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van Hameren G, Aboghazleh R, Parker E, Dreier JP, Kaufer D, Friedman A. From spreading depolarization to blood-brain barrier dysfunction: navigating traumatic brain injury for novel diagnosis and therapy. Nat Rev Neurol 2024; 20:408-425. [PMID: 38886512 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-024-00973-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Considerable strides in medical interventions during the acute phase of traumatic brain injury (TBI) have brought improved overall survival rates. However, following TBI, people often face ongoing, persistent and debilitating long-term complications. Here, we review the recent literature to propose possible mechanisms that lead from TBI to long-term complications, focusing particularly on the involvement of a compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB). We discuss evidence for the role of spreading depolarization as a key pathological mechanism associated with microvascular dysfunction and the transformation of astrocytes to an inflammatory phenotype. Finally, we summarize new predictive and diagnostic biomarkers and explore potential therapeutic targets for treating long-term complications of TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerben van Hameren
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Brain Repair Center, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Refat Aboghazleh
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Brain Repair Center, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, Jordan
| | - Ellen Parker
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Brain Repair Center, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Dalhousie University QEII Health Sciences Centre, Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Jens P Dreier
- Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniela Kaufer
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Alon Friedman
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Brain Repair Center, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
- Department of Cell Biology, Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Zelman Inter-Disciplinary Center of Brain Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
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2
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Visser K, Ciubotariu D, de Koning ME, Jacobs B, van Faassen M, van der Ley C, Mayer AR, Meier TB, Bourgonje AR, Kema IP, van Goor H, van der Naalt J, van der Horn HJ. Exploring the kynurenine pathway in mild traumatic brain injury: A longitudinal study. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38770668 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
A potential source of novel biomarkers for mTBI is the kynurenine pathway (KP), a metabolic pathway of tryptophan (Trp), that is up-regulated by neuroinflammation and stress. Considering that metabolites of the KP (kynurenines) are implicated in various neuropsychiatric diseases, exploration of this pathway could potentially bridge the gap between physiological and psychological factors in the recovery process after mTBI. This study, therefore, set out to characterize the KP after mTBI and to examine associations with long-term outcome. Patients were prospectively recruited at the emergency department (ED), and blood samples were obtained in the acute phase (<24 h; N = 256) and at 1-month follow-up (N = 146). A comparison group of healthy controls (HC; N = 32) was studied at both timepoints. Trp, kynurenines, and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were quantified in plasma. Clinical outcome was measured at six months post-injury. Trp, xanthurenic acid (XA), and picolinic acid (PA) were significantly reduced in patients with mTBI relative to HC, corrected for age and sex. For Trp (d = -0.57 vs. d = -0.29) and XA (d = -0.98 vs. d = -0.32), larger effects sizes were observed during the acute phase compared to one-month follow-up, while for PA (d = -0.49 vs. d = -0.52) effect sizes remained consistent. Findings for other kynurenines (e.g., kynurenine, kynurenic acid, and quinolinic acid) were non-significant after correction for multiple testing. Within the mTBI group, lower acute Trp levels were significantly related to incomplete functional recovery and higher depression scores at 6 months post-injury. No significant relationships were found for Trp, XA, and PA with IL-6 or IL-10 concentrations. In conclusion, our findings indicate that perturbations of the plasma KP in the hyperacute phase of mTBI and 1 month later are limited to the precursor Trp, and glutamate system modulating kynurenines XA and PA. Correlations between acute reductions of Trp and unfavorable outcomes may suggest a potential substrate for pharmacological intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen Visser
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Diana Ciubotariu
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Myrthe E de Koning
- Department of Neurology, Medical Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Jacobs
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn van Faassen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Claude van der Ley
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew R Mayer
- The Mind Research Network and LBERI, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Timothy B Meier
