CD74-immunoreactive activated M1 microglia are shown late in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 region following transient cerebral ischemia.

Activated M1 microglia secrete proinflammatory cytokines into damaged brain areas. The present study examined activated M1 microglial morphology and expression in the hippocampal Cornu Ammonis (CA) 1 region, which is vulnerable to transient ischemia. Transient cerebral ischemia was performed for 5 min in gerbils, and neuronal death in the CA1 region following transient cerebral ischemia was confirmed using cresyl violet staining, neuronal nuclear antigen immunohistochemistry and Fluoro‑Jade B histofluorescent staining. In addition, CA1 regions were stained for cluster of differentiation (CD) 74, a marker for activated M1 microglia and a ligand for macrophage migration inhibitory factor In sham‑operated animals, no CD74 immunoreactivity was observed in the hippocampal CA1 region. CD74 immunoreactivity was not observed in the hippocampal CA1 region until 3 days post‑ischemic insult; however, elevated CD74 immunoreactivity was detected in the CA1 region from 5 days post‑ischemia. Double immunofluorescence staining for CD74 and ionized calcium‑binding adapter molecule 1, a marker for M1 microglial cells, confirmed the expression of CD74 on this microglial subtype. These results indicated that M1 microglia are activated late in the hippocampal CA1 region following ischemic stroke. Therefore, optimizing the timing of therapeutic intervention may reduce activated M1 microglial-induced neuronal damage.

Introduction

Acute ischemic brain damage results in severe neuronal loss via an inflammatory process, which predominantly involves invading leukocytes, activated resident microglia and macrophages (1,2). Microglia form the first line of defense and control the immune response in the brain (3–5). It may be speculated that the microglia serve an essential role in forming a link between the central nervous system (CNS), a barrier-protected organ, and the general immune system; microglia are resident macrophages of the CNS and thus form an interface between the neural parenchyma and the immune system (3,6). Little is known about the microglia in the healthy CNS; however, they are rapidly activated in acute pathological events, which may affect the CNS.

Activated microglia have dual effects. They may destroy invading microorganisms, remove potentially deleterious debris, promote tissue repair by secreting wound-healing factors and thus facilitate the return to tissue homeostasis (7,8). However, these cells secrete large amounts of cytotoxic mediators such as reactive oxygen intermediates (9), nitric oxide (10), proteinases, excitatory amino acids (11) and inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 (12,13).

The activation of microglia and their histological localization is important in elucidating their roles following ischemic insults. Our previous study demonstrated the chronological alteration of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), which is a marker for microglia, in the hippocampal Cornu Ammonis (CA) 1 region, induced by 5 min of transient forebrain ischemia using Mongolian gerbils (14). Previous research has demonstrated that microglia may be divided into activated M1 and M2 microglia, according to their phenotypes and polarization (15); activated M1 microglia secrete proinflammatory cytokines and are potentially harmful, whereas activated M2 microglia serve important roles in repair and plasticity (15–17). Improving our understanding of M1 microglia/macrophages is important because this subtype predominates within injured areas, and may accelerate neuronal damage via the release of inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor-α and nitric oxide (15). However, a recent study indicated that early-stage Alzheimer's patients exhibit M1-polarized microglia, whereas severe-stage plaques demonstrated an M2a-polarized phenotype (18). Notably, the concept of microglial M1 and M2 phenotypes has also been investigated in the field of stroke research (19). Cluster of differentiation (CD) 74 is a marker for activated M1 microglia because it serves as a chaperone for major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) molecules in antigen presenting cells, and as a receptor binding site for macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Numerous previous in vivo studies have focused on activated M1 microglia using animal models of focal ischemia. Therefore, the present study investigated the chronological alteration of activated microglia expressing CD74 in the hippocampus, induced by transient forebrain ischemia in Mongolian gerbils, which have been used as an animal model of transient forebrain ischemia (20–23).

