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- Ekmark Lewén, Sara, 1978-
(författare)
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Cellular Reactions and Behavioral Changes in Focal and Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury : A Study in the Rat and Mouse
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a severe condition and a major cause of death and disability. There is no pharmacological treatment available in clinical practice today and knowledge of brain injury mechanisms is of importance for development of neuroprotective drugs. The aims of the thesis were to get a better understanding of astrocyte reactions and immune responses, as well as behavioral changes after focal unilateral cortical contusion injury and diffuse bilateral central fluid percussion injury in rats and mice.In the focal injury models, the astrocyte reactions were generally restricted to the ipsilateral hemisphere. After diffuse TBI, vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive reactive astrocytes were bilaterally expressed in brain regions even distant from the injury site, including regions where axonal injury was seen. Early after diffuse TBI, there was a robust immune response, including activation of macrophages/microglia (Mac-2+) and infiltration of neutrophils (GR-1+) and T-cells (CD3+).In order to measure functional outcome, the recently established Multivariate Concentric Square Field™ (MCSF) test for complex behaviors, including risk taking and explorative strategies was used. The Morris water maze (MWM) was applied for testing learning and memory. The MCSF test revealed alterations in risk taking, risk assessment and exploratory behavior, in the mice subjected to focal injury whereas mice subjected to the diffuse injury showed a deviant stereotyped behavior. After focal injury mice showed a decreased ability to adapt to the arena in the second trial, when tested repeatedly in the MCSF test. Mice subjected to diffuse injury had an impaired memory but not learning, in the MWM test. Post-injury treatment with the anti-inflammatory anti-interleukin-1β (IgG2 a/k) antibody showed a positive effect on functional outcome in the diffuse injury model. Altogether, the results demonstrate that focal and diffuse TBI models produce differences in cellular reactions and behavioral outcome and that the immune response plays a key role in the pathology after brain injury.
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| 2. |
- Ekmark-Lewén, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Diffuse traumatic axonal injury in mice induces complex behavioural alterations that are normalized by neutralization of interleukin-1β
- 2016
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Ingår i: European Journal of Neuroscience. - : Wiley. - 0953-816X .- 1460-9568. ; 43:8, s. 1016-1033
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Widespread traumatic axonal injury (TAI) results in brain network dysfunction, which commonly leads to persisting cognitive and behavioural impairments following traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI induces a complex neuroinflammatory response, frequently located at sites of axonal pathology. The role of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 has not been established in TAI. An IL-1-neutralizing or a control antibody was administered intraperitoneally at 30min following central fluid percussion injury (cFPI), a mouse model of widespread TAI. Mice subjected to moderate cFPI (n=41) were compared with sham-injured controls (n=20) and untreated, naive mice (n=9). The anti-IL-1 antibody reached the target brain regions in adequate therapeutic concentrations (up to similar to 30g/brain tissue) at 24h post-injury in both cFPI (n=5) and sham-injured (n=3) mice, with lower concentrations at 72h post-injury (up to similar to 18g/g brain tissue in three cFPI mice). Functional outcome was analysed with the multivariate concentric square field (MCSF) test at 2 and 9days post-injury, and the Morris water maze (MWM) at 14-21days post-injury. Following TAI, the IL-1-neutralizing antibody resulted in an improved behavioural outcome, including normalized behavioural profiles in the MCSF test. The performance in the MWM probe (memory) trial was improved, although not in the learning trials. The IL-1-neutralizing treatment did not influence cerebral ventricle size or the number of microglia/macrophages. These findings support the hypothesis that IL-1 is an important contributor to the processes causing complex cognitive and behavioural disturbances following TAI.
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| 4. |
- Ekmark-Lewén, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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The Multivariate Concentric Square Field Test Reveals Behavioral Profiles of Risk Taking, Exploration, and Cognitive Impairment in Mice Subjected to Traumatic Brain Injury
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Neurotrauma. - : Mary Ann Liebert Inc. - 0897-7151 .- 1557-9042. ; 27:9, s. 1643-1655
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is a need for more efficient tests to evaluate functional outcome following experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI), reflecting deficits in cognitive, sensory, and motor functions that are seen in TBI patients. The Multivariate Concentric Square Field (TM) (MCSF) test is a relatively new behavioral model that measures exploration, risk taking, risk assessment, and shelter seeking, all of which are evolutionarily-conserved strategies for survival. The multivariate design enables scoring of different functional domains in a single test situation, with a free choice of optional environmental settings. Furthermore, repeated trials permits cognitive effects to be measured. In the present study, 11 anesthetized C57BL6 mice received controlled cortical injury (CCI) (0.5mm and 3.3 m/sec) over the right parietal cerebral cortex or sham surgery (n - 12). Naive mice (n 12) not subjected to any surgical procedure were also included. The animals were evaluated in the MCSF test at 2 and 7 days post-surgery, and behavioral profiles were analyzed. The results revealed differences in risk taking and explorative behavior between the sham animals and the animals subjected to trauma. Animals subjected to trauma were characterized by taking more risks and had a higher level of exploration activity, but they sought less shelter. Repeated exposure to the MCSF caused a general decrease in activity in the naive and sham group, while a more specific behavioral impairment was seen in injured mice, suggesting cognitive dysfunction. We submit that the MCSF test is a useful complementary tool for functional outcome evaluation in experimental TBI.
