Impaired blood-brain and blood-spinal cord barriers in mutant SOD1-linked ALS rat

Brain Res. 2009 Dec 8:1301:152-62. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2009.09.018. Epub 2009 Sep 11.

Abstract

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) impairment is an additional accident occurring during the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression. In this work, we aimed to decipher if BBB/BSCB leakage appeared before critical detrimental events and could serve as a marker preceding clinical symptoms. Three different BBB leakage markers: Evans blue, IgG and hemosiderin, were used to look at the SOD1-linked ALS rat model at presymptomatic and symptomatic stages. Although IgG and hemosiderin could be detected at presymptomatic stage, Evans blue extravasation which fits best with BBB/BSCB impairment could only be seen at symptomatic stages. BBB/BSCB impairment was further substantiate by showing at symptomatic stages decreased mRNA expression of ZO-1 and occludin as well as agrin, a basal membrane constituent. Electron microscopic data substantiate a toxic environment around endothelial cell and peri-vascular swollen astrocyte end-feet showing oedema-linked BBB opening.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agrin / genetics
  • Agrin / metabolism
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / genetics
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / metabolism
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / pathology*
  • Animals
  • Astrocytes / metabolism
  • Astrocytes / pathology
  • Biomarkers
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / pathology*
  • Brain Stem / metabolism
  • Brain Stem / pathology*
  • Cell Shape
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Evans Blue
  • Hemosiderin / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulins / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Occludin
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Transgenic
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism
  • Spinal Cord / pathology*
  • Staining and Labeling
  • Superoxide Dismutase / genetics*
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein

Substances

  • Agrin
  • Biomarkers
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Occludin
  • Ocln protein, rat
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tjp1 protein, rat
  • Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
  • Evans Blue
  • Hemosiderin
  • Superoxide Dismutase