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Collier CA, Salikhova A, Sabir S, Foncerrada S, Raghavan SA. Crisis in the gut: navigating gastrointestinal challenges in Gulf War Illness with bioengineering. Mil Med Res 2024; 11:45. [PMID: 38978144 PMCID: PMC11229309 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-024-00547-2] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Gulf War Illness (GWI) is characterized by a wide range of symptoms that manifests largely as gastrointestinal symptoms. Among these gastrointestinal symptoms, motility disorders are highly prevalent, presenting as chronic constipation, stomach pain, indigestion, diarrhea, and other conditions that severely impact the quality of life of GWI veterans. However, despite a high prevalence of gastrointestinal impairments among these veterans, most research attention has focused on neurological disturbances. This perspective provides a comprehensive overview of current in vivo research advancements elucidating the underlying mechanisms contributing to gastrointestinal disorders in GWI. Generally, these in vivo and in vitro models propose that neuroinflammation alters gut motility and drives the gastrointestinal symptoms reported in GWI. Additionally, this perspective highlights the potential and challenges of in vitro bioengineering models, which could be a crucial contributor to understanding and treating the pathology of gastrointestinal related-GWI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia A Collier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Aelita Salikhova
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Sufiyan Sabir
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Steven Foncerrada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Shreya A Raghavan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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2
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Marshall-Gradisnik S, Martini Sasso E, Eaton-Fitch N, Smith P, Baraniuk JN, Muraki K. Novel characterization of endogenous transient receptor potential melastatin 3 ion channels from Gulf War Illness participants. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0305704. [PMID: 38917121 PMCID: PMC11198784 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic condition characterized by multisystem symptoms that still affect up to one-third of veterans who engaged in combat in the Gulf War three decades ago. The aetiology of GWI is mainly explained by exposure to multiple toxic agents, vaccines, and medications. As there is a significant overlap in symptoms between GWI and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), the objective of this study was to investigate a biomarker widely reported in Natural Killer (NK) cells from ME/CFS patients, the Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 3 (TRPM3) ion channel. NK cells from 6 healthy controls (HC) and 6 GWI participants were isolated, and TRPM3 function was assessed through whole-cell patch-clamp. As demonstrated by prior studies, NK cells from HC expressed typical TRPM3 function after pharmacomodulation. In contrast, this pilot investigation demonstrates a dysfunctional TRPM3 in NK cells from GWI participants through application of a TRPM3 agonist and confirmed by a TRPM3 antagonist. There was a significant reduction in TRPM3 function from GWI than results measured in HC. This study provides an unprecedented research field to investigate the involvement of TRP ion channels in the pathomechanism and potential medical interventions to improve GWI quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Etianne Martini Sasso
- The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Natalie Eaton-Fitch
- The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Peter Smith
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Clinical Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - James N. Baraniuk
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Katsuhiko Muraki
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Laboratory of Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aichi-Gakuin University, Nagoya, Japan
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Niceforo A, Zholudeva LV, Fernandes S, Lane MA, Qiang L. Challenges and Efficacy of Astrocyte-to-Neuron Reprogramming in Spinal Cord Injury: In Vitro Insights and In Vivo Outcomes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.25.586619. [PMID: 38585866 PMCID: PMC10996511 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.25.586619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to the disruption of neural pathways, causing loss of neural cells, with subsequent reactive gliosis and tissue scarring that limit endogenous repair. One potential therapeutic strategy to address this is to target reactive scar-forming astrocytes with direct cellular reprogramming to convert them into neurons, by overexpression of neurogenic transcription factors. Here we used lentiviral constructs to overexpress Ascl1 or a combination of microRNAs (miRs) miR124, miR9/9*and NeuroD1 transfected into cultured and in vivo astrocytes. In vitro experiments revealed cortically-derived astrocytes display a higher efficiency (70%) of reprogramming to neurons than spinal cord-derived astrocytes. In a rat cervical SCI model, the same strategy induced only limited reprogramming of astrocytes. Delivery of reprogramming factors did not significantly affect patterns of breathing under baseline and hypoxic conditions, but significant differences in average diaphragm amplitude were seen in the reprogrammed groups during eupneic breathing, hypoxic, and hypercapnic challenges. These results show that while cellular reprogramming can be readily achieved in carefully controlled in vitro conditions, achieving a similar degree of successful reprogramming in vivo is challenging and may require additional steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Niceforo
