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Wang Y, Wei Y, Ren M, Sajja VS, Wilder DM, Arun P, Gist ID, Long JB, Yang F. Blast Exposure Alters Synaptic Connectivity in the Mouse Auditory Cortex. J Neurotrauma 2024; 41:1438-1449. [PMID: 38047526 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2023.0348] [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] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Blast exposure can cause auditory deficits that have a lasting, significant impact on patients. Although the effects of blast on auditory functions localized to the ear have been well documented, the impact of blast on central auditory processing is largely undefined. Understanding the structural and functional alterations in the central nervous system (CNS) associated with blast injuries is crucial for unraveling blast-induced pathophysiological pathways and advancing development of therapeutic interventions. In this study, we used electrophysiology in combination with optogenetics assay, proteomic analysis, and morphological evaluation to investigate the impairment of synaptic connectivity in the auditory cortex (AC) of mice following blast exposure. Our results show that the long-range functional connectivity between the medial geniculate nucleus (MGN) and AC was impaired in the acute phase of blast injury. We also identified impaired synaptic transmission and dendritic spine alterations within 7 days of blast exposure, which recovered at 28 days post-blast. Additionally, proteomic analysis identified a few differentially expressed proteins in the cortex that are involved in synaptic signaling and plasticity. These findings collectively suggest that blast-induced alterations in the sound signaling network in the auditory cortex may underlie hearing deficits in the acute and sub-acute phases after exposure to shockwaves. This study may shed light on the perturbations underlying blast-induced auditory dysfunction and provide insights into the potential therapeutic windows for improving auditory outcomes in blast-exposed individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Yanling Wei
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Ming Ren
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Venkatasivasai S Sajja
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Donna M Wilder
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Peethambaran Arun
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Irene D Gist
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph B Long
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Feng Yang
- Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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2
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Rowland JA, Martindale SL. Considerations for the assessment of blast exposure in service members and veterans. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1383710. [PMID: 38685944 PMCID: PMC11056521 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1383710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Blast exposure is an increasingly present occupational hazard for military service members, particularly in modern warfare scenarios. The study of blast exposure in humans is limited by the lack of a consensus definition for blast exposure and considerable variability in measurement. Research has clearly demonstrated a robust and reliable effect of blast exposure on brain structure and function in the absence of other injury mechanisms. However, the exact mechanisms underlying these outcomes remain unclear. Despite clear contributions from preclinical studies, this knowledge has been slow to translate to clinical applications. The present manuscript empirically demonstrates the consequences of variability in measurement and definition across studies through a re-analysis of previously published data from the Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Study 34. Methods Definitions of blast exposure used in prior work were examined including Blast TBI, Primary Blast TBI, Pressure Severity, Distance, and Frequency of Exposure. Outcomes included both symptom report and cognitive testing. Results Results demonstrate significant differences in outcomes based on the definition of blast exposure used. In some cases the same definition was strongly related to one type of outcome, but unrelated to another. Discussion The implications of these results for the study of blast exposure are discussed and potential actions to address the major limitations in the field are recommended. These include the development of a consensus definition of blast exposure, further refinement of the assessment of blast exposure, continued work to identify relevant mechanisms leading to long-term negative outcomes in humans, and improved education efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared A. Rowland
- Salisbury VA Healthcare System, Salisbury, NC, United States
- Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)-6 Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness, Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham, NC, United States
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Sarah L. Martindale
- Salisbury VA Healthcare System, Salisbury, NC, United States
- Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN)-6 Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness, Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Durham, NC, United States
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
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3
