Effects of astrocytic PKM2 gene deletion on neuronal death following traumatic brain injury.

ABSTRACT: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a critical condition caused by physical trauma to the head, leading to primary brain edema, hemorrhage, and swelling, along with secondary injuries such as oxidative damage, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Astrocytes play a vital role in the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle (ANLS), which facilitates the transfer of lactate from astrocytes to neurons as an energy source. This study investigates the role of the pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) gene in astrocytes and its impact on neuronal survival following TBI. We hypothesized that deletion of the PKM2 gene in astrocytes would result in increased neuronal death due to impaired lactate supply via the ANLS. Additionally, we hypothesized that lactate administration post-TBI would mitigate neuronal dea

SUBMITTER: Kang BS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12603202 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature