Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation reduces remote apoptotic cell death and inflammation after focal brain injury.
After focal brain injuries occur, in addition to the effects that are attributable to the primary site of damage, the resulting functional impairments depend highly on changes that occur in regions that are remote but functionally connected to the site of injury. Such effects are associated with apoptotic and inflammatory cascades and are considered to be important predictors of outcome. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive technique that is used to treat various central nervous system (CNS) pathologies and enhance functional recovery after brain damage.



This study examined the efficacy of rTMS in mitigating remote degeneration and inflammation and in improving functional recovery in a model of focal brain damage.



Rats that were undergoing hemicerebellectomy (HCb) were treated with an rTMS protocol for 7 days, and neuronal death indices, glial activation, and functional recovery were assessed.



rTMS significantly reduced neuronal death and glial activation in remote regions and improved functional recovery.



Our finding opens up a completely new scenario for exploiting the potential of rTMS as an anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory treatment.
Santa Lucia Foundation, I.R.C.C.S., Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome, Italy.
Valeria
V
Sasso
Santa Lucia Foundation, I.R.C.C.S., Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome, Italy.
Elisa
E
Bisicchia
Santa Lucia Foundation, I.R.C.C.S., Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome, Italy.
Laura
L
Latini
Santa Lucia Foundation, I.R.C.C.S., Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome, Italy.|Dipartimento di Filosofia, Scienze Sociali, Umane e della Formazione, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Veronica
V
Ghiglieri
Santa Lucia Foundation, I.R.C.C.S., Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome, Italy.
Fabrizio
F
Cacace
Santa Lucia Foundation, I.R.C.C.S., Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome, Italy.
Valeria
V
Carola
Santa Lucia Foundation, I.R.C.C.S., Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome, Italy.
Marco
M
Molinari
Santa Lucia Foundation, I.R.C.C.S., Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143, Rome, Italy. mt.viscomi@hsantalucia.it.
Maria Teresa
0000-0002-9096-4967
MT
Viscomi
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000528:radiation effects; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
C100745:Aif1 protein, rat; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D045304:Cytochromes c; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
Apoptosis; Glial activation; Inflammation; Neuroprotection; Remote degeneration; Transcranial magnetic stimulation