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Bastien BL, Haury WR, Smisko WR, Hart MP. nlr-1/CNTNAP regulates dopamine circuit structure and foraging behaviors in C. elegans. Commun Biol 2024; 7:1248. [PMID: 39358459 PMCID: PMC11447218 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06936-6] [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] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The neurexin superfamily, consisting of neurexins and Casprs, play important roles in the development, maintenance, function, and plasticity of neuronal circuits. Caspr/CNTNAP genes are linked to alterations in neuronal circuits and associated with neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions. Casprs are implicated in multiple neuronal signaling pathways, including dopamine; however, the molecular mechanisms by which Casprs differentially alter specific signaling pathways and downstream behaviors are unclear. We find that the C. elegans Caspr nlr-1 functions in neurons to control foraging behaviors, acting in distinct monoamine neurons to modulate locomotor activity in the presence or absence of food. nlr-1 functions in dopamine neurons to reduce activity in the absence of food, similar to the role of dopamine, and regulates dopamine signaling through D2-like receptors. Furthermore, nlr-1 contributes to proper morphology and presynaptic structure of dopamine neurons, dopamine receptor expression and localization, and the behavioral response to dopamine. We find that nlr-1 similarly regulates another dopamine-dependent behavior, the basal slowing response. Therefore, spatial manipulation of a broadly expressed neuronal gene is sufficient to alter neural circuits and behavior and uncovers important functions masked by global manipulation, highlighting the importance of genetic variation and mechanisms that impact spatial expression of genes to behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon L Bastien
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - William R Haury
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - William R Smisko
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Michael P Hart
- Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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Ückert AK, Rütschlin S, Gutbier S, Wörz NC, Miah MR, Martins AC, Hauer I, Holzer AK, Meyburg B, Mix AK, Hauck C, Aschner M, Böttcher T, Leist M. Identification of the bacterial metabolite aerugine as potential trigger of human dopaminergic neurodegeneration. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 180:108229. [PMID: 37797477 PMCID: PMC10666548 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The causes of nigrostriatal cell death in idiopathic Parkinson's disease are unknown, but exposure to toxic chemicals may play some role. We followed up here on suggestions that bacterial secondary metabolites might be selectively cytotoxic to dopaminergic neurons. Extracts from Streptomyces venezuelae were found to kill human dopaminergic neurons (LUHMES cells). Utilizing this model system as a bioassay, we identified a bacterial metabolite known as aerugine (C10H11NO2S; 2-[4-(hydroxymethyl)-4,5-dihydro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]phenol) and confirmed this finding by chemical re-synthesis. This 2-hydroxyphenyl-thiazoline compound was previously shown to be a product of a wide-spread biosynthetic cluster also found in the human microbiome and in several pathogens. Aerugine triggered half-maximal dopaminergic neurotoxicity at 3-4 µM. It was less toxic for other neurons (10-20 µM), and non-toxic (at <100 µM) for common human cell lines. Neurotoxicity was completely prevented by several iron chelators, by distinct anti-oxidants and by a caspase inhibitor. In the Caenorhabditis elegans model organism, general survival was not affected by aerugine concentrations up to 100 µM. When transgenic worms, expressing green fluorescent protein only in their dopamine neurons, were exposed to aerugine, specific neurodegeneration was observed. The toxicant also exerted functional dopaminergic toxicity in nematodes as determined by the "basal slowing response" assay. Thus, our research has unveiled a bacterial metabolite with a remarkably selective toxicity toward human dopaminergic neurons in vitro and for the dopaminergic nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans in vivo. These findings suggest that microbe-derived environmental chemicals should be further investigated for their role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Katharina Ückert
- In vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Dept inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden foundation, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Sina Rütschlin
- Department of Chemistry, Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Simon Gutbier
- In vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Dept inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden foundation, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Nathalie Christine Wörz
- Faculty of Chemistry, Institute for Biological Chemistry & Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystems Science, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2 (UZA II), 1090 Vienna, Austria; Doctoral School in Chemistry (DoSChem), University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mahfuzur R Miah
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 10641 Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Airton C Martins
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 10641 Bronx, NY, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 10641 Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Isa Hauer
- In vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Dept inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden foundation, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Anna-Katharina Holzer
- In vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Dept inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden foundation, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Birthe Meyburg
- In vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Dept inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden foundation, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Mix
