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Schwab K, Lauer D, Magbagbeolu M, Theuring F, Gasiorowska A, Zadrozny M, Harrington CR, Wischik CM, Niewiadomska G, Riedel G. Hydromethylthionine rescues synaptic SNARE proteins in a mouse model of tauopathies: Interference by cholinesterase inhibitors. Brain Res Bull 2024; 212:110955. [PMID: 38677558 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2024.110955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
In clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease (AD), hydromethylthionine mesylate (HMTM) showed reduced efficacy when administered as an add-on to symptomatic treatments, while it produced a significant improvement of cognitive function when taken as monotherapy. Interference of cholinesterase inhibition with HMTM was observed also in a tau transgenic mouse model, where rivastigmine reduced the pharmacological activity of HMTM at multiple brain levels including hippocampal acetylcholine release, synaptosomal glutamate release and mitochondrial activity. Here, we examined the effect of HMTM, given alone or in combination with the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, rivastigmine, at the level of expression of selected pre-synaptic proteins (syntaxin-1; SNAP-25, VAMP-2, synaptophysin-1, synapsin-1, α-synuclein) in brain tissue harvested from tau-transgenic Line 1 (L1) and wild-type mice using immunohistochemistry. L1 mice overexpress the tau-core unit that induces tau aggregation and results in an AD-like phenotype. Synaptic proteins were lower in hippocampus and cortex but greater in basal forebrain regions in L1 compared to wild-type mice. HMTM partially normalised the expression pattern of several of these proteins in basal forebrain. This effect was diminished when HMTM was administered in combination with rivastigmine, where mean protein expression seemed supressed. This was further confirmed by group-based correlation network analyses where important levels of co-expression correlations in basal forebrain regions were lost in L1 mice and partially re-established when HMTM was given alone but not in combination with rivastigmine. These data indicate a reduction in pharmacological activity of HMTM when given as an add-on therapy, a result that is consistent with the responses observed in the clinic. Attenuation of the therapeutic effects of HMTM by cholinergic treatments may have important implications for other potential AD therapies.
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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, Berlin 10115, Germany
| | - Dilyara Lauer
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, Berlin 10115, Germany
| | - Mandy Magbagbeolu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, Berlin 10115, Germany
| | - Franz Theuring
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, Berlin 10115, Germany
| | - Anna Gasiorowska
- Clinical and Research Department of Applied Physiology, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-106, Poland
| | - Maciej Zadrozny
- Clinical and Research Department of Applied Physiology, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-106, Poland
| | - 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
| | - Grażyna Niewiadomska
- Clinical and Research Department of Applied Physiology, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-106, Poland
| | - Gernot Riedel
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK.
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Schwab K, Frahm S, Magbagbeolu M, Horsley D, Goatman EA, Melis V, Theuring F, Ishaq A, Storey JMD, Harrington CR, Wischik CM, Riedel G. LETC inhibits α-Syn aggregation and ameliorates motor deficiencies in the L62 mouse model of synucleinopathy. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 970:176505. [PMID: 38503400 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Alpha-Synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation is a pathological feature of synucleinopathies, neurodegenerative disorders that include Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we explored the efficacy of N,N,N',N'-tetraethyl-10H-phenothiazine-3,7-diamine dihydrochloride (LETC), a protein aggregation inhibitor, on α-Syn aggregation. In both cellular models and transgenic mice, α-Syn aggregation was achieved by the overexpression of full-length human α-Syn fused with a signal sequence peptide. α-Syn accumulated in transfected DH60.21 neuroblastoma cells and α-Syn aggregation was inhibited by LETC with an EC50 of 0.066 ± 0.047 μM. Full-length human α-Syn overexpressing Line 62 (L62) mice accumulated neuronal α-Syn that was associated with a decreased motor performance in the open field and automated home cage. LETC, administered orally for 6 weeks at 10 mg/kg significantly decreased α-Syn-positive neurons in multiple brain regions and this resulted in a rescue of movement deficits in the open field in these mice. LETC however, did not improve activity deficits of L62 mice in the home cage environment. The results suggest that LETC may provide a potential disease modification therapy in synucleinopathies through the inhibition of α-Syn aggregation.
