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Anoush M, Bijani S, Moslemifar F, Jahanpour F, Kalantari-Hesari A, Hosseini MJ. Edaravone Improves Streptozotocin-Induced Memory Impairment via Alleviation of Behavioral Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Histopathological Parameters. Behav Neurol 2023; 2023:9652513. [PMID: 37476485 PMCID: PMC10356234 DOI: 10.1155/2023/9652513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), as the main cause of dementia, has a progressive and neurodegenerative pattern with number of cases increasing over the next decades. Therefore, discovering an effective treatment with the ability to invert memory impairment and pathophysiological events of AD seems to be required. The present study performed to investigate the probable effects of Edaravone (EDV) in AD-like disorder induced by intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (ICV-STZ) administration in mice. This study also compares the two different methods of ICV-STZ in the memory impairment induction. NMRI male mice were administrated with 3 mg/kg of STZ for two times during 48 hours span, and after 24 hours, animals were treated with EDV (5 and 10 mg/kg), Donepezil, and Memantine for 14 days. After behavioral tests regarding memory and cognitive function, animals were sacrificed, and the hippocampi were utilized for further analyses. Our results demonstrated that administration of STZ induced memory impairment in the Morris water maze (MWM) test and decreased the discriminative factor in novel object recognition (NOR). The biochemical output shows a significant decrease in ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and glutathione (GSH) levels followed by increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonylation (PCO) levels. The output showed no difference between the patterns of AD-like disorder induction. Following our treatment groups, administration of EDV (5 and 10 mg/kg), Donepezil, and Memantine significantly improved memory performance and discriminatory behavior. Aforementioned treatments managed to improve FRAP and GSH content of hippocampus, while significantly attenuating MDA, PCO, and nitric oxide overproduction. In addition, no significant difference has been observed between the effect of 5 and 10 mg/kg EDV application. It was supposed that EDV managed to ameliorate memory dysfunction, discriminatory behavior, oxidative stress, and cellular antioxidant power in a dose-independent pattern in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdieh Anoush
- Zanjan Applied Pharmacology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical sciences, Zanjan, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Soroush Bijani
- Zanjan Applied Pharmacology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical sciences, Zanjan, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Moslemifar
- Zanjan Applied Pharmacology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical sciences, Zanjan, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Jahanpour
- Zanjan Applied Pharmacology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical sciences, Zanjan, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Ali Kalantari-Hesari
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
| | - Mir-Jamal Hosseini
- Zanjan Applied Pharmacology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical sciences, Zanjan, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
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Alldred MJ, Pidikiti H, Heguy A, Roussos P, Ginsberg SD. Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons are vulnerable in a mouse model of Down syndrome and their molecular fingerprint is rescued by maternal choline supplementation. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22944. [PMID: 37191946 PMCID: PMC10292934 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202202111rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Basal forebrain cholinergic neuron (BFCN) degeneration is a hallmark of Down syndrome (DS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Current therapeutics in these disorders have been unsuccessful in slowing disease progression, likely due to poorly understood complex pathological interactions and dysregulated pathways. The Ts65Dn trisomic mouse model recapitulates both cognitive and morphological deficits of DS and AD, including BFCN degeneration and has shown lifelong behavioral changes due to maternal choline supplementation (MCS). To test the impact of MCS on trisomic BFCNs, we performed laser capture microdissection to individually isolate choline acetyltransferase-immunopositive neurons in Ts65Dn and disomic littermates, in conjunction with MCS at the onset of BFCN degeneration. We utilized single population RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to interrogate transcriptomic changes within medial septal nucleus (MSN) BFCNs. Leveraging multiple bioinformatic analysis programs on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by genotype and diet, we identified key canonical pathways and altered physiological functions within Ts65Dn MSN BFCNs, which were attenuated by MCS in trisomic offspring, including the cholinergic, glutamatergic and GABAergic pathways. We linked differential gene expression bioinformatically to multiple neurological functions, including motor dysfunction/movement disorder, early onset neurological disease, ataxia and cognitive impairment via Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. DEGs within these identified pathways may underlie aberrant behavior in the DS mice, with MCS attenuating the underlying gene expression changes. We propose MCS ameliorates aberrant BFCN gene expression within the septohippocampal circuit of trisomic mice through normalization of principally the cholinergic, glutamatergic, and GABAergic signaling pathways, resulting in attenuation of underlying neurological disease functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J. Alldred
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harshitha Pidikiti
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Adriana Heguy
- Genome Technology Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Panos Roussos
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA
- Departments of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Psychiatry and the Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen D. Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Departments of Neuroscience & Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Kandeel M, Morsy MA, Abd El-Lateef HM, Marzok M, El-Beltagi HS, Al Khodair KM, Albokhadaim I, Venugopala KN. Cognitive- and memory-enhancing effects of Augmentin in Alzheimer’s rats through regulation of gene expression and neuronal cell apoptosis. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1154607. [PMID: 36969860 PMCID: PMC10033694 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1154607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia among older persons. This study looked at how Augmentin affected behavior, gene expression, and apoptosis in rats in which AD had been induced by scopolamine.Methods: The rats were divided into five groups: control, sham, memantine, Augmentin, and pre-Augmentin (the last group received Augmentin before scopolamine administration and was treated with memantine). A Morris water maze was utilized to measure spatial memory in the animals, and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and flow cytometry were employed to analyze gene expression and neuronal cell apoptosis, respectively.Results: Memantine and Augmentin increased spatial memory in healthy rats. The use of scopolamine impaired spatial memory. Both Augmentin and memantine improved spatial memory in AD rats, particularly in the group that received memantine; however, the outcomes were more substantial when Augmentin was administered before scopolamine was given to induce AD. Furthermore, the expression of presenilin-2 (PSEN2) and inositol-trisphosphate 3-kinase B (ITPKB) increased, whereas the expression of DEAD-box helicase 5 (DDX5) fell in the AD-treated groups; however, the results were more substantial after combination therapy. According to flow cytometry studies, Augmentin pre-treatment reduced apoptosis in AD rats.Discussion: The results showed that administering Augmentin to AD rats before memantine improved their spatial memory, reduced neuronal cell death, upregulated protective genes, and suppressed genes involved in AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Kandeel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
- *Correspondence: Mahmoud Kandeel,
| | - Mohamed A. Morsy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt
| | - Hany M. Abd El-Lateef
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Marzok
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
| | - Hossam S. El-Beltagi
- Agricultural Biotechnology Department, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Khalid M. Al Khodair
- Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Albokhadaim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Katharigatta N. Venugopala
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
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Kim NS, Ringeling FR, Zhou Y, Nguyen HN, Temme SJ, Lin YT, Eacker S, Dawson VL, Dawson TM, Xiao B, Hsu KS, Canzar S, Li W, Worley P, Christian KM, Yoon KJ, Song H, Ming GL. CYFIP1 Dosages Exhibit Divergent Behavioral Impact via Diametric Regulation of NMDA Receptor Complex Translation in Mouse Models of Psychiatric Disorders. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:815-826. [PMID: 34247782 PMCID: PMC8568734 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene dosage imbalance caused by copy number variations (CNVs) is a prominent contributor to brain disorders. In particular, 15q11.2 CNV duplications and deletions have been associated with autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia, respectively. The mechanism underlying these diametric contributions remains unclear. METHODS We established both loss-of-function and gain-of-function mouse models of Cyfip1, one of four genes within 15q11.2 CNVs. To assess the functional consequences of altered CYFIP1 levels, we performed systematic investigations on behavioral, electrophysiological, and biochemical phenotypes in both mouse models. In addition, we utilized RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP-seq) analysis to reveal molecular targets of CYFIP1 in vivo. RESULTS Cyfip1 loss-of-function and gain-of function mouse models exhibited distinct and shared behavioral abnormalities related to autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. RIP-seq analysis identified messenger RNA targets of CYFIP1 in vivo, including postsynaptic NMDA receptor (NMDAR) complex components. In addition, these mouse models showed diametric changes in levels of postsynaptic NMDAR complex components at synapses because of dysregulated protein translation, resulting in bidirectional alteration of NMDAR-mediated signaling. Importantly, pharmacological balancing of NMDAR signaling in these mouse models with diametric Cyfip1 dosages rescues behavioral abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS CYFIP1 regulates protein translation of NMDAR and associated complex components at synapses to maintain normal synaptic functions and behaviors. Our integrated analyses provide insight into how gene dosage imbalance caused by CNVs may contribute to divergent neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nam-Shik Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Francisca Rojas Ringeling
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ying Zhou
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ha Nam Nguyen
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stephanie J Temme
- Department of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yu-Ting Lin
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stephen Eacker
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Valina L Dawson
