| 1. |
- Aswendt, M., et al.
(författare)
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Reactive astrocytes prevent maladaptive plasticity after ischemic stroke
- 2022
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Ingår i: Progress in Neurobiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0301-0082. ; 209
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Restoration of functional connectivity is a major contributor to functional recovery after stroke. We investigated the role of reactive astrocytes in functional connectivity and recovery after photothrombotic stroke in mice with attenuated reactive gliosis (GFAP–/–Vim–/–). Infarct volume and longitudinal functional connectivity changes were determined by in vivo T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and resting-state functional MRI. Sensorimotor function was assessed with behavioral tests, and glial and neural plasticity responses were quantified in the peri-infarct region. Four weeks after stroke, GFAP–/–Vim–/– mice showed impaired recovery of sensorimotor function and aberrant restoration of global neuronal connectivity. These mice also exhibited maladaptive plasticity responses, shown by higher number of lost and newly formed functional connections between primary and secondary targets of cortical stroke regions and increased peri-infarct expression of the axonal plasticity marker Gap43. We conclude that reactive astrocytes modulate recovery-promoting plasticity responses after ischemic stroke. © 2021
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| 2. |
- Bunketorp Käll, Lina, 1975, et al.
(författare)
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Motor Function in the Late Phase After Stroke: Stroke Survivors' Perspective
- 2020
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Ingår i: Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine-Arm. - : Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine. - 2234-0645 .- 2234-0653. ; 44:5, s. 362-369
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To examine the association between observer-assessed functional status and perceived recovery in the late phase after stroke. The study also aimed to determine whether observer-assessed functional improvements as a result of horse-riding therapy (H-RT) are related to enhanced perception of stroke recovery. Methods This is a descriptive correlational study using data derived from a three-armed randomized controlled trial in which 123 individuals were enrolled, among whom 43 received H-RT for 12 weeks. The measures included the Modified Motor Assessment Scale, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go, timed 10-m walk, and perceived recovery from stroke indicated by item #9 in the Stroke Impact Scale (version 2.0). Spearman rank order correlation (r(s)) was used in the analyses. Results There were moderate to strong positive or negative correlations between all four observer-assessed motor variables and participants' ratings of perceived late-phase stroke recovery at trial entrance, ranging from r(s)=-0.49 to r(s)=0.54 (p<0.001). The results of the correlational analyses of variable changes showed that, after the end of the H-RT intervention, both self-selected and fast gait speed improvement were significantly correlated with increments in self-rated stroke recovery (4=-0.41, p=0.01 and r(s)=-0.38, p=0.02, respectively). Conclusion This study provided data supporting the association between individual ratings of self-perceived recovery after stroke and observer-assessed individual motor function. The results further demonstrate that enhancement in perceived stroke recovery after completing the intervention was associated with objectively measured gains in both self-selected and fast gait speed.
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| 3. |
- Erlandsson, Malin, 1972, et al.
(författare)
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Survivin promotes a glycolytic switch in CD4+ T cells by suppressing the transcription of PFKFB3 in rheumatoid arthritis.
- 2022
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Ingår i: iScience. - : Elsevier BV. - 2589-0042. ; 25:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study, we explore the role of nuclear survivin in maintaining the effector phenotype of IFNγ-producing Tcells acting through the transcriptional control of glucose utilization. High expression of survivin in CD4+T cells was associated with IFNγ-dependent phenotype and anaerobic glycolysis. Transcriptome of CD4+ cells and sequencing of survivin-bound chromatin showed that nuclear survivin had a genome-wide and motif-specific binding to regulatory regions of the genes controlling cell metabolism. Survivin coprecipitates with transcription factors IRF1 and SMAD3, which repressed the transcription of the metabolic check-point enzyme phosphofructokinase 2 gene PFKFB3 and promoted anaerobic glycolysis. Combining transcriptome analyses of CD4+ cells and functional studies in glucose metabolism, we demonstrated that the inhibition of survivin reverted PFKFB3 production, inhibited glucose uptake, and reduces interferon effects in CD4+ cells. These results present a survivin-dependent mechanism in coordinating the metabolic adaptation of CD4+T cells and propose an attractive strategy to counteract IFNγ-dependent inflammation in autoimmunity.
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| 4. |
- Escartin, C., et al.
