Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) decreases inflammatory responses in brain endothelial cells

Am J Pathol. 2010 Feb;176(2):881-92. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.090671. Epub 2010 Jan 7.

Abstract

Immune mediators and leukocyte engagement of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs) contribute to blood-brain barrier impairment during neuroinflammation. Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) was recently identified as a potent regulator of immune responses in in vitro systems and animal models. However, the role of GSK3beta in regulation of immune endothelial functions remains undetermined. Here we evaluated the effect of GSK3beta inhibition on the regulation of inflammatory responses in BMVECs. A focused PCR gene array of 84 genes was performed to identify the cytokine and chemokine gene expression profile in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha-stimulated BMVECs after GSK3beta inactivation by specific inhibitors. Fifteen of 39 genes induced by TNFalpha stimulation were down-regulated after GSK3beta inhibition. Genes known to contribute to neuroinflammation that were most negatively affected by GSK3beta inactivation included IP-10/CXCL10, MCP-1/CCL2, IL-8/CXCL8, RANTES/CCL5, and Groalpha/CXCL1. GSK3beta suppression resulted in diminished secretion of these proinflammatory mediators by inflamed BMVECs detected by ELISA. GSK3beta inhibition in BMVECs reduced adhesion molecule expression as well as monocyte adhesion to and migration across cytokine stimulated BMVEC monolayers. Interactions of monocytes with TNFalpha-activated BMVECs led to barrier disruption, and GSK3beta suppression in the endothelium restored barrier integrity. GSK3beta inhibition in vivo substantially decreased leukocyte adhesion to brain endothelium under inflammatory conditions. In summary, inhibition of GSK3beta emerges as an important target for stabilization of the blood-brain barrier in neuroinflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Dementia Complex / drug therapy
  • AIDS Dementia Complex / metabolism
  • AIDS Dementia Complex / pathology
  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / pathology
  • Brain / blood supply
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Encephalitis / pathology*
  • Encephalitis / prevention & control
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Endothelial Cells / immunology
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Monocytes / drug effects
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Monocytes / pathology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Thiadiazoles / pharmacology
  • Thiadiazoles / therapeutic use
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology
  • Thiazoles / therapeutic use
  • Urea / analogs & derivatives
  • Urea / pharmacology
  • Urea / therapeutic use

Substances

  • 4-benzyl-2-methyl-1,2,4-thiadiazolidine-3,5-dione
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Thiadiazoles
  • Thiazoles
  • N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-N'-(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)urea
  • Urea
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Gsk3b protein, mouse
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3