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Al-Khateeb ZF, Boumenar H, Adebimpe J, Shekerzade S, Henson SM, Tremoleda JL, Michael-Titus AT. The cellular senescence response and neuroinflammation in juvenile mice following controlled cortical impact and repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. Exp Neurol 2024; 374:114714. [PMID: 38325653 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114714] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability and increases the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. The mechanisms linking TBI to neurodegeneration remain to be defined. It has been proposed that the induction of cellular senescence after injury could amplify neuroinflammation and induce long-term tissue changes. The induction of a senescence response post-injury in the immature brain has yet to be characterised. We carried out two types of brain injury in juvenile CD1 mice: invasive TBI using controlled cortical impact (CCI) and repetitive mild TBI (rmTBI) using weight drop injury. The analysis of senescence-related signals showed an increase in γH2AX-53BP1 nuclear foci, p53, p19ARF, and p16INK4a expression in the CCI group, 5 days post-injury (dpi). At 35 days, the difference was no longer statistically significant. Gene expression showed the activation of different senescence pathways in the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres in the injured mice. CCI-injured mice showed a neuroinflammatory early phase after injury (increased Iba1 and GFAP expression), which persisted for GFAP. After CCI, there was an increase at 5 days in p16INK4, whereas in rmTBI, a significant increase was seen at 35 dpi. Both injuries caused a decrease in p21 at 35 dpi. In rmTBI, other markers showed no significant change. The PCR array data predicted the activation of pathways connected to senescence after rmTBI. These results indicate the induction of a complex cellular senescence and glial reaction in the immature mouse brain, with clear differences between an invasive brain injury and a repetitive mild injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra F Al-Khateeb
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Hasna Boumenar
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joycee Adebimpe
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shenel Shekerzade
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Siân M Henson
- Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Jordi L Tremoleda
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Adina T Michael-Titus
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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4
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Tang S, Xu S, Wilder D, Medina AE, Li X, Fiskum GM, Jiang L, Kakulavarapu VR, Long JB, Gullapalli RP, Sajja VS. Longitudinal Biochemical and Behavioral Alterations in a Gyrencephalic Model of Blast-Related Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Neurotrauma Rep 2024; 5:254-266. [PMID: 38515547 PMCID: PMC10956534 DOI: 10.1089/neur.2024.0002] [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-related traumatic brain injury (bTBI) is a major cause of neurological disorders in the U.S. military that can adversely impact some civilian populations as well and can lead to lifelong deficits and diminished quality of life. Among these types of injuries, the long-term sequelae are poorly understood because of variability in intensity and number of the blast exposure, as well as the range of subsequent symptoms that can overlap with those resulting from other traumatic events (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder). Despite the valuable insights that rodent models have provided, there is a growing interest in using injury models using species with neuroanatomical features that more closely resemble the human brain. With this purpose, we established a gyrencephalic model of blast injury in ferrets, which underwent blast exposure applying conditions that closely mimic those associated with primary blast injuries to warfighters. In this study, we evaluated brain biochemical, microstructural, and behavioral profiles after blast exposure using in vivo longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging, histology, and behavioral assessments. In ferrets subjected to blast, the following alterations were found: 1) heightened impulsivity in decision making associated with pre-frontal cortex/amygdalar axis dysfunction; 2) transiently increased glutamate levels that are consistent with earlier findings during subacute stages post-TBI and may be involved in concomitant behavioral deficits; 3) abnormally high brain N-acetylaspartate levels that potentially reveal disrupted lipid synthesis and/or energy metabolism; and 4) dysfunction of pre-frontal cortex/auditory cortex signaling cascades that may reflect similar perturbations underlying secondary psychiatric disorders observed in warfighters after blast exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Tang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Research (CAIR), Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Su Xu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Research (CAIR), Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Donna Wilder
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Alexandre E. Medina
- Department of Pediatrics, Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Research (CAIR), Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Gary M. Fiskum
- Department of Anesthesiology, Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Shock, Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Research (CAIR), Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Venkata R. Kakulavarapu
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph B. Long
- Blast Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Rao P. Gullapalli
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Center for Advanced Imaging Research (CAIR), Trauma, and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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5
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Govindarajulu M, Patel MY, Wilder DM, Krishnan J, LaValle C, Pandya JD, Shear DA, Hefeneider SH, Long JB, Arun P. Upregulation of multiple toll-like receptors in ferret brain after blast exposure: potential targets for treatment. Neurosci Lett 2023; 810:137364. [PMID: 37391063 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2023.137364] [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: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Although blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) has been designated as the signature injury of recent combat operations, its precise pathological mechanism(s) has not been identified thus far. Prior preclinical studies on bTBI demonstrated acute neuroinflammatory cascades which are known to be contributing to neurodegeneration. Danger-associated chemical patterns are released from the injured cells, which activate non-specific pattern recognition receptors, such as toll-like receptors (TLRs) leading to increased expression of inflammatory genes and release of cytokines. Upregulation of specific TLRs in the brain has been described as a mechanism of injury in diverse brain injury models unrelated to blast exposure. However, the expression profile of various TLRs in bTBI has not been