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Boueid MJ, El-Hage O, Schumacher M, Degerny C, Tawk M. Zebrafish as an emerging model to study estrogen receptors in neural development. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1240018. [PMID: 37664862 PMCID: PMC10469878 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1240018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Estrogens induce several regulatory signals in the nervous system that are mainly mediated through estrogen receptors (ERs). ERs are largely expressed in the nervous system, yet the importance of ERs to neural development has only been elucidated over the last decades. Accumulating evidence shows a fundamental role for estrogens in the development of the central and peripheral nervous systems, hence, the contribution of ERs to neural function is now a growing area of research. The conservation of the structure of the ERs and their response to estrogens make the zebrafish an interesting model to dissect the role of estrogens in the nervous system. In this review, we highlight major findings of ER signaling in embryonic zebrafish neural development and compare the similarities and differences to research in rodents. We also discuss how the recent generation of zebrafish ER mutants, coupled with the availability of several transgenic reporter lines, its amenability to pharmacological studies and in vivo live imaging, could help us explore ER function in embryonic neural development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Marcel Tawk
- *Correspondence: Cindy Degerny, ; Marcel Tawk,
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2
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Zhang X, Yang X, Chen B, Shen K, Liu G, Wang Z, Huang K, Zhu G, Wang T, Lv S, Zhang C, Yang H, Hou Z, Liu S. Glucocorticoid receptors participate in epilepsy in FCDII patients and MP model rats: A potential therapeutic target for epilepsy in patients with focal cortical dysplasia II (FCDII). Expert Opin Ther Targets 2022; 26:171-186. [PMID: 35132930 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2022.2032650] [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: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) are involved in neuronal excitability, neurogenesis, and neuroinflammation. However, the roles of GRs and MRs in epilepsy in focal cortical dysplasia II (FCDII) have not been reported. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We evaluated GRs and MRs expression and distribution in FCDII patients and methylazoxymethanol-pilocarpine-induced epilepsy model rats (MP rats), and the effects of a GR agonist on neurons in human FCDII and investigated the electrophysiological properties of cultured neurons and neurons of MP rats after lentivirus-mediated GR knockdown or overexpression and GR agonist or antagonist administration. RESULTS GR expression (not MR) was decreased in specimens from FCDII patients and model rats. GR agonist dexamethasone reduced neuronal excitatory transmission and increased neuronal inhibitory transmission in FCDII. GR knockdown increased the excitability of cultured neurons, and GR overexpression rescued the hyperexcitability of MP-treated neurons. Moreover, dexamethasone decreased neuronal excitability and excitatory transmission in MP rats, while GR antagonist exerted the opposite effects. Dexamethasone reduced the seizure number and duration by approximately 85% and 60% in MP rats within one to two hours. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that GRs play an important role in epilepsy in FCDII and GR activation may have protective and antiepileptic effects in FCDII.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Zhang
- National Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaolin Yang
- National Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bing Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Kaifeng Shen
- National Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guolong Liu
- National Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhongke Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Armed police Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Kaixuan Huang
- National Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Gang Zhu
- National Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- National Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shengqing Lv
- National Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chunqing Zhang
- National Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hui Yang
- National Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhi Hou
- National Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shiyong Liu
- National Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Gkikas D, Stellas D, Polissidis A, Manolakou T, Kokotou MG, Kokotos G, Politis PK. Nuclear receptor NR5A2 negatively regulates cell proliferation and tumor growth in nervous system malignancies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2015243118. [PMID: 34561301 PMCID: PMC8488649 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2015243118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Nervous system malignancies are characterized by rapid progression and poor survival rates. These clinical observations underscore the need for novel therapeutic insights and pharmacological targets. To this end, here, we identify the orphan nuclear receptor NR5A2/LRH1 as a negative regulator of cancer cell proliferation and promising pharmacological target for nervous system-related tumors. In particular, clinical data from publicly available databases suggest that high expression levels of NR5A2 are associated with favorable prognosis in patients with glioblastoma and neuroblastoma tumors. Consistently, we experimentally show that NR5A2 is sufficient to strongly suppress proliferation of both human and mouse glioblastoma and neuroblastoma cells without inducing apoptosis. Moreover, short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of the basal expression levels of NR5A2 in glioblastoma cells promotes their cell cycle progression. The antiproliferative effect of NR5A2 is mediated by the transcriptional induction of negative regulators of the cell cycle, CDKN1A (encoding for p21cip1), CDKN1B (encoding for p27kip1) and Prox1 Interestingly, two well-established agonists of NR5A2, dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine (DLPC) and diundecanoyl phosphatidylcholine, are able to mimic the antiproliferative action of NR5A2 in human glioblastoma cells via the induction of the same critical genes. Most importantly, treatment with DLPC inhibits glioblastoma tumor growth in vivo in heterotopic and orthotopic xenograft mouse models. These data indicate a tumor suppressor role of NR5A2 in the nervous system and render this nuclear receptor a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of nervous tissue-related tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Gkikas
- Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 115 27, Athens, Greece
- Department of Biology, University of Patras, 265 04, Patras, Greece
| | - Dimitris Stellas
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 116 35, Athens, Greece
| | - Alexia Polissidis
- Centre for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Theodora Manolakou
- Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 115 27, Athens, Greece
| | - Maroula G Kokotou
- Center of Excellence for Drug Design and Discovery, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15771, Greece
| | - George Kokotos
- Center of Excellence for Drug Design and Discovery, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Athens 15771, Greece
| | - Panagiotis K Politis
- Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 115 27, Athens, Greece;
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PPAR Gamma and Viral Infections of the Brain. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168876. [PMID: 34445581 PMCID: PMC8396218 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a master regulator of metabolism, adipogenesis, inflammation and cell cycle, and it has been extensively studied in the brain in relation to inflammation or neurodegeneration. Little is known however about its role in viral infections of the brain parenchyma, although they represent the most frequent cause of encephalitis and are a major threat for the developing brain. Specific to viral infections is the ability to subvert signaling pathways of the host cell to ensure virus replication and spreading, as deleterious as the consequences may be for the host. In this respect, the pleiotropic role of PPARγ makes it a critical target of infection. This review aims to provide an update on the role of PPARγ in viral infections of the brain. Recent studies have highlighted the involvement of PPARγ in brain or neural cells infected by immunodeficiency virus 1, Zika virus, or human cytomegalovirus. They have provided a better understanding on PPARγ functions in the infected brain, and revealed that it can be a double-edged sword with respect to inflammation, viral replication, or neuronogenesis. They unraveled new roles of PPARγ in health and disease and could possibly help designing new therapeutic strategies.