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Arno R Bourgonje
- The Henry D. Janowitz Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ido P Kema
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Harry van Goor
- Division of Pathology of the Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joukje van der Naalt
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Harm J van der Horn
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- The Mind Research Network and LBERI, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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3
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Blaschke SJ, Rautenberg N, Endepols H, Jendro A, Konrad J, Vlachakis S, Wiedermann D, Schroeter M, Hoffmann B, Merkel R, Marklund N, Fink GR, Rueger MA. Early Blood-Brain Barrier Impairment as a Pathological Hallmark in a Novel Model of Closed-Head Concussive Brain Injury (CBI) in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4837. [PMID: 38732053 PMCID: PMC11084321 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094837] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Concussion, caused by a rotational acceleration/deceleration injury mild enough to avoid structural brain damage, is insufficiently captured in recent preclinical models, hampering the relation of pathophysiological findings on the cellular level to functional and behavioral deficits. We here describe a novel model of unrestrained, single vs. repetitive concussive brain injury (CBI) in male C56Bl/6j mice. Longitudinal behavioral assessments were conducted for up to seven days afterward, alongside the evaluation of structural cerebral integrity by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, 9.4 T), and validated ex vivo by histology. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity was analyzed by means of fluorescent dextran- as well as immunoglobulin G (IgG) extravasation, and neuroinflammatory processes were characterized both in vivo by positron emission tomography (PET) using [18F]DPA-714 and ex vivo using immunohistochemistry. While a single CBI resulted in a defined, subacute neuropsychiatric phenotype, longitudinal cognitive testing revealed a marked decrease in spatial cognition, most pronounced in mice subjected to CBI at high frequency (every 48 h). Functional deficits were correlated to a parallel disruption of the BBB, (R2 = 0.29, p < 0.01), even detectable by a significant increase in hippocampal uptake of [18F]DPA-714, which was not due to activation of microglia, as confirmed immunohistochemically. Featuring a mild but widespread disruption of the BBB without evidence of macroscopic damage, this model induces a characteristic neuro-psychiatric phenotype that correlates to the degree of BBB disruption. Based on these findings, the BBB may function as both a biomarker of CBI severity and as a potential treatment target to improve recovery from concussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan J. Blaschke
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany; (N.R.); (A.J.); (M.S.); (G.R.F.); (M.A.R.)
- Cognitive Neuroscience Section, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Juelich, 52428 Juelich, Germany
| | - Nora Rautenberg
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany; (N.R.); (A.J.); (M.S.); (G.R.F.); (M.A.R.)
- Cognitive Neuroscience Section, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Juelich, 52428 Juelich, Germany
| | - Heike Endepols
- Institute of Radiochemistry and Experimental Molecular Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany;
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Nuclear Chemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-5), Research Centre Juelich, 52428 Juelich, Germany
| | - Aileen Jendro
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany; (N.R.); (A.J.); (M.S.); (G.R.F.); (M.A.R.)
| | - Jens Konrad
- Mechanobiology, Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-2), Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany; (J.K.); (B.H.); (R.M.)
| | - Susan Vlachakis
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany; (N.R.); (A.J.); (M.S.); (G.R.F.); (M.A.R.)
| | - Dirk Wiedermann
- Multimodal Imaging Group, Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Michael Schroeter
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany; (N.R.); (A.J.); (M.S.); (G.R.F.); (M.A.R.)
- Cognitive Neuroscience Section, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Juelich, 52428 Juelich, Germany
| | - Bernd Hoffmann
- Mechanobiology, Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-2), Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany; (J.K.); (B.H.); (R.M.)
| | - Rudolf Merkel
- Mechanobiology, Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-2), Research Centre Juelich, 52425 Juelich, Germany; (J.K.); (B.H.); (R.M.)
| | - Niklas Marklund
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Neurosurgery, Lund University, 221 85 Lund, Sweden;
| | - Gereon R. Fink
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany; (N.R.); (A.J.); (M.S.); (G.R.F.); (M.A.R.)
- Cognitive Neuroscience Section, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Juelich, 52428 Juelich, Germany
| | - Maria A. Rueger
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Cologne, 50923 Cologne, Germany; (N.R.); (A.J.); (M.S.); (G.R.F.); (M.A.R.)
