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Shen Z, Yang X, Lan Y, Chen G. The Neuro-Inflammatory Microenvironment: An Important Regulator of Stem Cell Survival in Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 98:741-754. [PMID: 38489182 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive impairment due to excessive accumulation of extracellular amyloid-β plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Although decades of research efforts have been put into developing disease-modifying therapies for AD, no "curative" drug has been identified. As a central player in neuro-inflammation, microglia play a key role inbrain homeostasis by phagocytosing debris and regulating the balance between neurotoxic and neuroprotective events. Typically, the neurotoxic phenotype of activated microglia is predominant in the impaired microenvironment of AD. Accordingly, transitioning the activity state of microglia from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory can restore the disrupted homeostatic microenvironment. Recently, stem cell therapy holds great promise as a treatment for AD; however, the diminished survival of transplanted stem cells has resulted in a disappointing long-term outcome for this treatment. This article reviews the functional changes of microglia through the course of AD-associated homeostatic deterioration. We summarize the possible microglia-associated therapeutic targets including TREM2, IL-3Rα, CD22, C5aR1, CX3CR1, P2X7R, CD33, Nrf2, PPAR-γ, CSF1R, and NLRP3, each of which has been discussed in detail. The goal of this review is to put forth the notion that microglia could be targeted by either small molecules or biologics to make the brain microenvironment more amenable to stem cell implantation and propose a novel treatment strategy for future stem cell interventions in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Key laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinyi Yang
- College of Clinical Medical, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yulong Lan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Key laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Gao Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Key laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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2
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Bhatti JS, Khullar N, Mishra J, Kaur S, Sehrawat A, Sharma E, Bhatti GK, Selman A, Reddy PH. Stem cells in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease - Promises and pitfalls. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2023; 1869:166712. [PMID: 37030521 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2023.166712] [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: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most widespread form of neurodegenerative disorder that causes memory loss and multiple cognitive issues. The underlying mechanisms of AD include the build-up of amyloid-β and phosphorylated tau, synaptic damage, elevated levels of microglia and astrocytes, abnormal microRNAs, mitochondrial dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, and age-related neuronal loss. However, the etiology of AD is complex and involves a multitude of environmental and genetic factors. Currently, available AD medications only alleviate symptoms and do not provide a permanent cure. Therefore, there is a need for therapies that can prevent or reverse cognitive decline, brain tissue loss, and neural instability. Stem cell therapy is a promising treatment for AD because stem cells possess the unique ability to differentiate into any type of cell and maintain their self-renewal. This article provides an overview of the pathophysiology of AD and existing pharmacological treatments. This review article focuses on the role of various types of stem cells in neuroregeneration, the potential challenges, and the future of stem cell-based therapies for AD, including nano delivery and gaps in stem cell technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasvinder Singh Bhatti
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine and Nanotherapeutics, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India.
| | - Naina Khullar
- Department of Zoology, Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, India
| | - Jayapriya Mishra
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine and Nanotherapeutics, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India
| | - Satinder Kaur
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine and Nanotherapeutics, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India
| | - Abhishek Sehrawat
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine and Nanotherapeutics, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India
| | - Eva Sharma
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine and Nanotherapeutics, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India
| | - Gurjit Kaur Bhatti
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, University Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Chandigarh University, Mohali, India
| | - Ashley Selman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
| | - P Hemachandra Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA; Nutritional Sciences Department, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, 1301 Akron Ave, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA.
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3
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Chen X, Jiang S, Wang R, Bao X, Li Y. Neural Stem Cells in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Prospects. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 94:S173-S186. [PMID: 36336934 PMCID: PMC10473082 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive dementia, is one of the world's most dangerous and debilitating diseases. Clinical trial results of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau regulators based on the pretext of straightforward amyloid and tau immunotherapy were disappointing. There are currently no effective strategies for slowing the progression of AD. Further understanding of the mechanisms underlying AD and the development of novel therapeutic options are critical. Neurogenesis is impaired in AD, which contributes to memory deficits. Transplanted neural stem cells (NSCs) can regenerate degraded cholinergic neurons, and new neurons derived from NSCs can form synaptic connections with neighboring neurons. In theory, employing NSCs to replace and restore damaged cholinergic neurons and brain connections may offer new treatment options for AD. However there remain barriers to surmount before NSC-based therapy can be used clinically. The objective of this article is to describe recent advances in the treatment of AD models and clinical trials involving NSCs. In addition, we discuss the challenges and prospects associated with cell transplant therapy for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaokun Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shenzhong Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Renzhi Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xinjie Bao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yongning Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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4
