1
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Ramanujan A, Li Z, Ma Y, Lin Z, Ibáñez CF. RhoGDI phosphorylation by PKC promotes its interaction with death receptor p75 NTR to gate axon growth and neuron survival. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:1490-1512. [PMID: 38253689 PMCID: PMC10933337 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00064-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
How receptors juggle their interactions with multiple downstream effectors remains poorly understood. Here we show that the outcome of death receptor p75NTR signaling is determined through competition of effectors for interaction with its intracellular domain, in turn dictated by the nature of the ligand. While NGF induces release of RhoGDI through recruitment of RIP2, thus decreasing RhoA activity in favor of NFkB signaling, MAG induces PKC-mediated phosphorylation of the RhoGDI N-terminus, promoting its interaction with the juxtamembrane domain of p75NTR, disengaging RIP2, and enhancing RhoA activity in detriment of NF-kB. This results in stunted neurite outgrowth and apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons. If presented simultaneously, MAG prevails over NGF. The NMR solution structure of the complex between the RhoGDI N-terminus and p75NTR juxtamembrane domain reveals previously unknown structures of these proteins and clarifies the mechanism of p75NTR activation. These results show how ligand-directed competition between RIP2 and RhoGDI for p75NTR engagement determine axon growth and neuron survival. Similar principles are likely at work in other receptors engaging multiple effectors and signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajeena Ramanujan
- Department of Physiology and Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, 117456, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zhen Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Yanchen Ma
- Peking University School of Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, 100871, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Life Science Park, 102206, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi Lin
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Function and Application of Biological Macromolecular Structures, School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Carlos F Ibáñez
- Department of Physiology and Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, 117456, Singapore, Singapore.
- Peking University School of Life Sciences, PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, 100871, Beijing, China.
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Life Science Park, 102206, Beijing, China.
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, 17177, Sweden.
- Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study, Wallenberg Research Centre at Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa.
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2
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Curatola A, Graglia B, Granata G, Conti G, Capossela L, Manni L, Ferretti S, Di Giuda D, Romeo DM, Calcagni ML, Soligo M, Castelli E, Piastra M, Mantelli F, Marca GD, Staccioli S, Romeo T, Pani M, Cocciolillo F, Mancino A, Gatto A, Chiaretti A. Combined treatment of nerve growth factor and transcranical direct current stimulations to improve outcome in children with vegetative state after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Biol Direct 2023; 18:24. [PMID: 37165387 PMCID: PMC10170696 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-023-00379-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is one of the most dramatic events in pediatric age and, despite advanced neurointensive care, the survival rate remains low. Currently, no effective treatments can restore neuronal loss or produce significant improvement in these patients. Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) is a neurotrophin potentially able to counteract many of the deleterious effects triggered by OHCA. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has been reported to be neuroprotective in many neurological diseases, such as motor deficit and cognitive impairment. Children with the diagnosis of chronic vegetative state after OHCA were enrolled. These patients underwent a combined treatment of intranasal administration of human recombinant NGF (hr-NGF), at a total dose of 50 gamma/kg, and tDCS, in which current intensity was increased from zero to 2 mA from the first 5 s of stimulation and maintained constant for 20 min. The treatment schedule was performed twice, at one month distance each. Neuroradiogical evaluation with Positron Emission Tomography scan (PET), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), Electroencephalography (EEG) and Power Spectral Density of the brain (PSD) was determined before the treatment and one month after the end. Neurological assessment was deepened by using modified Ashworth Scale, Gross Motor Function Measure, and Disability Rating Scale. RESULTS Three children with a chronic vegetative state secondary to OHCA were treated. The combined treatment with hr-NGF and tDCS improved functional (PET and SPECT) and electrophysiological (EEG and PSD) assessment. Also clinical conditions improved, mainly for the reduction of spasticity and with the acquisition of voluntary finger movements, improved facial mimicry and reaction to painful stimuli. No side effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS These promising preliminary results and the ease of administration of this treatment make it worthwhile to be investigated further, mainly in the early stages from OHCA and in patients with better baseline neurological conditions, in order to explore more thoroughly the benefits of this new approach on neuronal function recovery after OHCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Curatola
- Dipartimento di Pediatria, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Benedetta Graglia
- Dipartimento di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Granata
- Istituto di Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Conti
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Emergenza, Anestesiologiche e Rianimazione, Terapia Intensiva Pediatrica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lavinia Capossela
- Dipartimento di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Manni
- Istituto di Farmacologia Traslazionale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Ferretti
- Dipartimento di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Di Giuda
- UOC di Medicina Nucleare, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Marco Romeo
- Unità di Neurologia Pediatrica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Lucia Calcagni
- UOC di Medicina Nucleare, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Marzia Soligo
- Istituto di Farmacologia Traslazionale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Castelli
- Dipartimento di Neuroriabilitazione Intensiva, Ospedale Pediatrico "Bambino Gesù", Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Piastra
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Emergenza, Anestesiologiche e Rianimazione, Terapia Intensiva Pediatrica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavio Mantelli
- Dompé Farmaceutici Spa, Via Campo di Pile, snc, L'Aquila, 67100, Italy
| | - Giacomo Della Marca
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Invecchiamento, Neurologiche, Ortopediche e della Testa-Collo, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Susanna Staccioli
- Dipartimento di Neuroriabilitazione Intensiva, Ospedale Pediatrico "Bambino Gesù", Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziana Romeo
- Dompé Farmaceutici Spa, Via Campo di Pile, snc, L'Aquila, 67100, Italy
| | - Marcello Pani
