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Deficiency of TREK ‐1 potassium channel exacerbates secondary injury following spinal cord injury in mice
Author(s) -
Fang Yongkang,
Huang Xiaojiang,
Wan Yue,
Tian Hao,
Tian Yeye,
Wang Wei,
Zhu Suiqiang,
Xie Minjie
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/jnc.13980
Subject(s) - astrogliosis , neuroprotection , spinal cord injury , microglia , spinal cord , neuroscience , medicine , inflammation , cortical spreading depression , glial scar , potassium channel , astrocyte , immunology , endocrinology , central nervous system , biology , migraine
Spinal cord injury ( SCI ) involves complex pathological process which can be complicated by secondary injury. TREK ‐1 is a member of the two‐pore domain potassium (K2P) channel family, which can be modulated by a number of physiological and pathological stimuli. Recent studies suggest that TREK ‐1 plays an active role in depression, pain and neuroprotection. However, its role in the pathological process after SCI remains unclear. In this study, we tested the expression and function of TREK ‐1 in spinal cord of mice after traumatic SCI . TREK ‐1 was widely expressed in mice spinal cord, including astrocytes and neurons. Deficiency of TREK ‐1 significantly exacerbated focal inflammatory responses as indicated by the increased accumulation of microglia/macrophage as well as pro‐inflammatory factor interleukin‐1 beta ( IL ‐1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha expression. Meanwhile, TREK ‐1 knockout mice showed enhanced reactive astrogliosis, chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans ( CSPG s) production and decreased glutamate transporter‐1 expression compared to the wide‐type mice after SCI . Furthermore, TREK ‐1 deficiency promoted neurons and oligodendrocytes apoptosis, aggravated demyelination, cavity formation and retarded motor recovery. In summary, our findings provide the first in vivo evidence suggesting that TREK ‐1 may thereby constitute a promising therapeutic target to treat acute SCI .