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ted M Dawson
- Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Bo Xiao
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kuei-Sen Hsu
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Stefan Canzar
- Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Weidong Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Development and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Paul Worley
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kimberly M Christian
- Department of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ki-Jun Yoon
- Department of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience, Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School for Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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5
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Baytas O, Kauer JA, Morrow EM. Loss of mitochondrial enzyme GPT2 causes early neurodegeneration in locus coeruleus. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 173:105831. [PMID: 35908744 PMCID: PMC9669404 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Locus coeruleus (LC) is among the first brain areas to degenerate in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease; however, the underlying causes for the vulnerability of LC neurons are not well defined. Here we report a novel mechanism of degeneration of LC neurons caused by loss of the mitochondrial enzyme glutamate pyruvate transaminase 2 (GPT2). GPT2 Deficiency is a newly-recognized childhood neurometabolic disorder. The GPT2 enzyme regulates cell growth through replenishment of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates and modulation of amino acid metabolism. In Gpt2-null mice, we observe an early loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons in LC and reduced soma size at postnatal day 18. Gpt2-null LC shows selective positive Fluoro-Jade C staining. Neuron loss is accompanied by selective, prominent microgliosis and astrogliosis in LC. We observe reduced noradrenergic projections to and norepinephrine levels in hippocampus and spinal cord. Whole cell recordings in Gpt2-null LC slices show reduced soma size and abnormal action potentials with altered firing kinetics. Strikingly, we observe early decreases in phosphorylated S6 in Gpt2-null LC, preceding prominent p62 aggregation, increased LC3B-II to LC3B-I ratio, and neuronal loss. These data are consistent with a possible mechanism involving deficiency in protein synthesis and cell growth, associated subsequently with abnormal autophagy and neurodegeneration. As compared to the few genetic animal models with LC degeneration, loss of LC neurons in Gpt2-null mice is developmentally the earliest. Early neuron loss in LC in a model of human neurometabolic disease provides important clues regarding the metabolic vulnerability of LC and may lead to new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozan Baytas
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Center for Translational Neuroscience, Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Julie A Kauer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94035, USA
| | - Eric M Morrow
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Center for Translational Neuroscience, Carney Institute for Brain Science and Brown Institute for Translational Science, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
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Schwab K, Chasapopoulou Z, Frahm S, Magbagbeolu M, Cranston A, Harrington CR, Wischik CM, Theuring F, Riedel G. Glutamatergic transmission and receptor expression in the synucleinopathy h-α-synL62 mouse model: Effects of hydromethylthionine. Cell Signal 2022; 97:110386. [PMID: 35709886 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2022.110386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The accumulation of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) into Lewy bodies in cortical and subcortical regions has been linked to the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). While there is a strong link between synuclein aggregates and the reduction in dopamine function in the emergence of PD, less is known about the consequences of α-Syn accumulation in glutamatergic neurons and how this could be exploited as a therapeutic target. Transgenic h-α-synL62 (L62) mice, in which synuclein aggregation is achieved through the expression of full-length human α-Syn fused with a signal sequence peptide, were used to characterise glutamatergic transmission using a combination of behavioural, immunoblotting, and histopathological approaches. The protein aggregation inhibitor hydromethylthionine mesylate (HMTM) alone, or in combination with the glutamatergic compounds 3-((2-Methyl-4-thiazolyl)ethynyl)pyridine hydrochloride (MTEP) and memantine, was used to target α-Syn aggregation. We show that accumulation of α-Syn aggregates in glutamatergic synapses affected synaptic protein expression including metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGLUR5) levels and ratio of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits GluN1/GluN2A. The ratio of NMDA receptor subunits and levels of mGLUR5 were both normalised by HMTM in L62 mice. These alterations, however, did not affect glutamate release in synaptosomes derived from L62 mice or behavioural endpoints following pharmacological manipulations of glutamate functions. Our results confirm that HMTM acts in the L62 mouse model of PD as an inhibitor of pathological aggregation of synuclein and show that HMTM treatment normalises both the ratio of NMDA receptor subunits and mGLUR5 levels. These findings support the potential utility of HMTM as a disease-modifying treatment for PD aiming to reduce synuclein aggregation pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karima Schwab
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Zoi Chasapopoulou
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Center for Stroke Research, Department of Experimental Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Robert Koch Platz 4, 101155 Berlin, Germany
| | - Silke Frahm
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Stem Cell Core Facility, Max-Delbrück-Centrum für Molekulare Medizin, Robert-Rössle-Straße 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mandy Magbagbeolu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Cranston
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; Benchsci, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Charles R Harrington
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., 395 King Street, Aberdeen AB24 5RP, UK
| | - Claude M Wischik
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., 395 King Street, Aberdeen AB24 5RP, UK
| | - Franz Theuring
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gernot Riedel
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
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Farrell C, Mumford P, Wiseman FK. Rodent Modeling of Alzheimer's Disease in Down Syndrome: In vivo and ex vivo Approaches. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:909669. [PMID: 35747206 PMCID: PMC9209729 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.909669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
There are an estimated 6 million people with Down syndrome (DS) worldwide. In developed countries, the vast majority of these individuals will develop Alzheimer's disease neuropathology characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles within the brain, which leads to the early onset of dementia (AD-DS) and reduced life-expectancy. The mean age of onset of clinical dementia is ~55 years and by the age of 80, approaching 100% of individuals with DS will have a dementia diagnosis. DS is caused by trisomy of chromosome 21 (Hsa21) thus an additional copy of a gene(s) on the chromosome must cause the development of AD neuropathology and dementia. Indeed, triplication of the gene APP which encodes the amyloid precursor protein is sufficient and necessary for early onset AD (EOAD), both in people who have and do not have DS. However, triplication of other genes on Hsa21 leads to profound differences in neurodevelopment resulting in intellectual disability, elevated incidence of epilepsy and perturbations to the immune system. This different biology may impact on how AD neuropathology and dementia develops in people who have DS. Indeed, genes on Hsa21 other than APP when in three-copies can modulate AD-pathogenesis in mouse preclinical models. Understanding this biology better is critical to inform drug selection for AD prevention and therapy trials for people who have DS. Here we will review rodent preclinical models of AD-DS and how these can be used for both in vivo and ex vivo (cultured cells and organotypic slice cultures) studies to understand the mechanisms that contribute to the early development of AD in people who have DS and test the utility of treatments to prevent or delay the development of disease.
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Cirsium japonicum var. Maackii Improves Cognitive Impairment under Amyloid Beta25-35-Induced Alzheimer’s Disease Model. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:4513998. [PMID: 35036433 PMCID: PMC8759886 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4513998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal production and degradation of amyloid beta (Aβ) in the brain lead to oxidative stress and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cirsium japonicum var. maackii (CJM) is widely used as an herbal medicine and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This study focused on the protective effect of the ethyl acetate fraction from CJM (ECJM) on Aβ25-35-induced control mice. In the T-maze and novel object recognition test, ECJM provided higher spatial memory and object recognition compared to Aβ25-35 treatment alone. In the Morris water maze test, ECJM-administered mice showed greater learning and memory abilities than Aβ25-35-induced control mice. Additionally, ECJM-administered mice experienced inhibited lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide production in a dose-dependent manner. The present study indicates that ECJM improves cognitive impairment by inhibiting oxidative stress in Aβ25-35-induced mice. Therefore, CJM may be useful for the treatment of AD and may be a potential material for functional foods.
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Bartesaghi R, Vicari S, Mobley WC. Prenatal and Postnatal Pharmacotherapy in Down Syndrome: The Search to Prevent or Ameliorate Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2022; 62:211-233. [PMID: 34990205 PMCID: PMC9632639 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-041521-103641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Those with Down syndrome (DS)-trisomy for chromosome 21-are routinely impacted by cognitive dysfunction and behavioral challenges in children and adults and Alzheimer's disease in older adults. No proven treatments specifically address these cognitive or behavioral changes. However, advances in the establishment of rodent models and human cell models promise to support development of such treatments. A research agenda that emphasizes the identification of overexpressed genes that contribute demonstrably to abnormalities in cognition and behavior in model systems constitutes a rational next step. Normalizing expression of such genes may usher in an era of successful treatments applicable across the life span for those with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Bartesaghi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy,Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165-00146 Rome, Italy
| | - William C. Mobley
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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10
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Rafii
- Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, San Diego, CA 92121, USA.