- Direttore Farmacia Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Cocciolillo
- UOC di Medicina Nucleare, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Aldo Mancino
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Emergenza, Anestesiologiche e Rianimazione, Terapia Intensiva Pediatrica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Gatto
- Dipartimento di Pediatria, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Chiaretti
- Dipartimento di Pediatria, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
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3
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Manni L, Leotta E, Mollica I, Serafino A, Pignataro A, Salvatori I, Conti G, Chiaretti A, Soligo M. Acute intranasal treatment with nerve growth factor limits the onset of traumatic brain injury in young rats. Br J Pharmacol 2023. [PMID: 36780920 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Traumatic brain injury (TBI) comprises a primary injury directly induced by impact, which progresses into a secondary injury leading to neuroinflammation, reactive astrogliosis, and cognitive and motor damage. To date, treatment of TBI consists solely of palliative therapies that do not prevent and/or limit the outcomes of secondary damage and only stabilize the deficits. The neurotrophin, nerve growth factor (NGF), delivered to the brain parenchyma following intranasal application, could be a useful means of limiting or improving the outcomes of the secondary injury, as suggested by pre-clinical and clinical data. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We evaluated the effect of acute intranasal treatment of young (20-postnatal day) rats, with NGF in a TBI model (weight drop/close head), aggravated by hypoxic complications. Immediately after the trauma, rats were intranasally treated with human recombinant NGF (50 μg·kg-1 ), and motor behavioural test, morphometric and biochemical assays were carried out 24 h later. KEY RESULTS Acute intranasal NGF prevented the onset of TBI-induced motor disabilities, and decreased reactive astrogliosis, microglial activation and IL-1β content, which after TBI develops to the same extent in the impact zone and the hypothalamus. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Intranasal application of NGF was effective in decreasing the motor dysfunction and neuroinflammation in the brain of young rats in our model of TBI. This work forms an initial pre-clinical evaluation of the potential of early intranasal NGF treatment in preventing and limiting the disabling outcomes of TBI, a clinical condition that remains one of the unsolved problems of paediatric neurology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Manni
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Leotta
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Ilia Mollica
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Annalucia Serafino
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Annabella Pignataro
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Illari Salvatori
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Conti
- Intensive Pediatric Therapy and Pediatric Trauma Center, Department of Emergency, Anesthesiological and Reanimation Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Chiaretti
- Institute of Pediatrics, Department of Woman and Child Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marzia Soligo
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
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4
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Sanz-García A, Sánchez-Jiménez P, Granero-Cremades I, de Toledo M, Pulido P, Navas M, Frade JM, Pereboom-Maicas MD, Torres-Díaz CV, Ovejero-Benito MC. Neuronal and astrocytic tetraploidy is increased in drug-resistant epilepsy. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2023; 49:e12873. [PMID: 36541120 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological diseases. A third of patients with epilepsy remain drug-resistant. The exact aetiology of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is still unknown. Neuronal tetraploidy has been associated with neuropathology. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of tetraploid neurons and astrocytes in DRE. METHODS For that purpose, cortex, hippocampus and amygdala samples were obtained from patients subjected to surgical resection of the epileptogenic zone. Post-mortem brain tissue of subjects without previous records of neurological, neurodegenerative or psychiatric diseases was used as control. RESULTS The percentage of tetraploid cells was measured by immunostaining of neurons (NeuN) or astrocytes (S100β) followed by flow cytometry analysis. The results were confirmed by image cytometry (ImageStream X Amnis System Cytometer) and with an alternative astrocyte biomarker (NDRG2). Statistical comparison was performed using univariate tests. A total of 22 patients and 10 controls were included. Tetraploid neurons and astrocytes were found both in healthy individuals and DRE patients in the three brain areas analysed: cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. DRE patients presented a higher number of tetraploid neurons (p = 0.020) and astrocytes (p = 0.002) in the hippocampus than controls. These results were validated by image cytometry. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated the presence of both tetraploid neurons and astrocytes in healthy subjects as well as increased levels of both cell populations in DRE patients. Herein, we describe for the first time the presence of tetraploid astrocytes in healthy subjects. Furthermore, these results provide new insights into epilepsy, opening new avenues for future treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ancor Sanz-García
- Data Analysis Unit, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Princesa (IIS-IP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Patricia Sánchez-Jiménez
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias La Princesa (IIS-IP), Madrid, Spain.,NIMGenetics Genómica y Medicina S.L., Madrid, Spain
| | | | - María de Toledo
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Pulido
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Navas
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | - José María Frade
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology, Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - María C Ovejero-Benito
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias La Princesa (IIS-IP), Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas y de la Salud, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Madrid, Spain
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5