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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.
| | - Silke Frahm
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mandy Magbagbeolu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Horsley
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Elizabeth A Goatman
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Valeria Melis
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Franz Theuring
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ahtsham Ishaq
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - John M D Storey
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK; TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., 395 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5RP, UK
| | - 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
| | - Gernot Riedel
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
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Schwab K, Magbagbeolu M, Theuring F, Harrington CR, Wischik CM, Riedel G. Solubility of α-synuclein species in the L62 mouse model of synucleinopathy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6239. [PMID: 38486089 PMCID: PMC10940722 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56735-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) into Lewy bodies is a hallmark of synucleinopathies, a group of neurological disorders that include Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Small oligomers as well as larger fibrils of α-Syn have been suggested to induce cell toxicity leading to a degenerative loss of neurones. A richer understanding of α-Syn aggregation in disease, however, requires the identification of the different α-Syn species and the characterisation of their biochemical properties. We here aimed at a more in-depth characterisation of the α-Syn transgenic mice, Line 62 (L62), and examined the deposition pattern and solubility of human and murine α-Syn in these mice using immunohistochemical and biochemical methods. Application of multiple antibodies confirmed mAb syn204 as the most discriminatory antibody for human α-Syn in L62. Syn204 revealed an intense and widespread immunohistochemical α-Syn labelling in parietal cortex and hippocampus, and to a lower level in basal forebrain and hindbrain regions. The labelled α-Syn represented somatic inclusions as well as processes and synaptic endings. Biochemical analysis revealed a Triton-resistant human α-Syn pool of large oligomers, a second pool of small oligomers that was not resistant to solubilization with urea/Triton. A third SDS-soluble pool of intermediate sized aggregates containing a mixture of both, human and mouse α-Syn was also present. These data suggest that several pools of α-Syn can exist in neurones, most likely in different cellular compartments. Information about these different pools is important for the development of novel disease modifying therapies aimed at α-Syn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karima Schwab
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Forester Hill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK.
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Mandy Magbagbeolu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franz Theuring
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Charles R Harrington
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Forester Hill, 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, Forester Hill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., 395 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5RP, UK
| | - Gernot Riedel
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Forester Hill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
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Timotius IK, Roelofs RF, Richmond-Hacham B, Noldus LPJJ, von Hörsten S, Bikovski L. CatWalk XT gait parameters: a review of reported parameters in pre-clinical studies of multiple central nervous system and peripheral nervous system disease models. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1147784. [PMID: 37351154 PMCID: PMC10284348 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1147784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Automated gait assessment tests are used in studies of disorders characterized by gait impairment. CatWalk XT is one of the first commercially available automated systems for analyzing the gait of rodents and is currently the most used system in peer-reviewed publications. This automated gait analysis system can generate a large number of gait parameters. However, this creates a new challenge in selecting relevant parameters that describe the changes within a particular disease model. Here, for the first time, we performed a multi-disorder review on published CatWalk XT data. We identify commonly reported CatWalk XT gait parameters derived from 91 peer-reviewed experimental studies in mice, covering six disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). The disorders modeled in mice were traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, sciatic nerve injury (SNI), spinal cord injury (SCI), Parkinson's disease (PD), and ataxia. Our review consisted of parameter selection, clustering, categorization, statistical evaluation, and data visualization. It suggests that certain gait parameters serve as potential indicators of gait dysfunction across multiple disease models, while others are specific to particular models. The findings also suggest that the more site-specific the injury is, the fewer parameters are reported to characterize its gait abnormalities. This study strives to present a clearly organized picture of gait parameters used in each one of the different mouse models, potentially helping novel CatWalk XT users to apply this information to similar or related mouse models they are working on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivanna K. Timotius
- Department of Electronics Engineering, Satya Wacana Christian University, Salatiga, Indonesia
- Department of Experimental Therapy, University Hospital Erlangen and Preclinical Experimental Animal Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Bar Richmond-Hacham
- Myers Neuro-Behavioral Core Facility, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
| | - Lucas P. J. J. Noldus
- Noldus Information Technology BV, Wageningen, Netherlands
- Donders Center for Neuroscience, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- Department of Experimental Therapy, University Hospital Erlangen and Preclinical Experimental Animal Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lior Bikovski
- Myers Neuro-Behavioral Core Facility, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
- School of Behavioral Sciences, Netanya Academic College, Netanya, Israel
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Development of Small Molecules Targeting α-Synuclein Aggregation: A Promising Strategy to Treat Parkinson’s Disease. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15030839. [PMID: 36986700 PMCID: PMC10059018 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15030839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide, is characterized by the accumulation of protein deposits in the dopaminergic neurons. These deposits are primarily composed of aggregated forms of α-Synuclein (α-Syn). Despite the extensive research on this disease, only symptomatic treatments are currently available. However, in recent years, several compounds, mainly of an aromatic character, targeting α-Syn self-assembly and amyloid formation have been identified. These compounds, discovered by different approaches, are chemically diverse and exhibit a plethora of mechanisms of action. This work aims to provide a historical overview of the physiopathology and molecular aspects associated with Parkinson’s disease and the current trends in small compound development to target α-Syn aggregation. Although these molecules are still under development, they constitute an important step toward discovering effective anti-aggregational therapies for Parkinson’s disease.
