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Ferraro S, Dave A, Cereda C, Verduci E, Marcovina S, Zuccotti G. Space research to explore novel biochemical insights on Earth. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 558:119673. [PMID: 38621588 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.119673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Travel to space has overcome unprecedent technological challenges and this has resulted in transfer of these technological results on Earth to better our lives. Health technology, medical devices, and research advancements in human biology are the first beneficiaries of this transfer. The real breakthrough came with the International Space Station, which endorsed multidisciplinary international scientific collaborations and boosted the research on pathophysiological adaptation of astronauts to life on space. These studies evidenced that life in space appeared to have exposed the astronauts to an accelerated aging-related pathophysiological dysregulation across multiple systems. In this review we emphasize the interaction between several biomarkers and their alteration in concentrations/expression/function by space stress factors. These altered interactions, suggest that different biochemical and hormonal factors, and cell signals, contribute to a complex network of pathophysiological mechanisms, orchestrating the homeostatic dysregulation of various organs/metabolic pathways. The main effects of space travel on altering cell organelles biology, ultrastructure, and cross-talk, have been observed in cell aging as well as in the disruption of metabolic pathways, which are also the causal factor of rare inherited metabolic disorders, one of the major pediatric health issue. The pathophysiologic breakthrough from space research could allow the development of precision health both on Earth and Space by promoting the validation of improved biomarker-based risk scores and the exploration of new pathophysiologic hypotheses and therapeutic targets. Nonstandard abbreviations: International Space Station (ISS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), European Space Agency (ESA), National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA), Low Earth Orbit (LEO), high sensitive troponin (hs-cTn), high sensitive troponin I (hs-cTn I), high sensitive troponin T, Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), N terminal Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-BNP), cardiovascular disease (CVD), parathyroid hormone (PTH), urinary hydroxyproline (uHP), urinary C- and N-terminal telopeptides (uCTX and uNTX), pyridinoline (PYD), deoxypyridinoline (DPD), half-time (HF), serum Bone Alkaline Phosphatase (sBSAP), serum Alkaline Phosphatase (sAP), Carboxy-terminal Propeptide of Type 1 Procollagen (P1CP), serum Osteocalcin (sOC)), advanced glycation end products (AGEs), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), Growth Hormone (GH), amino acid (AA), β-hydroxy-β methyl butyrate (HMB), maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Ferraro
- Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy.
| | - Anilkumar Dave
- Space Economy and Open Innovation, Darwix srl, Venice, Italy
| | - Cristina Cereda
- Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy; Center of Functional Genomics and Rare Diseases
| | - Elvira Verduci
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Metabolic Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Gianvincenzo Zuccotti
- Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Pierozan P, Pessoa-Pureur R. Cytoskeleton as a Target of Quinolinic Acid Neurotoxicity: Insight from Animal Models. Mol Neurobiol 2017. [PMID: 28647871 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0654-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cytoskeletal proteins are increasingly recognized as having important roles as a target of the action of different neurotoxins. In the last years, several works of our group have shown that quinolinic acid (QUIN) was able to disrupt the homeostasis of the cytoskeleton of neural cells and this was associated with cell dysfunction and neurodegeneration. QUIN is an excitotoxic metabolite of tryptophan metabolism and its accumulation is associated with several neurodegenerative diseases. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive view of the actions of QUIN upstream of glutamate receptors, eliciting kinase/phosphatase signaling cascades that disrupt the homeostasis of the phosphorylation system associated with intermediate filament proteins of astrocytes and neurons. We emphasize the critical role of calcium in these actions and the evidence that misregulated cytoskeleton takes part of the cell response to the injury resulting in neurodegeneration in different brain regions, disrupted cell signaling in acute tissue slices, and disorganized cytoskeleton with altered cell morphology in primary cultures. We also discuss the interplay among misregulated cytoskeleton, oxidative stress, and cell-cell contact through gap junctions mediating the quinolinic acid injury in rat brain. The increasing amount of cross talks identified between cytoskeletal proteins and cellular signaling cascades reinforces the exciting possibility that cytoskeleton could be a new target in the neurotoxicity of QUIN and further studies will be necessary to develop strategies to protect the cytoskeleton and counteracts the cytotoxicity of this metabolite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Pierozan
