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Recombinant FGF21 Protects Against Blood-Brain Barrier Leakage Through Nrf2 Upregulation in Type 2 Diabetes Mice

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Abstract

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage is a characteristic feature of diabetes mellitus pathology and plays significant roles in diabetes-associated neurological disorders. However, effective treatments for diabetes targeting BBB damage are yet to be developed. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a potent regulator of lipid and glucose metabolism. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that recombinant FGF21 (rFGF21) administration may reduce type 2 diabetes (T2D)-induced BBB disruption via NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) upregulation. Our experimental results show that rFGF21 treatment significantly ameliorated BBB permeability and preserved junction protein expression in db/db mice in vivo. This protective effect was further confirmed by ameliorated transendothelial permeability and junction protein loss by rFGF21 under hyperglycemia and IL1β (HG-IL1β) condition in cultured human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) in vitro. We further reveal that rFGF21 can activate FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) that increases its binding with Kelch ECH-associating protein 1 (Keap1), a repressor of Nrf2, thereby reducing Keap1-Nrf2 interaction leading to Nrf2 release. These data suggest that rFGF21 administration may decrease T2D-induced BBB permeability, at least in part via FGFR1-Keap1-Nrf2 activation pathway. This study may provide an impetus for development of therapeutics targeting BBB damage in diabetes.

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Abbreviations

FGF21:

fibroblast growth factor 21

BBB:

blood-brain-barrier

HBMEC:

human brain microvascular endothelial cells

FGFR1:

FGF receptor 1

IL-1β:

interleukin 1β

Nrf2:

NF-E2 related factor-2

NaFl:

sodium fluorescein

Co-IP:

co-immunoprecipitation

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Funding

This study was in part supported by the AHA Scientist Development Grant 15SDG25550035 (Yu Z), and National Institute of Health (NIH) 5R01NS099539 (Wang X).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroprotection Research Laboratory, Departments of Radiology and Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Room 2401, Boston, MA, 02129, USA

    Zhanyang Yu, Yinghua Jiang, Ian Chin, Eng H. Lo & Xiaoying Wang

  2. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China

    Li Lin, Xiaojie Wang & Xiaokun Li

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  1. Zhanyang Yu
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  2. Li Lin
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  3. Yinghua Jiang
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  4. Ian Chin
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  5. Xiaojie Wang
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  6. Xiaokun Li
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  7. Eng H. Lo
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  8. Xiaoying Wang
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Contributions

Z.Y, L.L, I.C, and Y.J performed the study and analyzed the data. Z.Y and XY.W designed the experiment, analyzed the data, and wrote to the paper. X.L, XJ.W, and E.H.L helped in data analysis and paper writing. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Zhanyang Yu or Xiaoying Wang.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing financial interests in the manuscript.

Ethics Approval

All animal experiments were performed following protocols approved by the Massachusetts General Hospital Animal Care and Use Committee in compliance with the National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

Electronic Supplementary Material

Figure S1

Effect of rFGF21 treatment on blood glucose levels and body weight of db/db mice.db/db diabetic mice at age of 16 weeks were treated with rFGF21 for 10 days, blood glucose levels and body weight were measured before and after treatment. (A) blood glucose level (mg/dL); (B) body weight (grams) (* p < 0.05; n = 6). (DOCX 61 kb)

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Yu, Z., Lin, L., Jiang, Y. et al. Recombinant FGF21 Protects Against Blood-Brain Barrier Leakage Through Nrf2 Upregulation in Type 2 Diabetes Mice. Mol Neurobiol 56, 2314–2327 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-018-1234-2

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