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Baldassarro VA, Flagelli A, Sannia M, Calzà L. Nuclear receptors and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2021; 116:389-407. [PMID: 33752826 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Oligodendrocytes are the cells responsible for myelin formation during development and in adulthood, both for normal myelin turnover and myelin repair. These highly specialized cells derive from the oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), through a complex differentiation process involving genetic and epigenetic regulation mechanisms, which switch the phenotype from a migratory and replicative precursor to a mature post-mitotic cell. The process is regulated by a plethora of molecules, involving neurotransmitters, growth factors, hormones and other small molecules, and is mainly driven by nuclear receptors (NRs). NRs are transcription factors with heterogeneous ligand-dependent and independent actions which differ for the cell target, the responsive gene and the formation of NR homo- or heterodimers. This chapter highlights the role of NRs in regulating OPC differentiation, also in view of drug discovery strategies aimed at targeting pathological conditions which interfere with both developmental myelination and remyelination in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Flagelli
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Sannia
- Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research in Health Sciences and Technologies, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, Imola, Bologna, Italy; IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Bologna, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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REV-ERB Agonist SR9009 Regulates the Proliferation and Neurite Outgrowth/Suppression of Cultured Rat Adult Hippocampal Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells in a Concentration-Dependent Manner. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2021; 42:1765-1776. [PMID: 33599915 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-021-01053-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
REV-ERBs are heme-binding nuclear receptors that regulate the circadian rhythm and play important roles in the regulation of proliferation and the neuronal differentiation process in neuronal stem/progenitor cells in the adult brain. However, the effects of REV-ERB activation in the adult brain remain unclear. In this study, SR9009, a synthetic REV-ERB agonist that produces anxiolytic effects in mice, was used to treat undifferentiated and neuronally differentiated cultured rat adult hippocampal neural stem/progenitor cells (AHPs). The expression of Rev-erbβ was upregulated during neurogenesis in cultured rat AHPs, and Rev-erbβ knockdown analysis indicated that REV-ERBβ regulates the proliferation and neurite outgrowth of cultured rat AHPs. The application of a low concentration (0.1 µM) of the REV-ERB agonist SR9009 enhanced neurite outgrowth during neurogenesis in cultured rat AHPs, whereas the addition of a high concentration (2.5 µM) of SR9009 suppressed neurite outgrowth. Further examination of the SR9009 regulatory mechanism showed that the expressions of downstream target genes of REV-ERBβ, including Ccna2 and Sez6, were modulated by SR9009. The results of this study indicated that REV-ERBβ activity in cultured rat AHPs was regulated by SR9009 in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, SR9009 inhibited the growth of cultured rat AHPs through various pathways, which may provide insight into the multifunctional mechanisms of action associated with SR9009. The findings of this study may provide an improved understanding of proliferation and neuronal maturation mechanisms in cultured rat AHPs through SR9009-regulated REV-ERBβ signaling pathways.
