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Hayflick SJ, Jeong SY, Sibon OCM. PKAN pathogenesis and treatment. Mol Genet Metab 2022; 137:283-291. [PMID: 36240582 PMCID: PMC9970616 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2022.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Studies aimed at supporting different treatment approaches for pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) have revealed the complexity of coenzyme A (CoA) metabolism and the limits of our current knowledge about disease pathogenesis. Here we offer a foundation for critically evaluating the myriad approaches, argue for the importance of unbiased disease models, and highlight some of the outstanding questions that are central to our understanding and treating PKAN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan J Hayflick
- Departments of Molecular & Medical Genetics, Pediatrics, and Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
| | - Suh Young Jeong
- Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Ody C M Sibon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 AV, the Netherlands
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2
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Fedor FZ, Paraczky C, Ravasz L, Tóth K, Borhegyi Z, Somogyvári Z, Juhász G, Fekete Z. Electrophysiological and behavioral properties of 4-aminopyridine-induced epileptic activity in mice. Biol Futur 2021; 71:427-434. [PMID: 34554464 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-020-00047-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
4-aminopyridine (4-AP) is a widely used drug that induces seizure activity in rodents, especially in rats, although there is no consensus in the literature on the dose to be used in mice. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the intraperitoneal administration of 4-AP in two doses (4 and 10 mg/kg) in vivo. EEG, movement, and video recordings were made simultaneously in male B6 mice to specify the details of the seizures and to determine whether there is a suitable non-lethal dose for seizure induction and for further molecular studies. Seizure behavior in mice differs from that seen in rats, with no characteristic stages of epileptic seizures, but with spiking and seizure activity. Seizure activity, although produced at both doses without being lethal, induced different changes of the EEG pattern. Smaller dose induced a lower amplitude seizure activity, decreased spiking activity and later onset of seizures, while higher dose induced a much more intense brain seizure activity and severe trembling. It is concluded that the intraperitoneal administration of 4-AP at a dose of 10 mg/kg induces explicit seizure activity in mice which is repeatable and can be suitable for further molecular research.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Z Fedor
- Doctoral School of Chemical Engineering and Material Sciences, University of Pannonia, Veszprém, 8200, Hungary. .,ELTE NAP Neuroimmunology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
| | - C Paraczky
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, 1083, Hungary
| | - L Ravasz
- ELTE NAP Neuroimmunology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - K Tóth
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, 1083, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Z Borhegyi
- Department of Biochemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Z Somogyvári
- Theoretical Neuroscience and Complex Systems Research Group, Department of Computational Sciences, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Budapest, 1121, Hungary
| | - G Juhász
- Department of Biochemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Z Fekete
- Research Group for Implantable Microsystems, Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics, Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Budapest, 1083, Hungary.,Centre for Energy Research, Budapest, 1121, Hungary
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3
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D'Mello SR. MECP2 and the Biology of MECP2 Duplication Syndrome. J Neurochem 2021; 159:29-60. [PMID: 33638179 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS), a rare X-linked genomic disorder affecting predominantly males, is caused by duplication of the chromosomal region containing the methyl CpG binding protein-2 (MECP2) gene, which encodes methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), a multi-functional protein required for proper brain development and maintenance of brain function during adulthood. Disease symptoms include severe motor and cognitive impairment, delayed or absent speech development, autistic features, seizures, ataxia, recurrent respiratory infections and shortened lifespan. The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which a relatively modest increase in MECP2 protein causes such severe disease symptoms are poorly understood and consequently there are no treatments available for this fatal disorder. This review summarizes what is known to date about the structure and complex regulation of MECP2 and its many functions in the developing and adult brain. Additionally, recent experimental findings on the cellular and molecular underpinnings of MDS based on cell culture and mouse models of the disorder are reviewed. The emerging picture from these studies is that MDS is a neurodegenerative disorder in which neurons die in specific parts of the central nervous system, including the cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum and spinal cord. Neuronal death likely results from astrocytic dysfunction, including a breakdown of glutamate homeostatic mechanisms. The role of elevations in the expression of glial acidic fibrillary protein (GFAP) in astrocytes and the microtubule-associated protein, Tau, in neurons to the pathogenesis of MDS is discussed. Lastly, potential therapeutic strategies to potentially treat MDS are discussed.