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Cao Q, Luo S, Yao W, Qu Y, Wang N, Hong J, Murayama S, Zhang Z, Chen J, Hashimoto K, Qi Q, Zhang JC. Suppression of abnormal α-synuclein expression by activation of BDNF transcription ameliorates Parkinson's disease-like pathology. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 29:1-15. [PMID: 35784012 PMCID: PMC9207554 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.05.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by the formation of Lewy bodies (LBs) in the brain. LBs are mainly composed of phosphorylated and aggregated α-synuclein (α-Syn). Thus, strategies to reduce the expression of α-Syn offer promising therapeutic avenues for PD. DNA/RNA heteroduplex oligonucleotides (HDOs) are a novel technology for gene silencing. Using an α-Syn-HDO that specifically targets α-Syn, we examined whether α-Syn-HDO attenuates pathological changes in the brain of mouse models of PD. Overexpression of α-Syn induced dopaminergic neuron degeneration through inhibition of cyclic AMP-responsive-element-binding protein (CREB) and activation of methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), resulting in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) downregulation. α-Syn-HDO exerted a more potent silencing effect on α-Syn than α-Syn-antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). α-Syn-HDO attenuated abnormal α-Syn expression and ameliorated dopaminergic neuron degeneration via BDNF upregulation by activation of CREB and inhibition of MeCP2. These findings demonstrated that inhibition of α-Syn by α-Syn-HDO protected against dopaminergic neuron degeneration via activation of BDNF transcription. Therefore, α-Syn-HDO may serve as a new therapeutic agent for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Cao
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shilin Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Wei Yao
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Formula-pattern Research Center, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Youge Qu
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 260-8670 Chiba, Japan
| | - Nanbu Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jian Hong
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Shigeo Murayama
- Department of Neuropathology (Brain Bank for Aging Research), Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital & Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo 173-0015, Japan
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Jiaxu Chen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Formula-pattern Research Center, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Kenji Hashimoto
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 260-8670 Chiba, Japan
| | - Qi Qi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Clinical Translational Center for Targeted Drug, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Ji-Chun Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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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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Klein CJMI, Budiman T, Homberg JR, Verma D, Keijer J, van Schothorst EM. Measuring Locomotor Activity and Behavioral Aspects of Rodents Living in the Home-Cage. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:877323. [PMID: 35464142 PMCID: PMC9021872 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.877323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Automatization and technological advances have led to a larger number of methods and systems to monitor and measure locomotor activity and more specific behavior of a wide variety of animal species in various environmental conditions in laboratory settings. In rodents, the majority of these systems require the animals to be temporarily taken away from their home-cage into separate observation cage environments which requires manual handling and consequently evokes distress for the animal and may alter behavioral responses. An automated high-throughput approach can overcome this problem. Therefore, this review describes existing automated methods and technologies which enable the measurement of locomotor activity and behavioral aspects of rodents in their most meaningful and stress-free laboratory environment: the home-cage. In line with the Directive 2010/63/EU and the 3R principles (replacement, reduction, refinement), this review furthermore assesses their suitability and potential for group-housed conditions as a refinement strategy, highlighting their current technological and practical limitations. It covers electrical capacitance technology and radio-frequency identification (RFID), which focus mainly on voluntary locomotor activity in both single and multiple rodents, respectively. Infrared beams and force plates expand the detection beyond locomotor activity toward basic behavioral traits but discover their full potential in individually housed rodents only. Despite the great premises of these approaches in terms of behavioral pattern recognition, more sophisticated methods, such as (RFID-assisted) video tracking technology need to be applied to enable the automated analysis of advanced behavioral aspects of individual animals in social housing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian J. M. I. Klein
- Human and Animal Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
- TSE Systems GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Judith R. Homberg
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Jaap Keijer
