Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. It has long been known that brain injury or ischemia often result in epileptic activity. Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) is a recurrent seizure disorder secondary to brain injury following head trauma. PTE accounts for 20% of symptomatic epilepsy in the general population, and up to 50% in the military population due to higher incidence of penetrating head injuries. Mechanisms by which brain injury leads to epileptogenesis are mostly unknown. Traumatic, ischemic, or infectious brain injuries are often associated with vascular injuries, specifically with opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We have identified a novel mechanism for the development of epilepsy following BBB compromise: in the rat neocortex, we have shown that opening of the BBB leads to the development of focal epileptiform activity, similar to that observed following injury, and that serum albumin is a critical factor in subsequent epileptogenesis. Specifically, we have found that albumin interacts with transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-b) receptors in astrocytes, leading to albumin uptake, and that albumin uptake causes induction of the TGF-b signaling pathway. We propose to perform a detailed analysis of the molecular and physiological changes that are induced by albumin activation of the TGF-b pathway. We will then target this pathway to assess the efficacy of TGF-b pathway blockers to therapeutically prevent albumin signal transduction and epileptogenesis in living rats. The following specific aims will be carried out: (1) To characterize albumin uptake into specific cell types and albumin interactions with TGF-bRs;(2) To determine the downstream signaling cascade activated by albumin interaction with TGF-bRs;(3) To characterize the downstream effects of TGF-b signaling on the morphology and biophysical properties of astrocytes;and (4) To demonstrate the potential efficacy of epilepsy prevention using TGF-bR antagonists. In this proposal we combine genomic, molecular, biochemical and electrophysiological techniques to unravel a novel epileptogenic cascade, and demonstrate profound clinical implications of blocking this process.

Public Health Relevance

This project will impact public health in two major ways. Firstly, the project will elucidate the pathways that lead to epileptogenesis following traumatic head injury. Secondly, the project will assess the efficacy of targeting these pathways for therapeutic intervention and prevention of epileptogenesis. Since brain insults are one of the primary causes of disability with no means of prevention as of yet, this proposal represents an important advancement toward resolving this unmet medical need.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS066005-04
Application #
8286397
Study Section
Acute Neural Injury and Epilepsy Study Section (ANIE)
Program Officer
Fureman, Brandy E
Project Start
2009-09-01
Project End
2014-05-31
Budget Start
2012-06-01
Budget End
2014-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$290,906
Indirect Cost
$71,729
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
124726725
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704
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Vazana, Udi; Veksler, Ronel; Pell, Gaby S et al. (2016) Glutamate-Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Opening: Implications for Neuroprotection and Drug Delivery. J Neurosci 36:7727-39
Serlin, Yonatan; Shelef, Ilan; Knyazer, Boris et al. (2015) Anatomy and physiology of the blood-brain barrier. Semin Cell Dev Biol 38:2-6
Weissberg, Itai; Wood, Lydia; Kamintsky, Lyn et al. (2015) Albumin induces excitatory synaptogenesis through astrocytic TGF-?/ALK5 signaling in a model of acquired epilepsy following blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Neurobiol Dis 78:115-25
Veksler, Ronel; Shelef, Ilan; Friedman, Alon (2014) Blood-brain barrier imaging in human neuropathologies. Arch Med Res 45:646-52
Bar-Klein, Guy; Cacheaux, Luisa P; Kamintsky, Lyn et al. (2014) Losartan prevents acquired epilepsy via TGF-? signaling suppression. Ann Neurol 75:864-75
Friedman, Alon; Bar-Klein, Guy; Serlin, Yonatan et al. (2014) Should losartan be administered following brain injury? Expert Rev Neurother 14:1365-75
Schmitz, Ann Kristin; Grote, Alexander; Raabe, Anna et al. (2013) Albumin storage in neoplastic astroglial elements of gangliogliomas. Seizure 22:144-50
Kirby, Elizabeth D; Muroy, Sandra E; Sun, Wayne G et al. (2013) Acute stress enhances adult rat hippocampal neurogenesis and activation of newborn neurons via secreted astrocytic FGF2. Elife 2:e00362
Winkler, Maren K L; Chassidim, Yoash; Lublinsky, Svetlana et al. (2012) Impaired neurovascular coupling to ictal epileptic activity and spreading depolarization in a patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage: possible link to blood-brain barrier dysfunction. Epilepsia 53 Suppl 6:22-30

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