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Cuello AC. Rita Levi-Montalcini, NGF Metabolism in Health and in the Alzheimer's Pathology. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1331:119-144. [PMID: 34453296 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-74046-7_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This chapter relates biographic personal and scientific interactions with Rita Levi-Montalcini. It highlights research from our laboratory inspired by Rita's fundamental discovery. This work from studies on potentially neuro-reparative gangliosides, their interactions with NGF, the role of exogenous NGF in the recovery of degenerating cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain to the evidence that endogenous NGF maintains the "day-to-day" cortical synaptic phenotype and the discovery of a novel CNS "NGF metabolic pathway." This brain pathway's conceptual platform allowed the investigation of its status during the Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. This revealed a major compromise of the conversion of the NGF precursor molecule (proNGF) into the most biologically active molecule, mature NGF (mNGF). Furthermore, in this pathology, we found enhanced protein levels and enzymatic activity of the proteases responsible for the proteolytic degradation of mNGF. A biochemical prospect explaining the tropic factor vulnerability of the NGF-dependent basal forebrain cholinergic neurons and of their synaptic terminals. The NGF deregulation of this metabolic pathway is evident at preclinical stages and reflected in body fluid particularly in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The findings of a deregulation of the NGF metabolic pathway and its reflection in plasma and CSF are opening doors for the development of novel biomarkers for preclinical detection of AD pathology both in Alzheimer's and in Down syndrome (DS) with "silent" AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Gil-Tommee C, Vidal-Martinez G, Annette Reyes C, Vargas-Medrano J, Herrera GV, Martin SM, Chaparro SA, Perez RG. Parkinsonian GM2 synthase knockout mice lacking mature gangliosides develop urinary dysfunction and neurogenic bladder. Exp Neurol 2019; 311:265-273. [PMID: 30393144 PMCID: PMC6319267 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that reduces a patients' quality of life by the relentless progression of motor and non-motor symptoms. Among the non-motor symptoms is a condition called neurogenic bladder that is associated with detrusor muscle underactivity or overactivity occurring from neurologic damage. In Parkinson's disease, Lewy-body-like protein aggregation inside neurons typically contributes to pathology. This is associated with dopaminergic neuron loss in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and in ventral tegmental area (VTA), both of which play a role in micturition. GM1 gangliosides are mature glycosphingolipids that enhance normal myelination and are reduced in Parkinson's brain. To explore the role of mature gangliosides in vivo, we obtained GM2 Synthase knockout (KO) mice, which develop parkinsonian pathology including a loss of SNc dopaminergic neurons, which we reconfirmed. However, bladder function and innervation have never been assessed in this model. We compared GM2 Synthase KO and wild type (WT) littermates' urination patterns from 9 to 19 months of age by counting small and large void spots produced during 1 h tests. Because male and female mice had different patterns, we evaluated data by sex and genotype. Small void spots were significantly increased in 12-16 month GM2 Synthase KO females, consistent with overactive bladder. Similarly, at 9-12 month GM2 KO males tended to have more small void spots than WT males. As GM2 Synthase KO mice aged, both females and males had fewer small and large void spots, consistent with detrusor muscle underactivity. Ultrasounds confirmed bladder enlargement in GM2 Synthase KO mice compared to WT mice. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry revealed significant dopaminergic loss in GM2 Synthase KO VTA and SNc, and a trend toward TH loss in the GM2 KO periaqueductal gray (PAG) micturition centers. Levels of the nerve growth factor precursor, proNGF, were significantly increased in GM2 Synthase KO bladders and transmission electron micrographs showed atypical myelination of pelvic ganglion innervation in GM2 Synthase KO bladders. Cumulatively, our findings provide the first evidence that mature ganglioside loss affects micturition center TH neurons as well as proNGF dysregulation and abnormal innervation of the bladder. Thus, identifying therapies that will counteract these effects should be beneficial for those suffering from Parkinson's disease and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Gil-Tommee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center of Emphasis in Neurosciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Guadalupe Vidal-Martinez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center of Emphasis in Neurosciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - C Annette Reyes
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center of Emphasis in Neurosciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Javier Vargas-Medrano
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center of Emphasis in Neurosciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Gloria V Herrera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center of Emphasis in Neurosciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Silver M Martin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center of Emphasis in Neurosciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Stephanie A Chaparro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center of Emphasis in Neurosciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Ruth G Perez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center of Emphasis in Neurosciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, El Paso, TX 79905, USA..