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11
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Martinez JL, Zammit MD, West NR, Christian BT, Bhattacharyya A. Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons: Linking Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:703876. [PMID: 34322015 PMCID: PMC8311593 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.703876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS, trisomy 21) is characterized by intellectual impairment at birth and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in middle age. As individuals with DS age, their cognitive functions decline as they develop AD pathology. The susceptibility to degeneration of a subset of neurons, known as basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs), in DS and AD is a critical link between cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration in both disorders. BFCNs are the primary source of cholinergic innervation to the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, as well as the amygdala. They play a critical role in the processing of information related to cognitive function and are directly engaged in regulating circuits of attention and memory throughout the lifespan. Given the importance of BFCNs in attention and memory, it is not surprising that these neurons contribute to dysfunctional neuronal circuitry in DS and are vulnerable in adults with DS and AD, where their degeneration leads to memory loss and disturbance in language. BFCNs are thus a relevant cell target for therapeutics for both DS and AD but, despite some success, efforts in this area have waned. There are gaps in our knowledge of BFCN vulnerability that preclude our ability to effectively design interventions. Here, we review the role of BFCN function and degeneration in AD and DS and identify under-studied aspects of BFCN biology. The current gaps in BFCN relevant imaging studies, therapeutics, and human models limit our insight into the mechanistic vulnerability of BFCNs in individuals with DS and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose L. Martinez
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Matthew D. Zammit
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Nicole R. West
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Bradley T. Christian
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Anita Bhattacharyya
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Cellular and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
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12
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Vidal V, Puente A, García-Cerro S, García Unzueta MT, Rueda N, Riancho J, Martínez-Cué C. Bexarotene Impairs Cognition and Produces Hypothyroidism in a Mouse Model of Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:613211. [PMID: 33935706 PMCID: PMC8082148 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.613211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
All individuals with Down syndrome (DS) eventually develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology, including neurodegeneration, increases in β-amyloid (Aβ) expression, and aggregation and neurofibrillary tangles, between the third and fourth decade of their lives. There is currently no effective treatment to prevent AD neuropathology and the associated cognitive degeneration in DS patients. Due to evidence that the accumulation of Aβ aggregates in the brain produces the neurodegenerative cascade characteristic of AD, many strategies which promote the clearance of Aβ peptides have been assessed as potential therapeutics for this disease. Bexarotene, a member of a subclass of retinoids that selectively activates retinoid receptors, modulates several pathways essential for cognitive performance and Aβ clearance. Consequently, bexarotene might be a good candidate to treat AD-associated neuropathology. However, the effects of bexarotene treatment in AD remain controversial. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate whether chronic bexarotene treatment administered to the most commonly used murine model of DS, the Ts65Dn (TS) mouse could reduce Aβ expression in their brains and improve their cognitive abilities. Chronic administration of bexarotene to aged TS mice and their CO littermates for 9 weeks diminished the reference, working, and spatial learning and memory of TS mice, and the spatial memory of CO mice in the Morris water maze. This treatment also produced marked hypoactivity in the plus maze, open field, and hole board tests in TS mice, and in the open field and hole board tests in CO mice. Administration of bexarotene reduced the expression of Aβ1-40, but not of Aβ1-42, in the hippocampi of TS mice. Finally, bexarotene increased Thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in TS mice and reduced Thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in CO mice, while animals of both karyotypes displayed reduced thyroxine levels after bexarotene administration. The bexarotene-induced hypothyroidism could be responsible for the hypoactivity of TS and CO mice and their diminished performance in the Morris water maze. Together, these results do not provide support for the use of bexarotene as a potential treatment of AD neuropathology in the DS population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Vidal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Alba Puente
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Susana García-Cerro
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.,CIBERSAM, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Noemí Rueda
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Javier Riancho
- Neurology Service, Hospital Sierrallana-IDIVAL, Torrelavega, Spain.,Department of Medicine and Psychiatry, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.,CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Martínez-Cué
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
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13
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Wang S, Tang X, Qin L, Shi W, Bian S, Wang Z, Wang Q, Wang X, Gu J, Hao B, Ding K, Liao S. Integrative Analysis Extracts a Core ceRNA Network of the Fetal Hippocampus With Down Syndrome. Front Genet 2020; 11:565955. [PMID: 33329702 PMCID: PMC7735064 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.565955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs)-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA regulatory network-may play an important role in neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Interestingly, neuropathological changes that closely resemble AD have been found in nearly all Down syndrome (DS) cases > 35 years. However, few studies have reported circRNA transcriptional profiling in DS cases, which is caused by a chromosomal aberration of trisomy 21. Here, we characterized the expression profiles of circRNAs in the fetal hippocampus of DS patients (n = 8) and controls (n = 6) by using microarray. MiRNA, mRNA expression profiling of DS from our previous study and scRNA-seq data describing normal fetal hippocampus development (GEO) were also integrated into the analysis. The similarity between circRNAs/genes with traits/cell-types was calculated by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). miRanda and miRWalk2 were used to predict ceRNA network interactions. We identified a total of 7,078 significantly differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs, including 2,637 upregulated and 4,441 downregulated genes, respectively. WGCNA obtained 15 hub circRNAs and 6 modules with cell type-specific expression patterns among scRNA-seq data. Finally, a core ceRNA network was constructed by 14 hub circRNAs, 17 DE miRNA targets and 245 DE mRNA targets with a cell type-specific expression pattern annotation. Known functional molecules in DS or neurodegeneration (e.g., miR-138, OLIG1, and TPM2) were also included in this network. Our findings are the first to delineate the landscape of circRNAs in DS and the first to effectively integrate ceRNA regulation with scRNA-seq data. These data may provide a valuable resource for further research on the molecular mechanisms or therapeutic targets underlying DS neuropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengran Wang
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xia Tang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Litao Qin
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Weili Shi
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shasha Bian
- School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhaokun Wang
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qingqing Wang
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jianqin Gu
- School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bingtao Hao
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Keyue Ding
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shixiu Liao
- Medical Genetic Institute of Henan Province, Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Genetic Diseases and Functional Genomics, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
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14
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Rueda Revilla N, Martínez-Cué C. Antioxidants in Down Syndrome: From Preclinical Studies to Clinical Trials. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:antiox9080692. [PMID: 32756318 PMCID: PMC7464577 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9080692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is currently no effective pharmacological therapy to improve the cognitive dysfunction of individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Due to the overexpression of several chromosome 21 genes, cellular and systemic oxidative stress (OS) is one of the most important neuropathological processes that contributes to the cognitive deficits and multiple neuronal alterations in DS. In this condition, OS is an early event that negatively affects brain development, which is also aggravated in later life stages, contributing to neurodegeneration, accelerated aging, and the development of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. Thus, therapeutic interventions that reduce OS have been proposed as a promising strategy to avoid neurodegeneration and to improve cognition in DS patients. Several antioxidant molecules have been proven to be effective in preclinical studies; however, clinical trials have failed to show evidence of the efficacy of different antioxidants to improve cognitive deficits in individuals with DS. In this review we summarize preclinical studies of cell cultures and mouse models, as well as clinical studies in which the effect of therapies which reduce oxidative stress and mitochondrial alterations on the cognitive dysfunction associated with DS have been assessed.
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15
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Martínez-Cué C, Rueda N. Cellular Senescence in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:16. [PMID: 32116562 PMCID: PMC7026683 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a homeostatic biological process characterized by a permanent state of cell cycle arrest that can contribute to the decline of the regenerative potential and function of tissues. The increased presence of senescent cells in different neurodegenerative diseases suggests the contribution of senescence in the pathophysiology of these disorders. Although several factors can induce senescence, DNA damage, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and altered proteostasis have been shown to play a role in its onset. Oxidative stress contributes to accelerated aging and cognitive dysfunction stages affecting neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, connectivity, and survival. During later life stages, it is implicated in the progression of cognitive decline, synapse loss, and neuronal degeneration. Also, neuroinflammation exacerbates oxidative stress, synaptic dysfunction, and neuronal death through the harmful effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines on cell proliferation and maturation. Both oxidative stress and neuroinflammation can induce DNA damage and alterations in DNA repair that, in turn, can exacerbate them. Another important feature associated with senescence is altered proteostasis. Because of the disruption in the function and balance of the proteome, senescence can modify the proper synthesis, folding, quality control, and degradation rate of proteins producing, in some diseases, misfolded proteins or aggregation of abnormal proteins. There is an extensive body of literature that associates cellular senescence with several neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Down syndrome (DS), and Parkinson’s disease (PD). This review summarizes the evidence of the shared neuropathological events in these neurodegenerative diseases and the implication of cellular senescence in their onset or aggravation. Understanding the role that cellular senescence plays in them could help to develop new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Martínez-Cué
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Noemí Rueda
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
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16
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Hamlett ED, Hjorth E, Ledreux A, Gilmore A, Schultzberg M, Granholm AC. RvE1 treatment prevents memory loss and neuroinflammation in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome. Glia 2020; 68:1347-1360. [PMID: 31944407 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Inflammation can be resolved by pro-homeostatic lipids called specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) upon activation of their receptors. Dysfunctional inflammatory resolution is now considered as a driver of chronic neuroinflammation and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. We have previously shown that SPM levels were reduced and also that SPM-binding receptors were increased in patients with AD compared to age-matched controls. Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit accelerated acquisition of AD neuropathology, dementia, and neuroinflammation at an earlier age than the general population. Beneficial effects of inducing resolution in DS have not been investigated previously. The effects of the SPM resolvin E1 (RvE1) in a DS mouse model (Ts65Dn) were investigated with regard to inflammation, neurodegeneration, and memory deficits. A moderate dose of RvE1 for 4 weeks in middle-aged Ts65Dn mice elicited a significant reduction in memory loss, along with reduced levels of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, and reduced microglial activation in the hippocampus of Ts65Dn mice but had no effects in age-matched normosomic mice. There were no observable adverse side effects in Ts65Dn or in normosomic mice. These findings suggest that SPMs may represent a novel drug target for individuals with DS and others at risk of developing AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Hamlett
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Erik Hjorth
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aurélie Ledreux
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado
| | - Anah Gilmore
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado
| | - Marianne Schultzberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ann Charlotte Granholm
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging and the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado
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17
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Dumortier L, Bricout VA. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in adults with down syndrome: Causes and consequences. Is it a "chicken and egg" question? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 108:124-138. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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18
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Cannavo C, Tosh J, Fisher EMC, Wiseman FK. Using mouse models to understand Alzheimer's disease mechanisms in the context of trisomy of chromosome 21. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2019; 251:181-208. [PMID: 32057307 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2019.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
People who have Down syndrome are at significantly elevated risk of developing early onset Alzheimer's disease that causes dementia (AD-DS). Here we review recent progress in modeling the development of AD-DS in mouse models. These studies provide insight into mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease and generate new clinical research questions. In addition, they suggest potential new targets for disease prevention therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Cannavo
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom; UK Dementia Research Institute at University College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Justin Tosh
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth M C Fisher
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom; The London Down Syndrome Consortium (LonDownS), London, United Kingdom
| | - Frances K Wiseman
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom; The London Down Syndrome Consortium (LonDownS), London, United Kingdom; UK Dementia Research Institute at University College, London, United Kingdom.
