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Chiem E, Zhao K, Dell’Angelica D, Ghiani CA, Paul KN, Colwell CS. Scheduled feeding improves sleep in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1427125. [PMID: 39161652 PMCID: PMC11330895 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1427125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Sleep disturbances are common features of neurodegenerative disorders including Huntington's disease (HD). Sleep and circadian disruptions are recapitulated in animal models, providing the opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of circadian interventions as countermeasures for neurodegenerative disease. For instance, time restricted feeding (TRF) successfully improved activity rhythms, sleep behavior and motor performance in mouse models of HD. Seeking to determine if these benefits extend to physiological measures of sleep, electroencephalography (EEG) was used to measure sleep/wake states and polysomnographic patterns in male and female wild-type (WT) and bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic (BACHD) adult mice, under TRF and ad lib feeding (ALF). Our findings show that male, but not female, BACHD mice exhibited significant changes in the temporal patterning of wake and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. The TRF intervention reduced the inappropriate early morning activity by increasing NREM sleep in the male BACHD mice. In addition, the scheduled feeding reduced sleep fragmentation (# bouts) in the male BACHD mice. The phase of the rhythm in rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep was significantly altered by the scheduled feeding in a sex-dependent manner. The treatment did impact the power spectral curves during the day in male but not female mice regardless of the genotype. Sleep homeostasis, as measured by the response to six hours of gentle handling, was not altered by the diet. Thus, TRF improves the temporal patterning and fragmentation of NREM sleep without impacting sleep homeostasis. This work adds critical support to the view that sleep is a modifiable risk factor in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Chiem
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Molecular, Cellular, Integrative Physiology Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kevin Zhao
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Derek Dell’Angelica
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Cristina A. Ghiani
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ketema N. Paul
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Christopher S. Colwell
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Stanisławska-Sachadyn A, Krzemiński M, Zielonka D, Krygier M, Ziętkiewicz E, Sławek J, Limon J. Sex contribution to average age at onset of Huntington's disease depends on the number of (CAG) n repeats. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15729. [PMID: 38977715 PMCID: PMC11231309 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64105-5] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by the extension of the CAG repeats in exon 1 of the HTT gene and is transmitted in a dominant manner. The present study aimed to assess whether patients' sex, in the context of mutated and normal allele length, contributes to age on onset (AO) of HD. The study population comprised a large cohort of 3723 HD patients from the European Huntington's Disease Network's REGISTRY database collected at 160 sites across 17 European countries and in one location outside Europe. The data were analyzed using regression models and factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) considering both mutated allele length and sex as predictors of patients' AO. AO, as described by the rater's estimate, was found to be later in affected women than in men across the whole population. This difference was most pronounced in a subgroup of 1273 patients with relatively short variants of the mutated allele (40-45 CAG repeats) and normal alleles in a higher half of length distribution-namely, more than 17 CAG repeats; however, it was also observed in each group. Our results presented in this observational study point to sex-related differences in AO, most pronounced in the presence of the short mutated and long normal allele, which may add to understanding the dynamics of AO in Huntington's Disease.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT01590589.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Stanisławska-Sachadyn
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland.
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-211, Gdańsk, Poland.
- BioTechMed Center, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Michał Krzemiński
- Institute of Applied Mathematics , Gdańsk University of Technology, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Daniel Zielonka
- Department of Public Health, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 60-812, Poznan, Poland
| | - Magdalena Krygier
- Department of Developmental Neurology, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-952, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Ewa Ziętkiewicz
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 60-479, Poznan, Poland
| | - Jarosław Sławek
- Department of Neurology, St. Adalbert Hospital, Copernicus PL, 80-462,, Gdańsk, Poland
- Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-211, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Janusz Limon
- Department of Medical Ethics, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-211, Gdańsk, Poland
