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Norris C, Murphy SF, Talty CE, VandeVord PJ. Spatial Intracranial Pressure Fields Driven by Blast Overpressure in Rats. Ann Biomed Eng 2024:10.1007/s10439-024-03544-7. [PMID: 38851659 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-024-03544-7] [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: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Free-field blast exposure imparts a complex, dynamic response within brain tissue that can trigger a cascade of lasting neurological deficits. Full body mechanical and physiological factors are known to influence the body's adaptation to this seemingly instantaneous insult, making it difficult to accurately pinpoint the brain injury mechanisms. This study examined the intracranial pressure (ICP) profile characteristics in a rat model as a function of blast overpressure magnitude and brain location. Metrics such as peak rate of change of pressure, peak pressure, rise time, and ICP frequency response were found to vary spatially throughout the brain, independent of blast magnitude, emphasizing unique spatial pressure fields as a primary biomechanical component to blast injury. This work discusses the ICP characteristics and considerations for finite element models, in vitro models, and translational in vivo models to improve understanding of biomechanics during primary blast exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Norris
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Susan F Murphy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salem, VA, USA
| | - Caiti-Erin Talty
- Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine and Health, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Pamela J VandeVord
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salem, VA, USA.
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2
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Zhu X, Chu X, Wang H, Liao Z, Xiang H, Zhao W, Yang L, Wu P, Liu X, Chen D, Xie J, Dai W, Li L, Wang J, Zhao H. Investigating neuropathological changes and underlying neurobiological mechanisms in the early stages of primary blast-induced traumatic brain injury: Insights from a rat model. Exp Neurol 2024; 375:114731. [PMID: 38373483 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
The utilization of explosives and chemicals has resulted in a rise in blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) in recent times. However, there is a dearth of diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for bTBI due to a limited understanding of biological mechanisms, particularly in the early stages. The objective of this study was to examine the early neuropathological characteristics and underlying biological mechanisms of primary bTBI. A total of 83 Sprague Dawley rats were employed, with their heads subjected to a blast shockwave of peak overpressure ranging from 172 to 421 kPa in the GI, GII, and GIII groups within a closed shock tube, while the body was shielded. Neuromotor dysfunctions, morphological changes, and neuropathological alterations were detected through modified neurologic severity scores, brain water content analysis, MRI scans, histological, TUNEL, and caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining. In addition, label-free quantitative (LFQ)-proteomics was utilized to investigate the biological mechanisms associated with the observed neuropathology. Notably, no evident damage was discernible in the GII and GI groups, whereas mild brain injury was observed in the GIII group. Neuropathological features of bTBI were characterized by morphologic changes, including neuronal injury and apoptosis, cerebral edema, and cerebrovascular injury in the shockwave's path. Subsequently, 3153 proteins were identified and quantified in the GIII group, with subsequent enriched neurological responses consistent with pathological findings. Further analysis revealed that signaling pathways such as relaxin signaling, hippo signaling, gap junction, chemokine signaling, and sphingolipid signaling, as well as hub proteins including Prkacb, Adcy5, and various G-protein subunits (Gnai2, Gnai3, Gnao1, Gnb1, Gnb2, Gnb4, and Gnb5), were closely associated with the observed neuropathology. The expression of hub proteins was confirmed via Western blotting. Accordingly, this study proposes signaling pathways and key proteins that exhibit sensitivity to brain injury and are correlated with the early pathologies of bTBI. Furthermore, it highlights the significance of G-protein subunits in bTBI pathophysiology, thereby establishing a theoretical foundation for early diagnosis and treatment strategies for primary bTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyan Zhu
- Department of Military Traffic Injury Prevention and Control, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiang Chu
- Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders Translational Medicine Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Emergency department, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Neurosurgery department, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhikang Liao
- Department of Military Traffic Injury Prevention and Control, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongyi Xiang
- Department of Military Traffic Injury Prevention and Control, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenbing Zhao
- Department of Military Traffic Injury Prevention and Control, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Yang
- Department of Military Traffic Injury Prevention and Control, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Pengfei Wu
- Department of Military Traffic Injury Prevention and Control, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xing Liu
- Department of Military Traffic Injury Prevention and Control, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Diyou Chen
- Department of Military Traffic Injury Prevention and Control, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingru Xie
- Department of Military Traffic Injury Prevention and Control, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Dai
- Department of Military Traffic Injury Prevention and Control, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lei Li
- Trauma Medical Center, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jianmin Wang
- Department of Weapon Bioeffect Assessment, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Military Traffic Injury Prevention and Control, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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3
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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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4
