2501
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Abstract
Inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS) (neuroinflammation) is now recognized to be a feature of all neurological disorders. In multiple sclerosis, there is prominent infiltration of various leukocyte subsets into the CNS. Even when there is no significant inflammatory infiltrates, such as in Parkinson or Alzheimer disease, there is intense activation of microglia with resultant elevation of many inflammatory mediators within the CNS. An extensive dataset describes neuroinflammation to have detrimental consequences, but results emerging largely over the past decade have indicated that aspects of the inflammatory response are beneficial for CNS outcomes. Benefits of neuroinflammation now include neuroprotection, the mobilization of neural precursors for repair, remyelination, and even axonal regeneration. The findings that neuroinflammation can be beneficial should not be surprising as a properly directed inflammatory response in other tissues is a natural healing process after an insult. In this article, we review the data that highlight the dual aspects of neuroinflammation in being a hindrance on the one hand but also a significant help for recovery of the CNS on the other. We consider how the inflammatory response may be beneficial or injurious, and we describe strategies to harness the beneficial aspects of neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Wee Yong
- University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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2502
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Young AMH, Campbell E, Lynch S, Suckling J, Powis SJ. Aberrant NF-kappaB expression in autism spectrum condition: a mechanism for neuroinflammation. Front Psychiatry 2011; 2:27. [PMID: 21629840 PMCID: PMC3098713 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2010] [Accepted: 05/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum condition (ASC) is recognized as having an inflammatory component. Post-mortem brain samples from patients with ASC display neuroglial activation and inflammatory markers in cerebrospinal fluid, although little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) is a protein found in almost all cell types and mediates regulation of immune response by inducing the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, establishing a feedback mechanism that can produce chronic or excessive inflammation. This article describes immunodetection and immunofluorescence measurements of NF-κB in human post-mortem samples of orbitofrontal cortex tissue donated to two independent centers: London Brain Bank, Kings College London, UK (ASC: n = 3, controls: n = 4) and Autism Tissue Program, Harvard Brain Bank, USA (ASC: n = 6, controls: n = 5). The hypothesis was that concentrations of NF-κB would be elevated, especially in activated microglia in ASC, and pH would be concomitantly reduced (i.e., acidification). Neurons, astrocytes, and microglia all demonstrated increased extranuclear and nuclear translocated NF-κB p65 expression in brain tissue from ASC donors relative to samples from matched controls. These between-groups differences were increased in astrocytes and microglia relative to neurons, but particularly pronounced for highly mature microglia. Measurement of pH in homogenized samples demonstrated a 0.98-unit difference in means and a strong (F = 98.3; p = 0.00018) linear relationship to the expression of nuclear translocated NF-κB in mature microglia. Acridine orange staining localized pH reductions to lysosomal compartments. In summary, NF-κB is aberrantly expressed in orbitofrontal cortex in patients with ASC, as part of a putative molecular cascade leading to inflammation, especially of resident immune cells in brain regions associated with the behavioral and clinical symptoms of ASC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam M H Young
- Bute Medical School, University of St. Andrews Fife, Scotland, UK
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2503
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Salama M, Arias-Carrión O. Colchicine as a promising drug for Parkinson’s disease. Med Hypotheses 2011; 76:150. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2010.10.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2010] [Accepted: 10/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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2504
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Saavedra JM, Sánchez-Lemus E, Benicky J. Blockade of brain angiotensin II AT1 receptors ameliorates stress, anxiety, brain inflammation and ischemia: Therapeutic implications. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2011; 36:1-18. [PMID: 21035950 PMCID: PMC2998923 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2010] [Revised: 09/29/2010] [Accepted: 10/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Poor adaptation to stress, alterations in cerebrovascular function and excessive brain inflammation play critical roles in the pathophysiology of many psychiatric and neurological disorders such as major depression, schizophrenia, post traumatic stress disorder, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases and traumatic brain injury. Treatment for these highly prevalent and devastating conditions is at present very limited and many times inefficient, and the search for novel therapeutic options is of major importance. Recently, attention has been focused on the role of a brain regulatory peptide, Angiotensin II, and in the translational value of the blockade of its physiological AT(1) receptors. In addition to its well-known cardiovascular effects, Angiotensin II, through AT(1) receptor stimulation, is a pleiotropic brain modulatory factor involved in the control of the reaction to stress, in the regulation of cerebrovascular flow and the response to inflammation. Excessive brain AT(1) receptor activity is associated with exaggerated sympathetic and hormonal response to stress, vulnerability to cerebrovascular ischemia and brain inflammation, processes leading to neuronal injury. In animal models, inhibition of brain AT(1) receptor activity with systemically administered Angiotensin II receptor blockers is neuroprotective; it reduces exaggerated stress responses and anxiety, prevents stress-induced gastric ulcerations, decreases vulnerability to ischemia and stroke, reverses chronic cerebrovascular inflammation, and reduces acute inflammatory responses produced by bacterial endotoxin. These effects protect neurons from injury and contribute to increase the lifespan. Angiotensin II receptor blockers are compounds with a good margin of safety widely used in the treatment of hypertension and their anti-inflammatory and vascular protective effects contribute to reduce renal and cardiovascular failure. Inhibition of brain AT(1) receptors in humans is also neuroprotective, reducing the incidence of stroke, improving cognition and decreasing the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Blockade of AT(1) receptors offers a novel and safe therapeutic approach for the treatment of illnesses of increasing prevalence and socioeconomic impact, such as mood disorders and neurodegenerative diseases of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Saavedra
- Section on Pharmacology, Division of Intramural Research Programs, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, Room 2D-57, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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2505
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Litteljohn D, Mangano E, Clarke M, Bobyn J, Moloney K, Hayley S. Inflammatory mechanisms of neurodegeneration in toxin-based models of Parkinson's disease. PARKINSONS DISEASE 2010; 2011:713517. [PMID: 21234362 PMCID: PMC3018622 DOI: 10.4061/2011/713517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2010] [Accepted: 12/09/2010] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) has been associated with exposure to a variety of environmental agents, including pesticides, heavy metals, and organic pollutants; and inflammatory processes appear to constitute a common mechanistic link among these insults. Indeed, toxin exposure has been repeatedly demonstrated to induce the release of oxidative and inflammatory factors from immunocompetent microglia, leading to damage and death of midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons. In particular, proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ, which are produced locally within the brain by microglia, have been implicated in the loss of DA neurons in toxin-based models of PD; and mounting evidence suggests a contributory role of the inflammatory enzyme, cyclooxygenase-2. Likewise, immune-activating bacterial and viral agents were reported to have neurodegenerative effects themselves and to augment the deleterious impact of chemical toxins upon DA neurons. The present paper will focus upon the evidence linking microglia and their inflammatory processes to the death of DA neurons following toxin exposure. Particular attention will be devoted to the possibility that environmental toxins can activate microglia, resulting in these cells adopting a “sensitized” state that favors the production of proinflammatory cytokines and damaging oxidative radicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darcy Litteljohn
