The Involvement of the Decrease of Astrocytic Wnt5a in the Cognitive Decline in Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy

Blood and CSF levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with encephalopathy/encephalitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is critical for enhancing the survival and growth of neurons and modulating the synaptic plasticity. BDNF levels have been demonstrated to be changed in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) following brain insults such as inflammation or ischemia or infection in several studies. Currently, there is no systematic review regarding BDNF levels in encephalitis or encephalopathy patients. Considering inconsistency between studies, we aimed to pool the data from existing studies to determine whether blood or CSF levels of BDNF are different in patients with encephalopathy/encephalitis.

METHODS

We comprehensively searched Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases to identify eligible studies. The last search occurred in December 2022.

RESULTS

12 studies met our inclusion criteria and ten studies including 283 patients and 323 healthy controls were enrolled in this meta-analysis. In comparison to controls, patients with encephalitis/encephalopathy had higher levels of BDNF in their CSF [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.48, 95% CI 0.18-2.77; P = 0.03)], while their blood levels of BDNF did not differ significantly [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.27, 95% CI = - 0.71 to 1.25; P = 0.58)]. Moreover, regarding the heterogeneity among studies reporting BDNF blood levels, we performed two subgroup analyses based on the disease etiology and the specimen (plasma and serum); none of them indicated statistically significant difference in BDNF levels between the subgroups (P = 0.41 and 0.20, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Meta-analysis provides evidence that patients with encephalopathy/encephalitis have higher CSF levels of BDNF compared to controls.

Remote Ischemia Postconditioning Mitigates Hippocampal Neuron Impairment by Modulating Cav1.2-CaMKIIα-Aromatase Signaling After Global Cerebral Ischemia in Ovariectomized Rats

Brain-derived estrogen (BDE2) is gaining attention as an endogenous neurotransmitter. Recent research has revealed that selectively removing the aromatase gene, the pivotal enzyme responsible for BDE2 synthesis, in forebrain neurons or astrocytes can lead to synaptic loss and cognitive impairment. It is worth noting that remote ischemia post-conditioning (RIP), a non-invasive technique, has been shown to activate natural protective mechanisms against severe ischemic events. The aim of our study was to investigate whether RIP triggers aromatase-BDE2 signaling, shedding light on its neuroprotective mechanisms after global cerebral ischemia (GCI) in ovariectomized rats. Our findings are as follows: (1) RIP was effective in mitigating ischemic damage in hippocampal CA1 neurons and improved cognitive function after GCI. This was partially due to increased Aro-BDE2 signaling in CA1 neurons. (2) RIP intervention efficiently enhanced pro-survival kinase pathways, such as AKT, ERK1/2, CREB, and suppressed CaMKIIα signaling in CA1 astrocytes induced by GCI. Remarkably, inhibiting CaMKIIα activity led to elevated Aro-BDE2 levels and replicated the benefits of RIP. (3) We also identified the positive mediation of Cav1.2, an LVGCC calcium channel, on CaMKIIα-Aro/BDE2 pathway response to RIP intervention. (4) Significantly, either RIP or CaMKIIα inhibition was found to alleviate reactive astrogliosis, which was accompanied by increased pro-survival A2-astrocyte protein S100A10 and decreased pro-death A1-astrocyte marker C3 levels. In summary, our study provides compelling evidence that Aro-BDE2 signaling is a critical target for the reparative effects of RIP following ischemic insult. This effect may be mediated through the CaV1.2-CaMKIIα signaling pathway, in collaboration with astrocyte-neuron interactions, thereby maintaining calcium homeostasis in the neuronal microenvironment and reducing neuronal damage after ischemia.

