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Free keywords:
Animals; Antigens, CD11b/metabolism; Antigens, CD59/genetics/metabolism; Brain Infarction/etiology/metabolism/pathology; Disease Models, Animal; Female; In Situ Nick-End Labeling/methods; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/complications/genetics/metabolism; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Neurologic Examination/methods; Sex Factors; Time Factors
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The complement system is a crucial mediator of inflammation and cell lysis after cerebral ischemia. However, there is little information about the exact contribution of the membrane attack complex (MAC) and its inhibitor-protein CD59. METHODS: Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in young male and female CD59a knockout and wild-type mice. Two models of MCAO were applied: 60 min MCAO and 48 h reperfusion, as well as 30 min MCAO and 72 h reperfusion. CD59a knockout animals were compared to wild-type animals in terms of infarct size, edema, neurological deficit, and cell death. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: CD59a-deficiency in male mice caused significantly increased infarct volumes and brain swelling when compared to wild-type mice at 72 h after 30 min-occlusion time, whereas no significant difference was observed after 1 h-MCAO. Moreover, CD59a-deficient mice had impaired neurological function when compared to wild-type mice after 30 min MCAO. CONCLUSION: We conclude that CD59a protects against ischemic brain damage, but depending on the gender and the stroke model used.
