114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Service members during military actions or combat training are frequently exposed to primary blasts by weaponry. Most studies have investigated moderate or severe brain injuries from blasts generating overpressures >100 kPa, whereas understanding the pathophysiology of low-intensity blast (LIB)-induced mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) leading to neurological deficits remains elusive. Our recent studies, using an open-field LIB-induced mTBI mouse model with a peak overpressure at 46.6 kPa, demonstrated behavioral impairments and brain nanoscale damages, notably mitochondrial and axonal ultrastructural changes. In this study, we used tandem mass tagged (TMT) quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics analysis to seek insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying ultrastructural pathology. Changes in global- and phospho-proteomes were determined at 3 and 24 h and at 7 and 30 days post injury (DPI), in order to investigate the biochemical and molecular correlates of mitochondrial dysfunction. Results showed striking dynamic changes in a total of 2216 proteins and 459 phosphorylated proteins at vary time points after blast. Disruption of key canonical pathways included evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, axonal/cytoskeletal/synaptic dysregulation, and neurodegeneration. Bioinformatic analysis identified blast-induced trends in networks related to cellular growth/development/movement/assembly and cell-to-cell signaling interactions. With observations of proteomic changes, we found LIB-induced oxidative stress associated with mitochondrial dysfunction mainly at 7 and 30 DPI. These dysfunctions included impaired fission-fusion dynamics, diminished mitophagy, decreased oxidative phosphorylation, and compensated respiration-relevant enzyme activities. Insights on the early pathogenesis of primary LIB-induced brain damage provide a template for further characterization of its chronic effects, identification of potential biomarkers, and targets for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailong Song
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Mei Chen
- Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Computer Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Jiankun Cui
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Catherine E. Johnson
- Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri
| | - Jianlin Cheng
- Department of Computer Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Xiaowan Wang
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Russell H. Swerdlow
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Ralph G. DePalma
- Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC
- Norman Rich Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Weiming Xia
- Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
| | - Zezong Gu
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri
- Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, Missouri
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Norins LC. The Beehive Theory: Role of microorganisms in late sequelae of traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Med Hypotheses 2019; 128:1-5. [PMID: 31203899 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2019.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy are both major health problems, well-publicized for the severe delayed effects attributed to them, including cognitive decline, psychiatric disorders, seizures, impaired motor function, and personality changes. For convenience, the two afflictions are considered together under the rubric traumatic brain injury. Despite the need for neuroprotective agents, no substances have shown efficacy in clinical studies. Thus, a deeper understanding of the neuropathological mechanism of such injury is still needed. Proposed here is a theory that microorganisms from within the brain and elsewhere in the body contribute to the long-term neurological deterioration characteristic of traumatic brain injury. The label, "The Beehive Theory", is drawn from the well-known fact that disturbing a tranquil beehive with a blow can cause a swarm of angry bees to exit their dwelling place and attack nearby humans. Similarly, an impact to the head can initiate dislocations and disruptions in the microbiota present in the brain and body. First, since the normal human brain is not sterile, but is host to a variety of microorganisms, blows to the skull may dislodge them from their accustomed local environments, in which they have been living in quiet equilibrium with neighboring brain cells. Deleterious substances may be released by the displaced microbes, including metabolic products and antigens. Second, upon impact commensal microbes already resident on surfaces of the nose, mouth, and eyes, and potentially harmful organisms from the environment, may gain access to the brain through the distal ends of the olfactory and optic nerves or even a disrupted blood-brain barrier. Third, microbes dwelling in more distant parts of the body may be propelled through the walls of local blood vessels into the bloodstream, and then leak out into damaged areas of the brain that have increased blood-brain barrier permeability. Fourth, the impact may cause dysbiosis in the gastrointestinal microbiome, thereby disrupting signaling via the gut-brain axis. Possible preventatives or therapeutics that would address the adverse contributions of microbes to the late sequelae of traumatic brain injury include anti-inflammatories, antibacterials, antivirals, and probiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie C Norins
- Alzheimer's Germ Quest, Inc., 4301 Gulfshore Blvd, Suite 1404, Naples, FL 34103, USA.
