APOE4 genetic polymorphism results in impaired recovery in a repeated mild traumatic brain injury model and treatment with Bryostatin-1 improves outcomes

Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 16;10(1):19919. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-76849-x.

Abstract

After traumatic brain injury (TBI), some people have worse recovery than others. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Apolipoprotein E (APOE) are known to increase risk for developing Alzheimer's disease, however there is controversy from human and rodent studies as to whether ApoE4 is a risk factor for worse outcomes after brain trauma. To resolve these conflicting studies we have explored the effect of the human APOE4 gene in a reproducible mouse model that mimics common human injuries. We have investigated cellular and behavioral outcomes in genetically engineered human APOE targeted replacement (TR) mice following repeated mild TBI (rmTBI) using a lateral fluid percussion injury model. Relative to injured APOE3 TR mice, injured APOE4 TR mice had more inflammation, neurodegeneration, apoptosis, p-tau, and activated microglia and less total brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the cortex and/or hippocampus at 1 and/or 21 days post-injury. We utilized a novel personalized approach to treating APOE4 susceptible mice by administering Bryostatin-1, which improved cellular as well as motor and cognitive behavior outcomes at 1 DPI in the APOE4 injured mice. This study demonstrates that APOE4 is a risk factor for poor outcomes after rmTBI and highlights how personalized therapeutics can be a powerful treatment option.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apolipoprotein E4 / genetics*
  • Brain Concussion / complications
  • Brain Concussion / drug therapy*
  • Bryostatins / pharmacology*
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / etiology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammation / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*

Substances

  • Apolipoprotein E4
  • Bryostatins
  • bryostatin 1