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Vandenbosch M, van Hove ERA, Mohren R, Vermeulen I, Dijkman H, Heeren RMA, Leonards PEG, Hughes S. Combined matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-mass spectrometry imaging with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for observing spatial distribution of lipids in whole Caenorhabditis elegans. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2024; 38:e9850. [PMID: 39034751 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.9850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) is a powerful label-free technique for biomolecule detection (e.g., lipids), within tissue sections across various biological species. However, despite its utility in many applications, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is not routinely used in combination with MALDI-MSI. The lack of studies exploring spatial distribution of biomolecules in nematodes is likely due to challenges with sample preparation. METHODS This study developed a sample preparation method for whole intact nematodes, evaluated using cryosectioning of nematodes embedded in a 10% gelatine solution to obtain longitudinal cross sections. The slices were then subjected to MALDI-MSI, using a RapifleX Tissuetyper in positive and negative polarities. Samples were also prepared for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis using an Exploris 480 coupled to a HPLC Vanquish system to confirm the MALDI-MSI results. RESULTS An optimised embedding method was developed for longitudinal cross-sectioning of individual worms. To obtain longitudinal cross sections, nematodes were frozen at -80°C so that all worms were rod shaped. Then, the samples were defrosted and transferred to a 10% gelatine matrix in a cryomold; the worms aligned, and the whole cryomold submerged in liquid nitrogen. Using MALDI-MSI, we were able to observe the distribution of lipids within C. elegans, with clear differences in their spatial distribution at a resolution of 5 μm. To confirm the lipids from MALDI-MSI, age-matched nematodes were subjected to LC-MS/MS. Here, 520 lipids were identified using LC-MS/MS, indicating overlap with MALDI-MSI data. CONCLUSIONS This optimised sample preparation technique enabled (un)targeted analysis of spatially distributed lipids within individual nematodes. The possibility to detect other biomolecules using this method thus laid the basis for prospective preclinical and toxicological studies on C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel Vandenbosch
- The Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging (M4I) Institute, Division of Imaging Mass Spectrometry (IMS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Erika R Amstalden van Hove
- Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Chemistry for Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ronny Mohren
- The Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging (M4I) Institute, Division of Imaging Mass Spectrometry (IMS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Isabeau Vermeulen
- The Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging (M4I) Institute, Division of Imaging Mass Spectrometry (IMS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Henry Dijkman
- HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ron M A Heeren
- The Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging (M4I) Institute, Division of Imaging Mass Spectrometry (IMS), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Pim E G Leonards
- Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Chemistry for Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Samantha Hughes
- Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Environmental Health and Toxicology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Reigada I, Kapp K, Kaudela T, García Soria M, Oksanen T, Hanski L. Tracking Chlamydia - Host interactions and antichlamydial activity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 177:116956. [PMID: 38901202 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116956] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The fading efficacy of antibiotics is a growing global health concern due to its life-threatening consequences and increased healthcare costs. Non-genetic mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance, such as those employed by Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis, complicate treatment as these bacteria can enter a non-replicative, persistent state under stress, evading antibiotics and linking to inflammatory conditions. Understanding chlamydial persistence at the molecular level is challenging, and new models for studying Chlamydia-host interactions in vivo are urgently needed. Caenorhabditis elegans offers an alternative given its immune system and numerous orthologues of human genes. This study established C. elegans as an in vivo model for chlamydial infection. Both Chlamydia species reduced the worm's lifespan, their DNA being detectable at three- and six-days post-infection. Azithromycin at its MIC (25 nM) failed to prevent the infection-induced lifespan reduction, indicating a persister phenotype. In contrast, the methanolic extract of Schisandra chinensis berries showed anti-chlamydial activity both in vitro (in THP-1 macrophages) and in vivo, significantly extending the lifespan of infected C. elegans and reducing the bacterial load. Moreover, S. chinensis increased the transcriptional activity of SKN-1 in the worms, but was unable to impact the bacterial load or lifespan in a sek-1 defective C. elegans strain. In summary, this study validated C. elegans as a chlamydial infection model and showcased S. chinensis berries' in vivo anti-chlamydial potential, possibly through SEK/SKN-1 signaling modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Reigada
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Karmen Kapp
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Theresa Kaudela
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - María García Soria
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad San Jorge (San Jorge University), Zaragoza 50830, Spain
| | - Timo Oksanen
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Leena Hanski
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
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Rivi V, Batabyal A, Lukowiak K. The multifaceted effects of flavonoids on neuroplasticity. Restor Neurol Neurosci 2024:RNN230150. [PMID: 38995810 DOI: 10.3233/rnn-230150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
There has been a significant increase in the incidence of multiple neurodegenerative and terminal diseases in the human population with life expectancy increasing in the current times. This highlights the urgent need for a more comprehensive understanding of how different aspects of lifestyle, in particular diet, may affect neural functioning and consequently cognitive performance as well as in enhancing overall health. Flavonoids, found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and derived beverages, provide a new avenue of research that shows a promising influence on different aspects of brain function. However, despite the promising evidence, most bioactive compounds lack strong clinical research efficacy. In the current scoping review, we highlight the effects of Flavonoids on cognition and neural plasticity across vertebrates and invertebrates with special emphasis on the studies conducted in the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis, which has emerged to be a functionally dynamic model for studies on learning and memory. In conclusion, we suggest future research directions and discuss the social, cultural, and ethnic dependencies of bioactive compounds that influence how these compounds are used and accepted globally. Bridging the gap between preclinical and clinical studies about the effects of bioactive natural compounds on brain health will surely lead to lifestyle choices such as dietary Flavonoids being used complementarily rather than as replacements to classical drugs bringing about a healthier future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Anuradha Batabyal
- Department of Physical and Natural Sciences, FLAME University, India
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Ken Lukowiak
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Berk Ş, Özdemir S, Pektaş AN. Visualization of scientific production in Caenorhabditis elegans: a bibliometric analysis (1980-2023). Genomics Inform 2024; 22:3. [PMID: 38907345 PMCID: PMC11184956 DOI: 10.1186/s44342-024-00002-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a nematode and model organism whose entire genome has been mapped, which allows for easy observation of the organism's development due to its transparent structure, and which is appealing due to its ease of crossover, ease of culture, and low cost. Despite being separated by nearly a billion years of evolution, C. elegans homologs have been identified for the vast majority of human genes and are associated with C. elegans for many biological processes such as apoptosis, cell signaling, cell cycle, cell polarity, metabolism, and aging. A detailed bibliometric study is performed here to examine publication trends in this field. Data were taken from the Web of Science database and analyzed using the bibliometric application Biblioshiny (RStudio). In terms of publication, the results indicated a gradual increase each year between 1980 and 2023. A total of 20,322 records were issued in 96 countries, the majority of which were in the USA, China, and Japan. The most prolific writers, the journals most engaged in the area, the nations, institutions, and keywords used by authors were all determined using the Web of Science database and bibliometric rules. The number of papers in the C. elegans research field is increasing exponentially, and Genetics is the journal with the highest number of articles. This study presents how research patterns have evolved throughout time. As a result, worldwide cooperation and a potential field can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Şeyda Berk
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, 58140, Turkey.
- Advanced Technology Research and Application Center (CUTAM), Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, 58140, Turkey.
