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Chanana V, Zafer D, Kintner DB, Chandrashekhar JH, Eickhoff J, Ferrazzano PA, Levine JE, Cengiz P. TrkB-mediated neuroprotection in female hippocampal neurons is autonomous, estrogen receptor alpha-dependent, and eliminated by testosterone: a proposed model for sex differences in neonatal hippocampal neuronal injury. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:30. [PMID: 38566248 PMCID: PMC10988865 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00596-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neonatal hypoxia ischemia (HI) related brain injury is one of the major causes of learning disabilities and memory deficits in children. In both human and animal studies, female neonate brains are less susceptible to HI than male brains. Phosphorylation of the nerve growth factor receptor TrkB has been shown to provide sex-specific neuroprotection following in vivo HI in female mice in an estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-dependent manner. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms conferring sex-specific neonatal neuroprotection remain incompletely understood. Here, we test whether female neonatal hippocampal neurons express autonomous neuroprotective properties and assess the ability of testosterone (T) to alter this phenotype. METHODS We cultured sexed hippocampal neurons from ERα+/+ and ERα-/- mice and subjected them to 4 h oxygen glucose deprivation and 24 h reoxygenation (4-OGD/24-REOX). Sexed hippocampal neurons were treated either with vehicle control (VC) or the TrkB agonist 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) following in vitro ischemia. End points at 24 h REOX were TrkB phosphorylation (p-TrkB) and neuronal survival assessed by immunohistochemistry. In addition, in vitro ischemia-mediated ERα gene expression in hippocampal neurons were investigated following testosterone (T) pre-treatment and TrkB antagonist therapy via q-RTPCR. Multifactorial analysis of variance was conducted to test for significant differences between experimental conditions. RESULTS Under normoxic conditions, administration of 3 µM 7,8-DHF resulted an ERα-dependent increase in p-TrkB immunoexpression that was higher in female, as compared to male neurons. Following 4-OGD/24-REOX, p-TrkB expression increased 20% in both male and female ERα+/+ neurons. However, with 3 µM 7,8-DHF treatment p-TrkB expression increased further in female neurons by 2.81 ± 0.79-fold and was ERα dependent. 4-OGD/24-REOX resulted in a 56% increase in cell death, but only female cells were rescued with 3 µM 7,8-DHF, again in an ERα dependent manner. Following 4-OGD/3-REOX, ERα mRNA increased ~ 3 fold in female neurons. This increase was blocked with either the TrkB antagonist ANA-12 or pre-treatment with T. Pre-treatment with T also blocked the 7,8-DHF- dependent sex-specific neuronal survival in female neurons following 4-OGD/24-REOX. CONCLUSIONS OGD/REOX results in sex-dependent TrkB phosphorylation in female neurons that increases further with 7,8-DHF treatment. TrkB phosphorylation by 7,8-DHF increased ERα mRNA expression and promoted cell survival preferentially in female hippocampal neurons. The sex-dependent neuroprotective actions of 7,8-DHF were blocked by either ANA-12 or by T pre-treatment. These results are consistent with a model for a female-specific neuroprotective pathway in hippocampal neurons in response to hypoxia. The pathway is activated by 7,8-DHF, mediated by TrkB phosphorylation, dependent on ERα and blocked by pre-exposure to T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Chanana
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 1500 Highland Ave - T505, Madison, WI, 53705-9345, USA
| | - Dila Zafer
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 1500 Highland Ave - T505, Madison, WI, 53705-9345, USA
| | - Douglas B Kintner
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 1500 Highland Ave - T505, Madison, WI, 53705-9345, USA
| | - Jayadevi H Chandrashekhar
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Jens Eickhoff
- Department of Statistics and Bioinformatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Peter A Ferrazzano
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 1500 Highland Ave - T505, Madison, WI, 53705-9345, USA
| | - Jon E Levine
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Pelin Cengiz
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin, 1500 Highland Ave - T505, Madison, WI, 53705-9345, USA.
