血管内皮生长因子促损伤脑内神经血管单元的重构

血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)最初被认为是调节血管内皮细胞通透性及血管增生的生物活性物质。后来发现,VEGF在脑内的神经细胞也有表达,并参与神经细胞的发育、轴突的生长和神经元细胞膜上离子通道功能的调节。VEGF对损伤脑具有抗凋亡等神经保护作用。此外,VEGF还具有促进损伤脑内神经元新生的作用和增强活化胶质细胞转分化为新生神经元的能力。现有的文献提示,VEGF在正常脑内能调节神经可塑性,在损伤的脑内能促进神经血管单元的重构和脑修复。本文重点阐述成年脑内VEGF对神经细胞的生物学效应及其对损伤脑的修复作用。深入研究VEGF的神经调节作用及其机制,有助于理解脑功能调节机制,研发脑保护和脑修复的新技术。     

VEGF调控抑郁症海马神经发生的研究进展

抑郁症是一种发生率高、易复发、危害大的精神障碍,其主要临床表现是持续的情绪低落和认知功能障碍.近年来其发病率越来越高,已经引起了人们广泛关注,由于其发病机制比较复杂,目前尚未完全阐明.神经营养假说认为,神经营养因子具有维持神经元生存、促进突触生长的作用,倘若前额叶、海马等脑区神经营养因子缺乏,可抑制相应脑功能从而最终导致抑郁;故抗抑郁药物治疗抑郁的途径是增加脑中的神经营养因子含量、提高突触可塑性和促进神经元生存.总之神经营养因子表达水平下降参与了抑郁症的病理生理过程.在众多神经营养因子中,VEGF是一种多功能的因子,能够通过多种途径促进血管生成,保护缺血和退变的神经元,引发成年大脑神经元再生,从而影响抑郁.而研究表明,成年海马神经发生与正在进行的血管生成是有着密切的联系.本文主要对VEGF在海马神经发生的作用机制及其调控对抑郁症的影响进行阐述.发现VEGF在调节海马神经发生具有重要的作用,并且VEGF及其下游信号参与了抑郁症的发生发展过程.     

神经营养因子

神经营养因子是一类多肽,在神经系统的发育吕具有支持神经细胞生长,分化和生存,在成熟的神经系统中具有维持神经细胞生存与作用。在神经系统疾病中可能具有减轻或改善神经退行性改变的作用,对神经元有保护效应,并可促进神经元的再生与修复。     

当归对宫内低氧新生大鼠海马神经元与神经胶质细胞的影响及其机制

目的:探讨宫内低氧对新生大鼠海马CA3区神经元与神经胶质细胞的影响及血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)在低氧后的表达与当归的干预作用。方法:将大鼠随机分为对照组、低氧组和当归组分别受孕,取新生鼠脑组织制片后做神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)mRNA、胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)mRNA、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)mRNA原位杂交。结果:当归能显著增大低氧新生鼠海马CA3区NSE mRNA和VEGF mRNA原位杂交阳性细胞IOD值,减小GFAP mRNA原位杂交阳性细胞IOD值。结论:当归注射液可增加低氧所致的新生大鼠海马CA3区神经元的数量,减弱该区神经胶质细胞的增生,其机制可能是进一步上调低氧后VEGFmRNA的表达。     

脑内神经细胞死亡会再生吗?

长期以来 ,人们一直认为成年动物大脑中的神经元不能再生 ,神经细胞死亡后不会长出新的神经细胞替代。但是 ,近年来科学家发现一些特定的神经元 (包括人类 )有再生能力。最近洛克菲勒和哈佛大学医学院的神经科学家报道 ,一种成年雄性鸣雀 ,斑马雀大脑中的神经细胞死亡后能长出新的神经细胞 ,而且新长出的神经细胞能完全替代已死亡细胞的功能。但是 ,斑马雀的大脑中不是所有类型的神经细胞都可以再生 ,只有那些影响鸣叫功能的神经细胞才能再生。现在 ,科学家感兴趣的是 ,如果能发现这些选择性引起神经细胞再生的触发机制 ,将会找到触发所有神…     

神经干细胞在缺血缺氧性脑病中的治疗前景

过去认为神经元受损伤后难以再生.近年发现神经干细胞(neuralstemcells,NSC)主要存在于胚胎和成熟个体的中枢神经系统(CNS)中,具有增殖和分化的潜能.NSC成为神经学科的热点课题,是神经发育和疾病研究的重要平台,作为新生神经细胞的“种子”,它为治疗缺血缺氧性脑病提供了新策略,尤其是中枢神经细胞的治疗性再生和基因治疗.对NSC的发育、组织学特点、增殖分化的调控及治疗前景进行了阐述.     