- Cognitive Neuroscience Section, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Juelich, 52428 Juelich, Germany
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Koupourtidou C, Schwarz V, Aliee H, Frerich S, Fischer-Sternjak J, Bocchi R, Simon-Ebert T, Bai X, Sirko S, Kirchhoff F, Dichgans M, Götz M, Theis FJ, Ninkovic J. Shared inflammatory glial cell signature after stab wound injury, revealed by spatial, temporal, and cell-type-specific profiling of the murine cerebral cortex. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2866. [PMID: 38570482 PMCID: PMC10991294 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46625-w] [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: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury leads to a highly orchestrated immune- and glial cell response partially responsible for long-lasting disability and the development of secondary neurodegenerative diseases. A holistic understanding of the mechanisms controlling the responses of specific cell types and their crosstalk is required to develop an efficient strategy for better regeneration. Here, we combine spatial and single-cell transcriptomics to chart the transcriptomic signature of the injured male murine cerebral cortex, and identify specific states of different glial cells contributing to this signature. Interestingly, distinct glial cells share a large fraction of injury-regulated genes, including inflammatory programs downstream of the innate immune-associated pathways Cxcr3 and Tlr1/2. Systemic manipulation of these pathways decreases the reactivity state of glial cells associated with poor regeneration. The functional relevance of the discovered shared signature of glial cells highlights the importance of our resource enabling comprehensive analysis of early events after brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Koupourtidou
- Chair of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Veronika Schwarz
- Chair of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hananeh Aliee
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Simon Frerich
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Judith Fischer-Sternjak
- Chair of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Riccardo Bocchi
- Chair of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tatiana Simon-Ebert
- Chair of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Xianshu Bai
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
- Center for Gender-specific Biology and Medicine (CGBM), University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
| | - Swetlana Sirko
- Chair of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
- Center for Gender-specific Biology and Medicine (CGBM), University of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
- Experimental Research Center for Normal and Pathological Aging, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349, Craiova, Romania
| | - Martin Dichgans
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology SYNERGY, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany
| | - Magdalena Götz
- Chair of Physiological Genomics, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology SYNERGY, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fabian J Theis
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Department of Mathematics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jovica Ninkovic
- Chair of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Biomedical Center (BMC), Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology SYNERGY, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
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5
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Eisenbaum M, Pearson A, Ortiz C, Koprivica M, Cembran A, Mullan M, Crawford F, Ojo J, Bachmeier C. Repetitive head trauma and apoE4 induce chronic cerebrovascular alterations that impair tau elimination from the brain. Exp Neurol 2024; 374:114702. [PMID: 38301863 PMCID: PMC10922621 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114702] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries (r-mTBI) sustained in the military or contact sports have been associated with the accumulation of extracellular tau in the brain, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative tauopathies. The expression of the apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) isoform has been associated with higher levels of tau in the brain, and worse clinical outcomes after r-mTBI, though the influence of apoE genotype on extracellular tau dynamics in the brain is poorly understood. We recently demonstrated that extracellular tau can be eliminated across blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is progressively impaired following r-mTBI. The current studies investigated the influence of repetitive mild TBI (r-mTBI) and apoE genotype on the elimination of extracellular solutes from the brain. Following intracortical injection of biotin-labeled tau into humanized apoE-Tr mice, the levels of exogenous tau residing in the brain of apoE4 mice were elevated compared to other isoforms, indicating reduced tau elimination. Additionally, we found exposure to r-mTBI increased tau residence in apoE2 mice, similar to our observations in E2FAD animals. Each of these findings may be the result of diminished tau efflux via LRP1 at the BBB, as LRP1 inhibition significantly reduced tau uptake in endothelial cells and decreased tau transit across an in vitro model of the BBB (basolateral-to-apical). Notably, we showed that injury and apoE status, (particularly apoE4) resulted in chronic alterations in BBB integrity, pericyte coverage, and AQP4 polarization. These aberrations coincided with an atypical reactive astrocytic gene signature indicative of diminished CSF-ISF exchange. Our work found that CSF movement was reduced in the chronic phase following r-mTBI (>18 months post injury) across all apoE genotypes. In summary, we show that apoE genotype strongly influences cerebrovascular homeostasis, which can lead to age-dependent deficiencies in the elimination of toxic proteins from the brain, like tau, particularly in the aftermath of head trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Fiona Crawford
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Joseph Ojo
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA
| | - Corbin Bachmeier
- The Roskamp Institute, Sarasota, FL, USA; Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines, FL, USA
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Luo H, Liu N, Lin C. Dopamine enhances recovery after traumatic brain injury through ubiquitylation and autophagic degradation of RIPK1. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:134. [PMID: 38374093 PMCID: PMC10875858 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01515-y] [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: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) plays a crucial pathophysiologic role after traumatic brain injury (TBI), its function and specific underlying mechanisms of action remain unclear. METHODS Adult male mice underwent controlled cortical impact (CCI). We administered DA intraperitoneally to mice for 14 consecutive days, starting 8 h before CCI. On day 3 after brain injury, cortical lesion volume and brain water content were measured. On days 7-13, behavioral tests were performed. RESULTS Herein we report that DA inhibits neural death after injury, which is mediated via the dopamine D1 receptor (DRD1). Our results also showed that DRD1 signaling promotes RIPK1 ubiquitination via the E3 ubiquitin ligase Chip and then degradation through autophagy. Importantly, in vivo data revealed that DRD1 signaling prevented neural death, suppressed neuroinflammation, and restored many TBI-related functional sequelae. CONCLUSIONS These data reveal a novel mechanism involving dopamine, and suggest that DRD1 activation positively regulates Chip-mediated ubiquitylation of RIPK1-leading to its autophagic degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Luo
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Ning Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Chao Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China.