investigated thus far. Hence, we have evaluated the expression of transcripts for TLR1-TLR10 in the brain of a gyrencephalic animal model of bTBI. We exposed ferrets to tightly coupled repeated blasts and determined the differential expression of TLRs (TLR1-10) by quantitative RT-PCR in multiple brain regions at 4 hr, 24 hr, 7 days and 28 days post-blast injury. The results obtained indicate that multiple TLRs are upregulated in the brain at 4 hr, 24 hr, 7 days and 28 days post-blast. Specifically, upregulation of TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 was noted in different brain regions, suggesting that multiple TLRs might play a role in the pathophysiology of bTBI and that drugs that can inhibit multiple TLRs might have enhanced efficacy to attenuate brain damage and thereby improve bTBI outcome. Taken together, these results suggest that several TLRs are upregulated in the brain after bTBI and participate in the inflammatory response and thereby provide new insights into the disease pathogenesis. Therefore, inhibition of multiple TLRs, including TLR2, 4 and 9, simultaneously might be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of bTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Govindarajulu
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Mital Y Patel
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Donna M Wilder
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Jishnu Krishnan
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Christina LaValle
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Jignesh D Pandya
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Deborah A Shear
- Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | | | - Joseph B Long
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Peethambaran Arun
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Brain Trauma Neuroprotection and Neurorestoration Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
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6
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Lu Y, Jarrahi A, Moore N, Bartoli M, Brann DW, Baban B, Dhandapani KM. Inflammaging, cellular senescence, and cognitive aging after traumatic brain injury. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 180:106090. [PMID: 36934795 PMCID: PMC10763650 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with mortality and morbidity worldwide. Accumulating pre-clinical and clinical data suggests TBI is the leading extrinsic cause of progressive neurodegeneration. Neurological deterioration after either a single moderate-severe TBI or repetitive mild TBI often resembles dementia in aged populations; however, no currently approved therapies adequately mitigate neurodegeneration. Inflammation correlates with neurodegenerative changes and cognitive dysfunction for years post-TBI, suggesting a potential association between immune activation and both age- and TBI-induced cognitive decline. Inflammaging, a chronic, low-grade sterile inflammation associated with natural aging, promotes cognitive decline. Cellular senescence and the subsequent development of a senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP) promotes inflammaging and cognitive aging, although the functional association between senescent cells and neurodegeneration is poorly defined after TBI. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of the pre-clinical and clinical evidence linking cellular senescence with poor TBI outcomes. We also discuss the current knowledge and future potential for senotherapeutics, including senolytics and senomorphics, which kill and/or modulate senescent cells, as potential therapeutics after TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujiao Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States of America.
| | - Abbas Jarrahi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Moore
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States of America
| | - Manuela Bartoli
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States of America
| | - Darrell W Brann
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States of America
| | - Babak Baban
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Services, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States of America
| | - Krishnan M Dhandapani
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States of America.
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7
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Paik CB, Pei M, Oghalai JS. Review of blast noise and the auditory system. Hear Res 2022; 425:108459. [PMID: 35181171 PMCID: PMC9357863 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2022.108459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The auditory system is particularly vulnerable to blast injury due to the ear's role as a highly sensitive pressure transducer. Over the past several decades, studies have used a variety of animal models and experimental procedures to recreate blast-induced acoustic trauma. Given the developing nature of this field and our incomplete understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying blast-related auditory disturbances, an updated discussion about these studies is warranted. Here, we comprehensively review well-established blast-related auditory pathology including tympanic membrane perforation and hair cell loss. In addition, we discuss important mechanistic studies that aim to bridge gaps in our current understanding of the molecular and microstructural events underlying blast-induced cochlear, auditory nerve, brainstem, and central auditory system damage. Key findings from the recent literature include the association between endolymphatic hydrops and cochlear synaptic loss, blast-induced neuroinflammatory markers in the peripheral and central auditory system, and therapeutic approaches targeting biochemical markers of blast injury. We conclude that blast is an extreme form of noise exposure. Blast waves produce cochlear damage that appears similar to, but more extreme than, the standard noise exposure protocols used in auditory research. However, experimental variations in studies of blast-induced acoustic trauma make it challenging to compare and interpret data across studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie B Paik
- Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Michelle Pei
- Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - John S Oghalai
- Caruso Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA.
