| 1. |
- Christensen, Simon T., et al.
(författare)
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Pre-clinical effects of highly potent MEK1/2 inhibitors on rat cerebral vasculature after organ culture and subarachnoid haemorrhage
- 2019
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Ingår i: Clinical Science. - 0143-5221. ; 133:16, s. 1797-1811
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a variant of haemorrhagic stroke with a striking 50% mortality rate. In addition to the initial insult, secondary delayed brain injury may occur days after the initial ischemic insult and is associated with vasospasms leading to delayed cerebral ischemia. We have previously shown that the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 improves neurological assessment after SAH in rats. Aim: The purpose of the present study was to analyse the impact of a broad selection of high potency MEK1/2 inhibitors in an organ culture model and use the IC50 values obtained from the organ culture to select highly potent inhibitors for pre-clinical in vivo studies. Results: Nine highly potent mitogen activated protein kinase kinase (MEK1/2) inhibitors were screened and the two most potent inhibitors from the organ culture screening, trametinib and PD0325901, were tested in an in vivo experimental rat SAH model with intrathecal injections. Subsequently, the successful inhibitor trametinib was administered intraperitoneally in a second in vivo study. In both regimens, trametinib treatment caused significant reductions in the endothelin-1 induced contractility after SAH, which is believed to be associated with endothelin B receptor up-regulation. Trametinib treated rats showed improved neurological scores, evaluated by the ability to traverse a rotating pole, after induced SAH. Conclusion: The PD0325901 treatment did not improve the neurological score after SAH, nor showed any beneficial therapeutic effect on the contractility, contrasting with the reduction in neurological deficits seen after trametinib treatment. These data show that trametinib might be a potential candidate for treatment of SAH.
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| 2. |
- Spray, Stine, et al.
(författare)
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Alterations in the Cerebral Microvascular Proteome Expression Profile After Transient Global Cerebral Ischemia in Rat
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Neuroscience. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0895-8696 .- 1559-1166. ; 61:3, s. 396-411
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study aimed at obtaining an in-depth mapping of expressional changes of the cerebral microvasculature after transient global cerebral ischemia (GCI) and the impact on these GCI-induced expressional changes of post-GCI treatment with a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK1/2) inhibitor. GCI was induced in male Wistar rats followed by treatment with either vehicle or the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 every 12 h post-GCI. Seventy-two hours after GCI or sham surgery, the cerebral microvasculature was isolated and the protein content analysed with state-of-the-art mass spectrometry. The proteomic profile of the isolated cerebral microvasculature 72 h after GCI (compared to sham) indicated that the main expressional changes could be divided into nine categories: (1) cellular respiration, (2) remodelling of the extracellular matrix, (3) decreased contractile phenotype, (4) clathrin-mediated endocytosis, (5) ribosomal activity, (6) expression of chromatin structure-related proteins, (7) altered synaptic activity, (8) altered G-protein signalling and (9) instability of the membrane potential. Treatment with U0126 partly normalized the expression of one or more of the proteins in all nine categories. Flow cytometry confirmed key findings from the proteome such as upregulation of the extracellular proteins lamininβ2 and nidogen2 (p <0.05) after GCI. These results provide valuable molecular insight into the broad and complex expressional changes in the cerebral microvasculature after GCI and the effect of early MEK1/2 inhibitor treatment on these changes.
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| 3. |
- Spray, Stine, et al.
(författare)
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Enhanced contractility of intraparenchymal arterioles after global cerebral ischaemia in rat - new insights into the development of delayed cerebral hypoperfusion
- 2017
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Ingår i: Acta Physiologica. - : Wiley. - 1748-1716 .- 1748-1708. ; 220:4, s. 417-431
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: Delayed cerebral hypoperfusion is a secondary complication found in the days after transient global cerebral ischaemia that worsens the ischaemic damage inflicted by the initial transient episode of global cerebral ischaemia. A recent study demonstrated increased cerebral vasoconstriction in the large arteries on the brain surface (pial arteries) after global cerebral ischaemia. However, smaller arterioles inside the brain (parenchymal arterioles) are equally important in the regulation of cerebral blood flow and yet their pathophysiology after global cerebral ischaemia is largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether increased contractility occurs in the intraparenchymal arterioles. Methods: Global cerebral ischaemia was induced in male Wistar rats by bilateral common carotid occlusion for 15 min combined with hypovolaemia. Regional cerebral blood flow was determined by quantitative autoradiography. Intraparenchymal arterioles were isolated and pressurized, and concentration-response curves to endothelin-1 with and without the endothelin B receptor-selective antagonist BQ788 was generated. Endothelin B receptor expression was investigated by quantitative flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Results: We observed increased endothelin-1-mediated contractility of parenchymal arterioles correlating with reduced cerebral blood flow of the cortex, hippocampus and caudate nucleus 48 h after global cerebral ischaemia. The increased endothelin-1-mediated contractility was abolished by BQ788, and the vascular smooth muscle cell-specific expression of endothelin B receptors was significantly increased after global cerebral ischaemia. Conclusion: Increased endothelin-1-mediated contractility and expression of endothelin B receptors in the intraparenchymal vasculature contributes to the development of delayed cerebral hypoperfusion after global cerebral ischaemia in combination with vascular changes of the pial vasculature.
