Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience (May 2022)

Modulation of the Thrombin Pathway Restores LTP in a Pilocarpine Mice Model of Status Epilepticus

  • Efrat Shavit-Stein,
  • Efrat Shavit-Stein,
  • Efrat Shavit-Stein,
  • Shani Berkowitz,
  • Shani Berkowitz,
  • Tal Davidy,
  • Uri Fennig,
  • Shani Guly Gofrit,
  • Amir Dori,
  • Amir Dori,
  • Amir Dori,
  • Nicola Maggio,
  • Nicola Maggio,
  • Nicola Maggio,
  • Nicola Maggio

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2022.900925
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16

Abstract

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BackgroundStatus epilepticus (SE) leads to memory impairment following a seizure, attributed to long-term potentiation (LTP) reduction. Thrombin, a coagulation factor that activates protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) is involved in cognitive impairment following traumatic brain injury by reducing hippocampal LTP and in seizures as seen in a SE pilocarpine-induced mice model. Thrombin pathway inhibition prevents this cognitive impairment. We evaluated the effect of thrombin pathway inhibition in the pilocarpine-induced SE mice model, on LTP, hippocampal, and serum markers for inflammation, the PAR1 pathway, and neuronal cell damage.MethodsSE was induced by injecting C57BL/6J mice with pilocarpine. Before pilocarpine injection, mice were injected with either the specific thrombin inhibitor α-NAPAP [Nα-(2-naphthalene-sulfonylglycyl)-4-amidino-DL-phenylalaninepiperidide], the PAR1 antagonist SCH79797, or vehicle-only solution. Recordings of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) were conducted from hippocampal slices 24 h following pilocarpine injection. Hippocampal real-time PCR for the quantification of the PAR1, prothrombin, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) mRNA expression levels was conducted. Serum levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) and TNF-α were measured by a single molecule array assay.ResultsThe EPSP was reduced in the pilocarpine-induced SE mice (p < 0.001). This reduction was prevented by both NAPAP and SCH79797 treatments (p < 0.001 for both treatments). Hippocampal expression of TNF-α was elevated in the pilocarpine-induced SE group compared to the control (p < 0.01), however, serum levels of TNF-α were not changed. NfL levels were elevated in the pilocarpine-induced SE group (p = 0.04) but not in the treated groups.ConclusionsPilocarpine-induced SE reduces LTP, in a thrombin PAR1-related mechanism. Elevation of serum NfL supports neuronal damage accompanying this functional abnormality which may be prevented by PAR1 pathway modulation.

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