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Tiberi A, Carucci NM, Testa G, Rizzi C, Pacifico P, Borgonovo G, Arisi I, D’Onofrio M, Brandi R, Gan WB, Capsoni S, Cattaneo A. Reduced levels of NGF shift astrocytes toward a neurotoxic phenotype. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1165125. [PMID: 37143894 PMCID: PMC10151754 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1165125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nerve growth factor (NGF) is critical for neuronal physiology during development and adulthood. Despite the well-recognized effect of NGF on neurons, less is known about whether NGF can actually affect other cell types in the central nervous system (CNS). In this work, we show that astrocytes are susceptible to changes in ambient levels of NGF. First, we observe that interfering with NGF signaling in vivo via the constitutive expression of an antiNGF antibody induces astrocytic atrophy. A similar asthenic phenotype is encountered in an uncleavable proNGF transgenic mouse model (TgproNGF#72), effectively increasing the brain proNGF levels. To examine whether this effect on astrocytes is cell-autonomous, we cultured wild-type primary astrocytes in the presence of antiNGF antibodies, uncovering that a short incubation period is sufficient to potently and rapidly trigger calcium oscillations. Acute induction of calcium oscillations by antiNGF antibodies is followed by progressive morphological changes similar to those observed in antiNGF AD11 mice. Conversely, incubation with mature NGF has no effect on either calcium activity nor on astrocytic morphology. At longer timescales, transcriptomic analysis revealed that NGF-deprived astrocytes acquire a proinflammatory profile. In particular, antiNGF-treated astrocytes show upregulation of neurotoxic transcripts and downregulation of neuroprotective mRNAs. Consistent with that data, culturing wild-type neurons in the presence of NGF-deprived astrocytes leads to neuronal cell death. Finally, we report that in both awake and anesthetized mice, astrocytes in layer I of the motor cortex respond with an increase in calcium activity to acute NGF inhibition using either NGF-neutralizing antibodies or a TrkA-Fc NGF scavenger. Moreover, in vivo calcium imaging in the cortex of the 5xFAD neurodegeneration mouse model shows an increased level of spontaneous calcium activity in astrocytes, which is significantly reduced after acute administration of NGF. In conclusion, we unveil a novel neurotoxic mechanism driven by astrocytes, triggered by their sensing and reacting to changes in the levels of ambient NGF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Tiberi
- BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, Langone Medical Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ivan Arisi
- European Brain Research Institute - Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara D’Onofrio
- European Brain Research Institute - Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Brandi
- European Brain Research Institute - Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Wen-Biao Gan
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, Langone Medical Center, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Simona Capsoni
- BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
- Institute of Physiology, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
- European Brain Research Institute - Fondazione Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Antonino Cattaneo,
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6
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Soligo M, Manni L, Conti G, Chiaretti A. Intranasal nerve growth factor for prevention and recovery of the outcomes of traumatic brain injury. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:773-778. [DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.354513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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7
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Testa G, Mainardi M, Vannini E, Pancrazi L, Cattaneo A, Costa M. Disentangling the signaling complexity of nerve growth factor receptors by
CRISPR
/Cas9. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22498. [PMID: 37036720 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101760rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The binding of nerve growth factor (NGF) to the tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) and p75NTR receptors activates a large variety of pathways regulating critical processes as diverse as proliferation, differentiation, membrane potential, synaptic plasticity, and pain. To ascertain the details of TrkA-p75NTR interaction and cooperation, a plethora of experiments, mostly based on receptor overexpression or downregulation, have been performed. Among the heterogeneous cellular systems used for studying NGF signaling, the PC12 pheochromocytoma-derived cell line is a widely used model. By means of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, we created PC12 cells lacking TrkA, p75NTR , or both. We found that TrkA-null cells become unresponsive to NGF. Conversely, the absence of p75NTR enhances the phosphorylation of TrkA and its effectors. Using a patch-clamp, we demonstrated that the individual activation of TrkA and p75NTR by NGF results in antagonizing effects on the membrane potential. These newly developed PC12 cell lines can be used to investigate the specific roles of TrkA and p75NTR in a genetically defined cellular model, thus providing a useful platform for future studies and further gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Testa
- Laboratory of Biology “Bio@SNS” Scuola Normale Superiore Pisa Italy
| | - Marco Mainardi
- Laboratory of Biology “Bio@SNS” Scuola Normale Superiore Pisa Italy
- Neuroscience Institute National Research Council (CNR) Pisa Italy
| | - Eleonora Vannini
- Neuroscience Institute National Research Council (CNR) Pisa Italy
| | - Laura Pancrazi
- Neuroscience Institute National Research Council (CNR) Pisa Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Laboratory of Biology “Bio@SNS” Scuola Normale Superiore Pisa Italy
- European Brain Research Institute “Rita Levi Montalcini” (EBRI) Rome Italy
| | - Mario Costa
- Laboratory of Biology “Bio@SNS” Scuola Normale Superiore Pisa Italy
- Neuroscience Institute National Research Council (CNR) Pisa Italy
- Centro Pisano ricerca e implementazione clinica Flash Radiotherapy “CPFR@CISUP”, “S. Chiara” Hospital Pisa Italy
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8
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Manni L, Conti G, Chiaretti A, Soligo M. Intranasal Delivery of Nerve Growth Factor in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Neurotrauma. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:754502. [PMID: 34867367 PMCID: PMC8635100 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.754502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the 1980s, the development of a pharmacology based on nerve growth factor (NGF) has been postulated for the therapy of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This hypothesis was based on the rescuing effect of the neurotrophin on the cholinergic phenotype of the basal forebrain neurons, primarily compromised during the development of AD. Subsequently, the use of NGF was put forward to treat a broader spectrum of neurological conditions affecting the central nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease, degenerative retinopathies, severe brain traumas and neurodevelopmental dysfunctions. While supported by solid rational assumptions, the progress of a pharmacology founded on these hypotheses has been hampered by the difficulty of conveying NGF towards the brain parenchyma without resorting to invasive and risky delivery methods. At the end of the last century, it was shown that NGF administered intranasally to the olfactory epithelium was able to spread into the brain parenchyma. Notably, after such delivery, pharmacologically relevant concentration of exogenous NGF was found in brain areas located at considerable distances from the injection site along the rostral-caudal axis. These observations paved the way for preclinical characterization and clinical trials on the efficacy of intranasal NGF for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and of the consequences of brain trauma. In this review, a summary of the preclinical and clinical studies published to date will be attempted, as well as a discussion about the mechanisms underlying the efficacy and the possible development of the pharmacology based on intranasal conveyance of NGF to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Manni
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Conti
- Department of Emergency, Intensive Pediatric Therapy and Pediatric Trauma Center, Anesthesiological and Reanimation Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Chiaretti