| | - Serkan Özdemir
- Department of Forestry, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Isparta, 32260, Turkey
| | - Ayşe Nur Pektaş
- Advanced Technology Research and Application Center (CUTAM), Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, 58140, Turkey
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Borbolis F, Palikaras K. Identifying therapeutic compounds for autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA) through screening in the nematode C. elegans. Methods Cell Biol 2024; 188:89-108. [PMID: 38880530 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2024.04.004] [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: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy (ADOA) is a rare neurodegenerative condition, characterized by the bilateral loss of vision due to the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells. Its primary cause is linked to mutations in OPA1 gene, which ultimately affect mitochondrial structure and function. The current lack of successful treatments for ADOA emphasizes the need to investigate the mechanisms driving disease pathogenesis and exploit the potential of animal models for preclinical trials. Among such models, Caenorhabditis elegans stands out as a powerful tool, due its simplicity, its genetic tractability, and its relevance to human biology. Despite the lack of a visual system, the presence of mutated OPA1 in the nematode recapitulates ADOA pathology, by stimulating key pathogenic features of the human condition that can be studied in a fast and relatively non-laborious manner. Here, we provide a detailed guide on how to assess the therapeutic efficacy of chemical compounds, in either small or large scale, by evaluating three crucial phenotypes of humanized ADOA model nematodes, that express pathogenic human OPA1 in their GABAergic motor neurons: axonal mitochondria number, neuronal cell death and defecation cycle time. The described methods can deepen our understanding of ADOA pathogenesis and offer a practical framework for developing novel treatment schemes, providing hope for improved therapeutic outcomes and a better quality of life for individuals affected by this currently incurable condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fivos Borbolis
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Konstantinos Palikaras
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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Thew HY, Boon Keat K, Tan YC, Ong YS, Parat MO, Murugaiyah V, Goh BH, Khaw KY. Probing the anti-Aβ42 aggregation and protective effects of prenylated xanthone against Aβ42-induced toxicity in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans model. Chem Biol Interact 2024; 394:110978. [PMID: 38552766 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.110978] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) protein aggregates, leading to synaptic dysfunction and neuronal cell death. In this study, we used a comprehensive approach encompassing in vitro assays, computational analyses, and an in vivo Caenorhabditis elegans model to evaluate the inhibitory effects of various xanthones, focusing on Garcinone D (GD), on Aβ42 oligomer formation. Dot blot analysis revealed concentration-dependent responses among xanthones, with GD consistently inhibiting Aβ42 oligomer formation at low concentrations (0.1 and 0.5 μM, inhibitions of 84.66 ± 2.25% and 85.06 ± 6.57%, respectively). Molecular docking and dynamics simulations provided insights into the molecular interactions between xanthones and Aβ42, highlighting the disruption of key residues involved in Aβ42 aggregation. The neuroprotective potential of GD was established using transgenic C. elegans GMC101, with substantial delays in paralysis reported at higher concentrations. Our findings show that GD is a potent suppressor of Aβ42 oligomer formation, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for AD. The concentration-dependent effects observed in both in vitro and in vivo models underscore the need for nuanced dose-response assessments. These findings contribute novel insights into the therapeutic landscape of xanthones against AD, emphasizing the multifaceted potential of GD for further translational endeavors in neurodegenerative disorder research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hin Yee Thew
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Khor Boon Keat
- Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Yong Chiang Tan
- International Medical University, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yong Sze Ong
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Marie-Odile Parat
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Australia Centre of Excellence, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Vikneswaran Murugaiyah
- Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia; Discipline of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Bey Hing Goh
- Sunway Biofunctional Molecules Discovery Centre (SBMDC), School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Sunway City, Selangor, Malaysia; Faculty of Health, Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya, Malaysia; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Kooi Yeong Khaw
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
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Romussi S, Giunti S, Andersen N, De Rosa MJ. C. elegans: a prominent platform for modeling and drug screening in neurological disorders. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:565-585. [PMID: 38509691 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2329103] [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: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases (NDevDs and NDegDs, respectively) encompass a broad spectrum of disorders affecting the nervous system with an increasing incidence. In this context, the nematode C. elegans, has emerged as a benchmark model for biological research, especially in the field of neuroscience. AREAS COVERED The authors highlight the numerous advantages of this tiny worm as a model for exploring nervous system pathologies and as a platform for drug discovery. There is a particular focus given to describing the existing models of C. elegans for the study of NDevDs and NDegDs. Specifically, the authors underscore their strong applicability in preclinical drug development. Furthermore, they place particular emphasis on detailing the common techniques employed to explore the nervous system in both healthy and diseased states. EXPERT OPINION Drug discovery constitutes a long and expensive process. The incorporation of invertebrate models, such as C. elegans, stands as an exemplary strategy for mitigating costs and expediting timelines. The utilization of C. elegans as a platform to replicate nervous system pathologies and conduct high-throughput automated assays in the initial phases of drug discovery is pivotal for rendering therapeutic options more attainable and cost-effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Romussi
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Giunti
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Natalia Andersen
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - María José De Rosa
- Laboratorio de Neurobiología de Invertebrados, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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Komura T, Aoki M, Nishikawa Y. Feeding on lactic acid bacteria isolated from food extends the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. Lett Appl Microbiol 2024; 77:ovae020. [PMID: 38389250 DOI: 10.1093/lambio/ovae020] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) contribute to human health, and LAB functionality has been studied using Caenorhabditis elegans as an alternative host. However, many studies have focused on the efficacy of a single strain of LAB, and few reports have compared various LAB strains. In this study, we examined the effects of 15 strains of LAB isolated from vegetables, meat, and fermented foods on nematode longevity and healthy lifespan. To reduce the frequency of laborious survival observations, we performed a lifespan assay on agar plates containing 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (FUdR), which inhibits egg hatching and prevents generation mixing. Four beneficial strains showed significant lifespan extension and increased spontaneous nematode mobility, regardless of treatment with or without FUdR and the frequency of survival observation. These results suggested increased longevity and an extended healthy lifespan, confirming the reliability of our method. The four strains are expected to show anti-ageing effects besides longevity and have effects on age-related degenerative diseases. Our labor-saving method can be used as an alternative to conventional methods and enable simultaneous screening of multiple strains. Future research could explore factors contributing to lifespan regulation by comparing and verifying differential strain effects on lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomomi Komura
- School of Human Science and Environment, University of Hyogo, Himeji, Hyogo 6700092, Japan
- Research Institute for Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Hyogo, Himeji, Hyogo 6700092, Japan
| | - Motoshi Aoki
- Central Research Institute, Marudai Food, Co., Ltd, Takatsuki, Osaka 5698577, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Nishikawa
- Faculty of Food and Nutrition Sciences, Tezukayama Gakuin University, Sakai, Osaka 5900113, Japan
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Aljedaie MM, Alam P. In silico identification of human microRNAs pointing centrin genes in Leishmania donovani: Considering the RNAi-mediated gene control. Front Genet 2024; 14:1329339. [PMID: 38390455 PMCID: PMC10883313 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1329339] [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: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease caused by different species of the protozoa parasite Leishmania, is a neglected tropical human disease that is endemic in about a hundred countries worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the annual incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is estimated to be 0.7-1.2 million cases globally, whereas the annual incidence of visceral leishmaniasis is estimated to be 0.2-0.4 million cases. In many eukaryotic organisms, including human beings and protozoan parasites, centrin genes encode proteins that play essential roles within the centrosome or basal body. Human microRNAs (miRNAs) have been linked to several infectious and non-infectious diseases associated with pathogen-host interactions, and they play the emphatic roles as gene expression regulators. In this study, we used the MirTarget bioinformatics tool, which is a machine learning-based approach implemented in miRDB, to predict the target of human miRNAs in Leishmania donovani centrin genes. For cross-validation, we utilized additional prediction algorithms, namely, RNA22 and RNAhybrid, targeting all five centrin isotypes. The centrin-3 (LDBPK_342160) and putative centrin-5 (NC_018236.1) genes in L. donovani were targeted by eight and twelve human miRNAs, respectively, among 2,635 known miRNAs (miRBase). hsa-miR-5193 consistently targeted both genes. Using TargetScan, TarBase, miRecords, and miRTarBase, we identified miRNA targets and off-targets in human homologs of centrin, inflammation, and immune-responsive genes. Significant targets were screened based on GO terminologies and KEGG pathway-enrichment analysis (Log10 p-value >0.0001). In silico tools that predict the biological roles of human miRNAs as primary gene regulators in pathogen-host interactions help unravel the regulatory patterns of these miRNAs, particularly in the early stages of inflammatory responses. It is also noted that these miRNAs played an important role in the late phase of adaptive immune response, inclusively their impacts on the immune system's response to L. donovani.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manei M Aljedaie
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences and Humanities, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pravej Alam
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences and Humanities, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
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da Silva LPD, da Cruz Guedes E, Fernandes ICO, Pedroza LAL, da Silva Pereira GJ, Gubert P. Exploring Caenorhabditis elegans as Parkinson's Disease Model: Neurotoxins and Genetic Implications. Neurotox Res 2024; 42:11. [PMID: 38319410 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-024-00686-3] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world, the first being Alzheimer's disease. Patients with PD have a loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia, which controls voluntary movements, causing a motor impairment as a result of dopaminergic signaling impairment. Studies have shown that mutations in several genes, such as SNCA, PARK2, PINK1, DJ-1, ATP13A2, and LRRK2, and the exposure to neurotoxic agents can potentially increase the chances of PD development. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) plays an important role in studying the risk factors, such as genetic factors, aging, exposure to chemicals, disease progression, and drug treatments for PD. C. elegans has a conserved neurotransmission system during evolution; it produces dopamine, through the eight dopaminergic neurons; it can be used to study the effect of neurotoxins and also has strains that express human α-synuclein. Furthermore, the human PD-related genes, LRK-1, PINK-1, PDR-1, DJR-1.1, and CATP-6, are present and functional in this model. Therefore, this review focuses on highlighting and discussing the use of C. elegans an in vivo model in PD-related studies. Here, we identified that nematodes exposed to the neurotoxins, such as 6-OHDA, MPTP, paraquat, and rotenone, had a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons, dopamine deficits, and decreased survival rate. Several studies have reported that expression of human LRRK2 (G2019S) caused neurodegeneration and pink-1, pdr-1, and djr-1.1 deletion caused several effects PD-related in C. elegans, including mitochondrial dysfunctions. Of note, the deletion of catp-6 in nematodes caused behavioral dysfunction, mitochondrial damage, and reduced survival. In addition, nematodes expressing α-synuclein had neurodegeneration and dopamine-dependent deficits. Therefore, C. elegans can be considered an accurate animal model of PD that can be used to elucidate to assess the underlying mechanisms implicated in PD to find novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Pereira Dantas da Silva
- Keizo Asami Institute, iLIKA, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Moraes Rego Avenue, 1235, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Erika da Cruz Guedes
- Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Isabel Cristina Oliveira Fernandes
- Keizo Asami Institute, iLIKA, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Moraes Rego Avenue, 1235, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Science, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Lucas Aleixo Leal Pedroza
- Keizo Asami Institute, iLIKA, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Moraes Rego Avenue, 1235, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil
| | | | - Priscila Gubert
- Keizo Asami Institute, iLIKA, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Moraes Rego Avenue, 1235, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil.
