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Ma S, Chen J, Chen C, Wei N, Xu J, Yang G, Wang N, Meng Y, Ren J, Xu Z. Erythropoietin Rescues Memory Impairment in a Rat Model of Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion via the EPO-R/JAK2/STAT5/PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β Pathway. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:3290-3299. [PMID: 28488208 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0568-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia in older people and is characterized by the sudden onset of impairments in thinking skills and behavior, which generally occur following a stroke. Unfortunately, effective therapy for vascular dementia remains inadequate. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production. Recently, a prominent role for EPO has been defined in the nervous system, and there is growing interest in the potential therapeutic use of EPO for neuroprotection. However, whether it is protective from memory impairments and the underlying mechanisms of vascular dementia (VD) remains unknown. In the current study, we reported that supplements with exogenous erythropoietin (EPO) for 4 weeks could restore impaired memory in 2-vessel occlusion (2VO) rats, a well-established vascular dementia animal model. EPO also rescued impairments in dendritic spines and cholinergic dysfunctions in the hippocampus. Moreover, EPO suppressed the overactivation of GSK-3β in the hippocampus by stimulating the JAK2/STAT5/PI3K/Akt signal pathway. Furthermore, we found that genetic knockdown of the EPO receptor (EPO-R) by shRNA blocks the neuroprotection conferred by EPO on memory in VD. We hypothesized that EPO treatment is able to rescue the memory impairments in VD by stimulating the EPO-R/JAK2/STAT5/PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway and suggest the potential usage of EPO in the therapy for VD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengli Ma
- Department of Emergency, Institute of Clinic Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People's Republic of China.
| | - Juwu Chen
- Department of Emergency, Institute of Clinic Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Wei
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Xu
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People's Republic of China
| | - Guohui Yang
- Department of Emergency, Institute of Clinic Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People's Republic of China
| | - Nan Wang
- Department of Emergency, Institute of Clinic Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Meng
- Department of Emergency, Institute of Clinic Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Ren
- Department of Emergency, Institute of Clinic Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People's Republic of China
| | - Zongchao Xu
- Department of Emergency, Institute of Clinic Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jian She Dong Avenue, Zhengzhou, 450002, People's Republic of China
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Shapir N, Miari R, Blum S, Schwartz D, Chernin G, Neil GA, Afik D, Panet A. Preclinical and Preliminary Clinical Evaluation of Genetically Transduced Dermal Tissue Implants for the Sustained Secretion of Erythropoietin and Interferon α. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2016; 26:216-27. [PMID: 26684446 DOI: 10.1089/humc.2015.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein drugs are currently delivered by bolus injection and although treatment frequently is successful, these methods also have major drawbacks, which call for the development of alternative technologies allowing prolonged delivery of these drugs. We developed a new ex vivo gene therapy platform called Transduced Autologous Restorative Gene Therapy (TARGT) for sustained long term production and secretion of autologous therapeutic proteins. A biopsy of dermal tissue taken from the patient is transduced ex vivo with a viral vector encoding the required gene under a constitutive promoter. Following measurement of protein secretion ex vivo, the transduced dermal tissue is implanted back into the patient, where it secretes the therapeutic protein into the circulation for several months or longer. A major hurdle to this approach is potential immunogenicity of the transduced tissue following implantation. In this paper we describe the preclinical and early clinical development of this technology, which allowed for overcoming these hurdles. To that end, we have used the helper dependent (HD) adenoviral vector with newly designed expression cassette containing genetic elements to optimize transgene expression. Moreover, we have developed procedures for TARGT tissue implantation, with measures to improve engraftment and reduce inflammation and rejection. Implantation of human TARGT to severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice indicated long-term production of active proteins in the blood. Preliminary results of a clinical trial from two anemic end-stage renal disease patients, implanted with TARGTs expressing the human erythropoietin (EPO) gene, demonstrated prolonged secretion with physiologic blood level of the hormone and hemoglobin maintenance in the desired range, for a period of at least 5 months without exogenous EPO administration. We believe that the TARGT technology has the potential to become a platform for the sustained delivery of therapeutic proteins in various clinical indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nir Shapir
- 1 Medgenics Medical Israel, Ltd., Misgav, Israel
| | - Reem Miari
- 1 Medgenics Medical Israel, Ltd., Misgav, Israel
| | - Shany Blum
- 1 Medgenics Medical Israel, Ltd., Misgav, Israel
| | - Doron Schwartz
- 2 Nephrology and Dialysis Department, The Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gil Chernin
- 2 Nephrology and Dialysis Department, The Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Daniel Afik
- 1 Medgenics Medical Israel, Ltd., Misgav, Israel
| | - Amos Panet
- 4 Department of Biochemistry (IMRIC), The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School , Jerusalem, Israel
