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Donison N, Palik J, Volkening K, Strong MJ. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of pathological tau phosphorylation in traumatic brain injury: implications for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Mol Neurodegener 2025; 20:56. [PMID: 40349043 PMCID: PMC12065185 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-025-00842-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2025] [Accepted: 04/14/2025] [Indexed: 05/14/2025] Open
Abstract
Tau protein plays a critical role in the physiological functioning of the central nervous system by providing structural integrity to the cytoskeletal architecture of neurons and glia through microtubule assembly and stabilization. Under certain pathological conditions, tau is aberrantly phosphorylated and aggregates into neurotoxic fibrillary tangles. The aggregation and cell-to-cell propagation of pathological tau leads to the progressive deterioration of the nervous system. The clinical entity of traumatic brain injury (TBI) ranges from mild to severe and can promote tau aggregation by inducing cellular mechanisms and signalling pathways that increase tau phosphorylation and aggregation. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is a consequence of repetitive TBI, is a unique tauopathy characterized by pathological tau aggregates located at the depths of the sulci and surrounding blood vessels. The mechanisms leading to increased tau phosphorylation and aggregation in CTE remain to be fully defined but are likely the result of the primary and secondary injury sequelae associated with TBI. The primary injury includes physical and mechanical damage resulting from the head impact and accompanying forces that cause blood-brain barrier disruption and axonal shearing, which primes the central nervous system to be more vulnerable to the subsequent secondary injury mechanisms. A complex interplay of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and mitochondrial dysfunction activate kinase and cell death pathways, increasing tau phosphorylation, aggregation and neurodegeneration. In this review, we explore the most recent insights into the mechanisms of tau phosphorylation associated with TBI and propose how multiple cellular pathways converge on tau phosphorylation, which may contribute to CTE progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Donison
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Palik
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Kathryn Volkening
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Michael J Strong
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
- Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
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2
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Pybus AF, Bitarafan S, Brothers RO, Rohrer A, Khaitan A, Moctezuma FR, Udeshi K, Davies B, Triplett S, Griffin MN, Dammer EB, Rangaraju S, Buckley EM, Wood LB. Profiling the neuroimmune cascade in 3xTg-AD mice exposed to successive mild traumatic brain injuries. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:156. [PMID: 38872143 PMCID: PMC11177462 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03128-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries (rmTBI) sustained within a window of vulnerability can result in long term cognitive deficits, depression, and eventual neurodegeneration associated with tau pathology, amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, gliosis, and neuronal and functional loss. However, a comprehensive study relating acute changes in immune signaling and glial reactivity to neuronal changes and pathological markers after single and repetitive mTBIs is currently lacking. In the current study, we addressed the question of how repeated injuries affect the brain neuroimmune response in the acute phase of injury (< 24 h) by exposing the 3xTg-AD mouse model of tau and Aβ pathology to successive (1x-5x) once-daily weight drop closed-head injuries and quantifying immune markers, pathological markers, and transcriptional profiles at 30 min, 4 h, and 24 h after each injury. We used young adult 2-4 month old 3xTg-AD mice to model the effects of rmTBI in the absence of significant tau and Aβ pathology. We identified pronounced sexual dimorphism in this model, with females eliciting more diverse changes after injury compared to males. Specifically, females showed: (1) a single injury caused a decrease in neuron-enriched genes inversely correlated with inflammatory protein expression and an increase in AD-related genes within 24 h, (2) each injury significantly increased a group of cortical cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-9, IL-13, IL-17, KC) and MAPK phospho-proteins (phospho-Atf2, phospho-Mek1), several of which co-labeled with neurons and correlated with phospho-tau, and (3) repetitive injury caused increased expression of genes associated with astrocyte reactivity and macrophage-associated immune function. Collectively our data suggest that neurons respond to a single injury within 24 h, while other cell types, including astrocytes, transition to inflammatory phenotypes within days of repetitive injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa F Pybus
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sara Bitarafan
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Rowan O Brothers
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alivia Rohrer
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Arushi Khaitan
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Felix Rivera Moctezuma
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kareena Udeshi