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Science, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
- Postgraduate Program in Pure and Applied Chemistry, Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Bahia, Brazil.
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Shanley HT, Taki AC, Nguyen N, Wang T, Byrne JJ, Ang CS, Leeming MG, Nie S, Williamson N, Zheng Y, Young ND, Korhonen PK, Hofmann A, Wells TNC, Jabbar A, Sleebs BE, Gasser RB. Structure activity relationship and target prediction for ABX464 analogues in Caenorhabditis elegans. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 98:117540. [PMID: 38134663 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Global challenges with treatment failures and/or widespread resistance in parasitic worms against commercially available anthelmintics lend impetus to the development of new anthelmintics with novel mechanism(s) of action. The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an important model organism used for drug discovery, including the screening and structure-activity investigation of new compounds, and target deconvolution. Previously, we conducted a whole-organism phenotypic screen of the 'Pandemic Response Box' (from Medicines for Malaria Venture, MMV) and identified a hit compound, called ABX464, with activity against C. elegans and a related, parasitic nematode, Haemonchus contortus. Here, we tested a series of 44 synthesized analogues to explore the pharmacophore of activity on C. elegans and revealed five compounds whose potency was similar or greater than that of ABX464, but which were not toxic to human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. Subsequently, we employed thermal proteome profiling (TPP), protein structure prediction and an in silico-docking algorithm to predict ABX464-target candidates. Taken together, the findings from this study contribute significantly to the early-stage drug discovery of a new nematocide based on ABX464. Future work is aimed at validating the ABX464-protein interactions identified here, and at assessing ABX464 and associated analogues against a panel of parasitic nematodes, towards developing a new anthelmintic with a mechanism of action that is distinct from any of the compounds currently-available commercially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison T Shanley
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Aya C Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Joseph J Byrne
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Michael G Leeming
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Shuai Nie
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Nicholas Williamson
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Yuanting Zheng
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Neil D Young
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Pasi K Korhonen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; National Reference Centre for Authentic Food, Max Rubner-Institut, 95326 Kulmbach, Germany
| | - Tim N C Wells
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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Eck RJ, Stair JG, Kraemer BC, Liachko NF. Simple models to understand complex disease: 10 years of progress from Caenorhabditis elegans models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1300705. [PMID: 38239833 PMCID: PMC10794587 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1300705] [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: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans are a powerful model system to study human disease, with numerous experimental advantages including significant genetic and cellular homology to vertebrate animals, a short lifespan, and tractable behavioral, molecular biology and imaging assays. Beginning with the identification of SOD1 as a genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), C. elegans have contributed to a deeper understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of this devastating neurodegenerative disease. More recently this work has expanded to encompass models of other types of ALS and the related disease frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-TDP), including those characterized by mutation or accumulation of the proteins TDP-43, C9orf72, FUS, HnRNPA2B1, ALS2, DCTN1, CHCHD10, ELP3, TUBA4A, CAV1, UBQLN2, ATXN3, TIA1, KIF5A, VAPB, GRN, and RAB38. In this review we summarize these models and the progress and insights from the last ten years of using C. elegans to study the neurodegenerative diseases ALS and FTLD-TDP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randall J. Eck
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jade G. Stair
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Brian C. Kraemer
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Nicole F. Liachko
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
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13
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Catalano F, O’Brien TJ, Mekhova AA, Sepe LV, Elia M, De Cegli R, Gallotta I, Santonicola P, Zampi G, Ilyechova EY, Romanov AA, Samuseva PD, Salzano J, Petruzzelli R, Polishchuk EV, Indrieri A, Kim BE, Brown AEX, Puchkova LV, Di Schiavi E, Polishchuk RS. A new Caenorhabditis elegans model to study copper toxicity in Wilson disease. Traffic 2024; 25:e12920. [PMID: 37886910 PMCID: PMC10841361 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12920] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Wilson disease (WD) is caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene that encodes a copper (Cu) transporting ATPase whose trafficking from the Golgi to endo-lysosomal compartments drives sequestration of excess Cu and its further excretion from hepatocytes into the bile. Loss of ATP7B function leads to toxic Cu overload in the liver and subsequently in the brain, causing fatal hepatic and neurological abnormalities. The limitations of existing WD therapies call for the development of new therapeutic approaches, which require an amenable animal model system for screening and validation of drugs and molecular targets. To achieve this objective, we generated a mutant Caenorhabditis elegans strain with a substitution of a conserved histidine (H828Q) in the ATP7B ortholog cua-1 corresponding to the most common ATP7B variant (H1069Q) that causes WD. cua-1 mutant animals exhibited very poor resistance to Cu compared to the wild-type strain. This manifested in a strong delay in larval development, a shorter lifespan, impaired motility, oxidative stress pathway activation, and mitochondrial damage. In addition, morphological analysis revealed several neuronal abnormalities in cua-1 mutant animals exposed to Cu. Further investigation suggested that mutant CUA-1 is retained and degraded in the endoplasmic reticulum, similarly to human ATP7B-H1069Q. As a consequence, the mutant protein does not allow animals to counteract Cu toxicity. Notably, pharmacological correctors of ATP7B-H1069Q reduced Cu toxicity in cua-1 mutants indicating that similar pathogenic molecular pathways might be activated by the H/Q substitution and, therefore, targeted for rescue of ATP7B/CUA-1 function. Taken together, our findings suggest that the newly generated cua-1 mutant strain represents an excellent model for Cu toxicity studies in WD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Catalano
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), Napoli, Italy
| | - Thomas J O’Brien
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aleksandra A Mekhova
- Research center of advanced functional materials and laser communication systems, ADTS Institute, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | | | | | - Rossella De Cegli
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Ivan Gallotta
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics Adriano Buzzati-Traverso (IGB-ABT), National Research Council (CNR), Napoli, Italy
| | - Pamela Santonicola
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), Napoli, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Zampi
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), Napoli, Italy
| | - Ekaterina Y Ilyechova
- Research center of advanced functional materials and laser communication systems, ADTS Institute, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Research Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Aleksei A Romanov
- Department of applied mathematics, Institute of applied mathematics and mechanics, Peter the Great Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Polina D Samuseva
- Research center of advanced functional materials and laser communication systems, ADTS Institute, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Josephine Salzano
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Raffaella Petruzzelli
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Scuola Superiore Meridionale (SSM, School of Advanced Studies), Genomics and Experimental Medicine program, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Elena V. Polishchuk
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), Napoli, Italy
| | - Alessia Indrieri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Byung-Eun Kim
- Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - André EX Brown
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ludmila V Puchkova
- Research center of advanced functional materials and laser communication systems, ADTS Institute, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elia Di Schiavi
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), Napoli, Italy
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics Adriano Buzzati-Traverso (IGB-ABT), National Research Council (CNR), Napoli, Italy
| | - Roman S. Polishchuk
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
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14
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Zhang L, Gade V, Kirienko NV. Pathogen-induced dormancy in liquid limits gastrointestinal colonization of Caenorhabditis elegans. Virulence 2023; 14:2204004. [PMID: 37096826 PMCID: PMC10132241 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2204004] [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: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Colonization is generally considered a prerequisite for infection, but this event is context-dependent, as evidenced by the differing ability of the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa to efficiently colonize Caenorhabditis elegans on agar but not in liquid . In this study, we examined the impact of the environment, pathogen, host, and their interactions on host colonization. We found that the transition to a liquid environment reduces food uptake by about two-fold. Also expression of specific adhesins was significantly altered in liquid-based assays for P. aeruginosa, suggesting that it may be one factor driving diminished colonization. Unexpectedly, host immune pathways did not appear to play a significant role in decreased colonization in liquid. Although knocking down key immune pathways (e.g. daf-16 or zip-2), either alone or in combination, significantly reduced survival, the changes in colonization were very small. In spite of the limited bacterial accumulation in the liquid setting, pathogenic colonization was still required for the virulence of Enterococcus faecalis. In addition, we found that a pathogen-induced dormancy was displayed by C. elegans in liquid medium after pathogen exposure, resulting in cessation of pharyngeal pumping and a decrease in bacterial intake. We conclude that poor colonization in liquid is likely due to a combination of environmental factors and host-pathogen interactions. These results provide new insights into mechanisms for colonization in different models, enabling pathogenesis models to be fine-tuned to more accurately represent the conditions seen in human infections so that new tools for curbing bacterial and fungal infections can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyang Zhang
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vyshnavi Gade
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
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15
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Fu HJ, Zhou XY, Li YP, Chen X, He YN, Qin DL, Yu L, Yu CL, Wu JM, Wu AG, Zhou XG. The Protective Effects of Reineckia carnea Ether Fraction against Alzheimer's Disease Pathology: An Exploration in Caenorhabditis elegans Models. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16536. [PMID: 38003724 PMCID: PMC10672099 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) presents a significant challenge to global healthcare systems, with current treatments offering only modest relief and often bringing unwanted side effects, necessitating the exploration of more effective and safer drugs. In this study, we employed the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model, specifically the AD-like CL4176 strain expressing the human Aβ(1-42) protein, to investigate the potential of Reineckia carnea extract and its fractions. Our results showed that the Reineckia carnea ether fraction (REF) notably diminished the paralysis rates of CL4176 worms. Additionally, REF also attenuated the neurotoxicity effects prompted by Tau proteins in the BR5270 worms. Moreover, REF was observed to counteract the accumulation of Aβ and pTau proteins and their induced oxidative stress in C. elegans AD-like models. Mechanistic studies revealed that REF's benefits were associated with the induction of autophagy in worms; however, these protective effects were nullified when autophagy-related genes were suppressed using RNAi bacteria. Together, these findings highlight Reineckia carnea ether fraction as a promising candidate for AD treatment, warranting further investigation into its autophagy-inducing components and their molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Jun Fu
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China; (H.-J.F.); (X.-Y.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.-N.H.); (D.-L.Q.); (L.Y.); (C.-L.Y.); (J.-M.W.)
