Blood-brain barrier dysfunction in aging induces hyperactivation of TGFβ signaling and chronic yet reversible neural dysfunction

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (521) ◽  
pp. eaaw8283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir V. Senatorov ◽  
Aaron R. Friedman ◽  
Dan Z. Milikovsky ◽  
Jonathan Ofer ◽  
Rotem Saar-Ashkenazy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Aging Brain ◽  
Tgfβ Signaling ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Tgfβ Receptors ◽  
Neural Dysfunction

Aging involves a decline in neural function that contributes to cognitive impairment and disease. However, the mechanisms underlying the transition from a young-and-healthy to aged-and-dysfunctional brain are not well understood. Here, we report breakdown of the vascular blood-brain barrier (BBB) in aging humans and rodents, which begins as early as middle age and progresses to the end of the life span. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function manipulations show that this BBB dysfunction triggers hyperactivation of transforming growth factor–β (TGFβ) signaling in astrocytes, which is necessary and sufficient to cause neural dysfunction and age-related pathology in rodents. Specifically, infusion of the serum protein albumin into the young rodent brain (mimicking BBB leakiness) induced astrocytic TGFβ signaling and an aged brain phenotype including aberrant electrocorticographic activity, vulnerability to seizures, and cognitive impairment. Furthermore, conditional genetic knockdown of astrocytic TGFβ receptors or pharmacological inhibition of TGFβ signaling reversed these symptomatic outcomes in aged mice. Last, we found that this same signaling pathway is activated in aging human subjects with BBB dysfunction. Our study identifies dysfunction in the neurovascular unit as one of the earliest triggers of neurological aging and demonstrates that the aging brain may retain considerable latent capacity, which can be revitalized by therapeutic inhibition of TGFβ signaling.

scholarly journals Blood-brain barrier dysfunction in aging induces hyper-activation of TGF-beta signaling and chronic yet reversible neural dysfunction

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.V. Senatorov ◽  
A.R. Friedman ◽  
D.Z. Milikovsky ◽  
J. Ofer ◽  
R. Saar-Ashkenazy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Aging Brain ◽  
Tgfβ Signaling ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Tgfβ Receptors ◽  
Neural Dysfunction

AbstractAging involves a decline in neural function that contributes to cognitive impairment and disease. However, the mechanisms underlying the transition from a young-and-healthy to aged-and-dysfunctional brain are not well understood. Here, we report breakdown of the vascular blood-brain barrier (BBB) in aging humans and rodents, which begins as early as middle age and progresses to the end of the lifespan. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function manipulations show that this BBB dysfunction triggers hyperactivation of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling in astrocytes, which is necessary and sufficient to cause neural dysfunction and age-related pathology. Specifically, infusion of the serum protein albumin into the young brain (mimicking BBB leakiness) induced astrocytic TGFβ signaling and an aged brain phenotype including aberrant electrocorticographic activity, vulnerability to seizures, and cognitive impairment. Furthermore, conditional genetic knockdown of astrocytic TGFβ receptors, or pharmacological inhibition of TGFβ signaling, reversed these symptomatic outcomes in aged mice. Finally, we found that this same signaling pathway is activated in aging human subjects with BBB dysfunction. Our study identifies dysfunction in the neurovascular unit as one of the earliest triggers of neurological aging, and demonstrates that the aging brain may retain considerable latent capacity which can be revitalized by therapeutic inhibition of TGFβ signaling.

scholarly journals Age-associated physiological and pathological changes at the blood–brain barrier: A review

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franciska Erdő ◽  
László Denes ◽  
Elizabeth de Lange
Keyword(s):  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Aging Brain ◽  
Pharmacoresistant Epilepsy ◽  
Morphological Alterations ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Junction Proteins