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8
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Braga MFM, Juranek J, Eiden LE, Li Z, Figueiredo TH, de Araujo Furtado M, Marini AM. GABAergic circuits of the basolateral amygdala and generation of anxiety after traumatic brain injury. Amino Acids 2022; 54:1229-1249. [PMID: 35798984 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-022-03184-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has reached epidemic proportions around the world and is a major public health concern in the United States. Approximately 2.8 million individuals sustain a traumatic brain injury and are treated in an Emergency Department yearly in the U.S., and about 50,000 of them die. Persistent symptoms develop in 10-15% of the cases including neuropsychiatric disorders. Anxiety is the second most common neuropsychiatric disorder that develops in those with persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms after TBI. Abnormalities or atrophy in the temporal lobe has been shown in the overwhelming number of TBI cases. The basolateral amygdala (BLA), a temporal lobe structure that consolidates, stores and generates fear and anxiety-based behavioral outputs, is a critical brain region in the anxiety circuitry. In this review, we sought to capture studies that characterized the relationship between human post-traumatic anxiety and structural/functional alterations in the amygdala. We compared the human findings with results obtained with a reproducible mild TBI animal model that demonstrated a direct relationship between the alterations in the BLA and an anxiety-like phenotype. From this analysis, both preliminary insights, and gaps in knowledge, have emerged which may open new directions for the development of rational and more efficacious treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria F M Braga
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics and Program in Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University of the Health Science School of Medicine, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Jenifer Juranek
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Lee E Eiden
- Section On Molecular Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Zheng Li
- Section On Synapse Development and Plasticity, National Institute of Mental Health, Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Taiza H Figueiredo
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics and Program in Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University of the Health Science School of Medicine, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Marcio de Araujo Furtado
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics and Program in Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University of the Health Science School of Medicine, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Ann M Marini
- Department of Neurology and Program in Neuroscience, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
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9
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Gonzales MM, Garbarino VR, Pollet E, Palavicini JP, Kellogg DL, Kraig E, Orr ME. Biological aging processes underlying cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:e158453. [PMID: 35575089 PMCID: PMC9106343 DOI: 10.1172/jci158453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are among the top contributors to disability and mortality in later life. As with many chronic conditions, aging is the single most influential factor in the development of ADRD. Even among older adults who remain free of dementia throughout their lives, cognitive decline and neurodegenerative changes are appreciable with advancing age, suggesting shared pathophysiological mechanisms. In this Review, we provide an overview of changes in cognition, brain morphology, and neuropathological protein accumulation across the lifespan in humans, with complementary and mechanistic evidence from animal models. Next, we highlight selected aging processes that are differentially regulated in neurodegenerative disease, including aberrant autophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, epigenetic changes, cerebrovascular dysfunction, inflammation, and lipid dysregulation. We summarize research across clinical and translational studies to link biological aging processes to underlying ADRD pathogenesis. Targeting fundamental processes underlying biological aging may represent a yet relatively unexplored avenue to attenuate both age-related cognitive decline and ADRD. Collaboration across the fields of geroscience and neuroscience, coupled with the development of new translational animal models that more closely align with human disease processes, is necessary to advance novel therapeutic discovery in this realm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitzi M. Gonzales
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Department of Neurology
| | | | - Erin Pollet
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases
| | - Juan P. Palavicini
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, and
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Dean L. Kellogg
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, and
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Geriatric Research and Education Center, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Ellen Kraig
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, and
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Miranda E. Orr
- Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
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10