- Department of Woman and Child Health, Institute of Pediatrics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marzia Soligo
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
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9
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Steiner K, Humpel C. Microcontact Printing of Cholinergic Neurons in Organotypic Brain Slices. Front Neurol 2021; 12:775621. [PMID: 34867765 PMCID: PMC8636044 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.775621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a severe neurodegenerative disorder of the brain, characterized by beta-amyloid plaques, tau pathology, and cell death of cholinergic neurons, resulting in loss of memory. The reasons for the damage of the cholinergic neurons are not clear, but the nerve growth factor (NGF) is the most potent trophic factor to support the survival of these neurons. In the present study we aim to microprint NGF onto semipermeable 0.4 μm pore membranes and couple them with organotypic brain slices of the basal nucleus of Meynert and to characterize neuronal survival and axonal growth. The brain slices were prepared from postnatal day 10 wildtype mice (C57BL6), cultured on membranes for 2–6 weeks, stained, and characterized for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). The NGF was microcontact printed in 28 lines, each with 35 μm width, 35 μm space between them, and with a length of 8 mm. As NGF alone could not be printed on the membranes, NGF was embedded into collagen hydrogels and the brain slices were placed at the center of the microprints and the cholinergic neurons that survived. The ChAT+ processes were found to grow along with the NGF microcontact prints, but cells also migrated. Within the brain slices, some form of re-organization along the NGF microcontact prints occurred, especially the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)+ astrocytes. In conclusion, we provided a novel innovative microcontact printing technique on semipermeable membranes which can be coupled with brain slices. Collagen was used as a loading substance and allowed the microcontact printing of nearly any protein of interest.
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10
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Evidence of p75 Neurotrophin Receptor Involvement in the Central Nervous System Pathogenesis of Classical Scrapie in Sheep and a Transgenic Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052714. [PMID: 33800240 PMCID: PMC7962525 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophins constitute a group of growth factor that exerts important functions in the nervous system of vertebrates. They act through two classes of transmembrane receptors: tyrosine-kinase receptors and the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR). The activation of p75NTR can favor cell survival or apoptosis depending on diverse factors. Several studies evidenced a link between p75NTR and the pathogenesis of prion diseases. In this study, we investigated the distribution of several neurotrophins and their receptors, including p75NTR, in the brain of naturally scrapie-affected sheep and experimentally infected ovinized transgenic mice and its correlation with other markers of prion disease. No evident changes in infected mice or sheep were observed regarding neurotrophins and their receptors except for the immunohistochemistry against p75NTR. Infected mice showed higher abundance of p75NTR immunostained cells than their non-infected counterparts. The astrocytic labeling correlated with other neuropathological alterations of prion disease. Confocal microscopy demonstrated the co-localization of p75NTR and the astrocytic marker GFAP, suggesting an involvement of astrocytes in p75NTR-mediated neurodegeneration. In contrast, p75NTR staining in sheep lacked astrocytic labeling. However, digital image analyses revealed increased labeling intensities in preclinical sheep compared with non-infected and terminal sheep in several brain nuclei. This suggests that this receptor is overexpressed in early stages of prion-related neurodegeneration in sheep. Our results confirm a role of p75NTR in the pathogenesis of classical ovine scrapie in both the natural host and in an experimental transgenic mouse model.
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11
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Chen M, Guo L, Hao J, Ni J, Lv Q, Xin X, Liao H. p75NTR Promotes Astrocyte Proliferation in Response to Cortical Stab Wound. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2020; 42:1153-1166. [DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-01006-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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12
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Cattaneo A, Capsoni S. Painless Nerve Growth Factor: A TrkA biased agonist mediating a broad neuroprotection via its actions on microglia cells. Pharmacol Res 2018; 139:17-25. [PMID: 30391352 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) is a therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer's disease, based on its well known actions on basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. However, because of its pro-nociceptive activity, in current clinical trials NGF has to be administered intraparenchymally into the brain by neurosurgery via cell or gene therapy approaches. To prevent the NGF pain-inducing collateral effects, thus avoiding the necessity for local brain injection, we developed painless NGF (hNGFp), based on the human genetic disease Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy type V (HSAN V). hNGFp has similar neurotrophic activity as wild type human NGF, but its pain sensitizing activity is tenfold lower. Pharmacologically, hNGFp is a biased receptor agonist of NGF TrkA receptor. The results of recent studies shed new light on the neuroprotective mechanism by hNGFp and are highly relevant for the planning of NGF-based clinical trials. The intraparenchymal delivery of hNGFp, as used in clinical trials, was simulated in the 5xFAD mouse model and found to be inefficacious in reducing Aβ plaque load. On the contrary, the same dose of hNGFp administered intranasally, which was rather widely biodistributed in the brain and did not induce pain sensitization, blocked APP processing into amyloid and restored synaptic plasticity and memory in this aggressive neurodegeneration model. This potent and broad neuroprotection by hNGFp was found to be mediated by hNGFp actions on glial cells. hNGFp increases inflammatory proteins such as the soluble TNFα receptor II and the chemokine CXCL12. Independent work has shown that NGF has a potent anti-inflammatory action on microglia and steers them towards a neuroprotective phenotype. These studies demonstrate that microglia cells are a new target cell of NGF in the brain and have therapeutic significance: i) they establish that the neuroprotective actions of hNGFp relies on a widespread exposure of the brain, ii) they identify a new anti-neurodegenerative pathway, linking hNGFp to inflammatory chemokines and cytokines via microglia, a common target for new therapeutic opportunities for neurodegenerative diseases, iii) they extend the neuroprotective potential of hNGFp beyond its classical cholinergic target, thereby widening the range of neurological diseases for which this neurotrophic factor might be used therapeutically, iv) they help interpreting the results of current NGF clinical trials in AD and the design of future trials with this new potent therapeutic candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Cattaneo
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy; Rita Levi-Montalcini European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Roma, Italy.
