大鼠脑创伤后caspase-3的过度表达与细胞凋亡的关系

目的：探讨大鼠脑创伤后海马神经组织中casepase-3表达及其在细胞凋亡中的机制。方法：雄性Wistar大鼠72只随机分成对照组和创伤组。用Marmarou方法造成大鼠重型弥漫性颅脑创伤,采用免疫组织化学检测海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3蛋白表达情况,原位细胞DNA断裂检测末端标记（TUNEL）法观察大鼠海马CA1区神经细胞凋亡动态变化。同时行TUNEL与caspase-3双标染色。结果：对照组海马区神经细胞casepase-3未见明显表达,创伤组海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3表达在伤后3小时开始升高,伤后3天达高峰（P〈0．01）,伤后7天下降明显。对照组海马区未见TUNEL阳性细胞,创伤组海马区TUNEL阳性细胞伤后3小时开始增多,伤后3天达高峰（P〈0．01）,伤后7天下降。可见创伤组TUNEL染色与caspase-3免疫染色双标阳性的细胞伤后6小时细胞数量逐渐增多,于伤后3天达高峰（P〈0．01）,伤后7天双标阳性细胞数量下降。Casepase-3表达与TUNEL阳性细胞明显相关（P〈0．01）。结论：大鼠脑创伤后casepase-3的过度表达是影响大鼠脑创伤后神经细胞凋亡原因之一,抑制casepase-3活性表达对神经组织起保护作用。     

大鼠脑创伤后caspase-3的过度表达与细胞凋亡的关系

目的:探讨大鼠脑创伤后海马神经组织中casepase-3表达及其在细胞凋亡中的机制。方法:雄性Wistar大鼠72只随机分成对照组和创伤组,用Marmarou方法造成大鼠重型弥漫性颅脑创伤,采用免疫组织化学检测海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3蛋白表达情况,原位细胞DNA断裂检测末端标记(TUNEL)法观察大鼠海马CA1区神经细胞凋亡动态变化。同时行TUNEL与caspase-3双标染色。结果:对照组海马区神经细胞casepase-3未见明显表达,创伤组海马CA1区神经细胞casepase-3表达在伤后3小时开始升高,伤后3天达高峰(P0.01),伤后7天下降明显。对照组海马区未见TUNEL阳性细胞,创伤组海马区TUNEL阳性细胞伤后3小时开始增多,伤后3天达高峰(P0.01),伤后7天下降。可见创伤组TUNEL染色与caspase-3免疫染色双标阳性的细胞伤后6小时细胞数量逐渐增多,于伤后3天达高峰(P0.01),伤后7天双标阳性细胞数量下降。Casepase-3表达与TUNEL阳性细胞明显相关(P0.01)。结论:大鼠脑创伤后casepase-3的过度表达是影响大鼠脑创伤后神经细胞凋亡原因之一,抑制casepase-3活性表达对神经组织起保护作用。     

脑红蛋白在胶质瘤中表达的研究进展

脑红蛋白(neuroglobin,NGB)是2000年Burmester发现的神经系统特异的携氧蛋白,广泛分布于人和动物组织器官中,主要在脊椎动物脑组织高度表达。目前研究认为,NGB在脑缺血缺氧状态下对神经元保护起着重要作用,缺氧能够诱导NGB的表达,而高表达的NGB则能够保护神经元免受缺氧损伤,从而在神经系统缺氧、缺血损伤中具有重要的神经保护功能,可为脑中风、新生儿窒息等缺血缺氧性神经系统病变及帕金森病、阿尔茨海默病等神经系统退行性疾病的治疗带来新的希望。NGB在肿瘤细胞缺氧微环境中的作用也开始受到关注,其在肿瘤细胞中的表达研究开始成为这一领域内的研究热点。本文就NGB的生物学结构、功能和它在神经胶质细胞瘤中分布及其在临床医学中的应用等研究进展作一综述。     