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| 4. |
- Spray, Stine, et al.
(författare)
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Reduced Mechanical Stretch Induces Enhanced Endothelin B Receptor-mediated Contractility via Activation of Focal Adhesion Kinase and Extra Cellular-regulated Kinase 1/2 in Cerebral Arteries from Rat.
- 2016
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Ingår i: Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology. - : Wiley. - 1742-7843 .- 1742-7835. ; 119:1, s. 68-77
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cerebral ischaemia results in enhanced endothelin B (ETB ) receptor-mediated contraction and receptor protein expression in the affected cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). Organ culture of cerebral arteries is a method to induce similar alterations in ETB receptor expression. We hypothesize that rapid and sustained reduction in wall tension/stretch is a possible trigger mechanism for this vascular remodelling. Isolated rat middle cerebral artery (MCA) segments were incubated in a wire-myograph with or without mechanical stretch, prior to assessment of their contractile response to the selective ETB receptor agonist sarafotoxin 6c. The involvement of extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) were studied by their specific inhibitors U0126 and PF-228, respectively. Compared to their stretched counterparts, un-stretched MCA segments showed a significantly increased ETB receptor-mediated contractile response following 12 hr of incubation, which was attenuated by either U0126 or PF-228. The functionally increased ETB -mediated contractility could be attributed to two different mechanisms: 1) a difference in ETB receptor localization from primarily endothelial expression to SMC expression and 2) an increased calcium sensitivity of the SMCs due to an increased expression of the calcium channel transient receptor potential canonical 1. Collectively, our results present a possible mechanism linking lack of vessel wall stretch/tension to changes in ETB receptor-mediated contractility via triggering of an early mechanosensitive signalling pathway involving ERK1/2 and FAK signalling. A mechanism likely to be an initiating factor for the increased ETB receptor-mediated contractility found after cerebral ischaemia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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| 5. |
- Spray, Stine, et al.
(författare)
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Subacute phase of subarachnoid haemorrhage in female rats : Increased intracranial pressure, vascular changes and impaired sensorimotor function
- 2021
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Ingår i: Microvascular Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0026-2862. ; 135
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Early brain injury (EBI) and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) has devastating consequences but therapeutic options and the underlying pathogenesis remain poorly understood despite extensive preclinical and clinical research. One of the drawbacks of most preclinical studies to date is that the mechanisms behind DCI after SAH are studied only in male animals. In this study we therefore established a female rat model of SAH in order to determine subacute pathophysiological changes that may contribute to DCI in females. Methods: Experimental SAH was induced in female rats by intracisternal injection of 300 μL of autologous blood. Sham operation served as a control. Neurological deficits and intracranial pressure measurements were evaluated at both 1 and 2 days after surgery. Additionally, changes in cerebral vascular contractility were evaluated 2 days after surgery using wire myography. Results: SAH in female rats resulted in sensorimotor deficits and decreased general wellbeing on both day 1 and day 2 after SAH. Intracranial pressure uniformly increased in all rats subjected to SAH on day 1. On day 2 the intracranial pressure had increased further, decreased slightly or remained at the level seen on day 1. Furthermore, female rats subjected to SAH developed cortical brain edema. Cerebral arteries, isolated 2 days after SAH, exhibited increased vascular contractions to endothelin-1 and 5-carboxamidotryptamine. Conclusion: In the subacute phase after SAH in female rats, we observed increased intracranial pressure, decreased wellbeing, sensorimotor deficits, increased vascular contractility and cortical brain edema. Collectively, these pathophysiological changes may contribute to DCI after SAH in females. Previous studies reported similar pathophysiological changes for male rats in the subacute phase after SAH. Thus, prevention of these gender-independent mechanisms may provide the basis for a universal treatment strategy for DCI after SAH. Nevertheless, preclinical studies of potential therapies should employ both male and female SAH models.
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