4. Discussion
4.1 Review of results
Contrary to what we expected, there was no significant difference between behaviour and histology of PBS or LPS treated mice. Some results, however, such as the number of microglial clusters, may benefit from an increase in the n number, since the lack of significance was caused, partially, due to high variability inside the groups. We are currently evaluating the immunohistochemistry of 4 mice, although the initial idea of a profound effect of intranasal LPS over behaviour and histology seem improbable. This can have several factors which are going to be explored individually.
4.2 Post-infection Time Window
Intranasal infection with laboratory isolate of Chlamydia pneumonia was shown to induce immune reaction in the olfactory bulb and brain at 1 month post-infection (pi), which gradually declined, but was still detectable, at 3 and 4 months (Little et al., 2014). On our experiment, tissue collection was done roughly 2 weeks after the LPS injections, therefore, there may have not been enough time for development of immune response, such as microgliosis. Nevertheless, in vitro studies, which exposed neuronal cells to Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, as well as LPS, detected increased β-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau as early as 2 weeks after exposure (Miklossy et al., 2006). In contrast, the in vivo study with Chlamydia pneumonia failed to find tau pathology and suggested that long term exposure to pathogen (>1 year) may yield better
PURPOSE The main goal of experiment three was to test a rat’s ability to be conditioned to perform a behavior, and then relearn the same behavior after an extinction period. After ensuring that the rat was conditioned on a continuous reinforcement schedule (CRF), the next goal in the experiment was to extinct the previously learned behavior of lever pressing and receiving a food pellet. Once the behavior was extinct, the rat was reconditioned to lever press on a conditioned reinforcement schedule. The goal of the experiment was to demonstrate that a behavior could be learned, extinct, and then relearned.
According to Li and Hölscher, this study showed positive results. For example, this graph from the report (show slide #7) shows how the treated mice, marked APP/PS1+TA, maintained a better memory of a water maze compared to the untreated
These physical changes have been proposed to underlie intellectual and may advance neuronal brokenness in neurodegenerative infections.
2010). The neuroinflammation is an early, non-specific immune reaction to tissue damage or pathogen invasion (Lee et al. 2010). Inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS) is characterized by increased glial activation, pro-inflammatory cytokine concentration, blood-brain-barrier permeability, and leukocyte invasion (Lee et al. 2010). Microglia are cells that support and protect neuronal functions (Lee at al. 2010). They act as the first and main form of active immune defense that orchestrate the endogenous immune response of the Central Nervous System. The microglia play a central role in the cellular response to pathological lesions such as Aβ. Aβ can attract and activate microglia, leading to clustering of microglia around Aβ deposits sites in the brain (Lee et al. 2010). Even though microglia have neuroprotective functions, neurotoxic mechanisms which involves continuous activation of microglia and toxic factors are released by microglia, which may lead to neuroinflammation (Lee et al. 2010). Astrocytes (star-shaped glial cells) are the most abundant cells in the brain and are located in the brain and spinal. Astrocytes have various functions such as: biochemical support of endothelial cells of the BBB, supplying nutrients to the nervous tissue, maintenance of extracellular ion balance, and healing the brain and spinal cord following traumatic injury (Lee et al., 2010). Chemokines are released by astrocytes which attract microglia and they further express proinflammatory products, thus increasing neuronal damage in the pathogenesis of AD (Lee et al., 2010). Astrocytes play a critical role in Aß clearance and degradation, and they also provide trophic support to neurons forming a protective barrier between Aß deposits and neurons (Wyss-Coray et al., 2003). Neurons contribute to the production of
Chlamydias is a common infection among sexually active individuals, producing an inflammatory response in the genitalia
Mice play one of the main roles in predators ,plants and everything else it interacts .The mice can affect organisms around its ecosystem. Mice are small little organisms.Its Ecosystem is in grasslands,and many burrows onto the ground.They can sometimes play as the ´parasite´ to the ones it invades homes,for its considered an invasive species.They are part of the food web.They eat little nuts,plants and grains it finds.But it's an omnivore so it is capable to consume meat.They affect those around and interacts with the organisms,For they are Important.
Microglia are resident immune cells in the CNS, separated from many blood-borne molecules by the BBB. However, evidence suggests that BBB endothelial cells either act as transporters of hormones and cytokines across the BBB or as classic receptor sites, possibly reacting to signals in the blood by secreting other signals into the CNS.8 By these mechanisms, microglia can become activated in response to inflammatory stimulation such as the cytokines and hormones that cross the BBB.9 Also, metabolic disease frequently leads to compromise of the BBB, providing greater access for circulating molecules to the CNS. It is not clear whether metabolic disease causes microglia to weaken the BBB, or whether the BBB is weakened first, with microglia then
The rodents are given this diet since gestation and received modest fluid percussion when they became 14 weeks old. It was seen that TBI in the rodents caused reduced levels of molecular systems which is important for synaptic plasticity, as well as plasma membrane homeostasis in the lumbar part of the spinal cord.