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Shapir N, Miari R, Blum S, Schwartz D, Chernin G, Neil G, Afik D, Panet A. Preclinical and preliminary clinical evaluation of genetically transduced dermal tissue implants for the sustained secretion of erythropoietin and interferon α. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2015. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2015.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Samy DM, Ismail CA, Nassra RA, Zeitoun TM, Nomair AM. Downstream modulation of extrinsic apoptotic pathway in streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer's dementia in rats: Erythropoietin versus curcumin. Eur J Pharmacol 2015; 770:52-60. [PMID: 26638997 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2015.11.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Revised: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Erythropoietin and curcumin showed promising neuroprotective effects in various models of Alzheimer's dementia. This study was designed to compare the beneficial effects of erythropoietin and/or curcumin in intracerebro-ventricular (ICV) streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer's like disease in rats. Rats received ICV injection of either saline (control, n=8 rats), or streptozotocin. Three weeks following surgery, streptozotocin-injected rats were assigned into 4 groups (8 rats each); vehicle, curcumin (80mg/kg/day, orally), erythropoietin (500 IU/kg every other day, intraperitoneally) and combined (curcumin and erythropoietin)-treated groups. After 3 months of treatment, rats were subjected to neurobehavioral testing, and then killed for biochemical and histological assessment of hippocampus. Fas ligand protein and caspase-8 activity as mediators of extrinsic apoptotic pathway, oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione) and β-amyloid (1-40 and 1-42) peptides were measured. The results showed that administration of erythropoietin suppressed extrinsic apoptosis better than curcumin, while curcumin was more effective in combating oxidative stress in ICV-streptozotocin injected rats. Both erythropoietin and curcumin treatments (individually or combined) equally reduced the hippocampal β-amyloid accumulation and improved cognitive impairment in Morris water maze and passive avoidance tasks. The combined treatment was the most effective in ameliorating apoptosis and oxidative stress rather than behavioral responses or β-amyloid burden. In conclusion, ICV-streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer's dementia activates hippocampal Fas ligand-mediated apoptosis, which could be reduced by erythropoietin and/or curcumin treatment. Curcumin supplementation alone could ameliorate cognitive deficits and reverse biochemical alterations in ICV-streptozotocin Alzheimer's rat model without the hazardous polycythemic effect of long-term erythropoietin injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doaa M Samy
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Moassat Hospital, University of Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Cherine A Ismail
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Moassat Hospital, University of Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Rasha A Nassra
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Moassat Hospital, University of Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Teshreen M Zeitoun
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Moassat Hospital, University of Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Azhar M Nomair
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Egypt.
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Hayley S, Litteljohn D. Neuroplasticity and the next wave of antidepressant strategies. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:218. [PMID: 24312008 PMCID: PMC3834236 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a common chronic psychiatric disorder that is also often co-morbid with numerous neurological and immune diseases. Accumulating evidence indicates that disturbances of neuroplasticity occur with depression, including reductions of hippocampal neurogenesis and cortical synaptogenesis. Improper trophic support stemming from stressor-induced reductions of growth factors, most notably brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), likely drives such aberrant neuroplasticity. We posit that psychological and immune stressors can interact upon a vulnerable genetic background to promote depression by disturbing BDNF and neuroplastic processes. Furthermore, the chronic and commonly relapsing nature of depression is suggested to stem from "faulty wiring" of emotional circuits driven by neuroplastic aberrations. The present review considers depression in such terms and attempts to integrate the available evidence indicating that the efficacy of current and "next wave" antidepressant treatments, whether used alone or in combination, is at least partially tied to their ability to modulate neuroplasticity. We particularly focus on the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, ketamine, which already has well documented rapid antidepressant effects, and the trophic cytokine, erythropoietin (EPO), which we propose as a potential adjunctive antidepressant agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn Hayley
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Osborn M, Rustom N, Clarke M, Litteljohn D, Rudyk C, Anisman H, Hayley S. Antidepressant-like effects of erythropoietin: a focus on behavioural and hippocampal processes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e72813. [PMID: 24019878 PMCID: PMC3760922 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2013] [Accepted: 07/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a chronic and debilitating condition with a significant degree of relapse and treatment resistance that could stem, at least in part, from disturbances of neuroplasticity. This has led to an increased focus on treatment strategies that target brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), synaptic plasticity and adult neurogenesis. In the current study we aimed to assess whether erythropoietin (EPO) would have antidepressant-like effects given its already established pro-trophic actions. In particular, we assessed whether EPO would diminish the deleterious effects of a social stressor in mice. Indeed, EPO induced anxiolytic and antidepressant-like responses in a forced swim test, open field, elevated-plus maze, and a novelty test, and appeared to blunt some of the negative behavioural effects of a social stressor. Furthermore, EPO promoted adult hippocampal neurogenesis, an important feature of effective antidepressants. Finally, a separate study using the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin revealed that antagonizing this pathway prevented the impact of EPO upon forced swim performance. These data are consistent with previous findings showing that the mTOR pathway and its neurogenic and synaptogenic effects might mediate the behavioral consequences of antidepressant agents. Our findings further highlight EPO as a possible adjunct treatment for affective disorders, as well as other stressor associated disorders of impaired neuroplasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan Osborn