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Sajja V, Shoge R, McNeil E, Van Albert S, Wilder D, Long J. Comparison of Biomechanical Outcome Measures From Characteristically Different Blast Simulators and the Influence of Exposure Location. Mil Med 2023; 188:288-294. [PMID: 37948259 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usad111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Simulation of blast exposure in the laboratory has been inconsistent across laboratories. This is primarily because of adoption of the shock wave-generation techniques that are used in aerodynamic tests as opposed to application of blast exposures that are relevant to combat and training environments of a Warfighter. Because of the differences in blast signatures, characteristically different pathological consequences are observed among the preclinical studies. This is also further confounded by the varied exposure positioning of the animal subject (e.g., inside the blast simulator vs. at the mouth of the simulator). In this study, we compare biomechanical responses to blast exposures created in an advanced blast simulator (ABS) that generates "free-field"-like blast exposure with those produced by a traditionally applied cylindrical blast simulator (CBS) that generates a characteristically different blast signature. In addition, we have tested soft-armor vest protective responses with the ABS and CBS to compare the biomechanical responses to this form of personal protective equipment in each setting in a rodent model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6) were surgically probed with an intrathoracic pressure (ITP) transducer and an intracranial pressure (ICP) transducer directed into the lateral cerebral ventricle (Millar, Inc.). An ABS for short-duration blast or a CBS for long-duration blast was used to expose animals to an incident blast overpressure of 14.14 psi (impulse: 30.27 psi*msec) or 16.3 psi (impulse: 71.9 psi*msec) using a custom-made holder (n = 3-4/group). An external pitot probe located near the animal was used to measure the total pressure (tip) and static gauge (side-on) pressure. Data were recorded using a TMX-18 data acquisition system (AstroNova Inc.). MATLAB was used to analyze the recordings to identify the peak amplitudes and rise times of the pressure traces. Peak ICP, peak ITP, and their impulses were normalized by expressing them relative to the associated peak static pressure. RESULTS Normalized impulse (ABS: 1.02 ± 0.03 [vest] vs. 1.02 ± 0.01 [no-vest]; CBS: 1.21 ± 0.07 [vest] vs. 1.01 ± 0.01 [no-vest]) and peak pressure for ICP (ABS: 1.03 ± 0.03 [vest] vs. 0.99 ± 0.04 [no-vest]; CBS: 1.06 ± 0.08 [vest] vs. 1.13 ± 0.06 [no-vest]) remained unaltered when comparisons are made between vest and no-vest groups, and the normalized peak ITP (ABS: 1.50 ± 0.02 [vest] vs. 1.24 ± 0.16 [no-vest]; CBS: 1.71 ± 0.20 [vest] vs. 1.37 ± 0.06 [no-vest]) showed a trend of an increase in the vest group compared to the no-vest group. However, impulses in short-duration ABS (0.94 ± 0.06 [vest] vs. 0.92 ± 0.13 [no-vest]) blast remained unaltered, whereas a significant increase of ITP impulse (1.21 ± 0.07 [vest] vs. 1.17 ± 0.01 [no-vest]) in CBS was observed. CONCLUSIONS The differences in the biomechanical response between ABS and CBS could be potentially attributed to the higher dynamic pressures that are imparted from long-duration CBS blasts, which could lead to chest compression and rapid acceleration/deceleration. In addition, ICP and ITP responses occur independently of each other, with no evidence of thoracic surge.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elizabeth McNeil
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | | | - Donna Wilder
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Joseph Long
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
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5
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Muresanu DF, Sharma A, Tian ZR, Lafuente JV, Nozari A, Feng L, Buzoianu AD, Wiklund L, Sharma HS. Nanowired Delivery of Cerebrolysin with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuates Heat Stress-Induced Exacerbation of Neuropathology Following Brain Blast Injury. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 32:231-270. [PMID: 37480463 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-32997-5_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Blast brain injury (bBI) following explosive detonations in warfare is one of the prominent causes of multidimensional insults to the central nervous and other vital organs injury. Several military personnel suffered from bBI during the Middle East conflict at hot environment. The bBI largely occurs due to pressure waves, generation of heat together with release of shrapnel and gun powders explosion with penetrating and/or impact head trauma causing multiple brain damage. As a result, bBI-induced secondary injury causes breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and edema formation that further results in neuronal, glial and axonal injuries. Previously, we reported endocrine imbalance and influence of diabetes on bBI-induced brain pathology that was significantly attenuated by nanowired delivery of cerebrolysin in model experiments. Cerebrolysin is a balanced composition of several neurotrophic factors, and active peptide fragment is capable of neuroprotection in several neurological insults. Exposure to heat stress alone causes BBB damage, edema formation and brain pathology. Thus, it is quite likely that hot environment further exacerbates the consequences of bBI. Thus, novel therapeutic strategies using nanodelivery of stem cell and cerebrolysin may further enhance superior neuroprotection in bBI at hot environment. Our observations are the first to show that combined nanowired delivery of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and cerebrolysin significantly attenuated exacerbation of bBI in hot environment and induced superior neuroprotection, not reported earlier. The possible mechanisms of neuroprotection with MSCs and cerebrolysin in bBI are discussed in the light of current literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafin F Muresanu
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Medicine & Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- "RoNeuro" Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Aruna Sharma
- International Experimental Central Nervous System Injury & Repair (IECNSIR), Department of Surgical Sciences, Anesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Z Ryan Tian
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - José Vicente Lafuente
- LaNCE, Department of Neuroscience, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Ala Nozari
- Anesthesiology & Intensive Care, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lianyuan Feng
- Department of Neurology, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Zhongshan, Hebei Province, China
| | - Anca D Buzoianu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Lars Wiklund
- International Experimental Central Nervous System Injury & Repair (IECNSIR), Department of Surgical Sciences, Anesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hari Shanker Sharma
- International Experimental Central Nervous System Injury & Repair (IECNSIR), Department of Surgical Sciences, Anesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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6
