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Abdi G, Jain M, Patil N, Upadhyay B, Vyas N, Dwivedi M, Kaushal RS. 14-3-3 proteins-a moonlight protein complex with therapeutic potential in neurological disorder: in-depth review with Alzheimer's disease. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1286536. [PMID: 38375509 PMCID: PMC10876095 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1286536] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects millions of people worldwide and is a gradually worsening neurodegenerative condition. The accumulation of abnormal proteins, such as tau and beta-amyloid, in the brain is a hallmark of AD pathology. 14-3-3 proteins have been implicated in AD pathology in several ways. One proposed mechanism is that 14-3-3 proteins interact with tau protein and modulate its phosphorylation, aggregation, and toxicity. Tau is a protein associated with microtubules, playing a role in maintaining the structural integrity of neuronal cytoskeleton. However, in the context of Alzheimer's disease (AD), an abnormal increase in its phosphorylation occurs. This leads to the aggregation of tau into neurofibrillary tangles, which is a distinctive feature of this condition. Studies have shown that 14-3-3 proteins can bind to phosphorylated tau and regulate its function and stability. In addition, 14-3-3 proteins have been shown to interact with beta-amyloid (Aβ), the primary component of amyloid plaques in AD. 14-3-3 proteins can regulate the clearance of Aβ through the lysosomal degradation pathway by interacting with the lysosomal membrane protein LAMP2A. Dysfunction of lysosomal degradation pathway is thought to contribute to the accumulation of Aβ in the brain and the progression of AD. Furthermore, 14-3-3 proteins have been found to be downregulated in the brains of AD patients, suggesting that their dysregulation may contribute to AD pathology. For example, decreased levels of 14-3-3 proteins in cerebrospinal fluid have been suggested as a biomarker for AD. Overall, these findings suggest that 14-3-3 proteins may play an important role in AD pathology and may represent a potential therapeutic target for the disease. However, further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms underlying the involvement of 14-3-3 proteins in AD and to explore their potential as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gholamareza Abdi
- Department of Biotechnology, Persian Gulf Research Institute, Persian Gulf University, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Mukul Jain
- Cell and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Research and Development Cell, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
- Department of Life Sciences, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
| | - Nil Patil
- Cell and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Research and Development Cell, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
- Department of Life Sciences, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
| | - Bindiya Upadhyay
- Department of Life Sciences, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
| | - Nigam Vyas
- Department of Life Sciences, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
- Biophysics and Structural Biology Laboratory, Research and Development Cell, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
| | - Manish Dwivedi
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Radhey Shyam Kaushal
- Department of Life Sciences, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
- Biophysics and Structural Biology Laboratory, Research and Development Cell, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
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2
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Aousji O, Feldengut S, Antonucci S, Schön M, Boeckers TM, Matschke J, Mawrin C, Ludolph AC, Del Tredici K, Roselli F, Braak H. Patterns of synaptic loss in human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spinal cord: a clinicopathological study. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:120. [PMID: 37491361 PMCID: PMC10367350 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01616-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is mainly characterized by the degeneration of corticospinal neurons and spinal α-motoneurons; vulnerable cells display prominent pTDP-43 inclusions. Evidence gathered from genetics, murine models, and iPSC-derived neurons point to the early involvement of synapses in the disease course and their crucial role in the pathogenic cascade. However, pathology studies, with specimens from large post-mortem cohorts, mapping the pattern of synaptic disturbances over clinical and neuropathological hallmarks of disease progression, are currently not available. Thus, the appearance and progression of synaptic degeneration in human ALS patients are currently not known, preventing a full validation of the murine and in vitro models. Here, we investigated the loss of synaptophysin-positive terminals in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal cord samples from a retrospective cohort of n = 33 ALS patients and n = 8 healthy controls, and we correlated the loss of synapses against clinicodemographic features and neuropathological ALS stage. We found that, although dorsal and intermediate spinal cord laminae do not lose synapses, ALS patients displayed a substantial but variable loss of synapses in the ventral horn of lumbar and cervical spinal cord. The amount of synaptic loss was predicted by disease duration, by the clinical site of onset, and by the loss of α-motoneurons, although not by the fraction of pTDP-43-immunopositive α-motoneurons. Taken together, our findings validate the synaptic pathology observed in other models and suggest that pathogenic pathways unfolding in the spinal microenvironment are critical to the progressive disassembly of local synaptic connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oumayma Aousji
- Department of Neurology, Center for Biomedical Research (ZBF), Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Simone Feldengut
- Clinical Neuroanatomy, Department of Neurology, Center for Biomedical Research (ZBF), Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefano Antonucci
- Department of Neurology, Center for Biomedical Research (ZBF), Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael Schön
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Jakob Matschke
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Mawrin
- Institute of Neuropathology, Otto-Von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Center for Biomedical Research (ZBF), Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Kelly Del Tredici
- Clinical Neuroanatomy, Department of Neurology, Center for Biomedical Research (ZBF), Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Francesco Roselli
- Department of Neurology, Center for Biomedical Research (ZBF), Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany.
