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Unique pathways downstream of TLR-4 and TLR-7 activation: sex-dependent behavioural, cytokine, and metabolic consequences

Abstract:

Introduction: Post-infection syndromes are characterised by fatigue, muscle pain, anhedonia, and cognitive impairment; mechanistic studies exploring these syndromes have focussed on pathways downstream of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 activation. Here, we investigated the mechanistic interplay between behaviour, metabolism, and inflammation downstream of TLR-7 activation compared to TLR-4 activation in male and female CD1 mice.

Methods: Animals received either a TLR-4 (LPS; 0.83 mg/kg) or TLR-7 (R848, 5 mg/kg) agonist, or saline, and behaviour was analysed in an Open Field (OF) at 24 h (n = 20/group). Plasma, liver, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were collected for gene expression analysis at 24 h and 1H-NMR metabolomics.

Results: TLR-4 and TLR-7 activation decreased distance travelled and rearing in the OF, but activation of each receptor induced distinct cytokine responses and metabolome profiles. LPS increased IL-1β expression and CXCL1 in the PFC, but TLR7 activation did not and strongly induced PFC CXCL10 expression. Thus, TLR7 induced sickness behaviour is independent of IL-1β expression. In both cases, the behavioural response to TLR activation was sexually dimorphic: females were more resilient. However, dissociation was observed between the resilient female mice behaviour and the levels of gene cytokine expression, which was, in general, higher in the female mice. However, the metabolic shifts induced by immune activation were better correlated with the sex-dependent behavioural dimorphisms; increased levels of antioxidant potential in the female brain are intrinsic male/female metabolome differences. A common feature of both TLR4 and TLR7 activation was an increase in N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) in the PFC, which is likely be an allostatic response to the challenges as sickness behaviour is inversely correlated with NAA levels.

Discussion: The results highlight how the cytokine profile induced by one PAMP cannot be extrapolated to another, but they do reveal how the manipulation of the conserved metabolome response might afford a more generic approach to the treatment of post-infection syndromes.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.3389/fncel.2024.1345441

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Pharmacology
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-1324-1009
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Pharmacology
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-6232-1334
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Pharmacology
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Pharmacology
Oxford college:
Somerville College
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-5713-7305
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Pharmacology
Role:
Author


More from this funder
Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/03wnrjx87
Funding agency for:
Probert, F
Programme:
Dorothy Hodgkin Career Development fellow
More from this funder
Funder identifier:
https://ror.org/052gg0110
Funding agency for:
Dunstan, IK
Programme:
Medical Sciences Graduate School Studentship


Publisher:
Frontiers Media
Journal:
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience More from this journal
Volume:
18
Article number:
1345441
Place of publication:
Switzerland
Publication date:
2024-02-13
Acceptance date:
2024-02-01
DOI:
EISSN:
1662-5102
ISSN:
1662-5102
Pmid:
38414751


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1670381
Local pid:
pubs:1670381
Deposit date:
2024-11-11

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