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7
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Verkhratsky A, Butt A, Li B, Illes P, Zorec R, Semyanov A, Tang Y, Sofroniew MV. Astrocytes in human central nervous system diseases: a frontier for new therapies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:396. [PMID: 37828019 PMCID: PMC10570367 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01628-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Astroglia are a broad class of neural parenchymal cells primarily dedicated to homoeostasis and defence of the central nervous system (CNS). Astroglia contribute to the pathophysiology of all neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders in ways that can be either beneficial or detrimental to disorder outcome. Pathophysiological changes in astroglia can be primary or secondary and can result in gain or loss of functions. Astroglia respond to external, non-cell autonomous signals associated with any form of CNS pathology by undergoing complex and variable changes in their structure, molecular expression, and function. In addition, internally driven, cell autonomous changes of astroglial innate properties can lead to CNS pathologies. Astroglial pathophysiology is complex, with different pathophysiological cell states and cell phenotypes that are context-specific and vary with disorder, disorder-stage, comorbidities, age, and sex. Here, we classify astroglial pathophysiology into (i) reactive astrogliosis, (ii) astroglial atrophy with loss of function, (iii) astroglial degeneration and death, and (iv) astrocytopathies characterised by aberrant forms that drive disease. We review astroglial pathophysiology across the spectrum of human CNS diseases and disorders, including neurotrauma, stroke, neuroinfection, autoimmune attack and epilepsy, as well as neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, metabolic and neuropsychiatric disorders. Characterising cellular and molecular mechanisms of astroglial pathophysiology represents a new frontier to identify novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei Verkhratsky
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling/School of Health and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- Achucarro Centre for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-01102, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Arthur Butt
- Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Baoman Li
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Peter Illes
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling/School of Health and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Rudolf Boehm Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Leipzig, 04109, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Robert Zorec
- Celica Biomedical, Lab Cell Engineering, Technology Park, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology-Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alexey Semyanov
- Department of Physiology, Jiaxing University College of Medicine, 314033, Jiaxing, China
| | - Yong Tang
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling/School of Health and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture for Senile Disease (Chengdu University of TCM), Ministry of Education/Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China.
| | - Michael V Sofroniew
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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8
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Muñoz-Ballester C, Robel S. Astrocyte-mediated mechanisms contribute to traumatic brain injury pathology. WIREs Mech Dis 2023; 15:e1622. [PMID: 37332001 PMCID: PMC10526985 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1622] [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: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes respond to traumatic brain injury (TBI) with changes to their molecular make-up and cell biology, which results in changes in astrocyte function. These changes can be adaptive, initiating repair processes in the brain, or detrimental, causing secondary damage including neuronal death or abnormal neuronal activity. The response of astrocytes to TBI is often-but not always-accompanied by the upregulation of intermediate filaments, including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin. Because GFAP is often upregulated in the context of nervous system disturbance, reactive astrogliosis is sometimes treated as an "all-or-none" process. However, the extent of astrocytes' cellular, molecular, and physiological adjustments is not equal for each TBI type or even for each astrocyte within the same injured brain. Additionally, new research highlights that different neurological injuries and diseases result in entirely distinctive and sometimes divergent astrocyte changes. Thus, extrapolating findings on astrocyte biology from one pathological context to another is problematic. We summarize the current knowledge about astrocyte responses specific to TBI and point out open questions that the field should tackle to better understand how astrocytes shape TBI outcomes. We address the astrocyte response to focal versus diffuse TBI and heterogeneity of reactive astrocytes within the same brain, the role of intermediate filament upregulation, functional changes to astrocyte function including potassium and glutamate homeostasis, blood-brain barrier maintenance and repair, metabolism, and reactive oxygen species detoxification, sex differences, and factors influencing astrocyte proliferation after TBI. This article is categorized under: Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Muñoz-Ballester
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Stefanie Robel
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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9