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Gil‐Salcedo A, Massart R, de Langavant LC, Bachoud‐Levi A. Modifiable factors associated with Huntington's disease progression in presymptomatic participants. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2024; 11:1930-1941. [PMID: 38855890 PMCID: PMC11251488 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.52120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms. Our aim here was to identify factors that can be modified to slow disease progression even before the first symptoms appear. METHODS We included 2636 presymptomatic individuals (comparison with family controls) drawn from the prospective observational cohort Enroll-HD, with more than 35 CAG repeats and at least two assessments of disease progression measured with the composite Huntington's disease rating Scale (cUHDRS). The association between sociodemographic factors, health behaviors, health history, and cUHDRS trajectory was assessed with a mixed-effects random forest using partial dependence plots and Shapley additive explanation method. RESULTS Participants were followed by an average of 3.4 (SD = 1.97) years. We confirmed the negative impact of age and a high number of CAG repeats. We found that a high level of education, a body mass index (BMI) <23 kg/m2 before the age of 40 and >23 kg/m2 thereafter, alcohol consumption of <15 units per week, current coffee consumption and no smoking were linked to slow disease progression, as did no previous exposure to antidepressants or anxiolytic, no psychiatric history or comorbidities, and being female. Other comorbidities or marital status showed no major association with HD evolution. INTERPRETATION Reducing modifiable risk factors for HD is one way to support the presymptomatic population. A high level of education, low-to-moderate alcohol consumption, no smoking, and BMI control are likely to slow disease progression in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres Gil‐Salcedo
- Département d'Études Cognitives, École Normale SupérieurePSL UniversityParis75005France
- Faculté de MédecineUniversité Paris‐Est CréteilCréteil94000France
- Inserm U955, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Équipe NeuroPsychologie InterventionnelleCréteil94000France
- NeurATRIS, Mondor NodeCréteilFrance
| | - Renaud Massart
- Département d'Études Cognitives, École Normale SupérieurePSL UniversityParis75005France
- Faculté de MédecineUniversité Paris‐Est CréteilCréteil94000France
- Inserm U955, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Équipe NeuroPsychologie InterventionnelleCréteil94000France
- NeurATRIS, Mondor NodeCréteilFrance
| | - Laurent Cleret de Langavant
- Département d'Études Cognitives, École Normale SupérieurePSL UniversityParis75005France
- Faculté de MédecineUniversité Paris‐Est CréteilCréteil94000France
- Inserm U955, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Équipe NeuroPsychologie InterventionnelleCréteil94000France
- NeurATRIS, Mondor NodeCréteilFrance
- APHP, Hôpital Henri Mondor, service de neurologie, centre national de référence maladie de HuntingtonCréteil94000France
| | - Anne‐Catherine Bachoud‐Levi
- Département d'Études Cognitives, École Normale SupérieurePSL UniversityParis75005France
- Faculté de MédecineUniversité Paris‐Est CréteilCréteil94000France
- Inserm U955, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Équipe NeuroPsychologie InterventionnelleCréteil94000France
- NeurATRIS, Mondor NodeCréteilFrance
- APHP, Hôpital Henri Mondor, service de neurologie, centre national de référence maladie de HuntingtonCréteil94000France
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Risby-Jones G, Lee JD, Woodruff TM, Fung JN. Sex differences in Huntington's disease from a neuroinflammation perspective. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1384480. [PMID: 38915800 PMCID: PMC11194371 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1384480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition characterized by motor, cognitive and psychiatric abnormalities. Immune dysregulation, prominently featuring increased immune activity, plays a significant role in HD pathogenesis. In addition to the central nervous system (CNS), systemic innate immune activation and inflammation are observed in HD patients, exacerbating the effects of the Huntingtin (HTT) gene mutation. Recent attention to sex differences in HD symptom severity underscores the need to consider gender as a biological variable in neurodegenerative disease research. Understanding sex-specific immune responses holds promise for elucidating HD pathophysiology and informing targeted treatment strategies to mitigate cognitive and functional decline. This perspective will highlight the importance of investigating gender influence in HD, particularly focusing on sex-specific immune responses predisposing individuals to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Risby-Jones
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - John D. Lee
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Trent M. Woodruff
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Jenny N. Fung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
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Ni X, Su H, Li GH, Li R, Lan R, Lv Y, Pang G, Zhang W, Yang Z, Hu C. Specific differences and novel key regulatory genes of sex in influencing exceptional longevity phenotypes. Diabetes Metab Syndr 2024; 18:103039. [PMID: 38762968 DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2024.103039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Although the life expectancy of women systematically and robustly exceeds that of men, specific differences and molecular mechanisms of sex in influencing longevity phenotypes remain largely unknown. Therefore, we performed transcriptome sequencing of peripheral blood samples to explore regulatory mechanisms of healthy longevity by incorporating sex data. METHODS We selected 34 exceptional longevity (age: 98.26 ± 2.45 years) and 16 controls (age: 52.81 ± 9.78) without advanced outcomes from 1363 longevity and 692 controls recruited from Nanning of Guangxi for RNA sequencing 1. The transcriptome sequencing 1 data of 50 samples were compared by longevity and sex to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Then, 121 aging samples (40-110 years old) without advanced outcomes from 355 longevity and 294 controls recruited from Dongxing of Guangxi were selected for RNA sequencing 2. The genes associated with aging from the transcriptome sequencing 2 of 121 aging samples were filtered out. Finally, the gender-related longevity candidate genes and their possible metabolic pathways were verified by cell model of aging and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS Metabolism differs between male and female and plays a key role in longevity. Moreover, the principal findings of this study revealed a novel key gene, UGT2B11, that plays an important role in regulating lipid metabolism through the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG) signalling pathway and ultimately improving lifespan, particularly in females. CONCLUSION The findings suggest specific differences in metabolism affecting exceptional longevity phenotypes between the sexes and offer novel therapeutic targets to extend lifespan by regulating lipid homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Ni
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, 100730, PR China.