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Chen YS, Zhang SM, Tan W, Zhu Q, Yue CX, Xiang P, Li JQ, Wei Z, Zeng Y. Early 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone Administration Ameliorates Synaptic and Behavioral Deficits in the Young FXS Animal Model by Acting on BDNF-TrkB Pathway. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:2539-2552. [PMID: 36680734 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03226-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading inherited form of intellectual disability and the most common cause of autism spectrum disorders. FXS patients exhibit severe syndromic features and behavioral alterations, including anxiety, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and aggression, in addition to cognitive impairment and seizures. At present, there are no effective treatments or cures for FXS. Previously, we have found the divergence of BDNF-TrkB signaling trajectories is associated with spine defects in early postnatal developmental stages of Fmr1 KO mice. Here, young fragile X mice were intraperitoneal injection with 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), a high affinity tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) agonist. 7,8-DHF ameliorated morphological abnormities in dendritic spine and synaptic structure and rescued synaptic and hippocampus-dependent cognitive dysfunction. These observed improvements of 7,8-DHF involved decreased protein levels of BDNF, p-TrkBY816, p-PLCγ, and p-CaMKII in the hippocampus. In addition, 7,8-DHF intervention in primary hippocampal neurons increased p-TrkBY816 and activated the PLCγ1-CaMKII signaling pathway, leading to improvement of neuronal morphology. This study is the first to account for early life synaptic impairments, neuronal morphological, and cognitive delays in FXS in response to the abnormal BDNF-TrkB pathway. Present studies provide novel evidences about the effective early intervention in FXS mice at developmental stages and a strategy to produce powerful impacts on neural development, synaptic plasticity, and behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Shan Chen
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China
- Geriatric Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Si-Ming Zhang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China
- Geriatric Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Tan
- Geriatric Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiong Zhu
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China
- Geriatric Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chao-Xiong Yue
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China
- Geriatric Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng Xiang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China
- Geriatric Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jin-Quan Li
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China
- Geriatric Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhen Wei
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China
- Geriatric Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Zeng
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, School of Medicine, Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430065, China.
- Geriatric Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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Cho HJ, Sung YH, Lee SH, Chung JY, Kang JM, Yi JW. Isoflurane Induces Transient Anterograde Amnesia through Suppression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Hippocampus. J Korean Neurosurg Soc 2013; 53:139-44. [PMID: 23634262 PMCID: PMC3638265 DOI: 10.3340/jkns.2013.53.3.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2012] [Revised: 08/18/2012] [Accepted: 02/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Transient anterograde amnesia is occasionally observed in a number of conditions, including migraine, focal ischemia, venous flow abnormalities, and after general anesthesia. The inhalation anesthetic, isoflurane, is known to induce transient anterograde amnesia. We examined the involvement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) in the underlying mechanisms of the isoflurane-induced transient anterograde amnesia. Methods Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups : the control group, the 10 minutes after recovery from isoflurane anesthesia group, and the 2 hours after recovery from isoflurane anesthesia group (n=8 in each group). The rats in the isoflurane-exposed groups were anesthetized with 1.2% isoflurane in 75% nitrous oxide and 25% oxygen for 2 hours in a Plexiglas anesthetizing chamber. Short-term memory was determined using the step-down avoidance task. BDNF and TrkB expressions in the hippocampus were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis. Results Latency in the step-down avoidance task was decreased 10 minutes after recovery from isoflurane anesthesia, whereas it recovered to the control level 2 hours after isoflurane anesthesia. The expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the hippocampus were decreased immediately after isoflurane anesthesia but were increased 2 hours after isoflurane anesthesia. Conclusion In this study, isoflurane anesthesia induced transient anterograde amnesia, and the expressions of BDNF and TrkB in the hippocampus might be involved in the underlying mechanisms of this transient anterograde amnesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Jin Cho
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan Hospital, Ansan, Korea
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