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brae Davies
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sydney Triplett
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Martin N Griffin
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric B Dammer
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Srikant Rangaraju
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Erin M Buckley
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Levi B Wood
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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3
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Chaumeil M, Guglielmetti C, Qiao K, Tiret B, Ozen M, Krukowski K, Nolan A, Paladini MS, Lopez C, Rosi S. Hyperpolarized 13C metabolic imaging detects long-lasting metabolic alterations following mild repetitive traumatic brain injury. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3166656. [PMID: 37645937 PMCID: PMC10462249 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3166656/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Career athletes, active military, and head trauma victims are at increased risk for mild repetitive traumatic brain injury (rTBI), a condition that contributes to the development of epilepsy and neurodegenerative diseases. Standard clinical imaging fails to identify rTBI-induced lesions, and novel non-invasive methods are needed. Here, we evaluated if hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (HP 13C MRSI) could detect long-lasting changes in brain metabolism 3.5 months post-injury in a rTBI mouse model. Our results show that this metabolic imaging approach can detect changes in cortical metabolism at that timepoint, whereas multimodal MR imaging did not detect any structural or contrast alterations. Using Machine Learning, we further show that HP 13C MRSI parameters can help classify rTBI vs. Sham and predict long-term rTBI-induced behavioral outcomes. Altogether, our study demonstrates the potential of metabolic imaging to improve detection, classification and outcome prediction of previously undetected rTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kai Qiao
- University of California, San Francisco
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4
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Pybus AF, Bitarafan S, Brothers RO, Rohrer A, Khaitan A, Moctezuma FR, Udeshi K, Davies B, Triplett S, Dammer E, Rangaraju S, Buckley EM, Wood LB. Profiling the neuroimmune cascade in 3xTg mice exposed to successive mild traumatic brain injuries. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.13.544838. [PMID: 37397993 PMCID: PMC10312742 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.13.544838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries (rmTBI) sustained within a window of vulnerability can result in long term cognitive deficits, depression, and eventual neurodegeneration associated with tau pathology, amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, gliosis, and neuronal and functional loss. However, we have limited understanding of how successive injuries acutely affect the brain to result in these devastating long-term consequences. In the current study, we addressed the question of how repeated injuries affect the brain in the acute phase of injury (<24hr) by exposing the 3xTg-AD mouse model of tau and Aβ pathology to successive (1x, 3x, 5x) once-daily weight drop closed-head injuries and quantifying immune markers, pathological markers, and transcriptional profiles at 30min, 4hr, and 24hr after each injury. We used young adult mice (2-4 months old) to model the effects of rmTBI relevant to young adult athletes, and in the absence of significant tau and Aβ pathology. Importantly, we identified pronounced sexual dimorphism, with females eliciting more differentially expressed proteins after injury compared to males. Specifically, females showed: 1) a single injury caused a decrease in neuron-enriched genes inversely correlated with inflammatory protein expression as well as an increase in AD-related genes within 24hr, 2) each injury significantly increased expression of a group of cortical cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-9, IL-13, IL-17, KC) and MAPK phospho-proteins (phospho-Atf2, phospho-Mek1), several of which were co-labeled with neurons and correlated with phospho-tau, and 3) repetitive injury caused increased expression of genes associated with astrocyte reactivity and immune function. Collectively our data suggest that neurons respond to a single injury within 24h, while other cell types including astrocytes transition to inflammatory phenotypes within days of repetitive injury.
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Lucke-Wold B. Recent Treatment Strategies in Alzheimer's Disease and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND CLINICAL REVIEWS 2022; 7:01-14. [PMID: 36743825 PMCID: PMC9897211 DOI: 10.31579/2692-9406/128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Neurotrauma has been well linked to the progression of neurodegenerative disease. Much work has been done characterizing chronic traumatic encephalopathy, but less has been done regarding the contribution to Alzheimer’s Disease. This review focuses on AD and its association with neurotrauma. Emerging clinical trials are discussed as well as novel mechanisms. We then address how some of these mechanisms are shared with CTE and emerging pre-clinical studies. This paper is a user-friendly resource that summarizes the emerging findings and proposes further investigation into key areas of interest. It is intended to serve as a catalyst for both research teams and clinicians in the quest to improve effective treatment and diagnostic options.
