Thiamine Deficiency Modulates p38 and Heme Oxygenase-1 in Mouse Brain: Association with Early Tissue and Behavioral Changes.

Thiamine deficiency (TD) produces severe neurodegenerative lesions. Studies have suggested that primary neurodegenerative events are associated with both oxidative stress and inflammation. Very little is known about the downstream effects on intracellular signaling pathways involved in neuronal death. The primary aim of this work was to evaluate the modulation of p38 and the expression of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in the central nervous system (CNS). Behavioral, metabolic, and morphological parameters were assessed. Mice were separated into six groups: control (Cont), TD with pyrithiamine (Ptd), TD with pyrithiamine and Trolox (Ptd + Tr), TD with pyrithiamine and dimethyl sulfoxide (Ptd + Dmso), Trolox (Tr) and DMSO (Dmso) control groups and treated for 9 days. Control groups received standard feed (AIN-93M), while TD groups received thiamine deficient feed (AIN-93DT). All the groups were subjected to behavioral tests, and CNS samples were collected for cell viability, histopathology and western blot analyses. The Ptd group showed a reduction in weight gain and feed intake, as well as a reduction in locomotor, grooming, and motor coordination activities. Also, Ptd group showed a robust increase in p38 phosphorylation and mild HO-1 expression in the cerebral cortex and thalamus. The Ptd group showed a decreased cell viability, hemorrhage, spongiosis, and astrocytic swelling in the thalamus. Groups treated with Trolox and DMSO displayed diminished p38 phosphorylation in both the structures, as well as attenuated thalamic lesions and behavioral activities. These data suggest that p38 and HO-1 are involved in the TD-induced neurodegeneration in vivo, possibly modulated by oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.