- Human and Animal Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Hunt J, Coulson EJ, Rajnarayanan R, Oster H, Videnovic A, Rawashdeh O. Sleep and circadian rhythms in Parkinson's disease and preclinical models. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:2. [PMID: 35000606 PMCID: PMC8744293 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-021-00504-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of animals as models of human physiology is, and has been for many years, an indispensable tool for understanding the mechanisms of human disease. In Parkinson's disease, various mouse models form the cornerstone of these investigations. Early models were developed to reflect the traditional histological features and motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, it is important that models accurately encompass important facets of the disease to allow for comprehensive mechanistic understanding and translational significance. Circadian rhythm and sleep issues are tightly correlated to Parkinson's disease, and often arise prior to the presentation of typical motor deficits. It is essential that models used to understand Parkinson's disease reflect these dysfunctions in circadian rhythms and sleep, both to facilitate investigations into mechanistic interplay between sleep and disease, and to assist in the development of circadian rhythm-facing therapeutic treatments. This review describes the extent to which various genetically- and neurotoxically-induced murine models of Parkinson's reflect the sleep and circadian abnormalities of Parkinson's disease observed in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Hunt
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Elizabeth J. Coulson
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Henrik Oster
- Institute of Neurobiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Aleksandar Videnovic
- Movement Disorders Unit and Division of Sleep Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Oliver Rawashdeh
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Burbidge K, Rademacher DJ, Mattick J, Zack S, Grillini A, Bousset L, Kwon O, Kubicki K, Simon A, Melki R, Campbell EM. LGALS3 (galectin 3) mediates an unconventional secretion of SNCA/α-synuclein in response to lysosomal membrane damage by the autophagic-lysosomal pathway in human midbrain dopamine neurons. Autophagy 2021; 18:1020-1048. [PMID: 34612142 PMCID: PMC9196737 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2021.1967615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous lines of evidence support the premise that the misfolding and subsequent accumulation of SNCA/α-synuclein (synuclein alpha) is responsible for the underlying neuronal pathology observed in Parkinson disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies. Moreover, the cell-to-cell transfer of these misfolded SNCA species is thought to be responsible for disease progression and the spread of cellular pathology throughout the brain. Previous work has shown that when exogenous, misfolded SNCA fibrils enter cells through endocytosis, they can damage and rupture the membranes of their endocytotic vesicles in which they are trafficked. Rupture of these vesicular membranes exposes intralumenal glycans leading to galectin protein binding, subsequent autophagic protein recruitment, and, ultimately, their introduction into the autophagic-lysosomal pathway. Increasing evidence indicates that both pathological and non-pathological SNCA species undergo autophagy-dependent unconventional secretion. While other proteins have also been shown to be secreted from cells by autophagy, what triggers this release process and how these specific proteins are recruited to a secretory autophagic pathway is largely unknown. Here, we use a human midbrain dopamine (mDA) neuronal culture model to provide evidence in support of a cellular mechanism that explains the cell-to-cell transfer of pathological forms of SNCA that are observed in PD. We demonstrate that LGALS3 (galectin 3) mediates the release of SNCA following vesicular damage. SNCA release is also dependent on TRIM16 (tripartite motif containing 16) and ATG16L1 (autophagy related 16 like 1), providing evidence that secretion of SNCA is mediated by an autophagic secretory pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Burbidge
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - David J Rademacher
- Core Imaging Facility and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Jessica Mattick
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Stephanie Zack
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Andrea Grillini
- Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Luc Bousset
- Institut Francois Jacob (Mircen), Cea and Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Cnrs, Fontenay-Aux-Roses Cedex, France
| | - Ochan Kwon
- Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Konrad Kubicki
- Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Alexander Simon
- Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Ronald Melki
- Institut Francois Jacob (Mircen), Cea and Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Cnrs, Fontenay-Aux-Roses Cedex, France
| | - Edward M Campbell
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA.,Core Imaging Facility and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA
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11