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nazneen Rustom
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melanie Clarke
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Darcy Litteljohn
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chris Rudyk
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hymie Anisman
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shawn Hayley
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Hamidi G, Arabpour Z, Shabrang M, Rashidi B, Alaei H, Sharifi MR, Salami M, Reisi P. Erythropoietin improves spatial learning and memory in streptozotocin model of dementia. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2013; 20:153-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pathophys.2013.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2012] [Accepted: 01/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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Long JM, Lee GD, Kelley-Bell B, Spangler EL, Perez EJ, Longo DL, de Cabo R, Zou S, Rapp PR. Preserved learning and memory following 5-fluorouracil and cyclophosphamide treatment in rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2011; 100:205-11. [PMID: 21875615 PMCID: PMC3183356 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2011.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2011] [Revised: 07/26/2011] [Accepted: 08/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Some patients experience enduring cognitive impairment after cancer treatment, a condition termed "chemofog". Animal models allow assessment of chemotherapy effects on learning and memory per se, independent of changes due to cancer itself or associated health consequences such as depression. The present study examined the long-term learning and memory effects of a chemotherapy cocktail used widely in the treatment of breast cancer, consisting of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and cyclophosphamide (CYP). Eighty 5-month old male F344 rats received contextual and cued fear conditioning before treatment with saline, or a low or high dose drug cocktail (50mg/kg CYP and 75 mg/kg 5FU, or 75 mg/kg CYP and 120 mg/kg 5FU, i.p., respectively) every 30 days for 2 months. After a 2-month, no-drug recovery, both long-term retention and new task acquisition in the water maze and 14-unit T-maze were assessed. Neither dose of the CYP/5FU cocktail impaired retrograde fear memory despite marked toxicity documented by enduring weight loss and 50% mortality at the higher dose. Acquisition in the water maze and Stone maze was also normal relative to controls in rats treated with CYP/5FU. The results contribute to a growing literature suggesting that learning and memory mediated by the hippocampus can be relatively resistant to chemotherapy. Future investigation may need to focus on assessments of processing speed, executive function and attention, and the possible interactive contribution of cancer itself and aging to the post-treatment development of cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Long
- Laboratory of Experimental Gerontology, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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Diederich K, Schäbitz WR, Minnerup J. Seeing old friends from a different angle: Novel properties of hematopoietic growth factors in the healthy and diseased brain. Hippocampus 2010; 22:1051-7. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.20904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Goetghebeur PJD, Lerdrup L, Sylvest A, Dias R. Erythropoietin reverses the attentional set-shifting impairment in a rodent schizophrenia disease-like model. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2010; 212:635-42. [PMID: 20734030 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-1990-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2010] [Accepted: 08/04/2010] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Executive function impairment, as classically assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sort Test or intradimensional/extradimensional tests, is a key feature of schizophrenia but remains inadequately treated by existing therapies. Recently, however, erythropoietin has been shown to improve attentional set-shifting performance in schizophrenic patients. OBJECTIVE The present study utilized the rat intradimensional/extradimensional task to investigate the potential of erythropoietin to reverse a phencyclidine-induced extradimensional shift impairment when given alone or in combination with subchronic haloperidol treatment. METHODS Rats were subjected to a subchronic systemic administration (7 days, b.i.d) of either saline vehicle or phencyclidine (5 mg/kg) followed by a 7-day washout period during which haloperidol was given. Subsequently, rats were trained to dig in baited bowls for a food reward and to discriminate on the basis of digging media or bowl odor. In experiment 1, rats performed a series of discriminations following acute administration of vehicle, erythropoietin, or modafinil. In a second experiment, rats receiving either haloperidol in the drinking water or just normal drinking water were run in the attentional set-shifting task after acute administration of erythropoietin (1,000 or 10,000 IU/ml i.p., selected from experiment 1). RESULTS The subchronic phencyclidine-induced extradimensional deficit was ameliorated by both erythropoietin and modafinil. When combined with subchronic haloperidol, the higher dose of erythropoietin tested was able to reverse the extradimensional shift impairment. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these findings further support the use of erythropoietin as an adjunct to antipsychotic therapy in order to address, at least part of, the cognitive dysfunction associated with schizophrenia.