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Xing-Yue Zhou
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China; (H.-J.F.); (X.-Y.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.-N.H.); (D.-L.Q.); (L.Y.); (C.-L.Y.); (J.-M.W.)
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Ya-Ping Li
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China; (H.-J.F.); (X.-Y.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.-N.H.); (D.-L.Q.); (L.Y.); (C.-L.Y.); (J.-M.W.)
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Xue Chen
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China; (H.-J.F.); (X.-Y.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.-N.H.); (D.-L.Q.); (L.Y.); (C.-L.Y.); (J.-M.W.)
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Yan-Ni He
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China; (H.-J.F.); (X.-Y.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.-N.H.); (D.-L.Q.); (L.Y.); (C.-L.Y.); (J.-M.W.)
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Da-Lian Qin
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China; (H.-J.F.); (X.-Y.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.-N.H.); (D.-L.Q.); (L.Y.); (C.-L.Y.); (J.-M.W.)
| | - Lu Yu
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China; (H.-J.F.); (X.-Y.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.-N.H.); (D.-L.Q.); (L.Y.); (C.-L.Y.); (J.-M.W.)
| | - Chong-Lin Yu
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China; (H.-J.F.); (X.-Y.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.-N.H.); (D.-L.Q.); (L.Y.); (C.-L.Y.); (J.-M.W.)
| | - Jian-Ming Wu
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China; (H.-J.F.); (X.-Y.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.-N.H.); (D.-L.Q.); (L.Y.); (C.-L.Y.); (J.-M.W.)
| | - An-Guo Wu
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China; (H.-J.F.); (X.-Y.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.-N.H.); (D.-L.Q.); (L.Y.); (C.-L.Y.); (J.-M.W.)
| | - Xiao-Gang Zhou
- Sichuan Key Medical Laboratory of New Drug Discovery and Drugability Evaluation, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China; (H.-J.F.); (X.-Y.Z.); (X.C.); (Y.-N.H.); (D.-L.Q.); (L.Y.); (C.-L.Y.); (J.-M.W.)
- Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou 646000, China
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16
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Silveira CMDV, Farelo Dos Santos V, Ornelas IM, Carrilho BDS, Ventura MAVDC, Pereira HMG, Rehen SK, Junqueira M. Systematic characterization of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide metabolites in Caenorhabditis elegans by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 2023; 1708:464362. [PMID: 37717453 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2023.464362] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Psychedelic compounds have gained renewed interest for their potential therapeutic applications, but their metabolism and effects on complex biological systems remain poorly understood. Here, we present a systematic characterization of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) metabolites in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans using state-of-the-art analytical techniques. By employing ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry, we putatively identified a range of LSD metabolites, shedding light on their metabolic pathways and offering insights into their pharmacokinetics. Our study demonstrates the suitability of Caenorhabditis elegans as a valuable model system for investigating the metabolism of psychedelic compounds and provides a foundation for further research on the therapeutic potential of LSD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Isis Moraes Ornelas
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Brasil; Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Stevens Kastrup Rehen
- Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil; Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Magno Junqueira
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
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17
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Long T, Chen X, Zhang Y, Zhou YJ, He YN, Zhu YF, Fu HJ, Yu L, Yu CL, Law BYK, Wu JM, Qin DL, Wu AG, Zhou XG. Protective effects of Radix Stellariae extract against Alzheimer's disease via autophagy activation in Caenorhabditis elegans and cellular models. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115261. [PMID: 37549461 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Enhancing the clearance of proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) emerges as a promising approach for AD therapeutics. This study explores the potential of Radix Stellariae, a traditional Chinese medicine, in treating AD. Utilizing transgenic C. elegans models of AD, we demonstrated that a 75% ethanol extract of Radix Stellariae (RSE) (at 50 µg/mL) effectively diminishes Aβ and Tau protein expression, and alleviates their induced impairments including paralysis, behavioral dysfunction, neurotoxicity, and ROS accumulation. Additionally, RSE enhances the stress resistance of C. elegans. Further investigations revealed that RSE promotes autophagy, a critical cellular process for protein degradation, in these models. We found that inhibiting autophagy-related genes negated the neuroprotective effects of RSE, suggesting a central role for autophagy in the actions of RSE. In PC-12 cells, we observed that RSE not only inhibited Aβ fibril formation but also promoted the degradation of AD-related proteins and reduced their cytotoxicity. Mechanistically, RSE was found to induce autophagy via modulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR and AMPK/mTOR signaling pathways. Importantly, inhibiting autophagy counteracted the beneficial effects of RSE on the clearance of AD-associated proteins. Moreover, we identified Dichotomine B, a β-carboline alkaloid, as a key active constituent of RSE in mitigating AD pathology in C. elegans at concentrations ranging from 50 to 1000 µM. Collectively, our study presents novel discoveries that RSE alleviates AD pathology and toxicity primarily by inducing autophagy, both in vivo and in vitro. These findings open up new avenues for exploring the therapeutic potential of RSE and its active component, Dichotomine B, in treating neurodegenerative diseases like AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Long
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Xue Chen
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Yu-Jia Zhou
- College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410208, China
| | - Yan-Ni He
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Yun-Fei Zhu
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Hai-Jun Fu
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Lu Yu
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Chong-Lin Yu
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Betty Yuen-Kwan Law
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau 999078, China
| | - Jian-Ming Wu
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Da-Lian Qin
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
| | - An-Guo Wu
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
| | - Xiao-Gang Zhou
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Activity Screening and Druggability Evaluation for Chinese Materia Medica, Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
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Zarroug SHO, Bajaman JS, Hamza FN, Saleem RA, Abdalla HK. Caenorhabditis elegans as an In Vivo Model for the Discovery and Development of Natural Plant-Based Antimicrobial Compounds. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1070. [PMID: 37630985 PMCID: PMC10458014 DOI: 10.3390/ph16081070] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens is rapidly increasing worldwide, and the identification of new antimicrobial agents with innovative mechanisms of action is urgently required. Medicinal plants that have been utilised for centuries with minor side effects may hold great promise as sources of effective antimicrobial products. The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is an excellent live infection model for the discovery and development of new antimicrobial compounds. However, while C. elegans has widely been utilised to explore the effectiveness and toxicity of synthetic antibiotics, it has not been used to a comparable extent for the analysis of natural products. By screening the PubMed database, we identified articles reporting the use of the C. elegans model for the identification of natural products endowed with antibacterial and antifungal potential, and we critically analysed their results. The studies discussed here provide important information regarding "in vivo" antimicrobial effectiveness and toxicity of natural products, as evaluated prior to testing in conventional vertebrate models, thereby supporting the relevance of C. elegans as a highly proficient model for their identification and functional assessment. However, their critical evaluation also underlines that the characterisation of active phytochemicals and of their chemical structure, and the unravelling of their mechanisms of action represent decisive challenges for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samah H. O. Zarroug
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Takassusy Road, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
| | - Juhaina S. Bajaman
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Takassusy Road, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatheia N. Hamza
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Takassusy Road, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (F.N.H.); (R.A.S.)
| | - Rimah A. Saleem
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Takassusy Road, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia; (F.N.H.); (R.A.S.)