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Acosta CH, Clemons GA, Citadin CT, Carr WC, Udo MSB, Tesic V, Sanicola HW, Freelin AH, Toms JB, Jordan JD, Guthikonda B, Rodgers KM, Wu CYC, Lee RHC, Lin HW. PRMT7 can prevent neurovascular uncoupling, blood-brain barrier permeability, and mitochondrial dysfunction in repetitive and mild traumatic brain injury. Exp Neurol 2023; 366:114445. [PMID: 37196697 PMCID: PMC10960645 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) comprises the largest percentage of TBI-related injuries, with pathophysiological and functional deficits that persist in a subset of TBI patients. In our three-hit paradigm of repetitive and mild traumatic brain injury (rmTBI), we observed neurovascular uncoupling via decreased red blood cell velocity, microvessel diameter, and leukocyte rolling velocity 3 days post-rmTBI via intra-vital two-photon laser scanning microscopy. Furthermore, our data suggest increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability (leakage), with corresponding decrease in junctional protein expression post-rmTBI. Mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates (measured via Seahorse XFe24) were also altered 3 days post-rmTBI, along with disrupted mitochondrial dynamics of fission and fusion. Overall, these pathophysiological findings correlated with decreased protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7) protein levels and activity post-rmTBI. Here, we increased PRMT7 levels in vivo to assess the role of the neurovasculature and mitochondria post-rmTBI. In vivo overexpression of PRMT7 using a neuronal specific AAV vector led to restoration of neurovascular coupling, prevented BBB leakage, and promoted mitochondrial respiration, altogether to suggest a protective and functional role of PRMT7 in rmTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina H Acosta
- Department of Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - Garrett A Clemons
- Department of Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - Cristiane T Citadin
- Department of Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - William C Carr
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - Mariana Sayuri Berto Udo
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - Vesna Tesic
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - Henry W Sanicola
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America; Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - Anne H Freelin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - Jamie B Toms
- Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - J Dedrick Jordan
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - Bharat Guthikonda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - Krista M Rodgers
- Department of Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - Celeste Yin-Chieh Wu
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - Reggie Hui-Chao Lee
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America
| | - Hung Wen Lin
- Department of Cellular Biology & Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America; Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, United States of America.
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10
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Abstract
Astrocyte endfeet enwrap the entire vascular tree within the central nervous system, where they perform important functions in regulating the blood-brain barrier (BBB), cerebral blood flow, nutrient uptake, and waste clearance. Accordingly, astrocyte endfeet contain specialized organelles and proteins, including local protein translation machinery and highly organized scaffold proteins, which anchor channels, transporters, receptors, and enzymes critical for astrocyte-vascular interactions. Many neurological diseases are characterized by the loss of polarization of specific endfoot proteins, vascular dysregulation, BBB disruption, altered waste clearance, or, in extreme cases, loss of endfoot coverage. A role for astrocyte endfeet has been demonstrated or postulated in many of these conditions. This review provides an overview of the development, composition, function, and pathological changes of astrocyte endfeet and highlights the gaps in our knowledge that future research should address.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Díaz-Castro
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK;
| | - Stefanie Robel
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA;
| | - Anusha Mishra
- Department of Neurology Jungers Center for Neurosciences Research and Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA;
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11
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Nordberg A, Semyanov A, Parpura V, Zorec R. Alexei Verkhratsky, the Philosopher of Neuroglia. Preface for the Honorary Issue of Neurochemical Research. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:1009-1014. [PMID: 36899208 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-023-03894-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Agneta Nordberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alexey Semyanov
- Department of Physiology, Jiaxing University College of Medicine, Jiaxing, 314033, Zhejiang, China
| | - Vladimir Parpura
- International Translational Neuroscience Research Institute, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Robert Zorec
- Medical Faculty & Celica Biomedical, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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12
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Nishii K, Satoh Y, Higashi T, Matsui T, Ishizuka T, Kashitani M, Saitoh D, Kobayashi Y. Evans Blue and Fluorescein Isothiocyanate-Dextran Double Labeling Reveals Precise Sequence of Vascular Leakage and Glial Responses after Exposure to Mild-Level Blast-Associated Shock Waves. J Neurotrauma 2023. [PMID: 36680750 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract Blast-induced shock waves (BSWs) are responsible for several aspects of psychiatric disorders that are collectively termed mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The pathophysiology of mTBI includes vascular leakage resulting from blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. In this study, the precise sequence of BBB breakdown was examined using an Evans blue and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran double labeling technique. Evans blue solution was injected into the tail vein of male C57BL6/J mice just before and 4 h, 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after a single BSW exposure at as low as 25-kPa peak overpressure. In contrast, the FITC-dextran solution was transcardially injected just before perfusion fixation. Differences in the labeling time-point revealed that BBB breakdown was initiated after approximately 3 h, with significant remodeling by 1 day, and continued until 7 days after BSW exposure. BBB breakdown was upregulated in three distinct regions, namely the brain surface and subsurface areas facing the skull, regions closely associated with capillaries, and the circumventricular organ and choroid plexus. These regions showed distinct responses to BSW; moreover, clusters of reactive astrocytes were closely associated with the sites of BBB breakdown. In severe cases, these reactive astrocytes recruited activated microglia. Our findings provide important insights into the pathogenesis underlying mTBI and indicate that even mild BSW exposure affects the whole brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyomasa Nishii
