Hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is the single most important neurologic problem in the perinatal period. In utero hemodynamic abnormalities possibly in association with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (cytokines) such as IL-12, IL-6, and TNF-1 predispose to brain injury, particularly in premature neonates. Systemic cytokines produced during maternal infection and/or increases in cytokines after ischemia may accentuate damage to the fetal brain. The neurovascular unit is a privileged site that consists of brain microvascular endothelium, glia, and neurons. Although cytokines are known to cross the adult blood-brain barrier (BBB), evidence to support the hypothesis that systemic cytokines cross the BBB of the fetus and premature neonate is sparse.
Our specific aims test the hypothesis that specific cytokines cross both the intact and injured BBB in the fetus to damage the brain. A consequence of this hypothesis is that blockade of these cytokines would attenuate the ischemia related damage to the neurovascular unit (BBB) and possibly the brain. A multidisciplinary approach will be used to address our hypothesis and will include physiological, biochemical, pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular methods.
Aim 1 tests the hypothesis that cytokines such as IL-12 &IL-6 cross the BBB in a maturation-dependent manner in ovine fetuses, and that maturation-related changes in barrier permeability to cytokines are primarily related to changes in the composition of the tight junction. BBB permeability will be quantified by the integral technique with 1-aminoisobutyric acid and radiolabeled cytokines. Tight junction (TJ) proteins and mRNA will be measured by Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and Northern blot.
Aim 2 determines whether ischemic injury increases the permeability of the BBB to cytokines as a function of gestational age and tight junction maturation. Brain ischemia is induced by carotid occlusion. BBB permeability and TJ components will be measured as in Aim 1 and brain injury assessed by pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular methods.
Aim 3 determines whether blocking the effects of cytokines with systemic infusions of neutralizing antibodies attenuates ischemic injury to the fetal neurovascular unit (BBB) and possibly the brain more in preterm than near term fetuses. IL-6 and IL-1 2 blocking antibodies will be infused before ischemia. Brain ischemia will be induced and BBB permeability, TJ components, and brain injury measured as in Aim 2. These studies will provide the first direct evidence whether systemic cytokines cross the intact or injured fetal BBB and whether blocking the effects of cytokines with neutralizing antibodies protect the fetal neurovascular unit (BBB) and brain. This project may provide new insights into novel strategies to prevent brain injury in the human fetus and/or premature infant. Perinatal hypoxic/ischemic brain injury often results in cerebral palsy (CP) and mental retardation. The incidence of CP is 40-148/1,000 in premature and 1-2/1,000 in full term infants. This project could provide new insights into novel strategies to prevent brain injury in the human fetus and/or premature infant.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD057100-03
Application #
7843699
Study Section
Developmental Brain Disorders Study Section (DBD)
Program Officer
Higgins, Rosemary
Project Start
2008-04-20
Project End
2013-03-31
Budget Start
2010-04-01
Budget End
2011-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$294,422
Indirect Cost
Name
Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island
Department
Type
DUNS #
069851913
City
Providence
State
RI
Country
United States
Zip Code
02905
Chen, Xiaodi; Patra, Aparna; Sadowska, Grazyna B et al. (2018) Ischemic-Reperfusion Injury Increases Matrix Metalloproteinases and Tissue Metalloproteinase Inhibitors in Fetal Sheep Brain. Dev Neurosci 40:234-245
Mandelbaum, David E; Arsenault, Amanda; Stonestreet, Barbara S et al. (2018) Neuroinflammation-Related Encephalopathy in an Infant Born Preterm Following Exposure to Maternal Diabetic Ketoacidosis. J Pediatr 197:286-291.e2
Chen, Xiaodi; Hovanesian, Virginia; Naqvi, Syed et al. (2018) Systemic infusions of anti-interleukin-1? neutralizing antibodies reduce short-term brain injury after cerebral ischemia in the ovine fetus. Brain Behav Immun 67:24-35
Patra, Aparna; Chen, Xiaodi; Sadowska, Grazyna B et al. (2017) Neutralizing anti-interleukin-1? antibodies reduce ischemia-related interleukin-1? transport across the blood-brain barrier in fetal sheep. Neuroscience 346:113-125
Spasova, Mariya S; Chen, Xiaodi; Sadowska, Grazyna B et al. (2017) Ischemia reduces inter-alpha inhibitor proteins in the brain of the ovine fetus. Dev Neurobiol 77:726-737
Zhang, Jiyong; Klufas, Daniel; Manalo, Karina et al. (2016) HMGB1 Translocation After Ischemia in the Ovine Fetal Brain. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 75:527-38
Erdogan, A; Rao, S S C; Thiruvaiyaru, D et al. (2016) Randomised clinical trial: mixed soluble/insoluble fibre vs. psyllium for chronic constipation. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 44:35-44
Chen, X; Rivard, L; Naqvi, S et al. (2016) Expression and localization of Inter-alpha Inhibitors in rodent brain. Neuroscience 324:69-81
Zhang, Jiyong; Sadowska, Grazyna B; Chen, Xiaodi et al. (2015) Anti-IL-6 neutralizing antibody modulates blood-brain barrier function in the ovine fetus. FASEB J 29:1739-53
Sadowska, Grazyna B; Chen, Xiaodi; Zhang, Jiyong et al. (2015) Interleukin-1? transfer across the blood-brain barrier in the ovine fetus. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 35:1388-95

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