血管内皮生长因子的神经保护作用

血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF）是内皮细胞特异性的生长因子,大多数关于VEGF的研究都是致力于其在血管生长方面的作用,而近年来有大量文献报道VEGF具有神经营养和促神经发生作用,它能够直接作用于神经元细胞和神经胶质细胞甚至是神经干细胞,促进其生长及存活。VEGF的多种功能使其和多种神经退行性疾病相关,如阿茨海默病,肌萎缩侧索硬化症,帕金森病等。导入VEGF基因能够改善肌萎缩侧索硬化症、帕金森病动物模型的病情。     

星形胶质细胞诱导成年神经干细胞的神经发生

在中枢神经系统 ,成年后新神经元发生主要见于两个脑区 ,即室管下区 (ｓｕｂｖｅｎｔｒｉｃｕｌａｒｚｏｎｅ)与海马的颗粒下区 (ｓｕｂｇｒａｎｕｌａｒｚｏｎｅ)。正常情况下 ,除上述脑区外的其它脑区能够产生神经胶质细胞 ,但是不能产生神经元。为了研究神经元和 /或神经胶质细胞对来源于成年的神经干细胞分化的影响 ,Ｓｏｎｇ等分离了成年大鼠海马的神经元和星形胶质细胞 ,将其分别或联合与来自成年的、依赖ＦＧＦ 2的神经干细胞共培养 ,意外地发现神经元促进神经干细胞分化为少突胶质细胞 ,而星形胶质细胞则促进神经干细胞分化为神经…     

酒精诱导小鼠海马齿状回神经细胞的增殖:神经酰胺的可能作用

本文旨在探讨神经酰胺(ceramide,Cer)在酒精诱导神经细胞增殖及新生神经元形成过程中的作用及机制.因为Cer主要的代谢途径是经神经鞘磷脂合成酶(sphingomyelin synthase,SMS)作用转化成神经鞘磷脂(sphingomyelin,SM),所以我们用SMS2基因敲除(sphingomyelin ...     

细胞间粘附分子5（ICAM-5）在HIV相关神经损伤中的保护性作用

为探究细胞间粘附分子5 (intercellular adhesion molecule 5,ICAM-5)在HIV相关神经认知损伤中的作用,用ELISA法测定HIV感染者脑脊液样本和体外动物神经细胞培养体系中可溶性细胞间粘附分子5(ICAM-5s)的含量|蛋白印迹法检测ICAM-5蛋白表达|免疫荧光法观察神经细胞形态学变化|用CytoTox 96非放射性细胞毒性实验检测神经细胞死亡率.抗ICAM-5单克隆抗体Cy3标记的免疫荧光染色结果显示,ICAM-5可在神经元细胞的胞体和突起表达,且经HIV神经毒性蛋白gp120 500pmol/L处理的神经细胞平均突起长度显著小于无gp120处理的对照组|体外神经细胞培养体系中,gp120+基质金属蛋白酶3（MMP3）实验组的ICAM-5s含量显著高于gp120组,且前者神经元细胞的死亡率高于后者|在 HIV感染者中,HIV相关神经认知障碍（HIV associated neurocognitive disorder,HAND）患者脑脊液中ICAM 5s的水平显著高于认知功能正常的患者.结果表明,ICAM-5可能具有标记神经细胞突起的潜能,但其确切性有待进一步实验验证|ICAM-5与HIV相关神经认知功能损伤相关,具有潜在的神经元细胞保护作用.     

Induction of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 via CD47 Signaling in Neurovascular Cells

Neurovascular injury comprises a wide spectrum of pathophysiology that underlies the progression of brain injury after cerebral ischemia. Recently, it has been shown that activation of the integrin-associated protein CD47 mediates the development of blood–brain barrier injury and edema after cerebral ischemia. However, the mechanisms that mediate these complex neurovascular effects of CD47 remain to be elucidated. Here, we compare the effects of CD47 signaling in brain endothelial cells, astrocytes, and pericytes. Exposure to 4N1 K, a specific CD47-activating peptide derived from the major CD47 ligand thrombospondin-1, upregulated two major neurovascular mediators, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), in brain endothelial cells and astrocytes. No changes were detected in pericytes. These findings may provide a potential mechanism for CD47-induced changes in blood–brain barrier homeostasis, and further suggest that CD47 may be a relevant neurovascular target in stroke.     

Role of VEGF in an experimental model of cortical micronecrosis

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major mediator in angiogenesis and vascular permeability. In central nervous system (CNS) it plays a pivotal role as: 1. inductor of endothelial cell proliferation, migration and inhibition of apoptosis, and 2. mediator of vascular permeability and subsequently of brain edema. This ubiquitous epiphenomenon is a major complication in several CNS pathologies, including head trauma and stroke.After brain injury the expression of VEGF is increased contributing to disruption of the blood brain barrier (BBB). VEGF increase the permeability of BBB via the synthesis/release of nitric oxide and subsequent activation of soluble guanylate cyclase. The immunohistochemistry shows an increase of stained astrocytes and endothelial cells around cortical micronecrosis. VEGF immunopositivity distribution shows some correspondence with the blood brain barrier breakdown following a cortical micronecrosis.     

