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Shi X, Zhou XZ, Chen G, Luo WF, Zhou C, He TJ, Naik MT, Jiang Q, Marshall J, Cao C. Targeting the postsynaptic scaffolding protein PSD-95 enhances BDNF signaling to mitigate depression-like behaviors in mice. Sci Signal 2024; 17:eadn4556. [PMID: 38687826 PMCID: PMC11223518 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adn4556] [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: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Signaling mediated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is supported by the postsynaptic scaffolding protein PSD-95, has antidepressant effects. Conversely, clinical depression is associated with reduced BDNF signaling. We found that peptidomimetic compounds that bind to PSD-95 promoted signaling by the BDNF receptor TrkB in the hippocampus and reduced depression-like behaviors in mice. The compounds CN2097 and Syn3 both bind to the PDZ3 domain of PSD-95, and Syn3 also binds to an α-helical region of the protein. Syn3 reduced depression-like behaviors in two mouse models of stress-induced depression; CN2097 had similar but less potent effects. In hippocampal neurons, application of Syn3 enhanced the formation of TrkB-Gαi1/3-PSD-95 complexes and potentiated downstream PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling. In mice subjected to chronic mild stress (CMS), systemic administration of Syn3 reversed the CMS-induced, depression-associated changes in PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling, dendrite complexity, spine density, and autophagy in the hippocampus and reduced depression-like behaviors. Knocking out Gαi1/3 in hippocampal neurons prevented the therapeutic effects of Syn3, indicating dependence of these effects on the TrkB pathway. The findings suggest that compounds that induce the formation of PSD-95-TrkB complexes have therapeutic potential to alleviate depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Shi
- Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Institution of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiao-zhong Zhou
- Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Institution of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Department of Orthopedics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei-feng Luo
- Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Institution of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Chengyu Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Tian-ju He
- Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Institution of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Mandar T. Naik
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Qin Jiang
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - John Marshall
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Cong Cao
- Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Institution of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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Abstract
Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the methyl-CpG binding protein-2 (MeCP2) gene that is characterized by epilepsy, intellectual disability, autistic features, speech deficits, and sleep and breathing abnormalities. Neurologically, patients with all three disorders display microcephaly, aberrant dendritic morphology, reduced spine density, and an imbalance of excitatory/inhibitory signaling. Loss-of-function mutations in the cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) and FOXG1 genes also cause similar behavioral and neurobiological defects and were referred to as congenital or variant Rett syndrome. The relatively recent realization that CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), FOXG1 syndrome, and Rett syndrome are distinct neurodevelopmental disorders with some distinctive features have resulted in separate focus being placed on each disorder with the assumption that distinct molecular mechanisms underlie their pathogenesis. However, given that many of the core symptoms and neurological features are shared, it is likely that the disorders share some critical molecular underpinnings. This review discusses the possibility that deregulation of common molecules in neurons and astrocytes plays a central role in key behavioral and neurological abnormalities in all three disorders. These include KCC2, a chloride transporter, vGlut1, a vesicular glutamate transporter, GluD1, an orphan-glutamate receptor subunit, and PSD-95, a postsynaptic scaffolding protein. We propose that reduced expression or activity of KCC2, vGlut1, PSD-95, and AKT, along with increased expression of GluD1, is involved in the excitatory/inhibitory that represents a key aspect in all three disorders. In addition, astrocyte-derived brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and inflammatory cytokines likely affect the expression and functioning of these molecules resulting in disease-associated abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh R D’Mello
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71104, USA
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3
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Mahaman YAR, Huang F, Salissou MTM, Yacouba MBM, Wang JZ, Liu R, Zhang B, Li HL, Zhu F, Wang X. Ferulic Acid Improves Synaptic Plasticity and Cognitive Impairments by Alleviating the PP2B/DARPP-32/PP1 Axis-Mediated STEP Increase and Aβ Burden in Alzheimer's Disease. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:1081-1108. [PMID: 37079191 PMCID: PMC10457275 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01356-6] [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] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The burden of Alzheimer's disease, the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, is increasing exponentially due to the increase in the elderly population worldwide. Synaptic plasticity is the basis of learning and memory, but it is impaired in AD. Uncovering the disease's underlying molecular pathogenic mechanisms involving synaptic plasticity could lead to the identification of targets for better disease management. Using primary neurons treated with Aβ and APP/PS1 animal models, we evaluated the effect of the phenolic compound ferulic acid (FA) on synaptic dysregulations. Aβ led to synaptic plasticity and cognitive impairments by increasing STEP activity and decreasing the phosphorylation of the GluN2B subunit of NMDA receptors, as well as decreasing other synaptic proteins, including PSD-95 and synapsin1. Interestingly, FA attenuated the Aβ-upregulated intracellular calcium and thus resulted in a decrease in PP2B-induced activation of DARPP-32, inhibiting PP1. This cascade event maintained STEP in its inactive state, thereby preventing the loss of GluN2B phosphorylation. This was accompanied by an increase in PSD-95 and synapsin1, improved LTP, and a decreased Aβ load, together leading to improved behavioral and cognitive functions in APP/PS1 mice treated with FA. This study provides insight into the potential use of FA as a therapeutic strategy in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yacoubou Abdoul Razak Mahaman
- Coinnovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, JS, 226001, China
- Cognitive Impairment Ward of the Neurology Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, 47 Youyi Rd., Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518001, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Fang Huang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Maibouge Tanko Mahamane Salissou
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- College of Health, Natural and Agriculture Sciences, Africa University, Mutare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Jian-Zhi Wang
- Coinnovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, JS, 226001, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Rong Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hong-Lian Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Feiqi Zhu
- Cognitive Impairment Ward of the Neurology Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, 47 Youyi Rd., Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518001, China.