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Institute, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yasushi Satoh
- Department of Biochemistry, Research Institute, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan
| | - Takahito Higashi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Institute, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan
| | - Toshiyasu Matsui
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Institute, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Ishizuka
- Department of Pharmacology, Research Institute, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masashi Kashitani
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, National Defense Academy, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Daizoh Saitoh
- Division of Traumatology, Research Institute, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan
| | - Yasushi Kobayashi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Research Institute, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan
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13
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Sompol P, Gollihue JL, Weiss BE, Lin RL, Case SL, Kraner SD, Weekman EM, Gant JC, Rogers CB, Niedowicz DM, Sudduth TL, Powell DK, Lin AL, Nelson PT, Thibault O, Wilcock DM, Norris CM. Targeting Astrocyte Signaling Alleviates Cerebrovascular and Synaptic Function Deficits in a Diet-Based Mouse Model of Small Cerebral Vessel Disease. J Neurosci 2023; 43:1797-1813. [PMID: 36746627 PMCID: PMC10010459 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1333-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the indispensable role that astrocytes play in the neurovascular unit, few studies have investigated the functional impact of astrocyte signaling in cognitive decline and dementia related to vascular pathology. Diet-mediated induction of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) recapitulates numerous features of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). Here, we used astrocyte targeting approaches to evaluate astrocyte Ca2+ dysregulation and the impact of aberrant astrocyte signaling on cerebrovascular dysfunction and synapse impairment in male and female HHcy diet mice. Two-photon imaging conducted in fully awake mice revealed activity-dependent Ca2+ dysregulation in barrel cortex astrocytes under HHcy. Stimulation of contralateral whiskers elicited larger Ca2+ transients in individual astrocytes of HHcy diet mice compared with control diet mice. However, evoked Ca2+ signaling across astrocyte networks was impaired in HHcy mice. HHcy also was associated with increased activation of the Ca2+/calcineurin-dependent transcription factor NFAT4, which has been linked previously to the reactive astrocyte phenotype and synapse dysfunction in amyloid and brain injury models. Targeting the NFAT inhibitor VIVIT to astrocytes, using adeno-associated virus vectors, led to reduced GFAP promoter activity in HHcy diet mice and improved functional hyperemia in arterioles and capillaries. VIVIT expression in astrocytes also preserved CA1 synaptic function and improved spontaneous alternation performance on the Y maze. Together, the results demonstrate that aberrant astrocyte signaling can impair the major functional properties of the neurovascular unit (i.e., cerebral vessel regulation and synaptic regulation) and may therefore represent a promising drug target for treating VCID and possibly Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The impact of reactive astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias is poorly understood. Here, we evaluated Ca2+ responses and signaling in barrel cortex astrocytes of mice fed with a B-vitamin deficient diet that induces hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), cerebral vessel disease, and cognitive decline. Multiphoton imaging in awake mice with HHcy revealed augmented Ca2+ responses in individual astrocytes, but impaired signaling across astrocyte networks. Stimulation-evoked arteriole dilation and elevated red blood cell velocity in capillaries were also impaired in cortex of awake HHcy mice. Astrocyte-specific inhibition of the Ca2+-dependent transcription factor, NFAT, normalized cerebrovascular function in HHcy mice, improved synaptic properties in brain slices, and stabilized cognition. Results suggest that astrocytes are a mechanism and possible therapeutic target for vascular-related dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradoldej Sompol
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
- Departments of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences
| | | | - Blaine E Weiss
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
- Departments of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences
| | - Ruei-Lung Lin
- Departments of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences
| | - Sami L Case
- Departments of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences
| | | | | | - John C Gant
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
- Departments of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences
| | | | | | | | | | - Ai-Ling Lin
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
- Departments of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences
| | - Peter T Nelson
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
- Pathology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky 40536
| | - Olivier Thibault
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
- Departments of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences
| | | | - Christopher M Norris
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
- Departments of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences
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14