Quantitative susceptibility mapping in rats with minimal hepatic encephalopathy: Does iron overload aggravate cognitive impairment by promoting neuroinflammation?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is a mild form of hepatic encephalopathy that lacks observable signs and symptoms. Nevertheless, MHE can cause neurocognitive dysfunction, although the neurobiological mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, the effects of hippocampal iron deposition on cognitive function and its role in MHE were investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen rats were assigned to experimental and control groups. MHE was induced by thioacetamide. Spatial memory and exploratory behavior were assessed by the Morris water and elevated plus mazes. Hippocampal susceptibility was measured by quantitative susceptibility mapping, iron deposition in the hippocampus and liver by Prussian blue staining, and inflammatory cytokine and ferritin levels in the hippocampus were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

MHE rats showed impaired spatial memory and exploratory behavior (P < 0.05 for all parameters). The bilateral hippocampal susceptibility values were significantly raised in MHE rats, together with evidence of neuroinflammation (increased pro-inflammatory and reduced anti-inflammatory cytokine levels (all P < 0.05). Further analysis indicated good correlations between hippocampal susceptibility values with latency time and inflammatory cytokine levels in MHE but not in control rats.

CONCLUSION

MHE induced by thioacetamide was associated with hippocampal iron deposition and inflammation, suggesting that iron overload may be an important driver of neuroinflammatory responses.

New Insight Into Mechanisms of Hepatic Encephalopathy: An Integrative Analysis Approach to Identify Molecular Markers and Therapeutic Targets

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a set of complex neurological complications that arise from advanced liver disease. The precise molecular and cellular mechanism of HE is not fully understood. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from microarray technologies are powerful approaches to obtain new insight into the pathophysiology of HE. We analyzed microarray data sets of cirrhotic patients with HE from Gene Expression Omnibus to identify DEGs in postmortem cerebral tissues. Consequently, we uploaded significant DEGs into the STRING to specify protein-protein interactions. Cytoscape was used to reconstruct the genetic network and identify hub genes. Target genes were uploaded to different databases to perform comprehensive enrichment analysis and repurpose new therapeutic options for HE. A total of 457 DEGs were identified in 2 data sets totally from 12 cirrhotic patients with HE compared with 12 healthy subjects. We found that 274 genes were upregulated and 183 genes were downregulated. Network analyses on significant DEGs indicated 12 hub genes associated with HE. Enrichment analysis identified fatty acid beta-oxidation, cerebral organic acidurias, and regulation of actin cytoskeleton as main involved pathways associated with upregulated genes; serotonin receptor 2 and ELK-SRF/GATA4 signaling, GPCRs, class A rhodopsin-like, and p38 MAPK signaling pathway were related to downregulated genes. Finally, we predicted 39 probable effective drugs/agents for HE. This study not only confirms main important involved mechanisms of HE but also reveals some yet unknown activated molecular and cellular pathways in human HE. In addition, new targets were identified that could be of value in the future study of HE.

The role of butyrylcholinesterase in the regulation of cognitive dysfunction in minimal hepatic encephalopathy: A potential blood marker of disease evolution

Background and aims

Patients with cirrhosis commonly experience minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), and alterations in neurotransmitters have been thought to be related to cognitive function. However, the relationship between alterations in peripheral and central butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) with MHE disease progression remains unknown. As such, this study was designed to investigate potential changes in peripheral and central BuChE activity and their effects on cognitive function in the context of MHE.

Materials and methods

We enrolled 43 patients with cirrhosis secondary to hepatitis B, 20 without MHE and 23 with MHE, and 25 with healthy controls (HC). All the selected subjects underwent resting-state functional MRI, and the original images were processed to obtain the regional homogeneity (ReHo) brain maps. Thereafter, the correlation of BuChE activity with ReHo, number connection test of type A (NCT-A), and digital symbol test (DST) scores with MHE patients were analyzed using Person correlation analysis. Meanwhile, we purchased 12 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and divided them into an experimental group (n = 6) and a control group (n = 6). The rats in the experimental group were intraperitoneally injected with thioacetamide (TAA) to prepare MHE model rats. After modeling, we used the Morris water maze (MWM) and elevated plus maze (EPM) to assess the cognition function and exploratory behavior of all rats. The activity of serum, hippocampus, and frontal lobe tissue BuChE was detected by ELISA.