| | - Huabin Su
- Jiangbin Hospital, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 530021, PR China
| | - Gong-Hua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research of Yunnan Province, Kunming Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Study, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, 650201, PR China
| | - Rongqiao Li
- Jiangbin Hospital, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 530021, PR China
| | - Rushu Lan
- Jiangbin Hospital, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 530021, PR China
| | - Yuan Lv
- Jiangbin Hospital, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 530021, PR China
| | - Guofang Pang
- Jiangbin Hospital, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 530021, PR China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Jiangbin Hospital, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 530021, PR China
| | - Ze Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Hospital/National Center of Gerontology of National Health Commission, 100730, PR China.
| | - Caiyou Hu
- Jiangbin Hospital, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 530021, PR China.
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Llansola M, Arenas YM, Sancho-Alonso M, Mincheva G, Palomares-Rodriguez A, Doverskog M, Izquierdo-Altarejos P, Felipo V. Neuroinflammation alters GABAergic neurotransmission in hyperammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy, leading to motor incoordination. Mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1358323. [PMID: 38560359 PMCID: PMC10978603 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1358323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Enhanced GABAergic neurotransmission contributes to impairment of motor coordination and gait and of cognitive function in different pathologies, including hyperammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy. Neuroinflammation is a main contributor to enhancement of GABAergic neurotransmission through increased activation of different pathways. For example, enhanced activation of the TNFα-TNFR1-NF-κB-glutaminase-GAT3 pathway and the TNFα-TNFR1-S1PR2-CCL2-BDNF-TrkB pathway in cerebellum of hyperammonemic rats enhances GABAergic neurotransmission. This is mediated by mechanisms affecting GABA synthesizing enzymes GAD67 and GAD65, total and extracellular GABA levels, membrane expression of GABAA receptor subunits, of GABA transporters GAT1 and GAT three and of chloride co-transporters. Reducing neuroinflammation reverses these changes, normalizes GABAergic neurotransmission and restores motor coordination. There is an interplay between GABAergic neurotransmission and neuroinflammation, which modulate each other and altogether modulate motor coordination and cognitive function. In this way, neuroinflammation may be also reduced by reducing GABAergic neurotransmission, which may also improve cognitive and motor function in pathologies associated to neuroinflammation and enhanced GABAergic neurotransmission such as hyperammonemia, hepatic encephalopathy or Parkinson's disease. This provides therapeutic targets that may be modulated to improve cognitive and motor function and other alterations such as fatigue in a wide range of pathologies. As a proof of concept it has been shown that antagonists of GABAA receptors such as bicuculline reduces neuroinflammation and improves cognitive and motor function impairment in rat models of hyperammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy. Antagonists of GABAA receptors are not ideal therapeutic tools because they can induce secondary effects. As a more effective treatment to reduce GABAergic neurotransmission new compounds modulating it by other mechanisms are being developed. Golexanolone reduces GABAergic neurotransmission by reducing the potentiation of GABAA receptor activation by neurosteroids such as allopregnanolone. Golexanolone reduces neuroinflammation and GABAergic neurotransmission in animal models of hyperammonemia, hepatic encephalopathy and cholestasis and this is associated with improvement of fatigue, cognitive impairment and motor incoordination. This type of compounds may be useful therapeutic tools to improve cognitive and motor function in different pathologies associated with neuroinflammation and increased GABAergic neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Llansola
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Yaiza M. Arenas
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain
| | - María Sancho-Alonso
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain
| | - Gergana Mincheva
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Vicente Felipo
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, Spain
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7
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Chiem E, Zhao K, Stark G, Ghiani CA, Colwell CS, Paul KN. Sex differences in sleep architecture in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25290. [PMID: 38284849 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25290] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances are common features of Huntington's disease (HD). HD is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder that affects men and women in equal numbers, but some epidemiological studies as well as preclinical work indicate there may be sex differences in disease presentation and progression. Since sex differences in HD could provide important insights to understand cellular and molecular mechanism(s), we used the bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mouse model of HD (BACHD) to examine whether sex differences in sleep/wake cycles are detectable in an animal model of the disease. Electroencephalography/electromyography (EEG/EMG) was used to measure sleep/wake states and polysomnographic patterns in young adult (12-week-old) male and female wild-type and BACHD mice. Our findings show that male, but not female, BACHD mice exhibited increased variation in phases of the rhythms as compared to age- and sex-matched wild-types. For both rapid-eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, genotypic and sex differences were detected. In particular, the BACHD males spent less time in NREM sleep and exhibited a more fragmented sleep than the other groups. Finally, in response to 6 h of sleep deprivation, both genotypes and sexes displayed the predicted homeostatic responses to sleep loss. These findings suggest that females are relatively protected early in disease progression in this HD model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Chiem
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Molecular, Cellular, Integrative Physiology Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kevin Zhao
