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. 2011 Jan 31;43(2):121–128. doi: 10.3858/emm.2011.43.2.020

Iron mediates endothelial cell damage and blood-brain barrier opening in the hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia in rats

Sun Mi Won 1,4,*, Jin Hwan Lee 1,4,5,*, Ui Jin Park 1,4,5, Jina Gwag 1, Byoung Joo Gwag 1,4,5,✉, Yong Beom Lee 1,2,3,✉
PMCID: PMC3047193  PMID: 21278483

Abstract

Blood cells are transported into the brain and are thought to participate in neurodegenerative processes following hypoxic ischemic injury. We examined the possibility that transient forebrain ischemia (TFI) causes the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to become permeable to blood cells, possibly via dysfunction and degeneration of endothelial cells in rats. Extravasation of Evans blue and immunoglobulin G (IgG) was observed in the hippocampal CA1-2 areas within 8 h after TFI, and peaked at 48 h. This extravasation was accompanied by loss of tight junction proteins, occludin, and zonula occludens-1, and degeneration of endothelial cells in the CA1-2 areas. Iron overload and mitochondrial free radical production were evident in the microvessel endothelium of the hippocampus before endothelial cell damage occurred. Administration of deferoxamine (DFO), an iron chelator, or Neu2000, an antioxidant, blocked free radical production and endothelial cell degeneration. Our findings suggest that iron overload and iron-mediated free radical production cause loss of tight junction proteins and degeneration of endothelial cells, opening of the BBB after TFI.

Keywords: blood-brain barrier, deferoxamine, free radical, Neu2000, transient forebrain ischemia, iron

Introduction

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a critical role in the maintenance of ionic homeostasis within the CNS, and in communication between the CNS and peripheral tissues (Hawkins and Davis, 2005; Abbott et al., 2010). Deregulation of BBB integrity has been well documented following hypoxic ischemic brain injury (Kuroiwa et al., 1988; Belayev et al., 1996; del Zoppo and Mabuchi, 2003), and has also been reported to feature in other neurological diseases including neurodegenerative conditions (Zlokovic, 2008), autoimmune disorders (Minagar and Alexander, 2003), and post-infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms (Kim, 2008). BBB damage results in extravasation of blood cells, extracellular fluid, and macromolecules into the CNS parenchyma. Cytotoxic molecules including nitric oxide, proteases, and inflammatory cytokines are then produced within and released from the infiltrating leukocytes, contributing to neuronal cell injury (Rezai-Zadeh et al., 2009).

Hypoxic ischemia induces expression of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6; these molecules stimulate the production and release of chemokines, which are chemoattractant proteins known to mediate recruitment and infiltration of leukocytes (Huang et al., 2006). In knockout chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) mice, MCP-1 is a potent chemoattractant and activator of monocytes/macrophages, leukocyte infiltration and brain edema following occlusion of the middle cerebral artery are significantly reduced (Dimitrijevic et al., 2007). Recruited neutrophils and mononuclear phagocytes induce upregulation of iNOS, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and -9, and VEGF; these peptides cause disruption of BBB integrity via degradation of vascular extracellular matrix and tight junctions (Petty and Lo, 2002).

Excess free radicals are produced in brain areas subject to marked degeneration of neurons and glia following hypoxic ischemic injury (Won et al., 2002; Sugawara and Chan, 2003; Choi et al., 2007). Free radicals are known to negatively impact intercellular junction functions by modulating adherence of tight junction (TJ) proteins, and reorganization of the actin filament network within vascular endothelial cells (Lum and Roebuck, 2001; Usatyuk et al., 2006). Pharmacological treatments seeking to remove free radicals prevent BBB breakdown and neuronal death following focal cerebral ischemia (Kim et al., 2001; Ding-Zhou et al., 2002). Iron ions, serving as transition metal molecules catalyzing hydroxyl radical production via the Fenton reaction and the Haber-Weiss cycle, accumulate in neurons, astrocytes, and microglia in hippocampal CA1 areas, after occurrence of transient forebrain ischemia (TFI), and cause neuronal death and gliosis (Kondo et al., 1995; Wang et al., 2008). In the present study, we explored the possibility that iron-mediated free radical production mediates endothelial cell damage and BBB opening in the hippocampal CA1-2 regions, following TFI.