| | - Heiko Braak
- Clinical Neuroanatomy, Department of Neurology, Center for Biomedical Research (ZBF), Ulm University, Helmholtzstraße 8/1, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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Castro RW, Lopes MC, Settlage RE, Valdez G. Aging alters mechanisms underlying voluntary movements in spinal motor neurons of mice, primates, and humans. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e168448. [PMID: 37154159 PMCID: PMC10243831 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.168448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal motor neurons have been implicated in the loss of motor function that occurs with advancing age. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that impair the function of these neurons during aging remain unknown. Here, we show that motor neurons do not die in old female and male mice, rhesus monkeys, and humans. Instead, these neurons selectively and progressively shed excitatory synaptic inputs throughout the soma and dendritic arbor during aging. Thus, aged motor neurons contain a motor circuitry with a reduced ratio of excitatory to inhibitory synapses that may be responsible for the diminished ability to activate motor neurons to commence movements. An examination of the motor neuron translatome (ribosomal transcripts) in male and female mice reveals genes and molecular pathways with roles in glia-mediated synaptic pruning, inflammation, axonal regeneration, and oxidative stress that are upregulated in aged motor neurons. Some of these genes and pathways are also found altered in motor neurons affected with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and responding to axotomy, demonstrating that aged motor neurons are under significant stress. Our findings show mechanisms altered in aged motor neurons that could serve as therapeutic targets to preserve motor function during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan W. Castro
- Neuroscience Graduate Program
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, and
| | - Mikayla C. Lopes
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, and
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Robert E. Settlage
- Department of Advanced Research Computing, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Gregorio Valdez
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, and
- Department of Neurology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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4
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Gulino R. Synaptic Dysfunction and Plasticity in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054613. [PMID: 36902042 PMCID: PMC10003601 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence has supported the hypothesis that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multi-step disease, as the onset of symptoms occurs after sequential exposure to a defined number of risk factors. Despite the lack of precise identification of these disease determinants, it is known that genetic mutations may contribute to one or more of the steps leading to ALS onset, the remaining being linked to environmental factors and lifestyle. It also appears evident that compensatory plastic changes taking place at all levels of the nervous system during ALS etiopathogenesis may likely counteract the functional effects of neurodegeneration and affect the timing of disease onset and progression. Functional and structural events of synaptic plasticity probably represent the main mechanisms underlying this adaptive capability, causing a significant, although partial and transient, resiliency of the nervous system affected by a neurodegenerative disease. On the other hand, the failure of synaptic functions and plasticity may be part of the pathological process. The aim of this review was to summarize what it is known today about the controversial involvement of synapses in ALS etiopathogenesis, and an analysis of the literature, although not exhaustive, confirmed that synaptic dysfunction is an early pathogenetic process in ALS. Moreover, it appears that adequate modulation of structural and functional synaptic plasticity may likely support function sparing and delay disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Gulino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Physiology Section, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
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Piekarz KM, Georgescu C, Wren JD, Towner RA, Van Remmen H. Pharmacologic treatment with OKN-007 reduces alpha-motor neuron loss in spinal cord of aging mice. GeroScience 2022; 44:67-81. [PMID: 34984634 PMCID: PMC8811061 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00506-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with molecular and functional declines in multiple physiologic systems. We have previously reported age-related changes in spinal cord that included a decline in α-motor neuron numbers, axonal loss, and demyelination associated with increased inflammation and blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) permeability. These changes may influence other pathologies associated with aging, in particular loss of muscle mass and function (sarcopenia), which we and others have shown is accompanied by neuromuscular junction disruption and loss of innervation. Interventions to protect and maintain motor neuron viability and function in aging are currently lacking and could have a significant impact on improving healthspan. Here we tested a promising compound, OKN-007, that has known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, as a potential intervention in age-related changes in the spinal cord. OKN-007 is a low molecular weight disulfonyl derivative of (N-tert