Oligodendrocyte precursor cells transplantation protects blood-brain barrier in a mouse model of brain ischemia via Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Cell Death Dis. 2020 Jan 6;11(1):9. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-2206-9.

Abstract

Blood-brain barrier damage is a critical pathological feature of ischemic stroke. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells are involved in maintaining blood-brain barrier integrity during the development. However, whether oligodendrocyte precursor cell could sustain blood-brain barrier permeability during ischemic brain injury is unknown. Here, we investigate whether oligodendrocyte precursor cell transplantation protects blood-brain barrier integrity and promotes ischemic stroke recovery. Adult male ICR mice (n = 68) underwent 90 min transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. After ischemic assault, these mice received stereotactic injection of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (6 × 105). Oligodendrocyte precursor cells transplantation alleviated edema and infarct volume, and promoted neurological recovery after ischemic stroke. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells reduced blood-brain barrier leakage via increasing claudin-5, occludin and β-catenin expression. Administration of β-catenin inhibitor blocked the beneficial effects of oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Wnt7a protein treatment increased β-catenin and claudin-5 expression in endothelial cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation, which was similar to the results of the conditioned medium treatment of oligodendrocyte precursor cells on endothelial cells. We demonstrated that oligodendrocyte precursor cells transplantation protected blood-brain barrier in the acute phase of ischemic stroke via activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our results indicated that oligodendrocyte precursor cells transplantation was a novel approach to the ischemic stroke therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / pathology*
  • Brain Edema / complications
  • Brain Edema / pathology
  • Brain Ischemia / complications
  • Brain Ischemia / pathology*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Claudin-5 / metabolism
  • Culture Media, Conditioned / pharmacology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Glucose / deficiency
  • Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / complications
  • Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells / drug effects
  • Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells / metabolism*
  • Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells / transplantation*
  • Oxygen
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway* / drug effects
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Claudin-5
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Wnt Proteins
  • Wnt7a protein, mouse
  • beta Catenin
  • Glucose
  • Oxygen