PTSD样大鼠海马神经元凋亡及其ACP变化的研究

目的研究PTSD（posttraumatic stress disorder创伤后应激障碍）样大鼠海马神经元凋亡及ACP（Acid phosphatase酸性磷酸酶）的变化。方法建立大鼠PTSD模型-SPS（single-prolonged stress）,于模型建立后的6h、12h、1d、7d、14d取材;同时取材正常组作为对照,应用Annexin V-F1TC／PI双标记流式细胞术、透射电镜、酶组化方法分别进行各组海马神经元凋亡及ACP表达变化的观察及定量检测。结果模型建立后的6h、12h海马神经元的凋亡细胞增加、ACP活性增强,1d时凋亡细胞增加更为明显、ACP活性更为显著,7d、14d时凋亡细胞逐渐减少、ACP活性减弱。结论PTSD样大鼠海马神经元出现凋亡,凋亡增加的同时ACP酶活性增强,说明ACP酶参与PTSD大鼠海马神经元的凋亡。     

牛磺酸对脑创伤大鼠的脑保护作用

目的:探讨牛磺酸(Tau)预处理对弥漫性脑创伤(TBI)大鼠脑皮层超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力、丙二醛(MDA)含量、脑含水量(BWC)和脑皮层水孔通道蛋白4(AQP4)表达的影响。方法:复制大鼠TBI模型,分为假手术组(S组)、TBI组(T组)、低剂量Tau组(L组)和高剂量Tau组(H组),用比色法测定脑皮层匀浆液中SOD活力和MDA含量;干/湿法测定BWC;免疫组织化学检测脑皮层AQP4的表达。结果:T组大鼠脑皮层SOD活力显著低于S组,T组MDA含量、BWC和脑皮层AQP4的表达显著高于S组;H、L组脑皮层SOD活力显著高于T组,H、L组MDA含量、BWC和脑皮层AQP4的表达显著低于T组;H、L组之间差异无显著性。结论:Tau可能通过清除TBI后产生的的氧自由基、下调TBI大鼠脑皮层AQP4的表达减轻脑水肿,发挥其脑保护作用。     

脑红蛋白与高原低氧性脑保护

脑红蛋白(neuroglobin,NGB)是新近发现的一种在脊椎动物神经系统和少量内分泌腺体中大量特异性表达的携氧球蛋白,与氧有很高的亲和力,维持着神经元的氧平衡调节作用,它的发现在脑缺氧研究方面引起了广泛关注.高原的核心是缺氧,缺氧能够诱导NGB的高表达,从而提高对氧的携带运输能力,以维持脑组织的氧供和氧利用率,并能增强神经元的存活,免受神经系统的缺氧性损伤.脑红蛋白对脑细胞的保护机制除增强对局部组织供氧之外,可能还具有清除氧自由基或者是对保护机制的激活等作用.     

脑红蛋白和细胞红蛋白：携氧蛋白质家族2个新成员

脑红蛋白(neuroglobin, Ngb)和细胞红蛋白(cytoglobin, Cygb)是新发现的2个携氧蛋白家族的成员.脑红蛋白主要存在于脑中,而细胞红蛋白在全身各个组织都含有,它们和另外2个携氧蛋白——血红蛋白和肌红蛋白的同源性<25%,但它们在种属之间的同源性很高(>95%).脊椎动物脑红蛋白基因定位于14q24,细胞红蛋白基因定位于17q25,都含有4个外显子和3个内含子.2种蛋白在生理条件下含有6个配位键,不同于血红蛋白和肌红蛋白的5个配位键结构.这2种新蛋白和氧都具有很高的亲和力,在缺氧条件下其基因及蛋白表达都有明显的提升,对细胞的存活有一定保护作用.对于脑红蛋白和细胞红蛋白的功能研究,有助于更好地了解机体氧代谢和氧利用过程,并为临床在缺氧损伤时的治疗提供新的观点和途径.     