Results

Temporal and spatial patterns of BBB disruption following TFI

We examined the temporal pattern of BBB permeability in the hippocampus after TFI. Western blotting showed that the levels of both the light (25 kDa) and heavy (50 kDa) chains of serum IgG increased in the hippocampus, commencing 8 h after TFI (Figure 1A and B). IgG levels increased further (by up to 6-fold) over 48 h, and remained elevated, by approximately 2.5-fold, 72 h after TFI. Double-labeling with both Evans blue dye (EBD)-albumin and an antibody against endothelial barrier antigen (EBA) revealed that extravasation of EBD-albumin was evident in the microvasculature of the CA1-2 pyramidal cell layer 48 h after reperfusion, compared to data from the sham-operated control (Figure 1C), suggesting that BBB permeability increased primarily in CA1-2 areas after TFI. At this time point, EBD-albumin was not detectable in other hippocampal areas, including the CA3 region and the dentate gyrus. This implies that TFI selectively disrupts the BBB in the hippocampal CA1-2 areas that are particularly vulnerable to ischemic injury.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Temporal and spatial patterns of BBB opening in the hippocampus following TFI. (A, B) Western blot analysis of IgG showing increase in the light and heavy chains of IgG after sham operation (Ctrl) or TFI. Levels of IgG were measured at indicated points of time after TFI, normalized to those of β-actin, and compared to control (n = 4-5 rats per group). (C) Fluorescent photomicrographs showing EBD-albumin extravasation and cerebral endothelium stained with EBA, in the hippocampal formation, 48 h after Ctrl or TFI. Note the dramatic increase in EBD extravasation in the endothelium (yellow), primarily in the alveus (Alv), stratum oriens (SO), and stratum pyramidale (SP) of the CA1-2 areas. Abbreviations: DG, dentate gyrus; H, hilus, SR, stratum radiatum. Scale bar: 1.0 mm.

Loss of occludin and ZO-1 proteins, and endothelial cell degeneration in the CA1-2 regions, after TFI

Reduced expression of TJ proteins including occludin and ZO-1 disrupts TJ and increases BBB permeability (Hirase et al., 1997). Western blotting showed that the levels of ZO-1 and occludin were significantly reduced within 8 and 24 h after TFI, respectively, and loss of the TJ proteins were still evident 48 h after TFI (Figure 2A). Immunohistochemistry showed that occludin was normally expressed in cerebral endothelial cells (CECs), and its expression was markedly reduced in the CECs of CA1-2 areas 48 h after TFI (Figure 2B). Moreover, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and immunostaining with anti-EBA antibody, performed on adjacent brain sections, showed that TUNEL-positive signals were widely apparent in the condensed and fragmented EBA-positive CECs of CA1-2 areas 48 h after TFI (Figure 2C), but not in the CA3 and dentate gyrus (data not shown).

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Loss of occludin and ZO-1 and degeneration of CECs in the hippocampus after TFI. (A) Western blot analysis of occludin and ZO-1. Levels of occludin and ZO-1 were measured 8, 24, and 48 h after TFI, normalized to those of β-actin, and compared to control (n = 3-4 rats per group). *, P < 0.05 compared to control. (B) Fluorescence photomicrographs of the hippocampal CA1 area immunolabeled with occludin 48 h after control (Ctrl) or TFI. Scale bar, 50 µm. (C) Brightfield photomicrographs of adjacent hippocampal CA1 sections showing DNA fragmentation after TUNEL staining (top panel) and endothelial cells after immunolabeling with EBA (bottom panel) 48 h after Ctrl or TFI. Arrowheads show degeneration of endothelial cells. Abbreviations: Alv, alveus; Endo, endothelium; SO, stratum oriens. Scale bar, 100 µm.