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Konan LM, Song H, Pentecost G, Fogwe D, Ndam T, Cui J, Johnson CE, Grant D, White T, Chen M, Xia W, Cernak I, DePalma RG, Gu Z. Multi-Focal Neuronal Ultrastructural Abnormalities and Synaptic Alterations in Mice after Low-Intensity Blast Exposure. J Neurotrauma 2019; 36:2117-2128. [PMID: 30667346 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.6260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Service members during military actions or combat training are exposed frequently to primary blast generated by explosive weaponry. The majority of military-related neurotrauma are classified as mild and designated as "invisible injuries" that are prevalent during current conflicts. While the previous experimental blast injury studies using moderate- to high-intensity exposures focused mainly on gross and microscopic neuropathology, our previous studies have shown that low-intensity blast (LIB) exposures resulted in nanoscale subcellular myelin and mitochondrial damages and subsequent behavioral disorders in the absence of gross or detectable cellular damage. In this study, we used transmission electron microscopy to delineate the LIB effects at the ultrastructural level specifically focusing on the neuron perikaryon, axons, and synapses in the cortex and hippocampus of mice at seven and 30 days post-injury (DPI). We found dysmorphic dark neuronal perikaryon and "cytoplasmic aeration" of dendritic processes, as well as increased microtubular fragmentation of the myelinated axons along with biochemically measured elevated tau/phosphorylated tau/Aβ levels. The number of cortical excitatory synapses decreased along with a compensatory increase of the post-synaptic density (PSD) thickness both at seven and 30 DPI, while the amount of hippocampal CA1 synapses increased with the reduced PSD thickness. In addition, we observed a significant increase in protein levels of PSD95 and synaptophysin mainly at seven DPI indicating potential synaptic reorganization. These results demonstrated that a single LIB exposure can lead to ultrastructural brain injury with accompanying multi-focal neuronal organelle alterations. This pre-clinical study provides key insights into disease pathogenesis related to primary blast exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Landry M Konan
- 1 Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Hailong Song
- 1 Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Genevieve Pentecost
- 1 Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Delvise Fogwe
- 1 Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Tina Ndam
- 1 Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Jiankun Cui
- 1 Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri.,7 Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Catherine E Johnson
- 2 Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri
| | - DeAna Grant
- 3 Electron Microscopy Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Tommi White
- 3 Electron Microscopy Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Mei Chen
- 4 Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts; Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Weiming Xia
- 4 Bedford VA Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts; Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ibolja Cernak
- 5 STARR-C (Stress, Trauma and Resilience Research Consulting) LLC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ralph G DePalma
- 6 Norman Rich Department of Surgery, Uniformed University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland; Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC
| | - Zezong Gu
- 1 Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri.,7 Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, Missouri
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Hou Y, Wang X, Chen X, Zhang J, Ai X, Liang Y, Yu Y, Zhang Y, Meng X, Kuang T, Hu Y. Establishment and evaluation of a simulated high‑altitude hypoxic brain injury model in SD rats. Mol Med Rep 2019; 19:2758-2766. [PMID: 30720143 PMCID: PMC6423628 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.9939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to establish a stable hypobaric hypoxia brain injury model. SD rats were randomly separated into control and model groups, and placed outside or inside of a hypobaric chamber, respectively. Subsequent to 24 h anoxic exposure, plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured using commercial biochemical kits. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), Nissl's and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining were used to observe the morphology of neurons in the hippocampus. The protein expression levels of apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and cytochrome c (cyto-c) were detected using western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses. Hypoxic substantially induced morphological lesions in the hippocampus concomitant with the physical behavioral performance deficit. Furthermore, hypoxia markedly exacerbated the levels of MDA, LDH and GSSG, and restrained GSH (P<0.01) and SOD (P<0.05) levels compared with the control group. In addition, hypoxia significantly induced the protein expression of Apaf-1, HIF-1α, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, Bax and Cyto-c (P<0.01) compared with the control group. Finally, a lower number and volume of Nissl bodies were verified in the hypoxic group. TUNEL results demonstrated a greater number of apoptotic cells in the hypoxic group. The present study demonstrates a model of rat hypoxic brain injuries induced by a hypobaric chamber at 9,000 m for 24 h. Furthermore, the redox enzyme, HIF-1α and mitochondrial apoptosis-associated protein, along with H&E and Nissl's staining, may be applied to evaluate the degree of injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Hou
- Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China
| | - Xiaorui Chen
- Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Tibetan Medicine, Ethnic Medicine College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China
| | - Xiaopeng Ai
- Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China
| | - Yusheng Liang
- Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China
| | - Yangyang Yu
- Department of Tibetan Medicine, Ethnic Medicine College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Tibetan Medicine, Ethnic Medicine College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China
| | - Xianli Meng
- Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China
| | - Tingting Kuang
- Department of Tibetan Medicine, Ethnic Medicine College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China
| | - Yao Hu
- Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wenjiang, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China
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Clark AL, Merritt VC, Bigler ED, Bangen KJ, Werhane M, Sorg SF, Bondi MW, Schiehser DM, Delano-Wood L. Blast-Exposed Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Show Greater Frontal Cortical Thinning and Poorer Executive Functioning. Front Neurol 2018; 9:873. [PMID: 30473678 PMCID: PMC6237912 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Blast exposure (BE) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) have been independently linked to pathological brain changes. However, the combined effects of BE and mTBI on brain structure have yet to be characterized. Therefore, we investigated whether regional differences in cortical thickness exist between mTBI Veterans with and without BE while on deployment. We also examined whether cortical thickness (CT) and cognitive performance differed among mTBI Veterans with low vs. high levels of cumulative BE. Methods: 80 Veterans with mTBI underwent neuroimaging and completed neuropsychological testing and self-report symptom rating scales. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare blast-exposed Veterans (mTBI+BE, n = 51) to those without BE (mTBI-BE, n = 29) on CT of frontal and temporal a priori regions of interest (ROIs). Next, multiple regression analyses were used to examine whether CT and performance on an executive functions composite differed among mTBI Veterans with low (mTBI+BE Low, n = 22) vs. high (mTBI+BE High, n = 26) levels of cumulative BE. Results: Adjusting for age, numer of TBIs, and PTSD symptoms, the mTBI+BE group showed significant cortical thinning in frontal regions (i.e., left orbitofrontal cortex [p = 0.045], left middle frontal gyrus [p = 0.023], and right inferior frontal gyrus [p = 0.034]) compared to the mTBI-BE group. No significant group differences in CT were observed for temporal regions (p's > 0.05). Multiple regression analyses revealed a significant cumulative BE × CT interaction for the left orbitofrontal cortex (p = 0.001) and left middle frontal gyrus (p = 0.020); reduced CT was associated with worse cognitive performance in the mTBI+BE High group but not the mTBI+BE Low group. Conclusions: Findings show that Veterans with mTBI and BE may be at risk for cortical thinning post-deployment. Moreover, our results demonstrate that reductions in CT are associated with worse executive functioning among Veterans with high levels of cumulative BE. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether BE exacerbates mTBI-related cortical thinning or independently negatively influences gray matter structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L. Clark
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego (SDSU/UCSD) Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
| | | | - Erin D. Bigler
- Department of Psychology and the Neuroscience Center, Brigham and Young University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Katherine J. Bangen
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Madeleine Werhane
- San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego (SDSU/UCSD) Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Scott F. Sorg
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Mark W. Bondi
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Dawn M. Schiehser
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Lisa Delano-Wood
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
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37