| | - Hana K. Abdalla
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Takassusy Road, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia;
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19
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Oliveira JD, Rodrigues da Silva GH, de Moura LD, Göethel G, Papini JZB, Casadei BR, Ribeiro LNDM, Cabeça LF, Garcia SC, Martinez EF, Tofoli GR, de Paula E. DoE development of ionic gradient liposomes: A successful approach to improve encapsulation, prolong anesthesia and decrease the toxicity of etidocaine. Int J Pharm 2023; 634:122672. [PMID: 36738810 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.122672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Etidocaine (EDC) is a long-acting local anesthetic of the aminoamide family whose use was discontinued in 2008 for alleged toxicity issues. Ionic gradient liposomes (IGL) are nanostructured carriers for which an inner/outer gradient of ions increases drug upload. This work describes IGLEDC, a formulation optimized by Design of Experiments, composed of hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine:cholesterol:EDC, and characterized by DLS, NTA, TEM/Cryo-TEM, DSC and 1H NMR. The optimized IGL showed significant encapsulation efficiency (41 %), good shelf stability (180 days) and evidence of EDC interaction with the lipid bilayer (as seen by DSC and 1H NMR results) that confirms its membrane permeation. In vitro (release kinetics and cytotoxicity) tests showed that the encapsulation of EDC into the IGL promoted sustained release for 24 h and decreased by 50 % the intrinsic toxicity of EDC to Schwann cells. In vivo IGLEDC decreased the toxicity of EDC to Caenorhabditis elegans by 25 % and extended its anesthetic effect by one hour, after infiltrative administration, at clinically used (0.5 %) concentration, in rats. Thus, this novel drug delivery system is a promise for the possible reintroduction of EDC in clinics, aiming at the control of operative and postoperative pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Damasceno Oliveira
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Ludmila David de Moura
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Göethel
- Toxicology Laboratory, Pharmacy Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Juliana Z B Papini
- São Leopoldo Mandic Institute and Research Center, Campinas-São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Luis Fernando Cabeça
- Department of Chemistry, Federal Technological University of Parana, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Solange Cristina Garcia
- Toxicology Laboratory, Pharmacy Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | | | - Eneida de Paula
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, Brazil.
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20
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Li Y, Li P, Zhang W, Zheng X, Gu Q. New Wine in Old Bottle: Caenorhabditis Elegans in Food Science. FOOD REVIEWS INTERNATIONAL 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/87559129.2023.2172429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yonglu Li
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ping Li
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weixi Zhang
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-food Processing; Fuli Institute of Food Science; National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaodong Zheng
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-food Processing; Fuli Institute of Food Science; National Engineering Laboratory of Intelligent Food Technology and Equipment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qing Gu
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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21
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Pham TD. Classification of Caenorhabditis Elegans Locomotion Behaviors With Eigenfeature-Enhanced Long Short-Term Memory Networks. IEEE/ACM TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 20:206-216. [PMID: 35196241 DOI: 10.1109/tcbb.2022.3153668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an ideal model for understanding behavior and networks of neurons. Experimental and quantitative analyses of neural circuits and behavior have led to system-level understanding of behavioral genetics and process of transformation from sensory integration in stimulus environments to behavioral outcomes. The ability to differentiate locomotion behavior between wild-type and mutant Caenorhabditis elegans strains allows precise inference on and gaining insights into genetic and environmental influences on behaviors. This paper presents an eigenfeature-enhanced deep-learning method for classifying the dynamics of locomotion behavior of wild-type and mutant Caenorhabditis elegans. Classification results obtained from public benchmark time-series data of eigenworms illustrate the superior performance of the new method over several existing classifiers. The proposed method has potential as a useful artificial-intelligence tool for automated identification of the nematode worm behavioral patterns aiming at elucidating molecular and genetic mechanisms that control the nervous system.
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22
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Ye Z, Chai R, Luan Y, Du Y, Xue W, Shi S, Wu H, Wei Y, Zhang L, Hu Y. Trends in mitochondrial unfolded protein response research from 2004 to 2022: A bibliometric analysis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1146963. [PMID: 37035249 PMCID: PMC10079909 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1146963] [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: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) is a stress response pathway that regulates the expression of mitochondrial chaperones, proteases, and other proteins involved in protein folding and degradation, thereby ensuring proper mitochondrial function. In addition to this critical function, the UPRmt also plays a role in other cellular processes such as mitochondrial biogenesis, energy metabolism, and cellular signaling. Moreover, the UPRmt is strongly associated with various diseases. From 2004 to 2022, there has been a lot of interest in UPRmt. The present study aims to utilized bibliometric tools to assess the genesis, current areas of focus, and research trends pertaining to UPRmt, thereby highlighting avenues for future research. There were 442 papers discovered to be related to UPRmt, with the overall number of publications rising yearly. International Journal of Molecular Sciences was the most prominent journal in this field. 2421 authors from 1,402 institutions in 184 nations published studies on UPRmt. The United States was the most productive country (197 documents). The top three authors were Johan Auwerx, Cole M Haynes, and Dongryeol Ryu. The early focus of UPRmt is "protein." And then the UPRmt research shifted from Caenorhabditis elegans back to mammals, and its close link to aging and various diseases. The top emerging research hotspots are neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic diseases. These findings provide the trends and frontiers in the field of UPRmt, and valuable information for clinicians and scientists to identify new perspectives with potential collaborators and cooperative countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yi Wei
- *Correspondence: Yi Wei, ; Limei Zhang, ; Yuanhui Hu,
| | - Limei Zhang
- *Correspondence: Yi Wei, ; Limei Zhang, ; Yuanhui Hu,
| | - Yuanhui Hu
- *Correspondence: Yi Wei, ; Limei Zhang, ; Yuanhui Hu,
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23
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(-)- Gossypol Inhibition of Musashi-Mediated Forgetting Improves Memory and Age-Dependent Memory Decline in Caenorhabditis elegans. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:820-835. [PMID: 36378468 PMCID: PMC9849318 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03116-7] [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: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Musashi RNA-binding proteins (MSIs) retain a pivotal role in stem cell maintenance, tumorigenesis, and nervous system development. Recently, we showed in C. elegans that Musashi (MSI-1) actively promotes forgetting upon associative learning via a 3'UTR-dependent translational expression of the Arp2/3 actin branching complex. Here, we investigated the evolutionary conserved role of MSI proteins and the effect of their pharmacological inhibition on memory. Expression of human Musashi 1 (MSI1) and Musashi 2 (MSI2) under the endogenous Musashi promoter fully rescued the phenotype of msi-1(lf) worms. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of human MSI1 and MSI2 activity using (-)- gossypol resulted in improved memory retention, without causing locomotor, chemotactic, or learning deficits. No drug effect was observed in msi-1(lf) treated worms. Using Western blotting and confocal microscopy, we found no changes in MSI-1 protein abundance following (-)- gossypol treatment, suggesting that Musashi gene expression remains unaltered and that the compound exerts its inhibitory effect post-translationally. Additionally, (-)- gossypol suppressed the previously seen rescue of the msi-1(lf) phenotype in worms expressing human MSI1 specifically in the AVA neuron, indicating that (-)- gossypol can regulate the Musashi pathway in a memory-related neuronal circuit in worms. Finally, treating aged worms with (-)- gossypol reversed physiological age-dependent memory decline. Taken together, our findings indicate that pharmacological inhibition of Musashi might represent a promising approach for memory modulation.