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19
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Radwan RR, Abdel Ghaffar AM, Ali HE. Gamma radiation preparation of chitosan nanoparticles for controlled delivery of memantine. J Biomater Appl 2019; 34:1150-1162. [DOI: 10.1177/0885328219890071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the current study is to prepare chitosan nanoparticles by gamma radiation as a new brain delivery system for memantine to improve its therapeutic efficiency. Fourier-transform infrared analysis of chitosan nanoparticles showed the characteristic peaks of chitosan and the reduction of particle size induced by irradiation at doses 10, 20 and 30 kGy. The solubility of chitosan nanoparticles was tested using different solvents and exhibited good solubility in both water and 1% acetic acid than other tested solvents at 80°C. Different formulations containing memantine -loaded chitosan nanoparticles were evaluated for brain targeting on aluminum-induced Alzheimer’s disease in rats. Memory deficit was evaluated using the Morris water maze test. The levels of amyloid-β peptide, tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 in brain tissues as well as the serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor were assayed. Data demonstrated that memantine -loaded chitosan nanoparticles 1:1 transported memantine effectively into the brain compared to free memantine as evidenced by better behaviour performance and biochemical amelioration and confirmed by histopathological examination in Alzheimer’s disease rats. Interestingly, the therapeutic effect of memantine -loaded chitosan nanoparticles 1:1 was superior to memantine -loaded chitosan nanoparticles 1:2 and memantine -loaded chitosan nanoparticles 2:1. Based on these findings, it is reasonable to suggest that memantine -loaded chitosan nanoparticles 1:1 could be a promising approach for Alzheimer’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha R Radwan
- Drug Radiation Research Department, Biotechnology Division, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ashraf M Abdel Ghaffar
- Radiation Research of Polymer Chemistry Department, Industrial Irradiation Division, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hussein E Ali
- Radiation Chemistry Department, Radiation Research Division, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
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20
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Lee SE, Duran-Martinez M, Khantsis S, Bianchi DW, Guedj F. Challenges and Opportunities for Translation of Therapies to Improve Cognition in Down Syndrome. Trends Mol Med 2019; 26:150-169. [PMID: 31706840 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2019.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
While preclinical studies have reported improvement of behavioral deficits in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome (DS), translation to human clinical trials to improve cognition in individuals with DS has had a poor success record. Timing of the intervention, choice of animal models, strategy for drug selection, and lack of translational endpoints between animals and humans contributed to prior failures of human clinical trials. Here, we focus on in vitro cell models from humans with DS to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying the brain phenotype associated with DS. We emphasize the importance of using these cell models to screen for therapeutic molecules, followed by validating them in the most suitable animal models prior to initiating human clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Lee
- Medical Genetics Branch (Prenatal Genomic and Therapy Section), National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Monica Duran-Martinez
- Medical Genetics Branch (Prenatal Genomic and Therapy Section), National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sabina Khantsis
- Medical Genetics Branch (Prenatal Genomic and Therapy Section), National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Diana W Bianchi
- Medical Genetics Branch (Prenatal Genomic and Therapy Section), National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda 20892, MD, USA
| | - Faycal Guedj
- Medical Genetics Branch (Prenatal Genomic and Therapy Section), National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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21
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Rueda N, Flórez J, Dierssen M, Martínez-Cué C. Translational validity and implications of pharmacotherapies in preclinical models of Down syndrome. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2019; 251:245-268. [PMID: 32057309 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2019.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are challenging to study in the laboratory, and despite a large investment, few novel treatments have been developed in the last decade. While animal models have been valuable in elucidating disease mechanisms and in providing insights into the function of specific genes, the predictive validity of preclinical models to test potential therapies has been questioned. In the last two decades, diverse new murine models of Down syndrome (DS) have been developed and numerous studies have demonstrated neurobiological alterations that could be responsible for the cognitive and behavioral phenotypes found in this syndrome. In many cases, similar alterations were found in murine models and in individuals with DS, although several phenotypes shown in animals have yet not been confirmed in the human condition. Some of the neurobiological alterations observed in mice have been proposed to account for their changes in cognition and behavior, and have received special attention because of being putative therapeutic targets. Those include increased oxidative stress, altered neurogenesis, overexpression of the Dyrk1A gene, GABA-mediated overinhibition and Alzheimer's disease-related neurodegeneration. Subsequently, different laboratories have tested the efficacy of pharmacotherapies targeting these alterations. Unfortunately, animal models are limited in their ability to mimic the extremely complex process of human neurodevelopment and neuropathology. Therefore, the safety and efficacy identified in animal studies are not always translated to humans, and most of the drugs tested have not demonstrated any positive effect or very limited efficacy in clinical trials. Despite their limitations, though, animal trials give us extremely valuable information for developing and testing drugs for human use that cannot be obtained from molecular or cellular experiments alone. This chapter reviews some of these therapeutic approaches and discusses some reasons that could account for the discrepancy between the findings in mouse models of DS and in humans, including: (i) the incomplete resemble of the genetic alterations of available mouse models of DS and human trisomy 21, (ii) the lack of evidence that some of the phenotypic alterations found in mice (e.g., GABA-mediated overinhibition, and alterations in adult neurogenesis) are also present in DS individuals, and (iii) the inaccuracy and/or inadequacy of the methods used in clinical trials to detect changes in the cognitive and behavioral functions of people with DS. Despite the shortcomings of animal models, animal experimentation remains an invaluable tool in developing drugs. Thus, we will also discuss how to increase predictive validity of mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemí Rueda
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Jesús Flórez
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Mara Dierssen
- Cellular and Systems Neurobiology, Systems Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen Martínez-Cué
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
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22
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Hamlett ED, Ledreux A, Gilmore A, Vazey EM, Aston-Jones G, Boger HA, Paredes D, Granholm ACE. Inhibitory designer receptors aggravate memory loss in a mouse model of down syndrome. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 134:104616. [PMID: 31678403 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The pontine nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) is the primary source of noradrenergic (NE) projections to the brain and is important for working memory, attention, and cognitive flexibility. Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) with high penetrance and often exhibit working memory deficits coupled with degeneration of LC-NE neurons early in the progression of AD pathology. Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are chemogenetic tools that allow targeted manipulation of discrete neuronal populations in the brain without the confounds of off-target effects. We utilized male Ts65Dn mice (a mouse model for DS), and male normosomic (NS) controls to examine the effects of inhibitory DREADDs delivered via an AAV vector under translational control of the synthetic PRSx8, dopamine β hydroxylase (DβH) promoter. This chemogenetic tool allowed LC inhibition upon administration of the inert DREADD ligand, clozapine-N-oxide (CNO). DREADD-mediated LC inhibition impaired performance in a novel object recognition task and reversal learning in a spatial task. DREADD-mediated LC inhibition gave rise to an elevation of α-adrenoreceptors both in NS and in Ts65Dn mice. Further, microglial markers showed that the inhibitory DREADD stimulation led to increased microglial activation in the hippocampus in Ts65Dn but not in NS mice. These findings strongly suggest that LC signaling is important for intact memory and learning in Ts65Dn mice and disruption of these neurons leads to increased inflammation and dysregulation of adrenergic receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Hamlett
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
| | - Aurélie Ledreux
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, USA
| | - Anah Gilmore
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, USA
| | - Elena M Vazey
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Gary Aston-Jones
- Rutgers Brain Health Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Heather A Boger
- Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Daniel Paredes
- Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, USA
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23
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Powers RK, Culp-Hill R, Ludwig MP, Smith KP, Waugh KA, Minter R, Tuttle KD, Lewis HC, Rachubinski AL, Granrath RE, Carmona-Iragui M, Wilkerson RB, Kahn DE, Joshi M, Lleó A, Blesa R, Fortea J, D'Alessandro A, Costello JC, Sullivan KD, Espinosa JM. Trisomy 21 activates the kynurenine pathway via increased dosage of interferon receptors. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4766. [PMID: 31628327 PMCID: PMC6800452 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12739-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Trisomy 21 (T21) causes Down syndrome (DS), affecting immune and neurological function by ill-defined mechanisms. Here we report a large metabolomics study of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, showing in independent cohorts that people with DS produce elevated levels of kynurenine and quinolinic acid, two tryptophan catabolites with potent immunosuppressive and neurotoxic properties, respectively. Immune cells of people with DS overexpress IDO1, the rate-limiting enzyme in the kynurenine pathway (KP) and a known interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene. Furthermore, the levels of IFN-inducible cytokines positively correlate with KP dysregulation. Using metabolic tracing assays, we show that overexpression of IFN receptors encoded on chromosome 21 contribute to enhanced IFN stimulation, thereby causing IDO1 overexpression and kynurenine overproduction in cells with T21. Finally, a mouse model of DS carrying triplication of IFN receptors exhibits KP dysregulation. Together, our results reveal a mechanism by which T21 could drive immunosuppression and neurotoxicity in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rani K Powers
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Computational Bioscience Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Rachel Culp-Hill
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Michael P Ludwig
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Keith P Smith
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Katherine A Waugh
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Ross Minter
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Kathryn D Tuttle
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Hannah C Lewis
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Angela L Rachubinski
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Ross E Granrath
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - María Carmona-Iragui
- Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, CIBERNED, Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Down Medical Center, Catalan Down Syndrome Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rebecca B Wilkerson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Darcy E Kahn
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Molishree Joshi
- Functional Genomics Facility, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Alberto Lleó
- Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, CIBERNED, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Blesa
- Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, CIBERNED, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Fortea
- Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, CIBERNED, Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Down Medical Center, Catalan Down Syndrome Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angelo D'Alessandro
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - James C Costello
- Computational Bioscience Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Kelly D Sullivan
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA. .,Functional Genomics Facility, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
| | - Joaquin M Espinosa
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA. .,Functional Genomics Facility, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA. .,Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA.
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24
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On the Design of Broad-Based Neuropsychological Test Batteries to Assess the Cognitive Abilities of Individuals with Down Syndrome in the Context of Clinical Trials. Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8120205. [PMID: 30486228 PMCID: PMC6315396 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8120205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetically-defined cause of intellectual disability. Neurodevelopmental deficits displayed by individuals with DS are generally global, however, disproportionate deficits in cognitive processes that depend heavily on the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex are also well documented. Additionally, DS is associated with relative strengths in visual processing and visuospatial short-term memory, and weaknesses in the verbal domain. Although reports of pharmacological rescuing of learning and memory deficits in mouse models of DS abound in the literature, proving the principle that cognitive ability of persons with DS can be boosted through pharmacological means is still an elusive goal. The design of customized batteries of neuropsychological efficacy outcome measures is essential for the successful implementation of clinical trials of potential cognitive enhancing strategies. Here, we review the neurocognitive phenotype of individuals with DS and major broad-based test batteries designed to quantify specific cognitive domains in these individuals, including the one used in a pilot trial of the drug memantine. The main goal is to illustrate the essential considerations in planning trials to enhance cognitive functions in individuals with DS, which should also have implications for the design of similar studies in individuals with other forms of intellectual disability.
