Envolvimento das proteínas quinases ativadas por mitógenos espinhais na lesão medular traumática em ratos

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Florianópolis, 2011O envolvimento das proteínas quinases ativadas por mitógenos (MAPKs) em lesões do sistema nervoso central já foi demonstrado em alguns estudos. Porém, a implicação da ativação dessas proteínas na medula espinhal após a lesão medular traumática necessita de maior esclarecimento. O presente estudo investigou a participação das MAPKs ERK1/2, p38 e JNK no dano espinhal e funcional induzido pela lesão medular traumática em ratos. A compressão da medula espinhal, através da inserção de um cateter de embolectomia no espaço epidural, resultou em uma lesão espinhal caracterizada histologicamente por resposta inflamatória pronunciada, com edema, infiltração de neutrófilos, produção de mediadores inflamatórios e apoptose, associada com comprometimento locomotor significativo. A lesão medular não alterou a expressão protéica total de quaisquer das MAPKs na medula espinhal. Contudo, os níveis de expressão das isoformas fosforiladas de cada MAPK em amostras espinhais de animais lesados apresentaram-se elevadas, em relação às de amostras de animais falso-operados, nos seguintes momentos após indução da lesão: p38 fosforilada em 2 e 6 h, ERK1/2 fosforilada em 2, 6 e 24 h, e JNK fosforilada apresentou uma elevação significativa em 6 e 24 h. Amostras espinhais de animais lesados apresentaram ainda aumento nos níveis das citocinas IL-1ß em 2, 6 e 24 h após a lesão e de TNF-a em 2 h, atividade aumentada da enzima mieloperoxidase (uma medida indireta da infiltração de neutrófilos) em 6, 24 e 72 h, e do número de células apoptóticas em 24 e 72 h após a lesão. A administração intratecal do inibidor seletivo da proteína JNK, o SP600125 (2 injeções de 150 nmol, 1 e 4 h após a lesão medular), reduziu a expressão da proteína JNK fosforilada (mas não de p-38 ou ERK1/2 fosforiladas) e bloqueou a apoptose em 6 h, sem alterar os níveis espinhais de mieloperoxidase. O tratamento com SP600125 acentuou marcadamente a recuperação da atividade locomotora dos animais no transcorrer das primeiras 4 semanas após a lesão, e atenuou os danos histológicos espinhais. Este estudo demonstra o importante envolvimento das MAPKs na lesão medular e aponta a proteína JNK como um importante alvo terapêutico no tratamento da lesão medular traumática, uma vez que um inibidor seletivo desta proteína foi capaz de inibir a apoptose espinhal e potencializar a recuperação da função locomotora.Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) have been extensively implicated in injuries of the CNS, however the roles played by spinal cord MAPK activation following spinal cord injury (SCI) still remain elusive. Considering that the therapies currently available for treatment of this condition have limited efficacy, the use of animal models of SCI is still mandatory for development of new more effective approaches. The current study investigates the changes in expression of the three main MAPKs, namely ERK1/2, p38 and JNK following traumatic SCI, as well as the role played by spinal JNK in motor impairment following lesion. SCI induced by inflation of a balloon catheter placed in the epidural space at T9-T10, was associated with a marked spinal inflammatory response, histological changes and a pronounced locomotor impairment which subsided only partially over the first 4 weeks. Spinal expression levels of total p38, ERK1/2 and JNK proteins were unchanged after SCI, but levels of the phosphorylated (phospho) forms of each of the MAPKs were enhanced as follows: phospho-p38 MAPK at 2 and 6 h after SCI, phospho-ERK1/2 at 2, 6 and 24 h after SCI, and phospho-JNK at 6 and 24 h after SCI. SCI also increased IL-1â at 2, 6 and 24 h, TNF-á at 2 h, spinal cord MPO levels at 6, 24 and 72 h and elevated the number of spinal apoptotic cells in the spinal cord at 24 and specially 72 h after the lesion. Notably, intrathecal administration of a specific inhibitor of JNK phosphorylation, SP600125 (2 injections of 150 nmol, given at 1 and 4 h after SCI surgery), reduced the expression of phospho-JNK (but not of phospho-p38 or phospho-ERK1/2) and the number of spinal apoptotic cells at 6 h after SCI, as well as many of the histological signs of spinal injury, but spinal MPO levels were unchanged. Most importantly, restoration of locomotor performance throughout the first 4 weeks following SCI was clearly ameliorated by this same treatment schedule with SP600125. Altogether, the results demonstrate that SCI induces the activation of spinal MAPKs and that, among these, spinal JNK plays a major role in mediating the deleterious consequences of spinal injury, not only at the spinal level, but also those regarding motor function. Moreover, they suggest that inhibition of JNK activation in the spinal cord might hold therapeutic potential for the functional recovery from SCI

