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Under physiological conditions in vivo astrocytes internalize and degrade neuronal mitochondria in a process called transmitophagy. Mitophagy is widely reported to be impaired in neurodegeneration but it is unknown whether and how transmitophagy is altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we report that the internalization of neuronal mitochondria is significantly increased in astrocytes isolated from AD mouse brains. We also demonstrate that the degradation of neuronal mitochondria by astrocytes is increased in AD mice at the age of 6 months onwards. Furthermore, we demonstrate for the first time a similar phenomenon between human neurons and AD astrocytes, and in murine hippocampi in vivo. The results suggest the involvement of S100a4 in impaired mitochondrial transfer between neurons and AD astrocytes together with significant increases in the mitophagy regulator and reactive oxygen species in aged AD astrocytes. These findings demonstrate altered neuron-supporting functions of AD astrocytes and provide a starting point for studying the molecular mechanisms of transmitophagy in AD.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Doença de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Animais , Astrócitos/metabolismo , Camundongos , Mitofagia , Neurônios/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke is a devastating disease without a cure. The available treatments for ischemic stroke, thrombolysis by tissue plasminogen activator, and thrombectomy are suitable only to a fraction of patients and thus novel therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. The neuroinflammatory responses elicited secondary to the ischemic attack further aggravate the stroke-induced neuronal damage. It has been demonstrated that these responses are regulated at the level of non-coding RNAs, especially miRNAs. METHODS: We utilized lentiviral vectors to overexpress miR-669c in BV2 microglial cells in order to modulate their polarization. To detect whether the modulation of microglial activation by miR-669c provides protection in a mouse model of transient focal ischemic stroke, miR-669c overexpression was driven by a lentiviral vector injected into the striatum prior to induction of ischemic stroke. RESULTS: Here, we demonstrate that miR-669c-3p, a member of chromosome 2 miRNA cluster (C2MC), is induced upon hypoxic and excitotoxic conditions in vitro and in two different in vivo models of stroke. Rather than directly regulating the neuronal survival in vitro, miR-669c is capable of attenuating the microglial proinflammatory activation in vitro and inducing the expression of microglial alternative activation markers arginase 1 (Arg1), chitinase-like 3 (Ym1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ). Intracerebral overexpression of miR-669c significantly decreased the ischemia-induced cell death and ameliorated the stroke-induced neurological deficits both at 1 and 3 days post injury (dpi). Albeit miR-669c overexpression failed to alter the overall Iba1 protein immunoreactivity, it significantly elevated Arg1 levels in the ischemic brain and increased colocalization of Arg1 and Iba1. Moreover, miR-669c overexpression under cerebral ischemia influenced several morphological characteristics of Iba1 positive cells. We further demonstrate the myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) transcript as a direct target for miR-669c-3p in vitro and show reduced levels of MyD88 in miR-669c overexpressing ischemic brains in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, our data provide the evidence that miR-669c-3p is protective in a mouse model of ischemic stroke through enhancement of the alternative microglial/macrophage activation and inhibition of MyD88 signaling. Our results accentuate the importance of controlling miRNA-regulated responses for the therapeutic benefit in conditions of stroke and neuroinflammation.