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4
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Harsanyiova J, Buday T, Kralova Trancikova A. Parkinson's Disease and the Gut: Future Perspectives for Early Diagnosis. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:626. [PMID: 32625058 PMCID: PMC7313629 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, and at the cellular level by the formation of Lewy bodies in the central nervous system (CNS). However, the onset of the disease is believed to be localized to peripheral organs, particularly the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the olfactory bulb sooner before neuropathological changes occur in the CNS. Patients already in the pre-motor stage of PD suffer from various digestive problems and/or due to significant changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiome in this early stage of the disease. Detailed analyses of patient biopsies and autopsies as well as animal models of neuropathological changes characteristic of PD provided important information on the pathology or treatment of PD symptoms. However, presently is not clarified (i) the specific tissue in the GIT where the pathological processes associated with PD is initiated; (ii) the mechanism by which these processes are disseminated to the CNS or other tissues within the GIT; and (iii) which neuropathological changes could also serve as a reliable diagnostic marker of the premotor stages of PD, or (iv) which type of GIT tissue would be the most appropriate choice for routine examination of patient biopsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Harsanyiova
- Departmet of Pahophysiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Tomas Buday
- Departmet of Pahophysiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Alzbeta Kralova Trancikova
- Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
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5
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Fiala T, Wang J, Dunn M, Šebej P, Choi SJ, Nwadibia EC, Fialova E, Martinez DM, Cheetham CE, Fogle KJ, Palladino MJ, Freyberg Z, Sulzer D, Sames D. Chemical Targeting of Voltage Sensitive Dyes to Specific Cells and Molecules in the Brain. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:9285-9301. [PMID: 32395989 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c00861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Voltage sensitive fluorescent dyes (VSDs) are important tools for probing signal transduction in neurons and other excitable cells. The impact of these highly lipophilic sensors has, however, been limited due to the lack of cell-specific targeting methods in brain tissue or living animals. We address this key challenge by introducing a nongenetic molecular platform for cell- and molecule-specific targeting of synthetic VSDs in the brain. We employ a dextran polymer particle to overcome the inherent lipophilicity of VSDs by dynamic encapsulation and high-affinity ligands to target the construct to specific neuronal cells utilizing only native components of the neurotransmission machinery at physiological expression levels. Dichloropane, a monoamine transporter ligand, enables targeting of dense dopaminergic axons in the mouse striatum and sparse noradrenergic axons in the mouse cortex in acute brain slices. PFQX in conjunction with ligand-directed acyl imidazole chemistry enables covalent labeling of AMPA-type glutamate receptors in the same brain regions. Probe variants bearing either a classical electrochromic ANEP dye or state-of-the-art VoltageFluor-type dye respond to membrane potential changes in a similar manner to the parent dyes, as shown by whole-cell patch recording. We demonstrate the feasibility of optical voltage recording with our probes in brain tissue with one-photon and two-photon fluorescence microscopy and define the signal limits of optical voltage imaging with synthetic sensors under a low photon budget determined by the native expression levels of the target proteins. This work demonstrates the feasibility of a chemical targeting approach and expands the possibilities of cell-specific imaging and pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Fiala
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Jihang Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Matthew Dunn
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Peter Šebej
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Se Joon Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Ekeoma C Nwadibia
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Eva Fialova
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Diana M Martinez
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10027, United States
| | - Claire E Cheetham
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Keri J Fogle
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States.,Pittsburgh Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases (PIND), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Michael J Palladino
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States.,Pittsburgh Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases (PIND), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States
| | - Zachary Freyberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.,Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - David Sulzer
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10027, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10027, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10027, United States.,Department of Molecular Therapeutics, New York Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Dalibor Sames
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States.,NeuroTechnology Center at Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States
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6