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Johnstone DM, Mitrofanis J, Stone J. The brain's weakness in the face of trauma: How head trauma causes the destruction of the brain. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1141568. [PMID: 36950132 PMCID: PMC10026135 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1141568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Of all our organs, the brain is perhaps the best protected from trauma. The skull has evolved to enclose it and, within the skull, the brain floats in a protective bath of cerebrospinal fluid. It is becoming evident, however, that head trauma experienced in young adult life can cause a dementia that appears decades later. The level of trauma that induces such destruction is still being assessed but includes levels well below that which cracks the skull or causes unconsciousness or concussion. Clinically this damage appears as dementia, in people who played body-contact sports in their youth or have survived accidents or the blasts of combat; and appears also, we argue, in old age, without a history of head trauma. The dementias have been given different names, including dementia pugilistica (affecting boxers), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (following certain sports, particularly football), traumatic brain injury (following accidents, combat) and Alzheimer's (following decades of life). They share common features of clinical presentation and neuropathology, and this conceptual analysis seeks to identify features common to these forms of brain injury and to identify where in the brain the damage common to them occurs; and how it occurs, despite the protection provided by the skull and cerebrospinal fluid. The analysis suggests that the brain's weak point in the face of trauma is its capillary bed, which is torn by the shock of trauma. This identification in turn allows discussion of ways of delaying, avoiding and even treating these trauma-induced degenerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M. Johnstone
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle and School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, Australia
| | - John Mitrofanis
- Fonds de Dotation Clinatec, Université Grenoble Alpes, France and Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Stone
- Honorary Associate, Centenary Institute and University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, Australia
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15
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Kumosa LS. Commonly Overlooked Factors in Biocompatibility Studies of Neural Implants. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2205095. [PMID: 36596702 PMCID: PMC9951391 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202205095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Biocompatibility of cutting-edge neural implants, surgical tools and techniques, and therapeutic technologies is a challenging concept that can be easily misjudged. For example, neural interfaces are routinely gauged on how effectively they determine active neurons near their recording sites. Tissue integration and toxicity of neural interfaces are frequently assessed histologically in animal models to determine tissue morphological and cellular changes in response to surgical implantation and chronic presence. A disconnect between histological and efficacious biocompatibility exists, however, as neuronal numbers frequently observed near electrodes do not match recorded neuronal spiking activity. The downstream effects of the myriad surgical and experimental factors involved in such studies are rarely examined when deciding whether a technology or surgical process is biocompatible. Such surgical factors as anesthesia, temperature excursions, bleed incidence, mechanical forces generated, and metabolic conditions are known to have strong systemic and thus local cellular and extracellular consequences. Many tissue markers are extremely sensitive to the physiological state of cells and tissues, thus significantly impacting histological accuracy. This review aims to shed light on commonly overlooked factors that can have a strong impact on the assessment of neural biocompatibility and to address the mismatch between results stemming from functional and histological methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas S. Kumosa
- Neuronano Research CenterDepartment of Experimental Medical ScienceMedical FacultyLund UniversityMedicon Village, Byggnad 404 A2, Scheelevägen 8Lund223 81Sweden
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16
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Gao L, Pan X, Zhang JH, Xia Y. Glial cells: an important switch for the vascular function of the central nervous system. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1166770. [PMID: 37206667 PMCID: PMC10188976 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1166770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In this review, we first describe the current understanding of glial-mediated vascular function affecting the role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in central nervous system (CNS) disorders. BBB, mainly composed of glial and endothelial cells (ECs), is the protective structure that orchestrates the transport of substances, including ions, molecules, and cells from brain vessels into or out of the CNS. Then, we display the multiple communication between glial and vascular function based on angiogenesis, vascular wrapping, and blood perfusion in the brain. Glial can support microvascular ECs to form a blood network connecting to neurons. Astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes are the common types of glial surrounding the brain vessel. Glial-vessel interaction is required for the permeability and integrity of BBB. Glial cells surrounding the cerebral blood vessels can transmit communication signals to ECs and regulate the activity of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or Wnt-dependent endothelial angiogenesis mechanism. In addition, these glial cells monitor the blood flow in the brain via Ca2+/K+-dependent pathways. Finally, we provide a potential research direction for the glial-vessel axis in CNS disorders. Microglial activation can trigger astrocyte activation, which suggests that microglia-astrocyte interaction may play a key role in monitoring cerebral blood flow. Thus, microglia-astrocyte interaction can be the key point of follow-up studies focusing on the microglia-blood mechanism. More investigations focus on the mechanism of how oligodendrocyte progenitor cells communicate and interact with ECs. The direct role of oligodendrocytes in modulating vascular function needs to be explored in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Haikou Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Haikou, China
