Early brain injury alters the blood-brain barrier phenotype in parallel with β-amyloid and cognitive changes in adulthood

J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2013 Feb;33(2):205-14. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2012.154. Epub 2012 Nov 14.

Abstract

Clinical studies suggest that traumatic brain injury (TBI) hastens cognitive decline and development of neuropathology resembling brain aging. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption following TBI may contribute to the aging process by deregulating substance exchange between the brain and blood. We evaluated the effect of juvenile TBI (jTBI) on these processes by examining long-term alterations of BBB proteins, β-amyloid (Aβ) neuropathology, and cognitive changes. A controlled cortical impact was delivered to the parietal cortex of male rats at postnatal day 17, with behavioral studies and brain tissue evaluation at 60 days post-injury (dpi). Immunoglobulin G extravasation was unchanged, and jTBI animals had higher levels of tight-junction protein claudin 5 versus shams, suggesting the absence of BBB disruption. However, decreased P-glycoprotein (P-gp) on cortical blood vessels indicates modifications of BBB properties. In parallel, we observed higher levels of endogenous rodent Aβ in several brain regions of the jTBI group versus shams. In addition at 60 dpi, jTBI animals displayed systematic search strategies rather than relying on spatial memory during the water maze. Together, these alterations to the BBB phenotype after jTBI may contribute to the accumulation of toxic products, which in turn may induce cognitive differences and ultimately accelerate brain aging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aging*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / injuries
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism*
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / pathology
  • Brain Injuries / complications
  • Brain Injuries / metabolism*
  • Brain Injuries / pathology
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / injuries
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism*
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
  • Claudin-5 / genetics
  • Claudin-5 / metabolism
  • Cognition*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Male
  • Maze Learning*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Claudin-5
  • Cldn5 protein, rat
  • Immunoglobulin G