title: Neuroprotective fractalkine in fetal alcohol syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neuroprotective peptides (NAP+SAL) can prevent some alcohol-induced damage in fetal alcohol syndrome(FAS). Fractalkine, a chemokine constitutively expressed in the CNS reduces neuronal death from activated microglia. Using a model of FAS we evaluated if fractalkine is altered and if NAP+SAL work through fractalkine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a FAS model, C57BL6/J-mice were treated on gestational day 8 with alcohol (0.03 mL/g), placebo or alcohol+peptides. Embryos were harvested after 6h(E8) and 10 days later(E18). Fractalkine was measured in the protein lysate (Luminex xMAP). Statistical analysis included Kruskal-Wallis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fractalkine was significantly elevated at 6h (median 341 pg/ml, range 263-424 pg/ml) vs. controls (median 228 pg/ml, range 146-332 pg/ml; P<.001). NAP+SAL prevented the alcohol-induced increase (median 137, range 97-255 pg/ml, P<.001). At E18, fractalkine levels were similar in all groups (P=0.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prenatal alcohol exposure acutely elevates fractalkine, perhaps in an effort to counter the alcohol toxicity. Pre-treatment with NAP+SAL prevents the acute increase in fractalkine.
authors.affiliation: Unit on Perinatal and Developmental Neurobiology, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. robersor@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roberson
authors.forename: Thea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuddo
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Benassou
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abebe
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C526732:SALLRSIPA; D000431:Ethanol; C425904:davunetide