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Xuezhen Pan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Haikou Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Haikou, China
| | - John H. Zhang
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States
- John H. Zhang,
| | - Ying Xia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Haikou Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Haikou, China
- *Correspondence: Ying Xia,
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17
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Schwab N, Taskina D, Leung E, Innes BT, Bader GD, Hazrati LN. Neurons and glial cells acquire a senescent signature after repeated mild traumatic brain injury in a sex-dependent manner. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1027116. [PMID: 36408415 PMCID: PMC9669743 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1027116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an important public health issue, as it can lead to long-term neurological symptoms and risk of neurodegenerative disease. The pathophysiological mechanisms driving this remain unclear, and currently there are no effective therapies for mTBI. In this study on repeated mTBI (rmTBI), we have induced three mild closed-skull injuries or sham procedures, separated by 24 h, in C57BL/6 mice. We show that rmTBI mice have prolonged righting reflexes and astrogliosis, with neurological impairment in the Morris water maze (MWM) and the light dark test. Cortical and hippocampal tissue analysis revealed DNA damage in the form of double-strand breaks, oxidative damage, and R-loops, markers of cellular senescence including p16 and p21, and signaling mediated by the cGAS-STING pathway. This study identified novel sex differences after rmTBI in mice. Although these markers were all increased by rmTBI in both sexes, females had higher levels of DNA damage, lower levels of the senescence protein p16, and lower levels of cGAS-STING signaling proteins compared to their male counterparts. Single-cell RNA sequencing of the male rmTBI mouse brain revealed activation of the DNA damage response, evidence of cellular senescence, and pro-inflammatory markers reminiscent of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in neurons and glial cells. Cell-type specific changes were also present with evidence of brain immune activation, neurotransmission alterations in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons, and vascular dysfunction. Treatment of injured mice with the senolytic drug ABT263 significantly reduced markers of senescence only in males, but was not therapeutic in females. The reduction of senescence by ABT263 in male mice was accompanied by significantly improved performance in the MWM. This study provides compelling evidence that senescence contributes to brain dysfunction after rmTBI, but may do so in a sex-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Schwab
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daria Taskina
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Emily Leung
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brendan T. Innes
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gary D. Bader
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lili-Naz Hazrati
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
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18
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Munoz-Ballester C, Mahmutovic D, Rafiqzad Y, Korot A, Robel S. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury-Induced Disruption of the Blood-Brain Barrier Triggers an Atypical Neuronal Response. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:821885. [PMID: 35250487 PMCID: PMC8894613 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.821885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild TBI (mTBI), which affects 75% of TBI survivors or more than 50 million people worldwide each year, can lead to consequences including sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, mood swings, and post-traumatic epilepsy in a subset of patients. To interrupt the progression of these comorbidities, identifying early pathological events is key. Recent studies have shown that microbleeds, caused by mechanical impact, persist for months after mTBI and are correlated to worse mTBI outcomes. However, the impact of mTBI-induced blood-brain barrier damage on neurons is yet to be revealed. We used a well-characterized mouse model of mTBI that presents with frequent and widespread but size-restricted damage to the blood-brain barrier to assess how neurons respond to exposure of blood-borne factors in this pathological context. We used immunohistochemistry and histology to assess the expression of neuronal proteins in excitatory and inhibitory neurons after mTBI. We observed that the expression of NeuN, Parvalbumin, and CamKII was lost within minutes in areas with blood-brain barrier disruption. Yet, the neurons remained alive and could be detected using a fluorescent Nissl staining even 6 months later. A similar phenotype was observed after exposure of neurons to blood-borne factors due to endothelial cell ablation in the absence of a mechanical impact, suggesting that entrance of blood-borne factors into the brain is sufficient to induce the neuronal atypical response. Changes in postsynaptic spines were observed indicative of functional changes. Thus, this study demonstrates That exposure of neurons to blood-borne factors causes a rapid and sustained loss of neuronal proteins and changes in spine morphology in the absence of neurodegeneration, a finding that is likely relevant to many neuropathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Munoz-Ballester
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Dzenis Mahmutovic
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Yusuf Rafiqzad
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech Carilion, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Alia Korot
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Kenyon College, Gambier, OH, United States
| | - Stefanie Robel
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech Carilion, Roanoke, VA, United States
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech Carilion, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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