Open Access

Effect of thymosin β4 on lipopolysaccharide‑stimulated brain microvascular endothelial cell remodeling: A possible role in blood‑brain barrier injury

  • Authors:
    • William Stewart
    • Christina Hejl
    • Rakeshwar S. Guleria
    • Sudhiranjan Gupta
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 17, 2023     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2023.12167
  • Article Number: 468
  • Copyright: © Stewart et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

War veterans, in particular, are more prone to mental illness as they are more likely to have encountered multiple traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) whilst serving on active duty in war zone areas. A TBI is known to cause mortality or serious neurological disabilities among survivors and elicits a number of pathological processes, including neuroinflammation and blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption, leading to secondary brain damage and subsequent impairment of the neurovascular unit. Although several drugs exhibit promising effects for TBI, the repertoire of currently available therapeutic strategies remains limited. Thymosin 4 (Tβ4) is a 43‑amino acid G‑acting sequestering peptide that confers neuroprotective potential in TBI models. However, its role in BBB function remains unclear. Further research into the mechanism of BBB disruption induced by TBI and its specific role in neurovascular pathophysiology is necessary. In the present study, the protective effects of Tβ4 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑stimulated gene expression of several tight junction proteins, inflammatory genes, apoptotic genes, and adhesion genes in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMVECs), one of the pivotal cell types in the BBB, were reported. The results suggested that pretreatment with Tβ4 reversed the LPS‑induced damage of BBB components in hBMVECs. Furthermore, these results identified neuregulin 1 as a possible target for Tβ4. Therefore, it is proposed that Tβ4‑mediated cellular signaling in hBMVEC may be vital for understanding the association between the BBB and TBI pathophysiology, which warrants further investigation.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

October-2023
Volume 26 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Stewart W, Hejl C, Guleria RS and Gupta S: Effect of thymosin β4 on lipopolysaccharide‑stimulated brain microvascular endothelial cell remodeling: A possible role in blood‑brain barrier injury. Exp Ther Med 26: 468, 2023
APA
Stewart, W., Hejl, C., Guleria, R.S., & Gupta, S. (2023). Effect of thymosin β4 on lipopolysaccharide‑stimulated brain microvascular endothelial cell remodeling: A possible role in blood‑brain barrier injury. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 26, 468. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2023.12167
MLA
Stewart, W., Hejl, C., Guleria, R. S., Gupta, S."Effect of thymosin β4 on lipopolysaccharide‑stimulated brain microvascular endothelial cell remodeling: A possible role in blood‑brain barrier injury". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 26.4 (2023): 468.
Chicago
Stewart, W., Hejl, C., Guleria, R. S., Gupta, S."Effect of thymosin β4 on lipopolysaccharide‑stimulated brain microvascular endothelial cell remodeling: A possible role in blood‑brain barrier injury". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 26, no. 4 (2023): 468. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2023.12167