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Ventrículos Cerebrais/metabolismo , AVC Isquêmico/metabolismo , Ativação de Macrófagos/fisiologia , Macrófagos/metabolismo , MicroRNAs/metabolismo , Microglia/metabolismo , Fator 88 de Diferenciação Mieloide/metabolismo , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Modelos Animais de Doenças , AVC Isquêmico/genética , Camundongos , MicroRNAs/genética , Neurônios/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologiaRESUMO
Astrocytes are the gatekeepers of neuronal energy supply. In neurodegenerative diseases, bioenergetics demand increases and becomes reliant upon fatty acid oxidation as a source of energy. Defective fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial dysfunctions correlate with hippocampal neurodegeneration and memory deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but it is unclear whether energy metabolism can be targeted to prevent or treat the disease. Here we show for the first time an impairment in fatty acid oxidation in human astrocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells of AD patients. The impairment was corrected by treatment with a synthetic peroxisome proliferator activated receptor delta (PPARß/δ) agonist GW0742 which acts to regulate an array of genes governing cellular metabolism. GW0742 enhanced the expression of CPT1a, the gene encoding for a rate-limiting enzyme of fatty acid oxidation. Similarly, treatment of a mouse model of AD, the APP/PS1-mice, with GW0742 increased the expression of Cpt1a and concomitantly reversed memory deficits in a fear conditioning test. Although the GW0742-treated mice did not show altered astrocytic glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactivity or reduction in amyloid beta (Aß) load, GW0742 treatment increased hippocampal neurogenesis and enhanced neuronal differentiation of neuronal progenitor cells. Furthermore, GW0742 prevented Aß-induced impairment of long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices. Collectively, these data suggest that PPARß/δ-agonism alleviates AD related deficits through increasing fatty acid oxidation in astrocytes and improves cognition in a transgenic mouse model of AD.
Assuntos
Astrócitos/metabolismo , Ácidos Graxos/metabolismo , PPAR delta/metabolismo , PPAR beta/metabolismo , Presenilina-1/metabolismo , Tiazóis/farmacologia , Adulto , Animais , Astrócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Diferenciação Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Diferenciação Celular/fisiologia , Células Cultivadas , Éxons/efeitos dos fármacos , Éxons/fisiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas/efeitos dos fármacos , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Transgênicos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Oxirredução/efeitos dos fármacos , PPAR delta/agonistas , PPAR beta/agonistas , Distribuição AleatóriaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown is an early independent biomarker of human cognitive dysfunction, as found using gadolinium (Gd) as a contrast agent. Whether Gd accumulates in brains of individuals with an age-dependent BBB breakdown and/or mild cognitive impairment remains unclear. METHODS: We analyzed T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 52 older participants with BBB breakdown in the hippocampus 19-28 months after either cyclic or linear Gd agent. RESULTS: There was no change in T1-weighted signal intensity between the baseline contrast MRI and unenhanced MRI on re-examination in any of the studied 10 brain regions with either Gd agent suggesting undetectable Gd brain retention. DISCUSSION: Gd does not accumulate in brains of older individuals with a BBB breakdown in the hippocampus. Thus, Gd agents can be used without risk of brain retention within a â¼2-year follow-up to study BBB in the aging human brain in relation to cognition and/or other pathologies.
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Barreira Hematoencefálica/efeitos dos fármacos , Disfunção Cognitiva/patologia , Gadolínio , Hipocampo/patologia , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Adulto , Idoso , Encéfalo/patologia , Meios de Contraste/administração & dosagem , Feminino , Gadolínio/análise , Gadolínio/uso terapêutico , Humanos , Masculino , Testes Neuropsicológicos/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke is one of the main causes of death and disability worldwide. It is caused by the cessation of cerebral blood flow resulting in the insufficient delivery of glucose and oxygen to the neural tissue. The inflammatory response initiated by ischemic stroke in order to restore tissue homeostasis in the acute phase of stroke contributes to delayed brain damage. METHODS: By using in vitro models of neuroinflammation and in vivo model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion, we demonstrate the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of sulfosuccinimidyl oleate sodium (SSO). RESULTS: SSO significantly reduced the lipopolysaccharide/interferon-γ-induced production of nitric oxide, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, and the protein levels of inflammatory enzymes including nitric oxide synthase 2, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in microglia, without causing cell toxicity. Although SSO failed to directly alleviate glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in murine cortical neurons, it prevented inflammation-induced neuronal death in microglia-neuron co-cultures. Importantly, oral administration of SSO in Balb/c mice subjected to permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery reduced microglial activation in the peri-ischemic area and attenuated brain damage. This in vivo neuroprotective effect of SSO was associated with a reduction in the COX-2 and heme oxygenase-1 immunoreactivities. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that SSO is an anti-inflammatory and a possible therapeutic candidate in diseases such as stroke where inflammation is a central hallmark.