Src deficiency or blockade of Src activity in mice provides cerebral protection following stroke

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an angiogenic factor produced in response to ischemic injury, promotes vascular permeability (VP). Evidence is provided that Src kinase regulates VEGF-mediated VP in the brain following stroke and that suppression of Src activity decreases VP thereby minimizing brain injury. Mice lacking pp60c-src are resistant to VEGF-induced VP and show decreased infarct volumes after stroke whereas mice deficient in pp59c-fyn, another Src family member, have normal VEGF-mediated VP and infarct size. Systemic application of a Src-inhibitor given up to six hours following stroke suppressed VP protecting wild-type mice from ischemia-induced brain damage without influencing VEGF expression. This was associated with reduced edema, improved cerebral perfusion and decreased infarct volume 24 hours after injury as measured by magnetic resonance imaging and histological analysis. Thus, Src represents a key intermediate and novel therapeutic target in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia where it appears to regulate neuronal damage by influencing VEGF-mediated VP.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor regulates focal adhesion assembly in human brain microvascular endothelial cells through activation of the focal adhesion kinase and related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a significant role in blood-brain barrier breakdown and angiogenesis after brain injury. VEGF-induced endothelial cell migration is a key step in the angiogenic response and is mediated by an accelerated rate of focal adhesion complex assembly and disassembly. In this study, we identified the signaling mechanisms by which VEGF regulates human brain microvascular endothelial cell (HBMEC) integrity and assembly of focal adhesions, complexes comprised of scaffolding and signaling proteins organized by adhesion to the extracellular matrix. We found that VEGF treatment of HBMECs plated on laminin or fibronectin stimulated cytoskeletal organization and increased focal adhesion sites. Pretreating cells with VEGF antibodies or with the specific inhibitor SU-1498, which inhibits Flk-1/KDR receptor phosphorylation, blocked the ability of VEGF to stimulate focal adhesion assembly. VEGF induced the coupling of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) to integrin alphavbeta5 and tyrosine phosphorylation of the cytoskeletal components paxillin and p130cas. Additionally, FAK and related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase (RAFTK)/Pyk2 kinases were tyrosine-phosphorylated by VEGF and found to be important for focal adhesion sites. Overexpression of wild type RAFTK/Pyk2 increased cell spreading and the migration of HBMECs, whereas overexpression of catalytically inactive mutant RAFTK/Pyk2 markedly suppressed HBMEC spreading ( approximately 70%), adhesion ( approximately 82%), and migration ( approximately 65%). Furthermore, blocking of FAK by the dominant-interfering mutant FRNK (FAK-related non-kinase) significantly inhibited HBMEC spreading and migration and also disrupted focal adhesions. Thus, these studies define a mechanism for the regulatory role of VEGF in focal adhesion complex assembly in HBMECs via activation of FAK and RAFTK/Pyk2.     

VEGF 对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的预防作用及其机制研究

目的:研究局灶性脑缺血再灌注后细胞凋亡、HSP70蛋白表达时空规律以及外源VEGF及VEGF抗体对它们的影响,探讨VEGF对缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及其机制.方法:采用原位末端标记(TUNEL)、免疫组化方法,研究局灶性脑缺血再灌注后细胞凋亡数及HSP70蛋白表达时空分布,采用脑表面使用VEGF及侧脑室注射VEGF抗体,观察内外源VEGF对它们的影响.结果:VEGF抗体能显著增加缺血侧脑组织凋亡细胞数(再灌注12h-7d)及HSP70表达量(再灌注1-3d),而外源VEGF因子能显著减少同侧脑组织凋亡细胞(再灌注全程)及HSP70表达量(再灌注1-3d).结论:VEGF因子可抑制缺血脑组织细胞凋亡及HSP70表达量,提示VEGF参与保护缺血性脑损伤.     

Erythropoietin Prevents Blood Brain Barrier Damage Induced by Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Mice

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO), a neurovascular protective agent, therapeutically supports angiogenesis after stroke by enhancing endogenous up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Increased VEGF expression has been characterized to negatively impact the integrity of the blood brain barrier (BBB), causing brain edema and secondary injury. The present study investigated the rhEPO-induced BBB protection after stroke and how it might be achieved by affecting VEGF pathway. rhEPO treatment (5,000 U/kg, i.p., 30 min before stroke and once a day for three days after stroke) reduced Evans blue leakage and brain edema after ischemia. The expression of the BBB integrity markers, occludin, α-catenin and β-catenin, in the brain was preserved in animals received rhEPO. rhEPO up-regulated VEGF expression; however, the expression of VEGF receptor-2 (fetal liver kinase receptor, Flk-1) was significantly reduced in rhEPO-treated animals three days after stroke. We propose that, disregarding increased VEGF levels, rhEPO protects against ischemia-induced BBB damage at least partly by down-regulating Flk-1 expression and the response to VEGF signaling in the acute phase after stroke.