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Gemma Stark
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Cristina A Ghiani
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Christopher S Colwell
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ketema N Paul
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Li SH, Colson TLL, Chen J, Abd-Elrahman KS, Ferguson SSG. Comparison of Huntington's disease phenotype progression in male and female heterozygous FDNQ175 mice. Mol Brain 2023; 16:67. [PMID: 37726802 PMCID: PMC10508000 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-023-01054-6] [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: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's Disease (HD) is an inherited autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder that leads to progressive motor and cognitive impairment due to the expansion of a polyglutamine (CAG) repeat in the N-terminal region of the huntingtin (Htt) protein. The creation of HD mouse models represents a critical step in the research for HD treatment. Among the currently available HD mouse models, the zQ175 knock-in mouse line is the first to display robust disease phenotype on a heterozygous background. The newer FDNQ175 mouse model is derived from the zQ175 mouse line and presents a more aggressive phenotype. Moreover, increasing evidence has implicated sex as a contributing factor in the progression of HD symptoms. Here, we compared the progression of HD phenotypes in male and female heterozygous FDNQ175 mice. We found that both male and female heterozygous mice showed deficits in forelimb grip strength and cognition as early as 6 months of age. However, female FDNQ175 mice were less vulnerable to HD-associated decline in limb coordination and movement. Neither male nor female FDNQ175 mice exhibited reduced locomotor activity in the open field or exhibit consistent differences in anxiety at 6-12 months of age. Both male and female FDNQ175 mice exhibited increased numbers of huntingtin aggregates with age and 8-month-old female FDNQ175 mice had significantly more aggregates than their male counterparts. Taken together, our results provide further evidence that sex can influence the progression of HD phenotype in preclinical animal models and must be taken into consideration for future HD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Han Li
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Tash-Lynn L Colson
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Jingwei Chen
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Khaled S Abd-Elrahman
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Science, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt
| | - Stephen S G Ferguson
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada.
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada.
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Manivannan A, Foley LM, Hitchens TK, Rattray I, Bates GP, Modo M. Ex vivo 100 μm isotropic diffusion MRI-based tractography of connectivity changes in the end-stage R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease. NEUROPROTECTION 2023; 1:66-83. [PMID: 37745674 PMCID: PMC10516267 DOI: 10.1002/nep3.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Background Huntington's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Brain atrophy, as measured by volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is a downstream consequence of neurodegeneration, but microstructural changes within brain tissue are expected to precede this volumetric decline. The tissue microstructure can be assayed non-invasively using diffusion MRI, which also allows a tractographic analysis of brain connectivity. Methods We here used ex vivo diffusion MRI (11.7 T) to measure microstructural changes in different brain regions of end-stage (14 weeks of age) wild type and R6/2 mice (male and female) modeling Huntington's disease. To probe the microstructure of different brain regions, reduce partial volume effects and measure connectivity between different regions, a 100 μm isotropic voxel resolution was acquired. Results Although fractional anisotropy did not reveal any difference between wild-type controls and R6/2 mice, mean, axial, and radial diffusivity were increased in female R6/2 mice and decreased in male R6/2 mice. Whole brain streamlines were only reduced in male R6/2 mice, but streamline density was increased. Region-to-region tractography indicated reductions in connectivity between the cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus with the striatum, as well as within the basal ganglia (striatum-globus pallidus-subthalamic nucleus-substantia nigra-thalamus). Conclusions Biological sex and left/right hemisphere affected tractographic results, potentially reflecting different stages of disease progression. This proof-of-principle study indicates that diffusion MRI and tractography potentially provide novel biomarkers that connect volumetric changes across different brain regions. In a translation setting, these measurements constitute a novel tool to assess the therapeutic impact of interventions such as neuroprotective agents in transgenic models, as well as patients with Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwinee Manivannan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lesley M. Foley
- Animal Imaging Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - T. Kevin Hitchens
- Animal Imaging Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ivan Rattray
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gillian P. Bates
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michel Modo
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Ekkel MR, Veenhuizen RB, van Loon AM, Depla MFIA, Verschuur EML, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, Hertogh CMPM. Nursing home residents with Huntington's disease: Heterogeneity in characteristics and functioning. Brain Cogn 2023; 169:106002. [PMID: 37269816 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2023.106002] [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] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Huntington's disease (HD), admission to a nursing home (NH) is required in advanced disease stages. To gain insight in care needs, more knowledge is needed on the functioning of this group. OBJECTIVE Describing patient and disease characteristics, their functioning, and gender differences. METHODS A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to collect data of 173 patients living in eight Dutch HD-specialized NHs. Data were collected on characteristics and functioning. We tested for gender differences. RESULTS Mean age was 58.3 years and 49.7% were men. Activities of daily living and cognition varied from 46 to 49% mildly impaired to 22-23% severely impaired. Communication was severely impaired in 24%. Social functioning was low in 31% and high in 34%. A majority of patients used psychotropic medications (80.3%) and showed neuropsychiatric signs (74%). Women were on average more dependent in ADL (severely impaired 33.3% vs 12.8%), more often depressed (26.4% vs 11.6%), and prescribed antidepressant medications more often (64.4% vs 48.8%) than men. CONCLUSIONS The population of HD patients in NHs is heterogeneous in terms of patient and disease characteristics, and functioning. As a consequence, care needs are complex leading to implications for the required expertise of staff to provide adequate care and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina R Ekkel
- Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Medicine for Older People, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health, Aging & Later Life, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Huntington Expert Centre Atlant, Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.
| | - Ruth B Veenhuizen
- Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Medicine for Older People, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health, Aging & Later Life, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Huntington Expert Centre Atlant, Apeldoorn, the Netherlands
| | - Anouk M van Loon
- Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Medicine for Older People, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health, Aging & Later Life, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marja F I A Depla
- Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Medicine for Older People, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health, Aging & Later Life, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen
- Amsterdam Public Health, Aging & Later Life, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Cees M P M Hertogh
- Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Medicine for Older People, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Public Health, Aging & Later Life, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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11
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Chiem E, Zhao K, Stark G, Ghiani CA, Colwell CS, Paul KN. Sex Differences in Sleep Phenotypes in the BACHD Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.28.538324. [PMID: 37162913 PMCID: PMC10168394 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.28.538324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances are common features of Huntington's disease (HD). HD is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder that affects men and women in equal numbers, but some epidemiological studies as well as preclinical work indicate there may be sex differences in disease progression. Since sex differences in HD could provide important insights to understand cellular and molecular mechanism(s), we used the bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mouse model of HD (BACHD) to examine whether sex differences in sleep/wake cycles are detectable in an animal model of the disease. Electroencephalography/electromyography (EEG/EMG) was used to measure sleep/wake states and polysomnographic patterns in young adult (12 week-old) male and female wild-type and BACHD mice. Our findings show that male, but not female, BACHD mice exhibited increased variation in phases of the rhythms as compared to age and sex matched wild-types. For both Rapid-eye movement (REM) and Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, genotypic and sex differences were detected. In particular, the BACHD males spent less time in NREM and exhibited a more fragmented sleep than the other groups. Both male and female BACHD mice exhibited significant changes in delta but not in gamma power compared to wild-type mice. Finally, in response to a 6-hrs sleep deprivation, both genotypes and sexes displayed predicted homeostatic responses to sleep loss. These findings suggest that females are relatively protected early in disease progression in this HD model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Chiem
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles
- Molecular, Cellular, Integrative Physiology program, University of California Los Angeles
| | - Kevin Zhao
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles
| | - Gemma Stark
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles
| | - Cristina A. Ghiani
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles
| | | | - Ketema N. Paul
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles
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12
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Clark ML, Abimanyi-Ochom J, Le H, Long B, Orr C, Khanh-Dao Le L. A systematic review and meta-analysis of depression and apathy frequency in adult-onset Huntington's disease. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 149:105166. [PMID: 37054804 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105166] [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: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Depression and apathy are associated with decreased functional capacity in Huntington's disease (HD) but frequency of depression and apathy in HD is largely unknown. Systematic literature searching was conducted across 21 databases until 30 June 2021. Inclusion criteria was limited to clinician-rated assessments of depression and apathy and adult-onset HD. Inverse-variance heterogeneity meta-analyses were conducted exploring depression and apathy frequency within individuals from families affected by HD, and within individuals with confirmed HD gene-positive status. Screening identified 289 articles for full-text review; nine remained for meta-analysis. Depression frequency in the lifetime in adults affected by or at-risk for HD was 38%, I2 = 99%. Apathy frequency in the lifetime in adults affected by or at-risk for HD was 40%, I2 = 96%. The robustness of the findings improved when limiting the analysis to gene-positive individuals only where apathy was found to be slightly more common than depression, 48% and 43% respectively. Future studies may consider reporting results from juvenile-onset HD and adult-onset HD cohorts separately to further explore phenotypic profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie L Clark
- Deakin University, Deakin Health Economics, School of Health and Social Development, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia; Neurosciences Unit, North Metropolitan Health Services Mental Health Public Health Dental Services, Perth, Western Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, Western Australia.