Results

BuChE activity gradually decreased among the HC, patients with cirrhosis, and MHE groups (all P < 0.01). We observed a linear correlation between serum BuChE and NCT-A and DST scores in MHE patients (all P < 0.01). We noted that BuChE activity can negatively correlate with ReHo values in the left middle temporal gyrus and left inferior temporal gyrus, and positively correlate with ReHo values in the right inferior frontal gyrus, and also found that the peripheral BuChE activity of MHE rats was significantly lower than their control counterparts, and the BuChE activity in frontal lobe extracts was significantly higher than the control rats (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The altered activity of BuChE may contribute to cognitive impairment in MHE patients, which may be a potential biomarker of disease evolution in the context of MHE.

Celsr3 is required for Purkinje cell maturation and regulates cerebellar postsynaptic plasticity

Atypical cadherin Celsr3 is critical for brain embryonic development, and its role in the postnatal cerebellum remains unknown. Using Celsr3-GFP mice, Celsr3 shows high expression in postnatal Purkinje cells (PCs). Mice with conditional knockout (cKO) of Celsr3 in postnatal PCs exhibit deficit in motor coordination and learning, atrophic PC dendrites, and decreased synapses. Whole-PC recording in cerebellar slices discloses a reduction frequency of mEPSC and defective postsynaptic plasticity (LTP and LTD) in Celsr3 cKO mutants. Wnt5a perfusion enhances LTP formation, which could be occluded by cAMP agonist and diminished by cAMP antagonist in control, but not in Celsr3 cKO or Fzd3 cKO cerebellar slices. Celsr3 cKO resulted in the failure of mGluR1 agonist-induced LTD and paired stimulation-induced PKCα overexpression in PC dendrites, and downregulation of mGluR1 expression compvared to controls. In conclusion, Celsr3 is required for PCs maturation and regulates postsynaptic LTP and LTD through Wnt5a/cAMP and mGluR1/PKCα signaling respectively.

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Celsr3 cKO in postnatal PCs impairs mouse motor coordination and learning

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Celsr3 inactivation affects the maturation of PC dendrites and synapses

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Celsr3 is required for the cerebellar LTP induction via the Wnt5a/cAMP signaling

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Celsr3 regulates the cerebellar LTD induction through the mGluR1/PKCα pathway

κ‑opioid receptor agonist, U50488H, inhibits pyroptosis through NLRP3 via the Ca2+/CaMKII/CREB signaling pathway and improves synaptic plasticity in APP/PS1 mice

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disorder with slow onset in most cases. Clinically, dementia associated with AD is characterized by memory disorders, aphasia, executive dysfunction and personality and behavior changes. Currently, treatment strategies attempt to reduce certain symptoms, however there is no cure for AD. The aim of the present study was to identify a novel treatment strategy for AD. Thus, the protective effects of a κ‑opioid receptor (KOR) agonist, U50488H on neural damage in AD mice were investigated. The underlying mechanism of the Ca2+/calcium/calmodulin‑dependent protein kinase II/cyclic adenosine monophosphate‑response element binding protein (Ca2+/CaMKII/CREB) signaling pathway was evaluated. Amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin‑1 (PS1) mice were treated subcutaneously with a KOR agonist for 28 days. The learning and memory abilities of the APP/PS1 mice were evaluated using the Morris water maze test. Damage to hippocampal neurons was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Inflammatory factors and brain injury markers were detected using ELISA. Neurons were examined using immunofluorescence and dendritic spines were observed using Golgi‑Cox staining. Western blotting was used to detect NOD‑, LRR‑ and pyrin domain‑containing protein 3, microglial ptosis and the Ca2+/CaMKII/CREB‑related protein pathway. The KOR agonist significantly improved the brain injury observed in APP/PS1 mice, inhibited microglia pyroptosis and improved the synaptic plasticity of APP/PS1 mice, which was reversed by a KOR antagonist. Thus, the KOR agonist improved the symptoms of APP/PS1 mice by inhibiting the Ca2+/CaMKII/CREB signaling pathway.