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25
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Rueda N, Vidal V, García-Cerro S, Narcís JO, Llorens-Martín M, Corrales A, Lantigua S, Iglesias M, Merino J, Merino R, Martínez-Cué C. Anti-IL17 treatment ameliorates Down syndrome phenotypes in mice. Brain Behav Immun 2018; 73:235-251. [PMID: 29758264 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is characterized by structural and functional anomalies that are present prenatally and that lead to intellectual disabilities. Later in life, the cognitive abilities of DS individuals progressively deteriorate due to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-associated neuropathology (i.e., β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), neurodegeneration, synaptic pathology, neuroinflammation and increased oxidative stress). Increasing evidence has shown that among these pathological processes, neuroinflammation plays a predominant role in AD etiopathology. In AD mouse models, increased neuroinflammation appears earlier than Aβ plaques and NFTs, and in DS and AD models, neuroinflammation exacerbates the levels of soluble and insoluble Aβ species, favoring neurodegeneration. The Ts65Dn (TS) mouse, the most commonly used murine model of DS, recapitulates many alterations present in both DS and AD individuals, including enhanced neuroinflammation. In this study, we observed an altered neuroinflammatory milieu in the hippocampus of the TS mouse model. Pro-inflammatory mediators that were elevated in the hippocampus of this model included pro-inflammatory cytokine IL17A, which has a fundamental role in mediating brain damage in neuroinflammatory processes. Here, we analyzed the ability of an anti-IL17A antibody to reduce the neuropathological alterations that are present in TS mice during early neurodevelopmental stages (i.e., hippocampal neurogenesis and hypocellularity) or that are aggravated in later-life stages (i.e., cognitive abilities, cholinergic neuronal loss and increased cellular senescence, APP expression, Aβ peptide expression and neuroinflammation). Administration of anti-IL17 for 5 months, starting at the age of 7 months, partially improved the cognitive abilities of the TS mice, reduced the expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines and the density of activated microglia and normalized the APP and Aβ1-42 levels in the hippocampi of the TS mice. These results suggest that IL17-mediated neuroinflammation is involved in several AD phenotypes in TS mice and provide a new therapeutic target to reduce these pathological characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemí Rueda
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Verónica Vidal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Susana García-Cerro
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Josep Oriol Narcís
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - María Llorens-Martín
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CBMSO, CSICUAM, Madrid, Spain; Network Center for Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain; Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrea Corrales
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Sara Lantigua
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Marcos Iglesias
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Jesús Merino
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Ramón Merino
- Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology of Cantabria, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
| | - Carmen Martínez-Cué
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
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26
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Gómez de Salazar M, Grau C, Ciruela F, Altafaj X. Phosphoproteomic Alterations of Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors in the Hippocampus of the Ts65Dn Mouse Model of Down Syndrome. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:226. [PMID: 30140203 PMCID: PMC6095006 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), the main genetic cause of intellectual disability, is associated with an imbalance of excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitter systems. The phenotypic assessment and pharmacotherapy interventions in DS murine models strongly pointed out glutamatergic neurotransmission alterations (specially affecting ionotropic glutamate receptors [iGluRs]) that might contribute to DS pathophysiology, which is in agreement with DS condition. iGluRs play a critical role in fast-mediated excitatory transmission, a process underlying synaptic plasticity. Neuronal plasticity is biochemically modulated by post-translational modifications, allowing rapid and reversible adaptation of synaptic strength. Among these modifications, phosphorylation/dephosphorylation processes strongly dictate iGluR protein–protein interactions, cell surface trafficking, and subsynaptic mobility. Hence, we hypothesized that dysregulation of phosphorylation/dephosphorylation balance might affect neuronal function, which in turn could contribute to the glutamatergic neurotransmitter alterations observed in DS. To address this point, we biochemically purified subsynaptic hippocampal fractions from adult Ts65Dn mice, a trisomic mouse model recapitulating DS phenotypic alterations. Proteomic analysis showed significant alterations of the molecular composition of subsynaptic compartments of hippocampal trisomic neurons. Further, we characterized iGluR phosphopattern in the hippocampal glutamatergic synapse of trisomic mice. Phosphoenrichment-coupled mass spectrometry analysis revealed specific subsynaptic- and trisomy-associated iGluR phosphorylation signature, concomitant with differential subsynaptic kinase and phosphatase composition of Ts65Dn hippocampal subsynaptic compartments. Furthermore, biochemical data were used to build up a genotype-kinome-iGluR phosphopattern matrix in the different subsynaptic compartments. Overall, our results provide a precise profile of iGluR phosphopattern alterations in the glutamatergic synapse of the Ts65Dn mouse model and support their contribution to DS-associated synaptopathy. The alteration of iGluR phosphoresidues in Ts65Dn hippocampi, together with the kinase/phosphatase signature, identifies potential novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of glutamatergic dysfunctions in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Macarena Gómez de Salazar
- Neuropharmacology Unit, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL)-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Grau
- Neuropharmacology Unit, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL)-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Ciruela
- Neuropharmacology Unit, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL)-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Altafaj
- Neuropharmacology Unit, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL)-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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27
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Herault Y, Delabar JM, Fisher EMC, Tybulewicz VLJ, Yu E, Brault V. Rodent models in Down syndrome research: impact and future opportunities. Dis Model Mech 2018; 10:1165-1186. [PMID: 28993310 PMCID: PMC5665454 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.029728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome is caused by trisomy of chromosome 21. To date, a multiplicity of mouse models with Down-syndrome-related features has been developed to understand this complex human chromosomal disorder. These mouse models have been important for determining genotype-phenotype relationships and identification of dosage-sensitive genes involved in the pathophysiology of the condition, and in exploring the impact of the additional chromosome on the whole genome. Mouse models of Down syndrome have also been used to test therapeutic strategies. Here, we provide an overview of research in the last 15 years dedicated to the development and application of rodent models for Down syndrome. We also speculate on possible and probable future directions of research in this fast-moving field. As our understanding of the syndrome improves and genome engineering technologies evolve, it is necessary to coordinate efforts to make all Down syndrome models available to the community, to test therapeutics in models that replicate the whole trisomy and design new animal models to promote further discovery of potential therapeutic targets. Summary: Mouse models have boosted therapeutic options for Down syndrome, and improved models are being developed to better understand the pathophysiology of this genetic condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yann Herault
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France .,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France.,T21 Research Society, Brain and Spine Institute (ICM), 75013 Paris
| | - Jean M Delabar
- T21 Research Society, Brain and Spine Institute (ICM), 75013 Paris.,Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, UMR8251, CNRS, 75205 Paris, France.,INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et la Moelle épinière, ICM, 75013 Paris, France.,Brain and Spine Institute (ICM) CNRS UMR7225, INSERM UMRS 975, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Elizabeth M C Fisher
- T21 Research Society, Brain and Spine Institute (ICM), 75013 Paris.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,LonDownS Consortium, London, W1T 7NF UK
| | - Victor L J Tybulewicz
- T21 Research Society, Brain and Spine Institute (ICM), 75013 Paris.,LonDownS Consortium, London, W1T 7NF UK.,The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.,Department of Medicine, Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Eugene Yu
- T21 Research Society, Brain and Spine Institute (ICM), 75013 Paris.,The Children's Guild Foundation Down Syndrome Research Program, Department of Cancer Genetics and Genetics Program, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Roswell Park Division of Graduate School, Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics Program, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Veronique Brault
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, 1 rue Laurent Fries, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France
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28
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Moretto E, Murru L, Martano G, Sassone J, Passafaro M. Glutamatergic synapses in neurodevelopmental disorders. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:328-342. [PMID: 28935587 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of diseases whose symptoms arise during childhood or adolescence and that impact several higher cognitive functions such as learning, sociability and mood. Accruing evidence suggests that a shared pathogenic mechanism underlying these diseases is the dysfunction of glutamatergic synapses. We summarize present knowledge on autism spectrum disorders (ASD), intellectual disability (ID), Down syndrome (DS), Rett syndrome (RS) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), highlighting the involvement of glutamatergic synapses and receptors in these disorders. The most commonly shared defects involve α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl- 4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors (AMPARs), N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), whose functions are strongly linked to synaptic plasticity, affecting both cell-autonomous features as well as circuit formation. Moreover, the major scaffolding proteins and, thus, the general structure of the synapse are often deregulated in neurodevelopmental disorders, which is not surprising considering their crucial role in the regulation of glutamate receptor positioning and functioning. This convergence of defects supports the definition of neurodevelopmental disorders as a continuum of pathological manifestations, suggesting that glutamatergic synapses could be a therapeutic target to ameliorate patient symptomatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Moretto
- CNR, Institute of Neuroscience, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Murru
- CNR, Institute of Neuroscience, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Martano
- CNR, Institute of Neuroscience, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milan, Italy
| | - Jenny Sassone
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Passafaro
- CNR, Institute of Neuroscience, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milan, Italy.
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29
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Pharmacological Modulation of Three Modalities of CA1 Hippocampal Long-Term Potentiation in the Ts65Dn Mouse Model of Down Syndrome. Neural Plast 2018; 2018:9235796. [PMID: 29849573 PMCID: PMC5914153 DOI: 10.1155/2018/9235796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The Ts65Dn mouse is the most studied animal model of Down syndrome. Past research has shown a significant reduction in CA1 hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by theta-burst stimulation (TBS), but not in LTP induced by high-frequency stimulation (HFS), in slices from Ts65Dn mice compared with euploid mouse-derived slices. Additionally, therapeutically relevant doses of the drug memantine were shown to rescue learning and memory deficits in Ts65Dn mice. Here, we observed that 1 μM memantine had no detectable effect on HFS-induced LTP in either Ts65Dn- or control-derived slices, but it rescued TBS-induced LTP in Ts65Dn-derived slices to control euploid levels. Then, we assessed LTP induced by four HFS (4xHFS) and found that this form of LTP was significantly depressed in Ts65Dn slices when compared with LTP in euploid control slices. Memantine, however, did not rescue this phenotype. Because 4xHFS-induced LTP had not yet been characterized in Ts65Dn mice, we also investigated the effects of picrotoxin, amyloid beta oligomers, and soluble recombinant human prion protein (rPrP) on this form of LTP. Whereas ≥10 μM picrotoxin increased LTP to control levels, it also caused seizure-like oscillations. Neither amyloid beta oligomers nor rPrP had any effect on 4xHFS-induced LTP in Ts65Dn-derived slices.