| | - Julie Abimanyi-Ochom
- Deakin University, Deakin Health Economics, School of Health and Social Development, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia; Deakin University, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| | - Ha Le
- Deakin University, Deakin Health Economics, School of Health and Social Development, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia; Deakin University, Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| | - Brian Long
- Neurosciences Unit, North Metropolitan Health Services Mental Health Public Health Dental Services, Perth, Western Australia
| | - Carolyn Orr
- Neurosciences Unit, North Metropolitan Health Services Mental Health Public Health Dental Services, Perth, Western Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, Western Australia
| | - Long Khanh-Dao Le
- Health Economics Division, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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13
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Sex-Specific Neurocognitive Impairment. Neurol Clin 2023; 41:359-369. [PMID: 37030963 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncl.2023.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
This article explores sex-specific neurocognitive impairment. It first defines relevant terms such as gender and sex. Next, it describes the nature of the problem including under-representation of women and other gender and sexual minorities in neuroscience research, including cognitive studies. A biopsychosocial framework is employed to account for structural and social determinants of health in sex/gender-specific neurocognitive impairment. Issues in assessment including the use of gender/sex-specific normative data are also discussed. Lastly, the article covers the current state of research as it relates to sex/gender-specific neurocognitive impairment across a range of medical conditions including neurodegenerative diseases and coronavirus disease-2019.
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14
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Ruiz-Idiago J, Pomarol-Clotet E, Salvador R. Longitudinal analysis of neuropsychiatric symptoms in a large cohort of early-moderate manifest Huntington's disease patients. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2023; 106:105228. [PMID: 36470173 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2022.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and other clinical dimensions in Huntington's disease (HD) is controversial. This longitudinal study analyzed the association between NPS and motor, cognitive and functional aspects of the disease along with other variables related to its clinical onset and progression. METHODS 639 early-moderate HD patients were assessed longitudinally (mean: 4.95 visits/5 years). Generalized linear mixed models were used to explore associations between NPS and the aforementioned aspects. Other variables previously reported as significant in smaller or cross-sectional studies were included in the models. RESULTS Significant associations found included a negative linear relationship between presence of depressed mood and illness duration (7.2% odds reduction of being depressed per year), a 7.6% increase in the odds of having irritability with increased chorea scores, a negative association (4.3% reduction in odds) between age at onset and aggression (i.e. earlier onset was related to a higher probability of having aggressive behaviors) and a negative association between irritability and the interference component of the Stroop test (3% odds change). Total functional capacity (TFC) was the most frequently associated factor with NPS, with apathy and perseverative behavior having the strongest relations with TFC (22% and 18% increases in odds per unit reduction in TFC respectively). CONCLUSIONS With the exception of irritability, NPS are not related to motor or cognitive variables in early-moderate HD. Total functional capacity (TFC) is the most frequently associated factor with NPS, with apathy and perseverative behavior having the strongest relations with TFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Ruiz-Idiago
- Neuropsychiatry Unit, Hospital Mare de Déu de la Mercè, Hermanas Hospitalarias, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain; European Huntington's Disease Network (EHDN), Ulm, Germany; FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Edith Pomarol-Clotet
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Barcelona, Spain; Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - Raymond Salvador
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Barcelona, Spain; Mental Health Research Networking Center (CIBERSAM), Spain
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15
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Sexual Dimorphism in Neurodegenerative Diseases and in Brain Ischemia. Biomolecules 2022; 13:biom13010026. [PMID: 36671411 PMCID: PMC9855831 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological studies and clinical observations show evidence of sexual dimorphism in brain responses to several neurological conditions. It is suggested that sex-related differences between men and women may have profound effects on disease susceptibility, pathophysiology, and progression. Sexual differences of the brain are achieved through the complex interplay of several factors contributing to this phenomenon, such as sex hormones, as well as genetic and epigenetic differences. Despite recent advances, the precise link between these factors and brain disorders is incompletely understood. This review aims to briefly outline the most relevant aspects that differ between men and women in ischemia and neurodegenerative disorders (AD, PD, HD, ALS, and SM). Recognition of disparities between both sexes could aid the development of individual approaches to ameliorate or slow the progression of intractable disorders.