- Institute of Neuroscience, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6
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2506
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A-González N, Castrillo A. Liver X receptors as regulators of macrophage inflammatory and metabolic pathways. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2010; 1812:982-94. [PMID: 21193033 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2010.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2010] [Revised: 12/14/2010] [Accepted: 12/17/2010] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The liver X receptors (LXRα and LXRβ) are members of the nuclear receptor family of transcription factors that play essential roles in the transcriptional control of lipid metabolism. LXRs are endogenously activated by modified forms of cholesterol known as oxysterols and control the expression of genes important for cholesterol uptake, efflux, transport, and excretion in multiple tissues. In addition to their role as cholesterol sensors, a number of studies have implicated LXRs in the modulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. Both through activation and repression mechanisms, LXRs regulate diverse aspects of inflammatory gene expression in macrophages. The ability of LXRs to coordinate metabolic and immune responses constitutes an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Translating nuclear receptors from health to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia A-González
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, ULPGC, Las Palmas, Spain
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2507
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Varela-Nallar L, Aranguiz FC, Abbott AC, Slater PG, Inestrosa NC. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis in aging and Alzheimer's disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 90:284-96. [DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.20193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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2508
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Chadwick W, Zhou Y, Park SS, Wang L, Mitchell N, Stone MD, Becker KG, Martin B, Maudsley S. Minimal peroxide exposure of neuronal cells induces multifaceted adaptive responses. PLoS One 2010; 5:e14352. [PMID: 21179406 PMCID: PMC3003681 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2010] [Accepted: 11/24/2010] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative exposure of cells occurs naturally and may be associated with cellular damage and dysfunction. Protracted low level oxidative exposure can induce accumulated cell disruption, affecting multiple cellular functions. Accumulated oxidative exposure has also been proposed as one of the potential hallmarks of the physiological/pathophysiological aging process. We investigated the multifactorial effects of long-term minimal peroxide exposure upon SH-SY5Y neural cells to understand how they respond to the continued presence of oxidative stressors. We show that minimal protracted oxidative stresses induce complex molecular and physiological alterations in cell functionality. Upon chronic exposure to minimal doses of hydrogen peroxide, SH-SY5Y cells displayed a multifactorial response to the stressor. To fully appreciate the peroxide-mediated cellular effects, we assessed these adaptive effects at the genomic, proteomic and cellular signal processing level. Combined analyses of these multiple levels of investigation revealed a complex cellular adaptive response to the protracted peroxide exposure. This adaptive response involved changes in cytoskeletal structure, energy metabolic shifts towards glycolysis and selective alterations in transmembrane receptor activity. Our analyses of the global responses to chronic stressor exposure, at multiple biological levels, revealed a viable neural phenotype in-part reminiscent of aged or damaged neural tissue. Our paradigm indicates how cellular physiology can subtly change in different contexts and potentially aid the appreciation of stress response adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne Chadwick
- Receptor Pharmacology Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yu Zhou
- Receptor Pharmacology Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sung-Soo Park
- Receptor Pharmacology Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Liyun Wang
- Receptor Pharmacology Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Mitchell
- Department of Biology, Saint Bonaventure University, Saint Bonaventure, New York, United States of America
| | - Matthew D. Stone
- Receptor Pharmacology Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kevin G. Becker
- Gene Expression and Genomics Unit, Research Resources Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Bronwen Martin
- Metabolism Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Stuart Maudsley
- Receptor Pharmacology Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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2509
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Kuhn DM, Sykes CE, Geddes TJ, Jaunarajs KLE, Bishop C. Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 aggregates through disulfide cross-linking upon oxidation: possible link to serotonin deficits and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. J Neurochem 2010; 116:426-37. [PMID: 21105877 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.07123.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopamine neurons of the nigrostriatal system, resulting in severe motor disturbances. Although much less appreciated, non-motor symptoms are also very common in PD and many can be traced to serotonin neuronal deficits. Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) 2, the rate-limiting enzyme in the serotonin biosynthesis, is a phenotypic marker for serotonin neurons and is known to be extremely labile to oxidation. Therefore, the oxidative processes that prevail in PD could cause TPH2 misfolding and modify serotonin neuronal function much as is seen in dopamine neurons. Oxidation of TPH2 inhibits enzyme activity and leads to the formation of high molecular weight aggregates in a dithiothreitol-reversible manner. Cysteine-scanning mutagenesis shows that as long as a single cysteine residue (out of a total of 13 per monomer) remains in TPH2, it cross-links upon oxidation and only cysteine-less mutants are resistant to this effect. The effects of oxidants on TPH2 catalytic function and cross-linking are also observed in intact TPH2-expressing HEK293 cells. Oxidation shifts TPH2 from the soluble compartment into membrane fractions and large inclusion bodies. Sequential non-reducing/reducing 2-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting confirmed that TPH2 was one of a small number of cytosolic proteins that form disulfide-bonded aggregates. The propensity of TPH2 to misfold upon oxidation of its cysteine residues is responsible for its catalytic lability and may be related to loss of serotonin neuronal function in PD and the emergence of non-motor (psychiatric) symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald M Kuhn
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
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2510
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Abstract
Advances in medical science have led to increased life expectancy and increased median age in the population. Because the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases generally onset in mid- to late-life, a concomitant increase in the number of persons afflicted with these devastating diseases has occurred. Developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases is of the highest priority due to the enormous cost of medical care required, as well as for the human suffering involved. Although caused by a variety of genetic and environmental insults, such diseases share commonalities. Many of these diseases are proteinopathies--diseases caused by misfolded, aggregating proteins. Antibodies that can recognize and remove misfolded proteins are ideally suited for proteinopathy therapeutics. The numerous intriguing advances in antibody-based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber L Southwell
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, BC, Canada
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2511
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Dantuma E, Merchant S, Sugaya K. Stem cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Stem Cell Res Ther 2010; 1:37. [PMID: 21144012 PMCID: PMC3025439 DOI: 10.1186/scrt37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells offer an enormous pool of resources for the understanding of the human body. One proposed use of stem cells has been as an autologous therapy. The use of stem cells for neurodegenerative diseases has become of interest. Clinical applications of stem cells for Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis will increase in the coming years, and although great care will need to be taken when moving forward with prospective treatments, the application of stem cells is highly promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise Dantuma
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, 6900 Lake Nona Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32827, USA.
