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Snapper DM, Reginauld B, Liaudanskaya V, Fitzpatrick V, Kim Y, Georgakoudi I, Kaplan DL, Symes AJ. Development of a novel bioengineered 3D brain-like tissue for studying primary blast-induced traumatic brain injury. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:3-19. [PMID: 36200530 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Primary blast injury is caused by the direct impact of an overpressurization wave on the body. Due to limitations of current models, we have developed a novel approach to study primary blast-induced traumatic brain injury. Specifically, we employ a bioengineered 3D brain-like human tissue culture system composed of collagen-infused silk protein donut-like hydrogels embedded with human IPSC-derived neurons, human astrocytes, and a human microglial cell line. We have utilized this system within an advanced blast simulator (ABS) to expose the 3D brain cultures to a blast wave that can be precisely controlled. These 3D cultures are enclosed in a 3D-printed surrogate skull-like material containing media which are then placed in a holder apparatus inside the ABS. This allows for exposure to the blast wave alone without any secondary injury occurring. We show that blast induces an increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity and glutamate release from the cultures, indicating cellular injury. Additionally, we observe a significant increase in axonal varicosities after blast. These varicosities can be stained with antibodies recognizing amyloid precursor protein. The presence of amyloid precursor protein deposits may indicate a blast-induced axonal transport deficit. After blast injury, we find a transient release of the known TBI biomarkers, UCHL1 and NF-H at 6 h and a delayed increase in S100B at 24 and 48 h. This in vitro model will enable us to gain a better understanding of clinically relevant pathological changes that occur following primary blast and can also be utilized for discovery and characterization of biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin M Snapper
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Bianca Reginauld
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Volha Liaudanskaya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Vincent Fitzpatrick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yeonho Kim
- Preclinical Behavior and Modeling Core, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Irene Georgakoudi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aviva J Symes
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Therapeutics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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2
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Hanna ME, Pfister BJ. Advancements in in vitro models of traumatic brain injury. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2022.100430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Harper MM, Woll AW, Evans LP, Delcau M, Akurathi A, Hedberg-Buenz A, Soukup DA, Boehme N, Hefti MM, Dutca LM, Anderson MG, Bassuk AG. Blast Preconditioning Protects Retinal Ganglion Cells and Reveals Targets for Prevention of Neurodegeneration Following Blast-Mediated Traumatic Brian Injury. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:4159-4170. [PMID: 31598627 PMCID: PMC6785841 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.19-27565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of multiple blast exposures and blast preconditioning on the structure and function of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), to identify molecular pathways that contribute to RGC loss, and to evaluate the role of kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO) inhibition on RGC structure and function. Methods Mice were subjected to sham blast injury, one single blast injury, or three blast injuries separated by either 1 hour or 1 week, using a blast intensity of 20 PSI. To examine the effect of blast preconditioning, mice were subjected to sham blast injury, one single 20-PSI injury, or three blast injuries separated by 1 week (5 PSI, 5 PSI, 20 PSI and 5 PSI, 5 PSI, 5 PSI). RGC structure was analyzed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and function was analyzed by the pattern electroretinogram (PERG). BRN3A-positive cells were quantified to determine RGC density. RNA-seq analysis was used to identify transcriptional changes between groups. Results Analysis of mice with multiple blast exposures of 20 PSI revealed no significant differences compared to one 20-pounds per square inch (PSI) exposure using OCT, PERG, or BRN3A cell counts. Analysis of mice exposed to two preconditioning 5-PSI blasts prior to one 20-PSI blast showed preservation of RGC structure and function. RNA-seq analysis of the retina identified multiple transcriptomic changes between conditions. Pharmacologic inhibition of KMO preserved RGC responses compared to vehicle-treated mice. Conclusions Preconditioning protects RGC from blast injury. Protective effects appear to involve changes in KMO activity, whose inhibition is also protective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M. Harper
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Addison W. Woll
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Lucy P. Evans
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Michael Delcau
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Abhigna Akurathi
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Adam Hedberg-Buenz
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Dana A. Soukup
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Nickolas Boehme
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Marco M. Hefti
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Laura M. Dutca
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Michael G. Anderson
- The Iowa City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Iowa City, Iowa
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Alexander G. Bassuk
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