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Karvelas N, Bennett S, Politis G, Kouris NI, Kole C. Advances in stem cell therapy in Alzheimer's disease: a comprehensive clinical trial review. Stem Cell Investig 2022; 9:2. [PMID: 35280344 PMCID: PMC8898169 DOI: 10.21037/sci-2021-063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia responsible for more than 121,499 deaths from AD in 2019 making AD the sixth-leading cause in the United States. AD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by decline of memory, behavioral impairments that affects a person's ability to function independently ultimately leading to death. The current pressing need for a treatment for (AD) and advances in the field of cell therapy, has rendered stem cell therapeutics a promising field of research. Despite advancements in stem cell technology, confirmed by encouraging pre-clinical utilization of stem cells in AD animal models, the number of clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of stem cell therapy is limited, with the results of many ongoing clinical trials on cell therapy for AD still pending. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been the main focus in these studies, reporting encouraging results concerning safety profile, however their efficacy remains unproven. In the current article we review the latest advances regarding different sources of stem cell therapy and present a comprehensive list of every available clinical trial in national and international registries. Finally, we discuss drawbacks arising from AD pathology and technical limitations that hinder the transition of stem cell technology from bench to bedside. Our findings emphasize the need to increase clinical trials towards uncovering the mode of action and the underlying therapeutic mechanisms of transplanted cells as well as the molecular mechanisms controlling regeneration and neuronal microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Karvelas
- Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athina, Greece
| | | | - Georgios Politis
- Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athina, Greece
| | | | - Christo Kole
- Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athina, Greece
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5
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Jia J, Wang M, Liu M, Tan Z, Cui Y, Yu M. MiR-421 Binds to PINK1 and Enhances Neural Stem Cell Self-Renewal via HDAC3-Dependent FOXO3 Activation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:621187. [PMID: 34354990 PMCID: PMC8329493 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.621187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysfunctions of neural stem cells (NSCs) often lead to a variety of neurological diseases. Thus, therapies based on NSCs have gained increasing attention recently. It has been documented that microRNA (miR)-421 represses the autophagy and apoptosis of mouse hippocampal neurons and confers a role in the repair of ischemic brain injury (IBI). Herein, we aimed to illustrate the effects of miR-421 on NSC self-renewal. The downstream factors of miR-421 were predicted initially, followed by gain- and loss-of-function assays to examine their effects on NSC self-renewal. Immunoprecipitation and dual luciferase assays were conducted to validate the interaction among miR-421, PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), HDAC3, and forkhead box O3 (FOXO3). A mouse model with IBI was developed to substantiate the impact of the miR-421/PINK1/HDAC3/FOXO3 axis on NSC self-renewal. The expression of miR-421 was downregulated during differentiation of human embryonic NSCs, and miR-421 overexpression accelerated NSC self-renewal. Besides, miR-421 targeted PINK1 and restricted its expression in NSCs and further suppressed HDAC3 phosphorylation and enhanced FOXO3 acetylation. In conclusion, our data elucidated that miR-421 overexpression may facilitate NSC self-renewal through the PINK1/HDAC3/FOXO3 axis, which may provide potential therapeutic targets for the development of novel therapies for IBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaoying Jia
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ming Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhigang Tan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yan Cui
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mengqiang Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
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6
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Icariin Promotes Survival, Proliferation, and Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells In Vitro and in a Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Stem Cells Int 2021; 2021:9974625. [PMID: 34257671 PMCID: PMC8249160 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9974625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves the degeneration of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain. Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for treating AD. Icariin (ICA) is the main active component in Epimedium, a traditional Chinese herb. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of ICA on the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs in the basal forebrain of a fimbria-fornix transection (FFT) rat model. In the present study, ICA promoted the survival, proliferation, and migration of NSCs in vitro. In FFT rats, ICA promoted the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs into neurons and increased the number of cholinergic neurons in the MS and VDB of the basal forebrain. These results suggest that combination therapy of ICA oral administration and NSC transplantation may provide a new potential and effective approach for AD therapy.
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7
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Shu H, Guo Z, Chen X, Qi S, Xiong X, Xia S, Huang Q, Lan L, Gong J, Huang S, Yang B, Tan G. Intracerebral Transplantation of Neural Stem Cells Restores Manganese-Induced Cognitive Deficits in Mice. Aging Dis 2021; 12:371-385. [PMID: 33815871 PMCID: PMC7990353 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2020.0717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) is a potent neurotoxin known to cause long-lasting structural damage and progressive cognitive deficits in the brain. However, new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed since current treatments only target symptoms of Mn exposure. Recent studies have suggested a potential role for multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) in the etiology of Mn-induced cognitive deficits. In this study, we evaluated the effect of direct intracerebral transplantation of NSCs on cognitive function of mice chronically exposed to MnCl2, and further explored the distribution of transplanted NSCs in brain tissues. NSCs were isolated and bilaterally injected into the hippocampal regions or lateral ventricles of Mn-exposed mice. The results showed that many transplanted cells migrated far away from the injection sites and survived in vivo in the Mn-exposed mouse brain, implying enhanced neurogenesis in the host brain. We found that NSCs transplanted into either the hippocampal regions or the lateral ventricles significantly improved spatial learning and memory function of the Mn-exposed mice in the Morris water maze. Immunofluorescence analyses indicated that some surviving NSCs differentiated into neurons or glial cells, which may have become functionally integrated into the impaired local circuits, providing a possible cellular basis for the improvement of cognitive function in NSC-transplanted mice. Taken together, our findings confirm the Mn-induced impairment of neurogenesis in the brain and underscore the potential of treating Mn exposure by NSC transplantation, providing a practical therapeutic strategy against this type of neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijuan Shu