Assuntos
Inflamação/patologia , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/farmacologia , Ácidos Oleicos/farmacologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/patologia , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Inflamação/etiologia , Camundongos , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/complicaçõesRESUMO
Air pollution is associated with risks of dementia and accelerated cognitive decline. Rodent air pollution models have shown white matter vulnerability. This study uses diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to quantify changes to white matter microstructure and tractography in multiple myelinated regions after exposure to diesel exhaust particulate (DEP). Adult C57BL/6 male mice were exposed to re-aerosolized DEP (NIST SRM 2975) at a concentration of 100 ug/m3 for 200 hours. Ex-vivo MRI analysis and fractional anisotropy (FA)-aided white matter tractography were conducted to study the effect of DEP exposure on the brain white matter tracts. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess myelin and axonal structure. DEP exposure for 8 weeks altered myelin composition in multiple regions. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) showed decreased FA in the corpus callosum (30%), external capsule (15%), internal capsule (15%), and cingulum (31 %). Separate immunohistochemistry analyses confirmed prior findings. Myelin basic protein (MBP) was decreased (corpus callosum: 28%, external capsule: 29%), and degraded MPB increased (corpus callosum: 32%, external capsule: 53%) in the DEP group. White matter is highly susceptible to chronic DEP exposure. This study demonstrates the utility of DTI as a neuroanatomical tool in the context of air pollution and white matter myelin vulnerability.
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Subcortical white matter (WM) stroke accounts for 25% of all strokes and is the second leading cause of dementia. Despite such clinical importance, we still do not have an effective treatment for ischemic WM stroke, and the mechanisms of WM postischemic neuroprotection remain elusive. 3K3A-activated protein C (APC) is a signaling-selective analogue of endogenous blood protease APC that is currently in development as a neuroprotectant for ischemic stroke patients. Here, we show that 3K3A-APC protects WM tracts and oligodendrocytes from ischemic injury in the corpus callosum in middle-aged mice by activating protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) and PAR3. We show that PAR1 and PAR3 were also required for 3K3A-APC's suppression of post-WM stroke microglia and astrocyte responses and overall improvement in neuropathologic and functional outcomes. Our data provide new insights into the neuroprotective APC pathway in the WM and illustrate 3K3A-APC's potential for treating WM stroke in humans, possibly including multiple WM strokes that result in vascular dementia.
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Corpo Caloso/metabolismo , Isquemia/metabolismo , Oligodendroglia/metabolismo , Proteína C/metabolismo , Substância Branca/metabolismo , Animais , Barreira Hematoencefálica/efeitos dos fármacos , Barreira Hematoencefálica/metabolismo , Ácido Quenodesoxicólico/análogos & derivados , Ácido Quenodesoxicólico/farmacologia , Corpo Caloso/efeitos dos fármacos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Ativação Enzimática/efeitos dos fármacos , Fibrinolíticos/metabolismo , Fibrinolíticos/farmacologia , Humanos , Isquemia/fisiopatologia , Isquemia/prevenção & controle , Masculino , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/metabolismo , Fármacos Neuroprotetores/farmacologia , Proteína C/farmacologia , Receptor PAR-1/metabolismo , Receptores de Trombina/metabolismo , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/metabolismo , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/prevenção & controleRESUMO
Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4), the main susceptibility gene for Alzheimer's disease, leads to blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown in humans and mice. Remarkably, BBB dysfunction predicts cognitive decline and precedes synaptic deficits in APOE4 human carriers. How APOE4 affects BBB and synaptic function at a molecular level, however, remains elusive. Using single-nucleus RNA-sequencing and phosphoproteome and proteome analysis, we show that APOE4 compared with APOE3 leads to an early disruption of the BBB transcriptome in 2-3-mo-old APOE4 knock-in mice, followed by dysregulation in protein signaling networks controlling cell junctions, cytoskeleton, clathrin-mediated transport, and translation in brain endothelium, as well as transcription and RNA splicing suggestive of DNA damage in pericytes. Changes in BBB signaling mechanisms paralleled an early, progressive BBB breakdown and loss of pericytes, which preceded postsynaptic interactome disruption and behavioral deficits that developed 2-5 mo later. Thus, dysregulated signaling mechanisms in endothelium and pericytes in APOE4 mice reflect a molecular signature of a progressive BBB failure preceding changes in synaptic function and behavior.