title: Neuroinflammation in animal models of traumatic brain injury.
abstract: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Neuroinflammation is prominent in the short and long-term consequences of neuronal injuries that occur after TBI. Neuroinflammation involves the activation of glia, including microglia and astrocytes, to release inflammatory mediators within the brain, and the subsequent recruitment of peripheral immune cells. Various animal models of TBI have been developed that have proved valuable to elucidate the pathophysiology of the disorder and to assess the safety and efficacy of novel therapies prior to clinical trials. These models provide an excellent platform to delineate key injury mechanisms that associate with types of injury (concussion, contusion, and penetration injuries) that occur clinically for the investigation of mild, moderate, and severe forms of TBI. Additionally, TBI modeling in genetically engineered mice, in particular, has aided the identification of key molecules and pathways for putative injury mechanisms, as targets for development of novel therapies for human TBI. This Review details the evidence showing that neuroinflammation, characterized by the activation of microglia and astrocytes and elevated production of inflammatory mediators, is a critical process occurring in various TBI animal models, provides a broad overview of commonly used animal models of TBI, and overviews representative techniques to quantify markers of the brain inflammatory process. A better understanding of neuroinflammation could open therapeutic avenues for abrogation of secondary cell death and behavioral symptoms that may mediate the progression of TBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan and Liouying, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chong-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-En
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ling-Yu
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jing-Ya
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tweedie
authors.affiliation: Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Hanuma K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Karnati
authors.affiliation: Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Nigel H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Greig
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: jywang2010@tmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Jia-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology*; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*
keywords: Astrocytes; Controlled cortical impact; Glia cells; Lateralfluid percussion; Measurements evaluating neuroinflammation; Microglia; Neuroinflammation; Traumatic brain injury (TBI); Weight-drop impact