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24
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Hopkins CE, Brock T, Caulfield TR, Bainbridge M. Phenotypic screening models for rapid diagnosis of genetic variants and discovery of personalized therapeutics. Mol Aspects Med 2022; 91:101153. [PMID: 36411139 PMCID: PMC10073243 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2022.101153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Precision medicine strives for highly individualized treatments for disease under the notion that each individual's unique genetic makeup and environmental exposures imprints upon them not only a disposition to illness, but also an optimal therapeutic approach. In the realm of rare disorders, genetic predisposition is often the predominant mechanism driving disease presentation. For such, mostly, monogenic disorders, a causal gene to phenotype association is likely. As a result, it becomes important to query the patient's genome for the presence of pathogenic variations that are likely to cause the disease. Determining whether a variant is pathogenic or not is critical to these analyses and can be challenging, as many disease-causing variants are novel and, ergo, have no available functional data to help categorize them. This problem is exacerbated by the need for rapid evaluation of pathogenicity, since many genetic diseases present in young children who will experience increased morbidity and mortality without rapid diagnosis and therapeutics. Here, we discuss the utility of animal models, with a focus mainly on C. elegans, as a contrast to tissue culture and in silico approaches, with emphasis on how these systems are used in determining pathogenicity of variants with uncertain significance and then used to screen for novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas R Caulfield
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Neuroscience, Department of Computational Biology, Department of Clinical Genomics, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
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25
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Komura T, Aoki M, Kotoura S, Nishikawa Y. Protective effect of Lactococcus laudensis and Pediococcus parvulus against neuropathy due to amyloid-beta in Caenorhabditis elegans. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 155:113769. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
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26
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Zhang L, Wang Y, Cao C, Zhu Y, Huang W, Yang Y, Qiu H, Liu S, Wang D. Beneficial effect of Xuebijing against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in Caenorhabditis elegans. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:949608. [PMID: 36120363 PMCID: PMC9470999 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.949608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In the clinical intensive care units (ICU), the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulation of Xuebijing has been frequently used for treating sepsis. Nevertheless, the underlying pharmacological mechanisms of Xuebijing remain largely unclear. Caenorhabditis elegans is an important experimental host for bacterial infections. Using C. elegans as an animal model, we here examined the potential of Xuebijing treatment against bacterial infection and the underlying mechanisms. Xuebijing treatment could inhibit the reduction tendency of lifespan caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. For the cellular mechanisms of this antibacterial infection property, we found that Xuebijing treatment rescued C. elegans lifespan to be against P. aeruginosa infection by inhibiting Pseudomonas colonization in the intestinal lumen. Meanwhile, the increase in the expression of antimicrobial genes induced by Pseudomonas infection was also suppressed by Xuebijing treatment. Moreover, the beneficial effect of Xuebijing against Pseudomonas infection depended on insulin, p38 MAPK, Wnt, DBL-1/TGF-β, ELT-2, and programmed cell death (PCD)-related signals. Although Xuebijing did not show obvious antibacterial activity, Xuebijing (100%) treatment could inhibit the Pseudomonas biofilm formation and decrease the expression of virulence genes (lasA, lasB, rhlA, rhlC, phzA, phzM, phzH, and phzS) and quorum sensing (QS)-related genes (lasI, lasR, rhlI, rhlR, pqsA, and pqsR). Our results support the potential role of Xuebijing treatment against bacterial infection in hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Zhang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuxing Wang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chang Cao
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yike Zhu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Haibo Qiu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Songqiao Liu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Songqiao Liu, ; Dayong Wang,
| | - Dayong Wang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Songqiao Liu, ; Dayong Wang,
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27
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Anh NH, Yoon YC, Min YJ, Long NP, Jung CW, Kim SJ, Kim SW, Lee EG, Wang D, Wang X, Kwon SW. Caenorhabditis elegans deep lipidome profiling by using integrative mass spectrometry acquisitions reveals significantly altered lipid networks. J Pharm Anal 2022; 12:743-754. [PMID: 36320604 PMCID: PMC9615529 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2022.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipidomics coverage improvement is essential for functional lipid and pathway construction. A powerful approach to discovering organism lipidome is to combine various data acquisitions, such as full scan mass spectrometry (full MS), data-dependent acquisition (DDA), and data-independent acquisition (DIA). Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a useful model for discovering toxic-induced metabolism, high-throughput drug screening, and a variety of human disease pathways. To determine the lipidome of C. elegans and investigate lipid disruption from the molecular level to the system biology level, we used integrative data acquisition. The methyl-tert-butyl ether method was used to extract L4 stage C. elegans after exposure to triclosan (TCS), perfluorooctanoic acid, and nanopolystyrene (nPS). Full MS, DDA, and DIA integrations were performed to comprehensively profile the C. elegans lipidome by Q-Exactive Plus MS. All annotated lipids were then analyzed using lipid ontology and pathway analysis. We annotated up to 940 lipids from 20 lipid classes involved in various functions and pathways. The biological investigations revealed that when C. elegans were exposed to nPS, lipid droplets were disrupted, whereas plasma membrane-functionalized lipids were likely to be changed in the TCS treatment group. The nPS treatment caused a significant disruption in lipid storage. Triacylglycerol, glycerophospholipid, and ether class lipids were those primarily hindered by toxicants. Finally, toxicant exposure frequently involved numerous lipid-related pathways, including the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway. In conclusion, an integrative data acquisition strategy was used to characterize the C. elegans lipidome, providing valuable biological insights into hypothesis generation and validation. Multiple data acquisitions were used to profile the lipidome of C. elegans. 940 detected lipids of 20 main classes involved in various pathways. Relevant hypotheses were generated using high-coverable lipidomics and pathways analysis.
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Andersen N, Veuthey T, Blanco MG, Silbestri GF, Rayes D, De Rosa MJ. 1-Mesityl-3-(3-Sulfonatopropyl) Imidazolium Protects Against Oxidative Stress and Delays Proteotoxicity in C. elegans. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:908696. [PMID: 35685626 PMCID: PMC9171001 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.908696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the increase in life expectancy worldwide, age-related disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) have become more prevalent. Conventional treatments comprise drugs that only attenuate some of the symptoms, but fail to arrest or delay neuronal proteotoxicity that characterizes these diseases. Due to their diverse biological activities, imidazole rings are intensively explored as powerful scaffolds for the development of new bioactive molecules. By using C. elegans, our work aims to explore novel biological roles for these compounds. To this end, we have tested the in vivo anti-proteotoxic effects of imidazolium salts. Since NDs have been largely linked to impaired antioxidant defense mechanisms, we focused on 1-Mesityl-3-(3-sulfonatopropyl) imidazolium (MSI), one of the imidazolium salts that we identified as capable of improving iron-induced oxidative stress resistance in wild-type animals. By combining mutant and gene expression analysis we have determined that this protective effect depends on the activation of the Heat Shock Transcription Factor (HSF-1), whereas it is independent of other canonical cytoprotective molecules such as abnormal Dauer Formation-16 (DAF-16/FOXO) and Skinhead-1 (SKN-1/Nrf2). To delve deeper into the biological roles of MSI, we analyzed the impact of this compound on previously established C. elegans models of protein aggregation. We found that MSI ameliorates β-amyloid-induced paralysis in worms expressing the pathological protein involved in Alzheimer’s Disease. Moreover, this compound also delays age-related locomotion decline in other proteotoxic C. elegans models, suggesting a broad protective effect. Taken together, our results point to MSI as a promising anti-proteotoxic compound and provide proof of concept of the potential of imidazole derivatives in the development of novel therapies to retard age-related proteotoxic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Andersen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Tania Veuthey
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - María Gabriela Blanco
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Fabian Silbestri
- Departamento de Química, INQUISUR, Universidad Nacional Del Sur, UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Diego Rayes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Diego Rayes, ; María José De Rosa,
| | - María José De Rosa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Diego Rayes, ; María José De Rosa,
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29
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Invited review: Unearthing the mechanisms of age-related neurodegenerative disease using Caenorhabditis elegans. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 267:111166. [PMID: 35176489 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As human life expectancy increases, neurodegenerative diseases present a growing public health threat, for which there are currently few effective treatments. There is an urgent need to understand the molecular and genetic underpinnings of these disorders so new therapeutic targets can be identified. Here we present the argument that the simple nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans is a powerful tool to rapidly study neurodegenerative disorders due to their short lifespan and vast array of genetic tools, which can be combined with characterization of conserved neuronal processes and behavior orthologous to those disrupted in human disease. We review how pre-existing C. elegans models provide insight into human neurological disease as well as an overview of current tools available to study neurodegenerative diseases in the worm, with an emphasis on genetics and behavior. We also discuss open questions that C. elegans may be particularly well suited for in future studies and how worms will be a valuable preclinical model to better understand these devastating neurological disorders.
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Hughes S, van Dop M, Kolsters N, van de Klashorst D, Pogosova A, Rijs AM. Using a Caenorhabditis elegans Parkinson's Disease Model to Assess Disease Progression and Therapy Efficiency. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:512. [PMID: 35631338 PMCID: PMC9143865 DOI: 10.3390/ph15050512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite Parkinson's Disease (PD) being the second most common neurodegenerative disease, treatment options are limited. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify and screen new therapeutic compounds that slow or reverse the pathology of PD. Unfortunately, few new therapeutics are being produced, partly due to the low throughput and/or poor predictability of the currently used model organisms and in vivo screening methods. Our objective was to develop a simple and affordable platform for drug screening utilizing the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The effect of Levodopa, the "Gold standard" of PD treatment, was explored in nematodes expressing the disease-causing α-synuclein protein. We focused on two key hallmarks of PD: plaque formation and mobility. Exposure to Levodopa ameliorated the mobility defect in C. elegans, similar to people living with PD who take the drug. Further, long-term Levodopa exposure was not detrimental to lifespan. This C. elegans-based method was used to screen a selection of small-molecule drugs for an impact on α-synuclein aggregation and mobility, identifying several promising compounds worthy of further investigation, most notably Ambroxol. The simple methodology means it can be adopted in many labs to pre-screen candidate compounds for a positive impact on disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Hughes
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
- A-LIFE Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Section Environmental Health and Toxicology, Vrije Univeristeit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maritza van Dop
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - Nikki Kolsters
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - David van de Klashorst
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - Anastasia Pogosova
- HAN BioCentre, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Laan van Scheut 2, 6525 EM Nijmegen, The Netherlands; (M.v.D.); (N.K.); (D.v.d.K.); (A.P.)