- Lehrstuhl Zellbiologie, Universität Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, Postablage 621, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Christof Hauck
- Lehrstuhl Zellbiologie, Universität Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, Postablage 621, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 10641 Bronx, NY, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 10641 Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Thomas Böttcher
- Department of Chemistry, Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany; Faculty of Chemistry, Institute for Biological Chemistry & Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystems Science, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2 (UZA II), 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Marcel Leist
- In vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Dept inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden foundation, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
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Lima TRR, Martins AC, Pereira LC, Aschner M. Toxic Effects Induced by Diuron and Its Metabolites in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neurotox Res 2022; 40:1812-1823. [PMID: 36306114 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-022-00596-2] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The toxicity of diuron herbicide and its metabolites has been extensively investigated; however, their precise toxic mechanisms have yet to be fully appreciated. In this context, we evaluated the toxic mechanism of diuron, 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA) and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylurea (DCPMU), using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in the L1 larval stage. For this purpose, worms were acutely exposed to the test chemicals with a preliminary concentration range of 0.5 to 500 μM and first analyzed for lethality (%). Next, the highest concentration (500 μM) was considered for survival (%), reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), glutathione (GSH) and ATP levels, autophagy index, behavior, and dopaminergic neurodegeneration parameters. Interestingly, increased lethality (%) was found for all chemicals at the higher concentrations tested (100 and 500 μM), with significant differences at 500 μM DCA (p < 0.05). A decrease in the median survival was observed mainly for DCA. Although no changes were observed in RONS production, GSH levels were significantly increased upon diuron and DCA treatment, likely reflecting an attempt to restore the redox status. Moreover, diuron and its metabolites impaired ATP levels, suggesting an alteration in mitochondrial function. The latter may trigger autophagy as an adaptive survival mechanism, but this was not observed in C. elegans. Dopaminergic neurotoxicity was observed upon treatment with all the tested chemicals, but only diuron induced alterations in the worms' locomotor behavior. Combined, these results indicate that exposure to high concentrations of diuron and its metabolites elicit distinct adverse outcomes in C. elegans, and DCA in particular, plays an important role in the overall toxicity observed in this experimental model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thania Rios Rossi Lima
- Medical School - TOXICAM, UNIPEX, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Block 5 Botucatu, São Paulo, 18618-970, Brazil. .,Center for Evaluation of Environmental Impact On Human Health (TOXICAM), Medical School, Unesp, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
| | - Airton C Martins
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Lílian Cristina Pereira
- Center for Evaluation of Environmental Impact On Human Health (TOXICAM), Medical School, Unesp, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.,School of Agriculture, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
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Albrecht PA, Fernandez-Hubeid LE, Deza-Ponzio R, Martins AC, Aschner M, Virgolini MB. Developmental lead exposure affects dopaminergic neuron morphology and modifies basal slowing response in Caenorhabditis elegans: effects of ethanol. Neurotoxicology 2022; 91:349-359. [PMID: 35724878 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) and ethanol (EtOH) are neurotoxicants that affect the dopaminergic (DAergic) system. We first sought to assess the morphology of the DAergic neurons in the Caenorhabditis elegans BY200 strain. The results demonstrated dose-dependent damage in these neurons induced by developmental Pb exposure. Secondly, transgenic worms exposed to 24μM Pb and administered with 200mM EtOH were evaluated in the basal slowing response (BSR). Pb induced impairment in the BSR in the wild-type strain that did not improve in response to EtOH, an effect also observed in strains that lack the DOP-1, DOP-2, and DOP-3 receptors. The animals that overexpress tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), or lack the vesicular transport (VMAT) showed a Pb-induced impairment in the BSR that seemed to improve after EtOH. Interestingly, a dramatic impairment in the BSR was observed in the Pb group in strains lacking the DOP-4 receptor, resembling the response of the TH-deficient strain, an effect that in both cases showed a non-significant reversal by EtOH. These results suggest that the facilitatory effect of EtOH on the impaired BSR observed in Pb-exposed null mutant strains may be the result of a compensatory effect in the altered DAergic synapse present in these animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula A Albrecht
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Técnicas (IFEC-CONICET) and Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Lucia E Fernandez-Hubeid
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Técnicas (IFEC-CONICET) and Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Romina Deza-Ponzio
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Técnicas (IFEC-CONICET) and Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Airton C Martins
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Miriam B Virgolini
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Técnicas (IFEC-CONICET) and Departamento de Farmacología Otto Orsingher, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5000HUA, Córdoba, Argentina.
