Key to dialogue between brain cells to protect against stroke

Date:
August 6, 2020
Source:
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Summary:
LSU Health New Orleans research has unlocked a key fundamental
mechanism in the communication between brain cells when confronted
with stroke and found DHA not only protected neuronal cells and
promoted their survival, but also helped maintain their integrity
and stability.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Research led by Nicolas Bazan, MD, PhD, Boyd Professor and Director
of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at LSU Health New Orleans
School of Medicine, and Ludmila Belayev, MD, LSU Health New Orleans
Professor of Neuroscience, Neurology and Neurosurgery, has unlocked
a key fundamental mechanism in the communication between brain cells
when confronted with stroke. They report that DHA not only protected
neuronal cells and promoted their survival, but also helped maintain
their integrity and stability. The discovery provides potential new
clinical targets and specific molecules for the treatment of ischemic
stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.


========================================================================== Brain cells talk to one another. This synchronized cell-to-cell crosstalk regulates neuroinflammation and the immune system, which are activated
in the brain at the onset of stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and
other diseases. The researchers found that in the model of stroke, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) affects the levels of two proteins crucial
to communication between brain cells -- mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid
cells-2 (TREM2). They discovered that treatment with DHA reduced the
size of the damaged brain area, initiated repair mechanisms and greatly improved neurological and behavioral recovery. These findings provide a
major conceptual advance of broad relevance for neuronal cell survival,
brain function and, particularly, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.

DHA is made from omega-3 very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC- PUFAs,n-3). It is found in fatty, cold-water fish like salmon. Among
other benefits, DHA is essential for normal brain function in adults
and for the growth and development of the brain in babies.

"Our findings contribute greatly to our understanding of cellular
interactions engaging neurons, astrocytes, and microglia to sustain
synaptic circuitry, set neurogenesis in motion, and initiate restoration
to pathological derangements," notes Dr. Bazan, who also holds the Ernest
C. and Ivette C. Villere Chair at LSU Health New Orleans.

These findings advance the understanding of how the complexity and
resiliency of the human brain is sustained, mainly when confronted with adversities as in stroke. A key factor is how neurons communicate among themselves. These novel molecules participate in delivering messages
to the overall synaptic organization to ensure the accurate flow of
information through neuronal circuits.

"We know how neurons make synaptic connections with other neurons;
however, these connections have to be malleable in order to change to
the appropriate strength through experience," explains Dr. Belayev.

"It's like an orchestra," says Bazan. "You need a conductor, and this
is the role that DHA plays. Such a large-scale complexity first requires violinists, or in this case, synapses, which are highly sensitive sites
of stroke injury that become messengers to target vulnerable cells."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Louisiana_State_University_Health_Sciences_Center. Note: Content may be
edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Ludmila Belayev, Sung‐Ha Hong, Raul S. Freitas, Hemant
Menghani,
Shawn J. Marcell, Larissa Khoutorova, Pranab K. Mukherjee,
Madigan M.

Reid, Reinaldo B. Oria, Nicolas G. Bazan. DHA modulates MANF
and TREM2 abundance, enhances neurogenesis, reduces infarct
size, and improves neurological function after experimental
ischemic stroke. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics, 2020; DOI:
10.1111/cns.13444 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200806122828.htm

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