Analysis of the inflammatory profile in the hypothalamus of an animal model of iron deficiency for Restless Legs Syndrome

• Grant number: 22/07548-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Andrea Maculano Esteves
• Grantee: Vanderson Douglas Rocha
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a sleep-related sensorimotor disorder developed by low availability of iron in the brain. Symptoms generate discomfort in individuals at night and can be reduced with limb movement. Consequently, the patient has a decrease in quality of life as a result of poor sleep quality, due to the increase in the number of nocturnal awakenings resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness. There are studies performed in animals with iron deficiency that showed an inflammatory response resulting in hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and changes in insulin values, but the effect of iron deficiency on glucose metabolism and inflammatory response is not clear. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to analyze the behavior and inflammatory profile in the hypothalamus of an animal model of iron-deficient restless legs syndrome (RLS). For this, C57BL/6J mice with 21 days will be used and all will receive the AIN93 diet, but the control group will receive a standard diet (40mg/kg) and the restriction group will receive an iron-restricted diet (<4mg/kg). The experiment will last for 8 weeks, and the diet will be started soon after weaning at 21 days. The Open Field behavioral test and hematocrit will be performed after 4 and 8 weeks of diet to characterize the animal model. Glucose will be analyzed fasting in the 4th and 8th weeks of the experiment. After 8 weeks, the animals will be euthanized and blood serum (iron analysis) and hypothalamus will be collected for analysis of tumor necrosis factor ± (TNF-±) and interleukins 1² (IL-1²) and 6 (IL -6), and pJNK, pNFkB and TLR4 proteins through PCR and WB techniques.(AU)