Butyl-α-phenylnitrone) (PBN) that can easily cross the blood-brain barrier. We treated middle age (16 month) wild-type male mice with OKN-007 in drinking water at a dose of 150 mg/kg/day until 25 months of age. OKN-007 treatment exerted a number of beneficial effects in the aging spinal cord, including a 35% increase in the number of lumbar α-motor neurons in OKN-treated old mice compared to age-matched controls. Brain spinal cord barrier permeability, which is increased in aging spinal cord, was also blunted by OKN-007 treatment. Age-related changes in microglia proliferation and activation are blunted by OKN-007, while we found no effect on astrocyte proliferation. Transcriptome analysis identified expression changes in a number of genes that are involved in neuronal structure and function and revealed a subset of genes whose changes in response to aging are reversed by OKN-007 treatment. Overall, our findings suggest that OKN-007 exerts neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects on the aging spinal cord and support OKN-007 as a potential therapeutic to improve α-motor neuron health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna M. Piekarz
- grid.266902.90000 0001 2179 3618OU Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73117 USA ,grid.274264.10000 0000 8527 6890Program in Aging and Metabolism, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 USA
| | - Constantin Georgescu
- grid.274264.10000 0000 8527 6890Genes & Human Disease Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 USA
| | - Jonathan D. Wren
- grid.266902.90000 0001 2179 3618OU Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73117 USA ,grid.274264.10000 0000 8527 6890Genes & Human Disease Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 USA
| | - Rheal A. Towner
- grid.266902.90000 0001 2179 3618OU Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73117 USA ,grid.274264.10000 0000 8527 6890Advanced Magnetic Resonance Center, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 USA
| | - Holly Van Remmen
- grid.266902.90000 0001 2179 3618OU Neuroscience, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73117 USA ,grid.274264.10000 0000 8527 6890Program in Aging and Metabolism, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 USA ,grid.413864.c0000 0004 0420 2582Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 USA ,grid.274264.10000 0000 8527 6890Aging and Metabolism Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 USA
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6
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Yoon KJ, Yi Y, Do JG, Kim HL, Lee YT, Kim HN. Variants in NEB and RIF1 genes on chr2q23 are associated with skeletal muscle index in Koreans: genome-wide association study. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2333. [PMID: 33674626 PMCID: PMC7935852 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82003-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although skeletal muscle plays a crucial role in metabolism and influences aging and chronic diseases, little is known about the genetic variations with skeletal muscle, especially in the Asian population. We performed a genome-wide association study in 2,046 participants drawn from a population-based study. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass was estimated based on appendicular lean soft tissue measured with a multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer and divided by height squared to derive the skeletal muscle index (SMI). After conducting quality control and imputing the genotypes, we analyzed 6,391,983 autosomal SNPs. A genome-wide significant association was found for the intronic variant rs138684936 in the NEB and RIF1 genes (β = 0.217, p = 6.83 × 10–9). These two genes are next to each other and are partially overlapped on chr2q23. We conducted extensive functional annotations to gain insight into the directional biological implication of significant genetic variants. A gene-based analysis identified the significant TNFSF9 gene and confirmed the suggestive association of the NEB gene. Pathway analyses showed the significant association of regulation of multicellular organism growth gene-set and the suggestive associations of pathways related to skeletal system development or skeleton morphogenesis with SMI. In conclusion, we identified a new genetic locus on chromosome 2 for SMI with genome-wide significance. These results enhance the biological understanding of skeletal muscle mass and provide specific leads for functional experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Jae Yoon
- Department of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 29 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03181, Republic of Korea.,Medical Research Institute, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 29 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03181, Republic of Korea.,Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Clinical Research Design & Evaluation, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Youbin Yi
- Department of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 29 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03181, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Geol Do
- Department of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 29 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03181, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Lae Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Taek Lee
- Department of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 29 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03181, Republic of Korea. .,Medical Research Institute, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 29 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03181, Republic of Korea.