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Tobiansky DJ, Long KM, Hamden JE, Brawn JD, Fuxjager MJ. Cost-reducing traits for agonistic head collisions: a case for neurophysiology. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:1394-1405. [PMID: 33885750 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many animal species have evolved extreme behaviors requiring them to engage in repeated high-impact collisions. These behaviors include mating displays like headbutting in sheep and drumming in woodpeckers. To our knowledge, these taxa do not experience any notable acute head trauma, even though the deceleration forces would cause traumatic brain injury in most animals. Previous research has focused on skeletomuscular morphology, biomechanics, and material properties in an attempt to explain how animals moderate these high-impact forces. However, many of these behaviors are understudied, and most morphological or computational studies make assumptions about the behavior without accounting for the physiology of an organism. Studying neurophysiological and immune adaptations that co-vary with these behaviors can highlight unique or synergistic solutions to seemingly deleterious behavioral displays. Here, we argue that selection for repeated, high-impact head collisions may rely on a suite of coadaptations in intracranial physiology as a cost-reducing mechanism. We propose that there are three physiological systems that could mitigate the effects of repeated head trauma: (i) the innate neuroimmune response, (ii) the glymphatic system, and (iii) the choroid plexus. These systems are interconnected yet can evolve in an independent manner. We then briefly describe the function of these systems, their role in head trauma, and research that has examined how these systems may evolve to help reduce the cost of repeated, forceful head impacts. Ultimately, we note that little is known about cost-reducing intracranial mechanisms making it a novel field of comparative study that is ripe for exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kira M Long
- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, IL USAKML
| | | | - Jeffrey D Brawn
- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, IL USAJDB
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7
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Wiegand TLT, Sollmann N, Bonke EM, Umeasalugo KE, Sobolewski KR, Plesnila N, Shenton ME, Lin AP, Koerte IK. Translational neuroimaging in mild traumatic brain injury. J Neurosci Res 2021; 100:1201-1217. [PMID: 33789358 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common with an estimated 27.1 million cases per year. Approximately 80% of TBIs are categorized as mild TBI (mTBI) based on initial symptom presentation. While in most individuals, symptoms resolve within days to weeks, in some, symptoms become chronic. Advanced neuroimaging has the potential to characterize brain morphometric, microstructural, biochemical, and metabolic abnormalities following mTBI. However, translational studies are needed for the interpretation of neuroimaging findings in humans with respect to the underlying pathophysiological processes, and, ultimately, for developing novel and more targeted treatment options. In this review, we introduce the most commonly used animal models for the study of mTBI. We then summarize the neuroimaging findings in humans and animals after mTBI and, wherever applicable, the translational aspects of studies available today. Finally, we highlight the importance of translational approaches and outline future perspectives in the field of translational neuroimaging in mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim L T Wiegand
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Nico Sollmann
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Elena M Bonke
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Kosisochukwu E Umeasalugo
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Kristen R Sobolewski
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Clinical Spectroscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nikolaus Plesnila
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (Synergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Martha E Shenton
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander P Lin
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Clinical Spectroscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Inga K Koerte
- cBRAIN, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
- Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Kumar A, Kumar S. Inhibition of extracellular vesicle pathway using neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitors as a neuroprotective treatment for brain injury. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:2349-2352. [PMID: 33907005 PMCID: PMC8374560 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.313014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury is a sudden trauma or blow on the head, and severe traumatic brain injury is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. The acute and chronic consequences following traumatic brain injury can lead to progressive secondary neurodegenerative changes and cognitive dysfunction. To date, there is no effective pharmaceutical products for the treatment to reduce secondary damage after brain injury. The discovery of extracellular vesicles has attracted considerable scientific attention due to their role in cell-to-cell communication. Extracellular vesicles have shown their potential to carry not only biological molecules but also as a drug delivery vehicle. As a carrier of molecular information, extracellular vesicles have been involved in physiological functions as