Brain-derived neurotrophic factor protects against multiple forms of brain injury in bacterial meningitis

Bifrare, Yoeng-Delphine; Kummer, Jürg; Joss, Philipp; Täuber, Martin G.; Leib, Stephen (2005). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor protects against multiple forms of brain injury in bacterial meningitis. Journal of infectious diseases, 191(1), pp. 40-45. The University of Chicago Press 10.1086/426399

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BACKGROUND

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) blocks activation of caspase-3, reduces translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), attenuates excitotoxicity of glutamate, and increases antioxidant enzyme activities. The mechanisms of neuroprotection suggest that BDNF may be beneficial in bacterial meningitis.

METHODS

To assess a potentially beneficial effect of adjuvant treatment with BDNF in bacterial meningitis, 11-day-old infant rats with experimental meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae or group B streptococci (GBS) were randomly assigned to receive intracisternal injections with either BDNF (3 mg/kg) or equal volumes (10 mu L) of saline. Twenty-two hours after infection, brains were analyzed, by histomorphometrical examination, for the extent of cortical and hippocampal neuronal injury.

RESULTS

Compared with treatment with saline, treatment with BDNF significantly reduced the extent of 3 distinct forms of brain cell injury in this disease model: cortical necrosis in meningitis due to GBS (median, 0.0% [range, 0.0%-33.7%] vs. 21.3% [range, 0.0%-55.3%]; P<.03), caspase-3-dependent cell death in meningitis due to S. pneumoniae (median score, 0.33 [range, 0.0-1.0] vs. 1.10 [0.10-1.56]; P<.05), and caspase-3-independent hippocampal cell death in meningitis due to GBS (median score, 0 [range, 0-2] vs. 0.88 [range, 0-3.25]; P<.02). The last form of injury was associated with nuclear translocation of AIF.

CONCLUSION

BDNF efficiently reduces multiple forms of neuronal injury in bacterial meningitis and may hold promise as adjunctive therapy for this disease.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute for Infectious Diseases
04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute for Infectious Diseases > Research

UniBE Contributor:

Kummer, Jürg, Joss, Philipp, Täuber, Martin G., Leib, Stephen

Subjects:

500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0022-1899

Publisher:

The University of Chicago Press

Language:

English

Submitter:

Stephen Leib

Date Deposited:

01 Sep 2014 09:53

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:34

Publisher DOI:

10.1086/426399

PubMed ID:

15593001

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.52733

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/52733

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