| | - Han-Na Kim
- Medical Research Institute, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 29 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03181, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Clinical Research Design & Evaluation, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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7
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Gomes C, Sequeira C, Barbosa M, Cunha C, Vaz AR, Brites D. Astrocyte regional diversity in ALS includes distinct aberrant phenotypes with common and causal pathological processes. Exp Cell Res 2020; 395:112209. [PMID: 32739211 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.112209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are major contributors of motor neuron (MN) degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We investigated whether regional and cell maturation differences influence ALS astrocyte malfunction. Spinal and cortical astrocytes from SOD1G93A (mSOD1) 7-day-old mice were cultured for 5 and 13 days in vitro (DIV). Astrocyte aberrancies predominated in 13DIV cells with region specificity. 13DIV cortical mSOD1 astrocytes showed early morphological changes and a predominant reactive and inflammatory phenotype, while repressed proteins and genes were found in spinal cells. Inflammatory-associated miRNAs, e.g. miR-155/miR-21/miR-146a, were downregulated in the first and upregulated in the later ones. Interestingly, depleted miR-155/miR-21/miR-146a in small extracellular vesicles (sEVs/exosomes) was a common pathological feature. Cortical mSOD1 astrocytes induced late apoptosis and kinesin-1 downregulation in mSOD1 NSC-34 MNs, whereas spinal cells upregulated dynein, while decreased nNOS and synaptic-related genes. Both regional-distinct mSOD1 astrocytes enhanced iNOS gene expression in mSOD1 MNs. We provide information on the potential contribution of astrocytes to ALS bulbar-vs. spinal-onset pathology, local influence on neuronal dysfunction and their shared miRNA-depleted exosome trafficking. These causal and common features may have potential therapeutic implications in ALS. Future studies should clarify if astrocyte-derived sEVs are active players in ALS-related neuroinflammation and glial activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cátia Gomes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Catarina Sequeira
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Barbosa
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carolina Cunha
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Vaz
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Biochemistry and Human Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Dora Brites
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Biochemistry and Human Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
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8
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Borzuola R, Giombini A, Torre G, Campi S, Albo E, Bravi M, Borrione P, Fossati C, Macaluso A. Central and Peripheral Neuromuscular Adaptations to Ageing. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9030741. [PMID: 32182904 PMCID: PMC7141192 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9030741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Ageing is accompanied by a severe muscle function decline presumably caused by structural and functional adaptations at the central and peripheral level. Although researchers have reported an extensive analysis of the alterations involving muscle intrinsic properties, only a limited number of studies have recognised the importance of the central nervous system, and its reorganisation, on neuromuscular decline. Neural changes, such as degeneration of the human cortex and function of spinal circuitry, as well as the remodelling of the neuromuscular junction and motor units, appear to play a fundamental role in muscle quality decay and culminate with considerable impairments in voluntary activation and motor performance. Modern diagnostic techniques have provided indisputable evidence of a structural and morphological rearrangement of the central nervous system during ageing. Nevertheless, there is no clear insight on how such structural reorganisation contributes to the age-related functional decline and whether it is a result of a neural malfunction or serves as a compensatory mechanism to preserve motor control and performance in the elderly population. Combining leading-edge techniques such as high-density surface electromyography (EMG) and improved diagnostic procedures such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or high-resolution electroencephalography (EEG) could be essential to address the unresolved controversies and achieve an extensive understanding of the relationship between neural adaptations and muscle decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Borzuola
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy; (R.B.); (A.G.); (P.B.); (C.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Arrigo Giombini
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy; (R.B.); (A.G.); (P.B.); (C.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Guglielmo Torre
- Department of Orthopaedic And Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy; (S.C.); (E.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +6-225-418-825
| | - Stefano Campi
- Department of Orthopaedic And Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy; (S.C.); (E.A.)
