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Sivagurunathan N, Calivarathan L. SARS-CoV-2 Infection to Premature Neuronal Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Is there any Connection with Hypoxia? CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2024; 23:431-448. [PMID: 37073650 DOI: 10.2174/1871527322666230418114446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
The pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has become a global concern as it leads to a spectrum of mild to severe symptoms and increases death tolls around the world. Severe COVID-19 results in acute respiratory distress syndrome, hypoxia, and multi- organ dysfunction. However, the long-term effects of post-COVID-19 infection are still unknown. Based on the emerging evidence, there is a high possibility that COVID-19 infection accelerates premature neuronal aging and increases the risk of age-related neurodegenerative diseases in mild to severely infected patients during the post-COVID period. Several studies correlate COVID-19 infection with neuronal effects, though the mechanism through which they contribute to the aggravation of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration is still under investigation. SARS-CoV-2 predominantly targets pulmonary tissues and interferes with gas exchange, leading to systemic hypoxia. The neurons in the brain require a constant supply of oxygen for their proper functioning, suggesting that they are more vulnerable to any alteration in oxygen saturation level that results in neuronal injury with or without neuroinflammation. We hypothesize that hypoxia is one of the major clinical manifestations of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection; it directly or indirectly contributes to premature neuronal aging, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration by altering the expression of various genes responsible for the survival of the cells. This review focuses on the interplay between COVID-19 infection, hypoxia, premature neuronal aging, and neurodegenerative diseases and provides a novel insight into the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narmadhaa Sivagurunathan
- Molecular Pharmacology & Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur - 610005, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Latchoumycandane Calivarathan
- Molecular Pharmacology & Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur - 610005, Tamil Nadu, India
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Sutovska H, Babarikova K, Zeman M, Molcan L. Prenatal Hypoxia Affects Foetal Cardiovascular Regulatory Mechanisms in a Sex- and Circadian-Dependent Manner: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:2885. [PMID: 35270026 PMCID: PMC8910900 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal hypoxia during the prenatal period can interfere with the developmental trajectory and lead to developing hypertension in adulthood. Prenatal hypoxia is often associated with intrauterine growth restriction that interferes with metabolism and can lead to multilevel changes. Therefore, we analysed the effects of prenatal hypoxia predominantly not associated with intrauterine growth restriction using publications up to September 2021. We focused on: (1) The response of cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms, such as the chemoreflex, adenosine, nitric oxide, and angiotensin II on prenatal hypoxia. (2) The role of the placenta in causing and attenuating the effects of hypoxia. (3) Environmental conditions and the mother's health contribution to the development of prenatal hypoxia. (4) The sex-dependent effects of prenatal hypoxia on cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms and the connection between hypoxia-inducible factors and circadian variability. We identified that the possible relationship between the effects of prenatal hypoxia on the cardiovascular regulatory mechanism may vary depending on circadian variability and phase of the days. In summary, even short-term prenatal hypoxia significantly affects cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms and programs hypertension in adulthood, while prenatal programming effects are not only dependent on the critical period, and sensitivity can change within circadian oscillations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michal Zeman
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia; (H.S.); (K.B.); (L.M.)