(författare)
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Reactive astrocyte nomenclature, definitions, and future directions
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nature Neuroscience. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1097-6256 .- 1546-1726. ; 24, s. 312-325
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Reactive astrocytes are astrocytes undergoing morphological, molecular, and functional remodeling in response to injury, disease, or infection of the CNS. Although this remodeling was first described over a century ago, uncertainties and controversies remain regarding the contribution of reactive astrocytes to CNS diseases, repair, and aging. It is also unclear whether fixed categories of reactive astrocytes exist and, if so, how to identify them. We point out the shortcomings of binary divisions of reactive astrocytes into good-vs-bad, neurotoxic-vs-neuroprotective or A1-vs-A2. We advocate, instead, that research on reactive astrocytes include assessment of multiple molecular and functional parameters-preferably in vivo-plus multivariate statistics and determination of impact on pathological hallmarks in relevant models. These guidelines may spur the discovery of astrocyte-based biomarkers as well as astrocyte-targeting therapies that abrogate detrimental actions of reactive astrocytes, potentiate their neuro- and glioprotective actions, and restore or augment their homeostatic, modulatory, and defensive functions. Good-bad binary classifications fail to describe reactive astrocytes in CNS disorders. Here, 81 researchers reach consensus on widespread misconceptions and provide definitions and recommendations for future research on reactive astrocytes.
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| 5. |
- Gravina, Giacomo, et al.
(författare)
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Proteomics identifies lipocalin-2 in neonatal inflammation associated with cerebrovascular alteration in mice and preterm infants
- 2023
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Ingår i: iScience. - 2589-0042. ; 26:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Staphylococcus (S.) epidermidis is the most common nosocomial coagulase-negative staphylococci infection in preterm infants. Clinical signs of infection are often unspecific and novel markers to complement diagnosis are needed. We investigated proteomic alterations in mouse brain after S. epidermidis infection and in preterm infant blood. We identified lipocalin-2 (LCN2) as a crucial protein associated with cerebrovascular changes and astrocyte reactivity in mice. We further proved that LCN2 protein expression was associated with endothelial cells but not astrocyte reactivity. By combining network analysis and differential expression approaches, we identified LCN2 linked to blood C-reactive protein levels in pre term infants born <28 weeks of gestation. Blood LCN2 levels were associated with similar alterations of cytokines and chemokines in both infected mice and human preterm infants with increased levels of C-reactive protein. This experimental and clinical study suggests that LCN2 may be a marker of preterm infection/inflammation associated with cerebrovascular changes and neuroinflammation.
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| 6. |
- Pekna, Marcela, 1966, et al.
(författare)
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Astrocyte Responses to Complement Peptide C3a are Highly Context-Dependent
- 2023
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Ingår i: Neurochemical Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0364-3190 .- 1573-6903. ; 48:4, s. 1233-1241
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Astrocytes perform a range of homeostatic and regulatory tasks that are critical for normal functioning of the central nervous system. In response to an injury or disease, astrocytes undergo a pronounced transformation into a reactive state that involves changes in the expression of many genes and dramatically changes astrocyte morphology and functions. This astrocyte reactivity is highly dependent on the initiating insult and pathological context. C3a is a peptide generated by the proteolytic cleavage of the third complement component. C3a has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects, stimulate neural plasticity and promote astrocyte survival but can also contribute to synapse loss, Alzheimer's disease type neurodegeneration and blood-brain barrier dysfunction. To test the hypothesis that C3a elicits differential effects on astrocytes depending on their reactivity state, we measured the expression of Gfap, Nes, C3ar1, C3, Ngf, Tnf and Il1b in primary mouse cortical astrocytes after chemical ischemia, after exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as well as in control naive astrocytes. We found that C3a down-regulated the expression of Gfap, C3 and Nes in astrocytes after ischemia. Further, C3a increased the expression of Tnf and Il1b in naive astrocytes and the expression of Nes in astrocytes exposed to LPS but did not affect the expression of C3ar1 or Ngf. Jointly, these results provide the first evidence that the complement peptide C3a modulates the responses of astrocytes in a highly context-dependent manner.
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| 7. |
- Pekna, Marcela, 1966, et al.
(författare)
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Targeting Complement C3a Receptor to Improve Outcome After Ischemic Brain Injury
- 2021
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Ingår i: Neurochemical Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0364-3190 .- 1573-6903. ; 46, s. 2626-2637
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ischemic stroke is a major cause of disability. No efficient therapy is currently available, except for the removal of the occluding blood clot during the first hours after symptom onset. Loss of function after stroke is due to cell death in the infarcted tissue, cell dysfunction in the peri-infarct region, as well as dysfunction and neurodegeneration in remote brain areas. Plasticity responses in spared brain regions are a major contributor to functional recovery, while secondary neurodegeneration in remote regions is associated with depression and impedes the long-term outcome after stroke. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy due to birth asphyxia is the leading cause of neurological disability resulting from birth complications. Despite major progress in neonatal care, approximately 50% of survivors develop complications such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy or epilepsy. The C3a receptor (C3aR) is expressed by many cell types including neurons and glia. While there is a body of evidence for its deleterious effects in the acute phase after ischemic injury to the adult brain, C3aR signaling contributes to better outcome in the post-acute and chronic phase after ischemic stroke in adults and in the ischemic immature brain. Here we discuss recent insights into the novel roles of C3aR signaling in the ischemic brain with focus on the therapeutic opportunities of modulating C3aR activity to improve the outcome after ischemic stroke and birth asphyxia.
