Neonatal seizures cause cerebral vascular endothelial injury and sustained loss of cerebral blood flow regulation. Our goal is to understand the endogenous mechanisms that may protect neonatal brain from long-term effects of seizures. This renewal application is based on our findings from past specific aims and novel exciting preliminary data that pinpoint the signaling mechanisms that may counteract adverse effects of seizures and promote cell survival in the neonatal cerebral circulation. Our preliminary data indicate: 1) seizures increase production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cerebral vasculature, and 2) NADPH oxidase and the mitochondrial respiratory chain are major sources of cerebrovascular oxidative stress caused by excitotoxic levels of glutamate during seizures. Constitutive heme oxygenase (HO-2) is rapidly activated during seizures and provides a potent endogenous cytoprotective mechanism in the neonatal cerebral circulation. Astoundingly, our novel preliminary data indicate that ROS acutely increase HO-2 activity in the cerebral vasculature, suggesting HO-2 may be a redox-sensitive protein. The mechanisms of HO-2 redox regulation that counteracts the seizure-induced oxidative stress injury are not known. Therefore, we hypothesize that ROS are signaling molecules that increase the activity of HO-2 initiating a negative feedback antioxidant mechanism that promotes endothelial survival during neonatal seizure-induced cerebrovascular insult. To test this hypothesis, four specific aims will be addressed using newborn pigs in vivo, freshly isolated cerebral microvessels, and cerebral vascular endothelial cells in primary cultures: 1. Test, in vivo, the hypothesis that HO-2 is a redox-activated endogenous antioxidant enzyme essential for endothelial survival during neonatal seizures. 2. Test, in vivo, the hypothesis that antioxidant actions of CO and bilirubin, the products of HO-2 activity, are critical in improving long-term outcome from seizure-induced loss of cerebral vascular function. 3. Examine, in vitro, redox regulation of HO-2 activity in cerebrovascular endothelium. 4. Identify, in vitro, HO-2-mediated antioxidant mechanisms of cerebrovascular endothelial survival. These experiments are novel both by combining in vivo and in vitro approaches to study the endogenous mechanisms of cerebroprotection and to investigate, for the first time, the concept that HO-2 is a redox-activated endogenous antioxidant enzyme essential for cerebral endothelial cell survival during seizures. Disorders of the perinatal cerebral circulation are the most prominent cause of mortality and morbidity in newborns and often result in lifelong disabilities in survivors. Further elucidation of mechanisms that impact cerebral vascular damage may lead to therapies that will improve neurological outcome in neonates.

Public Health Relevance

Seizures are the most frequent neurological event in the neonatal period that can cause life-long neurological disabilities in survivors. The specific focus of this project is on the endogenous mechanisms that prevent loss of cerebral vascular function and improve survival of cerebral vascular cells during neonatal seizures. Understanding pathophysiological mechanisms of seizure-related loss of cerebral blood flow regulation is essential in improving the long-term neurological outcome of human newborns.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL099655-07
Application #
8080373
Study Section
Brain Injury and Neurovascular Pathologies Study Section (BINP)
Program Officer
Charette, Marc F
Project Start
2010-06-01
Project End
2014-05-31
Budget Start
2011-06-01
Budget End
2012-05-31
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$370,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
941884009
City
Memphis
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
38163
Pourcyrous, Massroor; Chilakala, Sandeep; Elabiad, Mohamad T et al. (2018) Does prolonged severe hypercapnia interfere with normal cerebrovascular function in piglets? Pediatr Res 84:290-295
Liu, Jianxiong; Pourcyrous, Massroor; Fedinec, Alex L et al. (2017) Preventing harmful effects of epileptic seizures on cerebrovascular functions in newborn pigs: does sex matter? Pediatr Res 82:881-887
Harsono, Mimily; Pourcyrous, Massroor; Jolly, Elliott J et al. (2016) Selective head cooling during neonatal seizures prevents postictal cerebral vascular dysfunction without reducing epileptiform activity. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 311:H1202-H1213
Liu, Jianxiong; Fedinec, Alexander L; Leffler, Charles W et al. (2015) Enteral supplements of a carbon monoxide donor CORM-A1 protect against cerebrovascular dysfunction caused by neonatal seizures. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 35:193-9
Pourcyrous, Massroor; Basuroy, Shyamali; Tcheranova, Dilyara et al. (2015) Brain-derived circulating endothelial cells in peripheral blood of newborn infants with seizures: a potential biomarker for cerebrovascular injury. Physiol Rep 3:
Nnorom, Chukwuma C; Davis, Corinne; Fedinec, Alexander L et al. (2014) Contributions of KATP and KCa channels to cerebral arteriolar dilation to hypercapnia in neonatal brain. Physiol Rep 2:
Basuroy, Shyamali; Leffler, Charles W; Parfenova, Helena (2013) CORM-A1 prevents blood-brain barrier dysfunction caused by ionotropic glutamate receptor-mediated endothelial oxidative stress and apoptosis. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 304:C1105-15
Parfenova, Helena; Leffler, Charles W; Basuroy, Shyamali et al. (2012) Antioxidant roles of heme oxygenase, carbon monoxide, and bilirubin in cerebral circulation during seizures. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 32:1024-34
Parfenova, Helena; Tcheranova, Dilyara; Basuroy, Shyamali et al. (2012) Functional role of astrocyte glutamate receptors and carbon monoxide in cerebral vasodilation response to glutamate. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 302:H2257-66
Xi, Qi; Tcheranova, Dilyara; Basuroy, Shyamali et al. (2011) Glutamate-induced calcium signals stimulate CO production in piglet astrocytes. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 301:H428-33

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