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Wang B, Zeng H, Liu J, Sun M. Effects of Prenatal Hypoxia on Nervous System Development and Related Diseases. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:755554. [PMID: 34759794 PMCID: PMC8573102 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.755554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The fetal origins of adult disease (FOAD) hypothesis, which was proposed by David Barker in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s, posited that adult chronic diseases originated from various adverse stimuli in early fetal development. FOAD is associated with a wide range of adult chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes and neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and autism. Intrauterine hypoxia/prenatal hypoxia is one of the most common complications of obstetrics and could lead to alterations in brain structure and function; therefore, it is strongly associated with neurological disorders such as cognitive impairment and anxiety. However, how fetal hypoxia results in neurological disorders remains unclear. According to the existing literature, we have summarized the causes of prenatal hypoxia, the effects of prenatal hypoxia on brain development and behavioral phenotypes, and the possible molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hongtao Zeng
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jingliu Liu
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Miao Sun
- Institute for Fetology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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Simmen S, Maane M, Rogler S, Baebler K, Lang S, Cosin-Roger J, Atrott K, Frey-Wagner I, Spielmann P, Wenger RH, Weder B, Zeitz J, Vavricka SR, Rogler G, de Vallière C, Hausmann M, Ruiz PA. Hypoxia Reduces the Transcription of Fibrotic Markers in the Intestinal Mucosa. Inflamm Intest Dis 2021; 6:87-100. [PMID: 34124180 DOI: 10.1159/000513061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Intestinal fibrosis, characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins, is a common and severe clinical complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the mechanisms underlying fibrosis remain elusive, and currently, there are limited effective pharmacologic treatments that target the development of fibrosis. Hypoxia is one of the key microenvironmental factors influencing intestinal inflammation and has been linked to fibrosis. Objective In the present study, we sought to elucidate the impact of hypoxia on fibrotic gene expression in the intestinal mucosa. Methods Human volunteers, IBD patients, and dextran sulphate sodium-treated mice were exposed to hypoxia, and colonic biopsies were collected. The human intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2, human THP-1 macrophages, and primary human gut fibroblasts were subjected to hypoxia, and changes in fibrotic gene expression were assessed. Results Human volunteers subjected to hypoxia presented reduced transcriptional levels of fibrotic and epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in the intestinal mucosa. IBD patients showed a trend towards a decrease in tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 protein expression. In mice, hypoxic conditions reduced the colonic expression of several collagens and matrix metalloproteinases. Hypoxic Caco-2 cells, THP-1 cells, and primary gut fibroblasts showed a significant downregulation in the expression of fibrotic and tissue remodelling factors. Conclusions Stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factors might represent a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of IBD-associated fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Simmen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Max Maane
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Rogler
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katherina Baebler
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Lang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jesus Cosin-Roger
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kirstin Atrott
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Frey-Wagner
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Partick Spielmann
- Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roland H Wenger
- Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bruce Weder
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jonas Zeitz
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Center of Gastroenterology, Clinic Hirslanden, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stephan R Vavricka
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gerhard Rogler
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cheryl de Vallière
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Hausmann
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pedro A Ruiz
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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5
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PIEŠOVÁ M, KOPRDOVÁ R, UJHÁZY E, KRŠKOVÁ L, OLEXOVÁ L, MOROVÁ M, SENKO T, MACH M. Impact of Prenatal Hypoxia on the Development and Behavior of the Rat Offspring. Physiol Res 2020. [DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.934614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The healthy development of the fetus depends on the exact course of pregnancy and delivery. Therefore, prenatal hypoxia remains between the greatest threats to the developing fetus. Our study aimed to assess the impact of prenatal hypoxia on postnatal development and behavior of the rats, whose mothers were exposed to hypoxia (10.5 % O2) during a critical period of brain development on GD20 for 12 h. This prenatal insult resulted in a delay of sensorimotor development of hypoxic pups compared to the control group. Hypoxic pups also had lowered postnatal weight which in males persisted up to adulthood. In adulthood, hypoxic males showed anxiety-like behavior in the OF, higher sucrose preference, and lower levels of grimace scale (reflecting the degree of negative emotions) in the immobilization chamber compared to the control group. Moreover, hypoxic animals showed hyperactivity in EPM and LD tests, and hypoxic females had reduced sociability compared to the control group. In conclusion, our results indicate a possible relationship between prenatal hypoxia and changes in sociability, activity, and impaired emotion regulation in ADHD, ASD, or anxiety disorders. The fact that changes in observed parameters are manifested mostly in males confirms that male sex is more sensitive to prenatal insults.