| | - Erika Albo
- Department of Orthopaedic And Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy; (S.C.); (E.A.)
| | - Marco Bravi
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, 00128 Rome, Italy;
| | - Paolo Borrione
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy; (R.B.); (A.G.); (P.B.); (C.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Chiara Fossati
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy; (R.B.); (A.G.); (P.B.); (C.F.); (A.M.)
| | - Andrea Macaluso
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy; (R.B.); (A.G.); (P.B.); (C.F.); (A.M.)
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9
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Gomes C, Cunha C, Nascimento F, Ribeiro JA, Vaz AR, Brites D. Cortical Neurotoxic Astrocytes with Early ALS Pathology and miR-146a Deficit Replicate Gliosis Markers of Symptomatic SOD1G93A Mouse Model. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:2137-2158. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1220-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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10
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Kassa RM, Bonafede R, Boschi F, Malatesta M, Mariotti R. The role of mutated SOD1 gene in synaptic stripping and MHC class I expression following nerve axotomy in ALS murine model. Eur J Histochem 2018; 62:2904. [PMID: 29943955 PMCID: PMC5966710 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2018.2904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by motoneuron death. Several cellular pathways have been described to be involved in ALS pathogenesis; however, the involvement of presynaptic stripping and the related MHC class I molecules in mutant SOD1 motoneurons remains to be clarified. To this purpose, we here investigated, for the first time, the motoneurons behavior, di per se and after facial axonal injury, in terms of synaptic stripping and MHC class I expression in wild-type (Wt) mice and in a murine model of ALS, the SOD1(G93A) mice, at the presymptomatic and symptomatic stage of the disease. Concerning Wt animals, we found a reduction in synaptophysin immunoreactivity and an increase of MHC class I molecules in facial motoneurons after axotomy. In uninjured motoneurons of SOD1(G93A) mice, an altered presynaptic framework was evident, and this phenomenon increased during the disease course. The alteration in the presynaptic input is related to excitatory fibers. Moreover, after injury, a further decrease of excitatory input was not associated to an upregulation of MHC class I molecules in motoneuron soma. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that the presence of mutated SOD1 protein affects the MHC class I molecules expression, altering the presynaptic input in motoneurons. Nevertheless, a positive MHC class I immunolabeling was evident in glial cells around facial injured motoneurons, underlying an involvement of these cells in synaptic stripping. This study contributes to better understand the involvement of the mutated SOD1 protein in the vulnerability of motoneurons after damage.