The nervous system and the endocrine system regulate all body functions (class notes). But, certain diseases and disorders can affect any of these organ systems. One disorder that can affect the brain is a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), also referred to as a stroke. CVA usually results from either a blood vessel in the brain that has burst and decreased the flow of blood to a specific area of the brain or a blood clot that blocks the flow of blood to specific areas of the brain. Either of these causes can result in the brain tissue being deprived of nutrients and oxygen, which will make the brain tissue die (class notes). The following features a study on the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pnuemoniae) and cerebrovascular accidents.
In general, each neuron releases a single type of neurotransmitter. Neurons that release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine are called cholinergic neurons and degeneration of cholinergic neurons in the brain are associated with Alzheimer’s (Sherwood). Drugs classified as short-term cholinesterase inhibitors are used to treat Alzheimer’s because the drugs prolong the effect of acetylcholine. There are special cells called microglia that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease as well. Microglia are immune defense cells in the CNS (central nervous system) or brain and spinal cord. The remove foreign and degenerate material in the CNS. Overactive microglia appear to be involved in a variety of inflammation-related disorders like Alzheimer’s (Sherwood). Inflammation is triggered by the body’s immune system and is a factor that plays in the progression of the disease (Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia).
Inflamed dopaminergic neurons release inflammatory mediators (IFNs, EGF, IL5, IL6, HGF, LIF and BMP2). Inflammatory mediators such TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6 are elevated in Parkinson’s disease [23], [24], [25] . Early cytokine expression (via m-RNA stabilization) is then stimulated by binding of these inflammatory mediators toTLR4 receptor [26], [27]. When released these cytokines induce activation of transcription factors such as Stat1 and Stat3 activation and Stat dimers in combination with NF-κB up regulate Jmjd3 expression [27]. Inflammatory activation of microglia results due to activation of a transcriptional network by Stat1 and Stat3, in concert with Jmjd3. Proinflammatory cytokines are then released by activated microglia. These cytokines then cause activation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). As a result of activation of these enzymes reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide are formed [28], [29]. Transcription factors such as NF-κB, STAT 1 and STAT 3 and SMAD7 are up regulated in the chronic, self sustaining environment of inflammation in the brain or neuroinflammation and causes microglial activation, which leads to Parkinson’s disease through autophagy of dopaminergic neurons and various other mechanisms which are largely unknown. However, autophagy is the leading
When looking at lesion borders, the chronic plaques have clearer borders than the acute plaque. In these chronic plaques, there is a division into two forms to divide between “temporal evolution from active destruction at the edge of the lesion to a “burned out” lesion devoid of active inflammatory destruction.” 4 On the borders of chronic active plaque, there are active microglia and macrophages along with reactive astrocytes. Remyelination is not common and oligodendrocytes are completely lost with a reduction in the density of the axon.
Due to the increasing prevalence of the elderly population in the modern age, scientists have found it important to explore factors that may counteract the brain’s inevitable deterioration. In a series of experiments, Villeda and his colleagues tested whether supplementing old mice with blood from young mice would cause positive changes in their brains.
Multiple Sclerosis (M.S) is a chronic autoimmune, inflammatory disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS) that leads to a variety of disabilities, including: asthenia, lack of coordination, abnormal vision, cognitive changes, and sexual and urinary dysfunction(1). M.S pathogenesis involves a complex process of the activity of macrophages and micro-glial cells that leads to differentiation of specific neural Th1 lymphocytes (Myelin auto reactive T-Cells) and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the CNS. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by inflammation of central nervous system (CNS) injury. This disease is an animal model of multiple sclerosis in human (2). In EAE, CD4+ lymphocytes call macrophages to the central nervous system, subsequently they are activated against microglia cells, which lead to demyelination of neurons (3, 4). EAE can be induced by injection of central nervous system proteins, such as basic myelin proteolipid protein derived from CNS proteins, to animals such as monkeys, pigs, rats and mice (5, 6). Recently, the role of Th2 cytokines in therapy and control of EAE as a potential treatment for M.S has been accepted. Following information suggest that immune modulators, especially those that lead to suppress Th2 environment, can be potential treatments for M.S(3). Many studies have shown that M.S is a Th1 lymphocyte-dependent autoimmune disease. There have been significant
Microglia, in the same way as vascular cells, can bind to Aβ resulting in an amplified production of cytokines, glutamate and nitric oxide (6, 7). Some studies suggest that chemokines can recruit monocytes from the peripheral blood into plaque bearing brain.(8) Related to this neuroinflammation are the alterations of type I and type II Interferon (IFN) levels in AD mice model, PDGFB-APPSwInd (J20), where an enhanced type I IFN signaling at the brain barriers and hippocampus, and decreased type II IFN response, only at the barriers were observed.(9) Of interest the blockage of IFN type I response at the central nervous system is able to partial revert the cognitive decline in aged mice.(10) However the role of this blockage on an AD mice model is still