Adolescent stress sensitizes the adult neuroimmune transcriptome and leads to sex-specific microglial and behavioral phenotypes.

Adolescent exposure to chronic stress, a risk factor for mood disorders in adulthood, sensitizes the neuroinflammatory response to a subsequent immune challenge. We previously showed that chronic adolescent stress (CAS) in rats led to distinct patterns of neuroimmune priming in adult male and female rats. However, sex differences in the neuroimmune consequences of CAS and their underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.

Microglial process convergence on axonal segments in health and disease.

Microglia dynamically interact with neurons influencing the development, structure, and function of neuronal networks. Recent studies suggest microglia may also influence neuronal activity by physically interacting with axonal domains responsible for action potential initiation and propagation. However, the nature of these microglial process interactions is not well understood.

The interaction of ceramide 1-phosphate with group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A coordinates acute wound healing and repair.

The sphingolipid ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) directly binds to and activates group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A (cPLAα) to stimulate the production of eicosanoids. Because eicosanoids are important in wound healing, we examined the repair of skin wounds in knockout (KO) mice lacking cPLAα and in knock-in (KI) mice in which endogenous cPLAα was replaced with a mutant form having an ablated C1P interaction site. Wound closure rate was not affected in the KO or KI mice, but wound maturation was enhanced in the KI mice compared to that in wild-type controls.

Loss of NF-κB p50 function synergistically augments microglial priming in the middle-aged brain.

Background: While NF-κB p50 function is impaired in central nervous system disease, aging in non-CNS tissues, and response to reactive oxygen species, the role of NF-κB p50 in aging-associated microglial pro-inflammatory priming is poorly understood.

Methods: Male NF-κB p50 and NF-κB p50 mice at three different ages (1.5-3.

Glial βII Spectrin Contributes to Paranode Formation and Maintenance.

Action potential conduction along myelinated axons depends on high densities of voltage-gated Na channels at the nodes of Ranvier. Flanking each node, paranodal junctions (paranodes) are formed between axons and Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) or oligodendrocytes in the CNS. Paranodal junctions contribute to both node assembly and maintenance.