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Stone JR, Avants BB, Tustison NJ, Gill J, Wilde EA, Neumann KD, Gladney LA, Kilgore MO, Bowling F, Wilson CM, Detro JF, Belanger HG, Deary K, Linsenbardt H, Ahlers ST. Neurological Effects of Repeated Blast Exposure in Special Operations Personnel. J Neurotrauma 2024; 41:942-956. [PMID: 37950709 PMCID: PMC11001960 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2023.0309] [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] [Indexed: 11/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to blast overpressure has been a pervasive feature of combat-related injuries. Studies exploring the neurological correlates of repeated low-level blast exposure in career "breachers" demonstrated higher levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin (IL)-6 and decreases in IL-10 within brain-derived extracellular vesicles (BDEVs). The current pilot study was initiated in partnership with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to explore whether neuroinflammation is seen within special operators with prior blast exposure. Data were analyzed from 18 service members (SMs), inclusive of 9 blast-exposed special operators with an extensive career history of repeated blast exposures and 9 controls matched by age and duration of service. Neuroinflammation was assessed utilizing positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with [18F]DPA-714. Serum was acquired to assess inflammatory biomarkers within whole serum and BDEVs. The Blast Exposure Threshold Survey (BETS) was acquired to determine blast history. Both self-report and neurocognitive measures were acquired to assess cognition. Similarity-driven Multi-view Linear Reconstruction (SiMLR) was used for joint analysis of acquired data. Analysis of BDEVs indicated significant positive associations with a generalized blast exposure value (GBEV) derived from the BETS. SiMLR-based analyses of neuroimaging demonstrated exposure-related relationships between GBEV, PET-neuroinflammation, cortical thickness, and volume loss within special operators. Affected brain networks included regions associated with memory retrieval and executive functioning, as well as visual and heteromodal processing. Post hoc assessments of cognitive measures failed to demonstrate significant associations with GBEV. This emerging evidence suggests neuroinflammation may be a key feature of the brain response to blast exposure over a career in operational personnel. The common thread of neuroinflammation observed in blast-exposed populations requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R. Stone
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Brian B. Avants
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Nicholas J. Tustison
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Jessica Gill
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Elisabeth A. Wilde
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- George E. Wahlen VA, Salt Lake City Health Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Kiel D. Neumann
- Molecular Imaging Research Hub, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Leslie A. Gladney
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Madison O. Kilgore
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - F. Bowling
- U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | | | - John F. Detro
- U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Heather G. Belanger
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, and Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Cognitive Research Corporation, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Katryna Deary
- U.S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | | | - Stephen T. Ahlers
- Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Command, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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Cai W, Chen M. Envoplakin Inhibits Macrophage Polarization by Altering the Inflammatory Tumor Microenvironment of Melanoma Through the RAS / ERK Signaling Pathway. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:1687-1706. [PMID: 38504693 PMCID: PMC10950027 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s447934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Tumor growth induces the tumor margin to become a transition zone rich in immune cells. EVPL is a potential prognostic biomarker for melanoma. Melanoma is difficult to cure because of its high metastasis, so it is urgent to find effective genes to inhibit tumor progression and regulate tumor microenvironment. Methods Firstly, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among normal skin, nevus and melanoma samples in GSE3189 were screened. Bioinformatics was used to further explore the hub genes and enriched pathways closely related to the inflammatory response of DEGs in melanoma. We selected EVPL, which is associated with the Ras/Raf signaling pathway, for in vitro study. CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing, Transwell and flow cytometry assays were respectively used to evaluate the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of cancer cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted for the monitoring of changes in the tumor microenvironment. To evaluate the effect of EVPL on macrophage recruitment, we established a co-culture system in a Transwell chamber. The polarization of macrophages was examined after treatment of cells with RAS/ERK signaling inhibitors SCH772984 and sh-EVPL. Additionally, changes in the expression of pathway proteins were measured by Western blot. Results Among the screened hub genes, EVPL was associated with the Ras/Raf pathway, a key signaling pathway in melanoma, and may be involved in regulating the inflammatory microenvironment of melanoma. Oe-EVPL was proved to suppress melanoma cell malignant progression. By inhibiting EVPL expression, the inhibitory effects on melanoma progression induced by the addition of SCH772984 were reversed. Furthermore, EVPL was found to inhibit the expression of chemokines, the recruitment of macrophages, and the polarization of macrophages through the Ras/Raf/ERK signaling pathway. Conclusion EVPL can inhibit the progression of melanoma through the RAS/ERK signaling pathway, change the inflammatory tumor microenvironment of melanoma, and inhibit the recruitment of macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weilin Cai
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Senior Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Minliang Chen
- Senior Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, the Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Elder GA, Gama Sosa MA, De Gasperi R, Perez Garcia G, Perez GM, Abutarboush R, Kawoos U, Zhu CW, Janssen WGM, Stone JR, Hof PR, Cook DG, Ahlers ST. The Neurovascular Unit as a Locus of Injury in Low-Level Blast-Induced Neurotrauma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1150. [PMID: 38256223 PMCID: PMC10816929 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Blast-induced neurotrauma has received much attention over the past decade. Vascular injury occurs early following blast exposure. Indeed, in animal models that approximate human mild traumatic brain injury or subclinical blast exposure, vascular pathology can occur in the presence of a normal neuropil, suggesting that the vasculature is particularly vulnerable. Brain endothelial cells and their supporting glial and neuronal elements constitute a neurovascular unit (NVU). Blast injury disrupts gliovascular and neurovascular connections in addition to damaging endothelial cells, basal laminae, smooth muscle cells, and pericytes as well as causing extracellular matrix reorganization. Perivascular pathology becomes associated with phospho-tau accumulation and chronic perivascular inflammation. Disruption of the NVU should impact activity-dependent regulation of cerebral blood flow, blood-brain barrier permeability, and glymphatic flow. Here, we review work in an animal model of low-level blast injury that we have been studying for over a decade. We review work supporting the NVU as a locus of low-level blast injury. We integrate our findings with those from other laboratories studying similar models that collectively suggest that damage to astrocytes and other perivascular cells as well as chronic immune activation play a role in the persistent neurobehavioral changes that follow blast injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A. Elder
- Neurology Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA;
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.A.G.S.); (R.D.G.)