创伤后应激障碍大鼠蓝斑核神经元细胞凋亡的实验研究

目的探讨创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)大鼠蓝斑核神经元Caspase-3和Caspase-9的表达变化。方法成年健康雄性Wistar大鼠50只,随机分为连续单一刺激(single prolonged stress,SPS)模型1d、4d、7d、14d组和对照组,应用免疫组化、免疫荧光和RT-PCR方法检测PTSD大鼠蓝斑核神经元Caspase-3和Caspase-9的表达变化。结果SPS刺激后1d,4d,Caspase-9的表达逐渐增强,7d和14d逐渐下降,Caspase-3于SPS刺激后7d表达最多,14d出现下降。结论蓝斑神经元细胞凋亡可能是导致PTSD患者蓝斑功能失调的重要原因之一。     

大鼠脑红蛋白基因编码区的克隆、多态性分析及该基因组织表达谱研究

参考人和小鼠脑红蛋白（Neuroglobin,NGB)的cDNA序列设计简并引物,用RT－PCR方法从大鼠脑组织中扩增出大鼠NGB基因编码区的cDNA序列,该序列与小鼠NGB基因编码区的序列同尖性为96％,与人NGB基因编码区的序列同源性为88％,进一步分析表明,大鼠NGB基因编码区存在多个多态性位点;113t/c[138P],133a/g[N45D],388a/g[R130G],417t/c.该序列已被GenBank接受,登录号为AF333245,RT－PCR分析表明,该基因在大鼠脑,肝,肾,心肌和骨骼肌中均有较高水平表达,提示了其功能上的重要性。     

重组人源脑红蛋白的高效表达、纯化及鉴定

脑红蛋白(Neuroglobin,NGB)是新发现的主要表达于脊椎动物神经元及视网膜中的第三类携氧珠蛋白。已有诸多报道认为脑红蛋白在缺氧缺血性脑损伤的神经保护过程中,作为活性氧簇(ROS)的清除剂或缺氧信号的感受器起重要作用,但其神经保护作用的具体机制不明。显然,实现该蛋白的制备对于研究其功能具有重要作用。基于此,通过RT-PCR从人胎脑中扩增出脑红蛋白cDNA并克隆到原核表达载体pBV220,通过测序鉴定正确后转化至大肠杆菌HB101中诱导表达,表达产物超声破碎后经凝胶过滤柱Sephacryl S-200和阴离子交换柱Q Sepharose FF纯化,最后通过Sephadex G-25脱盐。经15% SDS-PAGE和Western blot检测及质谱和蛋白序列分析鉴定制备的蛋白样品为脑红蛋白。本文采用两步法实现了脑红蛋白高效特异性纯化,为后期基于脑红蛋白神经保护作用的功能及机制研究奠定了重要基础。     

Minocycline attenuates neuronal apoptosis and improves motor function after traumatic brain injury in rats

Minocycline is a type of tetracycline antibiotic with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity that has been demonstrated to protect the brain against a series of central nervous system diseases. However, the precise mechanisms of these neuroprotective actions remain unknown. In the present study, we found that minocycline treatment significantly reduced HT22 cell apoptosis in a mechanical cell injury model. In addition, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining confirmed the neuroprotective effects of minocycline in vivo through the inhibition of apoptosis in a rat model of controlled cortical impact (CCI) brain injury. The western blotting analysis revealed that minocycline treatment significantly downregulated the pro-apoptotic proteins BAX and cleaved caspase-3 and upregulated the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2. Furthermore, the beam-walking test showed that the administration of minocycline ameliorated traumatic brain injury (TBI)-induced deficits in motor function. Taken together, these findings suggested that minocycline attenuated neuronal apoptosis and improved motor function following TBI.     