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Abstract
Sarcopenia is an age-related geriatric syndrome which is characterized by the gradual loss of muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle quality. There are a lot of neurologic insults on sarcopenia at various levels from the brain to the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) to generate a volitional task. Dopaminergic downregulation, inadequate motor programming and motor coordination impairment lead to decline of supraspinal drive. Motor unit reorganization and inflammatory changes in motor neuron decrease conduction velocity and amplitude of compound muscle action potential. Furthermore, NMJ remodeling and age related neurophysiological alterations may contribute to neuromuscular impairment. Sarcopenia is an age-associated, lifelong process which links to multiple etiological factors. Although not all the causes are completely understood, we suggest that compromised nervous system function may be one of the important contributors to the sarcopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Nam Kwon
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung Sang Yoon
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
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Pfohl SR, Halicek MT, Mitchell CS. Characterization of the Contribution of Genetic Background and Gender to Disease Progression in the SOD1 G93A Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Meta-Analysis. J Neuromuscul Dis 2015; 2:137-150. [PMID: 26594635 PMCID: PMC4652798 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-140068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background: The SOD1 G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most frequently used model to examine ALS pathophysiology. There is a lack of homogeneity in usage of the SOD1 G93A mouse, including differences in genetic background and gender, which could confound the field’s results. Objective: In an analysis of 97 studies, we characterized the ALS progression for the high transgene copy control SOD1 G93A mouse on the basis of disease onset, overall lifespan, and disease duration for male and female mice on the B6SJL and C57BL/6J genetic backgrounds and quantified magnitudes of differences between groups. Methods: Mean age at onset, onset assessment measure, disease duration, and overall lifespan data from each study were extracted and statistically modeled as the response of linear regression with the sex and genetic background factored as predictors. Additional examination was performed on differing experimental onset and endpoint assessment measures. Results: C57BL/6 background mice show delayed onset of symptoms, increased lifespan, and an extended disease duration compared to their sex-matched B6SJL counterparts. Female B6SJL generally experience extended lifespan and delayed onset compared to their male counterparts, while female mice on the C57BL/6 background show delayed onset but no difference in survival compared to their male counterparts. Finally, different experimental protocols (tremor, rotarod, etc.) for onset determination result in notably different onset means. Conclusions: Overall, the observed effect of sex on disease endpoints was smaller than that which can be attributed to the genetic background. The often-reported increase in lifespan for female mice was observed only for mice on the B6SJL background, implicating a strain-dependent effect of sex on disease progression that manifests despite identical mutant SOD1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Pfohl
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Martin T Halicek
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cassie S Mitchell
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Abstract
Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) is a neuron-derived trophic molecule that supports axoglial and neuromuscular development through several alternatively spliced isoforms; its possible role in the pathogenesis and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is not known. We analyzed the relationship of NRG1 isoform expression to glial cell activation and motor neuron loss in spinal cords of ALS patients and during disease progression in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) ALS mouse model. Microgliosis, astrocytosis, and motor neuron loss were observed in the ventral horns in ALS patients and were increased in SOD1 mice along with disease progression. Type III (membrane-bound) NRG1 expression was reduced in parallel with motor neuron loss, but Type I (secreted) NRG1 expression was increased and was associated with glial activation. Increased NRG1 receptor activation was observed on activated microglia in both ALS patients and in SOD1 mice. This activation was observed at the time of disease onset and before upregulation of NRG1 gene expression in the mice. The downregulation of membrane-bound Type III NRG1 forms may reflect motor neuron loss, but increased signaling by secreted-type NRG1 isoforms could contribute to disease pathogenesis through glial cell activation. NRG1 might, therefore, represent a novel therapeutic target against disease progression in ALS.
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Moreno-López B, Sunico CR, González-Forero D. NO orchestrates the loss of synaptic boutons from adult "sick" motoneurons: modeling a molecular mechanism. Mol Neurobiol 2010; 43:41-66. [PMID: 21190141 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-010-8159-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2010] [Accepted: 12/02/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Synapse elimination is the main factor responsible for the cognitive decline accompanying many of the neuropathological conditions affecting humans. Synaptic stripping of motoneurons is also a common hallmark of several motor pathologies. Therefore, knowledge of the molecular basis underlying this plastic process is of central interest for the development of new therapeutic tools. Recent advances from our group highlight the role of nitric oxide (NO) as a key molecule triggering synapse loss in two models of motor pathologies. De novo expression of the neuronal isoform of NO synthase (nNOS) in motoneurons commonly occurs in response to the physical injury of a motor nerve and in the course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In both conditions, this event precedes synaptic withdrawal from motoneurons. Strikingly, nNOS-synthesized NO is "necessary" and "sufficient" to induce synaptic detachment from motoneurons. The mechanism involves a paracrine/retrograde action of NO on pre-synaptic structures, initiating a downstream signaling cascade that includes sequential activation of (1) soluble guanylyl cyclase, (2) cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase, and (3) RhoA/Rho kinase (ROCK) signaling. Finally, ROCK activation promotes phosphorylation of regulatory myosin light chain, which leads to myosin activation and actomyosin contraction. This latter event presumably contributes to the contractile force to produce ending axon retraction. Several findings support that this mechanism may operate in the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernardo Moreno-López
- Grupo de NeuroDegeneración y NeuroReparación (GRUNEDERE), Área de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cádiz, Plaza Falla, 9, 11003 Cádiz, Spain.
