4-Hydroxyl-2-Nonenal Localized Expression Pattern in Retrieved Clots is Associated with Large Artery Atherosclerosis in Stroke Patients.

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between stroke etiology and clot pathology remains controversial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed histological analysis of clots retrieved from 52 acute ischemic stroke patients using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry (CD42b and oxidative/hypoxic stress markers). The correlations between clot composition and the stroke etiological group (i.e., cardioembolic, cryptogenic, or large artery atherosclerosis) were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 52 clots analyzed, there were no significant differences in histopathologic composition (e.g., white blood cells, red blood cells, fibrin, and platelets) between the 3 etiological groups (P = .92). By contrast, all large artery atherosclerosis clots showed a localized pattern with the oxidative stress marker 4-hydroxyl-2-nonenal (P < .01). From all 52 clots, 4-hydroxyl-2-nonenal expression patterns were localized in 28.8% of clots, diffuse in 57.7% of clots, and no signal in 13.5% of clots. CONCLUSIONS: A localized pattern of 4-hydroxyl-2-nonenal staining may be a novel and effective marker for large artery atherosclerosis (sensitivity 100%, specificity 82%).

[Aseptic meningitis as paraneoplastic syndrome related to chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase].

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal hemopoietic stem cell disorder characterized by reciprocal translocation between the long arms of chromosomes 9 and 22 that produces the fusion BCR-ABL1 gene. Major manifestations in CML patients are increased white cell count and splenomegaly. In this case, the patient presented with aseptic meningitis and showed symptoms, such as disorientation, double vision, and neurogenic bladder disorder. Pulse steroid and antibiotic treatment was ineffective for these symptoms; however, the combination therapy with these drugs and dasatinib was very effective. Moreover, our patient had myelopathy that could have been induced by dasatinib after the treatment was started. To our knowledge, this is the first report of meningitis of the paraneoplastic syndrome associated with CML.

WRN Mutation Update: Mutation Spectrum, Patient Registries, and Translational Prospects.

Werner syndrome (WS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a constellation of adult onset phenotypes consistent with an acceleration of intrinsic biological aging. It is caused by pathogenic variants in the WRN gene, which encodes a multifunctional nuclear protein with exonuclease and helicase activities. WRN protein is thought to be involved in optimization of various aspects of DNA metabolism, including DNA repair, recombination, replication, and transcription. In this update, we summarize a total of 83 different WRN mutations, including eight previously unpublished mutations identified by the International Registry of Werner Syndrome (Seattle, WA) and the Japanese Werner Consortium (Chiba, Japan), as well as 75 mutations already reported in the literature. The Seattle International Registry recruits patients from all over the world to investigate genetic causes of a wide variety of progeroid syndromes in order to contribute to the knowledge of basic mechanisms of human aging. Given the unusually high prevalence of WS patients and heterozygous carriers in Japan, the major goal of the Japanese Consortium is to develop effective therapies and to establish management guidelines for WS patients in Japan and elsewhere. This review will also discuss potential translational approaches to this disorder, including those currently under investigation.

Dynamic mislocalizations of nuclear pore complex proteins after focal cerebral ischemia in rat.

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) play an important role in coordinating the transport of proteins and nucleic acids between the nucleus and cytoplasm, and are therefore essential for maintaining normal cellular function and liability. In the present study, we investigated the temporal immunohistochemical distribution of five representative components of NPCs-Ran GTPase-activating protein 1 (RanGap1), glycoprotein-210 (Gp210), nucleoporin 205 (Nup205), nucleoporin 107 (Nup107), and nucleoporin 50 (Nup50)-after 90 min of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) up to 28 days after the reperfusion in rat brains. Single immunohistochemical analyses showed ring-like stainings along the periphery of the nucleus in sham control brains. After tMCAO, Gp210 and Nup107 immunoreactivity continuously increased from 1 day, and RanGap1, Nup205, and Nup50 increased from 2 days until 28 days, which also displayed progressive precipitations within the nucleus in the peri-ischemic area, while the ischemic core showed scarce expression with collapsed structure. Double immunofluorescent analyses revealed nuclear retention and apparent colocalization of RanGap1 with Nup205, Gp210 with Nup205, and partial colocalization of Nup205 with Nup107; most of the ischemic changes above were similar to those observed in patients with C9orf72-genetic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Taken together, these observations suggest that the mislocalization of these nucleoporins may be a common pathogenesis of both ischemic and neurodegenerative disease. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Case of Dermatomyositis with Severe Myalgia and Muscle Weakness Testing Positive for Anti-melanoma Differentiation-associated Gene 5 Antibody.

