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Published on: September 2, 2010

Hypothermia suppresses inflammation via ERK signaling pathway in stimulated microglial cells

Katharina Rose Luise Schmitt1, Antje Diestel, Seija Lehnardt

  • 1Department of Congenital Heart Disease / Pediatric Cardiology, Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. katharina.schmitt@charite.de

Journal of Neuroimmunology
|July 27, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Hypothermia reduces brain inflammation in children during heart surgery by calming microglial cells. This neuroprotection involves decreased inflammatory signaling pathways and reduced release of harmful substances.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Cardiovascular Surgery

Background:

  • Hypothermic perfusion is a standard neuroprotective method during pediatric cardiac surgery.
  • The precise cellular mechanisms of hypothermia-induced neuroprotection remain unclear.
  • Microglial cells play a key role in neuroinflammation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of moderate hypothermia on microglial cell inflammatory responses.
  • To elucidate the cellular signaling pathways involved in hypothermia-mediated neuroprotection.

Main Methods:

  • Stimulation of microglial cells.
  • Assessment of nitric oxide (NO) release.
  • Analysis of phosphorylated MEK and ERK.
  • Measurement of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression.
  • Quantification of cytokine release.
  • Evaluation of CD-11a and ICAM-1 expression.

Main Results:

  • Moderate hypothermia significantly reduced the inflammatory response of stimulated microglial cells.
  • Continuous hypothermia led to diminished NO release.
  • Hypothermia and rewarming downregulated phosphorylated MEK, ERK, and iNOS expression.
  • Cytokine release, CD-11a, and ICAM-1 expression were reduced under hypothermia.

Conclusions:

  • Hypothermia attenuates microglial inflammatory activation.
  • Neuroprotection by hypothermia is linked to reduced cytotoxic products from microglial cells.
  • The MEK/ERK signal transduction pathway mediates these hypothermic effects on microglial cells.

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