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den Harder C, van den Eertwegh V, Jongen F, Hageraats E, Nelissen S, Waterval D. Learning the breast examination with Physical Exam Teaching Associates: development and evaluation of the teaching setup. An action research approach. Women Health 2022; 62:502-512. [DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2022.2085846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. den Harder
- Skillslab, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | | | - F. Jongen
- Skillslab, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - E. Hageraats
- Skillslab, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - S. Nelissen
- Skillslab, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - D. Waterval
- Department of Educational Development and Research, School of Health Professions Education (SHE), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Lemmens S, Nelissen S, Dooley D, Geurts N, Peters EMJ, Hendrix S. Stress Pathway Modulation Is Detrimental or Ineffective for Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury in Mice. J Neurotrauma 2019; 37:564-571. [PMID: 31210094 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.6211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A mounting body of evidence suggests that stress plays a major role in the injury progression after spinal cord injury (SCI). Injury activates the stress systems; this in turn may augment the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, stimulate pro-inflammatory immune cells, and alter the balance between the pro- and anti-inflammatory immune response. As a result, it is suggested that stress pathways may augment neuronal damage and loss after SCI. Considering these potential detrimental effects of stress after SCI, we hypothesized that inhibition of stress pathways immediately after SCI may offer protection from damage and improve recovery. To investigate the relevance of stress responses in SCI recovery, we investigated the effects of blocking three well-studied stress response axes in a mouse model of SCI. Propranolol, RU-486, and CP-99994 were administered to inhibit the sympathetic axis, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, and the neuropeptide axis, respectively. Surprisingly, assessing functional recovery by the Basso Mouse Scale revealed that RU-486 and CP-99994 did not affect functional outcome, indicating that these pathways are dispensable for neuroprotection or repair after SCI. Moreover, the beta-blocker propranolol worsened functional outcome in the mouse SCI model. In conclusion, immediate inhibition of three major stress axes has no beneficial effects on functional recovery after SCI in mice. These results suggest that injury-induced stress responses do not interfere with the healing process and hence, pharmacological targeting of stress responses is not a recommended treatment option for SCI. These findings are of great importance for other researchers to avoid unnecessary and potentially futile animal experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Lemmens
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Sofie Nelissen
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Dearbhaile Dooley
- Health Science Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nathalie Geurts
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Eva Milena Johanne Peters
- Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Justus Liebig University and Charité Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven Hendrix
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
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Raijmakers M, Clynen E, Smisdom N, Nelissen S, Brône B, Rigo JM, Hoogland G, Swijsen A. Experimental febrile seizures increase dendritic complexity of newborn dentate granule cells. Epilepsia 2016; 57:717-26. [PMID: 27020476 DOI: 10.1111/epi.13357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Febrile seizures (FS) are fever-associated convulsions, being the most common seizure disorder in early childhood. A subgroup of these children later develops epilepsy characterized by a hyperexcitable neuronal network in the hippocampus. Hippocampal excitability is regulated by the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) where postnatal neurogenesis occurs. Experimental FS increase the survival of newborn hippocampal dentate granule cells (DGCs), yet the significance of this neuronal subpopulation to the hippocampal network remains unclear. In the current study, we characterized the temporal maturation and structural integration of these post-FS born DGCs in the DG. METHODS Experimental FS were induced in 10-day-old rat pups. The next day, retroviral particles coding for enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) were stereotactically injected in the DG to label newborn cells. Histochemical analyses of eGFP expressing DGCs were performed one, 4, and 8 weeks later and consisted of the following: (1) colocalization with neurodevelopmental markers doublecortin, calretinin, and the mature neuronal marker NeuN; (2) quantification of dendritic complexity; and (3) quantification of spine density and morphology. RESULTS At neither time point were neurodevelopmental markers differently expressed between FS animals and normothermia (NT) controls. One week after treatment, DGCs from FS animals showed dendrites that were 66% longer than those from NT controls. At 4 and 8 weeks, Sholl analysis of the outer 83% of the molecular layer showed 20-25% more intersections in FS animals than in NT controls (p < 0.01). Although overall spine density was not affected, an increase in mushroom-type spines was observed after 8 weeks. SIGNIFICANCE Experimental FS increase dendritic complexity and the number of mushroom-type spines in post-FS born DGCs, demonstrating a more mature phenotype and suggesting increased incoming excitatory information. The consequences of this hyperconnectivity to signal processing in the DG and the output of the hippocampus remain to be studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjolein Raijmakers
- Biomedical Research Institute BIOMED, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.,Department of Neurosurgery, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Elke Clynen
