Mild traumatic brain injury induces pericyte detachment independent of stroke vulnerability

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke and can result in poorer outcomes- an effect presumed to involve the cerebral vasculature. Here we tested the hypothesis that mTBI-induced pericyte detachment from the cerebrovascular endothelium is responsible for worsened stroke outcomes. We performed a mild closed-head injury and/or treated C57/bl6 mice with imatinib mesylate, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that induces pericyte detachment. The time course of pericyte detachment was assessed 7, 14, and 28 days post injury (DPI). To test the role of pericytes in TBI-induced exacerbation of ischemic stroke outcomes, we induced mTBI and/or treated mice with imatinib for one week prior to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. We found that injury promoted pericyte detachment from the vasculature commensurate with the levels of detachment seen in imatinib-only treated animals, and that the detachment persisted for at least 14DPI, but recovered to sham levels by 28DPI. Further, mTBI, but not imatinib-induced pericyte detachment, increased infarct volume. Thus, we conclude that the transient detachment of pericytes caused by mTBI may not be sufficient to exacerbate subsequent ischemic stroke damage. These data have important implications for understanding cerebrovascular dysfunction following mTBI and potential mechanisms of increased risk for future ischemic strokes.