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16
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Abdollah Zadegan S, Coco HM, Reddy KS, Anderson KM, Teixeira AL, Stimming EF. Frequency and Pathophysiology of Apathy in Huntington Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022; 35:121-132. [PMID: 36353818 DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.20220033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Apathy is a common behavioral symptom of Huntington disease (HD). This systematic review describes current evidence on the pathophysiology, assessment, and frequency of apathy in HD. METHODS This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Using a comprehensive search strategy, the investigators searched the MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO databases. All studies that evaluated apathy in HD patients with a valid scale and reported apathy frequency or scores were included. Apathy scores were analyzed by mean or standardized mean differences in accordance with Cochrane guidelines. RESULTS A total of 1,085 records were screened and 80 studies were ultimately included. The Problem Behaviors Assessment-Short was the most frequently used apathy assessment tool. Apathy frequency generally ranged from 10%-33% in premanifest HD to 24%-76% in manifest HD. A meta-analysis of 5,311 records of patients with premanifest HD showed significantly higher apathy scores, with a standardized mean difference of 0.41 (CI=0.29-0.52; p<0.001). A comparison of 1,247 patients showed significantly higher apathy scores in manifest than premanifest HD, with a mean difference of 1.87 (CI=1.48-2.26; p<0.001). There was evidence of involvement of various cortical and subcortical brain regions in HD patients with apathy. CONCLUSIONS Apathy was more frequent among individuals with premanifest HD compared with those in a control group and among individuals with manifest HD compared with those with premanifest HD. Considering the complexity and unique pattern of development in neurodegenerative disease, further studies are required to explore the pathophysiology of apathy in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayan Abdollah Zadegan
- Department of Neurology (Zadegan, Furr Stimming), Huntington's Disease Society of America Center of Excellence (Zadegan, Anderson, Teixeira, Furr Stimming), McGovern Medical School (Coco, Reddy), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Anderson, Teixeira), all at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | - Hannah M Coco
- Department of Neurology (Zadegan, Furr Stimming), Huntington's Disease Society of America Center of Excellence (Zadegan, Anderson, Teixeira, Furr Stimming), McGovern Medical School (Coco, Reddy), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Anderson, Teixeira), all at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | - Kirthan S Reddy
- Department of Neurology (Zadegan, Furr Stimming), Huntington's Disease Society of America Center of Excellence (Zadegan, Anderson, Teixeira, Furr Stimming), McGovern Medical School (Coco, Reddy), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Anderson, Teixeira), all at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | - Kendra M Anderson
- Department of Neurology (Zadegan, Furr Stimming), Huntington's Disease Society of America Center of Excellence (Zadegan, Anderson, Teixeira, Furr Stimming), McGovern Medical School (Coco, Reddy), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Anderson, Teixeira), all at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | - Antonio L Teixeira
- Department of Neurology (Zadegan, Furr Stimming), Huntington's Disease Society of America Center of Excellence (Zadegan, Anderson, Teixeira, Furr Stimming), McGovern Medical School (Coco, Reddy), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Anderson, Teixeira), all at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | - Erin Furr Stimming
- Department of Neurology (Zadegan, Furr Stimming), Huntington's Disease Society of America Center of Excellence (Zadegan, Anderson, Teixeira, Furr Stimming), McGovern Medical School (Coco, Reddy), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Anderson, Teixeira), all at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
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17
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Esposito P, Ismail N. Linking Puberty and the Gut Microbiome to the Pathogenesis of Neurodegenerative Disorders. Microorganisms 2022; 10:2163. [PMID: 36363755 PMCID: PMC9697368 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Puberty is a critical period of development marked by the maturation of the central nervous system, immune system, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Due to the maturation of these fundamental systems, this is a period of development that is particularly sensitive to stressors, increasing susceptibility to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders later in life. The gut microbiome plays a critical role in the regulation of stress and immune responses, and gut dysbiosis has been implicated in the development of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge about puberty, neurodegeneration, and the gut microbiome. We also examine the consequences of pubertal exposure to stress and gut dysbiosis on the development of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Understanding how alterations to the gut microbiome, particularly during critical periods of development (i.e., puberty), influence the pathogenesis of these disorders may allow for the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Esposito
- NISE Laboratory, School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Nafissa Ismail
- NISE Laboratory, School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
- Brain and Mind Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
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18