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Pol S, Temel Y, Jahanshahi A. A Custom Made Electrode Construct and Reliable Implantation Method That Allows for Long-Term Bilateral Deep Brain Stimulation in Mice. Neuromodulation 2020; 24:212-219. [PMID: 32385967 PMCID: PMC7984026 DOI: 10.1111/ner.13165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Objectives The underlying mechanisms behind the therapeutic and side effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) need further investigation. The utilization of transgenic mouse lines is a suitable approach to better understand the cellular and network effects of DBS. However, not many bilateral DBS studies have been conducted in mice. This might be due to a lack of commercially available bilateral DBS constructs. Materials and Methods We developed an approach to perform repetitive long‐term DBS in freely moving mice. In this study, we implanted an in‐house custom‐made DBS construct containing two bipolar concentric electrodes to target the subthalamic nucleus (STN) bilaterally. Subsequently, we stimulated half of the animals with clinically relevant parameters three to five times a week with a duration of 20 min for ten weeks. Several behavioral tests were conducted of which the open field test (OFT) is shown to validate the reliability of this electrode construct and implantation method. Furthermore, we performed fiber photometry measurements to show the acute effect of STN‐DBS on serotonin network activity in the dorsal raphe nucleus. Results Repetitive DBS and long‐term behavioral testing were performed without complications. STN‐DBS resulted in an increase of the distance traveled in the OFT and a reduction of calcium levels in serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus. None of the mice had lost their electrodes and postmortem evaluation of the tissue showed accurate targeting of the STN without excessive gliosis. Conclusion The DBS electrode construct and implantation method described can be used for long‐term DBS studies to further investigate the mechanisms underlying DBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvana Pol
- Department of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Yasin Temel
- Department of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Ali Jahanshahi
- Department of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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7
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Biró S, Lasztóczi B, Klausberger T. A Visual Two-Choice Rule-Switch Task for Head-Fixed Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:119. [PMID: 31244622 PMCID: PMC6562896 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility is the innate ability of the brain to change mental processes and to modify behavioral responses according to an ever-changing environment. As our brain has a limited capacity to process the information of our surroundings in any given moment, it uses sets as a strategy to aid neural processing systems. With assessing the capability of shifting between task sets, it is possible to test cognitive flexibility and executive functions. The most widely used neuropsychological task for the evaluation of these functions in humans is the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), which requires the subject to alter response strategies and use previously irrelevant information to solve a problem. The test has proven clinical relevance, as poor performance has been reported in multiple neuropsychiatric conditions. Although, similar tasks have been used in pre-clinical rodent research, many are limited because of their manual-based testing procedures and their hardware attenuates neuronal recordings. We developed a two-choice rule-switch task whereby head-fixed C57BL/6 mice had to choose correctly one of the two virtual objects presented to retrieve a small water reward. The animals learnt to discriminate the visual cues and they successfully switched their strategies according to the related rules. We show that reaching successful performance after the rule changes required more trials in this task and that animals took more time to execute decisions when the two rules were in conflict. We used optogenetics to inhibit temporarily the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during reward delivery and consumption, which significantly increased the number of trials needed to perform the second rule successfully (i.e., succeed in switching between rules), compared to control experiments. Furthermore, by assessing two types of error animals made after the rule switch, we show that interfering with the positive feedback integration, but leaving the negative feedback processing intact, does not influence the initial disengagement from the first rule, but impedes the maintenance of the newly acquired response set. These findings support the role of prefrontal networks in mice for cognitive flexibility, which is impaired during numerous neuropsychiatric diseases, such as schizophrenia and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szabolcs Biró
- Center for Brain Research, Division of Cognitive Neurobiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bálint Lasztóczi
- Center for Brain Research, Division of Cognitive Neurobiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Klausberger
- Center for Brain Research, Division of Cognitive Neurobiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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8
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9
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10
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Toonen LJA, Overzier M, Evers MM, Leon LG, van der Zeeuw SAJ, Mei H, Kielbasa SM, Goeman JJ, Hettne KM, Magnusson OT, Poirel M, Seyer A, 't Hoen PAC, van Roon-Mom WMC. Transcriptional profiling and biomarker identification reveal tissue specific effects of expanded ataxin-3 in a spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 mouse model. Mol Neurodegener 2018; 13:31. [PMID: 29929540 PMCID: PMC6013885 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-018-0261-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of the polyglutamine repeat in the ataxin-3 protein. Expression of mutant ataxin-3 is known to result in transcriptional dysregulation, which can contribute to the cellular toxicity and neurodegeneration. Since the exact causative mechanisms underlying this process have not been fully elucidated, gene expression analyses in brains of transgenic SCA3 mouse models may provide useful insights. Methods Here we characterised the MJD84.2 SCA3 mouse model expressing the mutant human ataxin-3 gene using a multi-omics approach on brain and blood. Gene expression changes in brainstem, cerebellum, striatum and cortex were