Although fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is the leading known cause of mental retardation and produces cognitive and behavioral abnormalities, the underlying mechanisms of neuropathogenesis are poorly defined. We have identified microglia as targets of ethanol pathogenesis in the developing CNS, with relevant translation to FASD. Using our neonatal rodent model of FASD, we discovered that ethanol causes microglial death. Surviving microglia express an activated phenotype, evident with morphological change and expression of antigenic activation markers. We identified signaling pathways that are dysregulated by ethanol and found that ethanol suppresses expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-3 (PPAR3), whose activity is anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective. Particularly intriguing, PPAR3 agonist treatment prevents microencephaly, growth retardation, microglial and neuronal death, and inflammatory pathology. We hypothesize that ethanol suppression of PPAR3 signaling contributes to cell death and, further, that PPAR3 agonists protect against ethanol through a PPAR3 receptor-dependent mechanism. This will be investigated using our rat model of FASD and co-cultures of microglia and neurons. (1) We will determine the mechanism of PPAR3 agonist protection against ethanol. These studies will determine if PPAR3 agonists modulate microglial and neuronal survival through receptor-dependent or receptor-independent mechanisms. The contribution of retinoid X receptor-1 (RXR1) will also be evaluated. (2) The ability of several FDA-approved PPAR3 and RXR1 agonists to prevent ethanol-induced death of neurons and microglia and/or prevent neuroinflammatory pathology will be determined and relative efficacy established. The ability of agonists to evoke change in targeted inflammatory molecules will be probed to identify not only the mechanism of agonist protection but uncover new candidates for pharmacological and therapeutic investigation. The results of the proposed investigation will be significant because they will bring new understanding of FASD mechanisms and provide new opportunities for therapeutic intervention in the cell death and inflammatory pathology caused by ethanol. Innovative application of the preclinical rat model of FASD to determine the mechanism and efficacy of novel treatments to prevent ethanol neuropathology holds promise for the future of FASD research. .

Public Health Relevance

Although fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is the leading known cause of mental retardation and produces cognitive and behavioral abnormalities. We have found that ethanol causes microglial death and that surviving microglia express an activated, pro-inflammatory phenotype. We identified signaling pathways that are dysregulated by ethanol and found that ethanol suppresses the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective PPAR3 pathways. Particularly intriguing, PPAR3 agonists can block ethanol neuropathogenesis. This study will determine the mechanism of PPAR3 agonist protection against ethanol. In addition, the ability of FDA- approved PPAR3 and RXR1 agonists to prevent ethanol-induced death of neurons and microglia and/or prevent neuroinflammatory pathology will be determined and relative efficacy established. The results of the proposed investigation will be innovative and significant because they will bring new understanding of FASD mechanisms and provide new opportunities for therapeutic intervention in the cell death and inflammatory pathology caused by ethanol.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AA018834-03
Application #
8135631
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-CC (03))
Program Officer
Regunathan, Soundar
Project Start
2009-09-30
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2011-09-01
Budget End
2012-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$327,703
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
122452563
City
Little Rock
State
AR
Country
United States
Zip Code
72205
Drew, Paul D; Kane, Cynthia J M (2016) Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-? Agonists: Potential Therapeutics for Neuropathology Associated with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. J Clin Cell Immunol 7:
Kane, Cynthia J M; Drew, Paul D (2016) Inflammatory responses to alcohol in the CNS: nuclear receptors as potential therapeutics for alcohol-induced neuropathologies. J Leukoc Biol 100:951-959
Odle, Angela K; Drew, Paul D; Childs, Gwen V (2015) Giant mice reveal new roles for GH in regulating the adipose immune microenvironment. Endocrinology 156:1613-5
Drew, Paul D; Johnson, Jennifer W; Douglas, James C et al. (2015) Pioglitazone blocks ethanol induction of microglial activation and immune responses in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex in a mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 39:445-54
Kane, Cynthia J M; Phelan, Kevin D; Douglas, James C et al. (2014) Effects of ethanol on immune response in the brain: region-specific changes in adolescent versus adult mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 38:384-91
Drew, Paul D; Kane, Cynthia J M (2014) Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and neuroimmune changes. Int Rev Neurobiol 118:41-80
Kane, Cynthia J M; Phelan, Kevin D; Douglas, James C et al. (2013) Effects of ethanol on immune response in the brain: region-specific changes in aged mice. J Neuroinflammation 10:66
Kane, Cynthia J M; Phelan, Kevin D; Drew, Paul D (2012) Neuroimmune mechanisms in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Dev Neurobiol 72:1302-16
Kane, Cynthia J M; Smith, Susan M; Miranda, Rajesh C et al. (2012) Proceedings of the 2010 annual meeting of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Study Group. Alcohol 46:107-14
Zhou, Feng C; Kane, Cynthia J M; Smith, Susan M (2012) Proceedings of the 2009 annual meeting of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Study Group. Alcohol 46:101-5

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