Critical role for scavenger receptor CD36 in microparticle-mediated neuroinflammation in a murine model of

Abid R Bhat1, Awadhesh K Arya1, Zuha Imtiyaz1

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States.

Insights

Blood-borne microparticles trigger neuroinflammation and brain injury in decompression sickness. The scavenger receptor CD36 mediates these effects by interacting with microparticles, leading to vascular damage.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Blood-borne microparticles (MPs) are implicated in brain injury.
  • The scavenger receptor CD36 regulates inflammation and vascular function.
  • The role of MPs in decompression sickness (DCS)-induced neuroinflammation is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of CD36 in mediating MPs-induced neuroinflammation in a murine model of DCS.
  • To determine if CD36 facilitates MPs interaction with the vasculature and contributes to neuroinflammation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a murine model of decompression sickness (DCS).
  • Compared wild-type mice with CD36 knockout and endothelial CD36-deficient mice.
  • Administered microparticles (MPs) from decompressed mice to wild-type mice.
  • Assessed perivascular MPs deposition, inflammatory MPs, neutrophil activation, glymphatic flow, blood-brain barrier permeability, and brain inflammatory protein levels.

Main Results:

  • Decompression induced significant increases in perivascular MPs, circulating inflammatory MPs, neutrophil activation, glymphatic flow, blood-brain barrier leakage, and brain inflammatory proteins.
  • These DCS-induced effects were abolished in CD36 knockout and endothelial CD36-deficient mice.
  • MPs from decompressed mice increased perivascular deposition and inflammatory markers in wild-type mice.

Conclusions:

  • Endothelial CD36 mediates MPs-induced neuroinflammatory responses and vascular injury in DCS.
  • MPs interact with endothelial CD36 to promote a feed-forward neuroinflammatory cycle.
  • Targeting CD36 may offer a therapeutic strategy for DCS-related brain injury.

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