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| 8. |
- Pekna, Marcela, 1966, et al.
(författare)
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The Complement System: A Powerful Modulator and Effector of Astrocyte Function in the Healthy and Diseased Central Nervous System
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cells. - : MDPI AG. - 2073-4409. ; 10:7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The complement system, an effector arm of the innate immune system that plays a critical role in tissue inflammation, the elimination of pathogens and the clearance of dead cells and cell debris, has emerged as a regulator of many processes in the central nervous system, including neural cell genesis and migration, control of synapse number and function, and modulation of glial cell responses. Complement dysfunction has also been put forward as a major contributor to neurological disease. Astrocytes are neuroectoderm-derived glial cells that maintain water and ionic homeostasis, and control cerebral blood flow and multiple aspects of neuronal functioning. By virtue of their expression of soluble as well as membrane-bound complement proteins and receptors, astrocytes are able to both send and receive complement-related signals. Here we review the current understanding of the multiple functions of the complement system in the central nervous system as they pertain to the modulation of astrocyte activity, and how astrocytes use the complement system to affect their environment in the healthy brain and in the context of neurological disease.
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| 9. |
- Pekny, M., et al.
(författare)
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Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) in Blood-A Biomarker Predicting Unfavourable Outcome in the Acute Phase and Improvement in the Late Phase after Stroke
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cells. - : MDPI AG. - 2073-4409. ; 10:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Increased sensitivity of methods assessing the levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL), a neuron-specific intermediate filament protein, in human plasma or serum, has in recent years led to a number of studies addressing the utility of monitoring NfL in the blood of stroke patients. In this review, we discuss that elevated blood NfL levels after stroke may reflect several different neurobiological processes. In the acute and post-acute phase after stroke, high blood levels of NfL are associated with poor clinical outcome, and later on, the blood levels of NfL positively correlate with secondary neurodegeneration as assessed by MRI. Interestingly, increased blood levels of NfL in individuals who survived stroke for more than 10 months were shown to predict functional improvement in the late phase after stroke. Whereas in the acute phase after stroke the injured axons are assumed to be the main source of blood NfL, synaptic turnover and secondary neurodegeneration could be major contributors to blood NfL levels in the late phase after stroke. Elevated blood NfL levels after stroke should therefore be interpreted with caution. More studies addressing the clinical utility of blood NfL assessment in stroke patients are needed before the inclusion of NfL in the clinical workout as a useful biomarker in both the acute and the chronic phase after stroke.
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| 10. |
- Pozo-Rodrigálvarez, Andrea, et al.
(författare)
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C3a Receptor Signaling Inhibits Neurodegeneration Induced by Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Immunology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-3224. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hypoxic-ischemic neonatal encephalopathy due to perinatal asphyxia is the leading cause of brain injury in newborns. Clinical data suggest that brain inflammation induced by perinatal insults can persist for years. We previously showed that signaling through the receptor for complement peptide C3a (C3aR) protects against cognitive impairment induced by experimental perinatal asphyxia. To investigate the long-term neuropathological effects of hypoxic-ischemic injury to the developing brain and the role of C3aR signaling therein, we subjected wildtype mice, C3aR deficient mice, and mice expressing biologically active C3a in the CNS to mild hypoxic-ischemic brain injury on postnatal day 9. We found that such injury triggers neurodegeneration and pronounced reactive gliosis in the ipsilesional hippocampus both of which persist long into adulthood. Transgenic expression of C3a in reactive astrocytes reduced hippocampal neurodegeneration and reactive gliosis. In contrast, neurodegeneration and microglial cell density increased in mice lacking C3aR. Intranasal administration of C3a for 3 days starting 1 h after induction of hypoxia-ischemia reduced neurodegeneration and reactive gliosis in the hippocampus of wildtype mice. We conclude that neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury leads to long-lasting neurodegeneration. This neurodegeneration is substantially reduced by treatment with C3aR agonists, conceivably through modulation of reactive gliosis. Copyright © 2021 Pozo-Rodrigálvarez, Li, Stokowska, Wu, Dehm, Sourkova, Steinbusch, Mallard, Hagberg, Pekny and Pekna.
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