Role of PDGF-D and PDGFR-β in neuroinflammation in experimental ICH mice model

Inflammation plays a key role in the pathophysiological processes after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Post-ICH macrophages infiltrate the brain and release pro-inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-α), amplifying microglial activation and neutrophil infiltration. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β) is expressed on macrophages and it's activation induces the recruitment of macrophages. Platelet-derived growth factor-D (PDGF-D) is an agonist with a significantly higher affinity to the PDGFR-β compared to another isoform of the receptor. In this study, we investigated the role of PDGF-D in the pro-inflammatory response after ICH in mice. A blood injection model of ICH was used in eight-week old male CD1 mice (weight 30g). Some mice received an injection of plasmin or PDGF-D. Gleevec, a PDGFR inhibitor, was administered at 1, 3 or 6h post-ICH. Plasmin was administered with or without PDGF-D siRNAs mixture or scramble siRNA. A plasmin-antagonist, ε-Aminocaproic acid (EACA), was co-administrated with the blood. The effects of ICH and treatment on the brain injury and post-ICH inflammation were investigated. ICH resulted in the overexpression of PDGF-D, associated with the infiltration of macrophages. PDGFR-inhibition decreased ICH-induced brain injury, attenuating macrophage and neutrophil infiltration, reducing microglial activation and TNF-α production. Administration of recombinant PDGF-D induced TNF-α production, and PDGFR-inhibition attenuated it. A plasmin-antagonist suppressed PDGFR-β activation and microglial activation. Plasmin increased PDGF-D expression, and PDGF-D inhibition reduced neutrophil infiltration. ICH-induced PDGF-D accumulation contributed to post-ICH inflammation via PDGFR activation and enhanced macrophage infiltration. The inhibition of PDGFR had an anti-inflammatory effect. Plasmin is a possible upstream effector of PDGF-D. The targeting of PDGF-D may provide a novel way to decrease brain injury after ICH. •ICH increased PDGF-D expression and macrophage infiltration.•PDGFR-inhibition decreased ICH-induced brain injury.•Recombinant PDGF-D induced TNF-α production and PDGFR-inhibition attenuated it.•A plasmin-antagonist suppressed activation of PDGFR-β and microglia.•Plasmin increased PDGF-D expression.•PDGF-D inhibition reduced neutrophil infiltration.