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Apolipoproteína E4 , Doença de Alzheimer/genética , Doença de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Animais , Apolipoproteína E3/genética , Apolipoproteína E3/metabolismo , Apolipoproteína E4/genética , Apolipoproteína E4/metabolismo , Barreira Hematoencefálica/metabolismo , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Transgênicos , PericitosRESUMO
Cerebrovascular pathologies are commonly associated with dementia. Because air pollution increases arterial disease in humans and rodent models, we hypothesized that air pollution would also contribute to brain vascular dysfunction. We examined the effects of exposing mice to nanoparticulate matter (nPM; aerodynamic diameter ≤200 nm) from urban traffic and interactions with cerebral hypoperfusion. C57BL/6 mice were exposed to filtered air or nPM with and without bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) and analyzed by multiparametric MRI and histochemistry. Exposure to nPM alone did not alter regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) or blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity. However, nPM worsened the white matter hypoperfusion (decreased CBF on DSC-MRI) and exacerbated the BBB permeability (extravascular IgG deposits) resulting from BCAS. White matter MRI diffusion metrics were abnormal in mice subjected to cerebral hypoperfusion and worsened by combined nPM+BCAS. Axonal density was reduced equally in the BCAS cohorts regardless of nPM status, whereas nPM exposure caused demyelination in the white matter with or without cerebral hypoperfusion. In summary, air pollution nPM exacerbates cerebrovascular pathology and demyelination in the setting of cerebral hypoperfusion, suggesting that air pollution exposure can augment underlying cerebrovascular contributions to cognitive loss and dementia in susceptible elderly populations.
Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/efeitos adversos , Estenose das Carótidas/complicações , Disfunção Cognitiva/diagnóstico , Doenças Desmielinizantes/diagnóstico , Material Particulado/efeitos adversos , Animais , Barreira Hematoencefálica/efeitos dos fármacos , Barreira Hematoencefálica/patologia , Circulação Cerebrovascular/efeitos dos fármacos , Disfunção Cognitiva/etiologia , Disfunção Cognitiva/patologia , Doenças Desmielinizantes/etiologia , Doenças Desmielinizantes/patologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Humanos , Masculino , Camundongos , Microglia/efeitos dos fármacos , Microglia/patologia , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Emissões de Veículos , Substância Branca/irrigação sanguínea , Substância Branca/efeitos dos fármacos , Substância Branca/patologiaRESUMO
The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) is an endocytic and cell signaling transmembrane protein. Endothelial LRP1 clears proteinaceous toxins at the blood-brain barrier (BBB), regulates angiogenesis, and is increasingly reduced in Alzheimer's disease associated with BBB breakdown and neurodegeneration. Whether loss of endothelial LRP1 plays a direct causative role in BBB breakdown and neurodegenerative changes remains elusive. Here, we show that LRP1 inactivation from the mouse endothelium results in progressive BBB breakdown, followed by neuron loss and cognitive deficits, which is reversible by endothelial-specific LRP1 gene therapy. LRP1 endothelial knockout led to a self-autonomous activation of the cyclophilin A-matrix metalloproteinase-9 pathway in the endothelium, causing loss of tight junctions underlying structural BBB impairment. Cyclophilin A inhibition in mice with endothelial-specific LRP1 knockout restored BBB integrity and reversed and prevented neuronal loss and behavioral deficits. Thus, endothelial LRP1 protects against neurodegeneration by inhibiting cyclophilin A, which has implications for the pathophysiology and treatment of neurodegeneration linked to vascular dysfunction.