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Valientes DA, Raus AM, Lvy AS. An Improved Method for Individual Tracking of Voluntary Wheel Running in Pair-housed Juvenile Mice. Bio Protoc 2021; 11:e4071. [PMID: 34327268 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodent cages equipped with access to a voluntary running wheel are commonly used to study the effects of aerobic physical activity on physiology and behavior. Notable discoveries in exercise neurobiology, including the key role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in neural plasticity and cognition, have been made using rodents housed with voluntary running wheels. A major advantage of using home-cage running wheels over treadmills is the elimination of stress potentially associated with forced running. In addition, voluntary wheel running may simulate a more natural running pattern in laboratory mice. Singly housing mice with voluntary running wheels is traditionally employed to obtain exact quantitation of the distance ran; however, social isolation stress is often ignored to obtain precise running distances. Moreover, voluntary exercise studies in adolescent mice must consider the neurodevelopmental implications of isolation stress. In this protocol, we wean 21-day-old mouse pups directly into running wheel-equipped cages and pair-house them to reduce the impact of social isolation and other developmentally specific factors that could adversely affect their behavior or development. Individual running distances are obtained from each mouse in the cage using a radio-frequency identification (RFID) ear tag and a hidden antenna placed directly under the running wheel. We have demonstrated that voluntary running during a specific juvenile-adolescent developmental period can improve hippocampal memory when tested during adolescence ( Ivy et al., 2020 ). Individual exercise tracking of group-housed mice can enable future studies to precisely correlate the amount of exercise with readouts such as cell-specific gene expression, epigenetic mechanisms, serum biomarkers, and behavior, in an intra-individual manner. Graphic abstract: Figure 1.Illustration of the dual RFID and Vital View system for individual mouse running in a pair-housed cage.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Valientes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Anthony M Raus
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Autumn S Lvy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, USA
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12
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Gois AM, Mendonça DMF, Freire MAM, Santos JR. IN VITRO AND IN VIVO MODELS OF AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS: AN UPDATED OVERVIEW. Brain Res Bull 2020; 159:32-43. [PMID: 32247802 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of upper motor neurons (UMN) and lower motor neurons (LMN). Disease affects people all over the world and is more prevalent in men. Patients with ALS develop extensive muscle wasting, paralysis and ultimately death, with a median survival of usually fewer than five years after disease onset. ALS may be sporadic (sALS, 90%) or familial (fALS, 10%). The large majority of fALS cases are associated with genetic alterations, which are mainly related to the genes SOD1, TDP-43, FUS, and C9ORF72. In vitro and in vivo models have helped elucidate ALS etiology and pathogenesis, as well as its molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms. Many studies in cell cultures and animal models, such as Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, zebrafish, rodents, and non-human primates have been performed to clarify the relationship of these genes to ALS disease. However, there are inherent limitations to consider when using experimental models. In this review, we provide an updated overview of the most used in vitro and in vivo studies that have contributed to a better understanding of the different ALS pathogenic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Auderlan M Gois
- Behavioral and Evolutionary Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Deise M F Mendonça
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Degenerative Diseases of the Nervous System, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurelio M Freire
- Postgraduation Program in Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - Jose R Santos
- Behavioral and Evolutionary Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil.
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13
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Noncanonical Roles of h α-syn (A53T) in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease: Synaptic Pathology and Neuronal Aging. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:6283754. [PMID: 32273890 PMCID: PMC7115172 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6283754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Revised: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The motor and nonmotor symptoms of PD involve several brain regions. However, whether α-syn pathology originating from the SNc can directly lead to the pathological changes in distant cerebral regions and induce PD-related symptoms remains unclear. Here, AAV9-synapsin-mCherry-human SNCA (A53T) was injected into the unilateral SNc of mice. Motor function and olfactory sensitivity were evaluated. Our results showed that AAV9-synapsin-mCherry-human SNCA was continuously expressed in SNc. The animals showed mild motor and olfactory dysfunction at 7 months after viral injection. The pathology in SNc was characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons accompanied by ER stress. In the striatum, hα-syn expression was high, CaMKβ-2 and NR2B expression decreased, and active synapses reduced. In the olfactory bulb, hα-syn expression was high, and aging cells in the mitral layer increased. The results suggested that hα-syn was transported in the striatum and OB along the nerve fibers that originated from the SNc and induced pathological changes in the distant cerebral regions, which contributed to the motor and nonmotor symptoms of PD.
