scholarly journals Behavioral alterations in long-term Toxoplasma gondii infection of C57BL/6 mice are associated with neuroinflammation and disruption of the blood brain barrier

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258199
Author(s):  
Leda Castaño Barrios ◽  
Ana Paula Da Silva Pinheiro ◽  
Daniel Gibaldi ◽  
Andrea Alice Silva ◽  
Patrícia Machado Rodrigues e Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Behavioral Alterations ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
The Brain

The Apicomplexa protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is a mandatory intracellular parasite and the causative agent of toxoplasmosis. This illness is of medical importance due to its high prevalence worldwide and may cause neurological alterations in immunocompromised persons. In chronically infected immunocompetent individuals, this parasite forms tissue cysts mainly in the brain. In addition, T. gondii infection has been related to mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as mood, personality, and other behavioral changes. In the present study, we evaluated the kinetics of behavioral alterations in a model of chronic infection, assessing anxiety, depression and exploratory behavior, and their relationship with neuroinflammation and parasite cysts in brain tissue areas, blood-brain-barrier (BBB) integrity, and cytokine status in the brain and serum. Adult female C57BL/6 mice were infected by gavage with 5 cysts of the ME-49 type II T. gondii strain, and analyzed as independent groups at 30, 60 and 90 days postinfection (dpi). Anxiety, depressive-like behavior, and hyperactivity were detected in the early (30 dpi) and long-term (60 and 90 dpi) chronic T. gondii infection, in a direct association with the presence of parasite cysts and neuroinflammation, independently of the brain tissue areas, and linked to BBB disruption. These behavioral alterations paralleled the upregulation of expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and CC-chemokines (CCL2/MCP-1, CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL4/MIP-1β and CCL5/RANTES) in the brain tissue. In addition, increased levels of interferon-gamma (IFNγ), TNF and CCL2/MCP-1 were detected in the peripheral blood, at 30 and 60 dpi. Our data suggest that the persistence of parasite cysts induces sustained neuroinflammation, and BBB disruption, thus allowing leakage of cytokines of circulating plasma into the brain tissue. Therefore, all these factors may contribute to behavioral changes (anxiety, depressive-like behavior, and hyperactivity) in chronic T. gondii infection.

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 Imaging the dynamic recruitment of monocytes to the blood–brain barrier and specific brain regions during Toxoplasma gondii infection

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (49) ◽  
pp. 24796-24807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine A. Schneider ◽  
Dario X. Figueroa Velez ◽  
Ricardo Azevedo ◽  
Evelyn M. Hoover ◽  
Cuong J. Tran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Light Sheet ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Cell Segmentation ◽  
Cns Infection ◽  
Light Sheet Microscopy ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
The Brain

Brain infection by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii in mice is thought to generate vulnerability to predation by mechanisms that remain elusive. Monocytes play a key role in host defense and inflammation and are critical for controlling T. gondii. However, the dynamic and regional relationship between brain-infiltrating monocytes and parasites is unknown. We report the mobilization of inflammatory (CCR2+Ly6Chi) and patrolling (CX3CR1+Ly6Clo) monocytes into the blood and brain during T. gondii infection of C57BL/6J and CCR2RFP/+CX3CR1GFP/+ mice. Longitudinal analysis of mice using 2-photon intravital imaging of the brain through cranial windows revealed that CCR2-RFP monocytes were recruited to the blood–brain barrier (BBB) within 2 wk of T. gondii infection, exhibited distinct rolling and crawling behavior, and accumulated within the vessel lumen before entering the parenchyma. Optical clearing of intact T. gondii-infected brains using iDISCO+ and light-sheet microscopy enabled global 3D detection of monocytes. Clusters of T. gondii and individual monocytes across the brain were identified using an automated cell segmentation pipeline, and monocytes were found to be significantly correlated with sites of T. gondii clusters. Computational alignment of brains to the Allen annotated reference atlas [E. S. Lein et al., Nature 445:168–176 (2007)] indicated a consistent pattern of monocyte infiltration during T. gondii infection to the olfactory tubercle, in contrast to LPS treatment of mice, which resulted in a diffuse distribution of monocytes across multiple brain regions. These data provide insights into the dynamics of monocyte recruitment to the BBB and the highly regionalized localization of monocytes in the brain during T. gondii CNS infection.