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Ritzel RM, Li Y, Lei Z, Carter J, He J, Choi HMC, Khan N, Li H, Allen S, Lipinski MM, Faden AI, Wu J. Functional and transcriptional profiling of microglial activation during the chronic phase of TBI identifies an age-related driver of poor outcome in old mice. GeroScience 2022; 44:1407-1440. [PMID: 35451674 PMCID: PMC9213636 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-022-00562-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Elderly patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) have greater mortality and poorer outcomes than younger individuals. The extent to which old age alters long-term recovery and chronic microglial activation after TBI is unknown, and evidence for therapeutic efficacy in aged mice is sorely lacking. The present study sought to identify potential inflammatory mechanisms underlying age-related outcomes late after TBI. Controlled cortical impact was used to induce moderate TBI in young and old male C57BL/6 mice. At 12 weeks post-injury, aged mice exhibited higher mortality, poorer functional outcomes, larger lesion volumes, and increased microglial activation. Transcriptomic analysis identified age- and TBI-specific gene changes consistent with a disease-associated microglial signature in the chronically injured brain, including those involved with complement, phagocytosis, and autophagy pathways. Dysregulation of phagocytic and autophagic function in microglia was accompanied by increased neuroinflammation in old mice. As proof-of-principle that these pathways have functional importance, we administered an autophagic enhancer, trehalose, in drinking water continuously for 8 weeks after TBI. Old mice treated with trehalose showed enhanced functional recovery and reduced microglial activation late after TBI compared to the sucrose control group. Our data indicate that microglia undergo chronic changes in autophagic regulation with both normal aging and TBI that are associated with poorer functional outcome. Enhancing autophagy may therefore be a promising clinical therapeutic strategy for TBI, especially in older patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodney M. Ritzel
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Zhuofan Lei
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Jordan Carter
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Junyun He
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Harry M. C. Choi
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Niaz Khan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Samantha Allen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Marta M. Lipinski
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Alan I. Faden
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
| | - Junfang Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201 USA
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11
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Behavior of Rats in the Open Field within the Early Period after Light-Degree Blast-Induced Neurotrauma. NEUROPHYSIOLOGY+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11062-022-09921-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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12
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Gonzales MM, Krishnamurthy S, Garbarino V, Daeihagh AS, Gillispie GJ, Deep G, Craft S, Orr ME. A geroscience motivated approach to treat Alzheimer's disease: Senolytics move to clinical trials. Mech Ageing Dev 2021; 200:111589. [PMID: 34687726 PMCID: PMC9059898 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenic processes driving Alzheimer's disease (AD) are complex. An incomplete understanding of underlying disease mechanisms has presented insurmountable obstacles for developing effective disease-modifying therapies. Advanced chronological age is the greatest risk factor for developing AD. Intervening on biological aging may alter disease progression and represents a novel, complementary approach to current strategies. Toward this end, cellular senescence has emerged as a promising target. This complex stress response harbors damaged cells in a cell cycle arrested, apoptosis-resistant cell state. Senescent cells accumulate with age where they notoriously secrete molecules that contribute to chronic tissue dysfunction and disease. Thus, benefits of cell survival in a senescent fate are countered by their toxic secretome. The removal of senescent cells improves brain structure and function in rodent models at risk of developing AD, and in those with advanced Aβ and tau pathology. The present review describes the path to translating this promising treatment strategy to AD clinical trials. We review evidence for senescent cell accumulation in the human brain, considerations and strategies for senescence-targeting trials specific to AD, approaches to detect senescent brain cells in biofluids, and summarize the goals of the first senolytic trials for the treatment of AD (NCT04063124 and NCT04685590). This article is part of the Special Issue - Senolytics - Edited by Joao Passos and Diana Jurk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitzi M Gonzales
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Sudarshan Krishnamurthy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Bowman Gray Center for Medical Education, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Valentina Garbarino
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ali S Daeihagh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Gregory J Gillispie
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Gagan Deep
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Suzanne Craft
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Miranda E Orr
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Salisbury VA Medical Center, Salisbury, NC, USA.