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Sargin D, Friedrichs H, El-Kordi A, Ehrenreich H. Erythropoietin as neuroprotective and neuroregenerative treatment strategy: comprehensive overview of 12 years of preclinical and clinical research. Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2010; 24:573-94. [PMID: 21619868 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpa.2010.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2010] [Accepted: 10/11/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Erythropoietin (EPO), originally discovered as hematopoietic growth factor, has direct effects on cells of the nervous system that make it a highly attractive candidate drug for neuroprotection/neuroregeneration. Hardly any other compound has led to so much preclinical work in the field of translational neuroscience than EPO. Almost all of the >180 preclinical studies performed by many independent research groups from all over the world in the last 12 years have yielded positive results on EPO as a neuroprotective drug. The fact that EPO was approved for the treatment of anemia >20 years ago and found to be well tolerated and safe, facilitated the first steps of translation from preclinical findings to the clinic. On the other hand, the same fact, naturally associated with loss of patent protection, hindered to develop EPO as a highly promising therapeutic strategy for application in human brain disease. Therefore, only few clinical neuroprotection studies have been concluded, all with essentially positive and stimulating results, but no further development towards the clinic has occurred thus far. This article reviews the preclinical and clinical work on EPO for the indications neuroprotection/neuroregeneration and cognition, and hopefully will stimulate new endeavours promoting development of EPO for the treatment of human brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derya Sargin
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein Str. 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
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Comparison of the effects of erythropoietin and its carbamylated derivative on behaviour and hippocampal neurogenesis in mice. Neuropharmacology 2010; 60:354-64. [PMID: 20932982 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2010.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2010] [Revised: 09/28/2010] [Accepted: 09/29/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Erythropoietin (EPO), a well known haematopoietic growth factor, possesses neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects which have been recently reported to improve cognition and to modulate emotional processing. We investigated the effects of EPO and of its non-erythropoietic carbamylated derivative (CEPO) on memory- and emotion-related behaviour in the adult mouse. Locomotor activity, memory performances (place and object recognition tasks), anxiety- (light/dark transition test) and despair-like behaviours (tail suspension test) were assessed over 6 weeks of repeated EPO or CEPO administration (40 μg/kg, twice a week). Given the potential involvement of hippocampal neurogenesis in memory, we also assessed the effects of EPO and CEPO on neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Both treatments improved spatial and non-spatial recognition memory and increased the number of NeuN/BrdU double-labeled cells in the dentate gyrus. These effects seem to be, at least partly, independent from an haematopoietic action since administration of CEPO leads to the similar results. Moreover, CEPO decreased, albeit modestly, despair-related behaviour and tended to decrease anxiety-like behaviour. These results suggest that CEPO is as an attractive molecule for the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases associating memory and/or emotional disorders.
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Samson ML, Kajitani K, Robertson GS. Nitric-Oxide Synthase Mediates the Ability of Darbepoetin Alfa to Attenuate Pre-Existing Spatial Working Memory Deficits in Rats Subjected to Transient Global Ischemia. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2010; 333:437-44. [DOI: 10.1124/jpet.110.165530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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Byts N, Sirén AL. Erythropoietin: a multimodal neuroprotective agent. EXPERIMENTAL & TRANSLATIONAL STROKE MEDICINE 2009; 1:4. [PMID: 20142991 PMCID: PMC2816866 DOI: 10.1186/2040-7378-1-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2009] [Accepted: 10/21/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The tissue protective functions of the hematopoietic growth factor erythropoietin (EPO) are independent of its action on erythropoiesis. EPO and its receptors (EPOR) are expressed in multiple brain cells during brain development and upregulated in the adult brain after injury. Peripherally administered EPO crosses the blood-brain barrier and activates in the brain anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory signaling in neurons, glial and cerebrovascular endothelial cells and stimulates angiogenesis and neurogenesis. These mechanisms underlie its potent tissue protective effects in experimental models of stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative disease. The preclinical data in support of the use of EPO in brain disease have already been translated to first clinical pilot studies with encouraging results with the use of EPO as a neuroprotective agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadiya Byts
- University of Würzburg, Department of Neurosurgery, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anna-Leena Sirén
- University of Würzburg, Department of Neurosurgery, Würzburg, Germany
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Lee KJ, Rhyu IJ. Effects of Exercise on Structural and Functional Changes in the Aging Brain. JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 2009. [DOI: 10.5124/jkma.2009.52.9.907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kea Joo Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University Medical School, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Im Joo Rhyu
- Department of Anatomy, Division of Brain Korea 21 Project for Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea.