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14
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Neumann B, Hösl S, Schwab K, Theuring F, Jakubowski N. Multiplex LA-ICP-MS bio-imaging of brain tissue of a parkinsonian mouse model stained with metal-coded affinity-tagged antibodies and coated with indium-spiked commercial inks as internal standards. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 334:108591. [PMID: 31926203 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunohistochemistry techniques represent a powerful tool to detect and quantify disease related proteins. Improvements were accomplished by tagged antibodies using laser ablation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). However, these approaches are effected by day-to-variations due to instrumental drift. NEW METHOD Brain tissue from line 62, a Parkinson's disease model, and control mice were incubated with four antibodies relevant to the disease and standardized to three house-keeping proteins. In addition, a new standardization approach was developed and the results compared. This new approach consisted of coating specimens with gelatin and printing an indium-doped ink with a commercial ink jet printer. Furthermore, the method was evaluated for different ablation spot sizes with respect to resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. RESULTS Normalization using house-keeping proteins led to high background signals even at high resolution. Normalization using indium-doped ink improved the signal-to-noise ratio even when small laser spot sizes were used and further improved by overlaying tissue specimen with gelatin. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS Line 62 mice had more α-Synuclein and gliosis but decreased numbers of neurons, as found by conventional immunohistochemistry. These data are in line with the results obtained by LA-ICP-MS with indium standardization. However, differences between L62 and controls for tyrosine hydroxylase were only detected by LA-ICP-MS. CONCLUSIONS Internal standardisation using indium-doped inks is an effective method to overcome day-to-day variations and instrumental drifts. The new approach results in an increased signal-to-noise ratio and only under these conditions small but significant changes were detected, as seen for tyrosine hydroxylase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Neumann
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Center for Cardiovascular Research, Institute of Pharmacology, Hessische Strasse 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany; Proteome Factory AG, Magnusstrasse 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Hösl
- Proteome Factory AG, Magnusstrasse 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Karima Schwab
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Center for Cardiovascular Research, Institute of Pharmacology, Hessische Strasse 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Franz Theuring
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Center for Cardiovascular Research, Institute of Pharmacology, Hessische Strasse 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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15
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Silhouette-Length-Scaled Gait Parameters for Motor Functional Analysis in Mice and Rats. eNeuro 2019; 6:ENEURO.0100-19.2019. [PMID: 31604813 PMCID: PMC6825954 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0100-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Gait analysis of transgenic mice and rats modeling human diseases often suffers from the condition that those models exhibit genotype-driven differences in body size, weight, and length. Thus, we hypothesized that scaling by the silhouette length improves the reliability of gait analysis allowing normalization for individual body size differences. Here, we computed video-derived silhouette length and area parameters from a standard markerless gait analysis system using image-processing techniques. By using length- and area-derived data along with body weight and age, we systematically scaled individual gait parameters. We compared these different scaling approaches and report here that normalization for silhouette length improves the validity and reliability of gait analysis in general. The application of this silhouette length scaling to transgenic Huntington disease mice and Parkinson´s disease rats identifies the remaining differences reflecting more reliable, body length-independent motor functional differences. Overall, this emphasizes the need for silhouette-length-based intra-assay scaling as an improved standard approach in rodent gait analysis.
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16
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Timotius IK, Canneva F, Minakaki G, Moceri S, Plank AC, Casadei N, Riess O, Winkler J, Klucken J, Eskofier B, von Hörsten S. Systematic data analysis and data mining in CatWalk gait analysis by heat mapping exemplified in rodent models for neurodegenerative diseases. J Neurosci Methods 2019; 326:108367. [PMID: 31351096 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2019.108367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Motor impairment appears as a characteristic symptom of several diseases and injuries. Therefore, tests for analyzing motor dysfunction are widely applied across preclinical models and disease stages. Among those, gait analysis tests are commonly used, but they generate a huge number of gait parameters. Thus, complications in data analysis and reporting raise, which often leads to premature parameter selection. NEW METHODS In order to avoid arbitrary parameter selection, we present here a systematic initial data analysis by utilizing heat-maps for data reporting. We exemplified this approach within an intervention study, as well as applied it to two longitudinal studies in rodent models related to Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington disease (HD). RESULTS The systematic initial data analysis (IDA) is feasible for exploring gait parameters, both in experimental and longitudinal studies. The resulting heat maps provided a visualization of gait parameters within a single chart, highlighting important clusters of differences. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD Often, premature parameter selection is practiced, lacking comprehensiveness. Researchers often use multiple separated graphs on distinct gait parameters for reporting. Additionally, negative results are often not reported. CONCLUSIONS Heat mapping utilized in initial data analysis is advantageous for reporting clustered gait parameter differences in one single chart and improves data mining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivanna K Timotius
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab, Dept. of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany; Dept. of Electronics Engineering, Satya Wacana Christian University, Salatiga, Indonesia
| | - Fabio Canneva
- Dept. Experimental Therapy, University Hospital Erlangen (UKEr) and Preclinical Experimental Animal Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Georgia Minakaki
- Dept. of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Sandra Moceri
- Dept. Experimental Therapy, University Hospital Erlangen (UKEr) and Preclinical Experimental Animal Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Anne-Christine Plank
- Dept. Experimental Therapy, University Hospital Erlangen (UKEr) and Preclinical Experimental Animal Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Nicolas Casadei
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Olaf Riess
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Winkler
- Dept. of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Jochen Klucken
- Dept. of Molecular Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Bjoern Eskofier
- Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab, Dept. of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- Dept. Experimental Therapy, University Hospital Erlangen (UKEr) and Preclinical Experimental Animal Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany.