- Biomedical Research Institute BIOMED, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Nick Smisdom
- Biomedical Research Institute BIOMED, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium.,Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Environmental Risk and Health Unit, Mol, Belgium
| | - Sofie Nelissen
- Biomedical Research Institute BIOMED, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Bert Brône
- Biomedical Research Institute BIOMED, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Jean-Michel Rigo
- Biomedical Research Institute BIOMED, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Govert Hoogland
- Department of Neurosurgery, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Ann Swijsen
- Biomedical Research Institute BIOMED, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
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Vangansewinkel T, Geurts N, Quanten K, Nelissen S, Lemmens S, Geboes L, Dooley D, Vidal PM, Pejler G, Hendrix S. Mast cells promote scar remodeling and functional recovery after spinal cord injury via mouse mast cell protease 6. FASEB J 2016; 30:2040-57. [PMID: 26917739 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201500114r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
An important barrier for axon regeneration and recovery after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is attributed to the scar that is formed at the lesion site. Here, we investigated the effect of mouse mast cell protease (mMCP) 6, a mast cell (MC)-specific tryptase, on scarring and functional recovery after a spinal cord hemisection injury. Functional recovery was significantly impaired in both MC-deficient and mMCP6-knockout (mMCP6(-/-)) mice after SCI compared with wild-type control mice. This decrease in locomotor performance was associated with an increased lesion size and excessive scarring at the injury site. Axon growth-inhibitory chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and the extracellular matrix components fibronectin, laminin, and collagen IV were significantly up-regulated in MC-deficient and mMCP6(-/-) mice, with an increase in scar volume between 23 and 32%. A degradation assay revealed that mMCP6 directly cleaves fibronectin and collagen IV in vitro In addition, gene expression levels of the scar components fibronectin, aggrecan, and collagen IV were increased up to 6.8-fold in mMCP6(-/-) mice in the subacute phase after injury. These data indicate that endogenous mMCP6 has scar-suppressing properties after SCI via indirect cleavage of axon growth-inhibitory scar components and alteration of the gene expression profile of these factors.-Vangansewinkel, T., Geurts, N., Quanten, K., Nelissen, S., Lemmens, S., Geboes, L., Dooley, D., Vidal, P. M., Pejler, G., Hendrix, S. Mast cells promote scar remodeling and functional recovery after spinal cord injury via mouse mast cell protease 6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Vangansewinkel
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Geurts
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Kirsten Quanten
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Sofie Nelissen
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Stefanie Lemmens
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Lies Geboes
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Dearbhaile Dooley
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Pia M Vidal
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Gunnar Pejler
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; and Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sven Hendrix
- Department of Morphology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium;
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Geurts N, Vangansewinkel T, Lemmens S, Nelissen S, Geboes L, Schwartz C, Voehringer D, Hendrix S. Basophils are dispensable for the recovery of gross locomotion after spinal cord hemisection injury. J Leukoc Biol 2015; 99:579-82. [PMID: 26578647 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.3ab0815-370r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Basophils are the smallest population of granulocytes found in the circulation. They have crucial and nonredundant roles in allergic disorders, in protection from parasite infections, in autoimmunity, and in the regulation of type 2 immunity. They share phenotypic and functional properties with mast cells, which exert substantial protective effects after traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, although they are considered one of the most proinflammatory cell types in the body. In contrast, the in vivo functions of basophils in central nervous system trauma are still obscure and not well studied. In this study, we show that by comparing spinal cord injury in wild type vs. basophil-deficient Mcpt8Cre transgenic mice, the locomotor recovery is not affected in mice depleted in basophils. In addition, no substantial differences were observed in the lesion size and in the astrocytic and macrophage/microglia reaction between both mouse strains. Hence, despite the multiple properties shared with mast cells, these data show, for the first time, to our knowledge, that basophils are dispensable for the functional recovery process after hemisection injury to the spinal cord in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Geurts
- Departments of *Morphology and Cell Physiology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Clinic Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nüremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tim Vangansewinkel
- Departments of *Morphology and Cell Physiology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Clinic Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nüremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Lemmens
- Departments of *Morphology and Cell Physiology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Clinic Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nüremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sofie Nelissen
- Departments of *Morphology and Cell Physiology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Clinic Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nüremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lies Geboes