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
- Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | | | - Silvia Fernandes
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
- Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Michael A. Lane
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
- Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Liang Qiang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
- Marion Murray Spinal Cord Research Center, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
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Cohen J, Mathew A, Dourvetakis KD, Sanchez-Guerrero E, Pangeni RP, Gurusamy N, Aenlle KK, Ravindran G, Twahir A, Isler D, Sosa-Garcia SR, Llizo A, Bested AC, Theoharides TC, Klimas NG, Kempuraj D. Recent Research Trends in Neuroinflammatory and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Cells 2024; 13:511. [PMID: 38534355 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060511] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are chronic major health disorders. The exact mechanism of the neuroimmune dysfunctions of these disease pathogeneses is currently not clearly understood. These disorders show dysregulated neuroimmune and inflammatory responses, including activation of neurons, glial cells, and neurovascular unit damage associated with excessive release of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, neurotoxic mediators, and infiltration of peripheral immune cells into the brain, as well as entry of inflammatory mediators through damaged neurovascular endothelial cells, blood-brain barrier and tight junction proteins. Activation of glial cells and immune cells leads to the release of many inflammatory and neurotoxic molecules that cause neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Gulf War Illness (GWI) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are chronic disorders that are also associated with neuroimmune dysfunctions. Currently, there are no effective disease-modifying therapeutic options available for these diseases. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons, astrocytes, microglia, endothelial cells and pericytes are currently used for many disease models for drug discovery. This review highlights certain recent trends in neuroinflammatory responses and iPSC-derived brain cell applications in neuroinflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Cohen
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Annette Mathew
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Kirk D Dourvetakis
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Estella Sanchez-Guerrero
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Rajendra P Pangeni
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Narasimman Gurusamy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Kristina K Aenlle
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
- Miami VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Miami, FL 33125, USA
| | - Geeta Ravindran
- Cell Therapy Institute, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Assma Twahir
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Dylan Isler
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Sara Rukmini Sosa-Garcia
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Axel Llizo
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Alison C Bested
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Theoharis C Theoharides
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Nancy G Klimas
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
- Miami VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Miami Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Miami, FL 33125, USA
| | - Duraisamy Kempuraj
- Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
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Baas PW, Sullivan KA, Terry AV, Case K, Yates PL, Sun X, Raghupathi R, Huber BR, Qiang L. Is Gulf War Illness a prolonged early phase tauopathy? Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024; 81:41-46. [PMID: 37702426 PMCID: PMC10841075 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
The work of the Gulf War Illness (GWI) Consortium and that of basic and clinical researchers across the USA have resulted in a better understanding in recent years of the pathological basis of GWI, as well as of the mechanisms underlying the disorder. Among the most concerning symptoms suffered by veterans with GWI are cognitive decrements including those related to memory functioning. These decrements are not severe enough to meet dementia criteria, but there is significant concern that the mild cognitive impairment of these veterans will progress to dementia as they become older. Recent studies on GWI using human brain organoids as well as a rat model suggest that one potential cause of the cognitive problems may be elevated levels of tau in the brain, and this is supported by high levels of tau autoantibodies in the blood of veterans with GWI. There is urgency in finding treatments and preventive strategies for these veterans before they progress to dementia, with added value in doing so because their current status may represent an early phase of tauopathy common to many neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter W. Baas
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Kimberly A. Sullivan
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Alvin V. Terry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Kendra Case
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Philip L. Yates
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Xiaohuan Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Ramesh Raghupathi
