Browsing by Subject "neuroprotection"
- Results Per Page
- Sort Options
Item Open Access A Neuroprotective Locus Modulates Ischemic Stroke Infarction Independent of Collateral Vessel Anatomy.(Frontiers in neuroscience, 2021-01) Lee, Han Kyu; Wetzel-Strong, Sarah E; Aylor, David L; Marchuk, Douglas AAlthough studies with inbred strains of mice have shown that infarct size is largely determined by the extent of collateral vessel connections between arteries in the brain that enable reperfusion of the ischemic territory, we have identified strain pairs that do not vary in this vascular phenotype, but which nonetheless exhibit large differences in infarct size. In this study we performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in mice from an intercross between two such strains, WSB/EiJ (WSB) and C57BL/6J (B6). This QTL mapping revealed only one neuroprotective locus on Chromosome 8 (Chr 8) that co-localizes with a neuroprotective locus we mapped previously from F2 progeny between C3H/HeJ (C3H) and B6. The allele-specific phenotypic effect on infarct volume at the genetic region identified by these two independent mappings was in the opposite direction of the parental strain phenotype; namely, the B6 allele conferred increased susceptibility to ischemic infarction. Through two reciprocal congenic mouse lines with either the C3H or B6 background at the Chr 8 locus, we verified the neuroprotective effects of this genetic region that modulates infarct volume without any effect on the collateral vasculature. Additionally, we surveyed non-synonymous coding SNPs and performed RNA-sequencing analysis to identify potential candidate genes within the genetic interval. Through these approaches, we suggest new genes for future mechanistic studies of infarction following ischemic stroke, which may represent novel gene/protein targets for therapeutic development.Item Open Access Activation of the XBP1s/O-GlcNAcylation Pathway Improves Functional Outcome After Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation in Young and Aged Mice.(Shock (Augusta, Ga.), 2021-11) Li, Ran; Shen, Yuntian; Li, Xuan; Lu, Liping; Wang, Zhuoran; Sheng, Huaxin; Hoffmann, Ulrike; Yang, WeiAbstract
After cardiac arrest (CA) and resuscitation, the unfolded protein response (UPR) is activated in various organs including the brain. However, the role of the UPR in CA outcome remains largely unknown. One UPR branch involves spliced X-box-binding protein-1 (XBP1s). Notably, XBP1s, a transcriptional factor, can upregulate expression of specific enzymes related to glucose metabolism, and subsequently boost O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine modification (O-GlcNAcylation). The current study is focused on effects of the XBP1 UPR branch and its downstream O-GlcNAcylation on CA outcome. Using both loss-of-function and gain-of-function mouse genetic tools, we provide the first evidence that activation of the XBP1 UPR branch in the post-CA brain is neuroprotective. Specifically, neuron-specific Xbp1 knockout mice had worse CA outcome, while mice with neuron-specific expression of Xbp1s in the brain had better CA outcome. Since it has been shown that the protective role of the XBP1s signaling pathway under ischemic conditions is mediated by increasing O-GlcNAcylation, we then treated young mice with glucosamine, and found that functional deficits were mitigated on day 3 post CA. Finally, after confirming that glucosamine can boost O-GlcNAcylation in the aged brain, we subjected aged mice to 8 min CA, and then treated them with glucosamine. We found that glucosamine-treated aged mice performed significantly better in behavioral tests. Together, our data indicate that the XBP1s/O-GlcNAc pathway is a promising target for CA therapy.Item Open Access Brain Natriuretic Peptide Improves Long-Term Functional Recovery after Acute CNS Injury in Mice(2010-01) James, Michael L; Wang, Haichen; Venkatraman, Talaignair; Song, Pingping; Lascola, Christopher D; Laskowitz, Daniel TThere is emerging evidence to suggest that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is elevated after acute brain injury, and that it may play an adaptive role in recovery through augmentation of cerebral blood flow (CBF). Through a series of experiments, we tested the hypothesis that the administration of BNP after different acute mechanisms of central nervous system (CNS) injury could improve functional recovery by improving CBF. C57 wild-type mice were exposed to either pneumatic-induced closed traumatic brain injury (TBI) or collagenase-induced intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). After injury, either nesiritide (hBNP) (8 μg/kg) or normal saline were administered via tail vein injection at 30 min and 4 h. The mice then underwent functional neurological testing via rotorod latency over the following 5 days and neurocognitive testing via Morris water maze testing on days 24–28. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was assessed by laser Doppler from 25 to 90 min after injury. After ICH, mRNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and histochemical staining were performed during the acute injury phase (<24 h) to determine the effects on inflammation. Following TBI and ICH, administration of hBNP was associated with improved functional performance as assessed by rotorod and Morris water maze latencies (p < 0.01). CBF was increased (p < 0.05), and inflammatory markers (TNF-α and IL-6; p < 0.05), activated microglial (F4/80; p < 0.05), and neuronal degeneration (Fluoro-Jade B; p < 0.05) were reduced in mice receiving hBNP. hBNP improves neurological function in murine models of TBI and ICH, and was associated with enhanced CBF and downregulation of neuroinflammatory responses. hBNP may represent a novel therapeutic strategy after acute CNS injury.Item Open Access Current conduct of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in China.(HSR proceedings in intensive care & cardiovascular anesthesia, 2013-01) Augoustides, JGT; Patel, P; Ghadimi, K; Choi, J; Yue, Y; Silvay, GIntroduction
Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest for adult aortic arch repair is still associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, there is still significant variation in the conduct of this complex perioperative technique. This variation in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest practice has not been adequately characterized and may offer multiple opportunities for outcome enhancement. The hypothesis of this study was that the current practice of adult deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in China has significant variations that might offer therapeutic opportunities for reduction of procedural risk.Methods
An adult deep hypothermic circulatory arrest questionnaire was developed and then administered at a thoracic aortic session at the International Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia Congress convened in Beijing during 2010. The data was abstracted and analyzed.Results
The majority of the 56 respondents were anesthesiologists based in China at low-volume deep hypothermic circulatory arrest centers. The typical aortic arch repair had a prolonged deep hypothermic circulatory arrest time at profound hypothermia. The target temperature for deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was frequently measured distal to the brain. The most common perfusion adjunct was antegrade cerebral perfusion, typically monitored with radial arterial pressure and cerebral venous oximetry. The preferred neuroprotective agents were steroids and propofol.Conclusions
The identified opportunities for outcome improvement in this delineated deep hypothermic circulatory arrest model include nasal/tympanic temperature measurement and routine cerebral perfusion, preferably with unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion monitored with radial artery pressure and cerebral oximetry. Development and dissemination of an evidence-based consensus would enhance these practice-improvement opportunities.Item Open Access Neuronal Survival of the Fittest: The Importance of Aerobic Capacity in Exercise-Induced Neurogenesis and Cognition(2014) Tognoni, Christina MariaIt is commonly accepted that aerobic exercise increases hippocampal neurogenesis, learning and memory, as well as stress resiliency. However, human populations are widely variable in their inherent aerobic fitness as well as their capacity to show increased aerobic fitness following a period of regimented exercise. It is unclear whether these inherent or acquired components of aerobic fitness play a role in neurocognition. To isolate the potential role of inherent aerobic fitness, we exploited a rat model of high (HCR) and low (LCR) inherent aerobic capacity for running. At a baseline, HCR rats have two- to three-fold higher aerobic capacity than LCR rats. We found that HCR rats also had two- to three- fold more young neurons in the hippocampus than LCR rats as well as rats from the heterogeneous founder population. We then asked whether this enhanced neurogenesis translates to enhanced hippocampal cognition, as is typically seen in exercise-trained animals. Compared to LCR rats, HCR rats performed with high accuracy on tasks designed to test neurogenesis-dependent pattern separation ability by examining investigatory behavior between very similar objects or locations. To investigate whether an aerobic response to exercise is required for exercise-induced changes in neurogenesis and cognition, we utilized a rat model of high (HRT) and low (LRT) aerobic response to treadmill training. At a baseline, HRT and LRT rats have comparable aerobic capacity as measured by a standard treadmill fit test, yet after a standardized training regimen, HRT but not LRT rats robustly increase their aerobic capacity for running. We found that sedentary LRT and HRT rats had equivalent levels of hippocampal neurogenesis, but only HRT rats had an elevation in the number of young neurons in the hippocampus following training, which was positively correlated with accuracy on pattern separation tasks. Taken together, these data suggest that a significant elevation in aerobic capacity is necessary for exercise-induced hippocampal neurogenesis and hippocampal neurogenesis-dependent learning and memory. To investigate the potential for high aerobic capacity to be neuroprotective, doxorubicin chemotherapy was administered to LCR and HCR rats. While doxorubicin induces a progressive decrease in aerobic capacity as well as neurogenesis, HCR rats remain at higher levels on those measures compared to even saline-treated LCR rats. HCR and LCR rats that received exercise training throughout doxorubicin treatment demonstrated positive effects of exercise on aerobic capacity and neurogenesis, regardless of inherent aerobic capacity. Overall, these findings demonstrate that inherent and acquired components of aerobic fitness play a crucial role not only in the cardiorespiratory system but also the fitness of the brain.
