Membrane attack complex inhibitor CD59a protects against focal cerebral ischemia in mice.
BACKGROUND
The complement system is a crucial mediator of inflammation and cell lysis after cerebral ischemia. However, there is little information about the exact contribution of the membrane attack complex (MAC) and its inhibitor-protein CD59.


METHODS
Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in young male and female CD59a knockout and wild-type mice. Two models of MCAO were applied: 60 min MCAO and 48 h reperfusion, as well as 30 min MCAO and 72 h reperfusion. CD59a knockout animals were compared to wild-type animals in terms of infarct size, edema, neurological deficit, and cell death.


CONCLUSIONS
CD59a-deficiency in male mice caused significantly increased infarct volumes and brain swelling when compared to wild-type mice at 72 h after 30 min-occlusion time, whereas no significant difference was observed after 1 h-MCAO. Moreover, CD59a-deficient mice had impaired neurological function when compared to wild-type mice after 30 min MCAO.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that CD59a protects against ischemic brain damage, but depending on the gender and the stroke model used.
Harhausen
Denise
D
Experimentelle Neurologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, CCM, Berlin, Germany.
Khojasteh
Uldus
U
Stahel
Philip F
PF
Morgan
B Paul
BP
Nietfeld
Wilfried
W
Dirnagl
Ulrich
U
Trendelenburg
George
G
D000818:Animals; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D018957:CD59 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling / Q000379:methods; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D039481:CD11b Antigen; D018957:CD59 Antigens; C539311:CD59a protein, mouse