miR-374 improves cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury by targeting Wnt5a

To date, studies have demonstrated the potential functions of microRNAs in cerebral ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. Herein, we established a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in rats and then subjected them to reperfusion to explore the role of microRNA-374 (miR-374) in cerebral IR injury. After reperfusion, the endogenous miR-374 level decreased, and the expression of its target gene, Wnt5a, increased in brain tissues. Intracerebral pretreatment of miR-374 agomir attenuated cerebral damage induced by IR, including neurobehavioral deficits, infarction, cerebral edema and blood-brain barrier disruption. Moreover, rats pretreated with miR-374 agomir showed a remarkable decrease in apoptotic neurons, which was further confirmed by reduced BAX expression as well as increased BCL-2 and BCL-XL expression. A dual-luciferase reporter assay substantiated that Wnt5a was the target gene of miR-374. miR-374 might protect against brain injury by downregulating Wnt5a in rats after IR. Thus, our study provided a novel mechanism of cerebral IR injury from the perspective of miRNA regulation.

Frizzled 1 and Wnt1 as new potential therapeutic targets in the traumatically injured spinal cord

Despite the experimental evidence pointing to a significant role of the Wnt family of proteins in physiological and pathological rodent spinal cord functioning, its potential relevance in the healthy and traumatically injured human spinal cord as well as its therapeutic potential in spinal cord injury (SCI) are still poorly understood. To get further insight into these interesting issues, we first demonstrated by quantitative Real-Time PCR and simple immunohistochemistry that detectable mRNA expression of most Wnt components, as well as protein expression of all known Wnt receptors, can be found in the healthy human spinal cord, supporting its potential involvement in human spinal cord physiology. Moreover, evaluation of Frizzled (Fz) 1 expression by double immunohistochemistry showed that its spatio-temporal and cellular expression pattern in the traumatically injured human spinal cord is equivalent to that observed in a clinically relevant model of rat SCI and suggests its potential involvement in SCI progression/outcome. Accordingly, we found that long-term lentiviral-mediated overexpression of the Fz1 ligand Wnt1 after rat SCI improves motor functional recovery, increases myelin preservation and neuronal survival, and reduces early astroglial reactivity and NG2+ cell accumulation, highlighting the therapeutic potential of Wnt1 in this neuropathological situation.

Cognition-tracking-based strategies for diagnosis and treatment of minimal hepatic encephalopathy

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), which shows mild cognitive impairment, is a subtle complication of cirrhosis that has been shown to affect daily functioning and quality of life. However, until 2014, relevant guidelines do not give much attention to the diagnosis and treatment of MHE, resulting in patients being ignored and denied the benefits of treatment. In this review, we summarize recent cognition-based research about (1) alteration of nerve cells, including astrocytes, microglial cells and neurons, in mild cognitive impairment in MHE; (2) comparison of methods in detecting cognitive impairment in MHE; and (3) comparison of methods for therapy of cognitive impairment in MHE. We hope to provide information about diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment in patients with MHE.

New insights into Wnt signaling alterations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a potential therapeutic target?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by upper and lower motor neuron degeneration, which leads to progressive paralysis of skeletal muscles and, ultimately, respiratory failure between 2–5 years after symptom onset. Unfortunately, currently accepted treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are extremely scarce and only provide modest benefit. As a consequence, a great effort is being done by the scientific community in order to achieve a better understanding of the different molecular and cellular processes that influence the progression and/or outcome of this neuropathological condition and, therefore, unravel new potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Interestingly, a growing number of experimental evidences have recently shown that, besides its well-known physiological roles in the developing and adult central nervous system, the Wnt family of proteins is involved in different neuropathological conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These proteins are able to modulate, at least, three different signaling pathways, usually known as canonical (β-catenin dependent) and non-canonical (β-catenin independent) signaling pathways. In the present review, we aim to provide a general overview of the current knowledge that supports the relationship between the Wnt family of proteins and its associated signaling pathways and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathology, as well as their possible mechanisms of action. Altogether, the currently available knowledge suggests that Wnt signaling modulation might be a promising therapeutic approach to ameliorate the histopathological and functional deficits associated to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and thus improve the progression and outcome of this neuropathology.