- Departments of *Morphology and Cell Physiology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Clinic Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nüremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Schwartz
- Departments of *Morphology and Cell Physiology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Clinic Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nüremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - David Voehringer
- Departments of *Morphology and Cell Physiology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Clinic Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nüremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sven Hendrix
- Departments of *Morphology and Cell Physiology, Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Clinic Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nüremberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Nelissen S, Vangansewinkel T, Geurts N, Geboes L, Lemmens E, Vidal PM, Lemmens S, Willems L, Boato F, Dooley D, Pehl D, Pejler G, Maurer M, Metz M, Hendrix S. Mast cells protect from post-traumatic spinal cord damage in mice by degrading inflammation-associated cytokines via mouse mast cell protease 4. Neurobiol Dis 2013; 62:260-72. [PMID: 24075853 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2013.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2013] [Revised: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 09/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mast cells (MCs) are found abundantly in the central nervous system and play a complex role in neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis and stroke. In the present study, we show that MC-deficient Kit(W-sh/W-sh) mice display significantly increased astrogliosis and T cell infiltration as well as significantly reduced functional recovery after spinal cord injury compared to wildtype mice. In addition, MC-deficient mice show significantly increased levels of MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-13 protein levels in the spinal cord. Mice deficient in mouse mast cell protease 4 (mMCP4), an MC-specific chymase, also showed increased MCP-1, IL-6 and IL-13 protein levels in spinal cord samples and a decreased functional outcome after spinal cord injury. A degradation assay using supernatant from MCs derived from either mMCP4(-/-) mice or controls revealed that mMCP4 cleaves MCP-1, IL-6, and IL-13 suggesting a protective role for MC proteases in neuroinflammation. These data show for the first time that MCs may be protective after spinal cord injury and that they may reduce CNS damage by degrading inflammation-associated cytokines via the MC-specific chymase mMCP4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Nelissen
- Dept. of Morphology & Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim Vangansewinkel
- Dept. of Morphology & Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Geurts
- Dept. of Morphology & Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Lies Geboes
- Dept. of Morphology & Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Evi Lemmens
- Dept. of Morphology & Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Pia M Vidal
- Dept. of Morphology & Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Stefanie Lemmens
- Dept. of Morphology & Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Leen Willems
- Dept. of Morphology & Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Francesco Boato
- Dept. of Morphology & Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Dearbhaile Dooley
- Dept. of Morphology & Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Debora Pehl
- Dept. of Dermatology and Allergy, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Gunnar Pejler
- Dept. of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marcus Maurer
- Dept. of Dermatology and Allergy, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Metz
- Dept. of Dermatology and Allergy, Allergie-Centrum-Charité, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven Hendrix
- Dept. of Morphology & Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
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Nelissen S, Lemmens E, Geurts N, Kramer P, Maurer M, Hendriks J, Hendrix S. The role of mast cells in neuroinflammation. Acta Neuropathol 2013; 125:637-50. [PMID: 23404369 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-013-1092-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2012] [Revised: 01/21/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Mast cells (MCs) are densely granulated perivascular resident cells of hematopoietic origin and well known for their pathogenetic role in allergic and anaphylactic reactions. In addition, they are also involved in processes of innate and adaptive immunity. MCs can be activated in response to a wide range of stimuli, resulting in the release of not only pro-inflammatory, but also anti-inflammatory mediators. The patterns of secreted mediators depend upon the given stimuli and microenvironmental conditions, accordingly MCs have the ability to promote or attenuate inflammatory processes. Their presence in the central nervous system (CNS) has been recognized for more than a century. Since then a participation of MCs in various pathological processes in the CNS has been well documented. They can aggravate CNS damage in models of brain ischemia and hemorrhage, namely through increased blood-brain barrier damage, brain edema and hemorrhage formation and promotion of inflammatory responses to such events. In contrast, recent evidence suggests that MCs may have a protective role following traumatic brain injury by degrading pro-inflammatory cytokines via specific proteases. In neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, the role of MCs seems to be ambiguous. MCs have been shown to be damaging, neuroprotective, or even dispensable, depending on the experimental protocols used. The role of MCs in the formation and progression of CNS tumors such as gliomas is complex and both positive and negative relationships between MC activity and tumor progression have been reported. In summary, MCs and their secreted mediators modulate inflammatory processes in multiple CNS pathologies and can thereby either contribute to neurological damage or confer neuroprotection. This review intends to give a concise overview of the regulatory roles of MCs in brain disease.
