1
|
Sun M, Baker TL, Wilson CT, Brady RD, Yamakawa GR, Wright DK, Mychasiuk R, Vo A, Wilson T, Allen J, McDonald SJ, Shultz SR. Treatment with the vascular endothelial growth factor-A antibody, bevacizumab, has sex-specific effects in a rat model of mild traumatic brain injury. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2024; 44:542-555. [PMID: 37933736 PMCID: PMC10981407 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x231212377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) involves damage to the cerebrovascular system. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is an important modulator of vascular health and VEGF-A promotes the brain's ability to recover after more severe forms of brain injury; however, the role of VEGF-A in mTBI remains poorly understood. Bevacizumab (BEV) is a monoclonal antibody that binds to VEGF-A and neutralises its actions. To better understand the role of VEGF-A in mTBI recovery, this study examined how BEV treatment affected outcomes in rats given a mTBI. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to sham-injury + vehicle treatment (VEH), sham-injury + BEV treatment, mTBI + VEH treatment, mTBI + BEV treatment groups. Treatment was administered intracerebroventricularly via a cannula beginning at the time of injury and continuing until the end of the study. Rats underwent behavioral testing after injury and were euthanized on day 11. In both females and males, BEV had a negative impact on cognitive function. mTBI and BEV treatment increased the expression of inflammatory markers in females. In males, BEV treatment altered markers related to hypoxia and vascular health. These novel findings of sex-specific responses to BEV and mTBI provide important insights into the role of VEGF-A in mTBI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mujun Sun
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Tamara L Baker
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Campbell T Wilson
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rhys D Brady
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Glenn R Yamakawa
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - David K Wright
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Richelle Mychasiuk
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Anh Vo
- Monash Health Translation Precinct, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Trevor Wilson
- Monash Health Translation Precinct, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Josh Allen
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Stuart J McDonald
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sandy R Shultz
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Health Sciences, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|