Wnt Signaling Alterations in the Human Spinal Cord of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Cases: Spotlight on Fz2 and Wnt5a

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with no cure, and elucidation of the mechanisms mediating neuronal death in this neuropathology is crucial to develop effective treatments. It has recently been demonstrated in animal models that the Wnt family of proteins is involved in this neuropathology, although its potential involvement in case of humans is almost unknown. We analyzed the expression of Wnt signaling components in healthy and ALS human spinal cords by quantitative RT-PCR, and we found that most Wnt ligands, modulators, receptors, and co-receptors were expressed in healthy controls. Moreover, we observed clear alterations in the mRNA expression of different components of this family of proteins in human spinal cord tissue from ALS cases. Specifically, we detected a significant increase in the mRNA levels of Wnt3, Wnt4, Fz2, and Fz8, together with several non-significant increases in the mRNA expression of other genes such as Wnt2b, Wnt5a, Fz3, Lrp5, and sFRP3. Based on these observations and on previous reports of studies performed in animal models, we evaluated with immunohistochemistry the protein expression patterns of Fz2 and Fz5 receptors and their main ligand Wnt5a in control samples and ALS cases. No substantial changes were observed in Fz5 protein expression pattern in ALS samples. However, we detected an increase in the amount of Fz2+ astrocytes in the borderline between gray and white matter at the ventral horn in ALS samples. Finally, Wnt5a expression was observed in neurons and astrocytes in both control and ALS samples, although Wnt5a immunolabeling in astroglial cells was significantly increased in ALS spinal cords in the same region where changes in Fz2 were observed. Altogether, these observations strongly suggest that the Wnt family of proteins, and more specifically Fz2 and Wnt5a, might be involved in human ALS pathology.

Ketamine administered pregnant rats impair learning and memory in offspring via the CREB pathway

Ketamine has been reported to impair the capacity for learning and memory. This study examined whether these capacities were also altered in the offspring and investigated the role of the CREB signaling pathway in pregnant rats, subjected to ketamine-induced anesthesia. On the 14^th day of gestation (P14), female rats were anesthetized for 3 h via intravenous ketamine injection (200 mg/Kg). Morris water maze task, contextual and cued fear conditioning, and olfactory tasks were executed between the 25^th to 30^th day after birth (B25-30) on rat pups, and rats were sacrificed on B30. Nerve density and dendritic spine density were examined via Nissl’s and Golgi staining. Simultaneously, the contents of Ca²⁺/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II (CaMKII), p-CaMKII, CaMKIV, p-CaMKIV, Extracellular Regulated Protein Kinases (ERK), p-ERK, Protein Kinase A (PKA), p-PKA, cAMP-Response Element Binding Protein (CREB), p-CREB, and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) were detected in the hippocampus. We pretreated PC12 cells with both PKA inhibitor (H89) and ERK inhibitor (SCH772984), thus detecting levels of ERK, p-ERK, PKA, p-PKA, p-CREB, and BDNF. The results revealed that ketamine impaired the learning ability and spatial as well as conditioned memory in the offspring, and significantly decreased the protein levels of ERK, p-ERK, PKA, p-PKA, p-CREB, and BDNF. We found that ERK and PKA (but not CaMKII or CaMKIV) have the ability to regulate the CREB-BDNF pathway during ketamine-induced anesthesia in pregnant rats. Furthermore, ERK and PKA are mutually compensatory for the regulation of the CREB-BDNF pathway.