| | - Simona Capsoni
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy; Section of Human Physiology, Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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13
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Cragnolini AB, Montenegro G, Friedman WJ, Mascó DH. Brain-region specific responses of astrocytes to an in vitro injury and neurotrophins. Mol Cell Neurosci 2018; 88:240-248. [PMID: 29444457 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2018.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are a heterogeneous population of glial cells that react to brain insults through a process referred to as astrogliosis. Reactive astrocytes are characterized by an increase in proliferation, size, migration to the injured zone and release of a plethora of chemical mediators such as NGF and BDNF. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are brain region-associated responses of astrocytes to an injury and to the neurotrophins NGF and BDNF. We used the scratch injury model to study the closure of a wound inflicted on a monolayer of astrocytes obtained from cortex, hippocampus or striatum. Our results indicate that the response of astrocytes to a mechanical lesion differ according to brain regions. Astrocytes from the striatum proliferate and repopulate the injury site more rapidly than astrocytes from cortex or hippocampus. We found that the scratch injury induced the upregulation of neurotrophin receptor p75NTR and TrkB.t in astrocytes from all brain regions studied. When astrocytes from all regions were treated with NGF, the neurotrophin induced migration of the astrocytes (assessed in Boyden chambers) and induced wound closure but did not affect proliferation. In contrast, BDNF induced wound closure but only in astrocytes from striatum. Our overall findings show the heterogeneity in astrocyte functions based on their brain region of origin, and how this functional diversity may determine their responses to an injury and to neurotrophins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Beatriz Cragnolini
- IIByT-UNC CONICET, CEBICEM, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, X5016GCA Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Gonzalo Montenegro
- IIByT-UNC CONICET, CEBICEM, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, X5016GCA Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Wilma J Friedman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, 225 University Avenue, Newark, N.J. 07102, United States
| | - Daniel Hugo Mascó
- IIByT-UNC CONICET, CEBICEM, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, X5016GCA Córdoba, Argentina.
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14
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Song XJ, Han W, He R, Li TY, Xie LL, Cheng L, Chen HS, Jiang L. Alterations of Hippocampal Myelin Sheath and Axon Sprouting by Status Convulsion and Regulating Lingo-1 Expression with RNA Interference in Immature and Adult Rats. Neurochem Res 2018; 43:721-735. [PMID: 29383653 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-018-2474-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2017] [Revised: 12/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Seizure-induced brain damage is age-dependent, as evidenced by the different alterations of neural physiopathology in developing and mature brains. However, little is known about the age-dependent characteristics of myelinated fiber injury induced by seizures. Considering the critical functions of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) in myelination and Lingo-1 signaling in regulating OPCs' differentiation, the present study aimed to explore the effects of Lingo-1 on myelin and axon in immature and adult rats after status convulsion (SC) induced by lithium-pilocarpine, and the differences between immature and adult brains. Dynamic variations in electrophysiological activity and spontaneous recurrent seizures were recorded by electroencephalogram monitoring after SC. The impaired microstructures of myelin sheaths and decrease in myelin basic protein caused by SC were observed through transmission electron microscopy and western blot analysis respectively, which became more severe in adult rats, but improved gradually in immature rats. Aberrant axon sprouting occurred in adult rats, which was more prominent than in immature rats, as shown by a Timm stain. This damage was improved or negatively affected after down or upregulating Lingo-1 expression. These results demonstrated that in both immature and adult brains, Lingo-1 signaling plays important roles in seizure-induced damage to myelin sheaths and axon growth. The plasticity of the developing brain may provide a potential window of opportunity to prevent the brain from damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jie Song
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Wei Han
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Rong He
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, 400014, China.,Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.136 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Tian-Yi Li
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, 400014, China.,Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.136 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Ling-Ling Xie
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, 400014, China.,Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.136 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Li Cheng
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Heng-Sheng Chen
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, 400014, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, 400014, China. .,Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.136 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Chongqing, 400014, China.