Region-specific iron overload-mediated free radical production in CECs after TFI

We have previously shown that iron overload is evident early in CA1 pyramidal neurons after TFI, in turn mediating free radical production and delayed neuronal degeneration (Wang et al., 2008; Park et al., 2010). In this context, iron overload likely contributes to degeneration of CECs, and opening of the BBB. Perls iron staining revealed that iron overload was detectable in the CA1-2 areas within 0.5 h of TFI, and that the effect lasted for 2 h (Figure 3A). Perls staining and EBA immunohistochemistry of adjacent brain sections showed that iron content was increased, after TFI, in CECs located in the alveus and stratum oriens of the CA1-2 areas (Figure 3B), but not in cells of the CA3 and dentate gyrus (data not shown). The levels of mitochondrial free radicals (MFRs), analyzed by the oxidized fluorescent products of Mitotracker Red CM-H2XRos, rose in CECs of the CA1-2 areas 2 h after TFI (Figure 3C). Administration of deferoxamine mesylate (DFO) (200 mg/kg; s.c.), a selective iron chelator, or Neu2000 (50 mg/kg, i.p.), a potent spin trapping molecule derived from aspirin and sulfasalazine (Gwag et al., 2007) immediately after reperfusion, almost completely blocked TFI-induced MFRs production 2 h after TFI (Figure 3C).

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Iron overload and free radical production in the CECs after TFI. (A) Brightfield photomicrographs of the hippocampal CA1 area after Perls iron staining following sham operation (Ctrl) or 0.5, 2, and 8 h following TFI. Scale bar, 50 µm. (B) Brightfield and fluorescence photomicrographs of adjacent hippocampal CA1 sections after Perls staining (top panel) or immunolabeling with EBA (bottom panel) 0.5 h after TFI. Arrowheads indicate iron overload in endothelial cells. Scale bar, 50 µm. (C) Superimposed images of fluorescence photomicrographs of hippocampal sections labeled with EBA and MitoTracker Red CM-H2XROs (MT, red), a mitochondrial free radical probe, 2 h after Ctrl or TFI, alone or with administration of DFO (200 mg/kg, s.c.) or Neu2000 (50 mg/kg; i.p.) immediately after reperfusion. Abbreviations: Endo, endothelium; SO, stratum oriens; SP, stratum pyramidale; SR, stratum radiatum. Scale bar, 50 µm.

BBB disruption in CA1-2 regions via iron overload-mediated free radical production

Next, we examined whether iron-mediated free radicals caused BBB disruption after TFI. Administration of either DFO (200 mg/kg, s.c.) or Neu2000 (50 mg/kg, i.p.) attenuated levels of serum IgG, the loss of occludin and ZO-1 (Figure 4A), and the extravasation of the EBD-albumin (Figure 4B), 48 h after TFI. We also observed that administration of DFO or Neu2000 almost completely blocked TUNEL-positive signaling from the endothelium of CA1-2 areas (Figure 4B). These results indicate that iron-mediated free radical production causes BBB disruption via loss of TJ proteins, and death of CECs, after TFI.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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DFO and Neu2000 protect cerebral endothelial cells against TFI. (A) Western blot analysis of IgG and TJ proteins 48 h after Ctrl or TFI, alone or with administration of DFO (200 mg/kg, s.c.) or Neu2000 (50 mg/kg; i.p.) immediately after reperfusion (n = 3-4 rats per group). *P < 0.05 compared to Ctrl; #P < 0.05 compared to TFI. (B) Fluorescent and brightfield photomicrographs of hippocampal CA1 sections labeled with EBD-albumin (red, top panel) or TUNEL and methyl green, a chromatin staining dye (bottom panel) 48 h after Ctrl or TFI, alone or with administration of DFO (200 mg/kg, s.c.) or Neu2000 (50 mg/kg; i.p.) immediately after reperfusion. Arrowheads marked the endothelium and CECs of CA1-2 areas. Abbreviations: Alv, alveus; Endo, endothelium; SO, stratum oriens; SP, stratum pyramidale. Scale bar, 50 µm.