well as in the modulation of immune responses. Here, we aim to provide new insights into the contrasting role of extracellular vesicles in the propagation of inflammatory responses after brain injury. As a carrier of pro-inflammatory molecules, their role as functional mediators in the pathophysiology of brain injury is discussed, addressing the inhibition of the extracellular vesicle pathway as an anti-inflammatory or neuroprotective approach to improve the outcome of both acute and chronic inflammation following brain injury. Here, we summarize therapeutic strategies to diminish the risk the neurodegeneration post brain injury and propose that neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitors could be used as potentially useful therapeutic agents for the treatment of brain injury associated neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asit Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Santosh Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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Breen PW, Krishnan V. Recent Preclinical Insights Into the Treatment of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:616. [PMID: 32774238 PMCID: PMC7381336 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative condition associated with significant mortality and morbidity. The central pathophysiological mechanisms by which repetitive cranial injury results in the neurodegeneration of CTE are poorly understood. Current well-established working models emphasize a central role for trauma-induced excessive phosphorylation and accumulation of insoluble tangles of Tau protein. In this review, we summarize recent data from preclinical animal models of CTE where a series of candidate treatments have been carefully evaluated, including kinase inhibitors, antibody therapy, and anti-inflammatory therapies. We discuss the overall translational potential of these approaches and provide recommendations for future bench-to-bedside treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W Breen
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Vaishnav Krishnan
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX United States
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Tang SJ, Fesharaki-Zadeh A, Takahashi H, Nies SH, Smith LM, Luo A, Chyung A, Chiasseu M, Strittmatter SM. Fyn kinase inhibition reduces protein aggregation, increases synapse density and improves memory in transgenic and traumatic Tauopathy. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:96. [PMID: 32611392 PMCID: PMC7329553 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-00976-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of misfolded phosphorylated Tau (Tauopathy) can be triggered by mutations or by trauma, and is associated with synapse loss, gliosis, neurodegeneration and memory deficits. Fyn kinase physically associates with Tau and regulates subcellular distribution. Here, we assessed whether pharmacological Fyn inhibition alters Tauopathy. In P301S transgenic mice, chronic Fyn inhibition prevented deficits in spatial memory and passive avoidance learning. The behavioral improvement was coupled with reduced accumulation of phospho-Tau in the hippocampus, with reductions in glial activation and with recovery of presynaptic markers. We extended this analysis to a trauma model in which very mild repetitive closed head injury was paired with chronic variable stress over 2 weeks to produce persistent memory deficits and Tau accumulation. In this model, Fyn inhibition beginning 24 h after the trauma ended rescued memory performance and reduced phospho-Tau accumulation. Thus, inhibition of Fyn kinase may have therapeutic benefit in clinical Tauopathies.
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11
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Kempuraj D, Ahmed ME, Selvakumar GP, Thangavel R, Dhaliwal AS, Dubova I, Mentor S, Premkumar K, Saeed D, Zahoor H, Raikwar SP, Zaheer S, Iyer SS, Zaheer A. Brain Injury-Mediated Neuroinflammatory Response and Alzheimer's Disease. Neuroscientist 2020; 26:134-155. [PMID: 31092147 PMCID: PMC7274851 DOI: 10.1177/1073858419848293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health problem in the United States, which affects about 1.7 million people each year. Glial cells, T-cells, and mast cells perform specific protective functions in different regions of the brain for the recovery of cognitive and motor functions after central nervous system (CNS) injuries including TBI. Chronic neuroinflammatory responses resulting in neuronal death and the accompanying stress following brain injury predisposes or accelerates the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in high-risk individuals. About 5.7 million Americans are currently living with AD. Immediately following brain injury, mast cells respond by releasing prestored and preactivated mediators and recruit immune cells to the CNS. Blood-brain barrier (BBB), tight junction and adherens junction proteins, neurovascular and gliovascular microstructural rearrangements, and dysfunction associated with increased trafficking of inflammatory mediators and inflammatory cells from the periphery across the BBB leads to increase in the chronic neuroinflammatory reactions following brain injury. In this review, we advance the hypothesis that neuroinflammatory responses resulting from mast cell activation along with the accompanying risk factors such as age, gender, food habits, emotional status, stress, allergic tendency, chronic inflammatory diseases, and certain drugs can accelerate brain injury-associated neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duraisamy Kempuraj
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Mohammad Ejaz Ahmed