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2512
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Abstract
Epilepsy is the third most common chronic brain disorder, and is characterized by an enduring predisposition to generate seizures. Despite progress in pharmacological and surgical treatments of epilepsy, relatively little is known about the processes leading to the generation of individual seizures, and about the mechanisms whereby a healthy brain is rendered epileptic. These gaps in our knowledge hamper the development of better preventive treatments and cures for the approximately 30% of epilepsy cases that prove resistant to current therapies. Here, we focus on the rapidly growing body of evidence that supports the involvement of inflammatory mediators-released by brain cells and peripheral immune cells-in both the origin of individual seizures and the epileptogenic process. We first describe aspects of brain inflammation and immunity, before exploring the evidence from clinical and experimental studies for a relationship between inflammation and epilepsy. Subsequently, we discuss how seizures cause inflammation, and whether such inflammation, in turn, influences the occurrence and severity of seizures, and seizure-related neuronal death. Further insight into the complex role of inflammation in the generation and exacerbation of epilepsy should yield new molecular targets for the design of antiepileptic drugs, which might not only inhibit the symptoms of this disorder, but also prevent or abrogate disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Vezzani
- Department of Neuroscience, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research, Via Giuseppe La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy.
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2513
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Perez Nievas BG, Hammerschmidt T, Kummer MP, Terwel D, Leza JC, Heneka MT. Restraint stress increases neuroinflammation independently of amyloid β levels in amyloid precursor protein/PS1 transgenic mice. J Neurochem 2010; 116:43-52. [PMID: 21044080 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.07083.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Both hypercortisolemia and hippocampal damage are features found in patients diagnosed of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and epidemiological evidence supports a role for stress as a risk factor for AD. It is known that immobilization stress is followed by accumulation of oxidative/nitrosative mediators in brain after the release of proinflammatory cytokines, nuclear factor kappa B activation, nitric oxide synthase-2 and cyclooxygenase-2 expression. Long-term exposure to elevated corticosteroid levels is known to affect the hippocampus which plays a central role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. We therefore studied the effect of chronic immobilization stress on amyloid precursor protein/PS1 mice. Stress exposure increased AD-induced neuroinflammation characterized by astrogliosis, increased inflammatory gene transcription and lipid peroxidation. Importantly, immobilization stress did not increase the soluble or insoluble amyloid β levels suggesting that increased cortisol levels lower the threshold for a neuroinflammatory response, independently from amyloid β. Since inflammation may act as a factor that contributes disease progression, the stress-inflammation relation described here may be relevant to understand the initial mechanisms in underlying the risk enhancing action of stress on AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz G Perez Nievas
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroscience Unit, University of Bonn Medical Center, Bonn, Germany
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2514
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CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (CEBPD) elevating PTX3 expression inhibits macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of dying neuron cells. Neurobiol Aging 2010; 33:422.e11-25. [PMID: 21112127 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2010] [Revised: 09/09/2010] [Accepted: 09/20/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta (CEBPD, C/EBPδ, NF-IL6β) is induced in many inflammation-related diseases, suggesting that CEBPD and its downstream targets may play central roles in these conditions. Neuropathological studies show that a neuroinflammatory response parallels the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the precise mechanistic correlation between inflammation and AD pathogenesis remains unclear. CEBPD is upregulated in the astrocytes of AD patients. Therefore, we asked if activation of astrocytic CEBPD could contribute to AD pathogenesis. In this report, a novel role of CEBPD in attenuating macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of damaged neuron cells was found. By global gene expression profiling, we identified the inflammatory marker pentraxin-3 (PTX3, TNFAIP5, TSG-14) as a CEBPD target in astrocytes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that PTX3 participates in the attenuation of macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of damaged neuron cells. This study provides the first demonstration of a role for astrocytic CEBPD and the CEBPD-regulated molecule PTX3 in the accumulation of damaged neurons, which is a hallmark of AD pathogenesis.
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2515
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Neuroimmune pharmacology as a sub-discipline of medical neuroscience in the medical school curriculum. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2010; 6:41-56. [PMID: 21103946 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-010-9250-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2010] [Accepted: 10/27/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The emerging field of neuroimmune pharmacology (NIP) is the confluence of three distinct disciplines: neuroscience, immunology, and pharmacology (Gendelman and Ikezu 2008). NIP was born from the realization that inflammation within the central nervous system (CNS) plays a crucial role in many neurological pathologies and as such offers a rich array of novel pharmacological targets as potential therapeutics. As this field is likely to have a major impact in medical science, educating future physicians on this area will help increase awareness and may potentially inspire them to pursue careers in the field of NIP. However, a key challenge for medical educators, is how best to incorporate new material on emerging fields, such as NIP, into the medical school curriculum, specifically in the context of a medical neuroscience course. We propose the addition of two 50-min lectures plus an additional optional 2-h lab module to the standard first year medical neuroscience class curriculum. Lecture 1 will focus on how the CNS and the immune system inter-communicate with one another with emphasis on neuroanatomical features and chemical signal transduction between the two systems. Lecture 2 provides an introduction to inflammation in the CNS and provides a series of clinical correlates to describe how CNS inflammation contributes to the disease process. The lab module provides detailed visual examples of how CNS inflammation influences disease processes and provides two examples of how application of an immunomodulatory pharmacological agent can modify disease processes.
