Central nervous system-targeted complement inhibition mediates neuroprotection after closed head injury in transgenic mice

J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2003 Sep;23(9):1070-4. doi: 10.1097/01.WCB.0000084250.20114.2C.

Abstract

The role of intracerebral complement activation after traumatic brain injury remains unclear. In this study, the authors demonstrate that transgenic mice with astrocyte-targeted expression of the soluble complement inhibitor sCrry have a significantly reduced neurologic impairment and improved blood-brain barrier function after closed head injury compared with wild-type C57BL/6 littermates. This work further implicates the complement system as a participant in secondary progression of brain damage after head trauma and provides a strong rationale for future studies of posttraumatic pharmacologic complement inhibition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / physiology
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Central Nervous System / immunology*
  • Complement Activation*
  • Complement System Proteins / immunology*
  • Head Injuries, Closed / immunology
  • Head Injuries, Closed / pathology
  • Head Injuries, Closed / physiopathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neuroprotective Agents / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Complement / genetics
  • Receptors, Complement / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Complement 3b

Substances

  • Cr1l protein, mouse
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Receptors, Complement
  • Receptors, Complement 3b
  • Complement System Proteins