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15
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Capsoni S, Malerba F, Carucci NM, Rizzi C, Criscuolo C, Origlia N, Calvello M, Viegi A, Meli G, Cattaneo A. The chemokine CXCL12 mediates the anti-amyloidogenic action of painless human nerve growth factor. Brain 2017; 140:201-217. [PMID: 28031222 PMCID: PMC5379860 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nerve growth factor is a therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer’s disease. Due to its pain-inducing activity, in current clinical trials nerve growth factor is delivered locally into the brain by neurosurgery, but data on the efficacy of local nerve growth factor delivery in decreasing amyloid-β deposition are not available. To reduce the nerve growth factor pain-inducing side effects, thus avoiding the need for local brain injection, we developed human painless nerve growth factor (hNGFp), inspired by the human genetic disease hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type V. hNGFp has identical neurotrophic potency as wild-type human nerve growth factor, but a 10-fold lower pain sensitizing activity. In this study we first mimicked, in the 5xFAD mouse model, the intraparenchymal delivery of hNGFp used in clinical trials and found it to be ineffective in decreasing amyloid-β plaque load. On the contrary, the same dose of hNGFp delivered intranasally, which was widely biodistributed in the brain and did not induce pain, showed a potent anti-amyloidogenic action and rescued synaptic plasticity and memory deficits. We found that hNGFp acts on glial cells, modulating inflammatory proteins such as the soluble TNFα receptor II and the chemokine CXCL12. We further established that the rescuing effect by hNGFp is mediated by CXCL12, as pharmacological inhibition of CXCL12 receptor CXCR4 occludes most of hNGFp effects. These findings have significant therapeutic implications: (i) we established that a widespread exposure of the brain is required for nerve growth factor to fully exert its neuroprotective actions; and (ii) we have identified a new anti-neurodegenerative pathway as a broad target for new therapeutic opportunities for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Capsoni
- 1 Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.,2 Institute of Neuroscience, National Council for Research, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Malerba
- 1 Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.,3 Neurotrophins and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Rita Levi-Montalcini European Brain Research Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Caterina Rizzi
- 1 Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Criscuolo
- 2 Institute of Neuroscience, National Council for Research, Pisa, Italy.,4 Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of L'Aquila, Coppito, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Nicola Origlia
- 2 Institute of Neuroscience, National Council for Research, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Viegi
- 1 Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Meli
- 3 Neurotrophins and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Rita Levi-Montalcini European Brain Research Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- 1 Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy .,3 Neurotrophins and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Rita Levi-Montalcini European Brain Research Institute, Rome, Italy
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16
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Zanin JP, Abercrombie E, Friedman WJ. Proneurotrophin-3 promotes cell cycle withdrawal of developing cerebellar granule cell progenitors via the p75 neurotrophin receptor. eLife 2016; 5:e16654. [PMID: 27434667 PMCID: PMC4975574 DOI: 10.7554/elife.16654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar granule cell progenitors (GCP) proliferate extensively in the external granule layer (EGL) of the developing cerebellum prior to differentiating and migrating. Mechanisms that regulate the appropriate timing of cell cycle withdrawal of these neuronal progenitors during brain development are not well defined. The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) is highly expressed in the proliferating GCPs, but is downregulated once the cells leave the cell cycle. This receptor has primarily been characterized as a death receptor for its ability to induce neuronal apoptosis following injury. Here we demonstrate a novel function for p75(NTR) in regulating proper cell cycle exit of neuronal progenitors in the developing rat and mouse EGL, which is stimulated by proNT3. In the absence of p75(NTR), GCPs continue to proliferate beyond their normal period, resulting in a larger cerebellum that persists into adulthood, with consequent motor deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Zanin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, United States
| | - Elizabeth Abercrombie
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, United States
| | - Wilma J Friedman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, United States
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17
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Alder J, Fujioka W, Giarratana A, Wissocki J, Thakkar K, Vuong P, Patel B, Chakraborty T, Elsabeh R, Parikh A, Girn HS, Crockett D, Thakker-Varia S. Genetic and pharmacological intervention of the p75NTR pathway alters morphological and behavioural recovery following traumatic brain injury in mice. Brain Inj 2015; 30:48-65. [PMID: 26579945 DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2015.1088963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE Neurotrophin levels are elevated after TBI, yet there is minimal regeneration. It was hypothesized that the pro-neurotrophin/p75NTR pathway is induced more than the mature neurotrophin/Trk pathway and that interfering with p75 signalling improves recovery following TBI. RESEARCH DESIGN Lateral Fluid Percussion (LFP) injury was performed on wildtype and p75 mutant mice. In addition, TrkB agonist 7,8 Dihydroxyflavone or p75 antagonist TAT-Pep5 were tested. Western blot and immunohistochemistry revealed biochemical and cellular changes. Morris Water Maze and Rotarod tests demonstrated cognitive and vestibulomotor function. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS p75 was up-regulated and TrkB was down-regulated 1 day post-LFP. p75 mutant mice as well as mice treated with the p75 antagonist or the TrkB agonist exhibited reduced neuronal death and degeneration and less astrocytosis. The cells undergoing apoptosis appear to be neurons rather than glia. There was improved motor function and spatial learning in p75 mutant mice and mice treated with the p75 antagonist. CONCLUSIONS Many of the pathological and behavioural consequences of TBI might be due to activation of the pro-neurotrophin/p75 toxic pathway overriding the protective mechanisms of the mature neurotrophin/Trk pathway. Targeting p75 can be a novel strategy to counteract the damaging effects of TBI.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apoptosis/physiology
- Astrocytes/metabolism
- Astrocytes/pathology
- Brain Injuries, Traumatic/drug therapy
- Brain Injuries, Traumatic/genetics
- Brain Injuries, Traumatic/metabolism
- Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism
- Cognition/physiology
- Flavones/pharmacology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Mutant Strains
- Nerve Growth Factors/metabolism
- Receptor, trkB/agonists
- Receptor, trkB/genetics
- Receptor, trkB/metabolism
- Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor/genetics
- Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor/metabolism
- Sensory Receptor Cells/metabolism
- Sensory Receptor Cells/pathology