Solving the challenge of the blood–brain barrier to treat infections caused by Trypanosoma evansi: evaluation of nerolidol-loaded nanospheres in mice

Parasitology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 144 (11) ◽  
pp. 1543-1550 ◽  
Author(s):  
MATHEUS D. BALDISSERA ◽  
CARINE F. SOUZA ◽  
ALINE A. BOLIGON ◽  
THIRSSA H. GRANDO ◽  
MARIÂNGELA F. DE SÁ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Drug Efficacy ◽  
Trypanosoma Evansi ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Active Principle ◽  
Diminazene Aceturate ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
The Brain

SUMMARYDespite significant advances in therapies against Trypanosoma evansi, its effective elimination from the central nervous system (CNS) remains a difficult task. The incapacity of trypanocidal drugs to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) after systemic administrations makes the brain the main refuge area for T. evansi. Nanotechnology is showing great potential to improve drug efficacy, such as nerolidol-loaded nanospheres (N-NS). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the treatment with N-NS was able to cross the BBB and to eliminate T. evansi from the CNS. High-performance liquid chromatography revealed that N-NS can cross the BBB of T. evansi-infected mice, while free nerolidol (F-N) neither the trypanocidal drug diminazene aceturate (D.A.) were not detected in the brain tissue. Polymerase chain reaction revealed that 100% of the animals treated with N-NS were negatives for T. evansi in the brain tissue, while all infected animals treated with F-N or D.A. were positives. Thus, we concluded that nanotechnology improves the therapeutic efficacy of nerolidol, and enables the transport of its active principle through the BBB. In summary, N-NS treatment can eliminate the parasite from the CNS, and possesses potential to treat infected animals.

scholarly journals CT Imaging and Spontaneous Behavior Analysis After Osmotic Blood-Brain Barrier Opening in Wistar Rat

2014 ◽  
pp. S529-S534 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. KOZLER ◽  
V. RILJAK ◽  
K. JANDOVÁ ◽  
J. POKORNÝ
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Brain Edema ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Spontaneous Locomotor Activity ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Brain

In our previous experiments we demonstrated that osmotic opening of the blood brain barrier (BBB) in rats by administration of mannitol into the internal carotid artery leads to cerebral edema. The aim of this study was to confirm objectively the development of brain edema and determine whether it affects spontaneous locomotor activity in rats (SLA). Brain edema was verified by computer tomography (CT) examination of the brain and SLA was observed during open field test. Twenty four adult male rats were divided into four groups of six: (1) control animals (C), (2) controls with anesthesia (CA), (3) controls with sham surgery (CS), (4) experimental – osmotic opening of the BBB (MA). Osmotic BBB disruption manifested by reducing the density of brain tissue (hypodensity), suggesting a higher water content in the brain tissue. SLA was compared between C, CA, CS and MA groups and between MA and CA groups. Significant difference was found only between the control group and MA group. In the first 30 min of the examination, rats after the mannitol administration revealed a marked limitation of spontaneous locomotor activity. Experimental results demonstrated reduction of spontaneous locomotor activity in rats with induced brain edema.

scholarly journals Empirical and Theoretical Characterization of the Diffusion Process of Different Gadolinium-Based Nanoparticles within the Brain Tissue after Ultrasound-Induced Permeabilization of the Blood-Brain Barrier

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allegra Conti ◽  
Rémi Magnin ◽  
Matthieu Gerstenmayer ◽  
Nicolas Tsapis ◽  
Erik Dumont ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Process ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Diffusion Coefficients ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Apparent Diffusion Coefficients ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
The Brain ◽  
And Diffusion

Low-intensity focused ultrasound (FUS), combined with microbubbles, is able to locally, and noninvasively, open the blood-brain barrier (BBB), allowing nanoparticles to enter the brain. We present here a study on the diffusion process of gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents within the brain extracellular space after ultrasound-induced BBB permeabilization. Three compounds were tested (MultiHance, Gadovist, and Dotarem). We characterized their diffusion through in vivo experimental tests supported by theoretical models. Specifically, by estimation of the free diffusion coefficients from in vitro studies and of apparent diffusion coefficients from in vivo experiments, we have assessed tortuosity in the right striatum of 9 Sprague Dawley rats through a model correctly describing both vascular permeability as a function of time and diffusion processes occurring in the brain tissue. This model takes into account acoustic pressure, particle size, blood pharmacokinetics, and diffusion rates. Our model is able to fully predict the result of a FUS-induced BBB opening experiment at long space and time scales. Recovered values of tortuosity are in agreement with the literature and demonstrate that our improved model allows us to assess that the chosen permeabilization protocol preserves the integrity of the brain tissue.

Potential Regulation Mechanisms of P-gp in the Blood-Brain Barrier in Hypoxia

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1041-1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yidan Ding ◽  
Rong Wang ◽  
Jianchun Zhang ◽  
Anpeng Zhao ◽  
Hui Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Signal Pathways ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Sphingosine 1 Phosphate ◽  
Capillary Endothelial Cells ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Expression And Activity

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a barrier of the central nervous system (CNS), which can restrict the free exchange of substances, such as toxins and drugs, between cerebral interstitial fluid and blood, keeping the relative physiological stabilization. The brain capillary endothelial cells, one of the structures of the BBB, have a variety of ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC transporters), among which the most widely investigated is Pglycoprotein (P-gp) that can efflux numerous substances out of the brain. The expression and activity of P-gp are regulated by various signal pathways, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/protein kinase C-β (PKC- β)/sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/Src kinase, etc. However, it remains unclear how hypoxic signaling pathways regulate the expression and activity of P-gp in brain microvascular endothelial cells. According to previous research, hypoxia affects the expression and activity of the transporter. If the transporter is up-regulated, some drugs enter the brain's endothelial cells and are pumped back into the blood by transporters such as P-gp before they enter the brain tissue, consequently influencing the drug delivery in CNS; if the transporter is down-regulated, the centrally toxic drug would enter the brain tissue and cause serious adverse reactions. Therefore, studying the mechanism of hypoxia-regulating P-gp can provide an important reference for the treatment of CNS diseases with a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) component. This article summarized the mechanism of regulation of P-gp in BBB in normoxia and explored that of hypoxia.