Materials and methods

Induction of transient cerebral ischemia

A total of 35 male gerbils (age, 6 months; weight, 70–80 g) were obtained from Experimental Animal Center of Kangwon National University (Chuncheon, South Korea). Gerbils were housed in a conventional facility under stable temperature (23°C) and humidity (60%) with a 12-h light/12-h dark cycle, and were provided with free access to food and water. The procedures for animal handling were in compliance with current international laws and policies (Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, The National Academies Press, 8th Ed., 2011) (24), and were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at Kangwon National University (Chuncheon, South Korea; approval no. KW-130424-1).

Transient cerebral ischemia surgery was performed as previously described (25). In brief, animals were anesthetized with a mixture of 2.5% isoflurane (Ilsung Pharmaceuticals, Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea) in 33% oxygen and 67% nitrous oxide. The bilateral common carotid arteries were occluded for 5 min, and the complete interruption of blood flow was confirmed by observation of the retinal central artery under an ophthalmoscope. A normothermic (37±0.5°C) condition was maintained prior to, during and following surgery, until the animals had completely recovered from anesthesia. Sham-operated animals were subjected to the same surgical procedures; however, the common carotid arteries were not occluded.

Tissue processing

Tissues were collected as previously described (26). In brief, sham-operated (n=7) and ischemia-operated gerbils (n=28 in total; 7 gerbils/time point) were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (40 mg/kg; JW Pharmaceutical, Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea) and perfused transcardially with 4% paraformaldehyde 1, 3, 5 and 7 days following reperfusion. Brain tissues were removed and serially cut into 30-µm coronal sections.

Cresyl violet (CV) staining

To examine cellular distribution and damage, CV staining was performed as previously described (26). In brief, CV acetate (Sigma-Aldrich; Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) was dissolved at a concentration of 1.0% (w/v), and 0.28% glacial acetic acid was added. Sections were stained and subsequently dehydrated by immersing in serial ethanol baths.

Fluoro-Jade B (F-J B) staining

To examine neuronal damage/death following transient ischemia, F-J B (a high affinity fluorescent marker for the localization of neuronal degeneration) histofluorescence staining was performed, according to a previously published procedure (27). Briefly, sections were first immersed in a solution containing 1% sodium hydroxide, transferred to a solution of 0.06% potassium permanganate, and subsequently transferred to a 0.0004% Fluoro-Jade B (Histo-chem, Inc., Jefferson, AR, USA) solution. After washing, the sections were placed on a slide warmer (~50°C), and examined using an epifluorescent microscope (Zeiss GmbH, Jena, Germany) with blue (450–490 nm) excitation light and a barrier filter. Digital images of the stained hippocampus were captured with an AxioM1 light microscope equipped with an Axiocam digital camera (both from Zeiss GmbH), connected to a PC monitor.

Immunohistochemistry

Immunohistochemistry was performed out according to a previously published procedure (28). In brief, sections were incubated with mouse anti-neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN; cat. no. MAB377; 1:1,000; EMD Millipore, Billerica, MA, USA), mouse anti-CD74 (cat. no. MCA46R; MHCII/RT1B clone; 1:100; Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Hercules, CA, USA) or rabbit anti-Iba-1 (cat. no. 019-19741; 1:800; Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., Osaka, Japan) primary antibodies overnight at 4°C, and subsequently incubated with biotinylated goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin (Ig)-G (cat. no. BA-9200; 1:200; Vector Laboratories, Inc., Burlingame, CA, USA) or goat anti-rabbit IgG (cat. no. BA-1000; 1:200; Vector Laboratories, Inc.) secondary antibodies for 2 h at room temperature, followed by incubation with a streptavidin-peroxidase complex (cat. no. SA-5004; 1:200; Vector Laboratories, Inc.) for 45 min at room temperature. Immunostaining was visualized with diaminobenzidene. Digital images of the stained tissue were captured with an AxioM1 light microscope equipped with an Axiocam digital camera, connected to a PC monitor.

