Ischemic stroke is now the most frequent cause of persistent neurologic disability in the US. Despite considerable effort there are no therapies that can reduce injury or restore function once a stroke occurs. Over the past several years, our view of stroke as a """"""""neuronal disease"""""""" has been transformed into the concept of stroke as a """"""""neurovascular"""""""" disease, and more recently into the novel theory that stroke is truly a """"""""systemic"""""""" disease in which peripheral inflammatory processes play a fundamental role. This peripheral immune response is a target for stroke therapy, as reducing peripheral infiltration of circulating leukocytes, specifically monocytes and neutrophils, decreases ischemic injury. Transforming growth factor ? activated kinase-1 (TAK1), a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) family has been recently recognized as an indispensible signaling molecule in the innate immune response to brain injury. The proposed work will examine the effects of loss of TAK signaling on post-stroke inflammation using selective deletion of TAK in myeloid cells. Mechanistic studies will be performed in TAK1 knockout animals (Aim 1). We will then determine the neuroprotective efficacy of pharmacologically inhibiting TAK in aged mice, a clinically relevant animal model for stroke (Aim 2). These exploratory studies will hopefully identify new biological targets for therapeutic intervention for patients with stroke.

Public Health Relevance

There is considerable evidence from both clinical and experimental studies that the outcomes after stroke differ in the aged. Experimental studies need to test promising therapies in a variety of animal models before attempting to move them into clinical trials. New data from the bench has identified a novel signaling pathway involved in the response to stroke (TAK-1) and we will test if inhibition of this pathway is protective in agin and explore potential mechanisms for its protective actions using cell specific knockout models.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21NS088969-01
Application #
8772484
Study Section
Brain Injury and Neurovascular Pathologies Study Section (BINP)
Program Officer
Bosetti, Francesca
Project Start
2014-07-01
Project End
2016-06-30
Budget Start
2014-07-01
Budget End
2015-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Connecticut
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Farmington
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06030
Chauhan, Anjali; Hudobenko, Jacob; Al Mamun, Abdullah et al. (2018) Myeloid-specific TAK1 deletion results in reduced brain monocyte infiltration and improved outcomes after stroke. J Neuroinflammation 15:148
Crapser, Joshua; Ritzel, Rodney; Verma, Rajkumar et al. (2016) Ischemic stroke induces gut permeability and enhances bacterial translocation leading to sepsis in aged mice. Aging (Albany NY) 8:1049-63
Venna, Venugopal Reddy; Benashski, Sharon E; Chauhan, Anjali et al. (2015) Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3? enhances cognitive recovery after stroke: the role of TAK1. Learn Mem 22:336-43