Discussion

We demonstrate that TFI causes BBB opening primarily in the hippocampal CA1-2 areas. The BBB opening is attributable to free radical-mediated loss of TJ proteins, occludin and ZO-1, and degeneration of CECs. This effect is attenuated by DFO, an iron chelator, or Neu2000, an antioxidant that near completely blocks free radical generation after TFI.

Increased BBB permeability has been reported in brains subjected to TFI in normal and spontaneously hypertensive rats (Dobbin et al., 1989; Preston et al., 1993; Abraham et al., 2002). Radiotracer studies using [3H]-sucrose or [14C]-amino isobutyric acid have revealed transient BBB opening in the neocortex, striatum, and hippocampus, after TFI (Dobbin et al., 1989; Preston et al., 1993). Levels of [3H]-sucrose were increased in the hippocampus 6 h after 10-min 2-vessel occlusion (VO) ischemia in normal rats but gradual increase over 24 h after 25-min TFI or 10-min TFI combined with hyperthermia (Preston et al., 1993), and EBD-albumin levels were increased in the hippocampus between 6 and 24 h following 10-min 2-VO ischemia in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (Abraham et al., 2002). We observed increases in IgG levels in the hippocampus, over 72 h after 4-VO model of TFI (10-min). This suggests that the temporal patterns of BBB permeability depend upon severity of the ischemic injury. Histochemical assessment of EBD-albumin revealed that BBB permeability was increased primarily in the hippocampal CA1-2 areas before occurrence of neuronal death in the CA1. This implies that BBB opening and the resulting infiltration of blood cells may contribute to delayed degeneration of CA1 neurons after TFI.

TJ proteins, including occludin and ZO-1, play a role in regulation of the paracellular permeability barrier via fusion of the endothelial plasma membrane (Sandoval and Witt, 2008). The C-terminal domain of occludin is cross-linked with actin in a process mediated by cytoplasmic ZO proteins (Furuse et al., 1994). Thus, loss of the TJ proteins causes increase in paracellular permeability. Defective occludin and ZO-1 expression was reported in endothelial cells and correlated with BBB opening after induction of embolic cerebral ischemia (Date et al., 2006) and transient focal ischemia (Asahi et al., 2001). We observed that ZO-1 and occludin levels were significantly reduced within 8 and 24 h after TFI, respectively, indicating that BBB opening commences with loss of TJ proteins. Endothelial cell death, another cause of BBB opening, has been reported following TFI or oxygen-glucose deprivation (Kitagawa et al., 1992; Hayashi et al., 2001; Yin et al., 2010). In the present study, TUNEL staining revealed degeneration of CECs selectively in the alveus and stratum oriens of the CA1-2 regions 48 h after TFI. This implies that TJ protein loss and CEC degeneration contribute to TFI-induced BBB opening.

Iron-mediated free radical production mediates neuronal death and gliosis in the CA1 area after TFI (Kondo et al., 1995; Wang et al., 2008). Recent studies have shown that oxidative stress is a prominent feature of cerebral endothelial injury after cerebral ischemia (Maier et al., 2006; Jin et al., 2008). The lipophilic iron chelator dipyridyl was shown to prevent degeneration of CECs following photothrombotic ischemia (Methy et al., 2008). Thus, it is conceivable to reason that iron may mediate TJ protein loss and CEC degeneration after TFI. We observed that TFI induced iron overload and free radical production in the endothelium of CA1-2 areas within 0.5 and 2 h, respectively. Administration of DFO blocked TFI-induced iron overload and free radical production. Loss of occludin and ZO-1, degeneration of CECs, and BBB opening were prevented by administration of DFO and Neu2000, a potent free radical scavenger, suggesting a causative role of iron-mediated free radical production in endothelial cell damage and BBB opening after TFI. It remains to be delineated how iron is overloaded selectively in the endothelium of CA1-2 areas after TFI.

