1
|
Boone DR, Leek JM, Falduto MT, Torres KEO, Sell SL, Parsley MA, Cowart JC, Uchida T, Micci MA, DeWitt DS, Prough DS, Hellmich HL. Effects of AAV-mediated knockdown of nNOS and GPx-1 gene expression in rat hippocampus after traumatic brain injury. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185943. [PMID: 29016640 PMCID: PMC5634593 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Virally mediated RNA interference (RNAi) to knock down injury-induced genes could improve functional outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, little is known about the consequences of gene knockdown on downstream cell signaling pathways and how RNAi influences neurodegeneration and behavior. Here, we assessed the effects of adeno-associated virus (AAV) siRNA vectors that target two genes with opposing roles in TBI pathogenesis: the allegedly detrimental neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the potentially protective glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx-1). In rat hippocampal progenitor cells, three siRNAs that target different regions of each gene (nNOS, GPx-1) effectively knocked down gene expression. However, in vivo, in our rat model of fluid percussion brain injury, the consequences of AAV-siRNA were variable. One nNOS siRNA vector significantly reduced the number of degenerating hippocampal neurons and showed a tendency to improve working memory. GPx-1 siRNA treatment did not alter TBI-induced neurodegeneration or working memory deficits. Nevertheless, microarray analysis of laser captured, virus-infected neurons showed that knockdown of nNOS or GPx-1 was specific and had broad effects on downstream genes. Since nNOS knockdown only modestly ameliorated TBI-induced working memory deficits, despite widespread genomic changes, manipulating expression levels of single genes may not be sufficient to alter functional outcome after TBI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah R. Boone
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jeanna M. Leek
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | | | | | - Stacy L. Sell
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Margaret A. Parsley
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jeremy C. Cowart
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Tatsuo Uchida
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Maria-Adelaide Micci
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Douglas S. DeWitt
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Donald S. Prough
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Helen L. Hellmich
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|