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30
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Parrini M, Ghezzi D, Deidda G, Medrihan L, Castroflorio E, Alberti M, Baldelli P, Cancedda L, Contestabile A. Aerobic exercise and a BDNF-mimetic therapy rescue learning and memory in a mouse model of Down syndrome. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16825. [PMID: 29203796 PMCID: PMC5715062 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17201-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is caused by the triplication of human chromosome 21 and represents the most frequent genetic cause of intellectual disability. The trisomic Ts65Dn mouse model of DS shows synaptic deficits and reproduces the essential cognitive disabilities of the human syndrome. Aerobic exercise improved various neurophysiological dysfunctions in Ts65Dn mice, including hippocampal synaptic deficits, by promoting synaptogenesis and neurotransmission at glutamatergic terminals. Most importantly, the same intervention also prompted the recovery of hippocampal adult neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity and restored cognitive performance in trisomic mice. Additionally, the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was markedly decreased in the hippocampus of patients with DS. Since the positive effect of exercise was paralleled by increased BDNF expression in trisomic mice, we investigated the effectiveness of a BDNF-mimetic treatment with 7,8-dihydroxyflavone at alleviating intellectual disabilities in the DS model. Pharmacological stimulation of BDNF signaling rescued synaptic plasticity and memory deficits in Ts65Dn mice. Based on our findings, Ts65Dn mice benefit from interventions aimed at promoting brain plasticity, and we provide evidence that BDNF signaling represents a potentially new pharmacological target for treatments aimed at rescuing cognitive disabilities in patients with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Parrini
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Diego Ghezzi
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Medtronic Chair in Neuroengineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gabriele Deidda
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Lucian Medrihan
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Enrico Castroflorio
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Micol Alberti
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Pietro Baldelli
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Laura Cancedda
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Andrea Contestabile
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy.
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31
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Caraci F, Iulita MF, Pentz R, Flores Aguilar L, Orciani C, Barone C, Romano C, Drago F, Cuello AC. Searching for new pharmacological targets for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in Down syndrome. Eur J Pharmacol 2017; 817:7-19. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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32
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García-Cerro S, Rueda N, Vidal V, Lantigua S, Martínez-Cué C. Normalizing the gene dosage of Dyrk1A in a mouse model of Down syndrome rescues several Alzheimer's disease phenotypes. Neurobiol Dis 2017; 106:76-88. [PMID: 28647555 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2016] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The intellectual disability that characterizes Down syndrome (DS) is primarily caused by prenatal changes in central nervous system growth and differentiation. However, in later life stages, the cognitive abilities of DS individuals progressively decline due to accelerated aging and the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology. The AD neuropathology in DS has been related to the overexpression of several genes encoded by Hsa21 including DYRK1A (dual-specificity tyrosine-(Y)-phosphorylation regulated kinase 1A), which encodes a protein kinase that performs crucial functions in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways that contribute to normal brain development and adult brain physiology. Studies performed in vitro and in vivo in animal models overexpressing this gene have demonstrated that the DYRK1A gene also plays a crucial role in several neurodegenerative processes found in DS. The Ts65Dn (TS) mouse bears a partial triplication of several Hsa21 orthologous genes, including Dyrk1A, and replicates many DS-like abnormalities, including age-dependent cognitive decline, cholinergic neuron degeneration, increased levels of APP and Aβ, and tau hyperphosphorylation. To use a more direct approach to evaluate the role of the gene dosage of Dyrk1A on the neurodegenerative profile of this model, TS mice were crossed with Dyrk1A KO mice to obtain mice with a triplication of a segment of Mmu16 that includes this gene, mice that are trisomic for the same genes but only carry two copies of Dyrk1A, euploid mice with a normal Dyrk1A dosage, and CO animals with a single copy of Dyrk1A. Normalizing the gene dosage of Dyrk1A in the TS mouse rescued the density of senescent cells in the cingulate cortex, hippocampus and septum, prevented cholinergic neuron degeneration, and reduced App expression in the hippocampus, Aβ load in the cortex and hippocampus, the expression of phosphorylated tau at the Ser202 residue in the hippocampus and cerebellum and the levels of total tau in the cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. Thus, the present study provides further support for the role of the Dyrk1A gene in several AD-like phenotypes found in TS mice and indicates that this gene could be a therapeutic target to treat AD in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana García-Cerro
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Pharmacology and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Noemí Rueda
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Verónica Vidal
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Sara Lantigua
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - Carmen Martínez-Cué
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
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Victorino DB, Bederman IR, Costa ACS. Pharmacokinetic Properties of Memantine after a Single Intraperitoneal Administration and Multiple Oral Doses in Euploid Mice and in the Ts65Dn Mouse Model of Down's Syndrome. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2017; 121:382-389. [PMID: 28557265 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.12816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Memantine is a drug approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease (AD), and there is ongoing research on the potential expansion of its clinical applicability. Published data on the pharmacokinetics of memantine in the mouse are still incomplete, particularly for chronic administration regimens and mouse models of specific genetic disorders. Down's syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder known to affect multiple organs and systems, with the potential to alter significantly drug pharmacokinetics. Here, we describe a simple, efficient and sensitive GC/MS-based procedure for the determination of memantine concentrations in murine blood and tissue samples. We analysed pharmacokinetic properties of memantine, particularly its distribution in blood, brain and liver in the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS and euploid F1 hybrid mice after single intraperitoneal administrations of increasing doses of this drug. We also determined steady-state memantine concentrations in plasma, brain and liver after chronic oral administration of this drug in adult male Ts65Dn mice, euploid littermate controls and nursing or pregnant Ts65Dn mice. Our results revalidated the acute dose of memantine used in previously published work, determined the appropriate amount of memantine to be mixed into mouse chow to achieve steady and pharmacologically relevant plasma and tissue levels of this drug and demonstrated that memantine can be transferred from mother to offspring via maternal milk and placenta. Most of these findings are potentially applicable not only to the study of DS but also to other neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniella B Victorino
- Division of Neurology and Epilepsy, Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ilya R Bederman
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Alberto C S Costa
- Division of Neurology and Epilepsy, Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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Contestabile A, Magara S, Cancedda L. The GABAergic Hypothesis for Cognitive Disabilities in Down Syndrome. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:54. [PMID: 28326014 PMCID: PMC5339239 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of a third copy of chromosome 21. DS affects multiple organs, but it invariably results in altered brain development and diverse degrees of intellectual disability. A large body of evidence has shown that synaptic deficits and memory impairment are largely determined by altered GABAergic signaling in trisomic mouse models of DS. These alterations arise during brain development while extending into adulthood, and include genesis of GABAergic neurons, variation of the inhibitory drive and modifications in the control of neural-network excitability. Accordingly, different pharmacological interventions targeting GABAergic signaling have proven promising preclinical approaches to rescue cognitive impairment in DS mouse models. In this review, we will discuss recent data regarding the complex scenario of GABAergic dysfunctions in the trisomic brain of DS mice and patients, and we will evaluate the state of current clinical research targeting GABAergic signaling in individuals with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Contestabile
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) Genova, Italy
| | - Salvatore Magara
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) Genova, Italy
| | - Laura Cancedda
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT)Genova, Italy; Dulbecco Telethon InstituteGenova, Italy
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Powers BE, Velazquez R, Kelley CM, Ash JA, Strawderman MS, Alldred MJ, Ginsberg SD, Mufson EJ, Strupp BJ. Attentional function and basal forebrain cholinergic neuron morphology during aging in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome. Brain Struct Funct 2016; 221:4337-4352. [PMID: 26719290 PMCID: PMC4929047 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-015-1164-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit intellectual disability and develop Alzheimer's disease-like neuropathology during the third decade of life. The Ts65Dn mouse model of DS exhibits key features of both disorders, including impairments in learning, attention and memory, as well as atrophy of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs). The present study evaluated attentional function in relation to BFCN morphology in young (3 months) and middle-aged (12 months) Ts65Dn mice and disomic (2N) controls. Ts65Dn mice exhibited attentional dysfunction at both ages, with greater impairment in older trisomics. Density of BFCNs was significantly lower for Ts65Dn mice independent of age, which may contribute to attentional dysfunction since BFCN density was positively associated with performance on an attention task. BFCN volume decreased with age in 2N but not Ts65Dn mice. Paradoxically, BFCN volume was greater in older trisomic mice, suggestive of a compensatory response. In sum, attentional dysfunction occurred in both young and middle-aged Ts65Dn mice, which may in part reflect reduced density and/or phenotypic alterations in BFCNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian E Powers
- Division of Nutritional Sciences and Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Ramon Velazquez
- Division of Nutritional Sciences and Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Christy M Kelley
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Jessica A Ash
- Division of Nutritional Sciences and Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Myla S Strawderman
- Division of Nutritional Sciences and Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Melissa J Alldred
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, 10962, USA
| | - Stephen D Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, 10962, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, 10962, USA
| | - Elliott J Mufson
- Division of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Barbara J Strupp
- Division of Nutritional Sciences and Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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Kukuia KKE, Ameyaw EO, Woode E, Mante PK, Adongo DW. Scientific evidence of plant with a rapid-onset and sustained antidepressant effect in a chronic model of depression: Mallotus oppositifolius. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2016; 27:523-32. [PMID: 27089412 DOI: 10.1515/jbcpp-2015-0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND One of the major drawbacks of current depression pharmacotherapy is the delay in symptom improvement, aside from the untoward side effects and lack of efficacy against refractory depression. This work therefore investigated a possible rapid-onset and sustained antidepressant effect of Mallotus oppositifolius. METHODS Onset of the antidepressant effect of hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves of M. oppositifolius was investigated using the open space swim test, a chronic depression model. The possible effects of the extract on cognitive dysfunction measured in the Morris water maze and weight gain were also investigated. RESULTS M. oppositifolius extract, after the first day of treatment, reversed the state of immobility in mice. This effect was sustained even after drug treatment was halted and the antidepressant effect verified in the tail suspension test. The extract also increased the total distance travelled by the mice and reversed the cognitive impairment induced by the depressed state but had no effect on weight variation. CONCLUSIONS M. oppositifolius exhibits a rapid-onset and sustained antidepressant effect in mice.