- 1Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,2Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,3China-ASEAN Research Center for Innovation and Development in Brain Science, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Zhongxin Guo
- 1Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,2Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,3China-ASEAN Research Center for Innovation and Development in Brain Science, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiangren Chen
- 1Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,2Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,3China-ASEAN Research Center for Innovation and Development in Brain Science, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Shuya Qi
- 1Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,2Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Xinxin Xiong
- 1Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,2Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Shuang Xia
- 1Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,2Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,3China-ASEAN Research Center for Innovation and Development in Brain Science, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Qingyun Huang
- 1Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,2Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Ling Lan
- 1Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,2Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Jiangu Gong
- 1Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,2Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Shaoming Huang
- 1Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,2Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Boning Yang
- 1Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,2Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Guohe Tan
- 1Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,2Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,3China-ASEAN Research Center for Innovation and Development in Brain Science, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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8
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Huang D, Cao Y, Yang X, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Li C, Chen G, Wang Q. A Nanoformulation-Mediated Multifunctional Stem Cell Therapy with Improved Beta-Amyloid Clearance and Neural Regeneration for Alzheimer's Disease. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2006357. [PMID: 33624894 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202006357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common dementia that is currently incurable. The existing treatments can only moderately relieve the symptoms of AD to slow down its progress. How to achieve effective neural regeneration to ameliorate cognitive impairments is a major challenge for current AD treatment. Here, the therapeutic potential of a nanoformulation-mediated neural stem cell (NSC) therapy capable of simultaneous Aβ clearance and neural regeneration is investigated in a murine model. Genetically engineered NSCs capable of stably and continuously expressing neprilysin (NEP) are developed to enhance Aβ degradation and NSC survival in the brain. A PBAE-PLGA-Ag2 S-RA-siSOX9 (PPAR-siSOX9) nanoformulation with high gene/drug deliverability is synthesized to overcome AD microenvironment-associated adverse effects and to promote neuronal differentiation of the NEP-expressing NSCs. For achieving accurate stereotactic transplantation, Ag2 S quantum-dot-based fluorescence imaging is used to guide NSC transplantation in real time. This strategy shows numerous benefits, including efficient and long-lasting Aβ degradation, improved neural regeneration, and accurate cell transplantation. It is shown that a single administration of this therapy achieves long-term efficacy (6 months) with respect to memory reversal and improvement of learning deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dehua Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Imaging Technology, Division of Nanobiomedicine and i-Lab, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Yuheng Cao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Imaging Technology, Division of Nanobiomedicine and i-Lab, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Xue Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Imaging Technology, Division of Nanobiomedicine and i-Lab, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Yongyang Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Imaging Technology, Division of Nanobiomedicine and i-Lab, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Yejun Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Imaging Technology, Division of Nanobiomedicine and i-Lab, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Chunyan Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Imaging Technology, Division of Nanobiomedicine and i-Lab, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Guangcun Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Imaging Technology, Division of Nanobiomedicine and i-Lab, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Qiangbin Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Imaging Technology, Division of Nanobiomedicine and i-Lab, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, China
- School of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
- College of Materials Sciences and Opto-Electronic Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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9
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Zhu Q, Zhang N, Hu N, Jiang R, Lu H, Xuan A, Long D, Chen Y. Neural stem cell transplantation improves learning and memory by protecting cholinergic neurons and restoring synaptic impairment in an amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Med Rep 2020; 21:1172-1180. [PMID: 31922229 PMCID: PMC7002968 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.10918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent age-related neurodegenerative disorder. It is featured by the progressive accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. This can eventually lead to a decrease of cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain. Stem cell transplantation is an effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies have revealed that different types of stem or progenitor cells can mitigate cognition impairment in different Alzheimer's disease mouse models. However, understanding the underlying mechanisms of neural stem cell (NSC) therapies for AD requires further investigation. In the present study, the effects and the underlying mechanisms of the treatment of AD by NSCs are reported. The latter were labelled with the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) prior to implantation into the bilateral hippocampus of an amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin 1 (PS1) transgenic (Tg) mouse model of AD. It was observed that the number of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons was restored and the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) protein was increased. Moreover, the levels of synaptophysin (SYP), postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) and microtubule-associated protein (MAP-2) were significantly increased in the hippocampus of NSC-treated AD mice. Notably, spatial learning and memory were both improved after transplantation of NSCs. In conclusion, the present study revealed that NSC transplantation improved learning and memory functions in an AD mouse model. This treatment allowed repairing of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons and increased the expression of the cognition-related proteins SYP, PSD-95 and MAP-2 in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510260, P.R. China
