Dynamics of microglial activation after human traumatic brain injury are revealed by delayed expression of macrophage-related proteins MRP8 and MRP14

Stefan Engel*, Hermann Schluesener, Michel Mittelbronn, Karin Seid, Diana Adjodah, Hans Dieter Wehner, Richard Meyermann

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

106 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Human traumatic brain injury (TBI) is ideally suited for investigation of the kinetics of human microglial cell activation as the onset of lesion formation is precisely defined. The present study provides evidence of a distinct delay in macrophage/microglia response following TBI. Eighteen brains of patients who had survived TBI for 1 h to 6 months were analysed by immunohistology. Samples of contusional and non-contusional areas were studied using antibodies directed against antigens of microglia/macrophages [major histocompatibility complex class II, CD4, interleukin (IL)-16, macrophage-related protein (MRP) 8 and MRP14]. IL-16, a natural ligand to CD4, was expressed constitutively by numerous microglial cells in all cases throughout the brain. CD4 could be detected regularly on perivascular cells. MRP8 and MRP14, which are only expressed on activated macrophages and microglial cells, could be detected only within brains with a survival time of more than 72 h post TBI. In addition, proliferation of microglia detected by MIB-1 was not present until 72 h. This delayed expression of the activation markers MRP8 and MRP14 and the proliferation marker MIB-1 is comparable to experimental closed head injuries but strictly different from acute activation found in ischemic brains.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)313-322
Number of pages10
JournalActa Neuropathologica
Volume100
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2000
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Intracellular signalling
  • Ischemia
  • Ki-67
  • Microglia activation
  • Normal brain

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