| | - Xiaochuan Wang
- Coinnovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, JS, 226001, China.
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry/Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China.
- Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, 518000, China.
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4
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Akalın A, Şimşek-Kiper PÖ, Taşkıran EZ, Karaosmanoğlu B, Utine GE, Boduroğlu K. A novel biallelic CRIPT variant in a patient with short stature, microcephaly, and distinctive facial features. Am J Med Genet A 2023; 191:1119-1127. [PMID: 36630262 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63120] [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: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Primordial dwarfism (PD) is one of a highly heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by severe prenatal/postnatal growth restriction. Defects in various pathways such as DNA repair mechanism, impaired centrioles, abnormal IGF expression, and spliceosomal machinery may cause PD including Seckel syndrome, Silver-Russell syndrome. Microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism (MOPD) types I/III, II, and Meier-Gorlin syndrome. In recent years with the wide application of exome sequencing (ES) in the field of PD, new genes involved in novel pathways causing new phenotypes have been identified. Pathogenic variants in CRIPT (MIM# 604594) encoding cysteine-rich PDZ domain-binding protein have recently been described in patients with PD with a unique phenotype. This phenotype is characterized by prenatal/postnatal growth restriction, facial dysmorphism, ocular abnormalities, and ectodermal findings such as skin lesions with hyper/hypopigmented patchy areas and hair abnormalities. To our knowledge, only three patients with homozygous or compound heterozygous variants in CRIPT have been reported so far. Here, we report on a male patient who presented with profound prenatal/postnatal growth restriction, developmental delay, dysmorphic facial features, and skin lesions along with the findings of bicytopenia and extensive retinal pigmentation defect. A novel truncating homozygous variant c.7_8delTG; p.(Cys3Argfs*4) was detected in CRIPT with the aid of ES. With this report, we further expand the mutational and clinical spectrum of this rare entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akçahan Akalın
- Department of Pediatric Genetics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Ekim Z Taşkıran
- Department of Medical Genetics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Beren Karaosmanoğlu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Gülen Eda Utine
- Department of Pediatric Genetics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Koray Boduroğlu
- Department of Pediatric Genetics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
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5
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Icaritin alleviates cerebral ischemia‒reperfusion injury by regulating NMDA receptors through ERK signaling. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 941:175492. [PMID: 36610684 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are key signaling molecules that mediate excitotoxicity during cerebral ischemia. GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors, which are mostly located in the intrasynaptic region, mediate normal physiological processes and promote neuronal survival. GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors, which are mostly located in the extrasynaptic region, mediate excitotoxicity injury and promote neuronal death during ischemia. This study investigated the ability of icaritin (ICT) to protect against cerebral ischemia‒reperfusion injury (CI/RI) by regulating GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors through extracellular signaling regulatory kinases/death associated protein kinase 1 (ERK/DAPK1) signaling. A rat CI/RI model was established by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). Following treatment with ICT and the ERK-specific inhibitor U0126, cerebral infarction, neurological function, and excitotoxicity-related molecule expression were assessed 24 h after reperfusion. ICT treatment significantly decreased cerebral infarct volume, improved neurological function, and regulated NMDA receptor subtype expression and ERK/DAPK1 signaling activation. The ability of ICT to increase GluN2A and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) mRNA and protein expression, inhibit GluN2B expression, and regulate DAPK1 activation was reversed after administration of the ERK-specific inhibitor U0126. These data indicated that ICT inhibited excitotoxicity injury and exerted a protective effect against CI/RI that was likely mediated by increased ERK signaling pathway activation and regulation of extrasynaptic and intrasynaptic NMDA receptor function, providing a new therapeutic target for ischemic encephalopathy.