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 Anexo, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil
| | - Regina Pessoa-Pureur
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Ramiro Barcelos 2600 Anexo, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
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Villani GRD, Gallo G, Scolamiero E, Salvatore F, Ruoppolo M. “Classical organic acidurias”: diagnosis and pathogenesis. Clin Exp Med 2016; 17:305-323. [DOI: 10.1007/s10238-016-0435-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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In Vivo NMR Studies of the Brain with Hereditary or Acquired Metabolic Disorders. Neurochem Res 2015; 40:2647-85. [PMID: 26610379 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-015-1772-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2015] [Revised: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic disorders, whether hereditary or acquired, affect the brain, and abnormalities of the brain are related to cellular integrity; particularly in regard to neurons and astrocytes as well as interactions between them. Metabolic disturbances lead to alterations in cellular function as well as microscopic and macroscopic structural changes in the brain with diabetes, the most typical example of metabolic disorders, and a number of hereditary metabolic disorders. Alternatively, cellular dysfunction and degeneration of the brain lead to metabolic disturbances in hereditary neurological disorders with neurodegeneration. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques allow us to assess a range of pathophysiological changes of the brain in vivo. For example, magnetic resonance spectroscopy detects alterations in brain metabolism and energetics. Physiological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detects accompanying changes in cerebral blood flow related to neurovascular coupling. Diffusion and T1/T2-weighted MRI detect microscopic and macroscopic changes of the brain structure. This review summarizes current NMR findings of functional, physiological and biochemical alterations within a number of hereditary and acquired metabolic disorders in both animal models and humans. The global view of the impact of these metabolic disorders on the brain may be useful in identifying the unique and/or general patterns of abnormalities in the living brain related to the pathophysiology of the diseases, and identifying future fields of inquiry.
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Boneh A. Signal transduction in inherited metabolic disorders: a model for a possible pathogenetic mechanism. J Inherit Metab Dis 2015; 38:729-40. [PMID: 25735935 DOI: 10.1007/s10545-015-9820-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Revised: 01/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Signal transduction is the process by which external or internal signals exert their intracellular biological effects and by which intracellular communication is regulated. An important component of the signalling pathway is the second messenger, which is produced upon stimulation of the cell and mediates its effects downstream through phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of target proteins. Intracellular accumulation or deficiency of metabolites that serve as second messengers, due to inborn errors of their metabolism, may lead to perturbation of signalling pathways and disruption of the balance between them, serving as a missing link between the genotype, biochemical phenotype and clinical phenotype. The main second messengers that are putatively associated with the pathogenesis of IEM are 'bioactive lipids' (complex lipids and long-chain fatty acids), 'calcium', 'stress' (osmotic, reactive oxygen/nitorgen species, misfolded proteins and others) and 'metabolic' (AMP/ATP ratio, leucine, glutamine). They act through protein kinase C, calcium dependent kinases (CamK) and phosphatase (CN), 'stress-mediated' kinases (MAPK) and AMP/ATP-dependent kinase (AMPK). These signalling pathways lead to cell proliferation, inflammatory response, autophagy (and mitophagy) and apoptosis, suggesting that there are only few final common pathways involved in this pathogenetic mechanism. Questions remain regarding the complexity of the effects of the accumulating metabolites on different signalling pathways, and regarding the relative role and origin of 'proxy' second messengers such as reactive oxygen species. A better understanding of the signalling pathways in IEM may enhance the development of novel therapies in situations where normalising intracellular concentrations of the second messenger is impossible or impractical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avihu Boneh
- Metabolic Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Vic, 3052, Melbourne, Australia,
