A low-cost mouse cage warming system provides improved intra-ischemic and post-ischemic body temperature control - Application for reducing variability in experimental stroke studies

Single-cell analysis identifies Ifi27l2a as a novel gene regulator of microglial inflammation in the context of aging and stroke

Microglia are key mediators of inflammatory responses within the brain, as they regulate pro-inflammatory responses while also limiting neuroinflammation via reparative phagocytosis. Thus, identifying genes that modulate microglial function may reveal novel therapeutic interventions for promoting better outcomes in diseases featuring extensive inflammation, such as stroke. To facilitate identification of potential mediators of inflammation, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of aged mouse brains following stroke and found that Ifi27l2a was significantly up-regulated, particularly in microglia. The increased Ifi27l2a expression was further validated in microglial culture, stroke models with microglial depletion, and human autopsy samples. Ifi27l2a is known to be induced by interferons for viral host defense, however the role of Ifi27l2a in neurodegeneration is unknown. In vitro studies in cultured microglia demonstrated that Ifi27l2a overexpression causes neuroinflammation via reactive oxygen species. Interestingly, hemizygous deletion of Ifi27l2a significantly reduced gliosis in the thalamus following stroke, while also reducing neuroinflammation, indicating Ifi27l2a gene dosage is a critical mediator of neuroinflammation in ischemic stroke. Collectively, this study demonstrates that a novel gene, Ifi27l2a, regulates microglial function and neuroinflammation in the aged brain and following stroke. These findings suggest that Ifi27l2a may be a novel target for conferring cerebral protection post-stroke.

Measurement of Uninterrupted Cerebral Blood Flow by Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI) During the Mouse Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model by an Inverted LSCI Setup

Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) offers the ability to measure relative cerebral blood flow (CBF) through the intact skull in mice. LSCI can be used to measure changes in cortical CBF in the middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAo/R) stroke model. However, because conventional LSCI approaches are designed to image from above, uninterrupted measurement of CBF during the MCAo/R procedure is not possible due to the need to repeatedly reposition the mouse between prone and supine positions. We present a modified method to perform LSCI measurement from beneath the surgical preparation, thus allowing uninterrupted measurement of relative CBF from baseline through re-introduction of blood flow. We provide a 3D printable imaging platform and corresponding head frame, as well as methods to improve skull clarity in young and aged mice.

Increased Expression of Interferon-Induced Transmembrane 3 (IFITM3) in Stroke and Other Inflammatory Conditions in the Brain

Microglia, the resident innate immune cells of the brain, become more highly reactive with aging and diseased conditions. In collaboration with other cell types in brains, microglia can contribute both to worsened outcome following stroke or other neurodegenerative diseases and to the recovery process by changing their phenotype toward reparative microglia. Recently, IFITM3 (a member of the "interferon-inducible transmembrane" family) has been revealed as a molecular mediator between amyloid pathology and neuroinflammation. Expression of IFITM3 in glial cells, especially microglia following stroke, is not well described. Here, we present evidence that ischemic stroke causes an increase in IFITM3 expression along with increased microglial activation marker genes in aged brains. To further validate the induction of IFITM3 in post-stroke brains, primary microglia and microglial-like cells were exposed to a variety of inflammatory conditions, which significantly induced IFITM3 as well as other inflammatory markers. These findings suggest the critical role of IFITM3 in inducing inflammation. Our findings on the expression of IFITM3 in microglia and in aged brains following stroke could establish the basic foundations for the role of IFITM3 in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly those that are prevalent or enhanced in the aged brain.