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Song J, Li Y, Zhao C, Zhou Q, Zhang J. Interaction of BDE-47 with nuclear receptors (NRs) based on the cytotoxicity: In vitro investigation and molecular interaction. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 208:111390. [PMID: 33049448 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that possess neuroendocrine and reproductive toxicity to humans and disturb thyroid hormone homeostasis, neurobehavior, and development. The most predominant congener of PBDEs in humans and other organisms is 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47); however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its cytotoxicity remain largely unknown. Here, we evaluated the toxic effect and underlying mechanism of nuclear receptors (NRs) induced by BDE-47 in SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells. The CCK-8 cell viability assay showed that the proliferation of human SK-N-SH cells exposed to BDE-47 was significantly inhibited in time- and dose-dependent manners, and flow cytometry showed that cell cycle was arrested at the S phase after BDE-47 exposure. Moreover, compared with the control group, the expression of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RXRα), pregnane X receptor (PXR), thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) at the mRNA and protein levels was significantly increased, as determined by quantitative PCR and western blot analysis, demonstrating that BDE-47 activated the NRs in vitro. Moreover, BDE-47 could bind to all four NRs in the affinity order of PPARγ > PXR > TRβ > RXRα under molecular dynamics. Because RXR is the promiscuous dimerization partner for a large number of NRs, ZDock was used to calculate its interaction with other three NRs. Taking the number of hydrogen bonds and ZDock scores into account, the rank of docking ability between RXRα and the NRs was PXR > TRβ > PPARγ. Further analysis of the interaction between BDE-47 and dimerized-NRs, the affinity order was RXRα > TRβ > PXR > PPARγ via Glide. The results of this study demonstrated that BDE-47 interfered the cross-talk among NRs, especially the promiscuous RXRα, which might be critical for the harmonized re-adjustment of cytotoxicity and biological regulation. Our findings provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying toxic effects and intermolecular interaction induced by BDE-47.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Song
- POPs Lab, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yunxiu Li
- POPs Lab, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Chunyan Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Qunfang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Jianqing Zhang
- POPs Lab, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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Jonathan MC, Adrián SH, Gonzalo A. Type II nuclear receptors with potential role in Alzheimer disease. Mol Aspects Med 2021; 78:100940. [PMID: 33397589 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2020.100940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear receptors are ligand-activated transcription factors that can modulated cellular processes involved in the development, homeostasis, cell proliferation, metabolism, and reproduction through the control of the specific genetic and molecular program. In the central nervous system, they are key regulators of neural stem cell fate decisions and can modulate the physiology of different brain cells. Over the past decades, a large body of evidence has supported that nuclear receptors are potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, the most common dementia worldwide, and the main cause of disability in later life. This disease is characterized by the progressive accumulation of amyloid-beta peptides and hyperphosphorylated tau protein that can explain alterations in synaptic transmission and plasticity; loss of dendritic spines; increased in reactive microglia and inflammation; reduction of neuronal stem cells number; myelin and vascular alterations that finally leads to increased neuronal death. Here, we present a review of type II no steroidal nuclear receptors that form obligatory heterodimers with the Retinoid X Receptor (RXR) and its potential in the therapeutic of AD. Activation of type II nuclear receptor by synthetic agonist leads to transcriptional regulation of specific genes that acts counteracting against the detrimental effects of amyloid-beta peptides and hyperphosphorylated tau in neuronal cells recovering the functionality of the synapses. But also, activation of type II nuclear receptor leads to modifications in APP metabolism, repression of inflammatory cascade and inductors of the generation of neuronal stem cells and progenitor cells supporting its potential therapeutics role for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muñoz-Cabrera Jonathan
- Grupo de Neurociencias y Muerte Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sandoval-Hernández Adrián
- Grupo de Neurociencias y Muerte Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Arboleda Gonzalo
- Grupo de Neurociencias y Muerte Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
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A seven-nuclear receptor-based prognostic signature in breast cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 2020; 23:1292-1303. [PMID: 33210236 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-020-02517-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BRCA) is a malignant cancer that threatened the life of female with unsatisfactory prognosis. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic nuclear receptors (NRs) signature of BRCA. METHODS BRCA patient samples were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Consensus clustering analysis, univariate Cox regression analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis were performed to evaluate, select NRs as prognostic factors and build Risk Score model. GSEA analysis was explored to check signaling differences between High- and Low-Risk group. Nomogram model basing on age and Risk Score was established to predict the 1-, 3- and 5-year survival. Model performance was assessed by a time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration plot. CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE and TIMER algorithm were introduced to evaluate the immune landscape. RESULTS NR3C1, NR4A3, THRA, RXRG, NR2F6, NR1D2 and RORB were optimized as a prognostic signature for BRCA. This seven-NR-based Risk Score could effectively predict overall survival status. The area under the curve (AUC) of 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival are 0.702, 0.734 and 0.722 in TCGA training cohort, and 0.630, 0.721 and 0.823 in GEO validation cohort, respectively. Calibration plot demonstrated satisfactory agreement between predictive and observed outcomes. Nomogram model worked well on predicting survival probabilities. Multiple cancer-related pathways were highly enriched in High-Risk group. High- and Low-Risk groups showed significant differed immune cell infiltration. There exists an obvious connection between Risk Score and immune checkpoints LAG3, PD1 and TIM3. CONCLUSION The seven-NR-based Risk Score represents a promising signature for estimating overall survival in patients with BRCA, and is correlated with the immune microenvironment.
