TY - JOUR
T1 - LPS induces microglial activation and GABAergic synaptic deficits in the hippocampus accompanied by prolonged cognitive impairment
AU - Jung, Hyeji
AU - Lee, Dongsu
AU - You, Heejung
AU - Lee, Myungha
AU - Kim, Hyeonho
AU - Cheong, Eunji
AU - Um, Ji Won
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Neuroinflammation impacts the brain and cognitive behavior through microglial activation. In this study, we determined the temporal sequence from microglial activation to synaptic dysfunction and cognitive behavior induced by neuroinflammation in mice. We found that LPS injection activated microglia within a short period, followed by impairments in GABAergic synapses, and that these events led to long-term cognitive impairment. We demonstrated that, 3 days after LPS injection, microglia in the hippocampus were significantly activated due to the LPS-induced inflammation in association with alterations in cellular morphology, microglial density, and expression of phagocytic markers. GABAergic synaptic impairments were detected at 4–6 days after LPS treatment, a time when microglia activity had returned to normal. Consequently, memory impairment persisted for 6 days after injection of LPS. Our results suggest that neuroinflammation induces microglia activation, GABAergic synaptic deficits and prolonged memory impairment over a defined temporal sequence. Our observations provide insight into the temporal sequence of neuroinflammation-associated brain pathologies. Moreover, the specific loss of inhibitory synapses accompanying the impaired inhibitory synaptic transmission provides mechanistic insight that may explain the prolonged cognitive deficit observed in patients with neuroinflammation. Thus, this study provides essential clues regarding early intervention strategies against brain pathologies accompanying neuroinflammation.
AB - Neuroinflammation impacts the brain and cognitive behavior through microglial activation. In this study, we determined the temporal sequence from microglial activation to synaptic dysfunction and cognitive behavior induced by neuroinflammation in mice. We found that LPS injection activated microglia within a short period, followed by impairments in GABAergic synapses, and that these events led to long-term cognitive impairment. We demonstrated that, 3 days after LPS injection, microglia in the hippocampus were significantly activated due to the LPS-induced inflammation in association with alterations in cellular morphology, microglial density, and expression of phagocytic markers. GABAergic synaptic impairments were detected at 4–6 days after LPS treatment, a time when microglia activity had returned to normal. Consequently, memory impairment persisted for 6 days after injection of LPS. Our results suggest that neuroinflammation induces microglia activation, GABAergic synaptic deficits and prolonged memory impairment over a defined temporal sequence. Our observations provide insight into the temporal sequence of neuroinflammation-associated brain pathologies. Moreover, the specific loss of inhibitory synapses accompanying the impaired inhibitory synaptic transmission provides mechanistic insight that may explain the prolonged cognitive deficit observed in patients with neuroinflammation. Thus, this study provides essential clues regarding early intervention strategies against brain pathologies accompanying neuroinflammation.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85153546400&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-023-32798-9
DO - 10.1038/s41598-023-32798-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 37085584
AN - SCOPUS:85153546400
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 13
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
IS - 1
M1 - 6547
ER -