We report a case of a woman with typical dermatomyositis (DM) with skin manifestations, severe myalgia and muscle weakness complicated by interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pneumomediastinum. Pneumomediastinum persisted despite treatment with immunosuppressive therapy (steroids and cyclosporine). After the test for anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody came out positive, we doubled the cyclosporine dose and her condition improved. Despite typical clinical features of DM, in cases complicated by pneumomediastinum or steroid resistance, measurement of anti-MDA5 antibody may be useful for immunosuppressant dose titration.

A patient develops transient unique cerebral and cerebellar lesions after unruptured aneurysm coiling.

BACKGROUND: We describe a case of a very unusual complication following a coiling procedure in which the patient developed transient unique cerebral and cerebellar lesions. Lesions were examined not only by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but also by positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS). CASE PRESENTATION: A 33-year-old woman presented an incidental 3.7 × 3.3-mm unruptured cerebral aneurysm (CAn) in her basilar artery, which was successfully coiled with balloon assistance. A follow-up brain MRI at 1 and 2 months showed a gradual increase in several white matter hyperintense lesions in the left cerebellar, bilateral occipitotemporal and left parietoccipital lobe during fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). These were the only lesions associated with perfused CAn. However, the patient did not show any additional symptoms such as visual disturbance throughout the entire course. (11)C-methionine-PET (MET-PET) showed an obvious increase in methionine uptake in the lesion corresponding to enhanced areas with gadolinium-enhanced MRI. MRS showed a decrease in the N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/cr) ratio and a slight elevation of the choline/creatine (cho/cr) ratio and a lactate peak in the lesion. A follow-up MRI at 6 and 12 months showed a gradual decrease in the initial hyperintense lesions in FLAIR without any treatment. CONCLUSION: We present a case of an unusual complication after a coiling procedure. Although it is difficult to identify this etiology without a pathological examination, it is importance to increase awareness of such a potential complication arising from coiling procedures, because interventional procedures have become the first choice of treatment for cerebrovascular diseases in many countries.

Neurovascular protection by telmisartan via reducing neuroinflammation in stroke-resistant spontaneously hypertensive rat brain after ischemic stroke.

Telmisartan is a highly lipid-soluble angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), which improves insulin sensitivity and reduces triglyceride levels and, thus, is called metabo-sartan. We examined the effects of telmisartan on neurovascular unit (N-acetylglucosamine oligomer [NAGO], collagen IV, and glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]) and neuroinflammation (matrix metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9] and inflammasome) in brain of stroke-resistant spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR-SR). At 12 weeks of age, SHR-SR received transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) for 90 minutes and were divided into the following 3 groups, that is, vehicle group, low-dose telmisartan group (.3 mg/kg/d), and high-dose telmisartan group (3 mg/kg/d, postoral). Immunohistologic analysis at ages 6, 12, and 18 months showed progressive decreases of NAGO-positive endothelium and collagen IV-positive basement membrane and progressive increases of MMP-9-positive neurons, GFAP-positive astrocytes, and NLRP3-positive inflammasome in the cerebral cortex of vehicle group. Low-dose telmisartan reduced such changes without lowering blood pressure (BP), and high-dose telmisartan further improved such changes with lowering BP. The present findings suggest that a persistent hypertension caused a long-lasting inflammation after tMCAO in SHR-SR, which accelerated neurovascular disruption and emergent inflammasome, and that telmisartan greatly reduced such inflammation and protected the neurovascular unit via its pleiotropic effects in living hypertensive rat brain after ischemic stroke.

