Focal ischemic stroke is a leading neural disorder with limited choices for clinical treatment, thus identifying new molecular pathways that can reduce neuronal death and improve stroke outcomes remains an intensive research area. The project goal is to elucidate the role and mechanisms by which Pre-B-Cell Colony- Enhancing Factor (PBEF) exerts brain protection following focal ischemic stroke. PBEF is a rate limiting enzyme in the salvage pathway of nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide (NAD+) biosynthesis in mammals and is mainly expressed in neurons in the brain under normal conditions. We hypothesize that PBEF plays a critical role in ameliorating neuronal death and brain damage and promoting behavioral recovery following focal ischemic stroke. Using a combination of state-of-the art technologies including PBEF conditional knockout (Pbef-/- cKO) mice, viral transduction, photothrombosis (PT) ischemia models, in vivo two-photon (2-P) microscopy, electrophysiology, mitochondrial assay, we propose three SPECIFIC aims to test our hypothesis.
Aim 1 : To test the hypothesis that PBEF ameliorates acute neuronal death and brain damage after ischemia by facilitating NAD+ synthesis. We will generate inducible and neuron-specific Pbef-/- cKO mice (i.e., Thy1-Pbef-/- cKO mice) and viral overexpression of WT and mutant enzymatic activity-deficient mutant PBEF for loss- and gain-of functional studies. We will image dendrite beading, glutamate release and Ca2+ overloading in live mice with in vivo 2-P microscopy, and conduct infarct volume measurement and, neuronal death assay to determine the effect of PBEF on neuronal injury and death in the acute phase of ischemia. We will determine whether neuronal PBEF is involved in PARP-1-mediated neuronal death (i.e., parthanatos) after ischemia.
Aim 2 : To test the hypothesis that mitochondrial NAD+ salvage pathway plays a predominant role in mediating neuronal protection after ischemia We will determine the effect of neuronal PBEF on subcompartment NAD+ pools and mitochondrial function under normal and ischemic conditions. Using subcompartment-targeting molecular expression of PBEF in cytoplasm, nuclei, and mitochondria, we will determine whether the mitochondrial NAD+ salvage pathway plays a critical role in neuroprotection after ischemia.
Aim 3 : To test the hypothesis that PBEF improves long-term stroke outcomes through promoting neuronal (synaptic) plasticity. We will evaluate the effect of neuronal PBEF on long-term stroke outcomes using multiple approaches. We will conduct infarct volume measurements, tissue loss, apoptotic neuronal death, behavior tests, and neurological evaluations on Thy1-Pbef-/- cKO and WT mice over a long- term period ranging from one day to a few weeks following ischemia. We will determine the effect of neuronal PBEF on synaptic plasticity in the peri-infarct region using long-term repeated in vivo 2-P imaging and electrophysiology. Results from our project will provide new insights into potential therapeutic targets for translational research on stroke treatment.
Ischemic stroke is a leading neurological disease and has a major impact on public health. The proposed project will determine the roles of an enzyme PBEF in brain cells in protecting against brain damage and improving long-term outcomes following ischemic stroke in mouse model. The results from this project will potentially provide novel therapeutic targets for this neurological disease.
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