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Adamcio B, Sargin D, Stradomska A, Medrihan L, Gertler C, Theis F, Zhang M, Müller M, Hassouna I, Hannke K, Sperling S, Radyushkin K, El-Kordi A, Schulze L, Ronnenberg A, Wolf F, Brose N, Rhee JS, Zhang W, Ehrenreich H. Erythropoietin enhances hippocampal long-term potentiation and memory. BMC Biol 2008; 6:37. [PMID: 18782446 PMCID: PMC2562991 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7007-6-37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2008] [Accepted: 09/09/2008] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Erythropoietin (EPO) improves cognition of human subjects in the clinical setting by as yet unknown mechanisms. We developed a mouse model of robust cognitive improvement by EPO to obtain the first clues of how EPO influences cognition, and how it may act on hippocampal neurons to modulate plasticity. RESULTS We show here that a 3-week treatment of young mice with EPO enhances long-term potentiation (LTP), a cellular correlate of learning processes in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. This treatment concomitantly alters short-term synaptic plasticity and synaptic transmission, shifting the balance of excitatory and inhibitory activity. These effects are accompanied by an improvement of hippocampus dependent memory, persisting for 3 weeks after termination of EPO injections, and are independent of changes in hematocrit. Networks of EPO-treated primary hippocampal neurons develop lower overall spiking activity but enhanced bursting in discrete neuronal assemblies. At the level of developing single neurons, EPO treatment reduces the typical increase in excitatory synaptic transmission without changing the number of synaptic boutons, consistent with prolonged functional silencing of synapses. CONCLUSION We conclude that EPO improves hippocampus dependent memory by modulating plasticity, synaptic connectivity and activity of memory-related neuronal networks. These mechanisms of action of EPO have to be further exploited for treating neuropsychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Adamcio
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Derya Sargin
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alicja Stradomska
- Dept. of Neurophysiology, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
- DFG Research Center for Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lucian Medrihan
- Dept. of Neurophysiology, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
- DFG Research Center for Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christoph Gertler
- Dept. of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fabian Theis
- Dept. of Nonlinear Dynamics, Max Planck Institute of Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mingyue Zhang
- Dept. of Neurophysiology, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
- DFG Research Center for Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael Müller
- Dept. of Neurophysiology, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
- DFG Research Center for Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Imam Hassouna
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Hannke
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Swetlana Sperling
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Konstantin Radyushkin
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
- DFG Research Center for Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ahmed El-Kordi
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lizzy Schulze
- Dept. of Neurophysiology, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
- DFG Research Center for Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anja Ronnenberg
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fred Wolf
- Dept. of Nonlinear Dynamics, Max Planck Institute of Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils Brose
- DFG Research Center for Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB), Göttingen, Germany
- Dept. of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jeong-Seop Rhee
- Dept. of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Weiqi Zhang
- Dept. of Neurophysiology, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
- DFG Research Center for Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hannelore Ehrenreich
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
- DFG Research Center for Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CMPB), Göttingen, Germany
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17
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Mogensen J, Boyd MH, Nielsen MD, Kristensen RS, Malá H. Erythropoietin improves spatial delayed alternation in a T-maze in rats subjected to ablation of the prefrontal cortex. Brain Res Bull 2008; 77:1-7. [PMID: 18639740 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2008.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2007] [Revised: 05/16/2008] [Accepted: 05/21/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Systemically administered human recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) may have the potential to reduce the cognitive and behavioural symptoms of mechanical brain injury. In a series of studies we address this possibility. Previously, we studied the effects of EPO given to fimbria-fornix transected rats at the moment of injury. We have found that such treatment improves substantially the posttraumatic acquisition of allocentric place learning tasks administered in a water maze and in an 8-arm radial maze as well as a spatial delayed alternation task administered in a T-maze. It is, however, essential also to evaluate this clinically important ability of EPO after other types of mechanical brain injury. Consequently, we presently studied the effects of similarly administered EPO in rats subjected to bilateral subpial aspiration of the anteromedial prefrontal cortex as well as control operated rats, respectively. We evaluated the posttraumatic behavioural/cognitive abilities of these animals in a spatial delayed alternation task performed in a T-maze. Administration of EPO to the prefrontally ablated rats was associated with a reduction of the lesion-associated behavioural impairment--while such an impairment was clearly seen in the saline injected prefrontally ablated group. In sham operated rats administration of EPO did not influence the task acquisition significantly. The results of the present study confirm our previous demonstrations that EPO is able to reduce the behavioural/cognitive consequences of mechanical brain injury. This ability is emphasized by its relative independence on the type of lesion as well as the neural structure affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper Mogensen
- The Unit for Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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18
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Ehrenreich H, Bartels C, Sargin D, Stawicki S, Krampe H. Recombinant human erythropoietin in the treatment of human brain disease: focus on cognition. J Ren Nutr 2008; 18:146-53. [PMID: 18089462 DOI: 10.1053/j.jrn.2007.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of human brain disease with erythropoietin (EPO) in order to achieve neuroprotection and/or neuroregeneration represents a totally new frontier in translational neuroscience. Rather than specifically targeting the cause of a particular disease entity, EPO nonspecifically influences components of the "final common pathway" that determine disease severity and progression in a number of entirely different brain diseases. EPO acts in an antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neurotrophic, angiogenetic, stem cell-modulatory fashion. Importantly, it appears to influence neural plasticity. Most likely due to these properties, EPO has been found by many investigators to be protective or regenerative and to improve cognitive performance in various rodent models of neurological and psychiatric disease. The "Göttingen-EPO-stroke trial" has provided first promising data on humans for a neuroprotective therapy of an acute brain disease. Experimental EPO treatment to improve cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia represents a novel neuroregenerative strategy for a chronic brain disease. An exploratory trial in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis as an example of an inflammatory disease of the nervous system yielded first positive results of EPO treatment on both motor function and cognition. These promising results are just the beginning and will hopefully stimulate further work along these lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannelore Ehrenreich
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.