Item Open Access Practice variations in the conduct of hypothermic circulatory arrest for adult aortic arch repair: focus on an emerging European paradigm.(Heart, lung and vessels, 2014-01) Gutsche, JT; Feinman, J; Silvay, G; Patel, PP; Ghadimi, K; Landoni, G; Yue, Y; Augoustides, JGTIntroduction
Hypothermic circulatory arrest for adult aortic arch repair is still high-risk. Despite decades of clinical experience, significant practice variations exist around the world. These practice variations in hypothermic circulatory arrest may offer multiple opportunities to improve practice. The hypothesis of this study was that the current conduct of adult hypothermic circulatory arrest in Europe has significant variations that might suggest opportunities for risk reduction.Methods
An adult hypothermic circulatory arrest questionnaire was developed and then administered at thoracic aortic sessions at international conferences during 2010 in Beijing and Milan. The data was collected, abstracted and analyzed.Results
The majority of the 105 respondents were anesthesiologists based in Europe and China. The typical adult aortic arch repair in Europe was with hypothermic circulatory arrest at moderate hypothermia utilizing bilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion, typically monitored with radial arterial pressure and cerebral oximetry. Brain temperature was frequently measured at distal locations. The preferred neuroprotective agents were steroids, propofol and thiopental.Conclusions
The opportunities for outcome improvement in this emerging European paradigm of tepid adult aortic arch repair include nasal/tympanic temperature measurement and adoption of unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion monitored with radial artery pressure and cerebral oximetry. The publication of an evidence-based consensus would enhance these practice-improvement opportunities.Item Open Access The effects of aging on the BTBR mouse model of autism spectrum disorder.(Front Aging Neurosci, 2014) Jasien, Joan M; Daimon, Caitlin M; Wang, Rui; Shapiro, Bruce K; Martin, Bronwen; Maudsley, StuartAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by alterations in social functioning, communicative abilities, and engagement in repetitive or restrictive behaviors. The process of aging in individuals with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders is not well understood, despite the fact that the number of individuals with ASD aged 65 and older is projected to increase by over half a million individuals in the next 20 years. To elucidate the effects of aging in the context of a modified central nervous system, we investigated the effects of age on the BTBR T + tf/j mouse, a well characterized and widely used mouse model that displays an ASD-like phenotype. We found that a reduction in social behavior persists into old age in male BTBR T + tf/j mice. We employed quantitative proteomics to discover potential alterations in signaling systems that could regulate aging in the BTBR mice. Unbiased proteomic analysis of hippocampal and cortical tissue of BTBR mice compared to age-matched wild-type controls revealed a significant decrease in brain derived neurotrophic factor and significant increases in multiple synaptic markers (spinophilin, Synapsin I, PSD 95, NeuN), as well as distinct changes in functional pathways related to these proteins, including "Neural synaptic plasticity regulation" and "Neurotransmitter secretion regulation." Taken together, these results contribute to our understanding of the effects of aging on an ASD-like mouse model in regards to both behavior and protein alterations, though additional studies are needed to fully understand the complex interplay underlying aging in mouse models displaying an ASD-like phenotype.Item Open Access TrkB-Shc Signaling Protects against Hippocampal Injury Following Status Epilepticus.(The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2019-06) Huang, Yang Zhong; He, Xiao-Ping; Krishnamurthy, Kamesh; McNamara, James OTemporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a common and commonly devastating form of human epilepsy for which only symptomatic therapy is available. One cause of TLE is an episode of de novo prolonged seizures [status epilepticus (SE)]. Understanding the molecular signaling mechanisms by which SE transforms a brain from normal to epileptic may reveal novel targets for preventive and disease-modifying therapies. SE-induced activation of the BDNF receptor tyrosine kinase, TrkB, is one signaling pathway by which SE induces TLE. Although activation of TrkB signaling promotes development of epilepsy in this context, it also reduces SE-induced neuronal death. This led us to hypothesize that distinct signaling pathways downstream of TrkB mediate the desirable (neuroprotective) and undesirable (epileptogenesis) consequences. We subsequently demonstrated that TrkB-mediated activation of phospholipase Cγ1 is required for epileptogenesis. Here we tested the hypothesis that the TrkB-Shc-Akt signaling pathway mediates the neuroprotective consequences of TrkB activation following SE. We studied measures of molecular signaling and cell death in a model of SE in mice of both sexes, including wild-type and TrkBShc/Shc mutant mice in which a point mutation (Y515F) of TrkB prevents the binding of Shc to activated TrkB kinase. Genetic disruption of TrkB-Shc signaling had no effect on severity of SE yet partially inhibited activation of the prosurvival adaptor protein Akt. Importantly, genetic disruption of TrkB-Shc signaling exacerbated hippocampal neuronal death induced by SE. We conclude that therapies targeting TrkB signaling for preventing epilepsy should spare TrkB-Shc-Akt signaling and thereby preserve the neuroprotective benefits.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a common and devastating form of human epilepsy that lacks preventive therapies. Understanding the molecular signaling mechanisms underlying the development of TLE may identify novel therapeutic targets. BDNF signaling thru TrkB receptor tyrosine kinase is one molecular mechanism promoting TLE. We previously discovered that TrkB-mediated activation of phospholipase Cγ1 promotes epileptogenesis. Here we reveal that TrkB-mediated activation of Akt protects against hippocampal neuronal death in vivo following status epilepticus. These findings strengthen the evidence that desirable and undesirable consequences of status epilepticus-induced TrkB activation are mediated by distinct signaling pathways downstream of this receptor. These results provide a strong rationale for a novel therapeutic strategy selectively targeting individual signaling pathways downstream of TrkB for preventing epilepsy.