| | - Nianping Zhang
- The Teaching and Research Section of Surgery, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong 250355, P.R. China
| | - Nan Hu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510260, P.R. China
| | - Rongrong Jiang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510260, P.R. China
| | - Huicong Lu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510260, P.R. China
| | - Aiguo Xuan
- Department of Human Anatomy, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511436, P.R. China
| | - Dahong Long
- Department of Human Anatomy, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511436, P.R. China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510260, P.R. China
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10
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Tang JD, Roloson EB, Amelung CD, Lampe KJ. Rapidly Assembling Pentapeptides for Injectable Delivery (RAPID) Hydrogels as Cytoprotective Cell Carriers. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2019; 5:2117-2121. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b00389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- James D. Tang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, 102 Engineers’ Way, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Emily B. Roloson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 415 Lane Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Connor D. Amelung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 415 Lane Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Kyle J. Lampe
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, 102 Engineers’ Way, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
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11
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Yang M, Xiang G, Yu D, Yang G, He W, Yang S, Zhou G, Liu A. Hsa_circ_0002468 Regulates the Neuronal Differentiation of SH-SY5Y Cells by Modulating the MiR-561/E2F8 Axis. Med Sci Monit 2019; 25:2511-2519. [PMID: 30951518 PMCID: PMC6462173 DOI: 10.12659/msm.915518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It has been shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a vital role in the regulation of neuronal differentiation; however, the precise role of circRNAs in human neuronal differentiation remains largely unexplored. MATERIAL AND METHODS A dual-luciferase reporter assay was carried out to confirm the targets of hsa_circ_0002468, miR-561, E2F8 (E2F transcription factor 8, a protein coding gene), and miR-561. We detected the expression of hsa_circ_0002468, miR-561, and E2F8 by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses. In addition, we performed the functional experiments by using a BrdU (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine) assay and qRT-PCR analyses. RESULTS In this study, we showed that hsa_circ_0002468 can act as a sponge of miR-561 to regulate SH-SY5Y proliferation and differentiation. A bioinformatics analysis showed that hsa_circ_0002468 had a binding site that corresponded to miR-561, which was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The expression of hsa_circ_0002468 was increased during SH-SY5Y differentiation and was inversely correlated with miR-561 expression. Using qRT-PCR analysis, we showed that hsa_circ_0002468 negatively regulated miR-561 in SH-SY5Y cells. Intriguingly, the overexpression of hsa_circ_0002468 increased SH-SY5Y differentiation and reduced SH-SY5Y proliferation; the suppression of hsa_circ_0002468 led to decreased SH-SY5Y differentiation levels and increased SH-SY5Y proliferation levels. Additionally, overexpression of miR-561 rescued the SH-SY5Y proliferation deficiency induced by hsa_circ_0002468 overexpression and abolished the SH-SY5Y differentiation promoted by hsa_circ_0002468. Furthermore, E2F8 was validated as a direct target of miR-561. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggested that hsa_circ_0002468 was a novel circRNA that regulated SH-SY5Y cell proliferation and differentiation via targeting the miR-561/E2F8 axis. Therefore, manipulating hsa_circ_0002468 in SH-SY5Y cells could be a novel strategy to develop novel interventions for the treatment of relevant neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhui Yang
- Department of Neurology, Central South University Xiangya School of Medicine Affiliated Haikou Hospital, Haikou, Hainan, P.R. China
| | - Guanghong Xiang
- Department of Neurology, The Second People’s Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Dan Yu
- Department of Neurology, Haikou People’s Hospital, Haikou, Hainan, P.R. China
| | - Guoshuai Yang
- Department of Neurology, Haikou People’s Hospital, Haikou, Hainan, P.R. China
| | - Weifeng He
- Department of Oncology, The Second People’s Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Songlin Yang
- Department of Neurology, The Second People’s Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Gaoya Zhou
- Department of Neurology, The Second People’s Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, P.R. China
| | - Aiqun Liu
- Department of Neurology, School of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
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12
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Stem cell therapy has the potential to modify the disease of Alzheimer's disease. This article aims to describe the mechanisms of action, preclinical animal studies, human clinical trials, and challenges for the future direction of stem cell therapy for Alzheimer's disease. RECENT FINDINGS Stem cells of diverse origins (embryonic, placental or umbilical cord blood, and induced pluripotent stem cells) and cell types (neural and mesenchymal stem cells) are widely studied in both animals and humans. SUMMARY In terms of mechanism of actions, recent research focused on the interplay between amyloid-beta Aβ (and tau), neurons, and glia. Stem cells can induce direct regeneration of neurons and synapses. They can also prevent activation of pro-inflammatory microglia, promote activation of anti-inflammatory microglia, inhibit astrogliosis, and promote nonreactive astrocytes. These effects in return may increase amyloid-beta (Aβ) degradation, decrease the risk of the Aβ cascade, repair injured neurons, and enhance synaptogenesis. Two completed and nine ongoing clinical trials using diverse stem cells and administration methods (intravenous, subcutaneous, and intra-cranial) were found for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Although stem cell therapy shows great potential to become a prospective treatment for Alzheimer's disease in the future, these studies are still in their early stages and more studies showing safety and efficacy are needed.