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Boato F, Rosenberger K, Nelissen S, Geboes L, Peters EM, Nitsch R, Hendrix S. Absence of IL-1β positively affects neurological outcome, lesion development and axonal plasticity after spinal cord injury. J Neuroinflammation 2013; 10:6. [PMID: 23317037 PMCID: PMC3585738 DOI: 10.1186/1742-2094-10-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Precise crosstalk between the nervous and immune systems is important for neuroprotection and axon plasticity after injury. Recently, we demonstrated that IL-1β acts as a potent inducer of neurite outgrowth from organotypic brain slices in vitro, suggesting a potential function of IL-1β in axonal plasticity. Here, we have investigated the effects of IL-1β on axon plasticity during glial scar formation and on functional recovery in a mouse model of spinal cord compression injury (SCI). We used an IL-1β deficiency model (IL-1βKO mice) and administered recombinant IL-1β. In contrast to our hypothesis, the histological analysis revealed a significantly increased lesion width and a reduced number of corticospinal tract fibers caudal to the lesion center after local application of recombinant IL-1β. Consistently, the treatment significantly worsened the neurological outcome after SCI in mice compared with PBS controls. In contrast, the absence of IL-1β in IL-1βKO mice significantly improved recovery from SCI compared with wildtype mice. Histological analysis revealed a smaller lesion size, reduced lesion width and greatly decreased astrogliosis in the white matter, while the number of corticospinal tract fibers increased significantly 5 mm caudal to the lesion in IL-1βKO mice relative to controls. Our study for the first time characterizes the detrimental effects of IL-1β not only on lesion development (in terms of size and glia activation), but also on the plasticity of central nervous system axons after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Boato
- Department of Morphology & BIOMED Institute, Campus Diepenbeek, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw C, Diepenbeek, BE 3590, Belgium
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9
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Hendrix S, Kramer P, Pehl D, Warnke K, Boato F, Nelissen S, Lemmens E, Pejler G, Metz M, Siebenhaar F, Maurer M. Mast cells protect from post-traumatic brain inflammation by the mast cell-specific chymase mouse mast cell protease-4. FASEB J 2012. [PMID: 23193170 DOI: 10.1096/fj.12-204800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Mast cells (MCs) are found abundantly in the brain and the meninges and play a complex role in neuroinflammatory diseases, such as stroke and multiple sclerosis. Here, we show that MC-deficient Kit/Kit mice display increased neurodegeneration in the lesion area after brain trauma. Furthermore, MC-deficient mice display significantly more brain inflammation, namely an increased presence of macrophages/microglia, as well as dramatically increased T-cell infiltration at days 4 and 14 after injury, combined with increased astrogliosis at day 14 following injury. The number of proliferating Ki67 macrophages/microglia and astrocytes around the lesion area is more than doubled in these MC-deficient mice. In parallel, MC-deficient Kit mice display increased presence of macrophages/microglia at day 4, and persistent astrogliosis at day 4 and 14 after brain trauma. Further analysis of mice deficient in one of the most relevant MC proteases, i.e., mouse mast cell protease 4 (mMCP-4), revealed that astrogliosis and T-cell infiltration are significantly increased in mMCP-4-knockout mice. Finally, treatment with an inhibitor of mMCP-4 significantly increased macrophage/microglia numbers and astrogliosis. These data suggest that MCs exert protective functions after trauma, at least in part via mMCP-4, by suppressing exacerbated inflammation via their proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Hendrix
- Department of Morphology and Biomedical Research Institute, Agoralaan Gebouw D, BE 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium.