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17
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Jellinger KA. Animal models of synucleinopathies and how they could impact future drug discovery and delivery efforts. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2019; 14:969-982. [DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2019.1638908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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18
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König M, Berlin B, Schwab K, Frahm S, Theuring F, Wischik CM, Harrington CR, Riedel G, Klein J. Increased Cholinergic Response in α-Synuclein Transgenic Mice (h-α-synL62). ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:1915-1922. [PMID: 30253092 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein (α-syn) in the brain plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, leading to neuronal dysfunction and motor disorders. The underlying mechanisms linking α-syn aggregations with neurotransmitter disturbance in Parkinson's brains are not well characterized. In the present study, we investigated transgenic mice expressing an aggregation-prone form of full-length human α-syn (h-α-synL62) linked to a signal sequence. These mice display dopamine depletion and progressive motor deficits. We detected accumulation of α-syn in cholinergic interneurons where they are colocalized with choline acetyltransferase. Using microdialysis, we measured acetylcholine levels in the striatum at baseline and during stimulation in the open field and with scopolamine. While no difference between wild-type and transgenic mice was detected in 3 month old mice, striatal acetylcholine levels at 9 months of age were significantly higher in transgenic mice. Concomitantly, high-affinity choline uptake was also increased while choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholine esterase activities were unchanged. The results suggest a disinhibition of acetylcholine release in α-syn transgenic mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena König
- Department of Pharmacology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Biocenter N260, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Beata Berlin
- Department of Pharmacology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Biocenter N260, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Karima Schwab
- Charite - Universitätsmedizin
Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität
zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Center for Cardiovascular
Research, Institute of Pharmacology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Silke Frahm
- Charite - Universitätsmedizin
Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität
zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Center for Cardiovascular
Research, Institute of Pharmacology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Franz Theuring
- Charite - Universitätsmedizin
Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität
zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Center for Cardiovascular
Research, Institute of Pharmacology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claude M. Wischik
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, United Kingdom
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., Singapore 068805, Singapore
| | - Charles R. Harrington
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, United Kingdom
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., Singapore 068805, Singapore
| | - Gernot Riedel
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, United Kingdom
| | - Jochen Klein
- Department of Pharmacology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Biocenter N260, Max-von-Laue Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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19
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Xhima K, Nabbouh F, Hynynen K, Aubert I, Tandon A. Noninvasive delivery of an α-synuclein gene silencing vector with magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound. Mov Disord 2018; 33:1567-1579. [PMID: 30264465 DOI: 10.1002/mds.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The characteristic progression of Lewy pathology in Parkinson's disease likely involves intercellular exchange and the accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein amplified by a prion-like self-templating mechanism. Silencing of the α-synuclein gene could provide long-lasting disease-modifying benefits by reducing the requisite substrate for the spreading aggregation. OBJECTIVES As a result of the poor penetration of viral vectors across the blood-brain barrier, gene therapy for central nervous system disorders requires direct injections into the affected brain regions, and invasiveness is further increased by the need for bilateral delivery to multiple brain regions. Here we test a noninvasive approach by combining low-intensity magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound and intravenous microbubbles that can transiently increase the access of brain impermeant therapeutic macromolecules to targeted brain regions. METHODS Transgenic mice expressing human α-synuclein were subjected to magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound targeted to 4 brain regions (hippocampus, substantia nigra, olfactory bulb, and dorsal motor nucleus) in tandem with intravenous microbubbles and an adeno-associated virus serotype 9 vector bearing a short hairpin RNA sequence targeting the α-synuclein gene. RESULTS One month following treatment, α-synuclein immunoreactivity was decreased in targeted brain regions, whereas other neuronal markers such as synaptophysin or tyrosine hydroxylase were unchanged, and cell death and glial activation remained at basal levels. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound can effectively, noninvasively, and simultaneously deliver viral vectors targeting α-synuclein to multiple brain areas. Importantly, this approach may be useful to alter the progression of Lewy pathology along selected neuronal pathways, particularly as prodromal PD markers improve early diagnoses. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristiana Xhima
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Fadl Nabbouh