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13
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Guo Y, Li X, Zhang M, Chen N, Wu S, Lei J, Wang Z, Wang R, Wang J, Liu H. Age‑ and brain region‑associated alterations of cerebral blood flow in early Alzheimer's disease assessed in AβPPSWE/PS1ΔE9 transgenic mice using arterial spin labeling. Mol Med Rep 2019; 19:3045-3052. [PMID: 30816468 PMCID: PMC6423566 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.9950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been suggested that cerebral blood flow (CBF) alterations may be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, how CBF changes with age has not been detailed in AD, particularly in its early stages. The objective of the present study was to evaluate CBF in four brain regions (the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, frontoparietal cortex and thalamus) of mice in four age groups, to mimic the respective stages of AD in humans [2 months (pre-clinical), 3.5 months (sub-clinical), 5 months (early-clinical) and 8 months (mid-clinical)], to understand the age-associated changes in selected brain regions and to elucidate the underlying vascular mechanisms. CBF was measured using magnetic resonance imaging-arterial spin labelling (ASL) under identical conditions across the age groups of AβPPSWE/PS1ΔE9 (APP/PS1) transgenic mice with AD. The results indicated age- and brain region-associated changes in CBF were associated with early AD. More precisely, an age-dependent increase in CBF (in the pre- and sub-clinical AD groups) was observed in the frontoparietal cortex and thalamus. Conversely, increased CBF demonstrated an age-dependent decline (in the early- and mid-clinical AD groups) in all examined brain regions. Among the regions, the thalamus had the greatest increase in CBF in the 2 and 3.5 months age groups, which was substantially different compared with the age-matched controls. An extension of vessel area was also noted to be age- and brain region-dependent. In particular, correlation analysis revealed significant associations of CBF with vessel area in the frontoparietal cortex and thalamus of APP/PS1 mice at ages 2 and 3.5 months, indicating that CBF increase may arise from vessel extension. The results of the present study suggested that ASL can detect age- and brain region-associated changes in CBF in mice with AD, and that ASL-measured CBF increase may be a potential diagnostic biomarker for early AD. The observation that CBF increase resulted from vessel extension may aid in the understanding of the vascular role in age-associated development of AD pathology, and provide preclinical evidence for AD patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yapei Guo
- Department of Neurology, The Fifth Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Xueyuan Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Fifth Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Ningning Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Fifth Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Shitao Wu
- Department of Neurology, The Fifth Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Jianfeng Lei
- Center for Medical Experiments and Testing, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Zhanjing Wang
- Center for Medical Experiments and Testing, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Renzhi Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100052, P.R. China
| | - Jianping Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Fifth Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Hengfang Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Fifth Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
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14
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Wu C, Xue LD, Su LW, Xie JL, Jiang H, Yu XJ, Liu HM. Magnesium promotes the viability and induces differentiation of neural stem cells both in vitro and in vivo. Neurol Res 2018; 41:208-215. [PMID: 30596346 DOI: 10.1080/01616412.2018.1544400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent stem cells that generating various neural cells, including neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. This showed that NSCs is an ideal candidate in the application of neural disease treatment. In the current study, we established a simple and efficient method to promote the viability and induce the differentiation of NSCs by stimulating with magnesium. METHODS The proliferation and differentiation of NSCs was determined by MTT assay and immunostaining. The behavior alteration was measured by rotorod test and Morris water maze. RESULTS Magnesium enhanced proliferation in NSCs. The ratio of Nestin+, Ki67+ and GFAP+ progenitor cells was increased in the presence of magnesium. Besides, magnesium induced the glial differentiation instead of neuronal differentiation in NSCs. By contrast, transplantation of Mg2+-treated NSCs in vivo generated more neurons. In established PD models, transplantation of Mg2+-treated NSCs could improve the symptoms and recover the memory. CONCLUSION We established a simple and efficient way to promote the proliferation and induce the differentiation of NSCs. More importantly, this may also facilitate to develop a new method to neural disorder treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wu
- a Department of Neurosurgery , Tengzhou Central People's Hospital , Shandong , China
| | - Lan-De Xue
- b Department of Periodontology , Jinan Stomatological Hospital , Jinan , China
| | - Lin-Wang Su
- c Oral medicine , Liaocheng Peoples Hospital , Liaocheng , China
| | - Jian-Li Xie
- d Department of Prosthodontics , Jinan Stomatological Hospital , Jinan , China
| | - Huan Jiang
- e Department of Endodontics , Jinan Stomatological Hospital , Jinan , China
| | - Xi-Jiao Yu
- e Department of Endodontics , Jinan Stomatological Hospital , Jinan , China
| | - Hong-Mei Liu
- e Department of Endodontics , Jinan Stomatological Hospital , Jinan , China
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15
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Pan Y, Xu J, Chen C, Chen F, Jin P, Zhu K, Hu CW, You M, Chen M, Hu F. Royal Jelly Reduces Cholesterol Levels, Ameliorates Aβ Pathology and Enhances Neuronal Metabolic Activities in a Rabbit Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:50. [PMID: 29556189 PMCID: PMC5845009 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia characterized by aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ) and neuronal loss. One of the risk factors for AD is high cholesterol levels, which are known to promote Aβ deposition. Previous studies have shown that royal jelly (RJ), a product of worker bees, has potential neuroprotective effects and can attenuate Aβ toxicity. However, little is known about how RJ regulates Aβ formation and its effects on cholesterol levels and neuronal metabolic activities. Here, we investigated whether RJ can reduce cholesterol levels, regulate Aβ levels and enhance neuronal metabolic activities in an AD rabbit model induced by 2% cholesterol diet plus copper drinking water. Our results suggest that RJ significantly reduced the levels of plasma total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and decreased the level of Aβ in rabbit brains. RJ was also shown to markedly ameliorate amyloid deposition in AD rabbits from Aβ immunohistochemistry and thioflavin-T staining. Furthermore, our study suggests that RJ can reduce the expression levels of β-site APP cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), and increase the expression levels of low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP-1) and insulin degrading enzyme (IDE). In addition, we found that RJ remarkably increased the number of neurons, enhanced antioxidant capacities, inhibited activated-capase-3 protein expression, and enhanced neuronal metabolic activities by increasing N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and glutamate and by reducing choline and myo-inositol in AD rabbits. Taken together, our data demonstrated that RJ could reduce cholesterol levels, regulate Aβ levels and enhance neuronal metabolic activities in AD rabbits, providing preclinical evidence that RJ treatment has the potential to protect neurons and prevent AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongming Pan