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| 5. |
- Ekmark-Lewén, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Traumatic axonal injury in the mouse is accompanied by a dynamic inflammatory response, astroglial reactivity and complex behavioral changes
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Neuroinflammation. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1742-2094 .- 1742-2094. ; 10:1, s. 44-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundDiffuse traumatic axonal injury (TAI), a common consequence of traumatic brain injury, is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Inflammatory processes may play an important role in the pathophysiology of TAI. In the murine central fluid percussion injury (cFPI) TAI model, the neuroinflammatory and astroglial response and behavioral changes are unknown.MethodsTwenty cFPI-injured and nine sham-injured mice were used, and the neuroinflammatory and astroglial response was evaluated by immunohistochemistry at 1, 3 and 7 days post-injury. The multivariate concentric square field test (MCSF) was used to compare complex behavioral changes in mice subjected to cFPI (n = 16) or sham injury (n = 10). Data was analyzed using non-parametric statistics and principal component analysis (MCSF data).ResultsAt all post-injury time points, beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP) immunoreactivity revealed widespread bilateral axonal injury and IgG immunostaining showed increased blood--brain barrier permeability. Using vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry, glial cell reactivity was observed in cortical regions and important white matter tracts peaking at three days post-injury. Only vimentin was increased post-injury in the internal capsule and only GFAP in the thalamus. Compared to sham-injured controls, an increased number of activated microglia (MAC-2), infiltrating neutrophils (GR-1) and T-cells (CD3) appearing one day after TAI (P<0.05 for all cell types) was observed in subcortical white matter. In the MCSF, the behavioral patterns including general activity and exploratory behavior differed between cFPI mice and sham-injured controls.ConclusionsTraumatic axonal injury in mice resulted in marked bilateral astroglial and neuroinflammatory responses and complex behavioral changes. The cFPI model in mice appears suitable for the study of injury mechanisms, including neuroinflammation, and the development of treatments targeting traumatic axonal injury.
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| 6. |
- Ekmark-Lewén, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Vimentin and GFAP responses in astrocytes after contusion trauma to the murine brain
- 2010
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Ingår i: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience. - 0922-6028 .- 1878-3627. ; 28:3, s. 311-321
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Astroglial responses after traumatic brain injury are difficult to detect with routine morphological methods. The aims for this study were to compare the temporal and spatial expression pattern of vimentin-and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in a weight drop model of mild cerebral contusion injury in the rat. We also wanted to study the vimentin response with immunohistochemistry and vimentin mRNA RT-PCR analysis in severe cortical contusion injury produced by the controlled cortical impact in the mouse. Methods: Vimentin and GFAP immunohistochemistry (1day, 3 days and 7 days) combined with vimentin mRNA RT-PCR analysis (1 h, 4 h, 22 h, 3 days and 7 days) were used after experimental traumatic brain injury in the rat and mouse. Results: Increases in post-traumatic vimentin mRNA levels in the cortex and in the hippocampus appeared together with vimentin immunoreactivity in astrocytes in the perimeter of the cortical lesion, in the subcortical white matter and in the hippocampus starting at one day after severe trauma. GFAP immunostaining revealed hypertrophic astrocytes peaking at day 3 in the perifocal cortical region. There was no significant increase in GFAP immunoreactivity in the white matter in the rat. However, in the mouse there was a slight increase in the number of GFAP positive cells in this region, 3 days after trauma. Overall the pattern of vimentin immunoreactivity was very similar in the rat and mouse. Conclusions: Vimentin immunoreactivity was more sensitive than the GFAP staining method to demonstrate the distribution and time course of astrocyte reactions after a contusion injury, especially in the white matter distant from the cortical lesion.