Brain endothelial cells contain relatively high amounts of ferritin, and hence serve as active reservoirs of iron (Burdo et al., 2004). Ferritin acts as an iron donor when exposed to metabolic conditions associated with ischemia that causes low oxygen tension, high levels of the superoxide anion, and acidosis (Bralet et al., 1992; Paul, 2000). Iron that is overloaded in CECs after TFI is likely released from ferritin. Excessive free iron then triggers free radical production by virtue of the Fenton reaction and the Haber-Weiss cycle. Iron-mediated free radical production significantly contributes to BBB opening as shown by sensitivity to DFO or Neu2000.

Our results support the hypothesis that iron-mediated BBB disruption in the CA1-2 areas contributes to delayed neuronal cell death in the CA1 following TFI, for the time course of BBB opening is similar to the kinetics of free radical generation in CA1 neurons; free radical levels are highest 8 and 48 h after TFI (Wang et al., 2008; Park et al., 2010). Iron overload was observed in the endothelium within 30 min after TFI, which resulted in delayed iron overload and free radical production in the CA1 neurons (Park et al., 2010). Furthermore, DFO prevents BBB opening and delayed degeneration of the CA1 neurons. Thus, CA1-specific iron accumulation in the endothelium may be a critical trigger inducing a cascade of events resulting in a region-specific BBB permeability increase, and neuronal damage in the early phase of forebrain ischemia.

Methods

Animals

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (Orient Bio Inc., Seongnam, Korea) weighing 250-300 g, were used in all experiments involving TFI. All experimental procedures were conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Ajou University School of Medicine.

Transient forebrain ischemia

TFI was induced by four-vessel occlusion, employing minor modifications of a method that has been previously described (Pulsinelli and Buchan, 1988). Briefly, rats were anesthetized by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 400 mg/kg chloral hydrate (Fluka, Buchs, Switzerland), and the bilateral vertebral arteries were exposed and permanently electrocauterized. Both common carotid arteries (CCAs) were rendered accessible for subsequent occlusion. After 24 h, fully-awake rats were restrained, and the CCAs were bilaterally occluded, using aneurysm clips, for 10 min. Signs including an unresponsive loss of the righting reflex and catatonic posture were considered indicative of TFI development. Arteries were visually inspected to ensure adequate reflow after release of carotid artery clips. Body temperature was maintained at 37.5℃, using heating pads, until animals recovered from surgery and/or ischemia. Animals were fasted for 1 day before induction of ischemia, and were allowed free access to food and water thereafter. Sham-operated animals were treated in a manner identical to that described above, but the vertebral and common carotid arteries were not occluded.

Drug treatment

Neu2000 (Neurotech Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd, Suwon, Korea) was injected immediately (i.p.) after reperfusion, at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Deferoxamine mesylate (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO) was administered subcutaneously (s.c.), immediately after reperfusion, at 200 mg/kg.

Tissue preparation and immunohistochemistry

After animals were subjected to transcardiac perfusion using phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; pH 7.4), and 3% paraformaldehyde; brains were fixed in 3% paraformaldehyde and then immersed in 30% sucrose for 3-4 days at 4℃. Frozen brains were coronally sectioned, in the regions 3-4 mm posterior to the bregma, at a slice thickness of 25 µm, using a Cryocut Microtome (Leica Microsystems, Wetzlar, Germany). After inactivation of endogenous peroxidase activity by hydrogen peroxide, the tissues were incubated in blocking solution (10% normal goat serum in PBS) for 1 h, followed by incubation with a primary antibody: mouse anti-endothelial barrier antigen (EBA) (1:1,000 dilution; Covance, Richmond, CA), or mouse anti-occludin (1:100; Zymed, San Francisco, CA). After 24 h, sections were thoroughly washed with PBS, and incubated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled horse anti-mouse antibody (1:200 dilution; Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA), for 2 h at room temperature (RT).