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13
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Gonzales MM, Krishnamurthy S, Garbarino V, Daeihagh AS, Gillispie GJ, Deep G, Craft S, Orr ME. A geroscience motivated approach to treat Alzheimer’s disease: Senolytics move to clinical trials. Mech Ageing Dev 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111589
expr 868687188 + 807217478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
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14
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Anderson LM, Samineni S, Wilder DM, Lara M, Eken O, Urioste R, Long JB, Arun P. The Neurobehavioral Effects of Buprenorphine and Meloxicam on a Blast-Induced Traumatic Brain Injury Model in the Rat. Front Neurol 2021; 12:746370. [PMID: 34712199 PMCID: PMC8545992 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.746370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous findings have indicated that pain relieving medications such as opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be neuroprotective after traumatic brain injury in rodents, but only limited studies have been performed in a blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) model. In addition, many pre-clinical TBI studies performed in rodents did not use analgesics due to the possibility of neuroprotection or other changes in cognitive, behavioral, and pathology outcomes. To examine this in a pre-clinical setting, we examined the neurobehavioral changes in rats given a single pre-blast dose of meloxicam, buprenorphine, or no pain relieving medication and exposed to tightly-coupled repeated blasts in an advanced blast simulator and evaluated neurobehavioral functions up to 28 days post-blast. A 16.7% mortality rate was recorded in the rats treated with buprenorphine, which might be attributed to the physiologically depressive side effects of buprenorphine in combination with isoflurane anesthesia and acute brain injury. Rats given buprenorphine, but not meloxicam, took more time to recover from the isoflurane anesthesia given just before blast. We found that treatment with meloxicam protected repeated blast-exposed rats from vestibulomotor dysfunctions up to day 14, but by day 28 the protective effects had receded. Both pain relieving medications seemed to promote short-term memory deficits in blast-exposed animals, whereas vehicle-treated blast-exposed animals showed only a non-significant trend toward worsening short-term memory by day 27. Open field exploratory behavior results showed that blast exposed rats treated with meloxicam engaged in significantly more locomotor activities and possibly a lesser degree of responses thought to reflect anxiety and depressive-like behaviors than any of the other groups. Rats treated with analgesics to alleviate possible pain from the blast ate more than their counterparts that were not treated with analgesics, which supports that both analgesics were effective in alleviating some of the discomfort that these rats potentially experienced post-blast injury. These results suggest that meloxicam and, to a lesser extent buprenorphine alter a variety of neurobehavioral functions in a rat bTBI model and, because of their impact on these neurobehavioral changes, may be less than ideal analgesic agents for pre-clinical studies evaluating these neurobehavioral responses after TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Anderson
- Veterinary Services Program, Center for Enabling Capabilities, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Sridhar Samineni
- Veterinary Services Program, Center for Enabling Capabilities, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Donna M Wilder
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Marisela Lara
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Ondine Eken
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Rodrigo Urioste
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Joseph B Long
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Peethambaran Arun
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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15
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Schwab N, Leung E, Hazrati LN. Cellular Senescence in Traumatic Brain Injury: Evidence and Perspectives. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:742632. [PMID: 34650425 PMCID: PMC8505896 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.742632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can lead to long-term neurological dysfunction and increase one's risk of neurodegenerative disease. Several repercussions of mTBI have been identified and well-studied, including neuroinflammation, gliosis, microgliosis, excitotoxicity, and proteinopathy – however the pathophysiological mechanisms activating these pathways after mTBI remains controversial and unclear. Emerging research suggests DNA damage-induced cellular senescence as a possible driver of mTBI-related sequalae. Cellular senescence is a state of chronic cell-cycle arrest and inflammation associated with physiological aging, mood disorders, dementia, and various neurodegenerative pathologies. This narrative review evaluates the existing studies which identify DNA damage or cellular senescence after TBI (including mild, moderate, and severe TBI) in both experimental animal models and human studies, and outlines how cellular senescence may functionally explain both the molecular and clinical manifestations of TBI. Studies on this subject clearly show accumulation of various forms of DNA damage (including oxidative damage, single-strand breaks, and double-strand breaks) and senescent cells after TBI, and indicate that cellular senescence may be an early event after TBI. Further studies are required to understand the role of sex, cell-type specific mechanisms, and temporal patterns, as senescence may be a pathway of interest to target for therapeutic purposes including prognosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Schwab