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15
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Xiong XD, Chen GH. Research progress on the age-related changes in proteins of the synaptic active zone. Physiol Behav 2010; 101:1-12. [PMID: 20433861 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2010] [Revised: 04/15/2010] [Accepted: 04/16/2010] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Neurotransmitter release during synaptic transmission is mediated by the presynaptic active zone. Multiple protein components at the active zone region interact to regulate docking, priming and fusion of the synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane to maintain normal neurotransmitter release. This review discusses research progress in questions of protein transcript and expression pattern changes at the synaptic active zone related to aging and whether these changes have the effects on learning and memory. We will specifically address normal synaptic structure and proteins; active zone structure and components; active zone functional regulation and age-related changes in active zone proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Dong Xiong
- People's Hospital of Lu'an City (The Fifth Clinical College of Anhui Medical University), Lu'an City 237005, Anhui Province, PR China.
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Chang Q, Martin LJ. Glycinergic innervation of motoneurons is deficient in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice: a quantitative confocal analysis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2009; 174:574-85. [PMID: 19116365 PMCID: PMC2630565 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2009.080557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/16/2008] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Altered motoneuron excitability is involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathobiology. To test the hypothesis that inhibitory interneuron innervation of spinal motoneurons is abnormal in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model, we measured GABAergic, glycinergic, and cholinergic immunoreactive terminals on spinal motoneurons in mice expressing a mutant form of human superoxide dismutase-1 with a Gly93-->Ala substitution (G93A-SOD1) and in controls at different ages. Glutamic acid decarboxylase, glycine transporter-2, and choline acetyltransferase were used as markers for GABAergic, glycinergic, and cholinergic terminals, respectively. Triple immunofluorescent labeling of boutons contacting motoneurons was visualized by confocal microscopy and analyzed quantitatively. Glycine transporter-2-bouton density on lateral motoneurons was decreased significantly in G93A-SOD1 mice compared with controls. This reduction was absent at 6 weeks of age but present in asymptomatic 8-week-old mice and worsened with disease progression from 12 to 14 weeks of age. Motoneurons lost most glycinergic innervation by 16 weeks of age (end-stage) when there was a significant decrease in the numbers of motoneurons and choline acetyltransferase-positive boutons. No significant differences in glutamic acid decarboxylase-bouton densities were found in G93A-SOD1 mice. Reduction of glycinergic innervation preceded mitochondrial swelling and vacuolization. Calbindin-positive Renshaw cell number was decreased significantly at 12 weeks of age in G93A-SOD1 mice. Thus, either the selective loss of inhibitory glycinergic regulation of motoneuron function or glycinergic interneuron degeneration contributes to motoneuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Chang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
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Tiraihi T, Rezaie MJ. Synaptic lesions and synaptophysin distribution change in spinal motoneurons at early stages following sciatic nerve transection in neonatal rats. BRAIN RESEARCH. DEVELOPMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH 2004; 148:97-103. [PMID: 14757523 DOI: 10.1016/j.devbrainres.2003.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the rate of synaptic stripping, changes in the synaptophysin distribution, and synapses ultrastructure of spinal motoneurons at early stages of sciatic nerve axotomy in newborn rats. Seven groups were used in the experiment, which were sacrificed after 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. L4-L6 spinal segments from the animals of the above groups were prepared and processed for indirect immunoperoxidase. Accordingly, tissue samples were prepared from similar groups for routine electron microscopy. Synaptophysin-labeled motoneurons were classified into intact, partial, cytoplasmic and negative patterns. Synaptophysin immunoreactivity in both the axotomized and non-axotomized sides showed no negative pattern at the first three time points, while this pattern significantly increased in the 12, 24, 48 and 72 h groups at the axotomized side, moreover, there was a progressive reduction in the percentage of the intact pattern at the axotomized side. The percentages of the cytoplasmic and partial patterns also increased during the time course. The rate of synaptic stripping was five time higher in the axotomized side than that of non-axotomized side. The results of the ultrastructural study showed synaptic membranes irregularity, synaptic vesicles displacement, synaptic membrane detachment and ensheathment of degenerated synapses. The conclusion of the study was that early synaptophysin immunoreactivity changes were seen in both the axotomized and non-axotomized sides, but the rate of change in the axotomized side was more rapid than that of the non-axotomized side.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taki Tiraihi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modarres University, P.O. Box 14155-4838, Tehran, Iran.