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2516
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Rota Nodari L, Ferrari D, Giani F, Bossi M, Rodriguez-Menendez V, Tredici G, Delia D, Vescovi AL, De Filippis L. Long-term survival of human neural stem cells in the ischemic rat brain upon transient immunosuppression. PLoS One 2010; 5:e14035. [PMID: 21124963 PMCID: PMC2988794 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2010] [Accepted: 10/29/2010] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the physiology of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) in the context of cell therapy for neurodegenerative disorders is of paramount importance, yet large-scale studies are hampered by the slow-expansion rate of these cells. To overcome this issue, we previously established immortal, non-transformed, telencephalic-diencephalic hNSCs (IhNSCs) from the fetal brain. Here, we investigated the fate of these IhNSC's immediate progeny (i.e. neural progenitors; IhNSC-Ps) upon unilateral implantation into the corpus callosum or the hippocampal fissure of adult rat brain, 3 days after global ischemic injury. One month after grafting, approximately one fifth of the IhNSC-Ps had survived and migrated through the corpus callosum, into the cortex or throughout the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. By the fourth month, they had reached the ipsilateral subventricular zone, CA1-3 hippocampal layers and the controlateral hemisphere. Notably, these results could be accomplished using transient immunosuppression, i.e administering cyclosporine for 15 days following the ischemic event. Furthermore, a concomitant reduction of reactive microglia (Iba1+ cells) and of glial, GFAP+ cells was also observed in the ipsilateral hemisphere as compared to the controlateral one. IhNSC-Ps were not tumorigenic and, upon in vivo engraftment, underwent differentiation into GFAP+ astrocytes, and β-tubulinIII+ or MAP2+ neurons, which displayed GABAergic and GLUTAmatergic markers. Electron microscopy analysis pointed to the formation of mature synaptic contacts between host and donor-derived neurons, showing the full maturation of the IhNSC-P-derived neurons and their likely functional integration into the host tissue. Thus, IhNSC-Ps possess long-term survival and engraftment capacity upon transplantation into the globally injured ischemic brain, into which they can integrate and mature into neurons, even under mild, transient immunosuppressive conditions. Most notably, transplanted IhNSC-P can significantly dampen the inflammatory response in the lesioned host brain. This work further supports hNSCs as a reliable and safe source of cells for transplantation therapy in neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rota Nodari
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Ferrari
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Giani
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Bossi
- Department of Neurosciences and Biomedical Technologies, University Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Tredici
- Department of Neurosciences and Biomedical Technologies, University Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Domenico Delia
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCSS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Luigi Vescovi
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Opera di San Pio da Pietralcina, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
- * E-mail: (LDF); (ALV)
| | - Lidia De Filippis
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- * E-mail: (LDF); (ALV)
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2517
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IFNγ triggers a LIGHT-dependent selective death of motoneurons contributing to the non-cell-autonomous effects of mutant SOD1. Cell Death Differ 2010; 18:754-68. [PMID: 21072055 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2010.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects motoneurons in the brain and spinal cord. Dominant mutations in superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) cause a familial form of ALS. Mutant SOD1-damaged glial cells contribute to ALS pathogenesis by releasing neurotoxic factors, but the mechanistic basis of the motoneuron-specific elimination is poorly understood. Here, we describe a motoneuron-selective death pathway triggered by activation of lymphotoxin-β receptor (LT-βR) by LIGHT, and operating by a novel signaling scheme. We show that astrocytes expressing mutant SOD1 mediate the selective death of motoneurons through the proinflammatory cytokine interferon-γ (IFNγ), which activates the LIGHT-LT-βR death pathway. The expression of LIGHT and LT-βR by motoneurons in vivo correlates with the preferential expression of IFNγ by motoneurons and astrocytes at disease onset and symptomatic stage in ALS mice. Importantly, the genetic ablation of Light in an ALS mouse model retards progression, but not onset, of the disease and increases lifespan. We propose that IFNγ contributes to a cross-talk between motoneurons and astrocytes causing the selective loss of some motoneurons following activation of the LIGHT-induced death pathway.
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2518
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Gordon R, Hogan CE, Neal ML, Anantharam V, Kanthasamy AG, Kanthasamy A. A simple magnetic separation method for high-yield isolation of pure primary microglia. J Neurosci Methods 2010; 194:287-96. [PMID: 21074565 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2010.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2010] [Revised: 10/28/2010] [Accepted: 11/01/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Microglial cells play a dynamic role in the brain beyond their established function of immune surveillance. Activated microglia play key roles in neural development, neuroinflammation, neural repair and neurotoxicity. They are particularly important in several neurodegenerative diseases in which sustained microglial activation contributes to the progression of neurodegenerative processes. Consequently, understanding microglial function in CNS health and disease has become an area of active research in recent years. However, a significant obstacle to progress in this field has been the inherent difficulties in obtaining large amounts of primary microglial cells to routinely perform mechanistic studies and characterize signaling pathways regulating the dynamics of microglial activation. Herein, we describe a novel column-free magnetic separation protocol for high-yield isolation of primary microglia from mouse postnatal mixed glial cultures. The procedure is based on optimized culture conditions that enable high microglial cell densities in confluent mixed glial cultures followed by highly efficient recovery of pure microglia by magnetic separation. The novel column-free magnetic separation system utilizes tetrameric antibody complexes (TAC) with dual specificity for CD11b-PE labeled microglia and dextran magnetic nanoparticles. An FcR blocker (anti-CD16/32) is added to enhance the purity of the microglial separation by preventing non-specific labeling of other cell types. This procedure yields on average >3×10⁶ microglial cells per mouse pup, with a remarkable purity of 97% and recovery of around 87% of microglia from the mixed glial population. Importantly, the microglia obtained by this method are fully functional and respond like cells obtained by conventional isolation techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Gordon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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2519
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Boddapati S, Levites Y, Sierks MR. Inhibiting β-secretase activity in Alzheimer's disease cell models with single-chain antibodies specifically targeting APP. J Mol Biol 2010; 405:436-47. [PMID: 21073877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2010.10.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2010] [Revised: 10/27/2010] [Accepted: 10/27/2010] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is produced from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by sequential proteolytic cleavage of APP first by β-secretase and then by γ-secretase. β-Site APP cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE-1) is the predominant enzyme involved in β-secretase processing of APP and is a primary therapeutic target for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. While inhibiting BACE-1 activity has obvious therapeutic advantages, BACE-1 also cleaves numerous other substrates with important physiological activity. Thus, blanket inhibition of BACE-1 function may have adverse side effects. We isolated a single chain variable fragment (scFv) from a human-based scFv yeast display library that selectively inhibits BACE-1 activity toward APP by binding the APP substrate at the proteolytic site. We selected the iBSEC1 scFv, since it recognizes the BACE-1 cleavage site on APP but does not bind the adjacent highly antigenic N-terminal of Aβ, and thus it will target APP but not soluble Aβ. When added to 7PA2 cells, a mammalian cell line that overexpresses APP, the iBSEC1 scFv binds APP on the cell surface, reduces toxicity induced by APP overexpression, and reduces both intracellular and extracellular Aβ levels by around 50%. Since the iBSEC1 scFv does not contain the antibody F(c) region, this construct does not pose the risk of exacerbating inflammation in the brain as faced with full-length monoclonal antibodies for potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanta Boddapati
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-6106, USA
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2520
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Soliman GM, Sharma R, Choi AO, Varshney SK, Winnik FM, Kakkar AK, Maysinger D. Tailoring the efficacy of nimodipine drug delivery using nanocarriers based on A2B miktoarm star polymers. Biomaterials 2010; 31:8382-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2010] [Accepted: 07/07/2010] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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2521
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Taupin P. Thirteen compounds promoting oligodendrocyte progenitor cell differentiation and remyelination for treating multiple sclerosis: WO2010054307. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2010; 20:1767-73. [PMID: 20954805 DOI: 10.1517/13543776.2010.528393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The application is in the field of cellular therapy and neural repair. OBJECTIVE It aims at identifying and characterizing compounds and molecules that promote the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and remyelination of the nervous system. METHODS Library of compounds and molecules were screened on a series of assays specifically designed and developed to assess the activity and potency of compounds and molecules on the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and on remyelination of nerve cells in in vitro and in vivo models, such as cultures of neural progenitor and stem cells, cerebellar organotypic cultures, the zebrafish and the cuprizone-mediated demyelination mouse models. RESULTS In all, 13 compounds were identified and characterized, after a secondary screening, for inducing the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and for promoting myelination and remyelination in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION The 13 compounds, promoting the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and myelination of nerve cells, may be used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other myelin-related disorders. The application claims the use of the compounds to promote the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and endogenous remyelination for the treatment of demyelinating diseases alone or in combination with other agents and drugs, such as immunomodulatory, immunosuppressive, neuroprotective and neuroregenerative agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Taupin
- Dublin City University, School of Biotechnology, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
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2522
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Choi DK, Koppula S, Choi M, Suk K. Recent developments in the inhibitors of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration: inflammatory oxidative enzymes as a drug target. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2010; 20:1531-46. [PMID: 20939683 DOI: 10.1517/13543776.2010.525220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD Increasing evidence indicates that glial cells play a pivotal role in a wide range of brain diseases. As glial cells orchestrate inflammatory responses in the CNS, recent studies have focused on glial cells and neuroinflammation as drug targets for the treatment of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW In this review, we aim to give an overview of the current literature and patents for inhibitors of inflammatory oxidative enzymes in glia such as NADPH oxidase, myeloperoxidase, COX-2 and 5-lipooxygenase. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN Recent literature and patents on natural products or small molecule-based inhibitors of glial oxidative enzymes are reviewed. TAKE HOME MESSAGE Extensive studies and patents recently reported in this field suggest that glial inhibitors may soon proceed to clinical trials. However, before glial inhibitors can serve as novel drugs for the treatment of neuroinflammatory disorders, the neurotoxic and neuroprotective effects of glial neuroinflammatory responses need to be better dissected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Kug Choi
- Konkuk University, Department of Biotechnology, Chungju, 380-701, Korea.
