Microglial-specific depletion of TAK1 is neuroprotective in the acute phase after ischemic stroke

Transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) is upregulated after cerebral ischemia and contributes to an aggravation of brain injury. TAK1 acts as a key regulator of NF-ΚB and the MAP kinases JNK and p38 and modulates post-ischemic neuroinflammation and apoptosis. Microglia are the main TAK1-expressing immunocompetent cells of the brain. However, little is known about the function and regulation of microglial TAK1 after cerebral ischemia. Tamoxifen-dependent conditional depletion of TAK1 in microglial cells was induced in Cx3cr1^creER-Tak1^fl/fl mice. The cre^ER-negative Tak1^fl/fl mice and vehicle-treated (corn oil) mice served as control groups. A transient intraluminal middle cerebral artery occlusion of 30 min followed by 6 h and 72 h of reperfusion was performed in male mice. Oxygen-glucose-deprivation (OGD) was performed with primary cortical glial cell cultures to examine the effect of microglial-specific and general (5Z-7-Oxozeaenol) TAK1 inhibition after different reperfusion times (1 h, 6 h, and 72 h). Cx3cr1^creER-Tak1^fl/fl mice showed reduced infarct sizes and improved neurological outcomes compared to the control group. The mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory Il1b/IL-1β and Tnf/TNF-α in the peri-infarct zones of microglial-specific TAK1-depleted mice were significantly reduced. Furthermore, TAK1 depletion in vitro led to reduced cell death rates after OGD. Moreover, hypoxia-mediated activation of TAK1 and its downstream signalling proteins, JNK and p38, were dampened by microglial TAK1 depletion. In contrast, 5Z-7-Oxozeaenol-induced pharmacological inhibition of TAK1 completely diminished MAPK-signalling including the kinases JNK and p38 in all cells. Microglial TAK1 depletion abrogates post-ischemic neuroinflammation and apoptosis in the acute phase, hence might be considered as a potential target in the treatment of cerebral hypoxia. KEY MESSAGES: TAK1 is activated after cerebral ischemia and induces MAP kinases p38 and JNK. Activated TAK1 increases apoptosis rate and the level pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. Microglial cells seem to be the main source of TAK1-mediated post-ischemic neuroinflammation. Microglial-specific TAK1-depletion mediates sustainable neuroprotective effects, which might be superior to global TAK1 inhibition.