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
| | - Bertrand R. Huber
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; VA Boston Healthcare System, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Liang Qiang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA, 19129, USA
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Meyer JN, Pan WK, Ryde IT, Alexander T, Klein-Adams JC, Ndirangu DS, Falvo MJ. Bioenergetic function is decreased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of veterans with Gulf War Illness. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0287412. [PMID: 37910447 PMCID: PMC10619881 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a major health problem for approximately 250,000 Gulf War (GW) veterans, but the etiology of GWI is unclear. We hypothesized that mitochondrial dysfunction is an important contributor to GWI, based on the similarity of some GWI symptoms to those occurring in some mitochondrial diseases; the plausibility that certain pollutants to which GW veterans were exposed affect mitochondria; mitochondrial effects observed in studies in laboratory models of GWI; and previous evidence of mitochondrial outcomes in studies in GW veterans. A primary role of mitochondria is generation of energy via oxidative phosphorylation. However, direct assessment of mitochondrial respiration, reflecting oxidative phosphorylation, has not been carried out in veterans with GWI. In this case-control observational study, we tested multiple measures of mitochondrial function and integrity in a cohort of 114 GW veterans, 80 with and 34 without GWI as assessed by the Kansas definition. In circulating white blood cells, we analyzed multiple measures of mitochondrial respiration and extracellular acidification, a proxy for non-aerobic energy generation; mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number; mtDNA damage; and nuclear DNA damage. We also collected detailed survey data on demographics; deployment; self-reported exposure to pesticides, pyridostigmine bromide, and chemical and biological warfare agents; and current biometrics, health and activity levels. We observed a 9% increase in mtDNA content in blood in veterans with GWI, but did not detect differences in DNA damage. Basal and ATP-linked oxygen consumption were respectively 42% and 47% higher in veterans without GWI, after adjustment for mtDNA amount. We did not find evidence for a compensatory increase in anaerobic energy generation: extracellular acidification was also lower in GWI (12% lower at baseline). A subset of 27 and 26 veterans returned for second and third visits, allowing us to measure stability of mitochondrial parameters over time. mtDNA CN, mtDNA damage, ATP-linked OCR, and spare respiratory capacity were moderately replicable over time, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.43, 0.44, 0.50, and 0.57, respectively. Other measures showed higher visit-to-visit variability. Many measurements showed lower replicability over time among veterans with GWI compared to veterans without GWI. Finally, we found a strong association between recalled exposure to pesticides, pyridostigmine bromide, and chemical and biological warfare agents and GWI (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Our results demonstrate decreased mitochondrial respiratory function as well as decreased glycolytic activity, both of which are consistent with decreased energy availability, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in veterans with GWI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel N. Meyer
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - William K. Pan
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Ian T. Ryde
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Thomas Alexander
- Department of Veterans Affairs, War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, East Orange, NJ, United States of America
| | - Jacquelyn C. Klein-Adams
- Department of Veterans Affairs, War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, East Orange, NJ, United States of America
| | - Duncan S. Ndirangu
- Department of Veterans Affairs, War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, East Orange, NJ, United States of America
| | - Michael J. Falvo
- Department of Veterans Affairs, War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, East Orange, NJ, United States of America
- New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, United States of America
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Torres-Sánchez ED, Ortiz GG, Reyes-Uribe E, Torres-Jasso JH, Salazar-Flores J. Effect of pesticides on phosphorylation of tau protein, and its influence on Alzheimer's disease. World J Clin Cases 2023; 11:5628-5642. [PMID: 37727721 PMCID: PMC10506003 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i24.5628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and neurodegenerative illness which results in alterations in cognitive development. It is characterized by loss/dysfunction of cholinergic neurons, and formation of amyloid plaques, and formation of neurofibrillary tangles, among other changes, due to hyperphosphorylation of tau-protein. Exposure to pesticides in humans occurs frequently due to contact with contaminated food, water, or particles. Organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids and neonicotinoids are associated with the most diagnosed incidents of severe cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of these pesticides on the phosphorylation of tau protein, and its cognitive implications in the development of AD. It was found that exposure to pesticides increased the phosphorylation of tau protein at sites Ser198, Ser199, Ser202, Thr205, Ser396 and Ser404. Contact with these chemicals altered the enzymatic activities of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta, and protein phosphatase-2A. Moreover, it altered the expression of the microtubule associated protein tau gene, and changed levels of intracellular calcium. These changes affected tau protein phosphorylation and neuroinflammation, and also increased oxidative stress. In addition, the exposed subjects had poor level of performance in tests that involved evaluation of novelty, as test on verbal, non-verbal, spatial memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erandis D Torres-Sánchez