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19
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Lee GD, Longo DL, Wang Y, Rifkind JM, Abdul-Raman L, Mamczarz JA, Duffy KB, Spangler EL, Taub DD, Mattson MP, Ingram DK. Transient improvement in cognitive function and synaptic plasticity in rats following cancer chemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 2006; 12:198-205. [PMID: 16397043 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-05-1286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer chemotherapy has been associated with cognitive impairment. Several issues complicate such findings including the patients' health, use of multiple chemotherapeutic agents, and proper assessment of cognition. To control these factors, we conducted cognitive studies in female rats receiving cyclophosphamide or 5-fluorouracil (5FU). METHODS Young (7 months) female Fischer-344 rats received five injections of cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg), 5FU (150 mg/kg), or saline i.p. every 4 weeks for a total of 18 weeks. Aged (18 months) female Fischer-344 rats were treated with cyclophosphamide (80 mg/kg i.p.) for 16 weeks. After 8 to 10 weeks of recovery, rats were tested in two maze learning tasks, the Morris water maze and the Stone 14-unit T-maze. Neuronal synaptic function was assessed by examining long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal slices obtained from young cyclophosphamide-treated rats. RESULTS Despite the toxic effects induced by chemotherapy, cyclophosphamide- and 5FU-treated rats showed significantly better maze performance compared with controls. Following 29 to 42 weeks of recovery from chemotherapy, no significant effects were observed on maze performance. In aged rats, cyclophosphamide treatment for 14 weeks also produced toxicity, but no impairment in Stone maze learning after 16 weeks of recovery. When assessed during cyclophosphamide treatment, evidence of impaired LTP emerged; however, with 8 weeks of recovery following five cyclophosphamide treatments, we observed enhanced LTP. CONCLUSION Despite toxicity accompanying chemotherapy, no evidence of impaired cognitive performance emerged after recovery. Indeed, following 7 to 9 weeks of recovery, we noted evidence of improved learning and LTP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrick D Lee
- Laboratory of Experimental Gerontology, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA
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20
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O'Shaughnessy JA, Vukelja SJ, Holmes FA, Savin M, Jones M, Royall D, George M, Von Hoff D. Feasibility of Quantifying the Effects of Epoetin Alfa Therapy on Cognitive Function in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Adjuvant or Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy. Clin Breast Cancer 2005; 5:439-46. [PMID: 15748464 DOI: 10.3816/cbc.2005.n.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Impaired cognition, fatigue, and diminished quality of life (QOL) are commonly associated with breast cancer chemotherapy. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial assessed the feasibility of quantifying the effects of epoetin alfa on cognitive function and mood, and evaluated its effects on fatigue and QOL in patients with breast cancer treated with anthracycline-based adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were randomized to receive epoetin alfa 40,000 U subcutaneously once weekly or placebo at the beginning of 4 cycles of chemotherapy administered over 12 weeks. Cognitive function was assessed by Executive Interview (EXIT25) and Clock Drawing Tasks; mood by Profile of Mood States; anemia-related symptoms, including fatigue, by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Anemia (FACT-An) subscale; and QOL by Linear Analog Scale Assessment. Ninety-four patients were evaluable for efficacy and safety. Mean change in EXIT25 scores from baseline to cycle 4 in the epoetin alfa group was 1.3 +/- 3.3; the mean change was 0.3 +/- 2.4 in the placebo group (a negative change indicates improved executive function). There was no difference between groups in mean change in EXIT25 score from baseline to 6-month follow-up assessment. Mean hemoglobin levels were higher in the epoetin alfa group compared with the placebo group after 4 cycles of chemotherapy. Epoetin alfa recipients had less of a decrease in FACT-An subscale scores from baseline to cycle 4 and improvement in FACT-An subscale scores at 6-month follow-up assessment compared with placebo. Epoetin alfa therapy was well tolerated. These data suggest that epoetin alfa may have attenuated the cognitive impairment and fatigue that occurred during adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy.
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21
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Miu AC, Olteanu AI, Chiş I, Heilman RM. Have no fear, erythropoietin is here: erythropoietin protects fear conditioning performances after functional inactivation of the amygdala. Behav Brain Res 2004; 155:223-9. [PMID: 15364481 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2004.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2004] [Revised: 04/19/2004] [Accepted: 04/26/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the capacity of erythropoietin (EPO) to protect fear conditioning performances against functional inactivation of the amygdala. We infused an excitotoxic dose of glutamate in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA) of adult rats in order to block the output projections to brainstem areas controlling the expression of conditioned fear responses. Subsequently, animals with excitotoxic lesions in the LA displayed altered short and long-term fear conditioned responses, but the integrity of their general emotional reactivity was preserved, as indicated by their open-field behavior. EPO infused immediately after glutamate succeeded to protect the conditioned fear performances of rats. This effect was reliably represented on both short, and long-term memory tests of conditioned fear. This and other studies have supported the potent neuroprotective activity of EPO, discriminable both morphologically, and behaviorally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei C Miu
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Babeş-Bolyai University, 37 Republicii, Cluj-Napoca CJ 3400, Romania.