| | - Anouk M. Rijs
- Division of BioAnalytical Chemistry, AIMMS Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences, Vrije Univeristeit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Göethel G, Augsten LV, das Neves GM, Gonçalves IL, de Souza JPS, Garcia SC, Eifler-Lima VL. The role of alternative toxicological trials in drug discovery programs: The case of Caenorhabditis elegans and other methods. Curr Med Chem 2022; 29:5270-5288. [PMID: 35352642 DOI: 10.2174/0929867329666220329190825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of a new drug requires over a billion dollars and around 12 years of research efforts, and toxicity is the leading reason for failure to approve candidate drugs. Many alternative methods have been validated to detect toxicity as early as possible to diminish the waste of resources and efforts in medicinal chemistry research, and in vivo alternative methods are especially valuable for the amount of information they can give at little cost and in a short time. In this work, we present a review of the literature published between the years 2000 and 2021 of in vivo alternative methods of toxicity screening employed in medicinal chemistry, which we believe will be useful because, in addition to shortening research times, these studies provide much additional information aside from the toxicity of drug candidate compounds. These in vivo models include zebrafish, Artemia salina, Galleria mellonella, Drosophila melanogaster, planarians, and Caenorhabditis elegans as highlights. The most published ones in the last decade were zebrafish, D. melanogaster and C. elegans due to their reliability, ease and cost-effectiveness of implementation and flexibility. Special attention is given to C. elegans because of its rising popularity, a wide range of uses including toxicity screening, and active effects measurement, from antioxidant effects to anthelmintic and antimicrobial activities, and its fast and reliable results. Over time, C. elegans also became a viable high-throughput (HTS) automated drug screening option. Additionally, this manuscript lists briefly the other screening methods used for the initial toxicological analyses and the role of alternative in vivo methods in these scenarios, classifying them as in silico, in vitro and alternative in vivo models, the latter of which have been receiving a growing increase in interest in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Göethel
- Laboratório de Toxicologia (LATOX). Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre - RS, Brazil
| | - Lucas Volnei Augsten
- Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica Medicinal (LaSOM), Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre - RS, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Machado das Neves
- Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica Medicinal (LaSOM), Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre - RS, Brazil
| | - Itamar Luís Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica Medicinal (LaSOM), Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre - RS, Brazil
| | - João Pedro Silveira de Souza
- Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica Medicinal (LaSOM), Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre - RS, Brazil
| | - Solange Cristina Garcia
- Laboratório de Toxicologia (LATOX). Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre - RS, Brazil
| | - Vera Lucia Eifler-Lima
- Laboratório de Síntese Orgânica Medicinal (LaSOM), Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Avenida Ipiranga, 2752, Porto Alegre - RS, Brazil
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Wink M. Current Understanding of Modes of Action of Multicomponent Bioactive Phytochemicals: Potential for Nutraceuticals and Antimicrobials. Annu Rev Food Sci Technol 2022; 13:337-359. [PMID: 35333591 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-food-052720-100326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Plants produce a diversity of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs), which function as defense chemicals against herbivores and microorganisms but also as signal compounds. An individual plant produces and accumulates mixtures of PSMs with different structural features using different biosynthetic pathways. Almost all PSMs exert one or several biological activities that can be useful for nutrition and health. This review discusses the modes of action of PSMs alone and in combinations. In a mixture, most individual PSMs can modulate different molecular targets; they are thus multitarget drugs. In an extract with many multitarget chemicals, additive and synergistic effects occur. Experiments with the model system Caenorhabditis elegans show that polyphenols and carotenoids can function as powerful antioxidative and longevity-promoting PSMs. PSMs of food plants and spices often exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, which can be beneficial for health and the prevention of diseases. Some extracts from food plants and spices with bioactive PSMs have potential for nutraceuticals and antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Wink
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany;
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Rollins RL, Qader M, Gosnell WL, Wang C, Cao S, Cowie RH. A validated high-throughput method for assaying rat lungworm ( Angiostrongylus cantonensis) motility when challenged with potentially anthelmintic natural products from Hawaiian fungi. Parasitology 2022; 149:1-28. [PMID: 35236524 PMCID: PMC9440163 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022000191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes devastate human and animal health. The limited number of anthelmintics available is concerning, especially because of increasing drug resistance. Anthelmintics are commonly derived from natural products, e.g. fungi and plants. This investigation aimed to develop a high-throughput whole organism screening method based on a motility assay using the wMicroTracker system. Anthelmintic activity of extracts from Hawaiian fungi was screened against third-stage larvae of the parasitic nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis , categorized according to the degree of motility reduction. Of the 108 crude samples and fractionated products, 48 showed some level of activity, with 13 reducing motility to 0–25% of the maximum exhibited, including two pure compounds, emethacin B and epicoccin E, neither previously known to exhibit anthelmintic properties. The process of bioassay-guided fractionation is illustrated in detail based on analysis of one of the crude extracts, which led to isolation of lamellicolic anhydride, a compound with moderate activity. This study validates the wMicroTracker system as an economical and high-throughput option for testing large suites of natural products against A. cantonensis , adds to the short list of diverse parasites for which it has been validated and highlights the value of A. cantonensis and Hawaiian fungi for discovery of new anthelmintics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randi L. Rollins
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI96822, USA
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI96822, USA
| | - Mallique Qader
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI96720, USA
| | - William L. Gosnell
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI96813, USA
| | - Cong Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI96720, USA
| | - Shugeng Cao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI96720, USA
| | - Robert H. Cowie
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI96822, USA
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The great small organisms of developmental genetics: Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. Dev Biol 2022; 485:93-122. [PMID: 35247454 PMCID: PMC9092520 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Experimental embryologists working at the turn of the 19th century suggested fundamental mechanisms of development, such as localized cytoplasmic determinants and tissue induction. However, the molecular basis underlying these processes proved intractable for a long time, despite concerted efforts in many developmental systems to isolate factors with a biological role. That road block was overcome by combining developmental biology with genetics. This powerful approach used unbiased genome-wide screens to isolate mutants with developmental defects and to thereby identify genes encoding key determinants and regulatory pathways that govern development. Two small invertebrates were the pioneers: the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Their modes of development differ in many ways, but the two together led the way to unraveling the molecular mechanisms of many fundamental developmental processes. The discovery of the grand homologies between key players in development throughout the animal kingdom underscored the usefulness of studying these small invertebrate models for animal development and even human disease. We describe developmental genetics in Drosophila and C. elegans up to the rise of genomics at the beginning of the 21st Century. Finally, we discuss themes that emerge from the histories of such distinct organisms and prospects of this approach for the future.
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35
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Amaning Danquah C, Minkah PAB, Osei Duah Junior I, Amankwah KB, Somuah SO. Antimicrobial Compounds from Microorganisms. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:285. [PMID: 35326749 PMCID: PMC8944786 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11030285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is an exigent public health concern owing to the emergence of novel strains of human resistant pathogens and the concurrent rise in multi-drug resistance. An influx of new antimicrobials is urgently required to improve the treatment outcomes of infectious diseases and save lives. Plant metabolites and bioactive compounds from chemical synthesis have found their efficacy to be dwindling, despite some of them being developed as drugs and used to treat human infections for several decades. Microorganisms are considered untapped reservoirs for promising biomolecules with varying structural and functional antimicrobial activity. The advent of cost-effective and convenient model organisms, state-of-the-art molecular biology, omics technology, and machine learning has enhanced the bioprospecting of novel antimicrobial drugs and the identification of new drug targets. This review summarizes antimicrobial compounds isolated from microorganisms and reports on the modern tools and strategies for exploiting promising antimicrobial drug candidates. The investigation identified a plethora of novel compounds from microbial sources with excellent antimicrobial activity against disease-causing human pathogens. Researchers could maximize the use of novel model systems and advanced biomolecular and computational tools in exploiting lead antimicrobials, consequently ameliorating antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Amaning Danquah
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana;
| | - Prince Amankwah Baffour Minkah
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana;
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research Group, Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Isaiah Osei Duah Junior
- Department of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana;
| | - Kofi Bonsu Amankwah
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, PMB, Cape Coast, Ghana;
| | - Samuel Owusu Somuah
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB, Ho, Ghana;
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da Silva GC, de Oliveira AM, Costa WK, da Silva Filho AF, Pitta MGDR, Rêgo MJBDM, Antônia de Souza I, Paiva PMG, Napoleão TH. Antibacterial and antitumor activities of a lectin-rich preparation from Microgramma vacciniifolia rhizome. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PHARMACOLOGY AND DRUG DISCOVERY 2022; 3:100093. [PMID: 35243335 PMCID: PMC8866057 DOI: 10.1016/j.crphar.2022.100093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The rhizome of Microgramma vacciniifolia contains a lectin (carbohydrate-binding protein) called MvRL. Studies demonstrated that a MvRL-rich fraction did not show in vivo genotoxicity and acute toxicity in mice. This study aimed to evaluate the MvRL-rich fraction from M. vacciniifolia rhizome for antibacterial activity in vitro and in vivo as well as antitumor effect in vivo using the Ehrlich carcinoma model in mice. The fraction showed antibacterial activity against Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus with minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 31.2 to 125.0 μg/mL and minimal bactericidal concentrations from 62.5 to 200 μg/mL. The fraction was also effective in vivo against infection caused by these bacteria on Tenebrio molitor larvae considering the parameters evaluated. In regard to the antitumor activity, the treatments of Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice with the fraction at 100 and 200 mg/kg per os resulted in 62.58% and 75.43% of tumor inhibition, respectively. In conclusion, the MvRL-rich fraction showed in vivo antibacterial and antitumor activities and thus can be considered as an alternative of natural origin for the development of candidates for therapy. The rhizome of Microgramma vacciniifolia contains a lectin called MvRL. MvRL-rich fraction showed antibacterial activity. The fraction was also effective in vivo against bacterial infection. MvRL-rich fraction causedn 62.58–75.43% inhibition of Erlich carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wêndeo Kennedy Costa
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Antônio Felix da Silva Filho
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Novas Abordagens Terapêuticas, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Inovação Terapêutica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Maira Galdino da Rocha Pitta
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Novas Abordagens Terapêuticas, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Inovação Terapêutica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Moacyr Jesus Barreto de Melo Rêgo
- Laboratório de Imunomodulação e Novas Abordagens Terapêuticas, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Inovação Terapêutica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Ivone Antônia de Souza
- Departamento de Antibióticos, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | | | - Thiago Henrique Napoleão
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- Corresponding author.