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2523
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Fleisher-Berkovich S, Filipovich-Rimon T, Ben-Shmuel S, Hülsmann C, Kummer MP, Heneka MT. Distinct modulation of microglial amyloid β phagocytosis and migration by neuropeptides (i). J Neuroinflammation 2010; 7:61. [PMID: 20937084 PMCID: PMC2964654 DOI: 10.1186/1742-2094-7-61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2010] [Accepted: 10/11/2010] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglial activation plays an integral role in the development and course of neurodegeneration. Although neuropeptides such as bradykinin (BK), somatostatin (SST), and endothelin (ET) are known to be important mediators of inflammation in the periphery, evidence of a similar function in brain is scarce. Using immunocytochemistry, we demonstrate the expression of receptors for BK (B1, B2 subtypes), ET (ETA, ETB subtypes) and SST (SST 2, 3, 4 subtypes) in primary microglia and microglial cell lines. Exposure of BV2 and N9, as well as primary microglial cells to BK or SST increased Aβ uptake in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas endothelin decreased Aβ uptake. This was caused by increased phagocytosis of Aβ since the rate of intracellular Aβ degradation remained unaffected. All neuropeptides increased chemotactic activity of microglia. In addition, BK reduced Aβ-induced expression of proinflammatory genes including iNOS and COX-2. ET decreased the Aβ-induced expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and interleukin-6. These results suggest that neuropeptides play an important role in chemotaxis and Aβ clearance and modulate the brain's response to neuroinflammatory processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigal Fleisher-Berkovich
- Division of Clinical Neurosciences, Dept. of Neurology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Bonn, Germany
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2524
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Hashioka S, Klegeris A, Qing H, McGeer PL. STAT3 inhibitors attenuate interferon-γ-induced neurotoxicity and inflammatory molecule production by human astrocytes. Neurobiol Dis 2010; 41:299-307. [PMID: 20888416 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2010.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2010] [Revised: 09/21/2010] [Accepted: 09/23/2010] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 is observable in reactive astrocytes under certain neuropathological conditions. Interferon (IFN)-γ is shown to activate STAT3 in cultured rodent astrocytes. Here we investigated the effects of inhibiting STAT3 signaling on IFNγ-activated human astrocytes since we have recently demonstrated that human astrocytes become neurotoxic when stimulated by IFNγ. We found that 5'-deoxy-5'-(methylthio)adenosine (MTA) (300 μM), S3I-201 (10 μM), STAT3 inhibitor VII (3 μM) and JAK-inhibitor I (0.3 μM) had anti-neurotoxic effects on IFN-γ (50 U/ml)-activated astrocytes and U373-MG astrocytoma cells. Another inhibitor, AG490 (30 μM) had no significant effect. The active inhibitors also attenuated IFN-γ-induced phosphorylation of Tyr(705)-STAT3 and astrocytic expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). They also decreased astrocytic production of IFN-γ-inducible T cell α chemoattractant (I-TAC). AG490, which did not affect the Tyr(705)-STAT3 phosphorylation or ICAM-1 expression, nevertheless reduced the I-TAC secretion. Because these results indicate that pharmacological inhibition of STAT3 signaling correlates with reduced astrocytic neurotoxicity and ICAM-1 expression, but not that of I-TAC secretion, we consider that STAT3 activation mediates, at least in part, the IFN-γ-induced neurotoxicity and ICAM-1 expression by human astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadayuki Hashioka
- Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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2525
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Miksys SL, Tyndale RF. Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Growing Challenge. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2010; 88:427-30. [DOI: 10.1038/clpt.2010.198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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2526
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Arababadi MK, Mosavi R, Khorramdelazad H, Yaghini N, Zarandi ER, Araste M, Pourali R, Nekhei Z, Kennedy D. Cytokine patterns after therapy with Avonex®, Rebif®, Betaferon® and CinnoVex™ in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis in Iranian patients. Biomark Med 2010; 4:755-9. [DOI: 10.2217/bmm.10.81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Several lines of evidence exist which suggest that changes in the expression of circulating cytokines are linked to the development or reoccurrence of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of relevant cytokines after therapy with IFN-β formulations in MS patients. Materials & methods: In this study, blood samples were collected from 70 MS patients undergoing four different types of IFN-β formulation treatment and 100 healthy controls. After 24 months of treatment, the serum levels of IL-17A, IL-12, IFN-γ and IL-10 in patients and healthy controls were analyzed by ELISA. Results: Our results demonstrated that serum levels of IL-17A were significantly higher in patients treated with CinnoVex™ and Avonex® when compared with healthy controls. Serum levels of IL-10 were significantly decreased after therapy with CinnoVex, whereas serum levels of IFN-β were elevated. No difference in serum levels of IL-12 were detected between patients and controls. Conclusion: Results of our study suggest that CinnoVex and Avonex modulate the immune system less than Rebif® and Betaferon® in MS patients, and an elevated dose of CinnoVex and Avonex may be required for better regulation of the immune system in MS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Kazemi Arababadi
- Department of Microbiology, Hematology & Immunology, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Department of Microbiology & Immunology School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
- Molecular-Medicine Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - Reza Mosavi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | | | - Narges Yaghini
- Department of Biochemistry, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Rezazadeh Zarandi
- Department of Microbiology, Hematology & Immunology, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Department of Microbiology & Immunology School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
- Molecular-Medicine Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - Majid Araste
- Samenoalaeme Special Diseases Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - Reza Pourali
- Bahonar Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - Zohre Nekhei
- Samenoalaeme Special Diseases Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - Derek Kennedy
- School of Biomolecular & Physical Science, Eskitis Institute for Cell & Molecular Therapies, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia
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2527
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Neuroinflammation and brain infections: historical context and current perspectives. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 66:152-73. [PMID: 20883721 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2010.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2010] [Revised: 09/20/2010] [Accepted: 09/22/2010] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