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Pierozan P, Gonçalves Fernandes C, Ferreira F, Pessoa-Pureur R. Acute intrastriatal injection of quinolinic acid provokes long-lasting misregulation of the cytoskeleton in the striatum, cerebral cortex and hippocampus of young rats. Brain Res 2014; 1577:1-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Revised: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Signaling mechanisms and disrupted cytoskeleton in the diphenyl ditelluride neurotoxicity. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2014; 2014:458601. [PMID: 25050142 PMCID: PMC4090446 DOI: 10.1155/2014/458601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Evidence from our group supports that diphenyl ditelluride (PhTe)2 neurotoxicity depends on modulation of signaling pathways initiated at the plasma membrane. The (PhTe)2-evoked signal is transduced downstream of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCC), N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDA), or metabotropic glutamate receptors activation via different kinase pathways (protein kinase A, phospholipase C/protein kinase C, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and Akt signaling pathway). Among the most relevant cues of misregulated signaling mechanisms evoked by (PhTe)2 is the cytoskeleton of neural cells. The in vivo and in vitro exposure to (PhTe)2 induce hyperphosphorylation/hypophosphorylation of neuronal and glial intermediate filament (IF) proteins (neurofilaments and glial fibrillary acidic protein, resp.) in different brain structures of young rats. Phosphorylation of IFs at specific sites modulates their association/disassociation and interferes with important physiological roles, such as axonal transport. Disrupted cytoskeleton is a crucial marker of neurodegeneration and is associated with reactive astrogliosis and apoptotic cell death. This review focuses the current knowledge and important results on the mechanisms of (PhTe)2 neurotoxicity with special emphasis on the cytoskeletal proteins and their differential regulation by kinases/phosphatases and Ca2+-mediated mechanisms in developmental rat brain. We propose that the disrupted cytoskeletal homeostasis could support brain damage provoked by this neurotoxicant.
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Cattani D, de Liz Oliveira Cavalli VL, Heinz Rieg CE, Domingues JT, Dal-Cim T, Tasca CI, Mena Barreto Silva FR, Zamoner A. Mechanisms underlying the neurotoxicity induced by glyphosate-based herbicide in immature rat hippocampus: involvement of glutamate excitotoxicity. Toxicology 2014; 320:34-45. [PMID: 24636977 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2014.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Revised: 02/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies demonstrate that glyphosate exposure is associated with oxidative damage and neurotoxicity. Therefore, the mechanism of glyphosate-induced neurotoxic effects needs to be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Roundup(®) (a glyphosate-based herbicide) leads to neurotoxicity in hippocampus of immature rats following acute (30min) and chronic (pregnancy and lactation) pesticide exposure. Maternal exposure to pesticide was undertaken by treating dams orally with 1% Roundup(®) (0.38% glyphosate) during pregnancy and lactation (till 15-day-old). Hippocampal slices from 15 day old rats were acutely exposed to Roundup(®) (0.00005-0.1%) during 30min and experiments were carried out to determine whether glyphosate affects (45)Ca(2+) influx and cell viability. Moreover, we investigated the pesticide effects on oxidative stress parameters, (14)C-α-methyl-amino-isobutyric acid ((14)C-MeAIB) accumulation, as well as glutamate uptake, release and metabolism. Results showed that acute exposure to Roundup(®) (30min) increases (45)Ca(2+) influx by activating NMDA receptors and voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels, leading to oxidative stress and neural cell death. The mechanisms underlying Roundup(®)-induced neurotoxicity also involve the activation of CaMKII and ERK. Moreover, acute exposure to Roundup(®) increased (3)H-glutamate released into the synaptic cleft, decreased GSH content and increased the lipoperoxidation, characterizing excitotoxicity and oxidative damage. We also observed that both acute and chronic exposure to Roundup(®) decreased (3)H-glutamate uptake and metabolism, while induced (45)Ca(2+) uptake and (14)C-MeAIB accumulation in immature rat hippocampus. Taken together, these results demonstrated that Roundup(®) might lead to excessive extracellular glutamate levels and consequently to glutamate excitotoxicity and oxidative stress in rat hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiane Cattani
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Vera Lúcia de Liz Oliveira Cavalli
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Carla Elise Heinz Rieg
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Juliana Tonietto Domingues
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Tharine Dal-Cim
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Carla Inês Tasca
