First Author | Rosiewicz KS | Year | 2023 |
Journal | Glia | Volume | 71 |
Issue | 8 | Pages | 2024-2044 |
PubMed ID | 37140003 | Mgi Jnum | J:338024 |
Mgi Id | MGI:7509646 | Doi | 10.1002/glia.24380 |
Citation | Rosiewicz KS, et al. (2023) HIF prolyl hydroxylase 2/3 deletion disrupts astrocytic integrity and exacerbates neuroinflammation. Glia 71(8):2024-2044 |
abstractText | Astrocytes constitute the parenchymal border of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), modulate the exchange of soluble and cellular elements, and are essential for neuronal metabolic support. Thus, astrocytes critically influence neuronal network integrity. In hypoxia, astrocytes upregulate a transcriptional program that has been shown to boost neuroprotection in several models of neurological diseases. We investigated transgenic mice with astrocyte-specific activation of the hypoxia-response program by deleting the oxygen sensors, HIF prolyl-hydroxylase domains 2 and 3 (Phd2/3). We induced astrocytic Phd2/3 deletion after onset of clinical signs in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) that led to an exacerbation of the disease mediated by massive immune cell infiltration. We found that Phd2/3-ko astrocytes, though expressing a neuroprotective signature, exhibited a gradual loss of gap-junctional Connexin-43 (Cx43), which was induced by vascular endothelial growth factor-alpha (Vegf-a) expression. These results provide mechanistic insights into astrocyte biology, their critical role in hypoxic states, and in chronic inflammatory CNS diseases. |