Role of Bevacizumab on Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Apolipoprotein E Deficient Mice after Traumatic Brain Injury

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 23; no. 8; p. 4162
• Main Authors: Genovese, Tiziana, Impellizzeri, Daniela, D'Amico, Ramona, Fusco, Roberta, Peritore, Alessio Filippo, Di Paola, Davide, Interdonato, Livia, Gugliandolo, Enrico, Crupi, Rosalia, Di Paola, Rosanna, Cuzzocrea, Salvatore, Cordaro, Marika, Siracusa, Rosalba
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 09-04-2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Apolipoprotein E; Apolipoproteins; Apolipoproteins E - metabolism; Apoptosis; Arteriosclerosis; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis - metabolism; Bevacizumab; Bevacizumab - pharmacology; Bevacizumab - therapeutic use; Blood-brain barrier; Blood-Brain Barrier - metabolism; Brain damage; Brain Edema - drug therapy; Brain Edema - etiology; Brain Injuries, Traumatic - metabolism; Cardiovascular disease; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Edema; Growth factors; Inflammation; Injury prevention; Mice; Monoclonal antibodies; Mortality; neuroinflammation; Neuroprotection; Pathology; Trauma; Traumatic brain injury; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; vascular risk; traumatic brain injury; blood–brain barrier; neuroinflammation; vascular endothelial growth factor; vascular risk
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084162

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disrupts the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is believed to play a key role in TBI and to be overexpressed in the absence of apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Bevacizumab, a VEGF inhibitor, demonstrated neuroprotective activity in several models of TBI. However, the effects of bevacizumab on Apo-E deficient mice are not well studied. The present study aimed to evaluate VEGF expression and the effects of bevacizumab on BBB and neuroinflammation in ApoE
mice undergoing TBI. Furthermore, for the first time, this study evaluates the effects of bevacizumab on the long-term consequences of TBI, such as atherosclerosis. The results showed that motor deficits induced by controlled cortical impact (CCI) were accompanied by increased brain edema and VEGF expression. Treatment with bevacizumab significantly improved motor deficits and significantly decreased VEGF levels, as well as brain edema compared to the control group. Furthermore, the results showed that bevacizumab preserves the integrity of the BBB and reduces the neuroinflammation induced by TBI. Regarding the effects of bevacizumab on atherosclerosis, it was observed for the first time that its ability to modulate VEGF in the acute phase of head injury prevents the acceleration of atherosclerosis. Therefore, the present study demonstrates not only the neuroprotective activity of bevacizumab but also its action on the vascular consequences related to TBI.