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Lupu D, Andersson P, Bornehag CG, Demeneix B, Fritsche E, Gennings C, Lichtensteiger W, Leist M, Leonards PEG, Ponsonby AL, Scholze M, Testa G, Tresguerres JAF, Westerink RHS, Zalc B, Rüegg J. The ENDpoiNTs Project: Novel Testing Strategies for Endocrine Disruptors Linked to Developmental Neurotoxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21113978. [PMID: 32492937 PMCID: PMC7312023 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21113978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitous exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has caused serious concerns about the ability of these chemicals to affect neurodevelopment, among others. Since endocrine disruption (ED)-induced developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) is hardly covered by the chemical testing tools that are currently in regulatory use, the Horizon 2020 research and innovation action ENDpoiNTs has been launched to fill the scientific and methodological gaps related to the assessment of this type of chemical toxicity. The ENDpoiNTs project will generate new knowledge about ED-induced DNT and aims to develop and improve in vitro, in vivo, and in silico models pertaining to ED-linked DNT outcomes for chemical testing. This will be achieved by establishing correlative and causal links between known and novel neurodevelopmental endpoints and endocrine pathways through integration of molecular, cellular, and organismal data from in vitro and in vivo models. Based on this knowledge, the project aims to provide adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) for ED-induced DNT and to develop and integrate new testing tools with high relevance for human health into European and international regulatory frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Lupu
- Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden;
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Patrik Andersson
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden;
| | | | - Barbara Demeneix
- Evolution of Endocrine Regulations UMR 7221, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 75005 Paris, France;
| | - Ellen Fritsche
- IUF—Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany;
| | - Chris Gennings
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
| | | | - Marcel Leist
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany;
| | - Pim E. G. Leonards
- Department Environment and Health, Vrije University, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Anne-Louise Ponsonby
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia;
| | - Martin Scholze
- Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK;
| | - Giuseppe Testa
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Jesus A. F. Tresguerres
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Remco H. S. Westerink
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Bernard Zalc
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, ICM-GH Pitié-Salpêtrière, 75651 Paris, France;
| | - Joëlle Rüegg
- Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden;
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
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Roles of Progesterone, Testosterone and Their Nuclear Receptors in Central Nervous System Myelination and Remyelination. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093163. [PMID: 32365806 PMCID: PMC7246940 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone and testosterone, beyond their roles as sex hormones, are neuroactive steroids, playing crucial regulatory functions within the nervous system. Among these, neuroprotection and myelin regeneration are important ones. The present review aims to discuss the stimulatory effects of progesterone and testosterone on the process of myelination and remyelination. These effects have been demonstrated in vitro (i.e., organotypic cultures) and in vivo (cuprizone- or lysolecithin-induced demyelination and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)). Both steroids stimulate myelin formation and regeneration by acting through their respective intracellular receptors: progesterone receptors (PR) and androgen receptors (AR). Activation of these receptors results in multiple events involving direct transcription and translation, regulating general homeostasis, cell proliferation, differentiation, growth and myelination. It also ameliorates immune response as seen in the EAE model, resulting in a significant decrease in inflammation leading to a fast recovery. Although natural progesterone and testosterone have a therapeutic potential, their synthetic derivatives—the 19-norprogesterone (nestorone) and 7α-methyl-nortestosterone (MENT), already used as hormonal contraception or in postmenopausal hormone replacement therapies, may offer enhanced benefits for myelin repair. We summarize here a recent advancement in the field of myelin biology, to treat demyelinating disorders using the natural as well as synthetic analogs of progesterone and testosterone.
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Gao J, Liao Y, Qiu M, Shen W. Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Neural Stem Cell Homeostasis and Neurological Diseases. Neuroscientist 2020; 27:58-72. [PMID: 32242761 DOI: 10.1177/1073858420914509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs) maintain the ability of self-renewal and differentiation and compose the complex nervous system. Wnt signaling is thought to control the balance of NSC proliferation and differentiation via the transcriptional coactivator β-catenin during brain development and adult tissue homeostasis. Disruption of Wnt signaling may result in developmental defects and neurological diseases. Here, we summarize recent findings of the roles of Wnt/β-catenin signaling components in NSC homeostasis for the regulation of functional brain circuits. We also suggest that the potential role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling might lead to new therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases, including, but not limited to, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanmei Gao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,College of Life and Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuan Liao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mengsheng Qiu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,College of Life and Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wanhua Shen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Martínez-Salazar C, Villanueva I, Pacheco-Rosado J, Alva-Sánchez C. Moderate exercise prevents the cell atrophy caused by hypothyroidism in rats. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 2020. [DOI: 10.21307/ane-2020-005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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15