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Mahaman YAR, Feng J, Huang F, Salissou MTM, Wang J, Liu R, Zhang B, Li H, Zhu F, Wang X. Moringa Oleifera Alleviates Aβ Burden and Improves Synaptic Plasticity and Cognitive Impairments in APP/PS1 Mice. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14204284. [PMID: 36296969 PMCID: PMC9609596 DOI: 10.3390/nu14204284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a global public health problem and the most common form of dementia. Due to the failure of many single therapies targeting the two hallmarks, Aβ and Tau, and the multifactorial etiology of AD, there is now more and more interest in nutraceutical agents with multiple effects such as Moringa oleifera (MO) that have strong anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anticholinesterase, and neuroprotective virtues. In this study, we treated APP/PS1 mice with a methanolic extract of MO for four months and evaluated its effect on AD-related pathology in these mice using a multitude of behavioral, biochemical, and histochemical tests. Our data revealed that MO improved behavioral deficits such as anxiety-like behavior and hyperactivity and cognitive, learning, and memory impairments. MO treatment abrogated the Aβ burden to wild-type control mice levels via decreasing BACE1 and AEP and upregulating IDE, NEP, and LRP1 protein levels. Moreover, MO improved synaptic plasticity by improving the decreased GluN2B phosphorylation, the synapse-related proteins PSD95 and synapsin1 levels, the quantity and quality of dendritic spines, and neurodegeneration in the treated mice. MO is a nutraceutical agent with promising therapeutic potential that can be used in the management of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yacoubou Abdoul Razak Mahaman
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
- Cognitive Impairment Ward of Neurology Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, 47 Youyi Rd., Shenzhen 518001, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry and Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jun Feng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Fang Huang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry and Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Maibouge Tanko Mahamane Salissou
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry and Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- College of Health, Natural and Agriculture Sciences Africa University, Mutare P.O. Box 1320, Zimbabwe
| | - Jianzhi Wang
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry and Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Rong Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry and Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry and Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Honglian Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry and Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Feiqi Zhu
- Cognitive Impairment Ward of Neurology Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, 47 Youyi Rd., Shenzhen 518001, China
- Correspondence: (F.Z.); (X.W.)
| | - Xiaochuan Wang
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry and Huibei Province of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518000, China
- Correspondence: (F.Z.); (X.W.)
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7
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Liu H, Zhang X, Liu Y, Xin N, Deng Y, Li Y. Semen Ziziphi Spinosae attenuates blood-brain barrier dysfunction induced by lipopolysaccharide by targeting the FAK-DOCK180-Rac1-WAVE2-Arp3 signaling pathway. NPJ Sci Food 2022; 6:27. [PMID: 35655066 PMCID: PMC9163036 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-022-00142-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (SZS) has been extensively used in the daily diet as a functional food for neuroprotective health-benefit in China for many years. However, the neuroprotective mechanism of SZS associated with blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity remains unexplored. The present study suggests SZS could protect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BBB dysfunction. Proteomics indicate that 135 proteins in rat brain are significantly altered by SZS. These differentially expressed proteins are mainly clustered into cell–cell adhesion and adherens junctions, which are closely related with BBB integrity. SZS reversed LPS-induces BBB breakdown by activating the FAK-DOCK180-Rac1-WAVE2-Arp3 pathway. Molecular docking between signaling pathway proteins and identified SZS components in rat plasma reveals that 6”‘-feruloylspinosin, spinosin, and swertisin strongly binds to signaling proteins at multiple amino acid sites. These novel findings suggest a health benefit of SZS in prevention of cerebral diseases and contributes to the further application of SZS as a functional food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huayan Liu
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Yujiao Liu
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Nian Xin
- BIT&GS Technologies Co. Ltd, 100074, Beijing, China
| | - Yulin Deng
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, China.
| | - Yujuan Li
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, China.
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8
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Clabough E, Ingersoll J, Reekes T, Gleichsner A, Ryan A. Acute Ethanol Exposure during Synaptogenesis Rapidly Alters Medium Spiny Neuron Morphology and Synaptic Protein Expression in the Dorsal Striatum. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:290. [PMID: 35008713 PMCID: PMC8745582 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are caused by the disruption of normal brain development in utero. The severity and range of symptoms is dictated by both the dosage and timing of ethanol administration, and the resulting developmental processes that are impacted. In order to investigate the effects of an acute, high-dose intoxication event on the development of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the striatum, mice were injected with ethanol on P6, and neuronal morphology was assessed after 24 h, or at 1 month or 5 months of age. Data indicate an immediate increase in MSN dendritic length and branching, a rapid decrease in spine number, and increased levels of the synaptic protein PSD-95 as a consequence of this neonatal exposure to ethanol, but these differences do not persist into adulthood. These results demonstrate a rapid neuronal response to ethanol exposure and characterize the dynamic nature of neuronal architecture in the MSNs. Although differences in neuronal branching and spine density induced by ethanol resolve with time, early changes in the caudate/putamen region have a potential impact on the execution of complex motor skills, as well as aspects of long-term learning and addictive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Clabough
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - James Ingersoll
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943, USA; (J.I.); (T.R.)