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22
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Abstract
Radiotherapy (RT) is a proven curative and palliative therapeutic tool in the treatment of a wide variety of primary and metastatic brain tumors in adults. Recent advances in multimodality therapy have led to improvement in survival for many cancer patients. As survival has improved, more attention has been directed toward long-term treatment-related morbidity. Specifically, the effect of RT on the long-term cognitive performance of these patients is a major concern. This article reviews the neurocognitive effects of cranial RT on adult patients with brain tumors. Analyses of neurocognitive function are confounded by factors such as surgery, chemotherapy, tumor characteristics, tumor progression, concurrent medical illnesses, neurologic comorbidity, and medications that can contribute to neurocognitive deficits. Risk of deficits after cranial RT is associated with high RT dose, large fraction size, larger field size, and extremes of age at time of treatment. Using modern techniques with moderate total doses (50 to 54 Gy), conformal RT, conventional fractionation, and advanced planning imaging and software, the risks of neurocognitive deficits are quite small and greatly overshadowed by deficits caused by the tumor itself. Further studies need to be undertaken to elucidate the degree and cause of cognitive decline in adult patients undergoing multimodality therapy for cranial tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia N Laack
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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23
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Kumral A, Uysal N, Tugyan K, Sonmez A, Yilmaz O, Gokmen N, Kiray M, Genc S, Duman N, Koroglu TF, Ozkan H, Genc K. Erythropoietin improves long-term spatial memory deficits and brain injury following neonatal hypoxia-ischemia in rats. Behav Brain Res 2004; 153:77-86. [PMID: 15219709 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2003.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2003] [Revised: 11/04/2003] [Accepted: 11/04/2003] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
It is well known that neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury leads to mental retardation and deficits in cognitive abilities such as learning and memory in human beings. The ameliorative effect of erythropoietin (Epo) on experimental hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats has been recently reported. However, the effect of Epo on cognitive abilities in the hypoxic-ischemic brain injury model is unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Epo on learning-memory, behavior and neurodegeneration induced by hypoxia-ischemia. Seven days old Wistar Albino rat pups have been used in the study (n = 28). Experimental groups in the study were: (1) saline-treated hypoxia-ischemia group, (2) Epo-treated (i.p., 1000 U/kg) hypoxia-ischemia group, (3) sham-operated group, (4) control group. In hypoxia-ischemia groups, left common carotid artery was ligated permanently on the seventh postnatal day. Two hours after the procedure, hypoxia (92% nitrogen and 8% oxygen) was induced for 2.5 h. Epo was administered as a single dose immediately after the hypoxia period. When pups were 22 days old, learning experiments were performed using Morris water maze. On the 20th week, when brain development is accepted to be complete, learning experiments were repeated. Rats were then perfused and brains removed for macroscopic and microscopic evaluation. Epo treatment immediately after hypoxic-ischemic insult significantly improved long-term neurobehavioral achievements when tested during the subsequent phase of brain maturation and even into adulthood. Histopathological evaluation demonstrated that Epo also significantly diminished brain injury and spared hippocampal CA1 neurons. In conclusion, Epo administrated as a single dose immediately after neonatal hypoxic-ischemic insult provides benefit over a prolonged period in the still developing rat brain. Since the wide use of Epo in premature newborns, this agent may be potentially beneficial in treating asphyxial brain damage in the perinatal period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Kumral
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
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24
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Mogensen J, Miskowiak K, Sørensen TA, Lind CT, Olsen NV, Springborg JB, Malá H. Erythropoietin improves place learning in fimbria–fornix-transected rats and modifies the search pattern of normal rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2004; 77:381-90. [PMID: 14751468 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2003.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The acquisition of a water-maze-based allocentric place learning task was studied in four groups of rats: two groups subjected to bilateral transections of the fimbria-fornix and two groups undergoing a sham control operation. At the moment of surgery all animals were given one systemic (intraperitoneal) injection of either human recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) (at a dosage of 5000 IU/kg body weight), given to one of the fimbria-fornix-transected groups and one of the sham-operated groups, or vehicle (saline), given to the two remaining groups. The 25-day task acquisition period (one session/day) began 6 or 7 days after the day of surgery. The fimbria-fornix-transected and saline-injected group exhibited a pronounced and long-lasting impairment of task acquisition. In contrast, the fimbria-fornix-transected and EPO-treated group demonstrated a less pronounced and more transient lesion-associated impairment. The two sham-operated groups did not differ with respect to the proficiency of task acquisition. But administration of EPO to intact animals caused a significant modification of swim patterns-apparently reflecting a somewhat modified strategy of task solution. It is concluded that systemic administration of EPO significantly improves the posttraumatic functional recovery of the presently studied place learning task after transections of the fimbria-fornix. Additionally, administration of EPO influences the strategy, although not quality, of task solution in normal (sham-operated) rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper Mogensen
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Amager, Njalsgade 88, DK-2300 S, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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25
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Abstract
To elucidate pathways from specific genes to complex behaviors, assays of mouse behavior need to be valid, reliable and replicable across laboratories. Behavioral assays are proving to be as complex as the intricate cellular and molecular pathways that are the main interest of many mouse users. There is no perfect behavioral test, but we propose some aphorisms to stimulate discussion that is necessary for continued progress in task development. For maximal utility, a behavioral test should yield valid data for most of the commonly used inbred mouse strains. Tests of simple, ubiquitous behaviors usually yield meaningful data for most mice, especially when based on automated scoring or on simple physical measures that are likely to be replicable across laboratories. Extreme test scores resulting from non-performance on a task can inflate the apparent reliability of a test, and devious adaptations to a task can undermine its validity. The optimal apparatus configuration for certain genetic or pharmacological analyses might depend on the particular laboratory environment. Despite our best efforts, the mice will continue to win some innings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Wahlsten
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9.