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Wei WJ, Shi B, Guan X, Ma JY, Wang YC, Liu J. Mapping theme trends and knowledge structures for human neural stem cells: a quantitative and co-word biclustering analysis for the 2013-2018 period. Neural Regen Res 2019; 14:1823-1832. [PMID: 31169201 PMCID: PMC6585554 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.257535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural stem cells, which are capable of multi-potential differentiation and self-renewal, have recently been shown to have clinical potential for repairing central nervous system tissue damage. However, the theme trends and knowledge structures for human neural stem cells have not yet been studied bibliometrically. In this study, we retrieved 2742 articles from the PubMed database from 2013 to 2018 using "Neural Stem Cells" as the retrieval word. Co-word analysis was conducted to statistically quantify the characteristics and popular themes of human neural stem cell-related studies. Bibliographic data matrices were generated with the Bibliographic Item Co-Occurrence Matrix Builder. We identified 78 high-frequency Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms. A visual matrix was built with the repeated bisection method in gCLUTO software. A social network analysis network was generated with Ucinet 6.0 software and GraphPad Prism 5 software. The analyses demonstrated that in the 6-year period, hot topics were clustered into five categories. As suggested by the constructed strategic diagram, studies related to cytology and physiology were well-developed, whereas those related to neural stem cell applications, tissue engineering, metabolism and cell signaling, and neural stem cell pathology and virology remained immature. Neural stem cell therapy for stroke and Parkinson's disease, the genetics of microRNAs and brain neoplasms, as well as neuroprotective agents, Zika virus, Notch receptor, neural crest and embryonic stem cells were identified as emerging hot spots. These undeveloped themes and popular topics are potential points of focus for new studies on human neural stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Juan Wei
- Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
- National Joint Engineering Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Bei Shi
- Department of Physiology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xin Guan
- Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
- National Joint Engineering Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Jing-Yun Ma
- Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
- National Joint Engineering Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Ya-Chen Wang
- Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
- National Joint Engineering Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Stem Cell Clinical Research Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
- National Joint Engineering Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
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16
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Liu X, Sakai H, Nishigori M, Suyama K, Nawaji T, Ikeda S, Nishigouchi M, Okada H, Matsushima A, Nose T, Shimohigashi M, Shimohigashi Y. Receptor-binding affinities of bisphenol A and its next-generation analogs for human nuclear receptors. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2019; 377:114610. [PMID: 31195007 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2019.114610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2019] [Revised: 05/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
An endocrine-disrupting chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) binds specifically to a nuclear receptor (NR) named ERRγ. Although the importance of receptor-binding evaluation for human NRs is often stressed, the binding characteristics of so-called next-generation (NextGen) bisphenol compounds are still poorly understood. The ultimate objective of this investigation was to evaluate BPA and its NextGen analogs for their abilities to bind to 21 human NRs, the greatest members of NRs for which tritium-labeled specific ligands were available. After establishing the detailed assay conditions for each NR, the receptor binding affinities of total 11 bisphenols were evaluated in competitive binding assays. The results clearly revealed that BPA and the NextGen bisphenols of BPAF, BPAP, BPB, BPC, BPE, and BPZ were highly potent against one or more of NRs such as CAR, ERα, ERβ, ERRγ, and GR, with IC50 values of 3.3-73 nM. These bisphenols were suggested strongly to be disruptive to these NRs. BPM and BPP also appeared to be disruptive, but less potently. BPF exhibited only weak effects and only against estrogen-related NRs. Surprisingly, most doubtful bisphenol BPS was supposed not to be disruptive. The NRs to which BPA and NextGen bisphenols did not bind were RARα, RARβ, RARγ, and VDR. PPARγ, RORα, RORβ, RORγ, RXRα, RXRβ, and RXRγ, exhibited very weak interaction with these bisphenols. The ten remaining NRs, namely, ERRγ, ERβ, ERα, CAR, GR, PXR, PR, AR, LXRβ, and LXRα, showed distinctly strong binding to some bisphenols in this order, being likely to have consequential endocrine-disruption effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohui Liu
- Laboratory of Structure-Function Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; Risk Science Research Center, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
| | - Hiroki Sakai
- Laboratory of Structure-Function Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Nishigori
- Laboratory of Structure-Function Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Keitaro Suyama
- Laboratory of Structure-Function Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Tasuku Nawaji
- Laboratory of Structure-Function Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Shin Ikeda
- Laboratory of Structure-Function Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Makoto Nishigouchi
- Laboratory of Structure-Function Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Okada
- Laboratory of Structure-Function Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Ayami Matsushima
- Laboratory of Structure-Function Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; Risk Science Research Center, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Takeru Nose
- Laboratory of Structure-Function Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; Risk Science Research Center, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Miki Shimohigashi
- Division of Biology, Department of Earth System of Science, Faculty of Science, Fukuoka University, Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan; Risk Science Research Institute, Ikimatsudai 3-7-5, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0044, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Shimohigashi
- Laboratory of Structure-Function Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; Risk Science Research Center, Kyushu University, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; Risk Science Research Institute, Ikimatsudai 3-7-5, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0044, Japan.