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Emily Leung
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lili-Naz Hazrati
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
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16
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Arun P, Rossetti F, Eken O, Wilder DM, Wang Y, Long JB. Phosphorylated Neurofilament Heavy Chain in the Cerebrospinal Fluid Is a Suitable Biomarker of Acute and Chronic Blast-Induced Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma 2021; 38:2801-2810. [PMID: 34210150 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2021.0144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) has been documented as a significant concern for both military and civilian populations in response to the increased use of improvised explosive devices. Identifying biomarkers that could aid in the proper diagnosis and assessment of both acute and chronic bTBI is in urgent need since little progress has been made towards this goal. Addressing this knowledge gap is especially important in military veterans who are receiving assessment and care often years after their last blast exposure. Neuron-specific phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain protein (pNFH) has been successfully evaluated as a reliable biomarker of different neurological disorders, as well as brain trauma resulting from contact sports and acute stages of brain injury of different origin. In the present study, we have evaluated the utility of pNFH levels measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as an acute and chronic biomarker of brain injury resulting from single and tightly coupled repeated blast exposures using experimental rats. The pNFH levels increased at 24 h, returned to normal levels at 1 month, but increased again at 6 months and 1 year post-blast exposures. No significant changes were observed between single and repeated blast-exposed groups. To determine whether the observed increase of pNFH in CSF corresponded with its levels in the brain, we performed fluorescence immunohistochemistry in different brain regions at the four time-points evaluated. We observed decreased pNFH levels in those brain areas at 24 h, 6 months, and 1 year. The results suggest that blast exposure causes axonal degeneration at acute and chronic stages resulting in the release of pNFH, the abundant neuronal cytoskeletal protein. Moreover, the changes in pNFH levels in the CSF negatively correlated with the neurobehavioral functions in the rats, reinforcing suggestions that CSF levels of pNFH can be a suitable biomarker of bTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peethambaran Arun
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Franco Rossetti
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Ondine Eken
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Donna M Wilder
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Joseph B Long
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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17
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Lusardi TA, Sandau US, Sakhanenko NA, Baker SCB, Wiedrick JT, Lapidus JA, Raskind MA, Li G, Peskind ER, Galas DJ, Quinn JF, Saugstad JA. Cerebrospinal Fluid MicroRNA Changes in Cognitively Normal Veterans With a History of Deployment-Associated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:720778. [PMID: 34580583 PMCID: PMC8463659 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.720778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the odds of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). The long latent period between injury and dementia makes it difficult to study molecular changes initiated by TBI that may increase the risk of developing AD. MicroRNA (miRNA) levels are altered in TBI at acute times post-injury (<4 weeks), and in AD. We hypothesized that miRNA levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following TBI in veterans may be indicative of increased risk for developing AD. Our population of interest is cognitively normal veterans with a history of one or more mild TBI (mTBI) at a chronic time following TBI. We measured miRNA levels in CSF from three groups of participants: (1) community controls with no lifetime history of TBI (ComC); (2) deployed Iraq/Afghanistan veterans with no lifetime history of TBI (DepC), and (3) deployed Iraq/Afghanistan veterans with a history of repetitive blast mTBI (DepTBI). CSF samples were collected at the baseline visit in a longitudinal, multimodal assessment of Gulf War veterans, and represent a heterogenous group of male veterans and community controls. The average time since the last blast mTBI experienced was 4.7 ± 2.2 years [1.5 - 11.5]. Statistical analysis of TaqManTM miRNA array data revealed 18 miRNAs with significant differential expression in the group comparisons: 10 between DepTBI and ComC, 7 between DepC and ComC, and 8 between DepTBI and DepC. We also identified 8 miRNAs with significant differential detection in the group comparisons: 5 in DepTBI vs. ComC, 3 in DepC vs. ComC, and 2 in DepTBI vs. DepC. When we applied our previously developed multivariable dependence analysis, we found 13 miRNAs (6 of which are altered in levels or detection) that show dependencies with participant phenotypes, e.g., ApoE. Target prediction and pathway analysis with miRNAs differentially expressed in DepTBI vs. either DepC or ComC identified canonical pathways highly relevant to TBI including senescence and ephrin receptor signaling, respectively. This study shows that both TBI and deployment result in persistent changes in CSF miRNA levels that are relevant to known miRNA-mediated AD pathology, and which may reflect early events in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa A Lusardi
- Knight Cancer Institute, Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Ursula S Sandau
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | | | - Sarah Catherine B Baker
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Jack T Wiedrick