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Comparative Medical Research Center, Experimental Animal Research Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianqin Xu
- Comparative Medical Research Center, Experimental Animal Research Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- Comparative Medical Research Center, Experimental Animal Research Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fangming Chen
- Comparative Medical Research Center, Experimental Animal Research Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ping Jin
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Keyan Zhu
- Comparative Medical Research Center, Experimental Animal Research Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chenyue W Hu
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Mengmeng You
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Minli Chen
- Comparative Medical Research Center, Experimental Animal Research Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fuliang Hu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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16
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Qin W, Chen S, Yang S, Xu Q, Xu C, Cai J. The Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation. Aging Dis 2017; 8:792-811. [PMID: 29344417 PMCID: PMC5758352 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2017.0428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) are special types of cells with the potential for self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation. NSCs are regulated by multiple pathways and pathway related transcription factors during the process of proliferation and differentiation. Numerous studies have shown that the compound medicinal preparations, single herbs, and herb extracts in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have specific roles in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs. In this study, we investigate the markers of NSCs in various stages of differentiation, the related pathways regulating the proliferation and differentiation, and the corresponding transcription factors in the pathways. We also review the influence of TCM on NSC proliferation and differentiation, to facilitate the development of TCM in neural regeneration and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Qin
- 1Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Shiya Chen
- 1Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Shasha Yang
- 1Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Qian Xu
- 2College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Chuanshan Xu
- 3School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Jing Cai
- 2College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, China
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17
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Hu T, Xiao Z, Mao R, Chen B, Lu MN, Tong J, Mei R, Li SS, Xiao ZC, Zhang LF, Xiyang YB. Navβ2 knockdown improves cognition in APP/PS1 mice by partially inhibiting seizures and APP amyloid processing. Oncotarget 2017; 8:99284-99295. [PMID: 29245901 PMCID: PMC5725092 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.21849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated sodium channels beta 2 (Navβ2, encoded by SCN2B) is a substrate of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and regulates cell surface expression of channels in neurons. Previous studies reported enhanced Navβ2 processing by BACE1 in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) model and patients. We investigated whether changes in Navβ2 expression affect neuronal seizure and amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing in an AD mouse model. Our study used eight-month-old APP/presenilin 1 (PS1) mice and transgenic Navβ2 knockdown [by 61% vs. wild type (WT)] APP/PS1 mice (APP/PS1/Navβ2-kd), with age-matched WT and Navβ2 knockdown (Navβ2-kd) mice as controls. We found that Navβ2 knockdown in APP/PS1 mice partially reversed the abnormal Navβ2 cleavage and the changes in intracellular and total Nav1.1α expression. It also restored sodium currents density in hippocampal neurons and neuronal activity, as indicated by EEG tracing; improved Morris water maze performance; and shifted APP amyloidogenic metabolism towards non-amyloidogenic processing. There were no differences in these indicators between WT and Navβ2-kd mice. These results suggest Navβ2 knockdown may be a promising strategy for treating AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Hu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Basic Medical College, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, PR China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, PR China
| | - Zhangang Xiao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, PR China.,Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Rui Mao
- School of Stomatology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, PR China
| | - Bo Chen
- Experiment Center for Medical Science Research, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, PR China
| | - Min-Nan Lu
- Experiment Center for Medical Science Research, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, PR China
| | - Jun Tong
- Physical Education Department, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, PR China
| | - Rong Mei
- Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, PR China
| | - Shan-Shan Li
- Basic Medical College, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, PR China
| | - Zhi-Cheng Xiao
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, PR China.,Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories (MISCL), Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Lian-Feng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Human Diseases Comparative Medicine, Ministry of Health, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences(CAMS) & Comparative Medicine Centre, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Bin Xiyang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Basic Medical College, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, PR China
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18
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Li X, Zhu H, Sun X, Zuo F, Lei J, Wang Z, Bao X, Wang R. Human Neural Stem Cell Transplantation Rescues Cognitive Defects in APP/PS1 Model of Alzheimer's Disease by Enhancing Neuronal Connectivity and Metabolic Activity. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:282. [PMID: 27932977 PMCID: PMC5120101 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most frequent type of dementia, is featured by Aβ pathology, neural degeneration and cognitive decline. To date, there is no cure for this disease. Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation provides new promise for treating AD. Many studies report that intra-hippocampal transplantation of murine NSCs improved cognition in rodents with AD by alleviating neurodegeneration via neuronal complement or replacement. However, few reports examined the potential of human NSC transplantation for AD. In this study, we implanted human brain-derived NSCs (hNSCs) into bilateral hippocampus of an amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin 1 (PS1) transgenic (Tg) mouse model of AD to test the effects of hNSC transplantation on Alzheimer’s behavior and neuropathology. Six weeks later, transplanted hNSCs engrafted into the brains of AD mice, migrated dispersedly in broad brain regions, and some of them differentiated into neural cell types of central nervous system (CNS). The hNSC transplantation restored the recognition, learning and memory deficits but not anxiety tasks in AD mice. Although Aβ plaques were not significantly reduced, the neuronal, synaptic and nerve fiber density was significantly increased in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of hNSC-treated AD mice, suggesting of improved neuronal connectivity in AD brains after hNSC transplantation. Ultrastructural analysis confirmed that synapses and nerve fibers maintained relatively well-structured shapes in these mice. Furthermore, in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) showed that hNSC-treated mice had notably increased levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and Glu in the frontal cortex and hippocampus, suggesting that neuronal metabolic activity was improved in AD brains after hNSC transplantation. These results suggest that transplanted hNSCs rescued Alzheimer’s cognition by enhancing neuronal connectivity and metabolic activity through a compensation mechanism in APP/PS1 mice. This study provides preclinical evidence that hNSC transplantation can be a possible and feasible strategy for treating patients with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyuan Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing, China