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17
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Haruyama N, Sakumi K, Katogi A, Tsuchimoto D, De Luca G, Bignami M, Nakabeppu Y. 8-Oxoguanine accumulation in aged female brain impairs neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and major island of Calleja, causing sexually dimorphic phenotypes. Prog Neurobiol 2019; 180:101613. [PMID: 31026482 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2019.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, including humans, MTH1 with 8-oxo-dGTPase and OGG1 with 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase minimize 8-oxoguanine accumulation in genomic DNA. We investigated age-related alterations in behavior, 8-oxoguanine levels, and neurogenesis in the brains of Mth1/Ogg1-double knockout (TO-DKO), Ogg1-knockout, and human MTH1-transgenic (hMTH1-Tg) mice. Spontaneous locomotor activity was significantly decreased in wild-type mice with age, and females consistently exhibited higher locomotor activity than males. This decrease was significantly suppressed in female but not male TO-DKO mice and markedly enhanced in female hMTH1-Tg mice. Long-term memory retrieval was impaired in middle-aged female TO-DKO mice. 8-Oxoguanine accumulation significantly increased in nuclear DNA, particularly in the dentate gyrus (DG), subventricular zone (SVZ) and major island of Calleja (ICjM) in middle-aged female TO-DKO mice. In middle-aged female TO-DKO mice, neurogenesis was severely impaired in SVZ and DG, accompanied by ICjM and DG atrophy. Conversely, expression of hMTH1 efficiently suppressed 8-oxoguanine accumulation in both SVZ and DG with hypertrophy of ICjM. These findings indicate that newborn neurons from SVZ maintain ICjM in the adult brain, and increased accumulation of 8-oxoguanine in nuclear DNA of neural progenitors in females is caused by 8-oxo-dGTP incorporation during proliferation, causing depletion of neural progenitors, altered behavior, and cognitive function changes with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Haruyama
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Sakumi
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Atsuhisa Katogi
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Daisuke Tsuchimoto
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Gabriele De Luca
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Margherita Bignami
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Yusaku Nakabeppu
- Division of Neurofunctional Genomics, Department of Immunobiology and Neuroscience, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
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18
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Baldassarro VA, Krężel W, Fernández M, Schuhbaur B, Giardino L, Calzà L. The role of nuclear receptors in the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells derived from fetal and adult neural stem cells. Stem Cell Res 2019; 37:101443. [PMID: 31022610 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2019.101443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) differentiation from multipotent neural stem cells (NSCs) into mature oligodendrocytes is driven by thyroid hormone and mediated by thyroid hormone receptors (TRs). We show that several nuclear receptors display strong changes in expression levels between fetal and adult NSCs, with an overexpression of TRβ and a lower expression of RXRγ in adult. Such changes may determine the reduced capacity of adult OPCs to differentiate as supported by reduced yield of maturation and compromised mRNA expression of key genes. RXRγ may be the determinant of these differences, on the evidence of reduced number of mature oligodendrocytes and increased number of proliferating OPCs in RXRγ-/- cultures. Such data also points to RXRγ as an important regulator of the cell cycle exit, as proved by the dysregulation of T3-induced cell cycle exit-related genes. Our data highlight the biological differences between fetal and adult OPCs and demonstrate the essential role of RXRγ in the T3-mediated OPCs maturation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Antonio Baldassarro
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy; Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France; Inserm, U1258 Illkirch, France; CNRS, UMR, 7104 Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.
| | - Wojciech Krężel
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France; Inserm, U1258 Illkirch, France; CNRS, UMR, 7104 Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | | | - Brigitte Schuhbaur
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France; Inserm, U1258 Illkirch, France; CNRS, UMR, 7104 Illkirch, France; Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Luciana Giardino
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Italy; IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy; Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Calzà
- Health Science and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HST-ICIR), University of Bologna, Italy; Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Italy; IRET Foundation, Ozzano Emilia, Italy
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19
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Maslon MM, Braunschweig U, Aitken S, Mann AR, Kilanowski F, Hunter CJ, Blencowe BJ, Kornblihtt AR, Adams IR, Cáceres JF. A slow transcription rate causes embryonic lethality and perturbs kinetic coupling of neuronal genes. EMBO J 2019; 38:embj.2018101244. [PMID: 30988016 PMCID: PMC6484407 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2018101244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The rate of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) elongation has an important role in the control of alternative splicing (AS); however, the in vivo consequences of an altered elongation rate are unknown. Here, we generated mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) knocked in for a slow elongating form of RNAPII We show that a reduced transcriptional elongation rate results in early embryonic lethality in mice. Focusing on neuronal differentiation as a model, we observed that slow elongation impairs development of the neural lineage from ESCs, which is accompanied by changes in AS and in gene expression along this pathway. In particular, we found a crucial role for RNAPII elongation rate in transcription and splicing of long neuronal genes involved in synapse signaling. The impact of the kinetic coupling of RNAPII elongation rate with AS is greater in ESC-differentiated neurons than in pluripotent cells. Our results demonstrate the requirement for an appropriate transcriptional elongation rate to ensure proper gene expression and to regulate AS during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena M Maslon
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ulrich Braunschweig
- Donnelly Centre, Department of Molecular Genetics University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stuart Aitken
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Abigail R Mann
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Fiona Kilanowski
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Chris J Hunter
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Benjamin J Blencowe
- Donnelly Centre, Department of Molecular Genetics University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alberto R Kornblihtt
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-UBA-CONICET) and Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ian R Adams
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Javier F Cáceres
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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20