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| 8. |
- Aniszewska, Agata, et al.
(författare)
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Modeling Parkinson's disease-related symptoms in alpha-synuclein overexpressing mice
- 2022
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Ingår i: Brain and Behavior. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2162-3279 .- 2162-3279. ; 12:7
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Intracellular deposition of alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites is a central event in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other alpha-synucleinopathies. Transgenic mouse models overexpressing human alpha-syn, are useful research tools in preclinical studies of pathogenetic mechanisms. Such mice develop alpha-syn inclusions as well as neurodegeneration with a topographical distribution that varies depending on the choice of promoter and which form of alpha-syn that is overexpressed. Moreover, they display motor symptoms and cognitive disturbances that to some extent resemble the human conditions.Purpose: One of the main motives for assessing behavior in these mouse models is to evaluate the potential of new treatment strategies, including their impact on motor and cognitive symptoms. However, due to a high within-group variability with respect to such features, the behavioral studies need to be applied with caution. In this review, we discuss how to make appropriate choices in the experimental design and which tests that are most suitable for the evaluation of PD-related symptoms in such studies.Methods: We have evaluated published results on two selected transgenic mouse models overexpressing wild type (L61) and mutated (A30P) alpha-syn in the context of their validity and utility for different types of behavioral studies.Conclusions: By applying appropriate behavioral tests, alpha-syn transgenic mouse models provide an appropriate experimental platform for studies of symptoms related to PD and other alpha-synucleinopathies.
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| 9. |
- Behere, Anish, et al.
(författare)
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A proximity ligation assay recognizing phosphorylated α-syn reveals previously undetected α-syn pathology in the brains of synucleinopathy patients and mouse model.
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Aim: To enhance detection sensitivity of phosphorylated α-synuclein (pSynS129) on post mortem synucleinopathy brains using the newly developed PLA and characterize possible ‘strain’-specific differences in the synucleinopathy brains.Experimental plan: Four different antibodies detecting different epitopes from N- to C- terminal of α-syn were paired systematically with an antibody detecting pSynS129 to reveal patho-morphological features of α-syn aggregates on post mortem brain tissue. In addition, we tested the application of our novel PLA technique in the A30P-tg mouse model that shows different types of pSynS129 aggregates in different stages of PD.Results: The PLA experiments revealed a wide distribution of pSynS129 aggregates in post mortem synucleinopathy-patient brains. We observed unique staining patterns on the brain tissue sections using only certain antibody combinations in a PLA setup, which could not be visualized using regular immunohistochemistry. In A30P-tg mice, the morphological pattern of PLA signal indicated an age-progressive, intracellular shift of pSynS129 aggregation species from periphery towards soma in the prefrontal cortex.Significance: Here we demonstrate that employing PLA with certain α-syn antibodies pair combinations can enhance detection sensitivity and specificity of α-syn pathology in the respective synucleinopathies. Additionally, it could be a useful tool to monitor the ‘strain’-specific aggregation and intracellular morphology of α-syn on post mortem brain tissue.
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| 10. |
- Behere, Anish, et al.
(författare)
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Alpha synuclein pre-formed fibrils trigger astrocytic activation prior to intra-neuronal deposition in a seeding mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Aim: To monitor temporal evolution of glial and peripheral events occurring, prior to pSynS129 inclusion formation, after a single intra-cranial injection of pre-formed fibrils (PFFs) in the wild-type (wt) mice.Experimental plan: Here we perform intracerebral inoculations with mouse PFFs in wt mice (n=30) to study early pathological and inflammatory events from 1 to 30 days post-injections (dpi) at regular time intervals. The paraffin-fixed brain sections were stained against pSynS129 species with the in house developed proximity ligation assay. Furthermore, studies using different glial and inflammatory markers revealed more information regarding the early cellular interactions involving formation and propagation pSynS129 species.Results: Already after 1 dpi, we observe strong pSynS129 immunoreactivity close the striatal injection site. Intriguingly, this type of staining disappeared with the concurrent formation of peri-nuclear pSynS129 inclusions in motor and piriform cortex, amygdala and periventricular hypothalamus after 14 dpi. Concomitantly, we observed astrocytic activation as early event happening prior to intracellular formation and propagation pSynS129 inclusions in the brain and peripheral organs.Significance: Our study elucidates the temporal relationship regarding inflammation and formation of pSynS129 inclusions. Our results indicate that a single PFF injection is enough to induce astrocytic activation and neuro-inflammatory response that occur prior to intra-neuronal accumulation of misfolded α-syn.
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