title: In vivo expression of neuroglobin in reactive astrocytes during neuropathology in murine models of traumatic brain injury, cerebral malaria, and autoimmune encephalitis.
abstract: Neuroglobin (Ngb) is proposed to be a neuron-specific, hypoxia-responsive, neuroprotective protein. However, results are conflicting concerning both Ngb's physiological and pathological significance. This study was designed to investigate the in vivo localization and regulation of Ngb in different neuropathological models representing traumatic injury, infectious, autoimmune, and excitotoxic pathogeneses. We profiled Ngb immunohistochemistry in murine models of traumatic brain injury, cerebral malaria, experimental autoimmune encephalitis, and kainic acid (KA)-mediated epileptic seizures that, to our knowledge, have not been studied in the context of Ngb. In control mice Ngb was expressed exclusively in neurons. In all pathological models except KA, in addition to neurons Ngb was present in reactive astrocytes. Ngb positive astrocytes were found within regions associated with most severe pathology and the astroglial scar. This is the first report of Ngb present in reactive astroglia and in scar-forming astrocytes in response to different pathological conditions relevant to human disease. In light of previously reported cyto-protective properties of Ngb, further insight may result in therapeutic ramifications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Section of Neuroprotection, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. briandellavalle@gmail.com
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: DellaValle
authors.forename: Casper
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hempel
authors.forename: Jørgen A L
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kurtzhals
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Penkowa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020274:Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005914:Globins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007608:Kainic Acid; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D005914:Globins; D007608:Kainic Acid