Lipoxina A4 na dor neuropática após a lesão medular: modulação da neuroinflamação e ativação microglial

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Florianópolis, 2015.A dor crônica está presente na maioria dos pacientes após a lesão medular traumática (LMT). As respostas inflamatórias após a lesão medular estão relacionadas com o desenvolvimento da dor neuropática através da ativação de um vasto número de mediadores e vias de sinalização. A lipoxina A4 (LXA4), um eicosanoide com propriedades anti-inflamatórias e pró-resolução, exerce ações neuroprotetoras e anti-hiperalgésicas. Entretanto, seu papel na dor neuropática induzida pela lesão medular ainda não foi elucidado. Sob completa anestesia, ratos Wistar e camundongos CD1 machos receberam uma hemissecção medular na porção esquerda do segmento T10. Em 4 e 24 horas após a lesão, os animais foram tratados por via intratecal com LXA4 (150 ou 300 pmol) ou veículo. Em outro protocolo, foi realizado o silenciamento gênico do receptor de lipoxina A4, ALX/FPR2, através do tratamento por via intratecal com ALX/FPR2 RNAsi. A sensibilidade mecânica das patas posteriores foi avaliada após a lesão medular através da frequência de resposta ao filamento de von Frey de 15 g em ratos e por uma sequência de filamentos (método up-down) em camundongos. No 7° dia após a cirurgia, a medula espinhal foi coletada e processada para análise do teor endógeno de LXA4 e também dos níveis de expressão do receptor ALX/FPR2, marcadores gliais e citocinas, por RT-PCR. Culturas de microglia também foram preparadas a partir do córtex cerebral de camundongos para avaliação dos efeitos diretos da LXA4 na expressão de citocinas e ativação de proteínas quinases (MAPK) nestas células. Todos os procedimentos foram aprovados pelos comitês de ética locais. Os animais falso-operados apresentaram sensibilidade mecânica normal após a cirurgia. Houve aumento da resposta ao estímulo de von Frey em ambas as patas posteriores de ratos a partir do dia 7 e até o dia 28 após a cirurgia. Os camundongos apresentaram aumento de sensibilidade da pata posterior ipsilateral a partir do 14° dia e da pata contralateral a partir do 7° dia, a qual durou pelos 35 dias de observação. Houve aumento da expressão do RNAm do receptor ALX/FPR2 no 7° dia após a lesão em ambas as espécies. O tratamento intratecal com LXA4 reduziu a hiperalgesia mecânica, em comparação ao grupo tratado com veículo, em ratos e camundongos, mas o silenciamento gênico do receptor em camundongos bloqueou este efeito. A LXA4 também reduziu os níveis das citocinas pró-inflamatórias IL-1ß, IL-6 e TNF-a, e aumentou o nível da citocina anti-inflamatória IL-10, na medula espinhal de ratos. Finalmente, a LXA4 reduziu a ativação de p38 e a liberação de TNF-a induzidas por IFN-? em culturas de microglia. Em conjunto, nossos resultados sugerem que a LXA4 pode reduzir efetivamente a dor neuropática após a lesão medular em roedores, pela inibição da neuroinflamação e das respostas da microglia na medula espinhal. Assim, a LXA4 e seus análogos poderiam ser utilizados para prevenção da dor neuropática e da neuroinflamação induzidas pela lesão medular.Abstract : It is well known that after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) majority of patients develop chronic pain syndromes. Spinal inflammatory responses to SCI have been implicated in the onset of neuropathic pain via activation of a broad spectrum of factors and signaling pathways. Lipoxin A4 (LXA4), an eicosanoid endowed with anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution properties, exerts neuroprotective and antihyperalgesic effects. However, its role in SCI-induced neuropathic pain still remains to be elucidated. Spinal cord hemisection at the left side of T10 was carried out in anesthetized adult male Wistar rats and CD1 mice. At 4 and 24 h after SCI, the animals received two intrathecal LXA4 (150 pmol or 300 pmol) or vehicle injections. In a different protocol, animals also received an intrathecal treatment of ALX/FPR2 siRNA for receptor gene silencing. Mechanical sensitivity of hind paws was evaluated after SCI using a 15g von Frey hair in rats or with a series of von Frey hairs in mice (up-down method). On the 7th day after surgery the spinal cord was collected and processed to evaluate the levels of endogenous LXA4 as well as the transcriptional expression level by RT-PCR of the ALX/FPR2 receptor, cytokines and glial markers. Microglia cultures were also prepared from mice cerebral cortexes to assess the direct effects of LXA4 on microglial cytokine expression and MAPK activation. The local ethics committees approved all procedures. Shamoperated animals showed normal mechanical responsiveness after the surgery. The mechanical responsiveness to von Frey hair was increased on both rat hind paws from day 7 until day 28 after SCI. Mice started presenting increased sensitivity on the ipsilateral paw on day 14 and in the contralateral paw on day 7, until the 35th days of observation. The ALX/FPR2 receptor mRNA was significantly increased in both species on the 7th day after SCI. Intrathecal treatment of LXA4 reduced SCIinduced mechanical hypersensitivity when compared to vehicle control group in both rats and mice, but the gene silencing with the respective siRNA in mice for the receptor blocked this effect. The LXA4 treatment also reduced the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-a and increased the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10,on rat spinal cord. Finally, LXA4 reduced the IFN-?-induced p38 activation and TNF-a release in microglia cultures. Taken together, our results suggest that LXA4 can effectively reduce neuropathic pain in rodents after SCI, by inhibiting SCI-induced neuroinflammation in the spinal cord and microglial responses. Thus, LXA4 and its analogs may be used to prevent SCI-induced neuropathic pain and neuroinflammation