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Govindhasamy Pushpavathi Selvakumar
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Ramasamy Thangavel
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Arshdeep S. Dhaliwal
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Iuliia Dubova
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Shireen Mentor
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Keerthivaas Premkumar
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Daniyal Saeed
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Haris Zahoor
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Sudhanshu P. Raikwar
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Smita Zaheer
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Shankar S. Iyer
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Asgar Zaheer
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
- Department of Neurology, and the Center for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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12
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Honig MG, Dorian CC, Worthen JD, Micetich AC, Mulder IA, Sanchez KB, Pierce WF, Del Mar NA, Reiner A. Progressive long-term spatial memory loss following repeat concussive and subconcussive brain injury in mice, associated with dorsal hippocampal neuron loss, microglial phenotype shift, and vascular abnormalities. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 54:5844-5879. [PMID: 32090401 PMCID: PMC7483557 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
There is considerable concern about the long‐term deleterious effects of repeat head trauma on cognition, but little is known about underlying mechanisms and pathology. To examine this, we delivered four air blasts to the left side of the mouse cranium, a week apart, with an intensity that causes deficits when delivered singly and considered “concussive,” or an intensity that does not yield significant deficits when delivered singly and considered “subconcussive.” Neither repeat concussive nor subconcussive blast produced spatial memory deficits at 4 months, but both yielded deficits at 14 months, and dorsal hippocampal neuron loss. Hierarchical cluster analysis of dorsal hippocampal microglia across the three groups based on morphology and expression of MHCII, CX3CR1, CD68 and IBA1 revealed five distinct phenotypes. Types 1A and 1B microglia were more common in sham mice, linked to better neuron survival and memory, and appeared mildly activated. By contrast, 2B and 2C microglia were more common in repeat concussive and subconcussive mice, linked to poorer neuron survival and memory, and characterized by low expression levels and attenuated processes, suggesting they were de‐activated and dysfunctional. In addition, endothelial cells in repeat concussive mice exhibited reduced CD31 and eNOS expression, which was correlated with the prevalence of type 2B and 2C microglia. Our findings suggest that both repeat concussive and subconcussive head injury engender progressive pathogenic processes, possibly through sustained effects on microglia that over time lead to increased prevalence of dysfunctional microglia, adversely affecting neurons and blood vessels, and thereby driving neurodegeneration and memory decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia G Honig
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Conor C Dorian
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - John D Worthen
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Anthony C Micetich
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Isabelle A Mulder
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Katelyn B Sanchez
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - William F Pierce
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Nobel A Del Mar
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Anton Reiner
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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ApoE mimetic improves pathology and memory in a model of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Res 2020; 1733:146685. [PMID: 32007397 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and is characterized pathologically by Aβ plaques. Current treatments are purely symptomatic despite decades of intensive research interest. Notably, patients with the APOE4 allele are at increased risk for developing AD. One hypothesis regarding the mechanism by which the APOE4 allele might increase AD risk is loss of adaptive function, raising the possibility that the exogenous administration of apoE mimetics would have therapeutic effects. In this study, we utilized a previously characterized murine model of AD containing human APP, PS1 and APOE4TR, the APP/PS1/APOETR mouse. We treated male APP/PS1/APOETR mice with the apoE mimetic CN-105 or vehicle for 40d, beginning either at 14-18 or 25-28 weeks of age. After termination of treatment we tested animals in both Morris water maze and contextual fear conditioning, and examined soluble Aβ by biochemistery and Aβ deposition in cortex by unbiased stereology. We found that transient treatment with CN-105 for 40d beginning at 14-18 weeks reduced Aβ pathology and rescued memory deficits in male APP/PS1/APOETR mice. Notably, delaying treatment onset to 25-28 weeks did not produce as robust an effect. These results suggest CN-105 treatment in a mouse model of AD results in a reduction in AD pathology and improved behavioral outcomes when administered early in the course of disease. As CN-105 has an excellent safety profile and is already in clinical trials, these findings raise the possibility that CN-105 represents a novel and translatable therapeutic strategy for AD.