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Barreira Hematoencefálica/metabolismo , Ciclofilina A/metabolismo , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Proteína-1 Relacionada a Receptor de Lipoproteína de Baixa Densidade/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/genética , Doença de Alzheimer/terapia , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Disfunção Cognitiva/genética , Disfunção Cognitiva/metabolismo , Ciclofilina A/antagonistas & inibidores , Ciclosporina/farmacologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Feminino , Técnicas de Inativação de Genes , Terapia Genética/métodos , Proteína-1 Relacionada a Receptor de Lipoproteína de Baixa Densidade/genética , Masculino , Metaloproteinase 9 da Matriz/metabolismo , Camundongos , Camundongos Transgênicos , Neurônios/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4), the main susceptibility gene for Alzheimer's disease (AD), leads to vascular dysfunction, amyloid-ß pathology, neurodegeneration and dementia. How these different pathologies contribute to advanced-stage AD remains unclear. Using aged APOE knock-in mice crossed with 5xFAD mice, we show that, compared to APOE3, APOE4 accelerates blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown, loss of cerebral blood flow, neuronal loss and behavioral deficits independently of amyloid-ß. BBB breakdown was associated with activation of the cyclophilin A-matrix metalloproteinase-9 BBB-degrading pathway in pericytes. Suppression of this pathway improved BBB integrity and prevented further neuronal loss and behavioral deficits in APOE4;5FAD mice while having no effect on amyloid-ß pathology. Thus, APOE4 accelerates advanced-stage BBB breakdown and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's mice via the cyclophilin A pathway in pericytes independently of amyloid-ß, which has implication for the pathogenesis and treatment of vascular and neurodegenerative disorder in AD.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer , Doenças Neurodegenerativas , Camundongos , Animais , Apolipoproteína E4/genética , Doença de Alzheimer/genética , Ciclofilina A/genética , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/metabolismoRESUMO
Lipid peroxidation-initiated ferroptosis is an iron-dependent mechanism of programmed cell death taking place in neurological diseases. Here we show that a condensed benzo[b]thiazine derivative small molecule with an arylthiazine backbone (ADA-409-052) inhibits tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-induced lipid peroxidation (LP) and protects against ferroptotic cell death triggered by glutathione (GSH) depletion or glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) inhibition in neuronal cell lines. In addition, ADA-409-052 suppresses pro-inflammatory activation of BV2 microglia and protects N2a neuronal cells from cell death induced by pro-inflammatory RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, ADA-409-052 efficiently reduces infarct volume, edema and expression of pro-inflammatory genes in a mouse model of thromboembolic stroke. Targeting ferroptosis may be a promising therapeutic strategy in neurological diseases involving severe neuronal death and neuroinflammation.
Assuntos
Morte Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Ferroptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Peroxidação de Lipídeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Substâncias Protetoras/farmacologia , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Morte Celular/fisiologia , Ferroptose/fisiologia , Glutationa/metabolismo , Ferro/metabolismo , Microglia/efeitos dos fármacos , Microglia/metabolismo , Neuroproteção/efeitos dos fármacos , Fosfolipídeo Hidroperóxido Glutationa Peroxidase/metabolismo , Fosfolipídeo Hidroperóxido Glutationa Peroxidase/farmacologiaRESUMO
Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a major health burden, yet the pathophysiology remains poorly understood with no effective treatment. Since much of SVD develops silently and insidiously, non-invasive neuroimaging such as MRI is fundamental to detecting and understanding SVD in humans. Several relevant SVD rodent models are established for which MRI can monitor in vivo changes over time prior to histological examination. Here, we critically review the MRI methods pertaining to salient rodent models and evaluate synergies with human SVD MRI methods. We found few relevant publications, but argue there is considerable scope for greater use of MRI in rodent models, and opportunities for harmonisation of the rodent-human methods to increase the translational potential of models to understand SVD in humans. We summarise current MR techniques used in SVD research, provide recommendations and examples and highlight practicalities for use of MRI SVD imaging protocols in pre-selected, relevant rodent models.