High Incidence of Dementia Conversion than Stroke Recurrence in Poststroke Patients of Late Elder Society.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the incidence of current poststroke dementia (PSD), the annual conversion ratio into PSD, and the risk factors for conversion. METHODS: In a 4.8-year follow-up period, 112 poststroke patients (ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage) were retrospectively investigated in cognitive examinations. They were categorized into 3 subgroups: converters into PSD, nonconverters who maintained their normal cognitive functions, and reverters who recovered to the normal mentality range. The clinical and demographic characteristics of these 3 subgroups were analyzed. RESULTS: Among all 112 poststroke patients (61.6% male, 73.6 ± 10.4 years old), 16.1% had PSD. During the follow-up period, a part of the normal baseline mentality group (83.9% of 112 original patients) newly developed PSD (subdivided into converters) with an annual conversion rate of 7.6%. The reversion rate from the baseline PSD group was 11.3%. There were significant differences in age (P < .05), baseline mini-mental state examination scores (P < .05), body mass index (P < .05), and periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensity grades (P < .05 and P = .01, respectively) between converters and nonconverters. The annual rate of stroke recurrence was only 2.2% in all stroke subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with stroke recurrence (2.2%), 7.6% of the annual PSD conversion rate was very high. Therefore, prevention of direct conversion into PSD without stroke recurrence may be another important aspect of poststroke clinics, especially in late elder society.

[Multiple brain abscesses in the territory of the vertebral-basilar artery resulting from an infected aortic arch graft].

A 62-year-old man with high fever and in a state of disorientation was transferred to our hospital. One year before this transfer, he had undergone total arch replacement surgery for thoracic aortic dissection. On admission to our hospital, head MRI revealed multiple brain abscesses in the territory of the vertebral-basilar artery, and chest CT showed gas around the aortic graft, in particular, at the origin of the left subclavian artery. We diagnosed him with brain abscesses in the left vertebral-basilar artery resulting from an infected aortic graft. We immediately began administration of intravenous antibiotics. Although his blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid cultures were negative, fortunately, the brain abscesses and ectopic gas disappeared. Since reports of only antibiotic use for treating brain abscesses due to aortic graft infection are rare, the appropriate duration of antibiotic administration has not been established yet. Therefore, careful observation is required in this case.

Rivaroxaban and apixaban reduce hemorrhagic transformation after thrombolysis by protection of neurovascular unit in rat.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the risk and benefit of tissue-type plasminogen activator treatment after oral anticoagulation with rivaroxaban or apixaban compared with warfarin or placebo. METHODS: Pretreatment with warfarin (0.2 mg/kg per day), rivaroxaban (2 mg/kg per day), apixaban (10 mg/kg per day), or vehicle (0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt) was performed for 7 days. Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion was then induced for 120 minutes, followed by reperfusion with tissue-type plasminogen activator (10 mg/kg per 10 mL). Clinical parameters, including cerebral infarction volume, hemorrhagic volume, and blood coagulation, were examined. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, markers for the neurovascular unit at the peri-ischemic lesion were immunohistochemically examined in brain sections, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity was measured by zymography. RESULTS: The paraparesis score was significantly improved in the rivaroxaban-pretreated group compared with the warfarin-pretreated group. Intracerebral hemorrhage was observed in the warfarin-pretreated group, and this was reduced in the rivaroxaban and apixaban-pretreated groups compared with the vehicle group. Marked dissociation of astrocyte foot processes and the basal lamina or pericytes was observed in the warfarin-pretreated group, and this was improved in the rivaroxaban and apixaban-pretreated groups. Furthermore, activation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the ipsilateral warfarin-pretreated brain was greatly reduced in rivaroxaban- and apixaban-pretreated rats. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a lower risk of intracerebral hemorrhage after tissue-type plasminogen activator treatment in rats with ischemic stroke that are pretreated with rivaroxaban and apixaban compared with pretreatment with warfarin. Reducing neurovascular dissociation by rivaroxaban and apixaban compared with warfarin could partly explain a reduction in hemorrhagic complications reported in clinical studies.

Reducing hemorrhagic complication by dabigatran via neurovascular protection after recanalization with tissue plasminogen activator in ischemic stroke of rat.