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Affiliation(s)
- M PIEŠOVÁ
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - R KOPRDOVÁ
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - E UJHÁZY
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - L KRŠKOVÁ
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - L OLEXOVÁ
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - M MOROVÁ
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - T SENKO
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - M MACH
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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Shen G, Hu S, Zhao Z, Zhang L, Ma Q. Antenatal Hypoxia Accelerates the Onset of Alzheimer's Disease Pathology in 5xFAD Mouse Model. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:251. [PMID: 32973487 PMCID: PMC7472639 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive impairment and later dementia among the elderly. Mounting evidence shows that adverse maternal environments during the fetal development increase the risk of diseases later in life including neurological disorders, and suggests an early origin in the development of AD-related dementia (ADRD) in utero. In the present study, we investigated the impact of antenatal hypoxia and fetal stress on the initiation of AD-related pathology in offspring of 5xFAD mice. We showed that fetal hypoxia significantly reduced brain and body weight in the fetal and the early postnatal period, which recovered in young adult mice. Using spontaneous Y-maze, novel object recognition (NOR), and open field (OF) tasks, we found that antenatal hypoxia exacerbated cognitive decline in offspring of 5xFAD compared with normoxia control. Of interest, fetal hypoxia did not alter intraneuronal soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomer accumulation in the cortex and hippocampus in 5xFAD mouse offspring, indicating that antenatal hypoxia increased the vulnerability of the brain to synaptotoxic Aβ in the disease onset later in life. Consistent with the early occurrence of cognitive decline, we found synapse loss but not neuronal death in the cerebral cortex in 5xFAD but not wild-type (WT) offspring exposed to antenatal hypoxia. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that antenatal hypoxia significantly increased microglial number and activation, and reactive astrogliosis in the cerebral cortex in WT offspring. Moreover, antenatal hypoxia resulted in an exacerbated increase of microgliosis and astrogliosis in the early stage of AD in 5xFAD offspring. Together, our study reveals a causative link between fetal stress and the accelerated onset of AD-related pathology, and provides mechanistic insights into the developmental origin of aging-related neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guofang Shen
- Department of Basic Sciences, The Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Shirley Hu
- Department of Basic Sciences, The Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Lubo Zhang
- Department of Basic Sciences, The Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Qingyi Ma
- Department of Basic Sciences, The Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, United States
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Nalivaeva NN, Turner AJ, Zhuravin IA. Role of Prenatal Hypoxia in Brain Development, Cognitive Functions, and Neurodegeneration. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:825. [PMID: 30510498 PMCID: PMC6254649 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on the role of prenatal hypoxia in the development of brain functions in the postnatal period and subsequent increased risk of neurodegenerative disorders in later life. Accumulating evidence suggests that prenatal hypoxia in critical periods of brain formation results in significant changes in development of cognitive functions at various stages of postnatal life which correlate with morphological changes in brain structures involved in learning and memory. Prenatal hypoxia also leads to a decrease in brain adaptive potential and plasticity due to the disturbance in the process of formation of new contacts between cells and propagation of neuronal stimuli, especially in the cortex and hippocampus. On the other hand, prenatal hypoxia has a significant impact on expression and processing of a variety of genes involved in normal brain function and their epigenetic regulation. This results in changes in the patterns of mRNA and protein expression and their post-translational modifications, including protein misfolding and clearance. Among proteins affected by prenatal hypoxia are a key enzyme of the cholinergic system-acetylcholinesterase, and the amyloid precursor protein (APP), both of which have important roles in brain function. Disruption of their expression and metabolism caused by prenatal hypoxia can also result, apart from early cognitive dysfunctions, in development of neurodegeneration in later life. Another group of enzymes affected by prenatal hypoxia are peptidases involved in catabolism of neuropeptides, including amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). The decrease in the activity of neprilysin and other amyloid-degrading enzymes observed after prenatal hypoxia could result over the years in an Aβ clearance deficit and accumulation of its toxic species which cause neuronal cell death and development of neurodegeneration. Applying various approaches to restore expression of neuronal genes disrupted by prenatal hypoxia during postnatal development opens an avenue for therapeutic compensation of cognitive dysfunctions and prevention of Aβ accumulation in the aging brain and the model of prenatal hypoxia in rodents can be used as a reliable tool for assessment of their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia N. Nalivaeva
- I. M. Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony J. Turner
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Igor A. Zhuravin
- I. M. Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Research Centre, Saint-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, St. Petersburg, Russia
