Endogenous and exogenous protection of the BBB in stroke. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction occurs in a wide variety of neurological diseases and injuries (e.g. stroke). Such dysfunction may participate in those states by enhancing the influx of leukocytes into the brain, allowing the entry of potentially neurotoxic blood components and causing vasogenic edema. In addition, it may affect disease treatment (e.g. hemorrhagic transformation is a major limiting factor for the use of tissue plasminogen activator-induced reperfusion therapy for ischemic stroke). There is, therefore, a great need for methods to protect the BBB. Therapeutic targets may potentially be identified by examining which endogenous mechanisms are altered in disease states. We have shown that preconditioning stimuli can protect the BBB and cerebral endothelial cells in vivo and in vitro. We have also shown that stroke-related factors cause a marked increase in the expression of the cystine/glutamate exchanger (system xc-), a regulator of intracellular glutathione, in cerebral endothelial cells. This exchanger is regulated by nrf2 (an anti-oxidant transcription factor) and xc- can be markedly upregulated by exposure to sulforaphane, an activator of Nrf2 and a component of cruciferous vegetables. These results have led us to hypothesize that: Nrf2 and the proteins it regulates (e.g. xCT, heme oxygenase 1 and ferritin) may be a target for protecting the BBB. As Nrf2 regulation of these proteins requires protein synthesis, we also hypothesize that the function of this system is to protect against delayed BBB disruption, particularly due to migrating leukocytes in ischemia. These hypotheses will be examined in five specific aims: 1+2) Determine whether upregulation of system xc- by stroke-related factors, inflammatory mediators or sulforaphane is protective. 3+4) Determine whether Nrf2 is activated in the cerebral endothelium after stroke or inflammation and whether its activation and the upregulation of downstream proteins will protect the cerebral endothelium. 5) Examines whether treatment with sulforaphane can protect the BBB in vivo.
These specific aims will be examined in vitro, to allow elucidation of molecular mechanisms, and in vivo, to determine pathophysiological relevance. The results should highlight endogenous BBB protective mechanisms and the potential exogenous compounds to activate or inhibit those mechanisms.

Public Health Relevance

Brain blood vessels have very specialized functions, forming a blood-brain barrier. Disuption of that barrier occurs in many neurological disorders and injuries, contributing to brain dysfunction. This proposal examines natural defense mechanisms that may protect the blood-brain barrier, how to activate those mechanisms or prevent their inactivation therapeutically.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS034709-16
Application #
8213758
Study Section
Brain Injury and Neurovascular Pathologies Study Section (BINP)
Program Officer
Bosetti, Francesca
Project Start
1996-07-25
Project End
2014-01-31
Budget Start
2012-02-01
Budget End
2013-01-31
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$330,637
Indirect Cost
$116,262
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Neurosurgery
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Egashira, Yusuke; Hua, Ya; Keep, Richard F et al. (2015) Intercellular cross-talk in intracerebral hemorrhage. Brain Res 1623:97-109
Keep, Richard F; Wang, Michael M; Xiang, Jianming et al. (2014) Full steam ahead with remote ischemic conditioning for stroke. Transl Stroke Res 5:535-7
Xi, Guohua; Strahle, Jennifer; Hua, Ya et al. (2014) Progress in translational research on intracerebral hemorrhage: is there an end in sight? Prog Neurobiol 115:45-63
Zhou, Ningna; Tang, Yang; Keep, Richard F et al. (2014) Antioxidative effects of Panax notoginseng saponins in brain cells. Phytomedicine 21:1189-95
Xi, Guohua; Hua, Ya; Keep, Richard F (2014) Blood pressure lowering and acute perihematomal brain edema after intracerebral hemorrhage. Stroke 45:1241-2
Sladojevic, Nikola; Stamatovic, Svetlana M; Keep, Richard F et al. (2014) Inhibition of junctional adhesion molecule-A/LFA interaction attenuates leukocyte trafficking and inflammation in brain ischemia/reperfusion injury. Neurobiol Dis 67:57-70
Keep, Richard F; Zhou, Ningna; Xiang, Jianming et al. (2014) Vascular disruption and blood-brain barrier dysfunction in intracerebral hemorrhage. Fluids Barriers CNS 11:18
He, Yangdong; Liu, Wenquan; Koch, Lauren G et al. (2013) Susceptibility to intracerebral hemorrhage-induced brain injury segregates with low aerobic capacity in rats. Neurobiol Dis 49:22-8
Wang, Michael M; Xi, Guohua; Keep, Richard F (2013) Should the STAIR criteria be modified for preconditioning studies? Transl Stroke Res 4:3-14
Keep, Richard F; Hua, Ya; Xi, Guohua (2012) Intracerebral haemorrhage: mechanisms of injury and therapeutic targets. Lancet Neurol 11:720-31

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