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (C.W.Z.); (P.R.H.)
| | - Miguel A. Gama Sosa
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.A.G.S.); (R.D.G.)
- General Medical Research Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA
| | - Rita De Gasperi
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA; (M.A.G.S.); (R.D.G.)
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA;
| | - Georgina Perez Garcia
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA;
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA;
| | - Gissel M. Perez
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA;
| | - Rania Abutarboush
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical ResearchCommand, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (R.A.); (U.K.); (S.T.A.)
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Usmah Kawoos
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical ResearchCommand, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (R.A.); (U.K.); (S.T.A.)
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc., Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
| | - Carolyn W. Zhu
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (C.W.Z.); (P.R.H.)
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468, USA;
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - William G. M. Janssen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - James R. Stone
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, 480 Ray C Hunt Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA;
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Mount Sinai Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (C.W.Z.); (P.R.H.)
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - David G. Cook
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, 1660 S Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108, USA;
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Stephen T. Ahlers
- Department of Neurotrauma, Operational and Undersea Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical ResearchCommand, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA; (R.A.); (U.K.); (S.T.A.)
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Gasperi RD, Gama Sosa MA, Perez Garcia GS, Perez GM, Abutarboush R, Kawoos U, Statz JK, Patterson J, Hof PR, Katsel P, Cook DG, Ahlers ST, Elder GA. Progressive Transcriptional Changes in the Amygdala Implicate Neuroinflammation in the Effects of Repetitive Low-Level Blast Exposure in Male Rats. J Neurotrauma 2023; 40:561-577. [PMID: 36262047 PMCID: PMC10040418 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2022.0282] [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] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic mental health problems are common among military veterans who sustained blast-related traumatic brain injuries. The reasons for this association remain unexplained. Male rats exposed to repetitive low-level blast overpressure (BOP) exposures exhibit chronic cognitive and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related traits that develop in a delayed fashion. We examined blast-induced alterations on the transcriptome in four brain areas (anterior cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebellum) across the time frame over which the PTSD-related behavioral phenotype develops. When analyzed at 6 weeks or 12 months after blast exposure, relatively few differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found. However, longitudinal analysis of amygdala, hippocampus, and anterior cortex between 6 weeks and 12 months revealed blast-specific DEG patterns. Six DEGs (hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 [Hapln1], glutamate metabotropic receptor 2 [Grm2], purinergic receptor P2y12 [P2ry12], C-C chemokine receptor type 5 [Ccr5], phenazine biosynthesis-like protein domain containing 1 [Pbld1], and cadherin related 23 [Cdh23]) were found altered in all three brain regions in blast-exposed animals. Pathway enrichment analysis using all DEGs or those uniquely changed revealed different transcription patterns in blast versus sham. In particular, the amygdala in blast-exposed animals had a unique set of enriched pathways related to stress responses, oxidative phosphorylation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Upstream analysis implicated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α signaling in blast-related effects in amygdala and anterior cortex. Eukaryotic initiating factor eIF4E (EIF4e), an upstream regulator of P2ry12 and Ccr5, was predicted to be activated in the amygdala. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) validated longitudinal changes in two TNFα regulated genes (cathepsin B [Ctsb], Hapln1), P2ry12, and Grm2. These studies have implications for understanding how blast injury damages the brain and implicates inflammation as a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita De Gasperi
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Miguel A. Gama Sosa
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- General Medical Research Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Georgina S. Perez Garcia
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gissel M. Perez
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Rania Abutarboush
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Usmah Kawoos
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan K. Statz
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jacob Patterson
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Parsons Corporation, Centreville, Virginia, USA
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Department of Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Pavel Katsel
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - David G. Cook
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stephen T. Ahlers
- Department of Neurotrauma, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Gregory A. Elder
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Mount Sinai Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Neurology Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA
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