An overview of current concepts on neuroinflammation and on the dialogue between neurons and non-neuronal cells in three important infections of the central nervous systems (rabies, cerebral malaria, and human African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness) is here presented. Large numbers of cases affected by these diseases are currently reported. In the context of an issue dedicated to Camillo Golgi, historical notes on seminal discoveries on these diseases are also presented. Neuroinflammation is currently closely associated with pathogenetic mechanisms of chronic neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammatory signaling in brain infections is instead relatively neglected in the neuroscience community, despite the fact that the above infections provide paradigmatic examples of alterations of the intercellular crosstalk between neurons and non-neuronal cells. In rabies, strategies of immune evasion of the host lead to silencing neuroinflammatory signaling. In the intravascular pathology which characterizes cerebral malaria, leukocytes and Plasmodium do not enter the brain parenchyma. In sleeping sickness, leukocytes and African trypanosomes invade the brain parenchyma at an advanced stage of infection. Both the latter pathologies leave open many questions on the targeting of neuronal functions and on the pathogenetic role of non-neuronal cells, and in particular astrocytes and microglia, in these diseases. All three infections are hallmarked by very severe clinical pictures and relative sparing of neuronal structure. Multidisciplinary approaches and a concerted action of the neuroscience community are needed to shed light on intercellular crosstalk in these dreadful brain diseases. Such effort could also lead to new knowledge on non-neuronal mechanisms which determine neuronal death or survival.
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2528
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Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by neurodegenerative changes or apoptosis of neurons involved in networks, leading to permanent paralysis and loss of sensation below the site of the injury. Cell replacement therapy has provided the basis for the development of potentially powerful new therapeutic strategies for a broad spectrum of human neurological diseases. In recent years, neurons and glial cells have successfully been generated from stem cells, and extensive efforts by investigators to develop stem cell-based brain transplantation therapies have been carried out. We review here notable previously published experimental and preclinical studies involving stem cell-based cell for neurodegenerative diseases and discuss the future prospects for stem cell therapy of neurological disorders in the clinical setting. Steady and solid progress in stem cell research in both basic and preclinical settings should support the hope for development of stem cell-based cell therapies for neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ning Zhang
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +86 57186021763; Fax: +86 57187022776
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2529
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Abstract
Divergent disease triggers in neurodegeneration may induce convergent endogenous pathways in neuronal, glial and vascular elements as the central nervous system (CNS) attempts to compensate, remodel and recover. Dissecting these multicellular mechanisms and the integrative responses in cerebral blood flow and metabolism may allow us to understand the balance between injury and repair, validate new targets and define therapeutic time windows for neurodegeneration.
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2530
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Lewis TL, Cao D, Lu H, Mans RA, Su YR, Jungbauer L, Linton MF, Fazio S, LaDu MJ, Li L. Overexpression of human apolipoprotein A-I preserves cognitive function and attenuates neuroinflammation and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in a mouse model of Alzheimer disease. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:36958-68. [PMID: 20847045 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.127829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
To date there is no effective therapy for Alzheimer disease (AD). High levels of circulating high density lipoprotein (HDL) and its main protein, apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Clinical studies show that plasma HDL cholesterol and apoA-I levels are low in patients with AD. To investigate if increasing plasma apoA-I/HDL levels ameliorates AD-like memory deficits and amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition, we generated a line of triple transgenic (Tg) mice overexpressing mutant forms of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) and presenilin 1 (PS1) as well as human apoA-I (AI). Here we show that APP/PS1/AI triple Tg mice have a 2-fold increase of plasma HDL cholesterol levels. When tested in the Morris water maze for spatial orientation abilities, whereas APP/PS1 mice develop age-related learning and memory deficits, APP/PS1/AI mice continue to perform normally during aging. Interestingly, no significant differences were found in the total level and deposition of Aβ in the brains of APP/PS1 and APP/PS1/AI mice, but cerebral amyloid angiopathy was reduced in APP/PS1/AI mice. Also, consistent with the anti-inflammatory properties of apoA-I/HDL, glial activation was reduced in the brain of APP/PS1/AI mice. In addition, Aβ-induced production of proinflammatory chemokines/cytokines was decreased in mouse organotypic hippocampal slice cultures expressing human apoA-I. Therefore, we conclude that overexpression of human apoA-I in the circulation prevents learning and memory deficits in APP/PS1 mice, partly by attenuating neuroinflammation and cerebral amyloid angiopathy. These findings suggest that elevating plasma apoA-I/HDL levels may be an effective approach to preserve cognitive function in patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry L Lewis
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
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2531
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Abstract
Over the past few decades, inflammation has been recognized as a major risk factor for various human diseases. Acute inflammation is short-term, self-limiting and it's easy for host defenses to return the body to homeostasis. Chronic inflammatory responses are predispose to a pathological progression of chronic illnesses characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells, excessive production of cytokines, dysregulation of cellular signaling and loss of barrier function. Targeting reduction of chronic inflammation is a beneficial strategy to combat several human diseases. Flavonoids are widely present in the average diet in such foods as fruits and vegetables, and have been demonstrated to exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities for human health including an anti-inflammatory property. Numerous studies have proposed that flavonoids act through a variety mechanisms to prevent and attenuate inflammatory responses and serve as possible cardioprotective, neuroprotective and chemopreventive agents. In this review, we summarize current knowledge and underlying mechanisms on anti-inflammatory activities of flavonoids and their implicated effects in the development of various chronic inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Hsiung Pan
- Department of Seafood Science, National Kaohsiung Marine University, No.142, Haijhuan Rd., Nanzih District, Kaohsiung, 81143, Taiwan.