This study assesses the risks and benefits of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) treatment under oral anticoagulation with dabigatran compared with warfarin or vehicle control in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). After pretreatment with warfarin (0.2 mg/kg/day), dabigatran (20 mg/kg/day), or vehicle (0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt) for 7 days, tMCAO was induced for 120 min, followed by reperfusion and tPA (10 mg/kg/10 ml). Clinical parameters, including cerebral infarction volume, hemorrhagic volume, and blood coagulation, were examined. At 24 hr after reperfusion, markers for the neurovascular unit at the peri-ischemic lesion were immunohistochemically examined in brain sections, and MMP-9 activity was measured by zymography. Paraparesis and intracerebral hemorrhage volume were significantly improved in the dabigatran-pretreated group compared with the warfarin-pretreated group. A marked dissociation between astrocyte foot processes and the basal lamina or pericyte was observed in the warfarin-pretreated group, which was greatly improved in the dabigatran-pretreated group. Furthermore, a remarkable activation of MMP-9 in the ipsilateral warfarin-pretreated rat brain was greatly reduced in dabigatran-pretreated rats. The present study reveals that the mechanism of intracerebral hemorrhage with warfarin-pretreatment plus tPA in ischemic stroke rats is the dissociation of the neurovascular unit, including the pericyte. Neurovascular protection by dabigatran, which was first shown in this study, could partially explain the reduction in hemorrhagic complication by dabigatran reported from clinical study.

Pericyte protection by edaravone after tissue plasminogen activator treatment in rat cerebral ischemia.

Pericytes play a pivotal role in contraction, mediating inflammation and regulation of blood flow in the brain. In this study, changes of pericytes in the neurovascular unit (NVU) were examined in relation to the effects of exogenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and a free radical scavenger, edaravone. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses showed that the overlap between platelet-derived growth factor receptor ß-positive pericytes and N-acetylglucosamine oligomers (NAGO)-positive endothelial cells increased significantly at 4 days after 90 min of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). The number of pericytes and the overlap with NAGO decreased with tPA but recovered with edaravone 4 days after tMCAO with proliferation. Thus, tPA treatment damaged pericytes, resulting in the detachment from astrocytes and a decrease in glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor secretion. However, treatment with edaravone greatly improved tPA-induced damage to pericytes. The present study demonstrates that exogenous tPA strongly damages pericytes and destroys the integrity of the NVU, but edaravone treatment can greatly ameliorate such damage after acute cerebral ischemia in rats.

Neurovascular protection of cilostazol in stroke-prone spontaneous hypertensive rats associated with angiogenesis and pericyte proliferation.

Stroke is the major cause of death and decrease in the activities of daily living. This study sought to evaluate the effects of commonly used antiplatelet drugs on spontaneous cerebral infarction in relation to neurovascular protection associated with angiogenesis and pericyte proliferation. Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) were treated with vehicle, aspirin, clopidogrel, or cilostazol from 8 to 10 weeks of age. The interaction of neurovascular components among endothelial cells, pericytes, and astrocytic endfeet were immunohistochemically examined in brain sections. Angiogenesis associated with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and pericyte proliferation were also examined immunohistochemically. The expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) were assessed immunohistochemically and by gelatin zymography. Among the antiplatelet drugs, cilostazol preserved the neurovascular unit (NVU) by preventing astrocytic endfeet or pericytes from pathological detachment found in the vehicle and aspirin treatment. Cilostazol also inhibited the expression and activity of MMP-9, which led to protection of the NVU. Furthermore, in the periinfarct area, cilostazol increased VEGFR2 expression, promoting angiogenesis through proliferation of pericytes. The present study showed a strong protection of NVU integrity by cilostazol and the promotion of angiogenesis by stimulating both endothelial VEGFR2 expression and pericyte proliferation. In addition to the antioxidative effect, these pleiotropic effects of cilostazol contribute to reduce spontaneous infarct volume and preserve motor and cognitive function in SHR-SP.

Acceleration of TDP43 and FUS/TLS protein expressions in the preconditioned hippocampus following repeated transient ischemia.