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Sawyer TW, Ritzel DV, Wang Y, Josey T, Villanueva M, Nelson P, Song Y, Shei Y, Hennes G, Vair C, Parks S, Fan C, McLaws L. Primary Blast Causes Delayed Effects without Cell Death in Shell-Encased Brain Cell Aggregates. J Neurotrauma 2017; 35:174-186. [PMID: 28726571 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2016.4961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous work in this laboratory used underwater explosive exposures to isolate the effects of shock-induced principle stress without shear on rat brain aggregate cultures. The current study has utilized simulated air blast to expose aggregates in suspension and enclosed within a spherical shell, enabling the examination of a much more complex biomechanical insult. Culture medium-filled spheres were exposed to single pulse overpressures of 15-30 psi (∼6-7 msec duration) and measurements within the sphere at defined sites showed complex and spatially dependent pressure changes. When brain aggregates were exposed to similar conditions, no cell death was observed and no changes in several commonly used biomarkers of traumatic brain injury (TBI) were noted. However, similarly to underwater blast, immediate and transient increases in the protein kinase B signaling pathway were observed at early time-points (3 days). In contrast, the oligodendrocyte marker 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase, as well as vascular endothelial growth factor, both displayed markedly delayed (14-28 days) and pressure-dependent responses. The imposition of a spherical shell between the single pulse shock wave and the target brain tissue introduces greatly increased complexity to the insult. This work shows that brain tissue can not only discriminate the nature of the pressure changes it experiences, but that a portion of its response is significantly delayed. These results have mechanistic implications for the study of primary blast-induced TBI and also highlight the importance of rigorously characterizing the actual pressure variations experienced by target tissue in primary blast studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Sawyer
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Yushan Wang
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Tyson Josey
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mercy Villanueva
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Peggy Nelson
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yanfeng Song
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yimin Shei
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Grant Hennes
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | - Cory Vair
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Changyang Fan
- 4 Canada West Biosciences , Camrose, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lori McLaws
- 1 Defence Research and Development Canada, Suffield Research Center , Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
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Boothe DL, Yu AB, Kudela P, Anderson WS, Vettel JM, Franaszczuk PJ. Impact of Neuronal Membrane Damage on the Local Field Potential in a Large-Scale Simulation of Cerebral Cortex. Front Neurol 2017. [PMID: 28638364 PMCID: PMC5461262 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Within multiscale brain dynamics, the structure–function relationship between cellular changes at a lower scale and coordinated oscillations at a higher scale is not well understood. This relationship may be particularly relevant for understanding functional impairments after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) when current neuroimaging methods do not reveal morphological changes to the brain common in moderate to severe TBI such as diffuse axonal injury or gray matter lesions. Here, we created a physiology-based model of cerebral cortex using a publicly released modeling framework (GEneral NEural SImulation System) to explore the possibility that performance deficits characteristic of blast-induced mTBI may reflect dysfunctional, local network activity influenced by microscale neuronal damage at the cellular level. We operationalized microscale damage to neurons as the formation of pores on the neuronal membrane based on research using blast paradigms, and in our model, pores were simulated by a change in membrane conductance. We then tracked changes in simulated electrical activity. Our model contained 585 simulated neurons, comprised of 14 types of cortical and thalamic neurons each with its own compartmental morphology and electrophysiological properties. Comparing the functional activity of neurons before and after simulated damage, we found that simulated pores in the membrane reduced both action potential generation and local field potential (LFP) power in the 1–40 Hz range of the power spectrum. Furthermore, the location of damage modulated the strength of these effects: pore formation on simulated axons reduced LFP power more strongly than did pore formation on the soma and the dendrites. These results indicate that even small amounts of cellular damage can negatively impact functional activity of larger scale oscillations, and our findings suggest that multiscale modeling provides a promising avenue to elucidate these relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Boothe
- U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, MD, United States.,Altus Engineering, Churchville, MD, United States
| | - Alfred B Yu
- U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, MD, United States
| | - Pawel Kudela
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,The Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - William S Anderson
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jean M Vettel
- U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, MD, United States.,Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, United States.,Department of Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Piotr J Franaszczuk
- U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, MD, United States.,Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Zander NE, Piehler T, Hogberg H, Pamies D. Explosive Blast Loading on Human 3D Aggregate Minibrains. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2017; 37:1331-1334. [PMID: 28110483 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-017-0463-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The effects of primary explosive blast on brain tissue still remain mostly unknown. There are few in vitro models that use real explosives to probe the mechanisms of injury at the cellular level. In this work, 3D aggregates of human brain cells or brain microphysiological system were exposed to military explosives at two different pressures (50 and 100 psi). Results indicate that membrane damage and oxidative stress increased with blast pressure, but cell death remained minimal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E Zander
- Department of the Army, US Army Research Laboratory, Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, RDRL-WMM-G, Building 4600, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21005, USA.