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2532
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Xie L, Poteet EC, Li W, Scott AE, Liu R, Wen Y, Ghorpade A, Simpkins JW, Yang SH. Modulation of polymorphonuclear neutrophil functions by astrocytes. J Neuroinflammation 2010; 7:53. [PMID: 20828397 PMCID: PMC2942816 DOI: 10.1186/1742-2094-7-53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2010] [Accepted: 09/09/2010] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Neuroinflammation is a complex process involving cells from the immune system and the central nerve system (CNS). Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are the most abundant class of white blood cells, and typically the first type of leukocyte recruited to sites of inflammation. In the CNS, astrocytes are the most abundant glial cell population and participate in the local innate immune response triggered by a variety of insults. In the present study, we investigated the impacts of astrocytes on PMN function. Methods Primary astrocyte cultures were derived from postnatal C57BL/6 mice and primary neutrophils were isolated from 8 to 12 weeks old C57BL/6 mice. PMNs respiratory burst was analyzed by H2DCFDA assay. For phagocytosis assay, neutrophils were incubated with FITC-labeled E. coli and the phagocytosis of E coli was determined by flow cytometer. PMNs degranulation was determined by myeloperoxidase assay. Cytokine expression was determined by real-time PCR. To determine the involvement of different signaling pathway, protein lysates were prepared and western blots were conducted to assess the activation of Akt, Erk1/2, and p38. Results Using ex vivo neutrophils and primary astrocyte cultures, our study demonstrated that astrocytes differentially regulate neutrophil functions, depending upon whether the interactions between the two cell types are direct or indirect. Upon direct cell-cell contact, astrocytes attenuate neutrophil apoptosis, respiratory bust, and degranulation, while enhancing neutrophil phagocytic capability and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Through indirect interaction with neutrophils, astrocytes attenuate apoptosis and enhance necrosis in neutrophils, augment neutrophil phagocytosis and respiratory burst, and inhibit neutrophil degranulation. In addition, astrocytes could augment Akt, Erk1/2, and p38 activation in neutrophils. Conclusions Astrocytes differentially regulate neutrophil functions through direct or indirect interactions between the two cell types. The diversified actions of astrocytes on neutrophils might provide protection against potential microbial infections given compromised blood-brain barrier integrity under certain neuropathological conditions. The complex actions of astrocytes on neutrophils could provide further insight to harness the inflammatory response to promote CNS repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luokun Xie
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
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2533
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Teo BHD, Wong SH. MHC class II-associated invariant chain (Ii) modulates dendritic cells-derived microvesicles (DCMV)-mediated activation of microglia. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 400:673-8. [PMID: 20816669 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.08.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2010] [Accepted: 08/27/2010] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DC) - the sentinels of the immune system - play an important role in the maintenance of tolerance and induction of immunity. However, in autoimmune diseases, DC initiate the diseases by presenting self antigens to autoreactive T cells, causing the immune system to mount a response against the body. An example is multiple sclerosis (MS) and its corresponding animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). During inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS), DC are recruited to activate autoreactive T cells. Microglia - resident mononuclear phagocytes of the brain - also play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In this study, we demonstrated that microvesicles derived from DC (DCMV) induced the activation of NF-κB in microglia. Furthermore, MHC class II-associated invariant chain (Ii), also known as CD74, was specifically recruited to DCMV and interestingly, was able to enhance the DCMV-mediated activation of NF-κB in microglia. Thus, this study emphasizes the role of microvesicles and Ii in the communication between DC and microglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boon Heng Dennis Teo
- Laboratory of Membrane Trafficking and Immunoregulation, Department of Microbiology, Immunology Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Block MD4A, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117597, Republic of Singapore
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2534
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Shie FS, Chen YH, Chen CH, Ho IK. Neuroimmune pharmacology of neurodegenerative and mental diseases. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2010; 6:28-40. [PMID: 20820930 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-010-9241-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2010] [Accepted: 08/19/2010] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Neuroimmune pharmacology is a newly emerging field that intersects with neuroscience, immunology, and pharmacology and that is seeking avenues for translational research and better understanding of disease mechanisms. It focuses on the immunity of the central nervous system (CNS) which is greatly influenced by endogenous effectors, such as cytokines and neurotransmitters, and by exogenous substances, including therapeutic compounds, infectious pathogens, and drugs of abuse. In this article, we attempt to raise awareness of the pivotal discovery of how those mediators affect the immunity of the CNS in both physiological conditions and processes of certain mental illnesses, including psychiatric disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cerebral dysfunctions due to drugs of abuse. The abnormality in cytokine networks, neurotransmitter homeostasis, and other immune responses may be involved in the neuropathology associated with those mental illnesses, and the therapeutic effects of the potential treatments can be attributed, at least partially, to their immunomodulatory activities. However, the resulting inflammatory cytokines from certain treatments frequently cause psychiatric complications. In addition, the poor neuropathological outcomes frequently found among drug abusers with HIV-1 infection appear to be related to the neurotoxic and immunomodulatory effects of the drugs used. Importantly, glial cells, especially microglia and astrocytes, are key players in the immunomodulatory activities in the CNS, and the functioning CNS is largely dependent upon the reciprocal interactions between neurons and glial cells. Therefore, glia-neuron interactions have become a critical issue for further understanding the disease mechanism. From this review, readers will gain insights into the new field of neuroimmune pharmacology, with a focus on the impacts of CNS immunity on the mental illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Shiun Shie
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction Medicine, Institute of Population Health Sciences, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan, Republic of China
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2535
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Bendlin BB, Newman LM, Ries ML, Puglielli L, Carlsson CM, Sager MA, Rowley HA, Gallagher CL, Willette AA, Alexander AL, Asthana S, Johnson SC. NSAIDs may protect against age-related brain atrophy. Front Aging Neurosci 2010; 2. [PMID: 20877426 PMCID: PMC2944647 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2010.00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2010] [Accepted: 07/20/2010] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in humans is associated with brain differences including decreased number of activated microglia. In animals, NSAIDs are associated with reduced microglia, decreased amyloid burden, and neuronal preservation. Several studies suggest NSAIDs protect brain regions affected in the earliest stages of AD, including hippocampal and parahippocampal regions. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the protective effect of NSAID use on gray matter volume in a group of middle-aged and older NSAID users (n = 25) compared to non-user controls (n = 50). All participants underwent neuropsychological testing and T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Non-user controls showed smaller volume in portions of the left hippocampus compared to NSAID users. Age-related loss of volume differed between groups, with controls showing greater medial temporal lobe volume loss with age compared to NSAID users. These results should be considered preliminary, but support previous reports that NSAIDs may modulate age-related loss of brain volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara B Bendlin
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center Madison, WI, USA
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2536
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Neuroimmune pharmacology from a neuroscience perspective. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2010; 6:10-9. [PMID: 20717737 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-010-9239-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2010] [Accepted: 08/02/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The focus of this commentary is to describe how neuroscience, immunology, and pharmacology intersect and how interdisciplinary research involving these areas has expanded knowledge in the area of neuroscience, in particular. Examples are presented to illustrate that the brain can react to the peripheral immune system and possesses immune function and that resident immune molecules play a role in normal brain physiology. In addition, evidence is presented that the brain immune system plays an important role in mediating neurodegenerative diseases, the aging process, and neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity. The identification of these mechanisms has been facilitated by pharmacological studies and has opened new possibilities for pharmacotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of brain disorders. The emerging field of neuroimmune pharmacology exemplifies this interdisciplinary approach and has facilitated the study of basic cellular and molecular events and disease states and opens avenues for novel therapies.