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Alder
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Wendy Fujioka
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Anna Giarratana
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Jenna Wissocki
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Keya Thakkar
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Phung Vuong
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Bijal Patel
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | | | - Rami Elsabeh
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Ankit Parikh
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Hartaj S Girn
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - David Crockett
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
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18
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Jiménez AJ, Rodríguez-Pérez LM, Domínguez-Pinos MD, Gómez-Roldán MC, García-Bonilla M, Ho-Plagaro A, Roales-Buján R, Jiménez S, Roquero-Mañueco MC, Martínez-León MI, García-Martín ML, Cifuentes M, Ros B, Arráez MÁ, Vitorica J, Gutiérrez A, Pérez-Fígares JM. Increased levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) but not transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGFβ1) are associated with the severity of congenital hydrocephalus in the hyh mouse. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2015; 40:911-32. [PMID: 24707814 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Here, we tested the hypothesis that glial responses via the production of cytokines such as transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGFβ1) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), which play important roles in neurodegenerative diseases, are correlated with the severity of congenital hydrocephalus in the hyh mouse model. We also searched for evidence of this association in human cases of primary hydrocephalus. METHODS Hyh mice, which exhibit either severe or compensated long-lasting forms of hydrocephalus, were examined and compared with wild-type mice. TGFβ1, TNFα and TNFαR1 mRNA levels were quantified using real-time PCR. TNFα and TNFαR1 were immunolocalized in the brain tissues of hyh mice and four hydrocephalic human foetuses relative to astroglial and microglial reactions. RESULTS The TGFβ1 mRNA levels were not significantly different between hyh mice exhibiting severe or compensated hydrocephalus and normal mice. In contrast, severely hydrocephalic mice exhibited four- and two-fold increases in the mean levels of TNFα and TNFαR1, respectively, compared with normal mice. In the hyh mouse, TNFα and TNFαR1 immunoreactivity was preferentially detected in astrocytes that form a particular periventricular reaction characteristic of hydrocephalus. However, these proteins were rarely detected in microglia, which did not appear to be activated. TNFα immunoreactivity was also detected in the glial reaction in the small group of human foetuses exhibiting hydrocephalus that were examined. CONCLUSIONS In the hyh mouse model of congenital hydrocephalus, TNFα and TNFαR1 appear to be associated with the severity of the disease, probably mediating the astrocyte reaction, neurodegenerative processes and ischaemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio-Jesús Jiménez
- Department of Cell Biology, Genetics, and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
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19
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Aroeira RI, Sebastião AM, Valente CA. BDNF, via truncated TrkB receptor, modulates GlyT1 and GlyT2 in astrocytes. Glia 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/glia.22884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rita I. Aroeira
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology and Neurosciences, and Unit of Neurosciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Lisbon; Av. Prof. Egas Moniz Lisbon Portugal
| | - Ana M. Sebastião
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology and Neurosciences, and Unit of Neurosciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Lisbon; Av. Prof. Egas Moniz Lisbon Portugal
| | - Cláudia A. Valente
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology and Neurosciences, and Unit of Neurosciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Lisbon; Av. Prof. Egas Moniz Lisbon Portugal
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20
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VonDran MW, LaFrancois J, Padow VA, Friedman WJ, Scharfman HE, Milner TA, Hempstead BL. p75NTR, but not proNGF, is upregulated following status epilepticus in mice. ASN Neuro 2014; 6:6/5/1759091414552185. [PMID: 25290065 PMCID: PMC4187006 DOI: 10.1177/1759091414552185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
ProNGF and p75(NTR) are upregulated and induce cell death following status epilepticus (SE) in rats. However, less is known about the proneurotrophin response to SE in mice, a more genetically tractable species where mechanisms can be more readily dissected. We evaluated the temporal- and cell-specific induction of the proneurotrophins and their receptors, including p75(NTR), sortilin, and sorCS2, following mild SE induced with kainic acid (KA) or severe SE induced by pilocarpine. We found that mature NGF, p75(NTR), and proBDNF were upregulated following SE, while proNGF was not altered, indicating potential mechanistic differences between rats and mice. ProBDNF was localized to mossy fibers and microglia following SE. p75(NTR) was transiently induced primarily in axons and axon terminals following SE, as well as in neuron and astrocyte cell bodies. ProBDNF and p75(NTR) increased independently of cell death and their localization was different depending on the severity of SE. We also examined the expression of proneurotrophin co-receptors, sortilin and sorCS2. Following severe SE, sorCS2, but not sortilin, was elevated in neurons and astrocytes. These data indicate that important differences exist between rat and mouse in the proneurotrophin response following SE. Moreover, the proBDNF and p75(NTR) increase after seizures in the absence of significant cell death suggests that proneurotrophin signaling may play other roles following SE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa W VonDran
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - John LaFrancois
- Center of Dementia Research, The Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Victoria A Padow
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wilma J Friedman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers Life Sciences Center, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Helen E Scharfman
- Center of Dementia Research, The Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Teresa A Milner
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Barbara L Hempstead
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
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21