Characteristics of Encephalic Vascular Accident patients treated at a state reference center

Encephalic Vascular Accident is a clinical sign of brain dysfunction and it might result in permanent and irreversible lesions. Objective: Define the characteristics such as age, sex and date of the first treatment at a Santa Catarina State's Rehabilitation Center. Methods: This is a quantitative cross-sectional descriptive study. The Ethnics in Human Research (CEPSH), the Pro Rector for Research and Extension Federal University of Santa Catarina, number 1024 reviewed this study. Results: CVA affected 25,11% of women between 71-80 years old and 34,09% of the men aged between 61-70 years old. The most common consequence due to CVA was hemiplegia and the study observed that many patients only looked for proper treatment after several years post CVA. Conclusions: The physical therapy is important, so patients can relearn daily tasks and furthermore reintegrate their social life

Características das pessoas com Acidente Vascular Encefálico atendidas em um centro de referência estadual Characteristics of Encephalic Vascular Accident patients treated at a state reference center

Acidente Vascular Encefálico (AVE) é uma disfunção cerebral que causa lesões permanentes e irreversíveis. Objetivo: Avaliar as idades, os sexos e a data do primeiro atendimento das pessoas com AVE atendidas no centro de reabilitação do Estado de Santa Catarina. Métodos: É um estudo quantitativo, descritivo e transversal, sendo a coleta de dados realizada com base documental nos prontuários. O presente estudo foi avaliado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa com Seres Humanos (CEPSH), Reitoria de Pesquisa e Extensão da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina de número 1024. Resultados: O AVE afeta 25,11% de mulheres entre 71-80 anos e 34,09% de homens entre 61-70 anos. Observou-se que a sequela mais comum é a hemiplegia e que muitos somente procuravam tratamento após muitos anos de sequelas. Conclusão: Os dados encontrados mostram a importância da terapia física para que os pacientes reaprendam tarefas diárias e auxilia na reintegração social