Iron histochemistry with Perls staining

Iron was detected using 3,3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB) enhancement of Prussian Blue staining (Hill and Switzer, 1984). In brief, fixed sections were incubated in 1% sodium borohydride (Sigma) for 30 min, washed with PBS, and incubated in 30 µg/ml proteinase K (Sigma), with 0.1% Triton X-100, for 20 min. Sections were next incubated in Perls solution containing 2% potassium ferrocyanide and 2% hydrochloric acid, for 30 min. The sections were washed with PBS and incubated in 0.05% DAB solution in 0.05 M Tris-HCl (pH 7.6), containing 30% hydrogen peroxide (2 µl/ml), for 15 min in the dark.

Extravasation of Evans blue dye (EBD)

BBB permeability was investigated by monitoring extravasation of Evans blue dye (EBD). The red auto-fluorescence of EBD-albumin conjugate is evident in tissue sections examined by fluorescence microscopy (Matsuda et al., 1995). Animals were injected, through a dissected femoral vein, with 0.1 ml of 3% EBD (Sigma) in 0.9% saline. After 30 min, rats were euthanized by transcardial perfusion using 200 ml PBS. Extravasation of EBD-albumin was observed by fluorescence microscopy (excitation wavelength 557 nm; emission wavelength 576 nm).

Western blotting

Brain tissues from hippocampal region were homogenized in RIPA buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 150 mM NaCl, 1% NP-40, 1 mM EDTA, 0.1% SDS and 0.01% NaN3, 1 mM PMSF, pH 7.4). Proteins therein were resolved on 8-10% SDS-PAGE and transferred to nitrocellulose membranes, which were next incubated with appropriate primary antibodies. The antibodies were biotinylated anti-rat IgG (1:300 dilution; Vector Systems), or mouse anti-occludin (1:1,000 dilution; Zymed), or rabbit anti-ZO-1 (1:1,000 dilution; Zymed). Incubation with appropriate horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated secondary antibodies (Cell Signaling, Beverly, MA) followed. After washing, electrochemiluminescence was assessed (Amersham, Buckinghamshire, UK), and image analysis (LAS1000; Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) afforded quantification of individual band intensity (Image Gauge 3.12; Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd).

Detection and analysis of mitochondrial free radicals

Mitochondrial free radicals (MFRs, 3 rats for each group) were analyzed using MitoTracker Red CM-H2XRos as previously described (Wang et al., 2008). In brief, animals were injected with 0.4 nmol MitoTracker Red CM-H2XROS into the lateral ventricle through a Kopf stereotaxic apparatus 1 d prior to TFI. The brain sections were immunolabeled with an anti-EBA antibody to label endothelial cells. Mitochondrial free radicals were analyzed by monitoring the oxidized fluorescence product (excitation, 554 nm; emission, 576 nm) of MitoTracker Red CM-H2XROS.

Statistical analysis

All data were normalized to relevant control values (100%) and results are expressed as mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey test evaluation (SPSS, Chicago, IL).

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the 21C Frontier R&D Program in Neuroscience from Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, a National Drug Discovery Program from Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Brain Korea 21 project at Ajou University School of Medicine, and Neurotech Pharmaceuticals.

Abbreviations

BBB

blood-brain barrier

CEC

cerebral endothelial cell

DFO

deferoxamine

MMP-2

matrix metalloproteinase-2

TFI

transient forebrain ischemia

TJ

tight junction

ZO

zonula occludens

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