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14
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Bolton-Hall AN, Hubbard WB, Saatman KE. Experimental Designs for Repeated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Challenges and Considerations. J Neurotrauma 2019; 36:1203-1221. [PMID: 30351225 PMCID: PMC6479246 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.6096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mild TBI) is a growing public concern, as evidence mounts that even brain injuries classified as "mild" can result in persistent neurological dysfunction. Multiple brain injuries heighten the likelihood of worsened or more prolonged symptomatology and may trigger long-term neurodegeneration. Animal models provide a logical platform to identify key parameters, such as loading forces, duration between injuries, and number of injuries, which contribute to additive or synergistic damage after repeated mild TBI. Despite the tremendous increase in research productivity in the field of repeated mild TBI, relatively few studies have been designed in such a way as to provide experimental-based insights into the dependence of cellular and functional outcomes on the prescribed parameters of mild TBI. In this review, we summarize how standard models of TBI have been adapted to produce mild TBI and highlight commonly observed aspects of neuropathology replicated in rodent models of mild TBI. The complexity of designing studies of repeated TBI is discussed, including challenges of incorporating appropriate control groups, informative experimental design, and relevant outcome measures. We then feature studies that provide a well-controlled, within-study design varying either the number of injuries or the interinjury interval. Harnessing the power of experimental models of TBI to elucidate which injury parameters are critical contributors to acute and chronic damage after repeated injury can further efforts at prevention and provide improved models for testing mechanisms and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda N. Bolton-Hall
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - W. Brad Hubbard
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Kathryn E. Saatman
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
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15
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Rubenstein R, Sharma DR, Chang B, Oumata N, Cam M, Vaucelle L, Lindberg MF, Chiu A, Wisniewski T, Wang KKW, Meijer L. Novel Mouse Tauopathy Model for Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Evaluation of Long-Term Effects on Cognition and Biomarker Levels After Therapeutic Inhibition of Tau Phosphorylation. Front Neurol 2019; 10:124. [PMID: 30915013 PMCID: PMC6421297 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a risk factor for a group of neurodegenerative diseases termed tauopathies, which includes Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Although TBI is stratified by impact severity as either mild (m), moderate or severe, mTBI is the most common and the most difficult to diagnose. Tauopathies are pathologically related by the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau (P-tau) and increased total tau (T-tau). Here we describe: (i) a novel human tau-expressing transgenic mouse model, TghTau/PS1, to study repetitive mild closed head injury (rmCHI), (ii) quantitative comparison of T-tau and P-tau from brain and plasma in TghTau/PS1 mice over a 12 month period following rmCHI (and sham), (iii) the usefulness of P-tau as an early- and late-stage blood-based biochemical biomarker for rmCHI, (iii) the influence of kinase-targeted therapeutic intervention on rmCHI-associated cognitive deficits using a combination of lithium chloride (LiCl) and R-roscovitine (ros), and (iv) correlation of behavioral and cognitive changes with concentrations of the brain and blood-based T-tau and P-tau. Compared to sham-treated mice, behavior changes and cognitive deficits of rmCHI-treated TghTau/PS1 mice correlated with increases in both cortex and plasma T-tau and P-tau levels over 12 months. In addition, T-tau, but more predominantly P-tau, levels were significantly reduced in the cortex and plasma by LiCl + ros approaching the biomarker levels in sham and drug-treated sham mice (the drugs had only modest effects on the T-tau and P-tau levels in sham mice) throughout the 12 month study period. Furthermore, although we also observed a reversal of the abnormal behavior and cognitive deficits in the drug-treated rmCHI mice (compared to the untreated rmCHI mice) throughout the time course, these drug-treated effects were most pronounced up until 10 and 12 months where the abnormal behavior and cognition deficits began to gradually increase. These studies describe: (a) a translational relevant animal model for TBI-linked tauopathies, and (b) utilization of T-tau and P-tau as rmCHI biomarkers in plasma to monitor novel therapeutic strategies and treatment regimens for these neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Rubenstein
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases and CNS Biomarker Discovery, Departments of Neurology and Physiology/Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Deep R Sharma
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases and CNS Biomarker Discovery, Departments of Neurology and Physiology/Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Binggong Chang
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases and CNS Biomarker Discovery, Departments of Neurology and Physiology/Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Nassima Oumata
- ManRos Therapeutics, Centre de Perharidy, Roscoff, France
| | - Morgane Cam
- ManRos Therapeutics, Centre de Perharidy, Roscoff, France
| | - Lise Vaucelle
- ManRos Therapeutics, Centre de Perharidy, Roscoff, France
| | | | - Allen Chiu
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases and CNS Biomarker Discovery, Departments of Neurology and Physiology/Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Thomas Wisniewski
- Center for Cognitive Neurology and Departments of Neurology, Pathology and Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kevin K W Wang
- Program for Neurotrauma, Neuroproteomics and Biomarker Research, Departments of Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Laurent Meijer
- ManRos Therapeutics, Centre de Perharidy, Roscoff, France
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