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Chiroma SM, Hidayat Baharuldin MT, Mat Taib CN, Amom Z, Jagadeesan S, Adenan MI, Mohd Moklas MA. Protective effect of Centella asiatica against D-galactose and aluminium chloride induced rats: Behavioral and ultrastructural approaches. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 109:853-864. [PMID: 30551539 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.10.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the commonest cause of dementia among the aged people. D-galactose (D-gal) is a senescence agent, while aluminium is a known neurotoxin linked to pathogenesis of AD. The combined administration of rats with d-gal and aluminium chloride (AlCl3) is considered to be an easy and a cheap method to obtain an animal model of AD. The plant Centella asiatica (CA) is reported to exert neuroprotective effects both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, this study explored the protective effects of CA on cognition and brain ultrastructure in d-gal and AlCl3 induced rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Rats were exposed to d-gal 60 mg/kg/b.wt/day + AlCl3 200 mg/kg/b.wt/day and CA (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg/b.wt/day) and 1 mg/kg/b.wt/day of donepezil for 70 days. Different cognitive paradigms viz. T maze spontaneous alternation, modified elevated plus maze and novel object recognition test, were used to evaluate full lesions of the hippocampus, spatial learning and memory and non-spatial learning and memory respectively. Nissl's staining was used to determine the survival of hippocampus CA1 pyramidal cells, while transmission electron microscopy was used to check the ultrastructural changes. RESULTS The results revealed that d-gal and AlCl3 could significantly impair behavior and cognitive functions, besides causing damage to the hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in rats. In addition, it also caused ultrastructural morphological alterations in rat hippocampus. Conversely, co-administration o;f CA, irrespective of the dosage used, alleviated the cognitive impairments and pathological changes in the rats comparable to donepezil. CONCLUSION In conclusion the results suggest that CA could protect cognitive impairments and morphological alterations caused by d-gal and AlCl3 toxicity in rats. Biochemical and molecular studies are ongoing to elucidate the probable pharmacodynamics of CA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samaila Musa Chiroma
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
| | | | - Che Norma Mat Taib
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Saravanan Jagadeesan
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Human Anatomy, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Sungai Long, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Ilham Adenan
- Atta-ur-Rahman Institute for Natural Product Discovery, UiTM Puncak Alam, Malaysia
| | - Mohamad Aris Mohd Moklas
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
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38
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Song H, Konan LM, Cui J, Johnson CE, Hubler GK, DePalma RG, Gu Z. Nanometer ultrastructural brain damage following low intensity primary blast wave exposure. Neural Regen Res 2018; 13:1516-1519. [PMID: 30127104 PMCID: PMC6126131 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.237110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is of particular concern among military personnel due to exposure to blast energy during military training and combat. The impact of primary low-intensity blast mediated pathophysiology upon later neurobehavioral disorders has been controversial. Developing a military preclinical blast model to simulate the pathophysiology of human blast injury is an important first step. This article provides an overview of primary blast effects and perspectives of our recent studies demonstrating ultrastructural changes in the brain and behavioral disorders resulting from open-field blast exposures up to 46.6 kPa using a murine model. The model is scalable and permits exposure to varying magnitudes of primary blast injuries by placing animals at different distances from the blast center or by changing the amount of C4 charge. We here review the implications and future applications and directions of using this animal model to uncover the underlying mechanisms related to primary blast injury. Overall, these studies offer the prospect of enhanced understanding of the pathogenesis of primary low-intensity blast-induced TBI and insights for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of blast induced TBI, particularly mTBI/concussion related to current combat exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailong Song
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Landry M Konan
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Jiankun Cui
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine; Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Catherine E Johnson
- Department of Mining and Nuclear Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, USA
| | - Graham K Hubler
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Ralph G DePalma
- Office of Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Zezong Gu
- Department of Pathology & Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri School of Medicine; Truman VA Hospital Research Service, Columbia, MO, USA
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