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Costa MD, Maciel P. Modifier pathways in polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases: from genetic screens to drug targets. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:274. [PMID: 35503478 PMCID: PMC11071829 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04280-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases include a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders caused by unstable expansions of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the coding region of specific genes. Such genetic alterations produce abnormal proteins containing an unusually long PolyQ tract that renders them more prone to aggregate and cause toxicity. Although research in the field in the last years has contributed significantly to the knowledge of the biological mechanisms implicated in these diseases, effective treatments are still lacking. In this review, we revisit work performed in models of PolyQ diseases, namely the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and provide a critical overview of the high-throughput unbiased genetic screens that have been performed using these systems to identify novel genetic modifiers of PolyQ diseases. These approaches have revealed a wide variety of cellular processes that modulate the toxicity and aggregation of mutant PolyQ proteins, reflecting the complexity of these disorders and demonstrating how challenging the development of therapeutic strategies can be. In addition to the unbiased large-scale genetic screenings in non-vertebrate models, complementary studies in mammalian systems, closer to humans, have contributed with novel genetic modifiers of PolyQ diseases, revealing neuronal function and inflammation as key disease modulators. A pathway enrichment analysis, using the human orthologues of genetic modifiers of PolyQ diseases clustered modifier genes into major themes translatable to the human disease context, such as protein folding and transport as well as transcription regulation. Innovative genetic strategies of genetic manipulation, together with significant advances in genomics and bioinformatics, are taking modifier genetic studies to more realistic disease contexts. The characterization of PolyQ disease modifier pathways is of extreme relevance to reveal novel therapeutic possibilities to delay disease onset and progression in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Daniela Costa
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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19
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Environmental stimulation in Huntington disease patients and animal models. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 171:105725. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
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Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Models for Studying Sex-Specific Differences in Neurodegenerative Diseases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1387:57-88. [PMID: 34921676 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2021_683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is steadily increasing worldwide, and epidemiological studies strongly suggest that many of the diseases are sex-biased. It has long been suggested that biological sex differences are crucial for neurodegenerative diseases; however, how biological sex affects disease initiation, progression, and severity is not well-understood. Sex is a critical biological variable that should be taken into account in basic research, and this review aims to highlight the utility of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived models for studying sex-specific differences in neurodegenerative diseases, with advantages and limitations. In vitro systems utilizing species-specific, renewable, and physiologically relevant cell sources can provide powerful platforms for mechanistic studies, toxicity testings, and drug discovery. Matched healthy, patient-derived, and gene-corrected human iPSCs, from both sexes, can be utilized to generate neuronal and glial cell types affected by specific neurodegenerative diseases to study sex-specific differences in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) human culture systems. Such relatively simple and well-controlled systems can significantly contribute to the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying sex-specific differences, which can yield effective, and potentially sex-based strategies, against neurodegenerative diseases.
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21
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Li SH, Colson TLL, Abd-Elrahman KS, Ferguson SS. mGluR2/3 Activation Improves Motor Performance and Reduces Pathology in heterozygous zQ175 Huntington's Disease Mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021; 379:74-84. [PMID: 34330748 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.000735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's Disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease that leads to progressive motor impairment with no available disease-modifying treatments. Current evidence indicates that exacerbated postsynaptic glutamate signaling in the striatum plays a key role in the pathophysiology of HD. However, it remains unclear whether reducing glutamate release can be an effective approach to slow the progression of HD. Here, we show that the activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors 2 and 3 (mGluR2/3), which inhibit presynaptic glutamate release, improves HD symptoms and pathology in heterozygous zQ175 knock-in mice. Treatment of both male and female zQ175 mice with the potent and selective mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 for either 4 or 8 weeks improves both limb coordination and locomotor function in all mice. LY379268 also reduces mutant huntingtin aggregate formation, neuronal cell death, and microglia activation in the striatum of both male and female zQ175 mice. The reduction in mutant huntingtin protein correlates with the activation of a GSK3β-dependent autophagy pathway in male, but not female, zQ175 mice. Furthermore, LY379268 reduces both Akt and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in male zQ175 mice but increases both Akt and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in female zQ175 mice. Taken together, our results indicate that mGluR2/3 activation mitigates HD neuropathology in both male and female mice but is associated with the differential activation and inactivation of cell signaling pathways in heterozygous male and female zQ175 mice. This further highlights the need to take sex into consideration when developing future HD therapeutics. Significance Statement The mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 improves motor impairments and reduces pathology in male and female zQ175 Huntington's mice. The beneficial outcomes of LY379268 treatment in Huntington's mice were mediated by divergent cell signalling pathways in both sexes. We provide evidence that mGluR2/3 agonists can be repurposed for the treatment of Huntington's disease and we emphasize the importance of investigating sex as a biological variable in preclinical disease modifying studies.
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