SETD7 mediates spinal microgliosis and neuropathic pain in a rat model of peripheral nerve injury
Abstract Gene transcription regulation is critical for the development of spinal microgliosis and neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve injury. Using a model of chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, this study characterized the role of SET domain containing lysine methyltransferase 7 (SETD7) which monomethylates histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me1), a marker for active gene transcription. SETD7 protein expression in the spinal dorsal horn ipsilateral to nerve lesion was increased from one day to 14 days after CCI, concomitantly with the expression of inflammatory genes, Ccl2, Il-6 and Il-1β. The CCI-induced SETD7 expression was predominantly localized to microglia, as demonstra…
Lack of NG2 exacerbates neurological outcome and modulates glial responses after traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability. The underlying pathophysiology is characterized by secondary processes including neuronal death and gliosis. To elucidate the role of the NG2 proteoglycan we investigated the response of NG2-knockout mice (NG2-KO) to TBI. Seven days after TBI behavioral analysis, brain damage volumetry and assessment of blood brain barrier integrity demonstrated an exacerbated response of NG2-KO compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Reactive astrocytes and expression of the reactive astrocyte and neurotoxicity marker Lcn2 (Lipocalin-2) were increased in the perilesional brain tissue of NG2-KO mice. In addition, microglia/macrophages with acti…
Influence of Age on Brain Edema Formation, Secondary Brain Damage and Inflammatory Response after Brain Trauma in Mice
After traumatic brain injury (TBI) elderly patients suffer from higher mortality rate and worse functional outcome compared to young patients. However, experimental TBI research is primarily performed in young animals. Aim of the present study was to clarify whether age affects functional outcome, neuroinflammation and secondary brain damage after brain trauma in mice. Young (2 months) and old (21 months) male C57Bl6N mice were anesthetized and subjected to a controlled cortical impact injury (CCI) on the right parietal cortex. Animals of both ages were randomly assigned to 15 min, 24 h, and 72 h survival. At the end of the observation periods, contusion volume, brain water content, neurolo…
Targeting aurora kinase B alleviates spinal microgliosis and neuropathic pain in a rat model of peripheral nerve injury.
Peripheral nerve injury elicits spinal microgliosis, contributing to neuropathic pain. The aurora kinases A (AURKA), B (AURKB), and C (AURKC) are potential therapeutic targets in proliferating cells. However, their role has not been clarified in microglia. The aim of this study was to examine the regulation of aurora kinases and their roles and druggability in spinal microgliosis and neuropathic pain. Sprague-Dawley rats received chronic constriction injury (CCI). Gene expression of aurora kinases A-C was evaluated by quantitative RT-PCR and western blot, respectively, in spinal cords at 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after CCI. AURKB gene and protein expression was up-regulated concomitantly with th…
2-Methoxyestradiol confers neuroprotection and inhibits a maladaptive HIF-1α response after traumatic brain injury in mice
HIF-1α is pivotal for cellular homeostasis in response to cerebral ischemia. Pharmacological inhibition of HIF-1α may reduce secondary brain damage by targeting post-translational mechanisms associated with its proteasomal degradation and nuclear translocation. This study examined the neuroprotective effects of 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2), the involved HIF-1α-dependent response, and alternative splicing in exon 14 of HIF-1α (HIF-1α∆Ex14) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice. Intraperitoneal 2ME2 administration 30 min after TBI caused a dose-dependent reduction in secondary brain damage after 24 h. 2ME2 was physiologically tolerated, showed no effects on immune cell brain migration, and …