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Comparative Medical Center, Peking Union Medical College and Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Beijing, China
| | - Xicai Sun
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University Beijing, China
| | - Fuxing Zuo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing, China
| | - Jianfeng Lei
- Center for Medical Experiments and Testing, Capital Medical University Beijing, China
| | - Zhanjing Wang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Life Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University Beijing, China
| | - Xinjie Bao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing, China
| | - Renzhi Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Beijing, China
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19
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Li XY, Men WW, Zhu H, Lei JF, Zuo FX, Wang ZJ, Zhu ZH, Bao XJ, Wang RZ. Age- and Brain Region-Specific Changes of Glucose Metabolic Disorder, Learning, and Memory Dysfunction in Early Alzheimer's Disease Assessed in APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice Using 18F-FDG-PET. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:1707. [PMID: 27763550 PMCID: PMC5085739 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17101707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Revised: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia worldwide, associated with cognitive deficits and brain glucose metabolic alteration. However, the associations of glucose metabolic changes with cognitive dysfunction are less detailed. Here, we examined the brains of APP/presenilin 1 (PS1) transgenic (Tg) mice aged 2, 3.5, 5 and 8 months using 18F-labed fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) microPET to assess age- and brain region-specific changes of glucose metabolism. FDG uptake was calculated as a relative standardized uptake value (SUVr). Morris water maze (MWM) was used to evaluate learning and memory dysfunction. We showed a glucose utilization increase in multiple brain regions of Tg mice at 2 and 3.5 months but not at 5 and 8 months. Comparisons of SUVrs within brains showed higher glucose utilization than controls in the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, and frontal cortex of Tg mice at 2 and 3.5 months but in the thalamus and striatum at 3.5, 5 and 8 months. By comparing SUVrs in the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus, Tg mice were distinguished from controls at 2 and 3.5 months. In MWM, Tg mice aged 2 months shared a similar performance to the controls (prodromal-AD). By contrast, Tg mice failed training tests at 3.5 months but failed all MWM tests at 5 and 8 months, suggestive of partial or complete cognitive deficits (symptomatic-AD). Correlation analyses showed that hippocampal SUVrs were significantly correlated with MWM parameters in the symptomatic-AD stage. These data suggest that glucose metabolic disorder occurs before onset of AD signs in APP/PS1 mice with the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus affected first, and that regional FDG uptake increase can be an early biomarker for AD. Furthermore, hippocampal FDG uptake is a possible indicator for progression of Alzheimer's cognition after cognitive decline, at least in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Yuan Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
| | - Wei-Wei Men
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Comparative Medical Center, Peking Union Medical College & Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing 100021, China.
| | - Jian-Feng Lei
- Center for Medical Experiments and Testing, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
| | - Fu-Xing Zuo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
| | - Zhan-Jing Wang
- Department of Pathology, Comparative Medical Center, Peking Union Medical College & Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing 100021, China.
| | - Zhao-Hui Zhu
- Center for PET imaging, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
| | - Xin-Jie Bao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
| | - Ren-Zhi Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
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20
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Li X, Bao X, Wang R. Neurogenesis-based epigenetic therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease (Review). Mol Med Rep 2016; 14:1043-53. [DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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21
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Khairallah MI, Kassem LA, Yassin NA, Gamal el Din MA, Zekri M, Attia M. Activation of migration of endogenous stem cells by erythropoietin as potential rescue for neurodegenerative diseases. Brain Res Bull 2016; 121:148-57. [PMID: 26802509 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Revised: 01/09/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction and memory loss. There is deposition of amyloid plaques in the brain and subsequent neuronal loss. Neuroinflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of AD. There is still no effective curative therapy for these patients. One promising strategy involves the stimulation of endogenous stem cells. This study investigated the therapeutic effect of erythropoietin (EPO) in neurogenesis, and proved its manipulation of the endogenous mesenchymal stem cells in model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation. METHODS Forty five adult male mice were divided equally into 3 groups: Group I (control), group II (LPS untreated group): mice were injected with single dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 0.8 mg/kg intraperitoneally (ip) to induce neuroinflammation, group III (EPO treated group): in addition to (LPS) mice were further injected with EPO in dose of 40 μg/kg of body weight three times weekly for 5 consecutive weeks. Groups were tested for their locomotor activity and memory using open field test and Y-maze. Cerebral specimens were subjected to histological and morphometric studies. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and mesenchymal stem cell marker CD44 were assessed using immunostaining. Gene expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was examined in brain tissue. RESULTS LPS decreased locomotor activity and percentage of correct choices in Y-maze test. Cerebral sections of LPS treated mice showed increased percentage area of dark nuclei and amyloid plaques. Multiple GFAP positive astrocytes were detected in affected cerebral sections. In addition, decrease BDNF gene expression was noted. On the other hand, EPO treated group, showed improvement in locomotor and cognitive function. Examination of the cerebral sections showed multiple neurons exhibiting less dark nuclei and less amyloid plaques in comparison to the untreated group. GFAP positive astrocytes were also reduced. Cerebral sections of the EPO treated group showed multiple branched and spindle CD44 positive cells inside and around blood vessels more than in LPS group. This immunostaining was negative in the control group. EPO administration increased BDNF gene expression. CONCLUSION This study proved that EPO provides excellent neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects in vivo model of LPS induced neuroinflammation. It enhances brain tissue regeneration via stimulation of endogenous mesenchymal stem cells proliferation and their migration to the site of inflammation. EPO also up regulates cerebral BDNF expression and production, which might contributes to EPO mediated neurogenesis. It also attenuates reactive gliosis thus reduces neuroinflammation. These encouraging results obtained with the use of EPO proved that it may be a promising candidate for future clinical application and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M I Khairallah
- Department of Physiology, Egypt; Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology-German University in Cairo (GUC), Egypt.
