Cerebral Ischaemia and Pathogenic Mechanisms Flashcards

1
Q

What is the best method to improve stroke outcome?

A

Rapid intervention

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2
Q

Current treatments for cerebral ischaemic stroke

A

tpA, mechanical thrombectomy, aspirin, antiplatelets

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3
Q

Stroke prophylaxis examples?

A

statins, ACE inhibitors, antiplatelets, antihypertensives

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4
Q

Difference between ischaemic core and ischaemic penumbra?

A

Ischaemic Core: area supplied by MCA which experiences cell death

Ischaemic Penumbra: area that surrounds ischaemic core]- where tissue viability may be sustained (<22ml/100g/min)

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5
Q

What is the metabolic outcome of reduced blood flow on the brain

A

[as we approach <22ml/100g/min]

  • Decreased ATP
  • Decreased glucose utilisation
  • Decreased protein synthesis
  • Increased water content (oedema)
  • Increased Na+ & K+
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6
Q

Outcome of administering thrombolysis within 1 hour of stroke?

A

Damage confined to core region, penumbra is spared

[the amount spared decreases until 3 hours, where damage is too great]

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7
Q

Stroke outcomes from energy failure?

A

reduced blood flow-> ATP reduced -> Na+ pump fails (ion gradient)-> membrane potential NOT maintained -> elevated extracellular glutamate (GLU) -> GLU transporters inactivated (energy dependent)-> acidosis -> Na+ and Cl- entry accompanied w/ H20 -> oedema

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8
Q

Effect of reduced blood flow on neurotransmitters

A

Glutamate, GABA and Adenosine leak into the extracellular space]- i.e. levels increase

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9
Q

Effect of increased glutamate in stroke

A

Activate receptors: AMPA (-> Na+ influx) and NMDA (-> Na+ & Ca2+ influx)

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10
Q

Describe how stroke causes excitotoxicity?

A

[increased Na+ and Ca2+ from AMPA+NMDA]

Na+ -> cell swelling & potassium loss -> peri-infarct depolarisation

Ca2+ -> XDH, PLA2. NOS, proteases&nucleases [all of these are calcium-dependent]
|
XDH, PLA2-> increased free radicals -> loss of membrane integrity
|
NOS->NO-> increased free radicals -> loss of membrane integrity

Ca2+ -enter mitochondira> leaky mitochondira -> Cyt C release -> apoptosis

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11
Q

Describe 3 species of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)

A

nNOS/neuronal NOS: retrograde messenger-> toxic levels of NO free radicals ->neuronal lesion

eNOS/ endothelial NOS: vasodilator -> improves cerebral blood flow

iNOS/ inducible NOS: immune mediator -> toxic effects enhanced in ischaemia

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12
Q

Importance of endogenous antioxidants and free radical scavengers?

A

Can counterract the effects of superoxides

Helps in ischaemic period and in reperfusion when tissue is exposed to high oxygen levels

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13
Q

Examples of endogenous antioxidants and free radical scavengers?

A

Endogenous: Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase

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14
Q

Explain NMDA receptor mediated neurotoxicity

for a severe insult

A

SEVERE INSULT [in core]
Ca2+ entry -> Ca2+ uptake into mitochondria -> free radical generation -> severe ATP depletion -> mitochondrial swelling -> necrosis

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15
Q

Explain NMDA receptor mediated neurotoxicity

for a mild insult

A

MILD INSULT [penumbra]
transient depolarisation -> reduced ATP levels -> Ca2+ loaded mitochondria -> Cyt c release from mitochondria -> apoptosis

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16
Q

Experimental evidence of NMDA’s role in stroke?

A
  • KO of NR2A decreases infarct size
  • signal interruption using 2B subunit antibody that affects PSD95 interaction reduces ischaemic damage
  • NR1 antibody given 4 hrs after MCAO reduces infarct size from 25%->15%
17
Q

Experimental evidence of AMPA’s role in stroke?