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Li N, Li X, Li L, Zhang P, Qiao M, Zhao Q, Song L, Yu Z. Original Research: The expression of MMP2 and MMP9 in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of newborn mice under maternal lead exposure. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2016; 241:1811-8. [PMID: 27190262 DOI: 10.1177/1535370216647808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study focused on the MMP2 and MMP9 expression in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of newborn mice under maternal lead exposure. Lead exposure was initiated from gestation to weaning. Lead acetate was dissolved in deionized water with concentration of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5% and was absorbed through daily drinking. On day 21 after birth, lead in blood and tissue levels was examined by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrum (GFAAS). The protein expressions of MMP2 and MMP9 in hippocampus and cerebral cortex tissues were tested by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Compared to the control group, blood, cerebral cortex, and hippocampus lead levels of newborn mice in 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5% lead exposure groups were markedly high (P < 0.05), and mice within the 0.2 and 0.5% lead exposure groups performed much worse than that of the control group in Water Maze test (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, MMP2 and MMP9 expressions in hippocampus were up-regulated in the lead exposure groups (P < 0.05), and the MMP2 and MMP9 expressions in cerebral cortex were also higher (P < 0.05). The increased expression of MMP2 and MMP9 in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex may lead to the neurotoxicity in the context of maternal lead exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Li
- Food Science and Technology College, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Xing Li
- Public Health College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Li Li
- Food Science and Technology College, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Pingan Zhang
- Food Science and Technology College, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Mingwu Qiao
- Food Science and Technology College, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Qiuyan Zhao
- Food Science and Technology College, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Lianjun Song
- Food Science and Technology College, Henan Agriculture University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Zengli Yu
- Public Health College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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Blutstein T, Castello MA, Viechweg SS, Hadjimarkou MM, McQuail JA, Holder M, Thompson LP, Mong JA. Differential responses of hippocampal neurons and astrocytes to nicotine and hypoxia in the fetal guinea pig. Neurotox Res 2012. [PMID: 23192463 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-012-9363-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
In utero exposure to cigarette smoke has severe consequences for the developing fetus, including increased risk of birth complications and behavioral and learning disabilities later in life. Evidence from animal models suggests that the cognitive deficits may be a consequence of in utero nicotine exposure in the brain during critical developmental periods. However, maternal smoking exposes the fetus to not only nicotine but also a hypoxic intrauterine environment. Thus, both nicotine and hypoxia are capable of initiating cellular cascades, leading to long-term changes in synaptic patterning that have the potential to affect cognitive functions. This study investigates the combined effect of in utero exposure to nicotine and hypoxia on neuronal and glial elements in the hippocampal CA1 field. Fetal guinea pigs were exposed in utero to normoxic or hypoxic conditions in the presence or absence of nicotine. Hypoxia increased the protein levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and synaptophysin and decreased the neural density as measured by NeuN immunoreactivity (ir). Nicotine exposure had no effect on these neuronal parameters but dramatically increased the density of astrocytes immunopositive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Further investigation into the effects of in utero nicotine exposure revealed that both GFAP-ir and NeuN-ir in the CA1 field were significantly reduced in adulthood. Taken together, our data suggest that prenatal exposure to nicotine and hypoxia not only alters synaptic patterning acutely during fetal development, but that nicotine also has long-term consequences that are observed well into adulthood. Moreover, these effects most likely take place through distinct mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Blutstein
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Fetal stress and programming of hypoxic/ischemic-sensitive phenotype in the neonatal brain: mechanisms and possible interventions. Prog Neurobiol 2012; 98:145-65. [PMID: 22627492 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2012] [Revised: 05/10/2012] [Accepted: 05/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Growing evidence of epidemiological, clinical and experimental studies has clearly shown a close link between adverse in utero environment and the increased risk of neurological, psychological and psychiatric disorders in later life. Fetal stresses, such as hypoxia, malnutrition, and fetal exposure to nicotine, alcohol, cocaine and glucocorticoids may directly or indirectly act at cellular and molecular levels to alter the brain development and result in programming of heightened brain vulnerability to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and the development of neurological diseases in the postnatal life. The underlying mechanisms are not well understood. However, glucocorticoids may play a crucial role in epigenetic programming of neurological disorders of fetal origins. This review summarizes the recent studies about the effects of fetal stress on the abnormal brain development, focusing on the cellular, molecular and epigenetic mechanisms and highlighting the central effects of glucocorticoids on programming of hypoxic-ischemic-sensitive phenotype in the neonatal brain, which may enhance the understanding of brain pathophysiology resulting from fetal stress and help explore potential targets of timely diagnosis, prevention and intervention in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and other brain disorders.