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Fátima Regina Mena Barreto Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Ariane Zamoner
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
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Heimfarth L, Loureiro SO, Dutra MF, Petenuzzo L, de Lima BO, Fernandes CG, da Rocha JBT, Pessoa-Pureur R. Disrupted cytoskeletal homeostasis, astrogliosis and apoptotic cell death in the cerebellum of preweaning rats injected with diphenyl ditelluride. Neurotoxicology 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2012.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Heimfarth L, Loureiro SO, Reis KP, de Lima BO, Zamboni F, Lacerda S, Soska ÂK, Wild L, da Rocha JBT, Pessoa-Pureur R. Diphenyl ditelluride induces hypophosphorylation of intermediate filaments through modulation of DARPP-32-dependent pathways in cerebral cortex of young rats. Arch Toxicol 2011; 86:217-30. [DOI: 10.1007/s00204-011-0746-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2011] [Accepted: 08/11/2011] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Pierozan P, Zamoner A, Soska AK, Silvestrin RB, Loureiro SO, Heimfarth L, Mello e Souza T, Wajner M, Pessoa-Pureur R. Acute intrastriatal administration of quinolinic acid provokes hyperphosphorylation of cytoskeletal intermediate filament proteins in astrocytes and neurons of rats. Exp Neurol 2010; 224:188-96. [PMID: 20303347 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2010.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2010] [Revised: 03/05/2010] [Accepted: 03/10/2010] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
In the present study we investigated the effect of in vivo intrastriatal injection of quinolinic acid (QA) on cytoskeletal proteins in astrocytes and neurons of young rats at early stage (30 min) after infusion. QA (150 nmoles/0.5 microL) significantly increased the in vitro phosphorylation of the low molecular weight neurofilament subunit (NFL) and the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) of neurons and astrocytes, respectively. This effect was mediated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC) and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (PKCaMII). In contrast, mitogen activated protein kinases were not activated by QA infusion. Furthermore, the specific N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist MK-801 (0.25 mg/kg i.p), the antioxidant L-NAME (60 mg\kg\day), and diphenyldisselenide (PheSe)(2) (0.625 mg\kg\day) injected prior to QA infusion totally prevented QA-induced cytoskeletal hyperphosphorylation. We also observed that QA-induced hyperphosphorylation was targeted at the Ser55 phosphorylating site on NFL head domain, described as a regulatory site for NF assembly in vivo. This effect was fully prevented by MK801, by the PKA inhibitor H89 and by (PheSe)(2), whereas staurosporine (PKC inhibitor) only partially prevented Ser55 phosphorylation. The PKCaMII inhibitor (KN93) and the antioxidant L-NAME failed to prevent the hyperphosphorylation of Ser55 by QA infusion. Therefore, we presume that QA-elicited hyperphosphorylation of the neural cytoskeleton, and specially of NFLSer55, achieved by intrastriatal QA injection could represent an early step in the pathophysiological cascade of deleterious events exerted by QA in rat striatum. Our observations also indicate that NMDA-mediated Ca(2+) events and oxidative stress may be related to the altered protein cytoskeleton hyperphosphorylation observed with important implications for brain function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Pierozan
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil
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Changes in kinetics of amino acid uptake at the ageing ovine blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier. Neurobiol Aging 2010; 33:121-33. [PMID: 20138405 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2009] [Revised: 01/15/2010] [Accepted: 01/19/2010] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Amino acids (AA) in brain are precisely controlled by blood-brain barriers, which undergo a host of changes in both morphology and function during ageing. The effect of these age-related changes on AA homeostasis in brain is not well described. This study investigated the kinetics of four AA (Leu, Phe, Ala and Lys) uptakes at young and old ovine choroid plexus (CP), the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier (BCB), and measured AA concentrations in CSF and plasma samples. In old sheep, the weight of lateral CP increased, so did the ratio of CP/brain. The expansion of the CP is consistent with clinical observation of thicker leptomeninges in old age. AA concentrations in old CSF, plasma and their ratio were different from the young. Both V(max) and K(m) of Phe and Lys were significant higher compared to the young, indicating higher trans-stimulation in old BCB. Cross-competition and kinetic inhibition studies found the sensitivity and specificity of these transporters were impaired in old BCB. These changes may be the first signs of a compromised barrier system in ageing brain leading increased AA influx into the brain causing neurotoxicity.