Double immunofluorescence

To examine the colocalization of CD74 and I1, the sections were processed by double immunofluorescence staining according to a previously published procedure (28). Briefly, sections were incubated with mouse anti-CD74 (cat. no. MCA46R; 1:25; Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.) and rabbit anti-Iba-1 (cat. no. 019-19741; 1:100; Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) primary antibodies overnight at 4°C, and subsequently incubated with Cy3-conjugated donkey anti-rabbit IgG (cat. no. 711-165-152; 1:200) and fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated donkey anti-mouse IgG (cat. no. 715-096-151; 1:200) secondary antibodies (both from Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, Inc., West Grove, PA, USA) for 2 h at room temperature. Immunoreactions were observed under a LSM510 META NLO confocal microscope (Zeiss GmbH).

Data analysis

Numbers of NeuN-immunoreactive and F-J B-positive cells were analyzed according to a previously published method (26). In brief, cells were counted in a 250×250 µm square applied approximately at the center of the hippocampal CA1 region, using an image analyzing system (Optimas 6.5; CyberMetrics Corporation, Phoenic, AZ, USA). The studied tissue sections were selected at 120-µm intervals, and cell counts were obtained by averaging the total cell numbers of 5 sections taken from each animal per group, between 1.4 mm and 2.0 mm posterior to the bregma, as defined by the gerbil atlas (29).

Densities of Iba-1 and CD74 immunoreactive structures were measured as previously described (26). Images were calibrated into an array of 512×512 pixels, corresponding to a tissue area of 250×250 µm (primary magnification, ×40) and including the stratum pyramidale. The densities of all Iba-1 and CD74 immunoreactive structures were evaluated on the basis of their optical density (OD), which was obtained following transformation of the mean gray level using the formula: OD=log (256/mean gray level). The background OD was determined from areas adjacent to the measured area. After the background density was subtracted, a ratio of the image OD was calibrated as % relative OD (ROD), using Adobe Photoshop version 8.0 (Adobe Systems, Inc., Beijing, China) and analyzed using ImageJ version 1.50 software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA).

Statistical analysis

Data are presented as the mean ± standard. Differences between the means were statistically analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by a Bonferroni's post-hoc test, using GraphPad Prism 5.01 software (GraphPad Software, Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA). P<0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference.

Results

Neuronal damage/death

CV, NeuN and F-J B staining was conducted in the CA1 hippocampal region following transient ischemia in gerbils (Fig. 1). In the sham-operated group, CV-positive cells and NeuN-immunoreactive neurons were clearly observed in the stratum pyramidale of the hippocampal CA1 region (Fig. 1A, a, and D). In contrast, no F-J B positive cells were detected in the hippocampal CA1 region of these gerbils (Fig. 1G and J). The 1 day after ischemic insult, the distribution pattern of CV-positive cells and NeuN-immunoreactive neurons in the CA1 region was similar to that in the sham-operated group (Fig. 1B, b and E), and no F-J B positive cells were observed in the hippocampal CA1 region in this group (Fig. 1H and J). CV-positive cells were significantly decreased in the stratum pyramidale of the CA1 region 5 days after ischemic insult (Fig. 1C and c). Similarly, only a few NeuN immunoreactive neurons were detected in the stratum pyramidale of the CA1 region (Fig. 1F and J), however, many F-J B positive cells were observed in the stratum pyramidale of the CA1 region 5 days after ischemic insult (Fig. 1I and J). These results indicated that transient cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal death in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampal CA1 region occurred 5 days after ischemic insult.

Figure 1.

CV, NeuN and F-J B staining in the CA1 hippocampal region following transient ischemia in gerbils. (A-C, a-c) CV, (D-F) NeuN and (G-I) F-J B staining. Staining of the hippocampal CA1 region of (A, a, D, G) sham-operated and (B, C, b, c, E, F, H, I) ischemia-operated gerbils was performed. CV- and NeuN-positive cells were clearly observed in the sham-operated group; however, F-J B positive cells were not detected. A few CV and NeuN immunoreactive cells were present in the SP (*) of the CA1 region 5 days after ischemic insult, and several F-J B positive cells were present in the SP at this time point. Scale bar=50 µm. (J) Mean number of NeuN or F-J B positive cells in the CA1 region, n=7/group. Data are presented as the mean ± standard error. #P<0.05, vs. sham. CA, Cornu Ammonis; CV, cresyl violet; F-J B, fluoro-Jade B; NeuN, neuronal nuclear antigen; SP, stratum pyramidale; SO, stratum oriens; SR, stratum radiatum; Isch, ischemia; DG, dentate gyrus.