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Więch A, Rowińska-Żyrek M, Wątły J, Czarnota A, Hołubowicz R, Szewczuk Z, Ożyhar A, Orłowski M. The intrinsically disordered C-terminal F domain of the ecdysteroid receptor from Aedes aegypti exhibits metal ion-binding ability. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 186:42-55. [PMID: 30243841 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2018.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The dominant vector of dengue and Zika diseases is a female Aedes aegypti mosquito. Its reproduction is controlled by the formation of an active heterodimer complex of the 20-hydroxyecdysone receptor (EcR) and Ultraspiracle protein (Usp). Although EcR exhibits a structural and functional organization typical of nuclear receptors (NRs), the EcR C-terminus has an additional F domain (AaFEcR) that is rarely present in the NRs superfamily. The presence of F domains is evolutionarily not well conserved in the NRs. The structure-function relationship of EcR F domains in arthropods is unclear and enigmatic. To date, there have been no data concerning the structure and function of AaFEcR. Our results showed that AaFEcR belongs to a family of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and possesses putative pre-molten globule (PMG) characteristics. Unexpectedly, additional amino acid composition in silico analyses revealed the presence of short unique repeated Pro-His clusters forming an HGPHPHPHG motif, which is similar to those responsible for Zn2+ and Cu2+ binding in histidine-proline-rich glycoproteins (HPRGs). Using SEC, SV-AUC and ESI-TOF MS, we showed that the intrinsically disordered AaFEcR is able to bind metal ions and form complexes with these ions. Our studies provide new insight into the structural organization and activities of the F domains of NRs. This unique for the F domains of NRs ion-binding propensity demonstrated by the AaFEcR domain may be a part of the ecdysteroid receptor's mechanism for regulating the expression of genes encoding oxidative stress-protecting proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Więch
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Joanna Wątły
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, 50-383 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Czarnota
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Rafał Hołubowicz
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Andrzej Ożyhar
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marek Orłowski
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland.
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21
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Xu D, Huang S, Wang H, Xie W. Regulation of brain drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters by nuclear receptors. Drug Metab Rev 2019; 50:407-414. [PMID: 30501435 DOI: 10.1080/03602532.2018.1554673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear receptors (NRs) belong to a family of ligand-dependent transcription factors. The target genes of NRs include many drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters. The central nervous system (CNS) bears the expression of NRs, drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters. NRs that express in the brain can be divided into three groups according to their characteristics of ligand binding: steroid hormone receptors, non-steroid hormone receptors, and orphan receptors. The NR-mediated regulation of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters plays important roles in the metabolism and disposition of drugs in the CNS and the penetration of endogenous and exogenous substances through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). NR-mediated regulation of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters can cause the toxicological effects of xenobiotics in the CNS and also lead to drug resistance in the centrum. The regulatory pathways of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters can provide new strategies for selective regulation of the BBB permeability and drug metabolism in the brain. This review focuses on the importance of NR-mediated regulation of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters in the CNS and the implications of this regulation in the therapeutic effect of CNS drugs and CNS side effects of drugs and other xenotoxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Xu
- a Department of Pharmacology School of Basic Medical Sciences , Wuhan University , Wuhan , China.,b Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA.,c Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease , Wuhan , China
| | - Songqiang Huang
- a Department of Pharmacology School of Basic Medical Sciences , Wuhan University , Wuhan , China
| | - Hui Wang
- a Department of Pharmacology School of Basic Medical Sciences , Wuhan University , Wuhan , China.,c Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease , Wuhan , China
| | - Wen Xie
- b Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , PA , USA
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22
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Qin S, Huang X, Wang D, Hu X, Yuan Y, Sun X, Tan Z, Gu Y, Cheng X, He C, Su Z. Identification of characteristic genes distinguishing neural stem cells from astrocytes. Gene 2018; 681:26-35. [PMID: 30266499 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.09.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neural stem cells (NSCs) have unique biological characteristics such as continuous proliferation and multipotential differentiation, providing a possible method for restoration of central nervous system (CNS) function after injury or disease. NSCs and astrocytes share many similar biological properties including cell morphology and molecular expression and can trans-differentiate into each other under certain conditions. However, characteristic genes specifically expressed by NSCs have not been well described. METHODS To provide insights into the characteristic expression of NSCs, bioinformatics analysis of two microarrays of mouse NSCs and astrocytes was performed. Compared to astrocytes, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in NSCs were identified and annotated by GO, KEGG and GSEA analysis, respectively. Then key genes were screened by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and modules analysis, and were verified using multiple high-throughput sequencing resources. Finally, the expression difference between the two cell types was confirmed by Real-time Quantitative PCR (qPCR), western blotting and immunochemical analysis. RESULTS In the present study, 282 and 250 NSC-enriched genes from two microarrays were identified and annotated respectively, and the 77 overlapping DEGs were then selected. From the PPI network 24 key genes in three modules were screened out. Importantly, sequencing data of tissues showed that these 24 key genes tended to be highly expressed in NSCs compared with astrocytes. Furthermore, qPCR and western blot analysis of cultured NSCs and astrocytes showed two genes (KIF2C and TOP2A) were not only differentially expressed in RNA level but also at the protein level. Importantly, the NSC-specific genes KIF2C and TOP2A were validated by immunohistochemistry in vivo. CONCLUSION In present study, we identified 2 hub genes (KIF2C and TOP2A) that might serve as potential biomarkers for distinguishing NSCs from astrocytes, contributing to our comprehensive understanding of the biological properties and functions of NSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangyao Qin
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Ministry of Education and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Huang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Ministry of Education and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Ministry of Education and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Hu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Xixi Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yimin Yuan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Ministry of Education and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiu Sun