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Vidal PM, Lemmens E, Geboes L, Vangansewinkel T, Nelissen S, Hendrix S. Late blocking of peripheral TNF-α is ineffective after spinal cord injury in mice. Immunobiology 2012; 218:281-4. [PMID: 22749984 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2012.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2012] [Revised: 05/04/2012] [Accepted: 05/16/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterized by different phases of inflammatory responses. Increasing evidence indicates that the early chronic phase (two to three weeks after SCI) is characterized by a dramatic invasion of immune cells and a peak of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) derived from the injured spinal cord as well as from injured skin, muscles and bones. However, there is substantial controversy whether these inflammatory processes in later phases lead to pro-regenerative or detrimental effects. In the present study, we investigated whether the inhibition of peripheral TNF-α in the early chronic phase after injury promotes functional recovery in a dorsal hemisection model of SCI. Three different approaches were used to continuously block peripheral TNF-α in vivo, starting 14 days after injury. We administered the TNF-α blocker etanercept intraperitoneally (every second day or daily) as well as continuously via osmotic minipumps. None of these administration routes for the TNF-α inhibitor influenced locomotor restoration as assessed by the Basso mouse scale (BMS), nor did they affect coordination and strength as evaluated by the Rotarod test. These data suggest that peripheral TNF-α inhibition may not be an effective therapeutic strategy in the early chronic phase after SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pía M Vidal
- Department of Morphology & Biomedical Research Institute, Hasselt University, Agoralaan, Diepenbeek, Belgium
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Struyf S, Proost P, Vandercappellen J, Dempe S, Noyens B, Nelissen S, Gouwy M, Locati M, Opdenakker G, Dinsart C, Van Damme J. Synergistic up-regulation of MCP-2/CCL8 activity is counteracted by chemokine cleavage, limiting its inflammatory and anti-tumoral effects. Eur J Immunol 2009; 39:843-57. [PMID: 19224633 DOI: 10.1002/eji.200838660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Chemokines mediate the inflammatory response by attracting various leukocyte types. MCP-2/CC chemokine ligand 8 (CCL8) was induced at only suboptimal levels in fibroblasts and endothelial cells by IL-1beta or IFN-gamma, unless these cytokines were combined. IFN-gamma also synergized with the TLR ligands peptidoglycan (TLR2), dsRNA (TLR3) or LPS (TLR4). Under these conditions, intact MCP-2/CCL8(1-76) produced by fibroblasts was found to be processed into MCP-2/CCL8(6-75), which lacked chemotactic activity for monocytic cells. Furthermore, the capacity of MCP-2/CCL8(6-75) to increase intracellular calcium levels through CCR1, CCR2, CCR3 and CCR5 was severely reduced. However, the truncated isoform still blocked these receptors for other ligands. MCP-2/CCL8(6-75) induced internalization of CCR2, inhibited MCP-1/CCL2 and MCP-2/CCL8 ERK signaling and antagonized the chemotactic activity of several CCR2 ligands (MCP-1/CCL2, MCP-2/CCL8, MCP-3/CCL7). In contrast to MCP-3/CCL7, parvoviral delivery of MCP-2/CCL8 into B78/H1 melanoma failed to inhibit tumor growth, partially due to proteolytic cleavage into inactive MCP-2/CCL8 missing five NH(2)-terminal residues. However, in an alternative tumor model, using HeLa cells, MCP-2/CCL8 retarded tumor development. These data indicate that optimal induction and delivery of MCP-2/CCL8 is counteracted by converting this chemokine into a receptor antagonist, thereby losing its anti-tumoral potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Struyf
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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