Neuroglobin-overexpression reduces traumatic brain lesion size in mice.
BACKGROUND
Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that over-expression of Neuroglobin (Ngb) is neuroprotective against hypoxic/ischemic brain injuries. In this study we tested the neuroprotective effects of Ngb over-expression against traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice.


RESULTS
Both Ngb over-expression transgenic (Ngb-Tg) and wild-type (WT) control mice were subjected to TBI induced by a controlled cortical impact (CCI) device. TBI significantly increased Ngb expression in the brains of both WT and Ngb-Tg mice, but Ngb-Tg mice had significantly higher Ngb protein levels at the pre-injury baseline and post-TBI. Production of oxidative tissue damage biomarker 3NT in the brain was significantly reduced in Ngb-Tg mice compared to WT controls at 6 hours after TBI. The traumatic brain lesion volume was significantly reduced in Ngb Tg mice compared to WT mice at 3 weeks after TBI; however, there were no significant differences in the recovery of sensorimotor and spatial memory functional deficits between Ngb-Tg and WT control mice for up to 3 weeks after TBI.


CONCLUSIONS
Ngb over-expression reduced traumatic lesion volume, which might partially be achieved by decreasing oxidative stress.
Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Departments of Neurology and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
Song
S
Zhao
Zhanyang
Z
Yu
Gang
G
Zhao
Changhong
C
Xing
Kazuhide
K
Hayakawa
Michael J
MJ
Whalen
Josephine M
JM
Lok
Eng H
EH
Lo
Xiaoying
X
Wang
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000078787:Neuroglobin; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C002744:3-nitrotyrosine; D014443:Tyrosine; D005914:Globins