A

GluR2 antisense KO increases injury- AMPA receptor more Ca2+ permeable

18
Q

Where are the target sites of NMDA receptor antagonists

A

Targets:

  • glutamate binding site
  • coagulous binding site
  • polyamine site
19
Q

NMDA and AMPA antagonists pros and cons summary

A

Highly effective up to 2 hours after insult but have psychomimetic (NMDA) and respiratory depressive propertiesq

20
Q

Describe the ischaemic cascade in response to glutamate

A

NMDA receptor causing Ca2+ entry -> CAMKIV (CAM kinase IV) -> phosphorylation of CREB -? CREB/CREB binding protein (CBP_ complex activates transcription facotrs and neurotrophic factors -> cell survival OR death (depends on t. factors)

21
Q

Penumbra response to peri-infarct depolarisation by potassium and glutamate

A

Upregulated injury response genes (c-jun, ATF3, heat shock proteins- HSPs) -> these all extend the area of infarct

[these are sensitive to glutamate antagonists]

22
Q

List participants of the transcriptional cascade activated by glutamate

A

inducible transcription factors (IEGs)

enzymes e.g. COX-2

neuroprotective proteins (HSPs)

23
Q

Is chronic treatment w/ COX-2 inhibitors a viable stroke treatment?

A

NO

Although they lack gastric toxicity, they reduce prostacyclin (vasodilator) and lack COX-1 anti thrombotic effects, which potentiates CVS events

24
Q

What are heat shock proteins (HSPs)?

A

Act as protein chaperones that facilitate protein transfer between subcellular compartments

Induced following a noxious stimulus (ischaemia), they target abormal proteins for degradation

They are anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidant

25
Effect of increasing expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs)?
Reduces infarct size (shown in HSP70 and HSP27) NB: HSPs can be induced through NSAIDS
26
Describe HSPs and ischaemic preconditioning (IPC)
IPC is where brief ischaemia provides protection against subsequent, prolonged ischaemia]- shown in cardiac and cerebral iscaemia [meditated through the NF-kB pathway] can promote neuronal survival and reduce infarct size
27
Describe the process of inflammation brought about by stroke
Brain parenchyma entered by - neutrophils, then lymphocytes and macrophages - iNOS elevated [allowed by disruption of BBB] | Inflammatory mediators (TNF alpha, PAF, IL-beta, adhesion molecules, ICAM-1, p & e selectins)
28
Effect of IL-1 and TNF-alpha in stroke
Upregulation of adhesion molecules -> neutrophil migration
29
Relevance of CSF levels of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha
Correlate w/ infarct size
30
Relevance of chemokines (CINC, MCP-1) ]- produced several hours following ischaemia
Attract neutrophils and infiltration
31
Relevance of apoptosis in stroke
Delayed cell death in penumbra Triggered by free radicals, death receptor, DNA damage, proteases, ion imbalance Cyt-C release from mitochondira -> apoptosome formation (APAF1 + procaspase 9) and caspase 3 activation -> DNA fragmentation
32
Stroke treatment targeting apoptosis pathway?
Caspase 3 inhibitors (zDEVD, FMK)]- effective up to 9hrs after reversible ischaemia Broad specificity caspase inhibitors (zVAD)/caspase 1 deletion protects against ischaemia
33
Stroke and late stage repair
Growth factors secreted by neurons, astrocytes, microglia..etc Glutamate-mediated synaptic activity increases BDNF transcription and secretion Neuronal spouting occurs in an attempt to form contacts
34
Blood flow restoration by thrombolysis and thrombectomy outcomes clinically?
Had the greatest impact on salvaging ischaemic brain tissue (needs rapid administration) intravenous thrombolysis can salvage penumbra if given early; low recanalisation rate endovascular thrombectomy increases likelihood of salvaging penumbra; half pts with successful recanalisation don't achieve functional independence
35
Best time to administer intravenous thrombolysis
3 hours | - associated w/ improved functional outcome
36
How to reduce the demands of the penumbra, immediately following stroke?
- Fast MAG administered in the field - early application of neuroprotective drugs - hypothermia to reduce energy demands of penumbra - remote ischaemic preconditioning (e.g. limb/sensory stimulation) - cathodal transcranial direct cortical stimulation to inhibit peri-infarct depolarisation