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Thakker-Varia S, Behnke J, Doobin D, Dalal V, Thakkar K, Khadim F, Wilson E, Palmieri A, Antila H, Rantamaki T, Alder J. VGF (TLQP-62)-induced neurogenesis targets early phase neural progenitor cells in the adult hippocampus and requires glutamate and BDNF signaling. Stem Cell Res 2014; 12:762-77. [PMID: 24747217 PMCID: PMC4991619 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2014.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2013] [Revised: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide VGF (non-acronymic), which has antidepressant-like effects, enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis as well as synaptic activity and plasticity in the hippocampus, however the interaction between these processes and the mechanism underlying this regulation remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that VGF-derived peptide TLQP-62 specifically enhances the generation of early progenitor cells in nestin-GFP mice. Specifically, TLQP-62 significantly increases the number of Type 2a neural progenitor cells (NPCs) while reducing the number of more differentiated Type 3 cells. The effect of TLQP-62 on proliferation rather than differentiation was confirmed using NPCs in vitro; TLQP-62 but not scrambled peptide PEHN-62 increases proliferation in a cell line as well as in primary progenitors from adult hippocampus. Moreover, TLQP-62 but not scrambled peptide increases Cyclin D mRNA expression. The proliferation of NPCs induced by TLQP-62 requires synaptic activity, in particular through NMDA and metabotropic glutamate receptors. The activation of glutamate receptors by TLQP-62 activation induces phosphorylation of CaMKII through NMDA receptors and protein kinase D through metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5). Furthermore, pharmacological antagonists to CaMKII and PKD inhibit TLQP-62-induced proliferation of NPCs indicating that these signaling molecules downstream of glutamate receptors are essential for the actions of TLQP-62 on neurogenesis. We also show that TLQP-62 gradually activates Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)-receptor TrkB in vitro and that Trk signaling is required for TLQP-62-induced proliferation of NPCs. Understanding the precise molecular mechanism of how TLQP-62 influences neurogenesis may reveal mechanisms by which VGF-derived peptides act as antidepressant-like agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smita Thakker-Varia
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Joseph Behnke
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - David Doobin
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Vidhi Dalal
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Keya Thakkar
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Farah Khadim
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Wilson
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Alicia Palmieri
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Hanna Antila
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, Viikinkaari 4, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Tomi Rantamaki
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, Viikinkaari 4, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Janet Alder
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
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22
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Chavarría A, Cárdenas G. Neuronal influence behind the central nervous system regulation of the immune cells. Front Integr Neurosci 2013; 7:64. [PMID: 24032006 PMCID: PMC3759003 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2013.00064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) has a highly specialized microenvironment, and despite being initially considered an immune privileged site, this immune status is far from absolute because it varies with age and brain topography. The brain monitors immune responses by several means that act in parallel; one pathway involves afferent nerves (vagal nerve) and the other resident cells (neurons and glia). These cell populations exert a strong role in the regulation of the immune system, favoring an immune-modulatory environment in the CNS. Neurons control glial cell and infiltrated T-cells by contact-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Contact-dependent mechanisms are provided by several membrane immune modulating molecules such as Sema-7A, CD95L, CD22, CD200, CD47, NCAM, ICAM-5, and cadherins; which can inhibit the expression of microglial inflammatory cytokines, induce apoptosis or inactivate infiltrated T-cells. On the other hand, soluble neuronal factors like Sema-3A, cytokines, neurotrophins, neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters attenuate microglial and/or T-cell activation. In this review, we focused on all known mechanism driven only by neurons in order to control the local immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anahí Chavarría
- Laboratorio de Neuroinmunología, Departamento de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México México City, México
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23
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Marcello L, Cavaliere C, Colangelo A, Bianco M, Cirillo G, Alberghina L, Papa M. Remodelling of supraspinal neuroglial network in neuropathic pain is featured by a reactive gliosis of the nociceptive amygdala. Eur J Pain 2012. [DOI: 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2012.00255.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Marcello
- Laboratory of Morphology of Neural Networks; Department of Medicina Pubblica Clinica e Preventiva; Second University of Napoli; Italy
| | - C. Cavaliere
- Laboratory of Morphology of Neural Networks; Department of Medicina Pubblica Clinica e Preventiva; Second University of Napoli; Italy
| | | | - M.R. Bianco
- Laboratory of Morphology of Neural Networks; Department of Medicina Pubblica Clinica e Preventiva; Second University of Napoli; Italy
| | - G. Cirillo
- Laboratory of Morphology of Neural Networks; Department of Medicina Pubblica Clinica e Preventiva; Second University of Napoli; Italy
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24
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Bramanti V, Tomassoni D, Grasso S, Bronzi D, Napoli M, Campisi A, Li Volti G, Ientile R, Amenta F, Avola R. Cholinergic precursors modulate the expression of heme oxigenase-1, p21 during astroglial cell proliferation and differentiation in culture. Neurochem Res 2012; 37:2795-804. [PMID: 22956150 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-012-0873-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2012] [Revised: 08/08/2012] [Accepted: 08/14/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) plays a crucial role in oxidative stress processes, apoptosis and cell differentiation. Further, some proteins related to cell cycle including cyclins and p21 are important markers of astrocyte cultures. Aim of investigation was to study the effects of cholinergic precursors (choline, CDP-choline, Acetylcholine and α-Glyceril-Phosphorylcholine) on HO-1 and p21 expression during astroglial cell proliferation and differentiation in primary cultures at 14 and 35 days in vitro (DIV) treated for 24 h with choline metabolites. Our results showed a slight reduction of HO-1 expression (data not statistical significant) in astroglial cell cultures treated with CDP-choline at 14 DIV and 35 DIV. On the contrary, ACh and choline induced a significant increase of HO-1 expression in 14 DIV astrocyte cultures. Surprisingly, choline and ACh dramatically reduced HO-1 expression at 35 DIV. A slight decrease not statistical significant was detectable for α-GPC at 14 DIV and particularly significant at 35 DIV. Data concerning p21 expression, a well known protein inhibiting cell cycle, evidenced a significant increase at 14 and 35 DIV after α-GPC treatment. CDP-choline treatment caused a high increase of p21 expression in 14 DIV astrocyte cultures, but no modification at 35 DIV. Instead, ACh treatment induced a marked increment of p21 expression at 35 DIV. Our data suggest that cholinergic precursors modulate HO-1 and p21 expression during astroglial cell proliferation and differentiation in culture and could be considered a tool to study the induced effects of ischemia and hypoxia diseases in some in vitro models to prevent and reduce its effects after treatment with cholinergic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Bramanti
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Section Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy.
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