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Chalorak P, Sornkaew N, Manohong P, Niamnont N, Malaiwong N, Limboonreung T, Sobhon P, Aschner M, Meemon K. Diterpene glycosides from Holothuria scabra exert the α-synuclein degradation and neuroprotection against α-synuclein-Mediated neurodegeneration in C. elegans model. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 279:114347. [PMID: 34147616 PMCID: PMC8381228 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra Jaeger (H. scabra), sea cucumber, is the marine organism that has been used as traditional food and medicine to gain the health benefits since ancient time. Although our recent studies have shown that crude extracts from H. scabra exhibited neuroprotective effects against Parkinson's disease (PD), the underlying mechanisms and bioactive compounds are still unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY In the present study, we examined the efficacy of purified compounds from H. scabra and their underlying mechanism on α-synuclein degradation and neuroprotection against α-synuclein-mediated neurodegeneration in a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans PD model. MATERIAL AND METHODS The H. scabra compounds (HSEA-P1 and P2) were purified and examined for their toxicity and optimal dose-range by food-clearance and lifespan assays. The α-synuclein degradation and neuroprotection against α-synuclein-mediated neurodegeneration were determined using transgenic C. elegans model, Punc-54::α-syn and Pdat-1:: α-syn; Pdat-1::GFP, respectively, and then further investigated by determining the behavioral assays including locomotion rate, basal slowing rate, ethanol avoidance, and area-restricted searching. The underlying mechanisms related to autophagy were clarified by quantitative PCR and RNAi experiments. RESULTS Our results showed that HSEA-P1 and HSEA-P2 significantly diminished α-synuclein accumulation, improved motility deficits, and recovered the shortened lifespan. Moreover, HSEA-P1 and HSEA-P2 significantly protected dopaminergic neurons from α-synuclein toxicity and alleviated dopamine-associated behavioral deficits, i.e., basal slowing, ethanol avoidance, and area-restricted searching. HSEA-P1 and HSEA-P2 also up-regulated autophagy-related genes, including beclin-1/bec-1, lc-3/lgg-1, and atg-7/atg-7. RNA interference (RNAi) of these genes in transgenic α-synuclein worms confirmed that lc-3/lgg-1 and atg-7/atg-7 were required for α-synuclein degradation and DAergic neuroprotection activities of HSEA-P1 and HSEA-P2. NMR and mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the HSEA-P1 and HSEA-P2 contained diterpene glycosides. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that diterpene glycosides extracted from H. scabra decreases α-synuclein accumulation and protects α-synuclein-mediated DAergic neuronal loss and its toxicities via lgg-1 and atg-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawanrat Chalorak
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
| | - Nilubon Sornkaew
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bang Mod, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand.
| | - Preeyanuch Manohong
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bang Mod, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand.
| | - Nakorn Niamnont
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bang Mod, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand.
| | - Nawaphat Malaiwong
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
| | - Tanapol Limboonreung
- Division of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Ladkrabang, Bangkok, 10520, Thailand.
| | - Prasert Sobhon
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Neuroscience, and Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
| | - Krai Meemon
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
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Dominguez-Meijide A, Parrales V, Vasili E, González-Lizárraga F, König A, Lázaro DF, Lannuzel A, Haik S, Del Bel E, Chehín R, Raisman-Vozari R, Michel PP, Bizat N, Outeiro TF. Doxycycline inhibits α-synuclein-associated pathologies in vitro and in vivo. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 151:105256. [PMID: 33429042 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (aSyn). Doxycycline, a tetracyclic antibiotic shows neuroprotective effects, initially proposed to be due to its anti-inflammatory properties. More recently, an additional mechanism by which doxycycline may exert its neuroprotective effects has been proposed as it has been shown that it inhibits amyloid aggregation. Here, we studied the effects of doxycycline on aSyn aggregation in vivo, in vitro and in a cell free system using real-time quaking induced conversion (RT-QuiC). Using H4, SH-SY5Y and HEK293 cells, we found that doxycycline decreases the number and size of aSyn aggregates in cells. In addition, doxycycline inhibits the aggregation and seeding of recombinant aSyn, and attenuates the production of mitochondrial-derived reactive oxygen species. Finally, we found that doxycycline induces a cellular redistribution of aggregates in a C.elegans animal model of PD, an effect that is associated with a recovery of dopaminergic function. In summary, we provide strong evidence that doxycycline treatment may be an effective strategy against synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Dominguez-Meijide
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Laboratory of Neuroanatomy and Experimental Neurology, Dept. of Morphological Sciences, CIMUS, IDIS, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Networking Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Valeria Parrales
- Paris Brain Institute, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Eftychia Vasili
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | | | - Annekatrin König
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Diana F Lázaro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Annie Lannuzel
- Paris Brain Institute, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France; University Hospital of Pointe-à-Pitre, Neurology Department, route de Chauvel, 97139 Abymes, Guadeloupe
| | - Stéphane Haik
- Paris Brain Institute, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France; AP-HP, Cellule Nationale de Référence des Maladies de Creutzfeldt-Jakob, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris F-75013, France
| | - Elaine Del Bel
- Department of Basic and Oral Biology, Faculty of Odontology of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Av do Café s/n, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rosana Chehín
- Instituto de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Celular Aplicada (IMMCA) (CONICET-UNT-SIPROSA), Argentina
| | - Rita Raisman-Vozari
- Paris Brain Institute, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Patrick P Michel
- Paris Brain Institute, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Bizat
- Paris Brain Institute, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France; Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Paris University, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, Paris F-75006, France.
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany; Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
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