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Transtornos Cerebrovasculares/diagnóstico por imagem , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Microvasos/diagnóstico por imagem , Pesquisa Translacional Biomédica/métodos , Animais , Humanos , RoedoresRESUMO
CLN5 disease is a rare form of late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) caused by mutations in the CLN5 gene that encodes a protein whose primary function and physiological roles remains unresolved. Emerging lines of evidence point to mitochondrial dysfunction in the onset and progression of several forms of NCL, offering new insights into putative biomarkers and shared biological processes. In this work, we employed cellular and murine models of the disease, in an effort to clarify disease pathways associated with CLN5 depletion. A mitochondria-focused quantitative proteomics approach followed by functional validations using cell biology and immunofluorescence assays revealed an impairment of mitochondrial functions in different CLN5 KO cell models and in Cln5 - /- cerebral cortex, which well correlated with disease progression. A visible impairment of autophagy machinery coupled with alterations of key parameters of mitophagy activation process functionally linked CLN5 protein to the process of neuronal injury. The functional link between impaired cellular respiration and activation of mitophagy pathways in the human CLN5 disease condition was corroborated by translating organelle-specific proteome findings to CLN5 patients' fibroblasts. Our study highlights the involvement of CLN5 in activation of mitophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis offering new insights into alternative strategies towards the CLN5 disease treatment.
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Pericytes are positioned between brain capillary endothelial cells, astrocytes and neurons. They degenerate in multiple neurological disorders. However, their role in the pathogenesis of these disorders remains debatable. Here we generate an inducible pericyte-specific Cre line and cross pericyte-specific Cre mice with iDTR mice carrying Cre-dependent human diphtheria toxin receptor. After pericyte ablation with diphtheria toxin, mice showed acute blood-brain barrier breakdown, severe loss of blood flow, and a rapid neuron loss that was associated with loss of pericyte-derived pleiotrophin (PTN), a neurotrophic growth factor. Intracerebroventricular PTN infusions prevented neuron loss in pericyte-ablated mice despite persistent circulatory changes. Silencing of pericyte-derived Ptn rendered neurons vulnerable to ischemic and excitotoxic injury. Our data demonstrate a rapid neurodegeneration cascade that links pericyte loss to acute circulatory collapse and loss of PTN neurotrophic support. These findings may have implications for the pathogenesis and treatment of neurological disorders that are associated with pericyte loss and/or neurovascular dysfunction.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Transporte/fisiologia , Citocinas/fisiologia , Degeneração Neural/fisiopatologia , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/fisiologia , Neurônios/patologia , Pericitos/fisiologia , Choque/fisiopatologia , Animais , Isquemia Encefálica/fisiopatologia , Capilares/fisiopatologia , Proteínas de Transporte/uso terapêutico , Células Cultivadas , Circulação Cerebrovascular/fisiologia , Citocinas/deficiência , Citocinas/uso terapêutico , Células Endoteliais/citologia , Feminino , Genes Reporter , Infusões Intraventriculares , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C3H , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Transgênicos , Degeneração Neural/tratamento farmacológico , Neuroglia/metabolismo , Neurônios/metabolismo , Neurotoxinas/toxicidade , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/metabolismo , Choque/metabolismo , Choque/patologiaRESUMO
Background: Neuroinflammation and biometal dyshomeostasis are key pathological features of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Inflammation and biometals are linked at the molecular level through regulation of metal buffering proteins such as the metallothioneins. Even though the molecular connections between metals and inflammation have been demonstrated, little information exists on the effect of copper modulation on brain inflammation. Methods: We demonstrate the immunomodulatory potential of the copper bis(thiosemicarbazone) complex CuII(atsm) in an neuroinflammatory model in vivo and describe its anti-inflammatory effects on microglia and astrocytes in vitro. Results: By using a sophisticated in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach, we report the efficacy of CuII(atsm) in reducing acute cerebrovascular inflammation caused by peripheral administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). CuII(atsm) also induced anti-inflammatory outcomes in primary microglia [significant reductions in nitric oxide (NO), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)] and astrocytes [significantly reduced NO, MCP-1, and interleukin 6 (IL-6)] in vitro. These anti-inflammatory actions were associated with increased cellular copper levels and increased the neuroprotective protein metallothionein-1 (MT1) in microglia and astrocytes. Conclusion: The beneficial effects of CuII(atsm) on the neuroimmune system suggest copper complexes are potential therapeutics for the treatment of neuroinflammatory conditions.
