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Blockade of VCAM1 or VLA4 preserves cerebrovasculature and prevents cognitive decline late after stroke

ABSTRACT: Infarct-induced neurodegeneration increases dementia risk for at least a decade in humans. It can be modeled in wildtype mice, where a cortical stroke results in chronic lymphocytic infiltration into the infarct and delayed cognitive decline. Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1) on endothelial cells is increased by stroke and facilitates immune cell diapedesis by binding very late antigen 4 (VLA4) on immune cells. We report here that after stroke, chronic but not acute treatment with an anti-VCAM1 blocking antibody reduces B and T lymphocyte infiltration and prevents chronic cognitive dysfunction in wildtype male and female mice. Preservation of cognitive function was also seen with chronic anti-VLA4 treatment despite anti-VLA4’s lack of effect on lymphocyte infiltration. High-depth single-cell RNA sequencing of the chronic infarct and peri-infarct cortex revealed a pronounced decrease in expression of blood vessel growth and maturation genes in endothelial cells that was reversed by both anti-VLA4 and anti-VCAM1. Plasma proteomics also support a vasculoprotective mechanism of anti-VCAM1. Finally, immunostaining demonstrated that both antibodies improve pericyte coverage of the vasculature and prevent extravascular fibrinogen leakage. Together, our findings indicate that vascular structure and function remain abnormal long after stroke and that the VLA4/VCAM1 axis is a promising treatment target for infarct-induced neurodegeneration as blockade restores cerebrovasculature and prevents cognitive decline.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE300564 | GEO | 2025/06/25

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Prior to assessing the impact of repeated HPβCD administration on the peri-infarct region of the brain, we first compared the transcriptome of the peri-infarct region to the equivalent region of the contralateral hemisphere in aged (18-month-old) mice at 7 weeks after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion + hypoxia (DH) stroke. The peri-infarct region was characterized by 3,910 differentially expressed genes. Of these, 2,123 were upregulated, many of which were also upregulated in infarcts at 7 weeks after stroke. For instance, the infarct and peri-infarct regions were both defined by the upregulation of degradative enzymes, TLRs, and scavenger receptors. In addition, the upregulation of Lpl, Lrp2, Ch25h, Apoe, Trem2, and Abca1 signified a divergence from lipid homeostasis. These alterations in innate immunity coincided with corresponding perturbations in adaptive immunity. The upregulation of Cd3d, Cd3e, Cd3g, Blnk, Sdc1 and Jchain suggests that chronic inflammation persists in peri-infarct regions for at least 7 weeks after stroke. Conversely, the DE analysis revealed that 1,787 genes were downregulated in peri-infarct regions compared to equivalent regions of the contralateral hemisphere. These genes were primarily involved in mitochondrial respiration and neuronal function. Together, these results demonstrate that the transcriptome of the peri-infarct region is characterized by the upregulation of genes involved in inflammation and lipid metabolism and the downregulation of genes involved in mitochondrial respiration and neuronal function. To evaluate the impact of HPβCD treatment on the transcriptome of the peri-infarct region, we also performed bulk RNA-Seq on brain tissue collected 7 weeks after DH stroke. For this analysis, we compared the peri-infarct regions of vehicle- and HPβCD-treated aged mice. The peri-infarct region of HPβCD-treated mice was characterized by 5,385 differentially expressed genes. The DE analysis revealed that peri-infarct regions of HPβCD-treated mice were characterized by the downregulation of multiple degradative enzymes, chemokine receptors, and scavenger receptors. In addition, the transcriptomic analysis demonstrated a restoration of lipid homeostasis in peri-infarct regions of HPβCD-treated mice compared to vehicle-injected mice, as evidenced by the downregulation of Lipa, Apoe, Lamp1, Npc1, and Npc2 and upregulation of Nceh1 and Ldlr. Reductions in innate and adaptive immune responses characterized peri-infarct regions of HPβCD-treated mice; these alterations are consistent with the attenuated chronic inflammation that characterized infarcts of the HPβCD-treated aged mice. These results demonstrate that HPβCD treatment after stroke attenuates chronic inflammation and promotes lipid metabolism in peri-infarct regions of aged mice. Additionally, the DE analysis revealed an upregulation of genes involved in myelin sheath structural integrity, such as Ina, Omg, and Nefl, and synaptic plasticity and neuroplasticity, such as Syn1, Bdnf, Nrg1, Negr1, and Nsg1. These results suggest that HPβCD treatment improves the structure and function of neurons in peri-infarct regions of aged mice after stroke.

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Blockade of VCAM1 or VLA4 preserves cerebrovasculature and prevents cognitive decline late after stroke

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