• Eur. J. Clin. Invest. · Apr 2022

    The effect of parthenolide on methamphetamine-induced blood-brain barrier and astrocyte alterations.

    • Ricardo A Leitão, Carlos A Fontes-Ribeiro, and Ana Paula Silva.
    • Institute of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
    • Eur. J. Clin. Invest. 2022 Apr 1; 52 (4): e13694.

    BackgroundMethamphetamine abuse is a worldwide concern with long-term health complications. Its impact on neurons has been extensively investigated, and it is currently known that glial cells, including astrocytes, are involved in drug-induced outcomes. Importantly, METH also causes blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and astrocytes are critical for BBB (dys)function. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the involvement of neuroinflammation mediated by astrocytes in BBB permeability and brain oedema induced by METH. Further, we aimed to identify a new approach to counteract METH effects.MethodsMice were administered with a METH binge regimen (4 × 10 mg/kg) alone or in combination with parthenolide (PTL; 4 × 1 mg/kg), and hippocampi were analysed. For in vitro studies, mouse primary cultures of astrocytes were exposed to 250 µM METH, alone or co-treated with 10 µM PTL.ResultsWe observed a neuroinflammatory response characterized by astrocytic morphological changes and increased TNF-α, iNOS and ICAM-1 protein levels (213.62%, 205.76% and 191.47% of control, respectively). Additionally, brain oedema and BBB disruption were identified by increased water content (81.30% of tissue weight) and albumin (224.40% of control) in the hippocampal tissue, as well as a significant decrease in vessel coverage by astrocytes after METH exposure. Regarding astrocyte cultures, we further identified TNF-α as a key player in METH-induced cell swelling. Importantly, PTL (present in feverfew plant) prevented both animal and in vitro effects induced by METH.ConclusionsWe provided important insights on brain dysfunction induced by METH, and we also suggest a new approach to counteract such negative effects.© 2021 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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