Alterations in iron content, iron-regulatory proteins and behaviour without tau pathology at one year following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury
Abstract Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (r-mTBI) has increasingly become recognised as a risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases, many of which are characterised by tau pathology, metal dyshomeostasis and behavioural impairments. We aimed to characterise the status of t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Acta Neuropathologica Communications |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-023-01603-z |
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| author | Sydney M. A. Juan Maria Daglas Phan H. Truong Celeste Mawal Paul A. Adlard |
| author_facet | Sydney M. A. Juan Maria Daglas Phan H. Truong Celeste Mawal Paul A. Adlard |
| author_sort | Sydney M. A. Juan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (r-mTBI) has increasingly become recognised as a risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases, many of which are characterised by tau pathology, metal dyshomeostasis and behavioural impairments. We aimed to characterise the status of tau and the involvement of iron dyshomeostasis in repetitive controlled cortical impact injury (5 impacts, 48 h apart) in 3-month-old C57Bl6 mice at the chronic (12-month) time point. We performed a battery of behavioural tests, characterised the status of neurodegeneration-associated proteins (tau and tau-regulatory proteins, amyloid precursor protein and iron-regulatory proteins) via western blot; and metal levels using bulk inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We report significant changes in various ipsilateral iron-regulatory proteins following five but not a single injury, and significant increases in contralateral iron, zinc and copper levels following five impacts. There was no evidence of tau pathology or changes in tau-regulatory proteins following five impacts, although some changes were observed following a single injury. Five impacts resulted in significant gait deficits, mild anhedonia and mild cognitive deficits at 9–12 months post-injury, effects not seen following a single injury. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to describe chronic changes in metals and iron-regulatory proteins in a mouse model of r-mTBI, providing a strong indication towards an overall increase in brain iron levels (and other metals) in the chronic phase following r-mTBI. These results bring to question the relevance of tau and highlight the involvement of iron dysregulation in the development and/or progression of neurodegeneration following injury, which may lead to new therapeutic approaches in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:13:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-973cd619015f4cef985a9e779825e8ee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2051-5960 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:13:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Neuropathologica Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-973cd619015f4cef985a9e779825e8ee2023-07-23T11:29:19ZengBMCActa Neuropathologica Communications2051-59602023-07-0111113010.1186/s40478-023-01603-zAlterations in iron content, iron-regulatory proteins and behaviour without tau pathology at one year following repetitive mild traumatic brain injurySydney M. A. Juan0Maria Daglas1Phan H. Truong2Celeste Mawal3Paul A. Adlard4Synaptic Neurobiology Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, The University of MelbourneSynaptic Neurobiology Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, The University of MelbourneSynaptic Neurobiology Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, The University of MelbourneSynaptic Neurobiology Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, The University of MelbourneSynaptic Neurobiology Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, The University of MelbourneAbstract Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (r-mTBI) has increasingly become recognised as a risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases, many of which are characterised by tau pathology, metal dyshomeostasis and behavioural impairments. We aimed to characterise the status of tau and the involvement of iron dyshomeostasis in repetitive controlled cortical impact injury (5 impacts, 48 h apart) in 3-month-old C57Bl6 mice at the chronic (12-month) time point. We performed a battery of behavioural tests, characterised the status of neurodegeneration-associated proteins (tau and tau-regulatory proteins, amyloid precursor protein and iron-regulatory proteins) via western blot; and metal levels using bulk inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We report significant changes in various ipsilateral iron-regulatory proteins following five but not a single injury, and significant increases in contralateral iron, zinc and copper levels following five impacts. There was no evidence of tau pathology or changes in tau-regulatory proteins following five impacts, although some changes were observed following a single injury. Five impacts resulted in significant gait deficits, mild anhedonia and mild cognitive deficits at 9–12 months post-injury, effects not seen following a single injury. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to describe chronic changes in metals and iron-regulatory proteins in a mouse model of r-mTBI, providing a strong indication towards an overall increase in brain iron levels (and other metals) in the chronic phase following r-mTBI. These results bring to question the relevance of tau and highlight the involvement of iron dysregulation in the development and/or progression of neurodegeneration following injury, which may lead to new therapeutic approaches in the future.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-023-01603-zRepetitive mild traumatic brain injuryTau phosphorylationMetal dyshomeostasisIron-regulatory proteinsNeurodegeneration |
| spellingShingle | Sydney M. A. Juan Maria Daglas Phan H. Truong Celeste Mawal Paul A. Adlard Alterations in iron content, iron-regulatory proteins and behaviour without tau pathology at one year following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury Acta Neuropathologica Communications Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury Tau phosphorylation Metal dyshomeostasis Iron-regulatory proteins Neurodegeneration |
| title | Alterations in iron content, iron-regulatory proteins and behaviour without tau pathology at one year following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury |
| title_full | Alterations in iron content, iron-regulatory proteins and behaviour without tau pathology at one year following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury |
| title_fullStr | Alterations in iron content, iron-regulatory proteins and behaviour without tau pathology at one year following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alterations in iron content, iron-regulatory proteins and behaviour without tau pathology at one year following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury |
| title_short | Alterations in iron content, iron-regulatory proteins and behaviour without tau pathology at one year following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury |
| title_sort | alterations in iron content iron regulatory proteins and behaviour without tau pathology at one year following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury |
| topic | Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury Tau phosphorylation Metal dyshomeostasis Iron-regulatory proteins Neurodegeneration |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-023-01603-z |
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