The age-associated decline of the neurological and cognitive functions becomes more and more serious challenge for the developed countries with the increasing number of aged populations. The morphological and biochemical changes in the aging brain are the subjects of many extended research projects worldwide for a long time. However, the crucial role of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) impairment and disruption in the pathological processes in age-associated neurodegenerative disorders received special attention just for a few years. This article gives an overview on the major elements of the blood–brain barrier and its supporting mechanisms and also on their alterations during development, physiological aging process and age-associated neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, pharmacoresistant epilepsy). Besides the morphological alterations of the cellular elements (endothelial cells, astrocytes, pericytes, microglia, neuronal elements) of the BBB and neurovascular unit, the changes of the barrier at molecular level (tight junction proteins, adheres junction proteins, membrane transporters, basal lamina, extracellular matrix) are also summarized. The recognition of new players and initiators of the process of neurodegeneration at the level of the BBB may offer new avenues for novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of numerous chronic neurodegenerative disorders currently without effective medication.

scholarly journals Screening for Interacting Proteins with Peptide Biomarker of Blood–Brain Barrier Alteration under Inflammatory Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4725
Author(s):  
Karina Vargas-Sanchez ◽  
Monica Losada-Barragán ◽  
Maria Mogilevskaya ◽  
Susana Novoa-Herrán ◽  
Yehidi Medina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Specific Interaction ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Analysis ◽  
Peptide Ligand ◽  
Inflammatory Conditions ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Potential Biomarker

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by increased permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) due to alterations in cellular and structural components of the neurovascular unit, particularly in association with neuroinflammation. A previous screening study of peptide ligands to identify molecular alterations of the BBB in neuroinflammation by phage-display, revealed that phage clone 88 presented specific binding affinity to endothelial cells under inflammatory conditions in vivo and in vitro. Here, we aimed to identify the possible target receptor of the peptide ligand 88 expressed under inflammatory conditions. A cross-link test between phage-peptide-88 with IL-1β-stimulated human hCMEC cells, followed by mass spectrometry analysis, was used to identify the target of peptide-88. We modeled the epitope–receptor molecular interaction between peptide-88 and its target by using docking simulations. Three proteins were selected as potential target candidates and tested in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with peptide-88: fibronectin, laminin subunit α5 and laminin subunit β-1. Among them, only laminin subunit β-1 presented measurable interaction with peptide-88. Peptide-88 showed specific interaction with laminin subunit β-1, highlighting its importance as a potential biomarker of the laminin changes that may occur at the BBB endothelial cells under pathological inflammation conditions.

scholarly journals Time-dependent dual effect of NLRP3 inflammasome in brain ischemia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandra Palomino-Antolin ◽  
Paloma Narros-Fernández ◽  
Víctor Farré-Alins ◽  
Javier Sevilla-Montero ◽  
Celine Decouty-Pérez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Dual Effect ◽  
Blood Brain

AbstractBackground and purposePost-ischemic inflammation contributes to worsening of ischemic brain injury and in this process, the inflammasomes play a key role. Inflammasomes are cytosolic multiprotein complexes which upon assembly activate the maturation and secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. However, participation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in ischemic stroke remains controversial. Our aims were to determine the role of NLRP3 in ischemia and to explore the mechanism involved in the potential protective effect of the neurovascular unit.MethodsWT and NLRP3 knock-out mice were subjected to ischemia by middle cerebral artery occlusion (60 minutes) with or without treatment with MCC950 at different time points post-stroke. Brain injury was measured histologically with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining.ResultsWe identified a time-dependent dual effect of NLRP3. While neither the pre-treatment with MCC950 nor the genetic approach (NLRP3 KO) proved to be neuroprotective, post-reperfusion treatment with MCC950 significantly reduced the infarct volume in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, MCC950 improved the neuro-motor function and reduced the expression of different pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α), NLRP3 inflammasome components (NLRP3, pro-caspase-1), protease expression (MMP9) and endothelial adhesion molecules (ICAM, VCAM). We observed a marked protection of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which was also reflected in the recovery of the tight junctions proteins (ZO-1, Claudin-5). Additionally, MCC950 produced a reduction of the CCL2 chemokine in blood serum and in brain tissue, which lead to a reduction in the immune cell infiltration.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that post-reperfusion NLRP3 inhibition may be an effective acute therapy for protecting the blood-brain barrier in cerebral ischemia with potential clinical translation.