Características das pessoas com Acidente Vascular Encefálico atendidas em um centro de referência estadual Characteristics of Encephalic Vascular Accident patients treated at a state reference center

Acidente Vascular Encefálico (AVE) é uma disfunção cerebral que causa lesões permanentes e irreversíveis. Objetivo: Avaliar as idades, os sexos e a data do primeiro atendimento das pessoas com AVE atendidas no centro de reabilitação do Estado de Santa Catarina. Métodos: É um estudo quantitativo, descritivo e transversal, sendo a coleta de dados realizada com base documental nos prontuários. O presente estudo foi avaliado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa com Seres Humanos (CEPSH), Reitoria de Pesquisa e Extensão da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina de número 1024. Resultados: O AVE afeta 25,11% de mulheres entre 71-80 anos e 34,09% de homens entre 61-70 anos. Observou-se que a sequela mais comum é a hemiplegia e que muitos somente procuravam tratamento após muitos anos de sequelas. Conclusão: Os dados encontrados mostram a importância da terapia física para que os pacientes reaprendam tarefas diárias e auxilia na reintegração social

Human amyloid seeds aggregate more efficient than seeds from old 3xtg-ad mice

Aims: Most age-associated neurodegenerative disorders involve the aggregation of specific proteins within the nervous system, as occurs in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent evidence indicates that Aβ can misfold and aggregate into seeds that structurally corrupt native proteins, mimicking a prion-like process of template protein corruption or seeding. In fact, studies in animal models show that the injection of brain homogenates from AD patients or from aged APP-transgenic mice containing Aβ aggregates, can induce some of the neuropathological hallmarks of AD. However, it is still unknown which Aβ-misfolded species are most efficient in triggering the aggregation process. Here, we seek to perform a comparative study to determine whether Aβ seeds from humans vs a familial AD line (the 3xTg-AD model) is more efficient to generate amyloid aggregates. Methods: We employed histological and molecular approaches to determine amyloid level, species and aggregative capacity of brain homogenates from an AD patient (stage C for amyloid, from the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at UCI) vs old-3xTg-AD mice (25-month-old). Such brain homogenates were injected into the hippocampus of 7-month-old 3xTg-AD mice and the mice were analyzed at 18 months of age. Results: Our findings demonstrated that amyloid seeds from the human patient have more capacity to generate Aβ plaques vs seeds from aged 3xTg-AD mice. Conclusions: These results suggest that seeds from human patients seem to be more amyloidogenic than from aged 3xTg-AD mice. Thus, more profound understanding these factors will provide key insight on how amyloid pathology progress in AD.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Human and mouse seeds differentially affect AB aggregation by modulating the inflammatory response.

Abstract text: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative proteinopathy in which Aβ can misfold and aggregate into seeds that structurally corrupt native proteins, mimicking a prionlike process. These amyloid aggregation and propagation processes are influenced by three factors: the origin of the Aβ seed, time of incubation and host. However, the mechanism underlying the differential effect of each factor is poorly known. Previous studies have shown that the Aβ source is relevant for the amyloid process, since its pathogenicity is different according to its origin. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that microglia plays a key role in the amyloidogenic event, and can modulate the propagation and aggregation process. Here, we seek to perform a comparative study to determine whether Aβ seeds from humans vs a familial AD line (the 3xTg-AD model) are more efficient to generate amyloid aggregates, as well as the role of the microglia in the propagation process. Methods: Amyloid seeds from AD patient (stage C for amyloid; from the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at UCI) and 25 mo-3xTg-AD mice were injected into the hippocampus of 7-8- month-old 3xTg-AD mice. They were analyzed 10 months post-surgery for amyloid and microglia markers. Results: Our findings demonstrated that amyloid seeds from the human patient seem to induce a more aggressive amyloid pathology compared to seeds from aged 3xTg-AD mice. Moreover, human and mice seeds differentially affect the presence of plaque-associated microglia in 3xTgAD mice. Conclusion: These results suggest that seeds from human patients seem to be more amyloidogenic than from aged 3xTg-AD mice, and also microglia cells may play a key role in this differential effect. Therefore, more profound understanding these factors will provide key insight on how amyloid pathology progresses in AD.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Amyloid propagation in a sporadic model of Alzheimer disease