used to study pathological changes in brain, while blood gene expression and metabolites/lipids levels were examined as potential biomarkers for disease. Results Despite normal motor performance at 17.5 months of age, transcriptional changes in brain tissue of the SCA3 mice were observed. Most transcriptional changes occurred in brainstem and striatum, whilst cerebellum and cortex were only modestly affected. The most significantly altered genes in SCA3 mouse brain were Tmc3, Zfp488, Car2, and Chdh. Based on the transcriptional changes, α-adrenergic and CREB pathways were most consistently altered for combined analysis of the four brain regions. When examining individual brain regions, axon guidance and synaptic transmission pathways were most strongly altered in striatum, whilst brainstem presented with strongest alterations in the pi-3 k cascade and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways. Similar to other neurodegenerative diseases, reduced levels of tryptophan and increased levels of ceramides, di- and triglycerides were observed in SCA3 mouse blood. Conclusions The observed transcriptional changes in SCA3 mouse brain reveal parallels with previous reported neuropathology in patients, but also shows brain region specific effects as well as involvement of adrenergic signalling and CREB pathway changes in SCA3. Importantly, the transcriptional changes occur prior to onset of motor- and coordination deficits. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13024-018-0261-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lodewijk J A Toonen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maurice Overzier
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Melvin M Evers
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leticia G Leon
- Cancer Pharmacology Lab, University of Pisa, Ospedale di Cisanello, Edificio 6 via Paradisa, 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sander A J van der Zeeuw
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Szymon M Kielbasa
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle J Goeman
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kristina M Hettne
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Peter A C 't Hoen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Centre for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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11
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Di Gregorio SE, Duennwald ML. Yeast as a model to study protein misfolding in aged cells. FEMS Yeast Res 2018; 18:4996350. [DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foy054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sonja E Di Gregorio
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Martin L Duennwald
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
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12
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Amanullah A, Upadhyay A, Joshi V, Mishra R, Jana NR, Mishra A. Progressing neurobiological strategies against proteostasis failure: Challenges in neurodegeneration. Prog Neurobiol 2017; 159:1-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2017.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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13
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Bolker JA. Animal Models in Translational Research: Rosetta Stone or Stumbling Block? Bioessays 2017; 39. [PMID: 29052843 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201700089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 09/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Leading animal models are powerful tools for translational research, but they also present obstacles. Poorly conducted preclinical research in animals is a common cause of translational failure, but even when such research is well-designed and carefully executed, challenges remain. In particular, dominant models may bias research directions, elide essential aspects of human disease, omit important context, or subtly shift research targets. Recognizing these stumbling blocks can help us find ways to avoid them: employing a wider range of models, incorporating more realistic environmental conditions, better aligning studies between animals and patients, and focusing on human biology and therapeutic goals. Such changes are costly; but insisting it would be impractical or unrealistic to change strategies offers no way out of the current impasse. Rather, we must acknowledge the obstacles as well as the advantages presented by core models, and direct some of our investments in translational research toward getting around them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Bolker
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA
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14
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A simple LC-ESI-MS/MS method for quantification of bacopaside I in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2016; 1027:103-9. [PMID: 27270262 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2016.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2016] [Revised: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Bacopaside I is one of the main pseudojujubogenin glycosides isolated from Bacopa monniera. In the present study, a rapid and robust LC-ESI-MS/MS method was developed and validated to quantify bacopaside I in rat plasma. After plasma samples were deproteinized by methanol, the post-treatment samples were analyzed on a Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 (2.1×50mm, 1.8μm) column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile and water (65:35, v/v). Detection was performed on a triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer with selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode via electrospray ionization source. This method covered a linearity range of 10-2000ng/mL with the lower limit of quantification of 10ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions of analysis were less than 10.2%, and the accuracies were between -11.1% and 8.4% at the concentrations of 25, 150 and 1800ng/mL. The total run time was 6.0min. This method was successfully applied to the preclinical pharmacokinetic study of bacopaside I following intravenous or oral administration to rats.
