New imaging method reveals causes of cerebral oedema

Date:
January 31, 2022
Source:
Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf
Summary:
Cerebral oedema is a dangerous complication in many brain-related
conditions such as strokes. Researchers have now developed a new
measurement method that enables a better understanding of the
cellular causes of cerebral oedema. According to a new study,
the TRPV4 ion channel in particular plays an important role.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Cerebral oedema is a dangerous complication in many brain-related
conditions such as strokes. Researchers at the Institute of Neurobiology
at Heinrich Heine University Du"sseldorf (HHU) have developed a new
measurement method in collaboration with colleagues from Bonn and with
the involvement of a Berlin- based optoelectronics company that enables
better understanding of the cellular causes of cerebral oedema. In the
latest issue of theJournal of the American Society for Neuroscience they describe how the TRPV4 ion channel in particular plays an important role.


==========================================================================
Our brain is well-protected by the bone of the skull. However, many
illnesses lead to swelling of the cerebral tissue, which is referred to
as "cerebral oedema." As the brain cannot expand within the skull, this swelling often results in a dangerous rise in intercranial pressure. This
in turn damages further brain cells and may, for example in the case of causative strokes, further impair blood supply to the brain.

There are many causes of cerebral oedema, yet even today there are few therapeutic approaches for treating them successfully. Consequently,
many patients require an operation to remove part of the skull bone -- a so-called craniotomy -- to ensure sufficient space for the brain. However,
this operation is not without risks -- and it does not eliminate the
dangerous swelling.

In collaboration with the company Picoquant, Professor Dr. Christine Rose
and her team from the Institute of Neurobiology at HHU have now developed
a new method with which they can depict the changes that lead to the
swelling of nerve cells in real time. This imaging method, known as
"rapidFLIM" (Fluorescence Lifetime IMaging), permits the depiction of
cellular processes at an unprecedented temporal resolution. Professor
Dr. Christian Henneberger from the University of Bonn provided further conceptual support.

In the paper they have now published, the researchers recreated the
conditions to which nerve cells are exposed during an ischaemic stroke
in the laboratory.

Dr. Jan Meyer, one of the two lead authors of the study, says: "Using
rapidFLIM we can show that a breakdown in cellular energy supply --
one of the principal side effects of a stroke -- results in nerve cells
quickly becoming charged with sodium ions. This in turn is a key cause of
the subsequent swelling of cells." Dr. Niklas Gerkau, co-lead author,
adds: "Previous methods were unable to depict properly how this sodium
charging develops over time and its extent.

Combining rapidFLIM with our high-resolution, multi-photon microscopy
opens up new perspectives for us and allows a better understanding of
the sodium regulation of nerve cells." In their study, the researchers
also discovered a previously unknown mechanism for this fatal sodium
charging in which the TRPV4 ion channel in the nerve cells plays a key
role. This channel is instrumental in determining how much of the element sodium enters the cell. Professor Rose comments: "The TRPV4 channel is
a promising starting point for limiting cellular damage and infarction
size after an ischaemic stroke." The research work was conducted within
the framework of the research group FOR 2795 "Synapses under stress:
Early events induced by metabolic failure at glutamatergic synapses" coordinated by Professor Rose at HHU. Professor Henneberger is also part
of this group. The Ilselore Luckow Foundation also supported the work.

special promotion Explore the latest scientific research on sleep and
dreams in this free online course from New Scientist -- Sign_up_now_>>> ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
Heinrich-Heine_University_Duesseldorf. Original written by Arne
Claussen. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Jan Meyer, Niklas J. Gerkau, Karl W. Kafitz, Matthias Patting,
Fabian
Jolmes, Christian Henneberger, Christine R. Rose. Rapid Fluorescence
Lifetime Imaging Reveals That TRPV4 Channels Promote Dysregulation
of Neuronal Na in Ischemia. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2022; 42
(4): 552 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0819-21.2021 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220131110502.htm

--- up 8 weeks, 2 days, 7 hours, 13 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)