Spatiotemporal expression patterns of ZBP1 in the brain of mouse experimental stroke model

Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) is a cytosolic nucleic acid sensor, functioning as a critical mediator of inflammation and cell death pathways. Since neuroinflammation could occur in response to damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), ZBP1 might be involved in neuroinflammation after stroke. However, the spatiotemporal expression profile of ZBP1 in the post-stroke brain remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the spatiotemporal expression patterns of ZBP1 in the post-stroke brain using a mouse photothrombotic stroke model. Real-time PCR assays showed that ZBP1 is induced on days 3–14 post stroke. ZBP1 immunoreactivity was observed in Iba1-positive microglia/macrophages in peri-infarct regions by immunohistochemistry. ZBP1-positive cells were spread in layers surrounding the infarct core by 7–14 days post stroke. Interestingly, ZBP1 immunoreactivity was also detected in CD206-positive border-associated macrophages (BAMs) in the meninges. Furthermore, ZBP1-expressing cells were positive for antibodies against inflammatory mediators such as Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), Toll/IL-1R domain-containing adaptor-inducing IFN-β (TRIF), and receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1). Morphological analysis with confocal microscopy showed that the co-localization signals of ZBP1 and its adaptor, TRIF, are increased by glucose oxidase (GOx) treatment, which has been reported to induce mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) release. These results suggest that ZBP1 is induced in peri-infarct microglia/macrophages and may be involved in DAMPs-mediated neuroinflammation involving mtDNA in the post-infarct brain.