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15
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Sajja BR, Bade AN, Zhou B, Uberti MG, Gorantla S, Gendelman HE, Boska MD, Liu Y. Generation and Disease Model Relevance of a Manganese Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based NOD/scid-IL-2Rγc(null) Mouse Brain Atlas. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2015; 11:133-41. [PMID: 26556033 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-015-9635-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/04/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Strain specific mouse brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) atlases provide coordinate space linked anatomical registration. This allows longitudinal quantitative analyses of neuroanatomical volumes and imaging metrics for assessing the role played by aging and disease to the central nervous system. As NOD/scid-IL-2Rγ(c)(null) (NSG) mice allow human cell transplantation to study human disease, these animals are used to assess brain morphology. Manganese enhanced MRI (MEMRI) improves contrasts amongst brain components and as such can greatly help identifying a broad number of structures on MRI. To this end, NSG adult mouse brains were imaged in vivo on a 7.0 Tesla MR scanner at an isotropic resolution of 100 μm. A population averaged brain of 19 mice was generated using an iterative alignment algorithm. MEMRI provided sufficient contrast permitting 41 brain structures to be manually labeled. Volumes of 7 humanized mice brain structures were measured by atlas-based segmentation and compared against non-humanized controls. The humanized NSG mice brain volumes were smaller than controls (p < 0.001). Many brain structures of humanized mice were significantly smaller than controls. We posit that the irradiation and cell grafting involved in the creation of humanized mice were responsible for the morphological differences. Six NSG mice without MnCl2 administration were scanned with high resolution T2-weighted MRI and segmented to test broad utility of the atlas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balasrinivasa R Sajja
- Department of Radiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 981045 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Aditya N Bade
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Biyun Zhou
- Department of Radiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 981045 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Anesthesiology, Tongji Medical College, Huanzhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mariano G Uberti
- Department of Radiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 981045 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Santhi Gorantla
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Howard E Gendelman
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Michael D Boska
- Department of Radiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 981045 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Yutong Liu
- Department of Radiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 981045 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985880 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
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Harel I, Benayoun BA, Machado B, Singh PP, Hu CK, Pech MF, Valenzano DR, Zhang E, Sharp SC, Artandi SE, Brunet A. A platform for rapid exploration of aging and diseases in a naturally short-lived vertebrate. Cell 2015; 160:1013-1026. [PMID: 25684364 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2014] [Revised: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
VIDEO ABSTRACT Aging is a complex process that affects multiple organs. Modeling aging and age-related diseases in the lab is challenging because classical vertebrate models have relatively long lifespans. Here, we develop the first platform for rapid exploration of age-dependent traits and diseases in vertebrates, using the naturally short-lived African turquoise killifish. We provide an integrative genomic and genome-editing toolkit in this organism using our de-novo-assembled genome and the CRISPR/Cas9 technology. We mutate many genes encompassing the hallmarks of aging, and for a subset, we produce stable lines within 2-3 months. As a proof of principle, we show that fish deficient for the protein subunit of telomerase exhibit the fastest onset of telomere-related pathologies among vertebrates. We further demonstrate the feasibility of creating specific genetic variants. This genome-to-phenotype platform represents a unique resource for studying vertebrate aging and disease in a high-throughput manner and for investigating candidates arising from human genome-wide studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itamar Harel
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Ben Machado
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Param Priya Singh
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Chi-Kuo Hu
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Matthew F Pech
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Biochemistry Department, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Elisa Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sabrina C Sharp
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Steven E Artandi
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Biochemistry Department, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging at Stanford, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Anne Brunet
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging at Stanford, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Zhou M, Ottenberg G, Sferrazza GF, Hubbs C, Fallahi M, Rumbaugh G, Brantley AF, Lasmézas CI. Neuronal death induced by misfolded prion protein is due to NAD+ depletion and can be relieved in vitro and in vivo by NAD+ replenishment. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 138:992-1008. [PMID: 25678560 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awv002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms of neuronal death in protein misfolding neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and prion diseases are poorly understood. We used a highly toxic misfolded prion protein (TPrP) model to understand neurotoxicity induced by prion protein misfolding. We show that abnormal autophagy activation and neuronal demise is due to severe, neuron-specific, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) depletion. Toxic prion protein-exposed neuronal cells exhibit dramatic reductions of intracellular NAD(+) followed by decreased ATP production, and are completely rescued by treatment with NAD(+) or its precursor nicotinamide because of restoration of physiological NAD(+) levels. Toxic prion protein-induced NAD(+) depletion results from PARP1-independent excessive protein ADP-ribosylations. In vivo, toxic prion protein-induced degeneration of hippocampal neurons is prevented dose-dependently by intracerebral injection of NAD(+). Intranasal NAD(+) treatment of prion-infected sick mice significantly improves activity and delays motor impairment. Our study reveals NAD(+) starvation as a novel mechanism of autophagy activation and neurodegeneration induced by a misfolded amyloidogenic protein. We propose the development of NAD(+) replenishment strategies for neuroprotection in prion diseases and possibly other protein misfolding neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghai Zhou