| | - L A Kassem
- Department of Physiology, Egypt; Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology-German University in Cairo (GUC), Egypt; Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - N A Yassin
- Department of Physiology, Egypt; Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology-German University in Cairo (GUC), Egypt; Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - M A Gamal el Din
- Department of Physiology, Egypt; Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology-German University in Cairo (GUC), Egypt; Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - M Zekri
- Department of Histology, Egypt; Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - M Attia
- Department of Histology, Egypt; Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
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Li X, Bao X, Wang R. Experimental models of Alzheimer's disease for deciphering the pathogenesis and therapeutic screening (Review). Int J Mol Med 2015; 37:271-83. [PMID: 26676932 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2015.2428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of laboratory and clinical research, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still the leading cause of dementia in adults and there are no curative therapies currently available for this disease. This may be due to the pathological features of AD, which include extensive extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, as well as subsequent neuronal and synaptic loss, which begin to appear several years prior to memory loss and the damge is already irreversible and extensive at the time of clinical diagnosis. The poor therapeutic effects of current treatments necessitate the introduction of experimental models able to replicate AD pathology, particularly in the pre-symptomatic stage, and then to explore preventive and therapeutic strategies. In response to this necessity, various experimental models reproducing human AD pathology have been developed, which are also useful tools for therapeutic screening. Although none of these models fully reproduce the key features of human AD, the experimental models do provide important insight into the pathological changes which occur in AD. This review summarizes the commonly used experimental models of AD and also discusses how the models may be used to decipher the pathogenesis underlying AD and to screen novel therapies for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyuan Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongdan, Dong Cheng, Beijing 100005, P.R. China
| | - Xinjie Bao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongdan, Dong Cheng, Beijing 100005, P.R. China
| | - Renzhi Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongdan, Dong Cheng, Beijing 100005, P.R. China
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Transplantation of Human Neural Stem Cells in a Parkinsonian Model Exerts Neuroprotection via Regulation of the Host Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:26473-92. [PMID: 26556344 PMCID: PMC4661825 DOI: 10.3390/ijms161125966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2015] [Revised: 10/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and consequent dopamine (DA) deficit, and current treatment still remains a challenge. Although neural stem cells (NSCs) have been evaluated as appealing graft sources, mechanisms underlying the beneficial phenomena are not well understood. Here, we investigate whether human NSCs (hNSCs) transplantation could provide neuroprotection against DA depletion by recruiting endogenous cells to establish a favorable niche. Adult mice subjected to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) were transplanted with hNSCs or vehicle into the striatum. Behavioral and histological analyses demonstrated significant neurorescue response observed in hNSCs-treated animals compared with the control mice. In transplanted animals, grafted cells survived, proliferated, and migrated within the astrocytic scaffold. Notably, more local astrocytes underwent de-differentiation, acquiring the properties of NSCs or neural precursor cells (NPCs) in mice given hNSCs. Additionally, we also detected significantly higher expression of host-derived growth factors in hNSCs-transplanted mice compared with the control animals, together with inhibition of local microglia and proinflammatory cytokines. Overall, our results indicate that hNSCs transplantation exerts neuroprotection in MPTP-insulted mice via regulating the host niche. Harnessing synergistic interaction between the grafts and host cells may help optimize cell-based therapies for PD.
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Kyriazis M. Translating laboratory anti-aging biotechnology into applied clinical practice: Problems and obstacles. World J Transl Med 2015; 4:51-54. [DOI: 10.5528/wjtm.v4.i2.51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the use of biomedical technologies against ageing (rejuvenation biotechnologies) is considered by many as an effective way of controlling all age-related degeneration, in reality this belief cannot be justified. The human body is notoriously resistant to external perturbations and can respond in unpredictable or undesirable ways. Basic concepts of science, evolution and disease must also be considered. In this paper, I discuss some relevant problems associated with the application of any putative rejuvenation biotechnologies such as stem cell therapies, genetic engineering, tissue manipulation, as well as pharmacological approaches. I conclude that these and other biotechnologies will not be applicable to humans in the community. This is due to a wide spectrum of problems and obstacles, such as unpredictable therapeutic results, unrealistic expectations, lack of infrastructure, cellular network disruption, and many more. Even if some such technologies are developed, the totality of the problems, issues and side effects will prove an insurmountable final hurdle, rendering the development of such therapies, essentially and practically useless.
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