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Meng H, Wang L, He J, Wang Z. The Protective Effect of Gangliosides on Lead (Pb)-Induced Neurotoxicity Is Mediated by Autophagic Pathways. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:365. [PMID: 27023584 PMCID: PMC4847027 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13040365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) is a ubiquitous environmental and industrial pollutant and can affect intelligence development and the learning ability and memory of children. Therefore, necessary measures should be taken to protect the central nervous system (CNS) from Pb toxicity. Gangliosides are sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids that are constituents of mammalian cell membranes and are more abundantly expressed in the CNS. Studies have shown that gangliosides constitute a useful tool in the attempt to promote functional recovery of CNS and can reverse Pb-induced impairments of synaptic plasticity in rats. However, the detailed mechanisms have yet to be fully understood. In our present study, we tried to investigate the role of gangliosides in Pb-induced injury in hippocampus neurons and to further confirm the detailed mechanism. Our results show that Pb-induced injuries in the spatial reference memory were associated with a reduction of cell viability and cell apoptosis, and treatment with gangliosides markedly ameliorated the Pb-induced injury by inhibition of apoptosis action. Gangliosides further attenuated Pb-induced the abnormal autophagic process by regulation of mTOR pathways. In summary, our study establishes the efficacy of gangliosides as neuroprotective agents and provides a strong rationale for further studies on the underlying mechanisms of their neuroprotective functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongtao Meng
- Department of Neurology, Shanxi Hospital of the Armed Police Force, Xi'an 710054, China.
| | - Lan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanxi Hospital of the Armed Police Force, Xi'an 710054, China.
| | - Junhong He
- Department of Neurology, Shanxi Hospital of the Armed Police Force, Xi'an 710054, China.
| | - Zhufeng Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanxi Hospital of the Armed Police Force, Xi'an 710054, China.
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Cardoso A, Silva D, Magano S, Pereira PA, Andrade JP. Old-onset caloric restriction effects on neuropeptide Y- and somatostatin-containing neurons and on cholinergic varicosities in the rat hippocampal formation. AGE (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2014; 36:9737. [PMID: 25471895 PMCID: PMC4259091 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-014-9737-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Caloric restriction is able to delay age-related neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive impairment. In this study, we analyzed the effects of old-onset caloric restriction that started at 18 months of age, in the number of neuropeptide Y (NPY)- and somatostatin (SS)-containing neurons of the hippocampal formation. Knowing that these neuropeptidergic systems seem to be dependent of the cholinergic system, we also analyzed the number of cholinergic varicosities. Animals with 6 months of age (adult controls) and with 18 months of age were used. The animals aged 18 months were randomly assigned to controls or to caloric-restricted groups. Adult and old control rats were maintained in the ad libitum regimen during 6 months. Caloric-restricted rats were fed, during 6 months, with 60 % of the amount of food consumed by controls. We found that aging induced a reduction of the total number of NPY- and SS-positive neurons in the hippocampal formation accompanied by a decrease of the cholinergic varicosities. Conversely, the 24-month-old-onset caloric-restricted animals maintained the number of those peptidergic neurons and the density of the cholinergic varicosities similar to the 12-month control rats. These results suggest that the aging-associated reduction of these neuropeptide-expressing neurons is not due to neuronal loss and may be dependent of the cholinergic system. More importantly, caloric restriction has beneficial effects in the NPY- and SS-expressing neurons and in the cholinergic system, even when applied in old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Cardoso
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal,
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D’Angelo L, Castaldo L, Cellerino A, de Girolamo P, Lucini C. Nerve growth factor in the adult brain of a teleostean model for aging research: Nothobranchius furzeri. Ann Anat 2014; 196:183-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2014.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2013] [Revised: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Kolter T. Ganglioside biochemistry. ISRN BIOCHEMISTRY 2012; 2012:506160. [PMID: 25969757 PMCID: PMC4393008 DOI: 10.5402/2012/506160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 10/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Gangliosides are sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids. They occur especially on the cellular surfaces of neuronal cells, where they form a complex pattern, but are also found in many other cell types. The paper provides a general overview on their structures, occurrence, and metabolism. Key functional, biochemical, and pathobiochemical aspects are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kolter
- Program Unit Membrane Biology & Lipid Biochemistry, LiMES, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
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