- 1 Department of Infectious Diseases, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Gregory Ottenberg
- 1 Department of Infectious Diseases, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Gian Franco Sferrazza
- 1 Department of Infectious Diseases, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Christopher Hubbs
- 2 Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Mohammad Fallahi
- 3 Informatics Core, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Gavin Rumbaugh
- 2 Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Alicia F Brantley
- 4 Behaviour Core, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Corinne I Lasmézas
- 1 Department of Infectious Diseases, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
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Abstract
Dopaminergic neurons represent less than 1% of the total number of neurons in the brain. This low amount of neurons regulates important brain functions such as motor control, motivation, and working memory. Nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons selectively degenerate in Parkinson's disease (PD). This progressive neuronal loss is unequivocally associated with the motors symptoms of the pathology (bradykinesia, resting tremor, and muscular rigidity). The main agent responsible of dopaminergic neuron degeneration is still unknown. However, these neurons appear to be extremely vulnerable in diverse conditions. Primary cultures constitute one of the most relevant models to investigate properties and characteristics of dopaminergic neurons. These cultures can be submitted to various stress agents that mimic PD pathology and to neuroprotective compounds in order to stop or slow down neuronal degeneration. The numerous transgenic mouse models of PD that have been generated during the last decade further increased the interest of researchers for dopaminergic neuron cultures. Here, the video protocol focuses on the delicate dissection of embryonic mouse brains. Precise excision of ventral mesencephalon is crucial to obtain neuronal cultures sufficiently rich in dopaminergic cells to allow subsequent studies. This protocol can be realized with embryonic transgenic mice and is suitable for immunofluorescence staining, quantitative PCR, second messenger quantification, or neuronal death/survival assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Gaven
- CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier; Inserm, U661, Montpellier; Universités de Montpellier
| | - Philippe Marin
- CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier; Inserm, U661, Montpellier; Universités de Montpellier
| | - Sylvie Claeysen
- CNRS, UMR-5203, Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Montpellier; Inserm, U661, Montpellier; Universités de Montpellier;
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Mochly-Rosen D, Disatnik MH, Qi X. The challenge in translating basic research discoveries to treatment of Huntington disease. Rare Dis 2014; 2:e28637. [PMID: 25054095 PMCID: PMC4091548 DOI: 10.4161/rdis.28637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Revised: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease is a rare neurodegenerative disease resulting from insertion and/or expansion of a polyglutamine repeats close to the N-terminal of the huntingtin protein. Although unequivocal genetic tests have been available for about 20 years, current pharmacological treatments do not prevent or slow down disease progression. Recent basic research identified potential novel drug targets for the treatment of Huntington disease. However, there are clear challenges in translating these discoveries into treatment strategies for these patients. The following is a brief discussion of these challenges using our recent experience as an example.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Mochly-Rosen
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology; Stanford University School of Medicine; Stanford, CA USA
| | - Marie-Helene Disatnik
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology; Stanford University School of Medicine; Stanford, CA USA
| | - Xin Qi
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics; Center of Mitochondrial Disease; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Cleveland, OH USA
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Guo X, Disatnik MH, Monbureau M, Shamloo M, Mochly-Rosen D, Qi X. Inhibition of mitochondrial fragmentation diminishes Huntington's disease-associated neurodegeneration. J Clin Invest 2013; 123:5371-88. [PMID: 24231356 DOI: 10.1172/jci70911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 277] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is the result of expression of a mutated Huntingtin protein (mtHtt), and is associated with a variety of cellular dysfunctions including excessive mitochondrial fission. Here, we tested whether inhibition of excessive mitochondrial fission prevents mtHtt-induced pathology. We developed a selective inhibitor (P110-TAT) of the mitochondrial fission protein dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1). We found that P110-TAT inhibited mtHtt-induced excessive mitochondrial fragmentation, improved mitochondrial function, and increased cell viability in HD cell culture models. P110-TAT treatment of fibroblasts from patients with HD and patients with HD with iPS cell-derived neurons reduced mitochondrial fragmentation and corrected mitochondrial dysfunction. P110-TAT treatment also reduced the extent of neurite shortening and cell death in iPS cell-derived neurons in patients with HD. Moreover, treatment of HD transgenic mice with P110-TAT reduced mitochondrial dysfunction, motor deficits, neuropathology, and mortality. We found that p53, a stress gene involved in HD pathogenesis, binds to DRP1 and mediates DRP1-induced mitochondrial and neuronal damage. Furthermore, P110-TAT treatment suppressed mtHtt-induced association of p53 with mitochondria in multiple HD models. These data indicate that inhibition of DRP1-dependent excessive mitochondrial fission with a P110-TAT-like inhibitor may prevent or slow the progression of HD.