- Department of Medical and Life Sciences, University Center of la Cienega, University of Guadalajara, Ocotlan 47820, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Genaro G Ortiz
- Department of Philosophical and Methodological Disciplines and Service of Molecular Biology in Medicine Hospital Civil, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Emmanuel Reyes-Uribe
- Department of Medical and Life Sciences, University Center of la Cienega, University of Guadalajara, Ocotlan 47820, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Juan H Torres-Jasso
- Department of Biological Sciences, CUCOSTA, University of Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta 48280, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Joel Salazar-Flores
- Department of Medical and Life Sciences, University Center of la Cienega, University of Guadalajara, Ocotlan 47820, Jalisco, Mexico
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Bhatti G, Villalon A, Li R, Elammari M, Price A, Steele L, Garcia JM, Marcelli M, Jorge R. Hormonal changes in veterans with Gulf War Illness. Life Sci 2023; 328:121908. [PMID: 37406768 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121908] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a multi-system condition of complex etiology and pathophysiology without specific treatment. There is an overlap between the symptoms of GWI and endocrinopathies. This study aimed to identify hormonal alterations in 1990-91 Gulf War (GW) veterans and the relationship between GWI and hormonal dysregulation. MAIN METHODS Data from 81 GW veterans (54 with GWI and 27 controls without GWI) was analyzed in a cross-sectional, case-control observational study. Participants completed multiple questionnaires, neuropsychiatric assessments, and a comprehensive set of hormone assays including a glucagon stimulation test (GST) for adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) and a high-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test for adrenal insufficiency. KEY FINDINGS The GWI group had lower quality of life and greater severity of all symptoms compared to controls. Pain intensity and pain-related interference with general activity were also higher in the GWI group. AGHD was observed in 18 of 51 veterans with GWI (35.3 %) and 2 of 26 veterans without GWI (7.7 %) (p = 0.012 for interaction). Veterans with GWI also exhibited reduced insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels and IGF-1 Z-scores compared to controls. One participant with GWI met the criteria for adrenal insufficiency. No significant changes were observed in other hormonal axes. SIGNIFICANCE The frequency of AGHD was significantly higher in veterans with GWI compared to controls. Recombinant human growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) may become a breakthrough therapeutic option for this subgroup. A large clinical trial is needed to evaluate the efficacy of GHRT in patients with GWI and AGHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gursimrat Bhatti
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Beth K and Stuart C Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Audri Villalon
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Beth K and Stuart C Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ruosha Li
- UT Health Science Center School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mohamed Elammari
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Beth K and Stuart C Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alexandra Price
- Beth K and Stuart C Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lea Steele
- Beth K and Stuart C Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jose M Garcia
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, and Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine-Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Ricardo Jorge
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA; Beth K and Stuart C Yudofsky Division of Neuropsychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
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9
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Mozhui K, O’Callaghan JP, Ashbrook DG, Prins P, Zhao W, Lu L, Jones BC. Epigenetic analysis in a murine genetic model of Gulf War illness. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2023; 5:1162749. [PMID: 37389175 PMCID: PMC10300436 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1162749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Of the nearly 1 million military personnel who participated in the 1990-1991 Gulf War, between 25% and 35% became ill with what now is referred to as Gulf War Illness (GWI) by the Department of Defense. Symptoms varied from gastrointestinal distress to lethargy, memory loss, inability to concentrate, depression, respiratory, and reproductive problems. The symptoms have persisted for 30 years in those afflicted but the basis of the illness remains largely unknown. Nerve agents and other chemical exposures in the war zone have been implicated but the long-term effects of these acute exposures have left few if any identifiable signatures. The major aim of this study is to elucidate the possible genomic basis for the persistence of symptoms, especially of the neurological and behavioral