This Mentored Clinical Scientist Development (K08) Award proposal focuses on thrombin's induction of microglial cell activation in stroke. Inflammatory responses in the brain are critical in the pathophysiology of stroke. The coagulation proteinase thrombin, proteolytically activated receptors (PARs) and microglial cells have all been strongly implicated in the initial steps of this inflammatory response. In the setting of stroke, thrombin can extravasate across an ischemia-compromised blood-brain barrier, activate its receptors (PARs-1, -3 and -4) and elicit a wide range of cellular responses from neurons and glia. Recent data suggests that induction of thrombin/PAR signaling also stimulates activation of microglia - the immune cells of the brain. This activation in turn helps initiate/orchestrate the brain's inflammatory response to ischemia. For these proposed studies, our first Specific Aim will be to characterize the cellular consequences of microglial activation by thrombin in vitro. These experiments on cultured microglia will include quantifying changes in proliferation, viability, cytokine elaboration and antigenic profile in the absence or presence of ischemia-related conditions (hypoglycemia, hypoxia, oxygen-glucose deprivation). We will then use PCR and flow cytometric techniques to characterize PAR expression in quiescent and activated microglia at both the transcriptional and post-translational levels.
In Aim two, we will carry out in vivo studies focusing on the effects of systemic thrombin inhibitors and PAR antagonists on a variety of outcome parameters in an experimental animal paradigm for stroke: rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/reperfusion. Laser doppler flowmetry will be used to characterize changes in cerebral blood flow and confirm ischemic conditions. Standard immunohistochemical techniques and a newly established ex-vivo flow cytometric method will be used to determine infarct volume and extent of microglial activation/PAR expression, respectively following MCAO/reperfusion. Changes in neuro-behavioral outcomes will also be measured. In both Aims we will also address the impact of thrombin-induce cross-tolerance and ischemic pre-conditioning on microglial activation in stroke. By studying the impact of thrombin's PAR-mediated activation of microglia in ischemia we hope to both improve our understanding of the mechanism of neuro-inflammation in stroke and identify possible targets for therapeutic intervention. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
1K08NS047309-01
Application #
6708245
Study Section
NST-2 Subcommittee (NST)
Program Officer
Jacobs, Tom P
Project Start
2004-03-01
Project End
2009-02-28
Budget Start
2004-03-01
Budget End
2005-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$166,271
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
Weinstein, Jonathan R; Zhang, Matthew; Kutlubaev, Mansur et al. (2009) Thrombin-induced regulation of CD95(Fas) expression in the N9 microglial cell line: evidence for involvement of proteinase-activated receptor(1) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. Neurochem Res 34:445-52
Quan, Yi; Möller, Thomas; Weinstein, Jonathan R (2009) Regulation of Fcgamma receptors and immunoglobulin G-mediated phagocytosis in mouse microglia. Neurosci Lett 464:29-33
Creutzfeldt, Claire J; Weinstein, Jonathan R; Longstreth Jr, W T et al. (2009) Prior antiplatelet therapy, platelet infusion therapy, and outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 18:221-8
Weinstein, Jonathan R; Swarts, Sarah; Bishop, Caroline et al. (2008) Lipopolysaccharide is a frequent and significant contaminant in microglia-activating factors. Glia 56:16-26
Weinstein, Jonathan R; Ettinger, Russell E; Zhang, Matthew et al. (2008) Thrombin regulates CD40 expression in microglial cells. Neuroreport 19:757-60