0000000000303093

AUTHOR

Larissa Dangel

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…

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Progranulin protects against exaggerated axonal injury and astrogliosis following traumatic brain injury

In response to traumatic brain injury (TBI) microglia/macrophages and astrocytes release inflammatory mediators with dual effects on secondary brain damage progression. The neurotrophic and anti-inflammatory glycoprotein progranulin (PGRN) attenuates neuronal damage and microglia/macrophage activation in brain injury but mechanisms are still elusive. Here, we studied histopathology, neurology and gene expression of inflammatory markers in PGRN-deficient mice (Grn-/- ) 24 h and 5 days after experimental TBI. Grn-/- mice displayed increased perilesional axonal injury even though the overall brain tissue loss and neurological consequences were similar to wild-type mice. Brain inflammation was …

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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 …

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