effects. To address this, we performed a whole genome epigenetic analysis of the proposed cause of GWI, viz., exposure to organophosphate neurotoxicants combined with high circulating glucocorticoids in two inbred mouse strains, C57BL/6J and DBA/2J. The animals received corticosterone in their drinking water for 7 days followed by injection of diisopropylfluorophosphate, a nerve agent surrogate. Six weeks after DFP injection, the animals were euthanized and medial prefrontal cortex harvested for genome-wide DNA methylation analysis using high-throughput sequencing. We observed 67 differentially methylated genes, notably among them, Ttll7, Akr1c14, Slc44a4, and Rusc2, all related to different symptoms of GWI. Our results support proof of principle of genetic differences in the chronic effects of GWI-related exposures and may reveal why the disease has persisted in many of the now aging Gulf War veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khyobeni Mozhui
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - James P. O’Callaghan
- Molecular Neurotoxicology Laboratory, Toxicology, and Molecular Biology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIOSH, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - David G. Ashbrook
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Pjotr Prins
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Wenyuan Zhao
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Lu Lu
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Byron C. Jones
- Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Addiction Science, and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
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10
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Eckel BD, Cruz R, Craig EM, Baas PW. Microtubule polarity flaws as a treatable driver of neurodegeneration. Brain Res Bull 2023; 192:208-215. [PMID: 36442694 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Microtubule disruption is a common downstream mechanism leading to axonal degeneration in a number of neurological diseases. To date, most studies on this topic have focused on the loss of microtubule mass from the axon, as well as changes in the stability properties of the microtubules and/or their tubulin composition. Here we posit corruption of the normal pattern of microtubule polarity orientation as an underappreciated and yet treatable contributor to axonal degeneration. We include computational modeling to fortify the rigor of our considerations. Our simulations demonstrate that even a small deviation from the usual polarity pattern of axonal microtubules is detrimental to motor-based trafficking of organelles and other intracellular cargo. Additional modeling predicts that axons with such deviations will exhibit significantly reduced speed and reliability of organelle transport, and that localized clusters of wrongly oriented microtubules will result in traffic jams of accumulated organelles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridie D Eckel
- Dept Neurobiol/Anat, Drexel University, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
| | - Roy Cruz
- Dept Physics, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA 98926, USA
| | - Erin M Craig
- Dept Physics, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA 98926, USA
| | - Peter W Baas
- Dept Neurobiol/Anat, Drexel University, 2900 Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
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11
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Yates PL, Case K, Sun X, Sullivan K, Baas PW, Qiang L. Veteran-derived cerebral organoids display multifaceted pathological defects in studies on Gulf War Illness. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:979652. [PMID: 36619675 PMCID: PMC9816432 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.979652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 30% of the veterans who fought in the 1991 Gulf War (GW) suffer from a disease called Gulf War Illness (GWI), which encompasses a constellation of symptoms including cognitive deficits. A coalescence of evidence indicates that GWI was caused by low-level exposure to organophosphate pesticides and nerve agents in combination with physical stressors of the battlefield. Until recently, progress on mechanisms and therapy had been limited to rodent-based models. Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from veterans with or without GWI, we recently developed a bank of human induced pluripotent stem cells that can be differentiated into a variety of cellular fates. With these cells, we have now generated cerebral organoids, which are three-dimensional multicellular structures that resemble the human brain. We established organoid cultures from two GW veterans, one with GWI and one without. Immunohistochemical analyses indicate that these organoids, when treated with a GW toxicant regimen consisting of the organophosphate diisopropyl fluorophosphate (a sarin analog) and cortisol (to mimic battlefield stress), display multiple indicators consistent with cognitive deficits, including increased astrocytic reactivity, enhanced phosphorylation of tau proteins, decreased microtubule stability, and impaired neurogenesis. Interestingly, some of these phenotypes were more pronounced in the organoids derived from the veteran with GWI, potentially reflecting a stronger response to the toxicants in some individuals compared to others. These results suggest that veteran-derived human cerebral organoids not only can be used as an innovative human model to uncover the cellular responses to GW toxicants but can also serve as a platform for developing personalized medicine approaches for the veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip L. Yates
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kendra Case