Most age-associated neurodegenerative disorders involve the aggregation of specific proteins within the nervous system, as occurs in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent evidence indicates that Aβ can misfold and aggregate into seeds that structurally corrupt native proteins, mimicking a prion-like process of template protein corruption or seeding. In fact, studies in FAD-based animal models show that Aβ deposition and cerebral amyloid angiopathy may be induced by intracerebral infusion of brain extracts from AD patients or from aged APP-transgenic mice. These studies have shown that the characteristic of both the seeding agent and the host influence the pathologic signature of the Aβ seeds. In this regard, the majority of the Aβ-seeding studies have been done in APP-transgenic animal models that overproduce APP and/or Aβ. However, it remains to be elucidated whether Aβ deposition can be induced by Aβ seeds in an animal model that does not overexpress APP and produces wild type human Aβ and if these aggregates are similar to the human condition. Here, we used an innovative animal model to better understand the amyloidogenic events that occur in the sporadic form of the disease. Our model, termed hAβ-KI, expresses wild-type human Aβ under the control of the endogenous mouse APP gene. Thus, amyloid seeds from AD patients (stage C for amyloid) from the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) at UCI were administered into 7-8-month-old hAβ-KI and as positive controls 3xTg-AD mice were employed. Our findings demonstrated that amyloid seeds differentially occur in 3xTg-AD and hAb-KI mice and these aggregates are developed earlier in the familial model, 3xTg-AD mice. These results suggest that multiple factors such as the seed, recipient model and time are critical factors that can modulate the amyloid pathology onset and progression. Thus, more profound understanding these factors will provide key insight on how amyloid pathology progress in AD.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Human and mouse seeds differentially affect Aβ aggregation by modulating the inflammatory response

Background: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative proteinopathy in which Aβ can misfold and aggregate into seeds that structurally corrupt native proteins, mimicking a prion-like process. These amyloid aggregation and propagation processes are influenced by three factors: the origin of the Aβ seed, time of incubation and host. However, the mechanism underlying the differential effect of each factor is poorly known. Previous studies have shown that the Aβ source is relevant for the amyloid process, since its pathogenicity is different according to its origin. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that microglia plays a key role in the amyloidogenic event, and can modulate the propagation and aggregation process. Here, we seek to perform a comparative study to determine whether Aβ seeds from humans vs a familial AD line (the 3xTg-AD model) are more efficient to generate amyloid aggregates, as well as the role of the microglia in the propagation process. Method: Amyloid seeds from AD patient (stage C for amyloid; from the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at UCI) and 25 mo-3xTg-AD mice were injected into the hippocampus of 7-8-month-old 3xTg-AD mice. They were analyzed 10 months postsurgery for amyloid and microglia markers. Result: Our findings demonstrated that amyloid seeds from the human patient seem to induce a more aggressive amyloid pathology compared to seeds from aged 3xTg-AD mice. Moreover, human and mice seeds differentially affect the presence of plaqueassociated microglia in 3xTg-AD mice. Conclusion: These results suggest that seeds from human patients seem to be more amyloidogenic than from aged 3xTg-AD mice, and also microglia cells may play a key role in this differential effect. Therefore, more profound understanding these factors will provide key insight on how amyloid pathology progresses in AD.This study was supported by Minister of Science and Innovation grant PID2019-108911RA-100 (D.B.V.), Alzheimer’s Association grant AARG-22-928219 (D.B.V), Beatriz Galindo program BAGAL18/00052 (D.B.V.) and Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCiii) grant PI18/01557 (A.G.) co-financed by FEDER funds from European Union