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Coogan AN, Schutová B, Husung S, Furczyk K, Baune BT, Kropp P, Häßler F, Thome J. The circadian system in Alzheimer's disease: disturbances, mechanisms, and opportunities. Biol Psychiatry 2013; 74:333-9. [PMID: 23273723 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2012] [Revised: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative condition associated with severe cognitive and behavioral impairments. Circadian rhythms are recurring cycles that display periods of approximately 24 hours and are driven by an endogenous circadian timekeeping system centered on the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus. We review the compelling evidence that circadian rhythms are significantly disturbed in AD and that such disturbance is of significant clinical importance in terms of behavioral symptoms. We also detail findings from neuropathological studies of brain areas associated with the circadian system in postmortem studies, the use of animal models of AD in the investigation of circadian processes, and the evidence that chronotherapeutic approaches aimed at bolstering weakened circadian rhythms in AD produce beneficial outcomes. We argue that further investigation in such areas is warranted and highlight areas for future research that might prove fruitful in ultimately providing new treatment options for this most serious and intractable of conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew N Coogan
- Department of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Republic of Ireland
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22
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Prather RS, Lorson M, Ross JW, Whyte JJ, Walters E. Genetically engineered pig models for human diseases. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2013; 1:203-19. [PMID: 25387017 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-031412-103715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Although pigs are used widely as models of human disease, their utility as models has been enhanced by genetic engineering. Initially, transgenes were added randomly to the genome, but with the application of homologous recombination, zinc finger nucleases, and transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) technologies, now most any genetic change that can be envisioned can be completed. To date these genetic modifications have resulted in animals that have the potential to provide new insights into human diseases for which a good animal model did not exist previously. These new animal models should provide the preclinical data for treatments that are developed for diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, cystic fibrosis, retinitis pigmentosa, spinal muscular atrophy, diabetes, and organ failure. These new models will help to uncover aspects and treatments of these diseases that were otherwise unattainable. The focus of this review is to describe genetically engineered pigs that have resulted in models of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randall S Prather
- Division of Animal Science, National Swine Resource and Research Center, and
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Abstract
Identifying genes involved in behavioural disorders in man is a challenge as the cause is often multigenic and the phenotype is modulated by environmental cues. Mouse mutants are a valuable tool for identifying novel pathways underlying specific neurological phenotypes and exploring the influence both genetic and non-genetic factors. Many human variants causing behavioural disorders are not gene deletions but changes in levels of expression or activity of a gene product; consequently, large-scale mouse ENU mutagenesis has the advantage over the study of null mutants in that it generates a range of point mutations that frequently mirror the subtlety and heterogeneity of human genetic lesions. ENU mutants have provided novel and clinically relevant functional information on genes that influence many aspects of mammalian behaviour, from neuropsychiatric endophenotypes to circadian rhythms. This review will highlight some of the most important findings that have been made using this method in several key areas of neurological disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter L Oliver
- MRC Functional Genomics Unit, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
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24
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Brooks SP, Dunnett SB. Cognitive deficits in animal models of basal ganglia disorders. Brain Res Bull 2012; 92:29-40. [PMID: 22588013 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2012.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2011] [Revised: 03/01/2012] [Accepted: 04/20/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The two most common neurological disorders of the basal ganglia are Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD). The most overt symptoms of these diseases are motoric, reflecting the loss of the striatal medium spiny neurons in HD and ascending substantia nigra dopaminergic cells in PD. However, both disease processes induce insidious psychiatric and cognitive syndromes that can manifest well in advance of the onset of motor deficits. These early deficits provide an opportunity for prophylactic therapeutic intervention in order to retard disease progression from the earliest possible point. In order to exploit this opportunity, animal models of HD and PD are being probed for the specific cognitive deficits represented in the disease states. At the neuronal level, these deficits are typically, but not exclusively, mediated by disruption of parallel corticostriatal loops that integrate motor information with sensory and higher order, "executive" cognitive functions. Dysfunction in these systems can be probed with sensitive behavioural tests that selectively probe these cognitive functions in mouse models with focal lesions of striatal or cortical regions, or of specific neurotransmitter systems. Typically these tests were designed and validated in rats. With the advent of genetically modified mouse models of disease, validated tests provide an opportunity to screen mouse models of disease for early onset cognitive deficits. This review seeks to draw together the literature on cognitive deficits in HD and PD, to determine the extent to which these deficits are represented in the current animal models of disease, and to evaluate the viability of selecting cognitive deficits as potential therapeutic targets. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Animal Models'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P Brooks
- Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, Wales, UK.