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Ministry of Education and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zijian Tan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Ministry of Education and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yakun Gu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Ministry of Education and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueyan Cheng
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Ministry of Education and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng He
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Ministry of Education and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhida Su
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology of Ministry of Education and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
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23
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Navarro Quiroz E, Navarro Quiroz R, Ahmad M, Gomez Escorcia L, Villarreal JL, Fernandez Ponce C, Aroca Martinez G. Cell Signaling in Neuronal Stem Cells. Cells 2018; 7:E75. [PMID: 30011912 PMCID: PMC6070865 DOI: 10.3390/cells7070075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The defining characteristic of neural stem cells (NSCs) is their ability to multiply through symmetric divisions and proliferation, and differentiation by asymmetric divisions, thus giving rise to different types of cells of the central nervous system (CNS). A strict temporal space control of the NSC differentiation is necessary, because its alterations are associated with neurological dysfunctions and, in some cases, death. This work reviews the current state of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the transcription in NSCs, organized according to whether the origin of the stimulus that triggers the molecular cascade in the CNS is internal (intrinsic factors) or whether it is the result of the microenvironment that surrounds the CNS (extrinsic factors).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elkin Navarro Quiroz
- Faculty of basic sciences and biomedical; Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia.
- School of Medicine, Universidad Rafael Nuñez, Cartagena 130001, Colombia.
| | - Roberto Navarro Quiroz
- Centro de Investigación en Salud para el Trópico, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Santa Marta 470002, Colombia.
| | - Mostapha Ahmad
- Faculty of basic sciences and biomedical; Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia.
| | - Lorena Gomez Escorcia
- Faculty of basic sciences and biomedical; Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia.
| | | | | | - Gustavo Aroca Martinez
- Faculty of basic sciences and biomedical; Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia.
- Clinica de la Costa, Barranquilla 080002, Colombia.
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Gong L, Jiang L, Qin Y, Jiang X, Song K, Yu X. Protective effect of retinoic acid receptor α on hypoxia-induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition of renal tubular epithelial cells associated with TGF-β/MMP-9 pathway. Cell Biol Int 2018; 42:1050-1059. [PMID: 29719094 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.10982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Retinoic acid receptor α (RARα), a member of family of the nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs), plays an essential role in various chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Renal tubular epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a common mechanism of progression of renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF). Hypoxia has been extensively considered as one of major inducers of renal tubular EMT. However, the effects of RARα on hypoxia-induced EMT have not yet been described so far. The aim of the present study was to explore the roles and potential mechanisms of RARα in hypoxia-induced EMT of renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs). Our results showed that expression of RARα in RTECs subjected to hypoxia significantly was reduced, accompanied by decreased expression level of the epithelial marker E-cadherin, and increased expression levels of the mesenchymal markers α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vimentin, in accord with EMT. Meanwhile, hypoxia could cause RTECs to obviously express TGF-β and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Furthermore, using lentivirus-based delivery vectors to overexpress RARα in RTECs, we demonstrated that RARα alleviated hypoxia-induced EMT of RTECs and downregulated the expression levels of TGF-β and MMP-9. In a word, RARα protects RTECs against EMT induced by hypoxia associated with TGF-β/MMP-9 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Gong
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Ling Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Yuanhan Qin
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Xingbo Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Kunling Song
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Xueyun Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
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25
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Hessel EVS, Staal YCM, Piersma AH. Design and validation of an ontology-driven animal-free testing strategy for developmental neurotoxicity testing. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2018; 354:136-152. [PMID: 29544899 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2018.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Developmental neurotoxicity entails one of the most complex areas in toxicology. Animal studies provide only limited information as to human relevance. A multitude of alternative models have been developed over the years, providing insights into mechanisms of action. We give an overview of fundamental processes in neural tube formation, brain development and neural specification, aiming at illustrating complexity rather than comprehensiveness. We also give a flavor of the wealth of alternative methods in this area. Given the impressive progress in mechanistic knowledge of human biology and toxicology, the time is right for a conceptual approach for designing testing strategies that cover the integral mechanistic landscape of developmental neurotoxicity. The ontology approach provides a framework for defining this landscape, upon which an integral in silico model for predicting toxicity can be built. It subsequently directs the selection of in vitro assays for rate-limiting events in the biological network, to feed parameter tuning in the model, leading to prediction of the toxicological outcome. Validation of such models requires primary attention to coverage of the biological domain, rather than classical predictive value of individual tests. Proofs of concept for such an approach are already available. The challenge is in mining modern biology, toxicology and chemical information to feed intelligent designs, which will define testing strategies for neurodevelopmental toxicity testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen V S Hessel
- Center for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and The Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Yvonne C M Staal
- Center for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and The Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Aldert H Piersma
- Center for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and The Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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