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18
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Human embryonic germ cell derivatives facilitate motor recovery of rats with diffuse motor neuron injury. J Neurosci 2003. [PMID: 12832537 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.23-12-05131.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We have investigated the potential of human pluripotent cells to restore function in rats paralyzed with a virus-induced motor neuronopathy. Cells derived from embryonic germ cells, termed embryoid body-derived (EBD) cells, introduced into the CSF were distributed extensively over the rostrocaudal length of the spinal cord and migrated into the spinal cord parenchyma in paralyzed, but not uninjured, animals. Some of the transplanted human cells expressed the neuroglial progenitor marker nestin, whereas others expressed immunohistochemical markers characteristic of astrocytes or mature neurons. Rare transplanted cells developed immunoreactivity to choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and sent axons into the sciatic nerve as detected by retrograde labeling. Paralyzed animals transplanted with EBD cells partially recovered motor function 12 and 24 weeks after transplantation, whereas control animals remained paralyzed. Semi-quantitative analysis revealed that the efficiency of neuronal differentiation and extension of neurites could not account for the functional recovery. Rather, transplanted EBD cells protected host neurons from death and facilitated reafferentation of motor neuron cell bodies. In vitro, EBD cells secrete transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Neutralizing antibodies to TGF-alpha and to BDNF abrogated the ability of EBD-conditioned media to sustain motor neuron survival in culture, whereas neutralizing antibodies to BDNF eliminated the axonal outgrowth from spinal organotypics observed with direct coculture of EBD cells. We conclude that cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells have the capacity to restore neurologic function in animals with diffuse motor neuron disease via enhancement of host neuron survival and function.
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Abstract
Neuronal and mixed glioneuronal tumors traditionally have comprised a very small percentage of intrinsic central nervous system neoplasms, although they are somewhat more common among juvenile brain tumors and in the temporal lobe. Neuronal differentiation increasingly is recognized in pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, intraventricular neurocytoma, and subependymal giant cell astrocytoma. However, the diagnostic distinctions between subtle ganglioglioma (with rare neurons) and infiltrating glioma with entrapped neurons and between infiltrating oligodendroglioma and parenchymal neurocytoma are problematic but may be clinically important. Recently, it was proposed that perisomatic synaptophysin immunostaining in the human central nervous system reliably and selectively discriminates neoplastic from nonneoplastic neurons. Using this criterion, the number of brain stem and spinal cord gangliogliomas could be increased substantially. We canvassed synaptophysin immunostaining patterns in the normal brain stem, cerebellum, and forebrain, and found that synaptophysin-positive neurons are distributed broadly in the normal human brain. In disturbed neocortical tissue, such as near vascular malformations, synaptophysin-positive neurons and irregular white-matter synaptophysin immunostaining are visualized. Although synaptophysin-positive neurons are found in gangliogliomas and archipelagos of synaptophysin reactivity are found in neurocytomas, these patterns clearly are not pathognomonic for glioneuronal tumors and must be interpreted with caution whenever other histologic or ultrastructural evidence of neuronal differentiation is lacking.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Quinn
- Department of Pathology, Northwestern University School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
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Aging. Brain Pathol 1997. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3639.1997.tb00977.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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