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kullervo Hynynen
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Isabelle Aubert
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anurag Tandon
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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20
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Joe EH, Choi DJ, An J, Eun JH, Jou I, Park S. Astrocytes, Microglia, and Parkinson's Disease. Exp Neurobiol 2018; 27:77-87. [PMID: 29731673 PMCID: PMC5934545 DOI: 10.5607/en.2018.27.2.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 04/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes and microglia support well-being and well-function of the brain through diverse functions in both intact and injured brain. For example, astrocytes maintain homeostasis of microenvironment of the brain through up-taking ions and neurotransmitters, and provide growth factors and metabolites for neurons, etc. Microglia keep surveying surroundings, and remove abnormal synapses or respond to injury by isolating injury sites and expressing inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, their loss and/or functional alteration may be directly linked to brain diseases. Since Parkinson's disease (PD)-related genes are expressed in astrocytes and microglia, mutations of these genes may alter the functions of these cells, thereby contributing to disease onset and progression. Here, we review the roles of astrocytes and microglia in intact and injured brain, and discuss how PD genes regulate their functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Hye Joe
- Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea.,Department of Brain Science, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea.,Chronic Inflammatory Disease Research Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea
| | - Dong-Joo Choi
- Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea.,Chronic Inflammatory Disease Research Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea
| | - Jiawei An
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea
| | - Jin-Hwa Eun
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea
| | - Ilo Jou
- Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea.,Chronic Inflammatory Disease Research Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea
| | - Sangmyun Park
- Department of Pharmacology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea.,Chronic Inflammatory Disease Research Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16944, Korea
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21
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Schwab K, Frahm S, Horsley D, Rickard JE, Melis V, Goatman EA, Magbagbeolu M, Douglas M, Leith MG, Baddeley TC, Storey JMD, Riedel G, Wischik CM, Harrington CR, Theuring F. A Protein Aggregation Inhibitor, Leuco-Methylthioninium Bis(Hydromethanesulfonate), Decreases α-Synuclein Inclusions in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Synucleinopathy. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 10:447. [PMID: 29375308 PMCID: PMC5767730 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation is a pathological feature of synucleinopathies, neurodegenerative disorders that include Parkinson's disease (PD). We have tested whether N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-10H-phenothiazine-3,7-diaminium bis(hydromethanesulfonate) (leuco-methylthioninium bis(hydromethanesulfonate); LMTM), a tau aggregation inhibitor, affects α-Syn aggregation in vitro and in vivo. Both cellular and transgenic models in which the expression of full-length human α-Syn (h-α-Syn) fused with a signal sequence peptide to promote α-Syn aggregation were used. Aggregated α-Syn was observed following differentiation of N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells transfected with h-α-Syn. The appearance of aggregated α-Syn was inhibited by LMTM, with an EC50 of 1.1 μM, with minimal effect on h-α-Syn mRNA levels being observed. Two independent lines of mice (L58 and L62) transgenic for the same fusion protein accumulated neuronal h-α-Syn that, with aging, developed into fibrillary inclusions characterized by both resistance to proteinase K (PK)-cleavage and their ability to bind thiazin red. There was a significant decrease in α-Syn-positive neurons in multiple brain regions following oral treatment of male and female mice with LMTM administered daily for 6 weeks at 5 and 15 mg MT/kg. The early aggregates of α-Syn and the late-stage fibrillar inclusions were both susceptible to inhibition by LMTM, a treatment that also resulted in the rescue of movement and anxiety-related traits in these mice. The results suggest that LMTM may provide a potential disease modification therapy in PD and other synucleinopathies through the inhibition of α-Syn aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karima Schwab
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charite – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Silke Frahm
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charite – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Horsley
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Janet E. Rickard
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Valeria Melis
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth A. Goatman
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Mandy Magbagbeolu
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charite – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Morag Douglas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Michael G. Leith
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas C. Baddeley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., Singapore, Singapore
| | - John M. D. Storey
- Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gernot Riedel
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Claude M. Wischik
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., Singapore, Singapore
| | - Charles R. Harrington
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- TauRx Therapeutics Ltd., Singapore, Singapore
| | - Franz Theuring
- Institute of Pharmacology, Charite – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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