scholarly journals Targeting microRNAs to Regulate the Integrity of the Blood–Brain Barrier

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juntao Wang ◽  
Fang Xu ◽  
Xiaoming Zhu ◽  
Xianghua Li ◽  
Yankun Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Neurovascular Unit ◽  
Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽  
Brain Parenchyma ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Important Regulator

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a highly specialized neurovascular unit that protects the brain from potentially harmful substances. In addition, the BBB also engages in the exchange of essential nutrients between the vasculature and brain parenchyma, which is critical for brain homeostasis. Brain diseases, including neurological disorders and cerebrovascular diseases, are often associated with disrupted BBB integrity, evidenced by increased permeability. Therefore, defining the mechanisms underlying the regulation of BBB integrity is crucial for the development of novel therapeutics targeting brain diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNA), a type of small non-coding RNAs, are emerging as an important regulator of BBB integrity. Here we review recent developments related to the role of miRNAs in regulating BBB integrity.

scholarly journals Targeting the Blood-Brain Barrier to Prevent Sepsis-Associated Cognitive Impairment

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 117957351984065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Divine C Nwafor ◽  
Allison L Brichacek ◽  
Afroz S Mohammad ◽  
Jessica Griffith ◽  
Brandon P Lucke-Wold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
The United States ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Systemic Inflammatory Disease ◽  
Sepsis Survivors ◽  
The Brain

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory disease resulting from an infection. This disorder affects 750 000 people annually in the United States and has a 62% rehospitalization rate. Septic symptoms range from typical flu-like symptoms (eg, headache, fever) to a multifactorial syndrome known as sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). Patients with SAE exhibit an acute altered mental status and often have higher mortality and morbidity. In addition, many sepsis survivors are also burdened with long-term cognitive impairment. The mechanisms through which sepsis initiates SAE and promotes long-term cognitive impairment in septic survivors are poorly understood. Due to its unique role as an interface between the brain and the periphery, numerous studies support a regulatory role for the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in the progression of acute and chronic brain dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the current body of literature which supports the BBB as a nexus which integrates signals from the brain and the periphery in sepsis. We highlight key insights on the mechanisms that contribute to the BBB’s role in sepsis which include neuroinflammation, increased barrier permeability, immune cell infiltration, mitochondrial dysfunction, and a potential barrier role for tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). Finally, we address current drug treatments (eg, antimicrobials and intravenous immunoglobulins) for sepsis and their potential outcomes on brain function. A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms may enable clinicians to target specific aspects of BBB function as a therapeutic tool to limit long-term cognitive impairment in sepsis survivors.

scholarly journals Disturbance of Intracerebral Fluid Clearance and Blood–Brain Barrier in Vascular Cognitive Impairment

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 2600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaki Ueno ◽  
Yoichi Chiba ◽  
Ryuta Murakami ◽  
Koichi Matsumoto ◽  
Ryuji Fujihara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Vascular Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Brain Dysfunction ◽  
Brain Parenchyma ◽  
The Other ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
The Brain

The entry of blood-borne macromolecular substances into the brain parenchyma from cerebral vessels is blocked by the blood–brain barrier (BBB) function. Accordingly, increased permeability of the vessels induced by insult noted in patients suffering from vascular dementia likely contributes to the cognitive impairment. On the other hand, blood-borne substances can enter extracellular spaces of the brain via endothelial cells at specific sites without the BBB, and can move to brain parenchyma, such as the hippocampus and periventricular areas, adjacent to specific sites, indicating the contribution of increased permeability of vessels in the specific sites to brain function. It is necessary to consider influx and efflux of interstitial fluid (ISF) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in considering effects of brain transfer of intravascular substances on brain function. Two pathways of ISF and CSF are recently being established. One is the intramural peri-arterial drainage (IPAD) pathway of ISF. The other is the glymphatic system of CSF. Dysfunction of the two pathways could also contribute to brain dysfunction. We review the effects of several kinds of insult on vascular permeability and the failure of fluid clearance on the brain function.

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