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Kalkan Ucar S, Coker M, Habif S, Saz EU, Karapinar B, Ucar H, Kitis O, Duran M. The first use of N-carbamylglutamate in a patient with decompensated maple syrup urine disease. Metab Brain Dis 2009; 24:409-14. [PMID: 19688253 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-009-9155-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2009] [Accepted: 04/14/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a defect in the catabolism of the branched-chain amino acids; leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Affected patients may also develop hyperammonaemia of unknown etiology. This report describes a four-year-old girl with MSUD, who presented with decompensated hyperleucinaemia with hyperammonaemia. The oral administration of the N-acetylglutamate analogue, N-carbamylglutamate (NCG), 200 mg/kg/day as a loading dose, and 100 mg/kg/day as a maintenance dose, in combination with standard therapy resulted in a significant decrease of plasma ammonia levels. This observation suggests that NCG may be an important adjunct to standard therapy in the management of decompensated MSUD patients with high leucine and ammonia levels. Supportive evidence from either randomized controlled trials or a large prospective cohort study is needed to confirm this interesting finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sema Kalkan Ucar
- Department of Pediatrics, Ege University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey.
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Lemire J, Mailloux R, Puiseux-Dao S, Appanna VD. Aluminum-induced defective mitochondrial metabolism perturbs cytoskeletal dynamics in human astrocytoma cells. J Neurosci Res 2009; 87:1474-83. [PMID: 19084901 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.21965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Although aluminum (Al), a known environmental toxin, has been implicated in a variety of neurological disorders, the molecular mechanism responsible for these conditions is not fully understood. In this report, we demonstrate the ability of Al to trigger mitochondrial dysfunction and ineffective adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. This situation severely affected cytoskeletal dynamics. Whereas the control cells had well-defined structures, the Al-exposed astrocytoma cells appeared as globular structures. Creatine kinase (CK) and profilin-2, two critical modulators of cellular morphology, were markedly diminished in the astrocytoma cells treated with Al. Antioxidants such as alpha-ketoglutarate and N-acetylcysteine mitigated the occurrence of the globular-shaped cells promoted by Al toxicity. Taken together, these data reveal an intricate link between ATP metabolism and astrocytic dysfunction and provide molecular insights into the pathogenesis of Al-induced neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Lemire
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
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Congenital hypothyroidism is associated with intermediate filament misregulation, glutamate transporters down-regulation and MAPK activation in developing rat brain. Neurotoxicology 2008; 29:1092-9. [PMID: 18845185 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2008.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2007] [Revised: 09/10/2008] [Accepted: 09/10/2008] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Developmental thyroid hormone (TH) deficiency leads to mental retardation and neurological deficits in humans. In this study, congenital hypothyroidism was induced in rats by adding 0.05% 6-propyl-2-thiouracil in the drinking water during gestation and suckling period. This treatment induced hyperphosphorylation of neurofilaments, the neuronal intermediate filament (IF) proteins, of heavy, medium and low molecular weight (NF-H, NF-M and NF-L, respectively) without altering the phosphorylation level of astrocyte IF proteins, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin in cerebral cortex of rats. NF-H was hyperphosphorylated on KSP repeats in the carboxy-terminal tail domain. Furthermore, the immunocontent of GFAP and NF subunits was down-regulated, while vimentin was unaltered both in tissue homogenate and in cytoskeletal fraction of hypothyroid animals. Moreover, we verified the immunocontent of astrocyte glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST) and glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) as well as activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in hypothyroid rats. Results showed that hypothyroidism is associated with decreased GLAST and GLT-1 immunocontent. Additionally, we demonstrated increased extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation without altering Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38(MAPK) phosphorylation. However, total JNK levels were down-regulated. Taken together, these results suggest that the thyroid status could modulate the integrity of neuronal cytoskeleton acting on the endogenous NF-associated phosphorylating system and that such effect could be related to glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, as well as ERK1/2 and JNK modulation. These events could be somehow related to the neurological dysfunction described in hypothyroidism.
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