Spatial Analysis of Neural Cell Proteomic Profiles following Ischemic Stroke in Mice using High-Plex Digital Spatial Profiling

Stroke is ranked as the fifth leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability. The progression of neuronal damage after stroke is recognized to be a complex integration of glia, neurons, and the surrounding extracellular matrix, therefore potential treatments must target the detrimental effects created by these interactions. In this study, we examined the spatial cellular and neuroinflammatory mechanisms occurring early after ischemic stroke utilizing Nanostring Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) technology. Male C57bl/6 mice were subjected to photothrombotic middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and sacrificed at three-days post-ischemia. Spatial distinction of the ipsilateral hemisphere was studied according to the regions of interest: the ischemic core, peri-infarct tissues, and peri-infarct normal tissue (PiNT) in comparison to the contralateral hemisphere. We demonstrated that the ipsilateral hemisphere initiates distinct spatial regulatory proteomic profiles with DSP technology that can be identified consistently with the immunohistochemical markers, FJB, GFAP, and Iba-1. The core border profile demonstrated an induction of neuronal death, apoptosis, autophagy, immunoreactivity, and early degenerative proteins. Most notably, the core border resulted in a decrease of the neuronal proteins Map2 and NeuN, an increase in the autophagy proteins BAG3 and CTSD, an increase in the microglial and peripheral immune invasion proteins Iba1, CD45, CD11b, and CD39, and an increase in the neurodegenerative proteins BACE1, APP, αβ 1-42, ApoE, and hyperphosphorylated tau protein S-199. The peri-infarct region demonstrated increased astrocytic immunoreactivity, apoptotic, and neurodegenerative proteomic profile, with an increase in BAG3, GFAP, and hyperphosphorylated tau protein S-199. The PiNT region displayed minimal changes compared to the contralateral cortex with only an increase in GFAP. Overall, our data highlight the importance of identifying ischemic mechanisms in a spatial manner to understand the complex, dynamic interactions throughout ischemic progression and repair as well to introduce potential targets for successful therapeutic interventions.