Road From Nose to Brain for Treatment of Alzheimer: The Bumps and Humps

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 663-675
Author(s):  
Rajesh Kumar ◽  
Monica Gulati ◽  
Sachin Kumar Singh ◽  
Deepika Sharma ◽  
Omji Porwal
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Nasal Delivery ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Nasal Drug Delivery ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
Routes Of Drug Administration ◽  
Alternative Routes ◽  
The Brain

: Vulnerability of the brain milieu to even the subtle changes in its normal physiology is guarded by a highly efficient blood brain barrier. A number of factors i.e. molecular weight of the drug, its route of administration, lipophilic character etc. play a significant role in its sojourn through the blood brain barrier (BBB) and limit the movement of drug into brain tissue through BBB. To overcome these problems, alternative routes of drug administration have been explored to target the drugs to brain tissue. Nasal route has been widely reported for the administration of drugs for treatment of Alzheimer. In this innovative approach, the challenge of BBB is bypassed. Through this route, both the larger as well as polar molecules can be made to reach the brain tissues. Generally, these systems are either pH dependent or temperature dependent. Results: The present review highlights the anatomy of nose, mechanisms of drug delivery from nose to brain, critical factors in the formulation of nasal drug delivery system, nasal formulations of various drugs that have been tried for their nasal delivery for treatment of Alzheimer. Conclusion: It also dives deep to understand the factors that contribute to the success of such formulations to carve out a direction for this niche area to be explored further.

scholarly journals Preparation of Silica Nanoparticles Loaded with Nootropics and TheirIn VivoPermeation through Blood-Brain Barrier

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josef Jampilek ◽  
Kamil Zaruba ◽  
Michal Oravec ◽  
Martin Kunes ◽  
Petr Babula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Brain Perfusion ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Bulk Materials ◽  
Drug Substances ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
The Brain

The blood-brain barrier prevents the passage of many drugs that target the central nervous system. This paper presents the preparation and characterization of silica-based nanocarriers loaded with piracetam, pentoxifylline, and pyridoxine (drugs from the class of nootropics), which are designed to enhance the permeation of the drugs from the circulatory system through the blood-brain barrier. Their permeation was compared with non-nanoparticle drug substances (bulk materials) by means of anin vivomodel of rat brain perfusion. The size and morphology of the nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The content of the drug substances in silica-based nanocarriers was analysed by elemental analysis and UV spectrometry. Microscopic analysis of visualized silica nanocarriers in the perfused brain tissue was performed. The concentration of the drug substances in the tissue was determined by means of UHPLC-DAD/HRMS LTQ Orbitrap XL. It was found that the drug substances in silica-based nanocarriers permeated through the blood brain barrier to the brain tissue, whereas bulk materials were not detected in the brain.

scholarly journals Blood-brain barrier-restricted translocation of Toxoplasma gondii from cortical capillaries

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela C Olivera ◽  
Emily C Ross ◽  
Christiane Peuckert ◽  
Antonio Barragan
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Brain Parenchyma ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Cortical Capillaries ◽  
The Brain

The cellular barriers of the central nervous system proficiently protect the brain parenchyma from infectious insults. Yet, the single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii commonly causes latent cerebral infection in humans and other vertebrates. Here, we addressed the role of the cerebral vasculature in the passage of T. gondii to the brain parenchyma. Shortly after inoculation in mice, parasites mainly localized to cortical capillaries, in preference over post-capillary venules, cortical arterioles or meningeal and choroidal vessels. Early invasion to the parenchyma (days 1-5) occurred in absence of a measurable increase in blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, perivascular leukocyte cuffs or hemorrhage. However, sparse focalized permeability elevations were detected adjacently to replicative parasite foci. Further, T. gondii triggered inflammatory responses in cortical microvessels and endothelium. Pro- and anti-inflammatory treatments of mice with LPS and hydrocortisone, respectively, impacted BBB permeability and parasite loads in the brain parenchyma. Finally, pharmacological inhibition or Cre/loxP conditional knockout of endothelial focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a BBB intercellular junction regulator, facilitated parasite translocation to the brain parenchyma. The data reveal that the initial passage of T. gondii to the central nervous system occurs principally across cortical capillaries. The integrity of the microvascular BBB restricts parasite transit, which conversely is exacerbated by the inflammatory response.

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