The 43-kDa transactivation response DNA binding protein (TDP43), fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and ß-amyloid (Aß) are induced and involved in cerebral ischemia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer's disease (AD), but their relationships in ischemic tolerance have never been examined, although they could be involved in endogenous neuroprotection under ischemic preconditioning. In the present study, Mongolian gerbils were subjected to one or three incidents of basically nonlethal 2-min transient common carotid arteries occlusion (tCCAO). Hippocampal CA1 neurons were lost only in the 2-min three times group at 3 and 7 days, which then gradually recovered from 1 to 6 months. Inductions of TDP43 and FUS/TLS were accelerated from 3 months to 7 days or from 7 days to 1 day, respectively, after 2-min three times ischemia compared with once. The cytoplasmic stainings of TDP43 and FUS/TLS showed a further acceleration of the peaks from 1 months to 3 days or from 1 months to 7 days, respectively, after 2-min three times ischemia compared with once. In contrast, HSP70 was induced only at 7 days after 2-min tCCAO for three times, with no expression for Aß. These data show that ischemic preconditioning offers a way to induce endogenous neuroprotection and neurogenesis in gerbils, with TDP43, FUS/TLS, and HSP70 involved in this function.

Synergistic neuroprotective effects of combined treatment with olmesartan plus azelnidipine in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

An angiotensin 2 type 1 receptor blocker, olmesartan, and a calcium channel blocker, azelnidipine, possess not only an antihypertensive effect but also an antioxidative effect and other beneficial effects. In the present study, we examined the efficacy of olmesartan and azelnidipine monotherapy (2 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg each) and their combination therapy (1 mg/kg each) on stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP) in relation to oxidative stress, inflammation, and the neurovascular unit. In comparison with the vehicle group, body weight, regional cerebral blood flow, and motor function were preserved, whereas systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure decreased in the five drug-treatment groups. Spontaneous infarct volume decreased with the low-dose combination of olmesartan plus azelnidipine and with the high-dose olmesartan, with a further decrease in the high-dose azelnidipine group. In addition, these drugs dose-dependently reduced oxidative stresses, proinflammatory molecules, and well-preserved components of the neurovascular unit. The low-dose combination of olmesartan plus azelnidipine showed a better effect than the low-dose olmesartan or azelnidipine monotherapy. The present study shows that the low-dose combination of olmesartan plus azelnidipine demonstrates a greater synergistic benefit than monotherapy with a low-dose of olmesartan or azelnidipine in SHR-SP for preventing spontaneous infarct volume, reducing oxidative stresses and proinflammatory molecules, and imparting neurovascular protection. In addition, a high-dose of olmesartan showed a greater benefit without the lowering of blood pressure, probably because of the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. A high dose of azelnidipine showed the best benefit, probably because of the two effects mentioned above related to the lowering of blood pressure.

Telmisartan ameliorates inflammatory responses in SHR-SR after tMCAO.

Telmisartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker with high lipid solubility, also called metabo-sartan, not only reduces blood pressure (BP), but also ameliorates inflammation in the cerebral cortex and in adipose tissue. We examined the effects of telmisartan on inflammatory responses of monocyte chemotactic protein-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 in the brain of spontaneously hypertensive rat stroke-resistant (SHR-SR) after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). At 12 weeks of age, SHR-SR received tMCAO for 90 minutes and were divided into 3 groups, that is, the vehicle group, a low-dose telmisartan group (.3 mg/kg/day), and a high-dose telmisartan group (3 mg/kg/day). Immunohistological analysis was performed when rats became 6, 12 and 18 months old. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 cells (/mm(2)) immunoreactivities increased with age in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the vehicle group, suggesting strong and persistent inflammatory changes in SHR-SR after tMCAO up to 18 months of age. On the other hand, a low dose of telmisartan significantly reduced such inflammatory changes without lowering BP, whereas a high dose of telmisartan showed a few additional improvements, including the lowering of BP throughout 6-18 months of age. The present study suggests that persistent hypertension after tMCAO caused a long-lasting inflammatory response in the SHR-SR brain, and that even a low dose of telmisartan reduced continuous inflammation without lowering BP via its pleiotropic effects in the SHR-SR brain. A high dose of telmisartan had a few additional benefits, including lowering BP.