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25
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Trancikova A, Tsika E, Moore DJ. Mitochondrial dysfunction in genetic animal models of Parkinson's disease. Antioxid Redox Signal 2012; 16:896-919. [PMID: 21848447 PMCID: PMC3292748 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2011.4200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Mitochondria are highly dynamic, multifunctional organelles. Aside from their major role in energy metabolism, they are also crucial for many cellular processes including neurotransmission, synaptic maintenance, calcium homeostasis, cell death, and neuronal survival. SIGNIFICANCE Increasing evidence supports a role for abnormal mitochondrial function in the molecular pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). For three decades we have known that mitochondrial toxins are capable of producing clinical parkinsonism in humans. PD is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder that is characterized by the progressive loss of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons leading to a deficiency of striatal dopamine. Although the neuropathology underlying the disease is well defined, it remains unclear why nigral dopaminergic neurons degenerate and die. RECENT ADVANCES Most PD cases are idiopathic, but there are rare familial cases. Mutations in five genes are known to unambiguously cause monogenic familial PD: α-synuclein, parkin, DJ-1, PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), and leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2). These key molecular players are proteins of seemingly diverse function, but with potentially important roles in mitochondrial maintenance and function. Cell and animal-based genetic models have provided indispensable tools for understanding the molecular basis of PD, and have provided additional evidence implicating mitochondrial dysfunction as a primary pathogenic pathway leading to the demise of dopaminergic neurons in PD. CRITICAL ISSUES Here, we critically discuss the evidence for mitochondrial dysfunction in genetic animal models of PD, and evaluate whether abnormal mitochondrial function represents a cause or consequence of disease pathogenesis. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Mitochondria may represent a potential target for the development of disease-modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alzbeta Trancikova
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegenerative Research, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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Whyte JJ, Prather RS. CELL BIOLOGY SYMPOSIUM: Zinc finger nucleases to create custom-designed modifications in the swine (Sus scrofa) genome1,2. J Anim Sci 2012; 90:1111-7. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2011-4546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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27
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Abstract
The U.S. National Institutes of Health's new National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) should be refocused to spur innovation and renamed in a way that doesn't further polarize the scientific community. This Commentary offers some suggestions for both types of transformations.
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Recent Approaches Towards Selected Lamiaceae Plants for Their Prospective Use in Neuroprotection. BIOACTIVE NATURAL PRODUCTS 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-59530-0.00014-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Gama Sosa MA, De Gasperi R, Elder GA. Modeling human neurodegenerative diseases in transgenic systems. Hum Genet 2011; 131:535-63. [PMID: 22167414 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-011-1119-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2011] [Accepted: 11/23/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic systems are widely used to study the cellular and molecular basis of human neurodegenerative diseases. A wide variety of model organisms have been utilized, including bacteria (Escherichia coli), plants (Arabidopsis thaliana), nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans), arthropods (Drosophila melanogaster), fish (zebrafish, Danio rerio), rodents (mouse, Mus musculus and rat, Rattus norvegicus) as well as non-human primates (rhesus monkey, Macaca mulatta). These transgenic systems have enormous value for understanding the pathophysiological basis of these disorders and have, in some cases, been instrumental in the development of therapeutic approaches to treat these conditions. In this review, we discuss the most commonly used model organisms and the methodologies available for the preparation of transgenic organisms. Moreover, we provide selected examples of the use of these technologies for the preparation of transgenic animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) and discuss the application of these technologies to AD as an example of how transgenic modeling has affected the study of human neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Gama Sosa
- Research and Development Service, James J. Peters Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA.
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Anti-Parkinsonian effects of Bacopa monnieri: insights from transgenic and pharmacological Caenorhabditis elegans models of Parkinson's disease. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2011; 413:605-10. [PMID: 21925152 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2011] [Accepted: 09/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with aggregation of protein alpha synuclein and selective death of dopaminergic neurons, thereby leading to cognitive and motor impairment in patients. The disease has no complete cure yet; the current therapeutic strategies involve prescription of dopamine agonist drugs which turn ineffective after prolonged use. The present study utilized the powerful genetics of model system Caenorhabditis elegans towards exploring the anti-Parkinsonian effects of a neuro-protective botanical Bacopa monnieri. Two different strains of C. elegans; a transgenic model expressing "human" alpha synuclein [NL5901 (P(unc-54)::alphasynuclein::YFP+unc-119)], and a pharmacological model expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) specifically in the dopaminergic neurons [BZ555 (P(dat-1)::GFP)] treated with selective catecholaminergic neurotoxin 6-hydroxy dopamine (6-OHDA), were employed for the study. B. monnieri was chosen for its known neuroprotective and cognition enhancing effects. The study examined the effect of the botanical, on aggregation of alpha synuclein, degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, content of lipids and longevity of the nematodes. Our studies show that B. monnieri reduces alpha synuclein aggregation, prevents dopaminergic neurodegeneration and restores the lipid content in nematodes, thereby proving its potential as a possible anti-Parkinsonian agent. These findings encourage further investigations on the botanical, and its active constituent compounds, as possible therapeutic intervention against Parkinson's disease.
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