- Biostatistics & Design Program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Jodi A Lapidus
- Biostatistics & Design Program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Murray A Raskind
- Northwest Mental Illness, Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ge Li
- Northwest Mental Illness, Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States.,Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Elaine R Peskind
- Northwest Mental Illness, Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - David J Galas
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Joseph F Quinn
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States.,Parkinson Center and Movement Disorders Program, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States.,Portland VAMC Parkinson's Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Julie A Saugstad
- Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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18
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Schwab N, Ju Y, Hazrati LN. Early onset senescence and cognitive impairment in a murine model of repeated mTBI. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:82. [PMID: 33964983 PMCID: PMC8106230 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01190-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) results in broad neurological symptoms and an increased risk of being diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease later in life. While the immediate oxidative stress response and post-mortem pathology of the injured brain has been well studied, it remains unclear how early pathogenic changes may drive persistent symptoms and confer susceptibility to neurodegeneration. In this study we have used a mouse model of repeated mTBI (rmTBI) to identify early gene expression changes at 24 h or 7 days post-injury (7 dpi). At 24 h post-injury, gene expression of rmTBI mice shows activation of the DNA damage response (DDR) towards double strand DNA breaks, altered calcium and cell–cell signalling, and inhibition of cell death pathways. By 7 dpi, rmTBI mice had a gene expression signature consistent with induction of cellular senescence, activation of neurodegenerative processes, and inhibition of the DDR. At both timepoints gliosis, microgliosis, and axonal damage were evident in the absence of any gross lesion, and by 7 dpi rmTBI also mice had elevated levels of IL1β, p21, 53BP1, DNA2, and p53, supportive of DNA damage-induced cellular senescence. These gene expression changes reflect establishment of processes usually linked to brain aging and suggests that cellular senescence occurs early and most likely prior to the accumulation of toxic proteins. These molecular changes were accompanied by spatial learning and memory deficits in the Morris water maze. To conclude, we have identified DNA damage-induced cellular senescence as a repercussion of repeated mild traumatic brain injury which correlates with cognitive impairment. Pathways involved in senescence may represent viable treatment targets of post-concussive syndrome. Senescence has been proposed to promote neurodegeneration and appears as an effective target to prevent long-term complications of mTBI, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy and other related neurodegenerative pathologies.
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19
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Arun P, Rossetti F, Wilder DM, Wang Y, Gist ID, Long JB. Blast Exposure Causes Long-Term Degeneration of Neuronal Cytoskeletal Elements in the Cochlear Nucleus: A Potential Mechanism for Chronic Auditory Dysfunctions. Front Neurol 2021; 12:652190. [PMID: 33841318 PMCID: PMC8027061 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.652190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blast-induced auditory dysfunctions including tinnitus are the most prevalent disabilities in service members returning from recent combat operations. Most of the previous studies were focused on the effect of blast exposure on the peripheral auditory system and not much on the central auditory signal-processing regions in the brain. In the current study, we have exposed rats to single and tightly coupled repeated blasts and examined the degeneration of neuronal cytoskeletal elements using silver staining in the central auditory signal-processing regions in the brain at 24 h, 14 days, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year. The brain regions evaluated include cochlear nucleus, lateral lemniscus, inferior colliculus, medial geniculate nucleus, and auditory cortex. The results obtained indicated that a significant increase in degeneration of neuronal cytoskeletal elements was observed only in the left and right cochlear nucleus. A significant increase in degeneration of neuronal cytoskeletal elements was observed in the cochlear nucleus at 24 h and persisted through 1 year, suggesting acute and chronic neuronal degeneration after blast exposure. No statistically significant differences were observed between single and repeated blasts. The localized degeneration of neuronal cytoskeletal elements in the cochlear nucleus suggests that the damage could be caused by transmission of blast shockwaves/noise through the ear canal and that use of suitable ear protection devices can protect against acute and chronic central auditory signal processing defects including tinnitus after blast exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peethambaran Arun
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Franco Rossetti
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Donna M Wilder
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Ying Wang
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Irene D Gist
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Joseph B Long
- Blast-Induced Neurotrauma Branch, Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, United States
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