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26
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Leyland-Jones B. The Future of Breast Cancer Therapy: Erythropoietin as an Integral Component. Clin Breast Cancer 2003. [DOI: 10.3816/cbc.2003.n.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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27
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O'Shaughnessy JA. Effects of epoetin alfa on cognitive function, mood, asthenia, and quality of life in women with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. Clin Breast Cancer 2002; 3 Suppl 3:S116-20. [PMID: 12533272 DOI: 10.3816/cbc.2002.s.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Several recently published studies describe moderate to severe cognitive dysfunction in breast cancer survivors who were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy 1-5 years before undergoing extensive neuropsychological testing. While these studies are hypothesis-generating and preliminary given their small size and retrospective nature, they consistently suggest that between approximately 15% and 25% of chemotherapy-treated breast cancer patients will have evidence of cognitive dysfunction some years after chemotherapy, compared to about 10% of breast cancer survivors who did not receive chemotherapy. Recent preclinical data strongly suggest that erythropoetin is a potent, endogenous neuroprotective agent that prevents neuronal apoptosis from a variety of insults including hypoxia, trauma, subarachnoidal hemorrhage, and encephalitis. Erythropoietin also appears to enhance learning in a mouse spatial learning maze model. We have conducted a pilot study of epoetin alfa versus placebo in early-stage breast cancer patients who received standard adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy to determine the feasibility of administering standardized neurocognitive assessment tests in the oncology practice setting in order to understand whether the Executive Interview 25 test can detect the subtle cognitive impairment in verbal fluency, attention, and short-term memory observed with chemotherapy, and to assess whether epoetin alfa-treated patients have less evidence of cognitive dysfunction during and 6 months after chemotherapy compared with control-treated patients. We report here the preliminary results of this pilot clinical trial.
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28
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Senzer N. Rationale for a phase III study of erythropoietin as a neurocognitive protectant in patients with lung cancer receiving prophylactic cranial irradiation. Semin Oncol 2002. [DOI: 10.1016/s0093-7754(02)70010-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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29
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Uusi-Oukari M, Hyttinen JM, Korhonen VP, Västi A, Alhonen L, Jänne OA, Jänne J. Bovine alpha s1-casein gene sequences direct high level expression of human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the milk of transgenic mice. Transgenic Res 1997; 6:75-84. [PMID: 9032980 DOI: 10.1023/a:1018461201385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The generation is reported of transgenic mice expressing human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or human erythropoietin (EPO) under the control of bovine alpha s1-casein regulatory sequences. GM-CSF expression was specific to the mammary gland, and levels of human GM-CSF in transgenic mouse milk were in the range of mg ml-1. The specific activity of the milk GM-CSF was similar to that of the recombinant protein produced in Escherichia coli, and the glycosylation-derived size heterogeneity corresponded to that of the native human protein. In spite of the identical bovine regulatory sequences of the fusion genes, the levels of human EPO in transgenic mouse milk were 10(3)-10(6) times lower than those of GM-CSF, ranging from 0.003 to 3 micrograms ml-1. There appeared to be a positive correlation between the amount of EPO in the milk of lactating females and blood haematocrit values. In view of this, other type of constructs should be used to achieve more efficient EPO expression and to circumvent concomitantly-occurring adverse effects. In contrast, the high-level production of recombinant GM-CSF, its resemblance to the native mammalian protein, and mild adverse consequences of transgene expression imply that the current construct could be used for generation of larger GM-CSF transgenic animals to produce this protein in quantities sufficient for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Uusi-Oukari
- Department of Physiology, University of Helsinki, Finland
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