Temporal and spatial profile of caspase 8 expression and proteolysis after experimental traumatic brain injury

Recent studies have demonstrated that the downstream caspases, such as caspase 3, act as executors of the apoptotic cascade after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in vivo. However, little is known about the involvement of caspases in the initiation phase of apoptosis, and the interaction between these initiator caspases (e.g. caspase 8) and executor caspases after experimental brain injuries in vitro and in vivo. This study investigated the temporal expression and cell subtype distribution of procaspase 8 and cleaved caspase 8 p20 from 1 h to 14 days after cortical impact-induced TBI in rats. Caspase 8 messenger RNA levels, estimated by semiquantitaive RT-PCR, were elevated from 1 h to 72 h in the traumatized cortex. Western blotting revealed increased immunoreactivity for procaspase 8 and the proteolytically active subunit of caspase 8, p20, in the ipsilateral cortex from 6 to 72 h after injury, with a peak at 24 h after TBI. Similar to our previous studies, immunoreactivity for the p18 fragment of activated caspase 3 also increased in the current study from 6 to 72 h after TBI, but peaked at a later timepoint (48 h) as compared with proteolyzed caspase 8 p20. Immunohistologic examinations revealed increased expression of caspase 8 in neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Assessment of DNA damage using TUNEL identified caspase 8- and caspase 3-immunopositive cells with apoptotic-like morphology in the cortex ipsilateral to the injury site, and immunohistochemical investigations of caspase 8 and activated caspase 3 revealed expression of both proteases in cortical layers 2-5 after TBI. Quantitative analysis revealed that the number of caspase 8 positive cells exceeds the number of caspase 3 expressing cells up to 24 h after impact injury. In contrast, no evidence of caspase 8 and caspase 3 activation was seen in the ipsilateral hippocampus, contralateral cortex and hippocampus up to 14 days after the impact. Our results provide the first evidence of caspase 8 activation after experimental TBI and suggest that this may occur in neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Our findings also suggest a contributory role of caspase 8 activation to caspase 3 mediated apoptotic cell death after experimental TBI in vivo.     

清醒小鼠严重颅脑闭合性撞击伤模型的建立

目的-建立一种清醒小鼠严重颅脑闭合性撞击伤模型, 模拟交通事故和战伤中的清醒致伤过程, 为相关研究创造新的动物模型基础。方法-将雄性KM小鼠头戴钢盔后清醒固定, 用BIM III型小型多功能动物撞击机击打, 致伤后2 h、8 h、24 h、48 h、72 h、120 h、1 w、2 w进行神经行为学评分、运动功能评分、死亡小鼠脑组织和肺组织水含量、死亡率、病理切片和电镜观察。结果-致伤后 48 h内致伤组运动功能评分、神经行为学评分明显低于对照组 (P<0 05); 致伤后死亡率高, 各组死亡小鼠脑组织水含量无明显差异, 但致伤组肺组织水含量明显高于对照组 (P <0 05); 病理切片和电镜检查显示, 致伤后脑组织细胞肿胀、坏死。结论-基本成功建立了模拟交通事故和战伤的清醒小鼠严重颅脑闭合性撞击伤模型。     

Sirtuin 1 alleviates neuroinflammation-induced apoptosis after traumatic brain injury

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) plays a very important role in a wide range of biological responses, such as metabolism, inflammation and cell apoptosis. Changes in the levels of SIRT1 have been detected in the brain after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Further, SIRT1 has shown a neuroprotective effect in some models of neuronal death; however, its role and working mechanisms are not well understood in the model of TBI. This study aimed to address this issue. SIRT1-specific inhibitor (sirtinol) and activator (A3) were introduced to explore the role of SIRT1 in cell apoptosis. Results of the study suggest that SIRT1 plays an important role in neuronal apoptosis after TBI by inhibiting NF-κB, IL-6 and TNF-α deacetylation and the apoptotic pathway sequentially, possibly by alleviating neuroinflammation.     