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Xiaohuan Sun
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kimberly Sullivan
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Peter W. Baas
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Liang Qiang
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States,*Correspondence: Liang Qiang,
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12
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Cruz-Hernandez A, Roney A, Goswami DG, Tewari-Singh N, Brown JM. A review of chemical warfare agents linked to respiratory and neurological effects experienced in Gulf War Illness. Inhal Toxicol 2022; 34:412-432. [PMID: 36394251 PMCID: PMC9832991 DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2022.2147257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Over 40% of veterans from the Persian Gulf War (GW) (1990-1991) suffer from Gulf War Illness (GWI). Thirty years since the GW, the exposure and mechanism contributing to GWI remain unclear. One possible exposure that has been attributed to GWI are chemical warfare agents (CWAs). While there are treatments for isolated symptoms of GWI, the number of respiratory and cognitive/neurological issues continues to rise with minimum treatment options. This issue does not only affect veterans of the GW, importantly these chronic multisymptom illnesses (CMIs) are also growing amongst veterans who have served in the Afghanistan-Iraq war. What both wars have in common are their regions and inhaled exposures. In this review, we will describe the CWA exposures, such as sarin, cyclosarin, and mustard gas in both wars and discuss the various respiratory and neurocognitive issues experienced by veterans. We will bridge the respiratory and neurological symptoms experienced to the various potential mechanisms described for each CWA provided with the most up-to-date models and hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Cruz-Hernandez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Andrew Roney
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Dinesh G Goswami
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Neera Tewari-Singh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Jared M Brown
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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13
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Ferguson S, McCartan R, Browning M, Hahn-Townsend C, Gratkowski A, Morin A, Abdullah L, Ait-Ghezala G, Ojo J, Sullivan K, Mullan M, Crawford F, Mouzon B. Impact of gulf war toxic exposures after mild traumatic brain injury. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:147. [PMID: 36258255 PMCID: PMC9580120 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01449-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical and pharmaceutical exposures have been associated with the development of Gulf War Illness (GWI), but how these factors interact with the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains an area of study that has received little attention thus far. We studied the effects of pyridostigmine bromide (an anti-nerve agent) and permethrin (a pesticide) exposure in a mouse model of repetitive mild TBI (r-mTBI), with 5 impacts over a 9-day period, followed by Gulf War (GW) toxicant exposure for 10 days beginning 30 days after the last head injury. We then assessed the chronic behavioral and pathological sequelae 5 months after GW agent exposure. We observed that r-mTBI and GWI cumulatively affect the spatial memory of mice in the Barnes maze and result in a shift of search strategies employed by r-mTBI/GW exposed mice. GW exposure also produced anxiety-like behavior in sham animals, but r-mTBI produced disinhibition in both the vehicle and GW treated mice. Pathologically, GW exposure worsened r-mTBI dependent axonal degeneration and neuroinflammation, increased oligodendrocyte cell counts, and increased r-mTBI dependent phosphorylated tau, which was found to colocalize with oligodendrocytes in the corpus callosum. These results suggest that GW exposures may worsen TBI-related deficits. Veterans with a history of both GW chemical exposures as well as TBI may be at higher risk for worse symptoms and outcomes. Subsequent exposure to various toxic substances can influence the chronic nature of mTBI and should be considered as an etiological factor influencing mTBI recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Ferguson
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
| | - Robyn McCartan
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
| | | | | | | | - Alexander Morin
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
| | - Laila Abdullah
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA.,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | | | - Joseph Ojo
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
| | - Kimberly Sullivan
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St. T4W, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Michael Mullan
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA
| | - Fiona Crawford
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA.,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Benoit Mouzon
- Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave, Sarasota, FL, 34243, USA. .,James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL, USA.
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14
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Hamblin MR. Photobiomodulation for Gulf War Illness? Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg 2022; 40:437-439. [DOI: 10.1089/photob.2022.0052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michael R. Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa
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