Iba-1 immunoreactive microglia

Iba-1 and CD74 immunoreactivity was detected in the hippocampal CA1 region following transient ischemia in gerbils (Fig. 2). In the sham-operated group, Iba-1-immunoreactive microglia, in a resting form, were distributed in all layers of the CA1 region and had a typical ramified morphology with small areas of cytoplasm (Fig. 2A). The day after ischemic insult, Iba-1-immunoreactive microglia demonstrated activation; the cell bodies became hypertrophied with thickened processes (Fig. 2B) and their ROD was increased compared with the sham-operated group. A total of 3 days after ischemic insult, the majority of Iba-1-immunoreactive microglia were more hypertrophied in shape and the ROD of these cells was significantly increased, compared with those at 1 day post-ischemia (Fig. 2C and K). After 5 days, Iba-1-immunoreactive microglia were aggregated in the stratum pyramidale of the CA1 region (Fig. 2D). After 7 days, the aggregation of Iba-1-immunoreactive microglia, and their ROD, was significantly increased, compared with 5 day post-ischemic tissues (Fig. 2E and K).

Figure 2.

Iba-1 and CD74 immunoreactivity in the hippocampal CA1 region, following transient ischemia in gerbils. Immunohistochemical staining of (A-E) Iba-1 and (F-J) CD74. Staining was performed in (A and F) sham-operated and (B-E and G-J) ischemia-operated gerbils. In the sham-operated group, only Iba-1 immunoreactive microglia were observed. After 5–7 days, numerous Iba-1 immunoreactive microglia became aggregated in the SP (*), and CD74-immunoreactive cells (black arrows) were scattered in the CA1 region. Scale bar=50 µm. (K) ROD as percentage of Iba-1 and CD74 immunoreactive structures in the CA1 region of the sham-and ischemia-operated groups, n=7/group. ∆P<0.05 vs. sham; #P<0.05, vs. the respective pre-time point group. Data are presented as the mean ± standard error. Iba-1, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1; CD, cluster of differentiation; CA, Cornu Ammonis; SP, stratum pyramidale; SO, stratum oriens; SR, stratum radiatum; Isch, ischemia; ROD, relative optical density; Isch, ischemia.

CD74-immunoreactive microglia

In the sham-operated group, CD74 immunoreactivity was not detected in any cells in the CA1 region (Fig. 2F). Between days 1 and 3 after ischemic insult, very few CD74-immunoreactive cells were observed in the CA1 region (Fig. 2G and H); however, CD74-immunoreactive cells were detected in the strata oriens and radiatum of the CA1 region 5 days after ischemic insult (Fig. 2I and K). After 7 days, the number of CD74-immunoreactive cells were further elevated in the CA1 region, compared with those at 5 days post-ischemia (Fig. 2J and K).

Co-localization of Iba-1 and CD74

Double immunofluorescence staining indicated that Iba-1 immunoreactivity was observed in the CA1 region of the sham-operated group; however, no CD74 immunoreactivity was observed in this group (Fig. 3A-C). After 7 days, CD74 immunoreactivity was observed in numerous cells in the CA1 region, and this appeared to colocalize with Iba-1 in the microglia (Fig. 3D-G).

Figure 3.

