2026-10-14T04:39:47Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34009511 2026-09-28T06:00:28Z category_12 category_15 category_16 portal_87 item_type_3 month_year_09_2026

MERTK-related engulfment of norepinephrinergic neuronal presynaptic membrane by astrocytes following acute TBI and potentiation effect of peripheral nerve modulation Xixian Liao (20542662) Ming Li (91180) Fei Niu (761836) Zilong Zhao (746821) Jun Hong (447107) Yu Deng (162738) Yu Yan (261782) Chuanhang He (25120070) Yanhao Liao (25120073) Ruilin Li (5627456) Yuan Zhuang (478696) Guoyi Gao (180658) Cell Biology Neuroscience Physiology Astrocytes locus coeruleus phagocytosis right median nerve stimulation traumatic brain injury <p>The study investigated the locus coeruleus (LC) changes after acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the effects of peripheral nerve modulation (PNM) in a mouse model.</p> <p>We performed closed controlled impact to simulate TBI in mice. We adopted electrical stimulation of the right median nerve as a method of PNM. Low-frequency and high-frequency peripheral nerve modulation (LF-PNM and HF-PNM) were administered on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days after the injury. We conducted a cell interaction analysis on the single-cell data of the mouse brainstem from the previous stage. Meanwhile, we also performed arousal and stress behavioral tests, immunofluorescence staining for apoptosis and activation of LC norepinephrinergic neurons, and examination of astrocytic phagocytosis in association with MERTK expression.</p> <p>Acute TBI induced apoptosis of LC norepinephrinergic neurons alongside behavioral impairments. TBI triggered reactive astrogliosis in the LC, with elevated GFAP-Lamp2 colocalization. Increased GFAP-NET colocalization indicated astrocytic engulfment of presynaptic membrane proteins from norepinephrinergic neurons. Cell interaction analysis identified MERTK-mediated astrocyte-norepinephrinergic neuron crosstalk; GFAP-MERTK immunofluorescence confirmed spatially increased astrocytic MERTK expression linked to NET phagocytosis. LF-PNM further enhanced astrocytic phagocytosis of LC norepinephrinergic presynaptic proteins after TBI, reduced neuronal apoptosis, facilitated neuronal activation, and rescued arousal and stress functions.</p> <p>After acute TBI, LC astrocytes phagocytose norepinephrinergic presynaptic proteins <i>via</i> MERTK. LF-PNM enhances this process, improving post-TBI arousal and stress dysfunction.</p> <p></p><p>Acute TBI induces extensive apoptosis of LC norepinephrinergic neurons and robust reactive activation of astrocytes, accompanied by markedly elevated astrocytic phagocytosis of norepinephrinergic presynaptic membranes via the MERTK-dependent pathway.</p><p>PNM exerts differential effects on LC norepinephrinergic neurons and astrocytes after acute TBI: LF-PNM suppresses neuronal apoptosis and further boosts astrocyte reactive activation and phagocytic activity, whereas HF-PNM hardly affects astrocyte activation yet impairs their phagocytic capacity.</p><p>Acute TBI causes deficits in arousal and stress functions, and PNM ameliorates these neurological impairments, with LF-PNM showing superior therapeutic efficacy.</p><p></p> <p>Acute TBI induces extensive apoptosis of LC norepinephrinergic neurons and robust reactive activation of astrocytes, accompanied by markedly elevated astrocytic phagocytosis of norepinephrinergic presynaptic membranes via the MERTK-dependent pathway.</p> <p>PNM exerts differential effects on LC norepinephrinergic neurons and astrocytes after acute TBI: LF-PNM suppresses neuronal apoptosis and further boosts astrocyte reactive activation and phagocytic activity, whereas HF-PNM hardly affects astrocyte activation yet impairs their phagocytic capacity.</p> <p>Acute TBI causes deficits in arousal and stress functions, and PNM ameliorates these neurological impairments, with LF-PNM showing superior therapeutic efficacy.</p> 2026-09-28T06:00:28Z Dataset Dataset 10.6084/m9.figshare.34009511.v1 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/MERTK-related_engulfment_of_norepinephrinergic_neuronal_presynaptic_membrane_by_astrocytes_following_acute_TBI_and_potentiation_effect_of_peripheral_nerve_modulation/34009511 CC BY 4.0