Microvascular protective role of pericytes in melatonin-treated spinal cord injury in the C57BL/6 mice

Background Pericytes,located on microvessels,help to maintain vascular stability and blood-brain barrier integrity.The influence of pericytes on microvessels after spinal cord injury （SCI） is less clear.Therefore,the aim of this study was to investigate whether pericytes took a protective effect on microvessels in melatonin-treated SCI.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups：sham group,SCI group,and melatonin group （n=27per group）.Functional recovery was evaluated using the Basso Mouse Scale.Motor neurons were observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining.Pericyte coverage was analyzed using immunofluorescence.Permeability of blood-spinal cord barrier （BSCB） was assessed by administration of Evan＇s Blue.Protein levels of occludin,aquaporin-4 （AQP4）,angiopoietin-1 （Ang1）,intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1）,Bcl-2,and Bax were determined using Western blotting.Mimicking the pathological conditions of SCI,melatonin-treated primary pericytes were subjected to oxygenglucose deprivation/reperfusion （OGD/R）.Secretion of Ang1 was analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the expression of ICAM-1 was detected by immunofluorescence.Results Melatonin treatment improved locomotor functional outcome and rescued motor neurons.Pericyte coverage was significantly reduced after SCI; melatonin treatment alleviated the loss of pericyte coverage and rescued perfused microvessels 7 days after injury.The permeability of BSCB and loss of occludin were attenuated,and edema formation and upregulation of AQP4 were inhibited,after melatonin treatment.The expression of Ang1 and Bcl-2 was improved,while the expression of ICAM-1 and Bax was inhibited,in melatonin-treated SCl mice.Furthermore,the secretion of Ang1 was increased and the expression of ICAM-1 was inhibited in melatonin-treated pericytes after OGD/R.Conclusions Melatonin ameliorated the loss of blood vessels and disruption of BSCB to exert a protective effect on SCI,which might be mediated by increased pericyte coverage.The upregulation of Ang1 in pericytes could inhibit inflammation and apoptosis to protect the microvessels.