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Collagens are key structural components of basement membranes, providing a scaffold for other components or adhering cells. Collagens and collagen-derived active fragments contribute to biological activities such as cell growth, differentiation and migration. Here, we report that collagen XV knock-out (ColXV KO) mice are resistant to experimental ischemic stroke. Interestingly, the infarcts of ColXV KO mice were as small as those of wild-type (WT) mice thrombolysed with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA), the actual treatment for ischemic stroke. Importantly, there were no differences in the architecture of cerebrovascular anatomy between WT and ColXV KO mice. We found a twofold increase of the most potent pro-angiogenic factor, type A vascular growth endothelial factor (VEGF-A) in the ipsilateral cortex of rtPA-treated ischemic WT mice compared with untreated ischemic and sham-operated counterparts. A similar increase of VEGF-A was also found in both rtPA and untreated ischemic ColXV KO mice compared with sham ColXV KO mice. Finally, we evidenced that the levels of ColXV were increased in the plasma of WT mice treated with rtPA compared with untreated ischemic counterparts. Altogether, this study indicates that the lack ColXV is protective after stroke and that the degradation of endothelial ColXV may contribute to the beneficial effect of rtPA after ischemic stroke. The neuroprotection observed in ColXV KO mice may be attributed to the increased VEGF-A production following stroke in the ischemic territory.
Assuntos
Isquemia Encefálica/genética , Colágeno/genética , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/genética , Fator A de Crescimento do Endotélio Vascular/genética , Animais , Isquemia Encefálica/patologia , Isquemia Encefálica/terapia , Córtex Cerebral/metabolismo , Córtex Cerebral/fisiopatologia , Colágeno/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Neuroproteção/genética , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/patologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/terapia , Engenharia Tecidual , Ativador de Plasminogênio Tecidual/administração & dosagem , Ativador de Plasminogênio Tecidual/genética , Alicerces TeciduaisRESUMO
Developing new therapies for stroke is urgently needed, as this disease is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and the existing treatment is only available for a small subset of patients. The interruption of blood flow to the brain during ischemic stroke launches multiple immune responses, characterized by infiltration of peripheral immune cells, the activation of brain microglial cells, and the accumulation of immune mediators. Copper is an essential trace element that is required for many critical processes in the brain. Copper homeostasis is disturbed in chronic neurodegenerative diseases and altered in stroke patients, and targeted copper delivery has been shown to be protective against chronic neurodegeneration. This study was undertaken to assess whether the copper bis(thiosemicarbazone) complex, CuII(atsm), is beneficial in acute brain injury, in preclinical mouse models of ischemic stroke. We demonstrate that the copper complex CuII(atsm) protects neurons from excitotoxicity and N2a cells from OGD in vitro, and is protective in permanent and transient ischemia models in mice as measured by functional outcome and lesion size. Copper delivery in the ischemic brains modulates the inflammatory response, specifically affecting the myeloid cells. It reduces CD45 and Iba1 immunoreactivity, and alters the morphology of Iba1 positive cells in the ischemic brain. CuII(atsm) also protects endogenous microglia against ischemic insult and reduces the proportion of invading monocytes. These results demonstrate that the copper complex CuII(atsm) is an inflammation-modulating compound with high therapeutic potential in stroke and is a strong candidate for the development of therapies for acute brain injury.