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11
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Tong W, Zhang L. Fetal hypoxia and programming of matrix metalloproteinases. Drug Discov Today 2011; 17:124-34. [PMID: 21946060 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2011.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2011] [Revised: 06/15/2011] [Accepted: 09/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Fetal hypoxia adversely affects the brain and heart development, yet the mechanisms responsible remain elusive. Recent studies indicate an important role of the extracellular matrix in fetal development and tissue remodeling. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) have been implicated in a variety of physiological and pathological processes in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. This review summarizes current knowledge of the mechanisms by which fetal hypoxia induces the imbalance of MMPs, TIMPs and collagen expression patterns, resulting in growth restriction and aberrant tissue remodeling in the developing heart and brain. Collectively, this information could lead to the development of preventive diagnoses and therapeutic strategies in the fetal programming of cardiovascular and neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenni Tong
- Center for Perinatal Biology, Division of Pharmacology, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
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12
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Koos BJ. Adenosine A₂a receptors and O₂ sensing in development. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2011; 301:R601-22. [PMID: 21677265 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00664.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Reduced mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, via activation of adenylate kinase and the resulting exponential rise in the cellular AMP/ATP ratio, appears to be a critical factor underlying O₂ sensing in many chemoreceptive tissues in mammals. The elevated AMP/ATP ratio, in turn, activates key enzymes that are involved in physiologic adjustments that tend to balance ATP supply and demand. An example is the conversion of AMP to adenosine via 5'-nucleotidase and the resulting activation of adenosine A(₂A) receptors, which are involved in acute oxygen sensing by both carotid bodies and the brain. In fetal sheep, A(₂A) receptors associated with carotid bodies trigger hypoxic cardiovascular chemoreflexes, while central A(₂A) receptors mediate hypoxic inhibition of breathing and rapid eye movements. A(₂A) receptors are also involved in hypoxic regulation of fetal endocrine systems, metabolism, and vascular tone. In developing lambs, A(₂A) receptors play virtually no role in O₂ sensing by the carotid bodies, but brain A(₂A) receptors remain critically involved in the roll-off ventilatory response to hypoxia. In adult mammals, A(₂A) receptors have been implicated in O₂ sensing by carotid glomus cells, while central A(₂A) receptors likely blunt hypoxic hyperventilation. In conclusion, A(₂A) receptors are crucially involved in the transduction mechanisms of O₂ sensing in fetal carotid bodies and brains. Postnatally, central A(₂A) receptors remain key mediators of hypoxic respiratory depression, but they are less critical for O₂ sensing in carotid chemoreceptors, particularly in developing lambs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Koos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
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Prenatal brain damage in preeclamptic animal model induced by gestational nitric oxide synthase inhibition. J Pregnancy 2010; 2011:809569. [PMID: 21490794 PMCID: PMC3066555 DOI: 10.1155/2011/809569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2010] [Revised: 11/10/2010] [Accepted: 11/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral palsy is a major neonatal handicap with unknown aetiology. There is evidence that prenatal brain injury is the leading cause of CP. Severe placental pathology accounts for a high percentage of cases. Several factors predispose to prenatal brain damage but when and how they act is unclear. The aim of this paper was to determine if hypoxia during pregnancy leads to damage in fetal brain and to evaluate the localization of this injury. An animal model of chronic hypoxia produced by chronic administration of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME) was used to evaluate apoptotic activity in fetal brains and to localize the most sensitive areas. L-NAME reproduces a preeclamptic-like condition with increased blood pressure, proteinuria, growth restriction and intrauterine mortality. Apoptotic activity was increased in L-NAME brains and the most sensitive areas were the subventricular and pallidum zone. These results may explain the clinical features of CP. Further studies are needed.
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