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Daulatzai MA. Dysfunctional Sensory Modalities, Locus Coeruleus, and Basal Forebrain: Early Determinants that Promote Neuropathogenesis of Cognitive and Memory Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease. Neurotox Res 2016; 30:295-337. [DOI: 10.1007/s12640-016-9643-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Revised: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Hall JH, Wiseman FK, Fisher EMC, Tybulewicz VLJ, Harwood JL, Good MA. Tc1 mouse model of trisomy-21 dissociates properties of short- and long-term recognition memory. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2016; 130:118-28. [PMID: 26868479 PMCID: PMC4898594 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The present study examined memory function in Tc1 mice, a transchromosomic model of Down syndrome (DS). Tc1 mice demonstrated an unusual delay-dependent deficit in recognition memory. More specifically, Tc1 mice showed intact immediate (30sec), impaired short-term (10-min) and intact long-term (24-h) memory for objects. A similar pattern was observed for olfactory stimuli, confirming the generality of the pattern across sensory modalities. The specificity of the behavioural deficits in Tc1 mice was confirmed using APP overexpressing mice that showed the opposite pattern of object memory deficits. In contrast to object memory, Tc1 mice showed no deficit in either immediate or long-term memory for object-in-place information. Similarly, Tc1 mice showed no deficit in short-term memory for object-location information. The latter result indicates that Tc1 mice were able to detect and react to spatial novelty at the same delay interval that was sensitive to an object novelty recognition impairment. These results demonstrate (1) that novelty detection per se and (2) the encoding of visuo-spatial information was not disrupted in adult Tc1 mice. The authors conclude that the task specific nature of the short-term recognition memory deficit suggests that the trisomy of genes on human chromosome 21 in Tc1 mice impacts on (perirhinal) cortical systems supporting short-term object and olfactory recognition memory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Frances K Wiseman
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Elizabeth M C Fisher
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Victor L J Tybulewicz
- Francis Crick Institute, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK; Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - John L Harwood
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Mark A Good
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, CF10 3AT, UK.
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Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a relatively common genetic condition caused by the triplication of human chromosome 21. No therapies currently exist for the rescue of neurocognitive impairment in DS. This review presents exciting findings showing that it is possible to restore brain development and cognitive performance in mouse models of DS with therapies that can also apply to humans. This knowledge provides a potential breakthrough for the prevention of intellectual disability in DS.
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Hamlett ED, Boger HA, Ledreux A, Kelley CM, Mufson EJ, Falangola MF, Guilfoyle DN, Nixon RA, Patterson D, Duval N, Granholm ACE. Cognitive Impairment, Neuroimaging, and Alzheimer Neuropathology in Mouse Models of Down Syndrome. Curr Alzheimer Res 2016; 13:35-52. [PMID: 26391050 PMCID: PMC5034871 DOI: 10.2174/1567205012666150921095505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 08/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common non-lethal genetic condition that affects approximately 1 in 700 births in the United States of America. DS is characterized by complete or segmental chromosome 21 trisomy, which leads to variable intellectual disabilities, progressive memory loss, and accelerated neurodegeneration with age. During the last three decades, people with DS have experienced a doubling of life expectancy due to progress in treatment of medical comorbidities, which has allowed this population to reach the age when they develop early onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Individuals with DS develop cognitive and pathological hallmarks of AD in their fourth or fifth decade, and are currently lacking successful prevention or treatment options for dementia. The profound memory deficits associated with DS-related AD (DS-AD) have been associated with degeneration of several neuronal populations, but mechanisms of neurodegeneration are largely unexplored. The most successful animal model for DS is the Ts65Dn mouse, but several new models have also been developed. In the current review, we discuss recent findings and potential treatment options for the management of memory loss and AD neuropathology in DS mouse models. We also review agerelated neuropathology, and recent findings from neuroimaging studies. The validation of appropriate DS mouse models that mimic neurodegeneration and memory loss in humans with DS can be valuable in the study of novel preventative and treatment interventions, and may be helpful in pinpointing gene-gene interactions as well as specific gene segments involved in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ann-Charlotte E Granholm
- Department Neurosciences, Director, Center on Aging, Medical Univ. South Carolina, Basic Science Bldg, Room 403, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
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Choong XY, Tosh JL, Pulford LJ, Fisher EMC. Dissecting Alzheimer disease in Down syndrome using mouse models. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:268. [PMID: 26528151 PMCID: PMC4602094 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a common genetic condition caused by the presence of three copies of chromosome 21 (trisomy 21). This greatly increases the risk of Alzheimer disease (AD), but although virtually all people with DS have AD neuropathology by 40 years of age, not all develop dementia. To dissect the genetic contribution of trisomy 21 to DS phenotypes including those relevant to AD, a range of DS mouse models has been generated which are trisomic for chromosome segments syntenic to human chromosome 21. Here, we consider key characteristics of human AD in DS (AD-DS), and our current state of knowledge on related phenotypes in AD and DS mouse models. We go on to review important features needed in future models of AD-DS, to understand this type of dementia and so highlight pathogenic mechanisms relevant to all populations at risk of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Yu Choong
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London London, UK ; The LonDownS Consortium London, UK
| | - Justin L Tosh
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London London, UK ; The LonDownS Consortium London, UK
| | - Laura J Pulford
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London London, UK ; The LonDownS Consortium London, UK
| | - Elizabeth M C Fisher
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London London, UK ; The LonDownS Consortium London, UK
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Stagni F, Giacomini A, Guidi S, Ciani E, Bartesaghi R. Timing of therapies for Down syndrome: the sooner, the better. Front Behav Neurosci 2015; 9:265. [PMID: 26500515 PMCID: PMC4594009 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2015.00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intellectual disability (ID) is the unavoidable hallmark of Down syndrome (DS), with a heavy impact on public health. Accumulating evidence shows that DS is characterized by numerous neurodevelopmental alterations among which the reduction of neurogenesis, dendritic hypotrophy and connectivity alterations appear to play a particularly prominent role. Although the mechanisms whereby gene triplication impairs brain development in DS have not been fully clarified, it is theoretically possible to correct trisomy-dependent defects with targeted pharmacotherapies. This review summarizes what we know about the effects of pharmacotherapies during different life stages in mouse models of DS. Since brain alterations in DS start to be present prenatally, the prenatal period represents an optimum window of opportunity for therapeutic interventions. Importantly, recent studies clearly show that treatment during the prenatal period can rescue overall brain development and behavior and that this effect outlasts treatment cessation. Although late therapies are unlikely to exert drastic changes in the brain, they may have an impact on the hippocampus, a brain region where neurogenesis continues throughout life. Indeed, treatment at adult life stages improves or even rescues hippocampal neurogenesis and connectivity and hippocampal-dependent learning and memory, although the duration of these effects still remains, in the majority of cases, a matter of investigation. The exciting discovery that trisomy-linked brain abnormalities can be prevented with early interventions gives us reason to believe that treatments during pregnancy may rescue brain development in fetuses with DS. For this reason we deem it extremely important to expedite the discovery of additional therapies practicable in humans in order to identify the best treatment/s in terms of efficacy and paucity of side effects. Prompt achievement of this goal is the big challenge for the scientific community of researchers interested in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Renata Bartesaghi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of BolognaBologna, Italy
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Belichenko PV, Kleschevnikov AM, Becker A, Wagner GE, Lysenko LV, Yu YE, Mobley WC. Down Syndrome Cognitive Phenotypes Modeled in Mice Trisomic for All HSA 21 Homologues. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134861. [PMID: 26230397 PMCID: PMC4521889 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), trisomy for chromosome 21, is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability. The genomic regions on human chromosome 21 (HSA21) are syntenically conserved with regions on mouse chromosomes 10, 16, and 17 (Mmu10, Mmu16, and Mmu17). Recently, we created a genetic model of DS which carries engineered duplications of all three mouse syntenic regions homologous to HSA21. This 'triple trisomic' or TTS model thus represents the most complete and accurate murine model currently available for experimental studies of genotype-phenotype relationships in DS. Here we extended our initial studies of TTS mice. Locomotor activity, stereotypic and repetitive behavior, anxiety, working memory, long-term memory, and synaptic plasticity in the dentate gyrus were examined in the TTS and wild-type (WT) control mice. Changes in locomotor activity were most remarkable for a significant increase in ambulatory time and a reduction in average velocity of TTS mice. No changes were detected in repetitive and stereotypic behavior and in measures of anxiety. Working memory showed no changes when tested in Y-maze, but deficiency in a more challenging T-maze test was detected. Furthermore, long-term object recognition memory was significantly reduced in the TTS mice. These changes were accompanied by deficient long-term potentiation in the dentate gyrus, which was restored to the WT levels following blockade of GABAA receptors with picrotoxin (100 μM). TTS mice thus demonstrated a number of phenotypes characteristic of DS and may serve as a new standard by which to evaluate and direct findings in other less complete models of DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel V. Belichenko
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093–0649, United States of America
| | - Alexander M. Kleschevnikov
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093–0649, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Ann Becker
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093–0649, United States of America
| | - Grant E. Wagner
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093–0649, United States of America
| | - Larisa V. Lysenko
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093–0649, United States of America
| | - Y. Eugene Yu
- Genetics Program and Department of Cancer Genetics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, 14263, United States of America
| | - William C. Mobley
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093–0649, United States of America
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Abstract
Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are novel and powerful tools to investigate discrete neuronal populations in the brain. We have used DREADDs to stimulate degenerating neurons in a Down syndrome (DS) model, Ts65Dn mice. Individuals with DS develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology and have elevated risk for dementia starting in their 30s and 40s. Individuals with DS often exhibit working memory deficits coupled with degeneration of the locus coeruleus (LC) norepinephrine (NE) neurons. It is thought that LC degeneration precedes other AD-related neuronal loss, and LC noradrenergic integrity is important for executive function, working memory, and attention. Previous studies have shown that LC-enhancing drugs can slow the progression of AD pathology, including amyloid aggregation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. We have shown that LC degeneration in Ts65Dn mice leads to exaggerated memory loss and neuronal degeneration. We used a DREADD, hM3Dq, administered via adeno-associated virus into the LC under a synthetic promoter, PRSx8, to selectively stimulate LC neurons by exogenous administration of the inert DREADD ligand clozapine-N-oxide. DREADD stimulation of LC-NE enhanced performance in a novel object recognition task and reduced hyperactivity in Ts65Dn mice, without significant behavioral effects in controls. To confirm that the noradrenergic transmitter system was responsible for the enhanced memory function, the NE prodrug l-threo-dihydroxyphenylserine was administered in Ts65Dn and normosomic littermate control mice, and produced similar behavioral results. Thus, NE stimulation may prevent memory loss in Ts65Dn mice, and may hold promise for treatment in individuals with DS and dementia.
