0000000000075366
AUTHOR
A. Pla
TLR4 elimination prevents synaptic and myelin alterations and long-term cognitive dysfunctions in adolescent mice with intermittent ethanol treatment.
The adolescent brain undergoes important dynamic and plastic cell changes, including overproduction of axons and synapses, followed by rapid pruning along with ongoing axon myelination. These developmental changes make the adolescent brain particularly vulnerable to neurotoxic and behavioral effects of alcohol. Although the mechanisms of these effects are largely unknown, we demonstrated that ethanol by activating innate immune receptors toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), induces neuroinflammation and brain damage in adult mice. The present study aims to evaluate whether intermittent ethanol treatment in adolescence promotes TLR4-dependent pro-inflammatory processes, leading to myelin and synapti…
Neuroimmune Activation and Myelin Changes in Adolescent Rats Exposed to High-Dose Alcohol and Associated Cognitive Dysfunction: A Review with Reference to Human Adolescent Drinking
Aims: The aim of the study was to assess whether intermittent ethanol administration to adolescent rats activates innate immune response and TLRs signalling causing myelin disruption and long-term cognitive and behavioural deficits. Methods: We used a rat model of intermittent binge-like ethanol exposure during adolescence. Results: Binge-like ethanol administration to adolescent rats increased the gene expression of TLR4 and TLR2 in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), as well as inflammatory cytokines TNF alpha and IL-1 beta. Up-regulation of TLRs and inflammatory mediators were linked with alterations in the levels of several myelin proteins in the PFC of adolescent rats. These events were assoc…