Targeting the thrombin receptor modulates inflammation and astrogliosis to improve recovery after spinal cord injury

Maja Radulovic, Hyesook Yoon, Jianmin Wu, Karim Mustafa, Isobel A. Scarisbrick

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

The deregulation of serine protease activity is a common feature of neurological injury, but little is known regarding their mechanisms of action or whether they can be targeted to facilitate repair. In this study we demonstrate that the thrombin receptor (Protease Activated Receptor 1, (PAR1)) serves as a critical translator of the spinal cord injury (SCI) proteolytic microenvironment into a cascade of pro-inflammatory events that contribute to astrogliosis and functional decline. PAR1 knockout mice displayed improved locomotor recovery after SCI and reduced signatures of inflammation and astrogliosis, including expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin, and STAT3 signaling. SCI-associated elevations in pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-6 were also reduced in PAR1-/- mice and co-ordinate improvements in tissue sparing and preservation of NeuN-positive ventral horn neurons, and PKCγ corticospinal axons, were observed. PAR1 and its agonist's thrombin and neurosin were expressed by perilesional astrocytes and each agonist increased the production of IL-6 and STAT3 signaling in primary astrocyte cultures in a PAR1-dependent manner. In turn, IL-6-stimulated astrocytes increased expression of PAR1, thrombin, and neurosin, pointing to a model in which PAR1 activation contributes to increased astrogliosis by feedforward- and feedback-signaling dynamics. Collectively, these findings identify the thrombin receptor as a key mediator of inflammation and astrogliosis in the aftermath of SCI that can be targeted to reduce neurodegeneration and improve neurobehavioral recovery.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)226-242
Number of pages17
JournalNeurobiology of Disease
Volume93
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2016

Keywords

  • Astrocyte
  • Astrogliosis
  • Cytokine
  • GPCR
  • Inflammation
  • Interleukin 6
  • Microglia
  • Serine protease
  • Traumatic spinal cord injury

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology

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