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Ahmed MM, Dhanasekaran AR, Block A, Tong S, Costa ACS, Stasko M, Gardiner KJ. Protein dynamics associated with failed and rescued learning in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0119491. [PMID: 25793384 PMCID: PMC4368539 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is caused by an extra copy of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21). Although it is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID), there are, as yet, no effective pharmacotherapies. The Ts65Dn mouse model of DS is trisomic for orthologs of ∼55% of Hsa21 classical protein coding genes. These mice display many features relevant to those seen in DS, including deficits in learning and memory (L/M) tasks requiring a functional hippocampus. Recently, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, memantine, was shown to rescue performance of the Ts65Dn in several L/M tasks. These studies, however, have not been accompanied by molecular analyses. In previous work, we described changes in protein expression induced in hippocampus and cortex in control mice after exposure to context fear conditioning (CFC), with and without memantine treatment. Here, we extend this analysis to Ts65Dn mice, measuring levels of 85 proteins/protein modifications, including components of MAP kinase and MTOR pathways, and subunits of NMDA receptors, in cortex and hippocampus of Ts65Dn mice after failed learning in CFC and after learning was rescued by memantine. We show that, compared with wild type littermate controls, (i) of the dynamic responses seen in control mice in normal learning, >40% also occur in Ts65Dn in failed learning or are compensated by baseline abnormalities, and thus are considered necessary but not sufficient for successful learning, and (ii) treatment with memantine does not in general normalize the initial protein levels but instead induces direct and indirect responses in approximately half the proteins measured and results in normalization of the endpoint protein levels. Together, these datasets provide a first view of the complexities associated with pharmacological rescue of learning in the Ts65Dn. Extending such studies to additional drugs and mouse models of DS will aid in identifying pharmacotherapies for effective clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Mahiuddin Ahmed
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Mail Stop 8608, 12700 E 19th Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States of America
| | - A. Ranjitha Dhanasekaran
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Mail Stop 8608, 12700 E 19th Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States of America
| | - Aaron Block
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Mail Stop 8608, 12700 E 19th Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States of America
| | - Suhong Tong
- Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Mail Stop A036-B065 TCH, 12700 E 19th Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States of America
| | - Alberto C. S. Costa
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Mail Stop RBC 6090, Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106–6090, United States of America
| | - Melissa Stasko
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Mail Stop RBC 6090, Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106–6090, United States of America
| | - Katheleen J. Gardiner
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Mail Stop 8608, 12700 E 19th Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver, Mail Stop 8608, 12700 E 19th Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States of America
- Human Medical Genetics and Genomics, and Neuroscience Programs, University of Colorado Denver, Mail Stop 8608, 12700 E 19th Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States of America
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Long-term effects of neonatal treatment with fluoxetine on cognitive performance in Ts65Dn mice. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 74:204-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2014.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2014] [Revised: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Gardiner KJ. Pharmacological approaches to improving cognitive function in Down syndrome: current status and considerations. Drug Des Devel Ther 2014; 9:103-25. [PMID: 25552901 PMCID: PMC4277121 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s51476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), also known as trisomy 21, is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID). Although ID can be mild, the average intelligence quotient is in the range of 40-50. All individuals with DS will also develop the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by the age of 30-40 years, and approximately half will display an AD-like dementia by the age of 60 years. DS is caused by an extra copy of the long arm of human chromosome 21 (Hsa21) and the consequent elevated levels of expression, due to dosage, of trisomic genes. Despite a worldwide incidence of one in 700-1,000 live births, there are currently no pharmacological treatments available for ID or AD in DS. However, over the last several years, very promising results have been obtained with a mouse model of DS, the Ts65Dn. A diverse array of drugs has been shown to rescue, or partially rescue, DS-relevant deficits in learning and memory and abnormalities in cellular and electrophysiological features seen in the Ts65Dn. These results suggest that some level of amelioration or prevention of cognitive deficits in people with DS may be possible. Here, we review information from the preclinical evaluations in the Ts65Dn, how drugs were selected, how efficacy was judged, and how outcomes differ, or not, among studies. We also summarize the current state of human clinical trials for ID and AD in DS. Lastly, we describe the genetic limitations of the Ts65Dn as a model of DS, and in the preclinical testing of pharmacotherapeutics, and suggest additional targets to be considered for potential pharmacotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katheleen J Gardiner
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Human Medical Genetics and Genomics Program, Neuroscience Program, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
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Cunningham MA, Wirth JR, Freeman LR, Boger HA, Granholm AC, Gilkeson GS. Estrogen receptor alpha deficiency protects against development of cognitive impairment in murine lupus. J Neuroinflammation 2014; 11:171. [PMID: 25510908 PMCID: PMC4272530 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-014-0171-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background One of the more profound features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is that females have a 9:1 prevalence of this disease over males. Up to 80% of SLE patients have cognitive defects or affective disorders. The mechanism of CNS injury responsible for cognitive impairment is unknown. We previously showed that ERα deficiency significantly reduced renal disease and increased survival in lupus-prone mice. We hypothesized that ERα deficiency would be similarly protective in the brain, and that ERα may play a role in modulating blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and/or neuroinflammation in lupus-prone mice. Methods MRL/lpr ERα+/+ and ERαKO mice (n = 46) were ovariectomized, received 17β-estradiol pellets, and underwent radial arm water maze (WRAM) and novel object recognition (NOR) testing starting at eight weeks of age. Mice were sacrificed and brains were hemisected and processed for either immunohistochemistry, or hippocampus and parietal cortex dissection for Western blotting. Results MRL/lpr ERαKO mice (n = 21) performed significantly better in WRAM testing than wild-type MRL/lpr mice (n = 25). There was a significant reduction in reference memory errors (P <0.007), working memory errors (P <0.05), and start arm errors (P <0.02) in ERαKO mice. There were significant differences in NOR testing, particularly total exploration time, with ERα deficiency normalizing behavior. No significant differences were seen in markers of tight junction, astrogliosis, or microgliosis in the hippocampus or cortex by Western blot, however, there was a significant reduction in numbers of Iba1+ activated microglia in the hippocampus of ERαKO mice, as evidenced by immunohistochemietry (IHC). Conclusion ERα deficiency provides significant protection against cognitive deficits in MRL/lpr mice as early as eight weeks of age. Additionally, the significant reduction in Iba1+ activated microglia in the MRL/lpr ERαKO mice was consistent with reduced inflammation, and may represent a biological mechanism for the cognitive improvement observed. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-014-0171-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Cunningham
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Neurosciences, and Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 814, MSC637, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Jena R Wirth
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Neurosciences, and Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 814, MSC637, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Linnea R Freeman
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Neurosciences, and Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 814, MSC637, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Heather A Boger
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Neurosciences, and Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 814, MSC637, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Ann-Charlotte Granholm
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Neurosciences, and Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 814, MSC637, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
| | - Gary S Gilkeson
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Neurosciences, and Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs Hospital, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Suite 814, MSC637, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
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Das D, Phillips C, Hsieh W, Sumanth K, Dang V, Salehi A. Neurotransmitter-based strategies for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in Down syndrome. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2014; 54:140-8. [PMID: 24842803 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2014.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Revised: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a multisystem disorder affecting the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological, hematopoietic, and musculoskeletal systems and is characterized by significant cognitive disability and a possible common pathogenic mechanism with Alzheimer's disease. During the last decade, numerous studies have supported the notion that the triplication of specific genes on human chromosome 21 plays a significant role in cognitive dysfunction in DS. Here we reviewed studies in trisomic mouse models and humans, including children and adults with DS. In order to identify groups of genes that contribute to cognitive disability in DS, multiple mouse models of DS with segmental trisomy have been generated. Over-expression of these particular genes in DS can lead to dysfunction of several neurotransmitter systems. Therapeutic strategies for DS have either focused on normalizing the expression of triplicated genes with important roles in DS or restoring the function of these systems. Indeed, our extensive review of studies on the pathogenesis of DS suggests that one plausible strategy for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction is to target the cholinergic, serotonergic, GABA-ergic, glutamatergic, and norepinephrinergic system. However, a fundamental strategy for treatment of cognitive dysfunction in DS would include reducing to normal levels the expression of specific triplicated genes in affected systems before the onset of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devsmita Das
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Cristy Phillips
- Department of Physical Therapy, P.O. Box 910, Arkansas State University, State University, AR, USA
| | - Wayne Hsieh
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Krithika Sumanth
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Van Dang
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Ahmad Salehi
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94304, USA.
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