| | - Thuvan Piehler
- Department of the Army, US Army Research Laboratory, Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, RDRL-WMM-G, Building 4600, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21005, USA
| | - Helena Hogberg
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - David Pamies
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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Smith M, Piehler T, Benjamin R, Farizatto KL, Pait MC, Almeida MF, Ghukasyan VV, Bahr BA. Blast waves from detonated military explosive reduce GluR1 and synaptophysin levels in hippocampal slice cultures. Exp Neurol 2016; 286:107-115. [PMID: 27720798 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2016] [Revised: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Explosives create shockwaves that cause blast-induced neurotrauma, one of the most common types of traumatic brain injury (TBI) linked to military service. Blast-induced TBIs are often associated with reduced cognitive and behavioral functions due to a variety of factors. To study the direct effects of military explosive blasts on brain tissue, we removed systemic factors by utilizing rat hippocampal slice cultures. The long-term slice cultures were briefly sealed air-tight in serum-free medium, lowered into a 37°C water-filled tank, and small 1.7-gram assemblies of cyclotrimethylene trinitramine (RDX) were detonated 15cm outside the tank, creating a distinct shockwave recorded at the culture plate position. Compared to control mock-treated groups of slices that received equal submerge time, 1-3 blast impacts caused a dose-dependent reduction in the AMPA receptor subunit GluR1. While only a small reduction was found in hippocampal slices exposed to a single RDX blast and harvested 1-2days later, slices that received two consecutive RDX blasts 4min apart exhibited a 26-40% reduction in GluR1, and the receptor subunit was further reduced by 64-72% after three consecutive blasts. Such loss correlated with increased levels of HDAC2, a histone deacetylase implicated in stress-induced reduction of glutamatergic transmission. No evidence of synaptic marker recovery was found at 72h post-blast. The presynaptic marker synaptophysin was found to have similar susceptibility as GluR1 to the multiple explosive detonations. In contrast to the synaptic protein reductions, actin levels were unchanged, spectrin breakdown was not detected, and Fluoro-Jade B staining found no indication of degenerating neurons in slices exposed to three RDX blasts, suggesting that small, sub-lethal explosives are capable of producing selective alterations to synaptic integrity. Together, these results indicate that blast waves from military explosive cause signs of synaptic compromise without producing severe neurodegeneration, perhaps explaining the cognitive and behavioral changes in those blast-induced TBI sufferers that have no detectable neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marquitta Smith
- Biotechnology Research and Training Center, University of North Carolina-Pembroke, Pembroke, NC 28372, USA
| | - Thuvan Piehler
- U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005, USA
| | - Richard Benjamin
- U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005, USA
| | - Karen L Farizatto
- Biotechnology Research and Training Center, University of North Carolina-Pembroke, Pembroke, NC 28372, USA
| | - Morgan C Pait
- Biotechnology Research and Training Center, University of North Carolina-Pembroke, Pembroke, NC 28372, USA
| | - Michael F Almeida
- Biotechnology Research and Training Center, University of North Carolina-Pembroke, Pembroke, NC 28372, USA
| | - Vladimir V Ghukasyan
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ben A Bahr
- Biotechnology Research and Training Center, University of North Carolina-Pembroke, Pembroke, NC 28372, USA.
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Zander NE, Piehler T, Banton R, Benjamin R. Effects of repetitive low-pressure explosive blast on primary neurons and mixed cultures. J Neurosci Res 2016; 94:827-36. [PMID: 27317559 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Revised: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury represents a considerable health concern, particularly for athletes and military personnel. For blast-induced brain injury, threshold shock-impulse levels required to induce such injuries and cumulative effects with single and/or multiple exposures are not well characterized. Currently, there is no established in vitro experimental model with blast pressure waves generated by live explosives. This study presents results of primary neurons and mixed cultures subjected to our unique in vitro indoor experimental platform that uses real military explosive charges to probe the effects of primary explosive blast at the cellular level. The effects of the blast on membrane permeability, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), uptake of sodium ions, intracellular calcium, and release of glutamate were probed 2 and 24 hr postblast. Significant changes in membrane permeability and sodium uptake among the sham, single-blast-injured, and triple-blast-injured samples were observed. A significant increase in ROS and glutamate release was observed for the triple-blast-injured samples compared with the sham. Changes in intracellular calcium were not significant. These results suggest that blast exposure disrupts the integrity of the plasma membrane, leading to the upset of ion homeostasis, formation of ROS, and glutamate release. Published 2016. †This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E Zander
- United States Army Research Laboratory, Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Maryland
| | - Thuvan Piehler
- United States Army Research Laboratory, Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Maryland
| | - Rohan Banton
- United States Army Research Laboratory, Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Maryland
| | - Richard Benjamin
- United States Army Research Laboratory, Weapons and Materials Research Directorate, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Aberdeen, Maryland
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