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Hsu TY, Hsu LN, Chen SY, Juang BT. MUT-7 Provides Molecular Insight into the Werner Syndrome Exonuclease. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123457. [PMID: 34943966 PMCID: PMC8700014 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Werner syndrome (WS) is a rare recessive genetic disease characterized by premature aging. Individuals with this disorder develop normally during childhood, but their physiological conditions exacerbate the aging process in late adolescence. WS is caused by mutation of the human WS gene (WRN), which encodes two main domains, a 3′-5′ exonuclease and a 3′-5′ helicase. Caenorhabditis elegans expresses human WRN orthologs as two different proteins: MUT-7, which has a 3′-5′ exonuclease domain, and C. elegans WRN-1 (CeWRN-1), which has only helicase domains. These unique proteins dynamically regulate olfactory memory in C. elegans, providing insight into the molecular roles of WRN domains in humans. In this review, we specifically focus on characterizing the function of MUT-7 in small interfering RNA (siRNA) synthesis in the cytoplasm and the roles of siRNA in directing nuclear CeWRN-1 loading onto a heterochromatin complex to induce negative feedback regulation. Further studies on the different contributions of the 3′-5′ exonuclease and helicase domains in the molecular mechanism will provide clues to the accelerated aging processes in WS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Yuan Hsu
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan;
- Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California, 513 Parnassus, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Ling-Nung Hsu
- Occupational Safety and Health Office, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, New Taipei City 243, Taiwan;
| | - Shih-Yu Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan;
| | - Bi-Tzen Juang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan;
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-Devices (IDS2B), National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
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Novel Nematode-Killing Protein-1 (Nkp-1) from a Marine Epiphytic Bacterium Pseudoalteromonas tunicata. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9111586. [PMID: 34829814 PMCID: PMC8615270 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance among parasitic nematodes has resulted in an urgent need for the development of new therapies. However, the high re-discovery rate of anti-nematode compounds from terrestrial environments necessitates a new repository for future drug research. Marine epiphytes are hypothesised to produce nematicidal compounds as a defence against bacterivorous predators, thus representing a promising yet underexplored source for anti-nematode drug discovery. The marine epiphytic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas tunicata is known to produce several bioactive compounds. Screening heterologously expressed genomic libraries of P. tunicata against the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, identified as an E. coli clone (HG8), shows fast-killing activity. Here we show that clone HG8 produces a novel nematode-killing protein-1 (Nkp-1) harbouring a predicted carbohydrate-binding domain with weak homology to known bacterial pore-forming toxins. We found bacteria expressing Nkp-1 were able to colonise the C. elegans intestine, with exposure to both live bacteria and protein extracts resulting in physical damage and necrosis, leading to nematode death within 24 h of exposure. Furthermore, this study revealed C. elegans dar (deformed anal region) and internal hatching may act as a nematode defence strategy against Nkp-1 toxicity. The characterisation of this novel protein and putative mode of action not only contributes to the development of novel anti-nematode applications in the future but reaffirms the potential of marine epiphytic bacteria as a new source of novel biomolecules.
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Di Rocco M, Galosi S, Lanza E, Tosato F, Caprini D, Folli V, Friedman J, Bocchinfuso G, Martire A, Di Schiavi E, Leuzzi V, Martinelli S. Caenorhabditis elegans provides an efficient drug screening platform for GNAO1-related disorders and highlights the potential role of caffeine in controlling dyskinesia. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 31:929-941. [PMID: 34622282 PMCID: PMC8947233 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dominant GNAO1 mutations cause an emerging group of childhood-onset neurological disorders characterized by developmental delay, intellectual disability, movement disorders, drug-resistant seizures and neurological deterioration. GNAO1 encodes the α-subunit of an inhibitory GTP/GDP-binding protein regulating ion channel activity and neurotransmitter release. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying GNAO1-related disorders remain largely elusive and there are no effective therapies. Here, we assessed the functional impact of two disease-causing variants associated with distinct clinical features, c.139A > G (p.S47G) and c.662C > A (p.A221D), using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model organism. The c.139A > G change was introduced into the orthologous position of the C. elegans gene via CRISPR/Cas9, whereas a knock-in strain carrying the p.A221D variant was already available. Like null mutants, homozygous knock-in animals showed increased egg laying and were hypersensitive to aldicarb, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, suggesting excessive neurotransmitter release by different classes of motor neurons. Automated analysis of C. elegans locomotion indicated that goa-1 mutants move faster than control animals, with more frequent body bends and a higher reversal rate and display uncoordinated locomotion. Phenotypic profiling of heterozygous animals revealed a strong hypomorphic effect of both variants, with a partial dominant-negative activity for the p.A221D allele. Finally, caffeine was shown to rescue aberrant motor function in C. elegans harboring the goa-1 variants; this effect is mainly exerted through adenosine receptor antagonism. Overall, our findings establish a suitable platform for drug discovery, which may assist in accelerating the development of new therapies for this devastating condition, and highlight the potential role of caffeine in controlling GNAO1-related dyskinesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Di Rocco
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy.,Department of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Serena Galosi
- Department of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Enrico Lanza
- Center for Life Nano Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Federica Tosato
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Davide Caprini
- Center for Life Nano Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Viola Folli
- Center for Life Nano Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Jennifer Friedman
- UCSD Department of Neuroscience and Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital Division of Neurology; Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, USA
| | - Gianfranco Bocchinfuso
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - Alberto Martire
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Elia Di Schiavi
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, National Research Council, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Leuzzi
- Department of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Simone Martinelli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy
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Monczor F, Genaro A. South American special issue: Editorial. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 9:e00868. [PMID: 34609071 PMCID: PMC8491458 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Federico Monczor
- Facultad de Farmacia y BioquímicaInstituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (ININFA‐UBA‐CONICET)Universidad de Buenos AiresBuenos AiresArgentina
| | - Ana Genaro
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (UCA‐CONICET)Buenos AiresArgentina
- Departamento de FarmacologíaFacultad de MedicinaUBA ParaguayBuenos AiresArgentina
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Lukácsi S, Farkas Z, Saskői É, Bajtay Z, Takács-Vellai K. Conserved and Distinct Elements of Phagocytosis in Human and C. elegans. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168934. [PMID: 34445642 PMCID: PMC8396242 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocytosis provides the cellular nutrition and homeostasis of organisms, but pathogens often take advantage of this entry point to infect host cells. This is counteracted by phagocytosis that plays a key role in the protection against invading microbes both during the initial engulfment of pathogens and in the clearance of infected cells. Phagocytic cells balance two vital functions: preventing the accumulation of cell corpses to avoid pathological inflammation and autoimmunity, whilst maintaining host defence. In this review, we compare elements of phagocytosis in mammals and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Initial recognition of infection requires different mechanisms. In mammals, pattern recognition receptors bind pathogens directly, whereas activation of the innate immune response in the nematode rather relies on the detection of cellular damage. In contrast, molecules involved in efferocytosis—the engulfment and elimination of dying cells and cell debris—are highly conserved between the two species. Therefore, C. elegans is a powerful model to research mechanisms of the phagocytic machinery. Finally, we show that both mammalian and worm studies help to understand how the two phagocytic functions are interconnected: emerging data suggest the activation of innate immunity as a consequence of defective apoptotic cell clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szilvia Lukácsi
- MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter s. 1/C, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (S.L.); (Z.B.)
| | - Zsolt Farkas
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter s. 1/C, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.F.); (É.S.)
| | - Éva Saskői
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter s. 1/C, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.F.); (É.S.)
| | - Zsuzsa Bajtay
- MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter s. 1/C, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (S.L.); (Z.B.)
- Department of Immunology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter s. 1/C, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Takács-Vellai
- Department of Biological Anthropology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter s. 1/C, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (Z.F.); (É.S.)
- Correspondence:
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