Telmisartan reduces progressive oxidative stress and phosphorylated α-synuclein accumulation in stroke-resistant spontaneously hypertensive rats after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Telmisartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker with high lipid solubility, also called metabosartan, which exerts a special protective effect on both acute brain damage and chronic neurodegeneration. We examined the effects of telmisartan on oxidative stress by advanced glycation end product (AGE) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) assays and the accumulation of phosphorylated α-synuclein (pSyn) in the brain of stroke-resistant spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SR). At the age of 12 weeks, SHR-SR received transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) for 90 minutes and were divided into the following 3 groups: the vehicle group, the low-dose telmisartan group (.3 mg/kg/day), and the high-dose telmisartan group (3 mg/kg/day, postoperatively). Immunohistologic analysis was performed when rats were 6, 12, and 18 months old. AGE, 4-HNE, and pSyn-positive cells (per square millimeter) increased with age in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the vehicle group, in the low-dose telmisartan group, these parameters decreased without lowering blood pressure (BP), and in the high-dose telmisartan group, these parameters increased with lowering BP. The present study suggests that a persistent hypertension after tMCAO caused a progressive oxidative stress with the abnormal accumulation of pSyn, and that telmisartan reduced oxidative stress and the accumulation of pSyn without lowering BP (low dose) or improved these conditions with a reduction in BP (high dose) via its pleiotropic effects through a potential peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma stimulation in the brain of SHR-SR.

Strong improvement of apolipoprotein E/low-density lipoprotein receptor signals by telmisartan in poststroke spontaneously hypertensive stroke resistant.

BACKGROUND: Telmisartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker also called metabosartan, is a promising solution for preventing cognitive decline or the incidence of dementia. METHODS: We examined the effects of telmisartan on cholesterol transport-related proteins (apolipoprotein E [ApoE]/low-density lipoprotein receptor [LDL-R]) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) in the brain of spontaneously hypertensive stroke resistant (SHR-SR). SHR-SR received transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) for 90 minutes at 12 weeks of age and then was divided into 3 experiment groups including a vehicle, low-dose telmisartan (.3 mg/kg/day), and high-dose telmisartan (3 mg/kg/day). RESULTS: The low dose served to improve the metabolic syndrome of SHR-SR without lowering the blood pressure (BP) whereas the high dose was used to improve metabolic syndrome while lowering BP. Immunohistologic analysis showed that ApoE expression of cortical neurons was strong in the vehicle group at 6, 12, and 18 months of age, and that this ApoE expression pattern was very similar between the ipsilateral and contralateral sides of cerebral ischemia. On the other hand, LDL-R expression of cortical neurons was transiently increased at 6 months of age only on the ipsilateral side. Telmisartan dramatically suppressed the expression of ApoE/LDL-R at both doses. There was no remarkable difference in neuronal MAP2 staining between the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that both low and high doses of telmisartan prevented the activation of ApoE/LDL-R in SHR-SR after tMCAO, and that the antimetabolic effect was regarded as the most important mechanism with few additional benefits by lowering BP in this transient stroke model.

Protective effect of telmisartan against progressive oxidative brain damage and synuclein phosphorylation in stroke-resistant spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Previously, we reported that reactive oxygen species and signaling molecules of angiotensin II produced lipid peroxides, degenerated proteins, and injured DNA after cerebral ischemia in normotensive Wistar rats. Here, we investigated the long-term effect of the angiotensin II type I receptor blocker telmisartan on oxidative stress and hyperphosphorylated α-synuclein accumulation in stroke-resistant spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SR). At the age of 3 months, SHR-SR were divided into 3 treatment groups: SHR-SR vehicle (SHR/Ve), SHR-SR low-dose telmisartan (.3 mg/kg/day) (SHR/low), and SHR-SR high-dose telmisartan (3 mg/kg/day) (SHR/high). Immunohistologic analyses were conducted in these groups and Wistar rats at the age of 6, 12, and 18 months. The SHR/Ve group demonstrated more progressive increase in advanced glycation end product (AGE)-, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE)-, and phosphorylated α-synuclein (pSyn)-positive cells in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus compared with the Wistar group at 18 months. These expressions were reduced in the SHR/low group even without lowering blood pressure (BP), and expressions were dramatically suppressed in the SHR/high group with lowering of BP. These data suggest that persistent hypertension in SHR-SR strongly potentiate the markers of oxidative damage (AGEs and 4-HNE) and abnormal accumulation of pSyn, which were greatly suppressed by telmisartan in a dose-dependent manner without and with lowering of BP.