Proteomic identification of biomarkers of traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major national health problem without a US Food and Drug Administration-approved therapy. This review summarizes the importance of discovering relevant TBI protein biomarkers and presents logical rationale that neuroproteomic technologies are uniquely suited for the discovery of otherwise unnoticed TBI biomarkers. It highlights that one must make careful decisions when choosing which paradigm (human vs. animal models) and which biologic samples to use for such proteomic studies. It further outlines some of the desirable attributes of an ideal TBI biomarker and discusses how biomarkers discovered proteomically are complementary to those identified by traditional approaches. Lastly, the most important sequela of any proteomically identified TBI biomarker is validation in preclinical or clinical samples.     

Caspase 7: increased expression and activation after traumatic brain injury in rats

Caspases, a cysteine proteinase family, are required for the initiation and execution phases of apoptosis. It has been suggested that caspase 7, an apoptosis executioner implicated in cell death proteolysis, is redundant to the main executioner caspase 3 and it is generally believed that it is not present in the brain or present in only minute amounts with highly restricted activity. Here we report evidence that caspase 7 is up-regulated and activated after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats. TBI disrupts homeostasis resulting in pathological apoptotic activation. After controlled cortical impact TBI of adult male rats we observed, by semiquantitative real-time PCR, increased mRNA levels within the traumatized cortex and hippocampus peaking in the former about 5 days post-injury and in the latter within 6-24 h of trauma. The activation of caspase 7 protein after TBI, demonstrated by immunoblot by the increase of the active form of caspase 7 peaking 5 days post-injury in the cortex and hippocampus, was found to be up-regulated in both neurons and astrocytes by immunohistochemistry. These findings, the first to document the up-regulation of caspase 7 in the brain after acute brain injury in rats, suggest that caspase 7 activation could contribute to neuronal cell death on a scale not previously recognized.     

Potential biomarkers to detect traumatic brain injury by the profiling of salivary extracellular vesicles

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause of death and acquired disability in adults and children. Identifying biomarkers for mild TBI (mTBI) that can predict functional impairments on neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive testing after head trauma is yet to be firmly established. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known to traffic from the brain to the oral cavity and can be detected in saliva. We hypothesize the genetic profile of salivary EVs in patients who have suffered head trauma will differ from normal healthy controls, thus constituting a unique expression signature for mTBI. We enrolled a total of 54 subjects including for saliva sampling, 23 controls with no history of head traumas, 16 patients enrolled from an outpatient concussion clinic, and 15 patients from the emergency department who had sustained a head trauma within 24 hr. We performed real-time PCR of the salivary EVs of the 54 subjects profiling 96 genes from the TaqMan Human Alzheimer's disease array. Real-time PCR analysis revealed 57 (15 genes, p < 0.05) upregulated genes in emergency department patients and 56 (14 genes, p < 0.05) upregulated genes in concussion clinic patients when compared with controls. Three genes were upregulated in both the emergency department patients and concussion clinic patients: CDC2, CSNK1A1, and CTSD ( p < 0.05). Our results demonstrate that salivary EVs gene expression can serve as a viable source of biomarkers for mTBI. This study shows multiple Alzheimer's disease genes present after an mTBI.     

Neuroglobin and Nogo-a as biomarkers for the severity and prognosis of traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Objective: To identify the early changes of serum neuroglobin and Nogo-A concentrations and the relations to traumatic brain injury (TBI) severity and prognosis.

Methods: Serum samples were obtained and analyzed from 34 patients with TBI within the first 96?h after injury. Comparative analysis combined with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores and the 6-month prognosis of these patients was performed.

Results: Significant correlations were found between peak serum neuroglobin and Nogo-A concentrations and a patient’s GCS score on admission (p?<?0.001). The mean peak serum neuroglobin and Nogo-A concentrations were both significantly higher in patients with an unfavorable outcome at 6 months after injury (p?<?0.05).

Conclusions: Serum neuroglobin and Nogo-A levels could be suggested as biomarkers for predicting TBI severity and prognosis.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02229643.