| | - Tyler Reekes
- Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943, USA; (J.I.); (T.R.)
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71104, USA
| | - Alyssa Gleichsner
- Department of Biological Science, SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, USA; (A.G.); (A.R.)
| | - Amy Ryan
- Department of Biological Science, SUNY Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, USA; (A.G.); (A.R.)
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9
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PSD-95: An Effective Target for Stroke Therapy Using Neuroprotective Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212585. [PMID: 34830481 PMCID: PMC8618101 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapies for stroke have remained elusive in the past despite the great relevance of this pathology. However, recent results have provided strong evidence that postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95) can be exploited as an efficient target for stroke neuroprotection by strategies able to counteract excitotoxicity, a major mechanism of neuronal death after ischemic stroke. This scaffold protein is key to the maintenance of a complex framework of protein interactions established at the postsynaptic density (PSD) of excitatory neurons, relevant to neuronal function and survival. Using cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) as therapeutic tools, two different approaches have been devised and advanced to different levels of clinical development. First, nerinetide (Phase 3) and AVLX-144 (Phase 1) were designed to interfere with the coupling of the ternary complex formed by PSD-95 with GluN2B subunits of the N-methyl-D-aspartate type of glutamate receptors (NMDARs) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). These peptides reduced neurotoxicity derived from NMDAR overactivation, decreased infarct volume and improved neurobehavioral results in different models of ischemic stroke. However, an important caveat to this approach was PSD-95 processing by calpain, a pathological mechanism specifically induced by excitotoxicity that results in a profound alteration of survival signaling. Thus, a third peptide (TP95414) has been recently developed to interfere with PSD-95 cleavage and reduce neuronal death, which also improves neurological outcome in a preclinical mouse model of permanent ischemia. Here, we review recent advancements in the development and characterization of PSD-95-targeted CPPs and propose the combination of these two approaches to improve treatment of stroke and other excitotoxicity-associated disorders.
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10
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Crosta CM, Hernandez K, Bhattiprolu AK, Fu AY, Moore JC, Clarke SG, Dudzinski NR, Brzustowicz LM, Paradiso KG, Firestein BL. Characterization hiPSC-derived neural progenitor cells and neurons to investigate the role of NOS1AP isoforms in human neuron dendritogenesis. Mol Cell Neurosci 2020; 109:103562. [PMID: 32987141 PMCID: PMC7736313 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal dendritic arbor development has been implicated in a number of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and Rett syndrome, and the neuropsychiatric disorder schizophrenia. Postmortem brain samples from subjects with schizophrenia show elevated levels of NOS1AP in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain associated with cognitive function. We previously reported that the long isoform of NOS1AP (NOS1AP-L), but not the short isoform (NOS1AP-S), negatively regulates dendrite branching in rat hippocampal neurons. To investigate the role that NOS1AP isoforms play in human dendritic arbor development, we adapted methods to generate human neural progenitor cells and neurons using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology. We found that increased protein levels of either NOS1AP-L or NOS1AP-S decrease dendrite branching in human neurons at the developmental time point when primary and secondary branching actively occurs. Next, we tested whether pharmacological agents can decrease the expression of NOS1AP isoforms. Treatment of human iPSC-derived neurons with d-serine, but not clozapine, haloperidol, fluphenazine, or GLYX-13, results in a reduction in endogenous NOS1AP-L, but not NOS1AP-S, protein expression; however, d-serine treatment does not reverse decreases in dendrite number mediated by overexpression of NOS1AP isoforms. In summary, we demonstrate how an in vitro model of human neuronal development can help in understanding the etiology of schizophrenia and can also be used as a platform to screen drugs for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christen M Crosta
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Neurosciences Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Kristina Hernandez
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA; Molecular Biosciences Graduate Program, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Atul K Bhattiprolu
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Allen Y Fu
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Jennifer C Moore
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8082, USA
| | - Stephen G Clarke
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Natasha R Dudzinski
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Linda M Brzustowicz
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8082, USA
| | - Kenneth G Paradiso
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Bonnie L Firestein
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
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