Double immunofluorescence staining for Iba-1 and CD74 in the hippocampal CA1 region. Immunofluorescence staining in the sham group for (A) Iba-1, (B) CD74 and (C) their merged overlay. Immunfluorescence staining in the ischemic model group for (D) Iba-1, (E) CD74 and (F) their merged overlay. White arrows indicate regions of Iba-1/CD74 overlap. Many of Iba-1 immunoreactive microglia demonstrate CD74 immunoreactivity in the CA1 region. Scale bar=50 µm. (G) Mean number of Iba-1, CD74 and Iba-1/CD74-immunoreactive cells in the CA1 region 7 days after ischemia-reperfusion, n=7/group. Data are presented as the mean ± standard error. Iba-1, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1; CD, cluster of differentiation; CA, Cornu Ammonis; SO, stratum oriens; SP, stratum pyramidale; SR, stratum radiatum; Isch, ischemia.

Discussion

Microglial reactivity in the ischemic brain is closely associated with the development of delayed neuronal cell death in vulnerable regions (4,30). An early and transient microglial reaction occurs throughout the majority of the hippocampus within 24 h of ischemia, including the hippocampal CA3 region, where no subsequent neuronal loss occurs (31). In addition, our previous study demonstrated chronological alterations in Iba-1-positive microglia in the hippocampus after 5 min of transient cerebral ischemia in gerbils (14). However, to the best of our knowledge, few studies have investigated the timing of microglia activation in the hippocampus, following induction by transient cerebral ischemia.

The Iba-1 gene is located within the MHC class III region of the brain (32), and is specifically expressed in microglia (14,32,33). Microglia proliferate within selectively vulnerable brain areas with ischemia-induced neuronal cell death during the first 48 h after ischemic injury (34,35). Differential analysis of the M1 and M2 subtypes is important, because M1 and M2 microglia demonstrate contradictory functions in the inflammatory process of neurological disorders. The present study observed a chronological change in M1 polarization (MHC-II- and CD74-positive cells) in the hippocampal CA1 region after 5 min of transient cerebral ischemia in gerbils. These results will develop our understanding of the cell death process in the hippocampus, following ischemic insults.

CD74 immunoreactivity was not observed in the hippocampus of the sham-operated gerbils; however, CD74 was expressed in Iba-1-immunoreactive microglia in the hippocampal CA1 region, ≥5 days after ischemic insult. In the hippocampal CA1 region, delayed neuronal death occurs several days after transient cerebral ischemia in rodents (36–38). In this regard, the present study observed M1 polarization after neuronal death of CA1 pyramidal neurons. In particular, CD74 immunoreactivity gradually increased in the hippocampal CA1 region ≥5 days following ischemic insult. Notably, in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion, expression of the M1 marker CD16/32 was significantly increased 3 days after ischemic insult and remained elevated 14 days after focal ischemia (16). Furthermore, the authors reported that other M1-type genes, including inducible nitric oxide synthase and CD11b, also gradually increased 3 days after ischemia and remained at high levels 14 days later (16).

CD74 is also a ligand for MIF, which is released by a variety of cell types. MIF is a proinflammatory cytokine that binds to CD74 and sequentially activates the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2-dependent signal transduction pathway, cell proliferation and prostaglandin E2 production (39). Overexpression of MIF significantly decreases H2O2-induced cell death, and knockdown of the MIF gene exacerbates neuronal damage in an animal model of ischemic insult (23). The present study observed an increase of CD74 immunoreactivity in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 region; it may be hypothesized that this increase could protect neurons from ischemic damage. However, it was previously reported that MIF expression is decreased in the infarct area of the mouse brain following ischemia (23). Based on these findings, the expression pattern of CD74 may be varied in the damaged brain tissue according to ischemic insults, with differences based on whether the ischemia was global or focal, and the duration of the transient ischemic insult.

In conclusion, CD74-immunoreactive activated M1 microglia were observed a few days after transient cerebral ischemia in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 region. This observation indicates that activated M1 microglia may be closely associated with neuronal death in various microenvironments in the hippocampal CA1 region following transient forebrain ischemia. Therefore, it may be hypothesized that activated M1 microglia has potential as an alternative target for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of patients with cerebral ischemia.