Mitochondria dysregulation contributes to secondary neurodegeneration progression post-contusion injury in human 3D in vitro triculture brain tissue model

Volha Liaudanskaya, Nicholas J Fiore, Yang Zhang, Yuka Milton, Marilyn F Kelly, Marly Coe, Ariana Barreiro, Victoria K Rose, Matthew R Shapiro, Adam S Mullis, Anna Shevzov-Zebrun, Mathew Blurton-Jones, Michael J Whalen, Aviva J Symes, Irene Georgakoudi, Thomas J F Nieland, David L Kaplan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Traumatic Brain injury-induced disturbances in mitochondrial fission-and-fusion dynamics have been linked to the onset and propagation of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. However, cell-type-specific contributions and crosstalk between neurons, microglia, and astrocytes in mitochondria-driven neurodegeneration after brain injury remain undefined. We developed a human three-dimensional in vitro triculture tissue model of a contusion injury composed of neurons, microglia, and astrocytes and examined the contributions of mitochondrial dysregulation to neuroinflammation and progression of injury-induced neurodegeneration. Pharmacological studies presented here suggest that fragmented mitochondria released by microglia are a key contributor to secondary neuronal damage progression after contusion injury, a pathway that requires astrocyte-microglia crosstalk. Controlling mitochondrial dysfunction thus offers an exciting option for developing therapies for TBI patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)496
JournalCell Death and Disease
Volume14
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 3 Aug 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Humans
  • Neuroinflammatory Diseases
  • Inflammation/metabolism
  • Brain/metabolism
  • Brain Injuries, Traumatic/metabolism
  • Contusions/metabolism
  • Mitochondria/metabolism
  • Microglia/metabolism
  • Astrocytes/metabolism

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