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2537
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Ghosal K, Stathopoulos A, Pimplikar SW. APP intracellular domain impairs adult neurogenesis in transgenic mice by inducing neuroinflammation. PLoS One 2010; 5:e11866. [PMID: 20689579 PMCID: PMC2912762 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2010] [Accepted: 07/04/2010] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A devastating aspect of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the progressive deterioration of memory due to neuronal loss. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) occupies a central position in AD and APP-derived amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptides are thought to play a pivotal role in disease pathogenesis. Nonetheless, it is becoming clear that AD etiology is highly complex and that factors other than Abeta also contribute to AD pathogenesis. APP intracellular domain (AICD) is generated together with Abeta and we recently showed that AICD transgenic mice recapitulate pathological features of AD such as tau hyperphosphorylation, memory deficits and neurodegeneration without increasing the Abeta levels. Since impaired adult neurogenesis is shown to augment memory deficits in AD mouse models, here we examined the status of adult neurogenesis in AICD transgenic mice. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDING We previously generated transgenic mice co-expressing 59-residue long AICD fragment and its binding partner Fe65. Hippocampal progenitor cell proliferation was determined by BrdU incorporation at 1.5, 3 and 12 months of age. Only male transgenic and their respective wilt type littermate control mice were used. We find age-dependent decrease in BrdU incorporation and doublecortin-positive cells in the dentate gyrus of AICD transgenic mice suggesting impaired adult neurogenesis. This deficit resulted from decreased proliferation and survival, whereas neuronal differentiation remained unaffected. Importantly, this impairment was independent of Abeta since APP-KO mice expressing AICD also exhibit reduced neurogenesis. The defects in adult neurogenesis are prevented by long-term treatment with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents ibuprofen or naproxen suggesting that neuroinflammation is critically involved in impaired adult neurogenesis in AICD transgenic mice. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE Since adult neurogenesis is crucial for spatial memory, which is particularly vulnerable in AD, these findings suggest that AICD can exacerbate memory defects in AD by impairing adult neurogenesis. Our findings further establish that AICD, in addition to Abeta, contributes to AD pathology and that neuroinflammation plays a much broader role in AD pathogenesis than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Ghosal
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Andrea Stathopoulos
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Sanjay W. Pimplikar
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America
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2538
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Kim JY, Kim DH, Kim DS, Kim JH, Jeong SY, Jeon HB, Lee EH, Yang YS, Oh W, Chang JW. Galectin-3 secreted by human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells reduces amyloid-beta42 neurotoxicity in vitro. FEBS Lett 2010; 584:3601-8. [PMID: 20655311 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2010] [Revised: 07/13/2010] [Accepted: 07/16/2010] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we found that expression and secretion of galectin-3 (GAL-3) were upregulated by amyloid-beta42 (Abeta42) exposure in human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hUCB-MSC) without cell death. Abeta42-exposed rat primary cortical neuronal cells co-treated with recombinant GAL-3 were protected from neuronal death in a dose-dependent manner. hUCB-MSCs were cocultured with Abeta42-exposed rat primary neuronal cells or the neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y in a Transwell chamber. Coculture of hUCB-MSCs reduced cell death of Abeta42-exposed neurons and SH-SY5Y cells. This neuroprotective effect of hUCB-MSCs was reduced significantly by GAL-3 siRNA. These data suggested that hUCB-MSC-derived GAL-3 is a survival factor against Abeta42 neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Yeon Kim
- Biomedical Research Institute, MEDIPOST Co., Ltd., Seoul 137-874, Republic of Korea
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2539
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Hua Y, Sahashi K, Hung G, Rigo F, Passini MA, Bennett CF, Krainer AR. Antisense correction of SMN2 splicing in the CNS rescues necrosis in a type III SMA mouse model. Genes Dev 2010; 24:1634-44. [PMID: 20624852 DOI: 10.1101/gad.1941310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 470] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Increasing survival of motor neuron 2, centromeric (SMN2) exon 7 inclusion to express more full-length SMN protein in motor neurons is a promising approach to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic neurodegenerative disease. Previously, we identified a potent 2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl) (MOE) phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that blocks an SMN2 intronic splicing silencer element and efficiently promotes exon 7 inclusion in transgenic mouse peripheral tissues after systemic administration. Here we address its efficacy in the spinal cord--a prerequisite for disease treatment--and its ability to rescue a mild SMA mouse model that develops tail and ear necrosis, resembling the distal tissue necrosis reported in some SMA infants. Using a micro-osmotic pump, we directly infused the ASO into a lateral cerebral ventricle in adult mice expressing a human SMN2 transgene; the ASO gave a robust and long-lasting increase in SMN2 exon 7 inclusion measured at both the mRNA and protein levels in spinal cord motor neurons. A single embryonic or neonatal intracerebroventricular ASO injection strikingly rescued the tail and ear necrosis in SMA mice. We conclude that this MOE ASO is a promising drug candidate for SMA therapy, and, more generally, that ASOs can be used to efficiently redirect alternative splicing of target genes in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimin Hua
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA
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2540
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Sanchez-Mejia RO, Mucke L. Phospholipase A2 and arachidonic acid in Alzheimer's disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2010; 1801:784-90. [PMID: 20553961 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2010.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2010] [Revised: 05/19/2010] [Accepted: 05/20/2010] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Essential fatty acids (EFA) play a critical role in the brain and regulate many of the processes altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Technical advances are allowing for the dissection of complex lipid pathways in normal and diseased states. Arachidonic acid (AA) and specific isoforms of phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) appear to be critical mediators in amyloid-beta (Abeta)-induced pathogenesis, leading to learning, memory, and behavioral impairments in mouse models of AD. These findings and ongoing research into lipid biology in AD and related disorders promise to reveal new pharmacological targets that may lead to better treatments for these devastating conditions.
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2541
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuo Kitagawa
- Department of Neurology, Osaka University, Graduate School of Medicine
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2542
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Abstract
Chronic inflammation is associated with many neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Increasing evidence that neuroinflammation contributes to disease severity has generated considerable interest in determining whether inhibition of inflammation pathways might be of therapeutic benefit. One potential avenue of intervention is provided by members of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors that exert anti-inflammatory effects in many cell types. Here, we review recent studies providing insights into the distinct mechanisms that enable nuclear receptors to modulate immune responses, describe inflammatory components of neurodegenerative diseases, and discuss recent literature relevant to roles of nuclear receptors in influencing these processes.
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