Ling Li
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Neurol Disord
The risk of serious sequelae caused by central nerve system (CNS) infection is 30-60%. Among them, inflammation is one
of the critical mechanisms. But how inflammation alters brain function remains unclear. Here, we provide solid evidence
about meningitis caused by brain damage reduced host inflammatory response. Neurotrophic factor family plays an important
role in neuron development, differentiation and survival. BDNF expression increased in acute S. pneumoniae meningitis,
while obviously alleviated after antibiotic treatment. Neonatal meningitis caused long-term BDNF decreases were correlated to
adult animal behavioral deficits. Exogenous BDNF can increase neuron survival both in cortex and hippocampus, and reversed
brain damage. Meanwhile, it can increase hippocampus neuron stem cells neurogenesis. These findings indicate that BDNF
regulatory expression may be parts of host inflammatory response in S. pneumoniae meningitis, and innate immune response
could be a double-edged blade. Although the mechanism is still unknown. According to in vivo pneumococcal meningitis
experimental models, we investigated BDNF-related signaling effects inflammatory response and hippocampal apoptosis.
Before S. pneumoniae intracisternal infection, pretreatment with exogenous BDNF or TrkB inhibitor k252a and assess BDNF/
TrkB-signaling axis activation or inhibition. Administered BDNF in rats reduced clinical impairment, pathological severity,
and hippocampal apoptosis. Furthermore, BDNF pretreatment suppressed inflammatory factors (TNF�±, IL-1�² and IL-6)
expression while increased anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. It also increased TrkB expression, activated downstream PI3K/
protein kinase B (AKT) signaling, and inhibited MyD88/NF-�ºB-signaling pathway. These results indicated that exogenous
BDNF treatment might be a potential therapeutic strategy for inflammatory brain injury. Here is a two-year-old boy with acute
necrotizing encephalopathy by infection. After timely treatments with high-dose methylprednisolone and, immunoglobulin
therapy, multiple vitamins and nerve growth factor; he had relatively good prognosis and could see neuroregeneration in
follow-up brain MRI (Fig 1).
Recent Publications
1. Ling Li, Quanxiang Shui and Zhengyan Zhao (2003) Regulation of brain derived neurotrophic factor expression
following antibiotics treatment of experimental bacterial meningitis. J Child of Neurology 18(12):828-34.
2. Ling Li, Quanxiang Shui and Kun Liang Hui Ren (2007) Brain derived neurotrophic factor rescues neurons from
bacterial meningitis. Pediatric Neurology 36:324-329.
3. Lian D, He D, Wu J, Liu Y, Zhu M, Sun J, Chen F and Li L (2016) Exogenous BDNF increases neurogenesis in the
hippocampus in experimental Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. J Neuroimmunol. 15(294):46-55.
4. Xu D, Lian D, Wu J, Liu Y, Zhu M, Sun J, He D and Li L (2017) Brain-derived neurotrophic factor reduces inflammation
and hippocampal apoptosis in experimental Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. J Neuroinflammation 14(1):156.
5. Xu D, Lian D, Zhang Z, Liu Y, Sun J, Li L (2017) Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is regulated via MyD88/NF-�ºB
signaling in experimental Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. Sci Rep 7(1):3545.
Ling Li has completed her PhD and MD in 2003 at Zhejiang University School of Medicine. She is a Neurologist, Chief Physician, Professor, Supervisor for Doctor, Director of Pediatric Neurology at Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. She has published more than16 papers in reputed journals. Her main research is about strategies to prevent neuronal damage in pediatric bacterial meningitis.
E-mail: liling@xinhuamed,com.cn
Neurological Disorders received 1343 citations as per Google Scholar report