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Rubio JE, Subramaniam DR, Unnikrishnan G, Sajja VSSS, Van Albert S, Rossetti F, Frock A, Nguyen G, Sundaramurthy A, Long JB, Reifman J. A biomechanical-based approach to scale blast-induced molecular changes in the brain. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14605. [PMID: 36028539 PMCID: PMC9418170 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17967-6] [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] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal studies provide valuable insights on how the interaction of blast waves with the head may injure the brain. However, there is no acceptable methodology to scale the findings from animals to humans. Here, we propose an experimental/computational approach to project observed blast-induced molecular changes in the rat brain to the human brain. Using a shock tube, we exposed rats to a range of blast overpressures (BOPs) and used a high-fidelity computational model of a rat head to correlate predicted biomechanical responses with measured changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in rat brain tissues. Our analyses revealed correlates between model-predicted strain rate and measured GFAP changes in three brain regions. Using these correlates and a high-fidelity computational model of a human head, we determined the equivalent BOPs in rats and in humans that induced similar strain rates across the two species. We used the equivalent BOPs to project the measured GFAP changes in the rat brain to the human. Our results suggest that, relative to the rat, the human requires an exposure to a blast wave of a higher magnitude to elicit similar brain-tissue responses. Our proposed methodology could assist in the development of safety guidelines for blast exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose E Rubio
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., 6720-A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Dhananjay Radhakrishnan Subramaniam
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., 6720-A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Ginu Unnikrishnan
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., 6720-A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Venkata Siva Sai Sujith Sajja
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Stephen Van Albert
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Franco Rossetti
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Andrew Frock
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., 6720-A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Giang Nguyen
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., 6720-A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Aravind Sundaramurthy
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.,The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., 6720-A Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Joseph B Long
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Jaques Reifman
- Department of Defense Biotechnology High Performance Computing Software Applications Institute, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, ATTN: FCMR-TT, 504 Scott Street, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702-5012, USA.
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7
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Gama Sosa MA, De Gasperi R, Pryor D, Perez Garcia GS, Perez GM, Abutarboush R, Kawoos U, Hogg S, Ache B, Janssen WG, Sowa A, Tetreault T, Cook DG, Tappan SJ, Gandy S, Hof PR, Ahlers ST, Elder GA. Low-level blast exposure induces chronic vascular remodeling, perivascular astrocytic degeneration and vascular-associated neuroinflammation. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:167. [PMID: 34654480 PMCID: PMC8518227 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01269-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral vascular injury as a consequence of blast-induced traumatic brain injury is primarily the result of blast wave-induced mechanical disruptions within the neurovascular unit. In rodent models of blast-induced traumatic brain injury, chronic vascular degenerative processes are associated with the development of an age-dependent post-traumatic stress disorder-like phenotype. To investigate the evolution of blast-induced chronic vascular degenerative changes, Long-Evans rats were blast-exposed (3 × 74.5 kPa) and their brains analyzed at different times post-exposure by X-ray microcomputed tomography, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. On microcomputed tomography scans, regional cerebral vascular attenuation or occlusion was observed as early as 48 h post-blast, and cerebral vascular disorganization was visible at 6 weeks and more accentuated at 13 months post-blast. Progression of the late-onset pathology was characterized by detachment of the endothelial and smooth muscle cellular elements from the neuropil due to degeneration and loss of arteriolar perivascular astrocytes. Development of this pathology was associated with vascular remodeling and neuroinflammation as increased levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), collagen type IV loss, and microglial activation were observed in the affected vasculature. Blast-induced chronic alterations within the neurovascular unit should affect cerebral blood circulation, glymphatic flow and intramural periarterial drainage, all of which may contribute to development of the blast-induced behavioral phenotype. Our results also identify astrocytic degeneration as a potential target for the development of therapies to treat blast-induced brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Gama Sosa
- General Medical Research Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Rita De Gasperi
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 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
| | - Dylan Pryor
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
| | - Georgina S Perez Garcia
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 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
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, 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 Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Usmah Kawoos
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Seth Hogg
- Micro Photonics, Inc, 1550 Pond Road, Suite 110, Allentown, PA, 18104, USA
| | - Benjamin Ache
- Micro Photonics, Inc, 1550 Pond Road, Suite 110, Allentown, PA, 18104, USA
| | - William G Janssen
- Friedman Brain Institute, 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
| | - Allison Sowa
- Friedman Brain Institute, 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
| | | | - 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
| | - Susan J Tappan
- MBF Bioscience LLC, 185 Allen Brook Lane, Williston, VT, 05495, USA
| | - Sam Gandy
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 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
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- 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
- NFL Neurological Care Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Friedman Brain Institute, 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
- 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
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Stephen T Ahlers
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Gregory A Elder
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- 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
- Neurology Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA
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