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Droppelmann CA, Campos-Melo D, Noches V, McLellan C, Szabla R, Lyons TA, Amzil H, Withers B, Kaplanis B, Sonkar KS, Simon A, Buratti E, Junop M, Kramer JM, Strong MJ. Mitigation of TDP-43 toxic phenotype by an RGNEF fragment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis models. Brain 2024; 147:2053-2068. [PMID: 38739752 PMCID: PMC11146434 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae078] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of the RNA-binding protein TAR DNA binding protein (TDP-43) is a hallmark of TDP-proteinopathies including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). As TDP-43 aggregation and dysregulation are causative of neuronal death, there is a special interest in targeting this protein as a therapeutic approach. Previously, we found that TDP-43 extensively co-aggregated with the dual function protein GEF (guanine exchange factor) and RNA-binding protein rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor (RGNEF) in ALS patients. Here, we show that an N-terminal fragment of RGNEF (NF242) interacts directly with the RNA recognition motifs of TDP-43 competing with RNA and that the IPT/TIG domain of NF242 is essential for this interaction. Genetic expression of NF242 in a fruit fly ALS model overexpressing TDP-43 suppressed the neuropathological phenotype increasing lifespan, abolishing motor defects and preventing neurodegeneration. Intracerebroventricular injections of AAV9/NF242 in a severe TDP-43 murine model (rNLS8) improved lifespan and motor phenotype, and decreased neuroinflammation markers. Our results demonstrate an innovative way to target TDP-43 proteinopathies using a protein fragment with a strong affinity for TDP-43 aggregates and a mechanism that includes competition with RNA sequestration, suggesting a promising therapeutic strategy for TDP-43 proteinopathies such as ALS and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian A Droppelmann
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Danae Campos-Melo
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Veronica Noches
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Crystal McLellan
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Robert Szabla
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Taylor A Lyons
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Hind Amzil
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Benjamin Withers
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Brianna Kaplanis
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Kirti S Sonkar
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), AREA Science Park, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Anne Simon
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), AREA Science Park, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Murray Junop
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Jamie M Kramer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Michael J Strong
- Molecular Medicine Group, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
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Wu W, Luo Z, Shen D, Lan T, Xiao Z, Liu M, Hu L, Sun T, Wang Y, Zhang JN, Zhang C, Wang P, Lu Y, Yang F, Li Q. IL-10 protects against OPC ferroptosis by regulating lipid reactive oxygen species levels post stroke. Redox Biol 2024; 69:102982. [PMID: 38070317 PMCID: PMC10755589 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially on lipids, induces massive cell death in neurons and oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and causes severe neurologic deficits post stroke. While small compounds, such as deferoxamine, lipostatin-1, and ferrostatin-1, have been shown to be effective in reducing lipid ROS, the mechanisms by which endogenously protective molecules act against lipid ROS accumulation and subsequent cell death are still unclear, especially in OPCs, which are critical for maintaining white matter integrity and improving long-term outcomes after stroke. Here, using mouse primary OPC cultures, we demonstrate that interleukin-10 (IL-10), a cytokine playing roles in reducing neuroinflammation and promoting hematoma clearance, significantly reduced hemorrhage-induced lipid ROS accumulation and subsequent ferroptosis in OPCs. Mechanistically, IL-10 activated the IL-10R/STAT3 signaling pathway and upregulated the DLK1/AMPK/ACC axis. Subsequently, IL-10 reprogrammed lipid metabolism and reduced lipid ROS accumulation. In addition, in an autologous blood injection intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke (ICH) mouse model, deficiency of the endogenous Il-10, specific knocking out Il10r or Dlk1 in OPCs, or administration of ACC inhibitor was associated with increased OPC cell death, demyelination, axonal sprouting, and the cognitive deficits during the chronic phase of ICH and vice versa. These data suggest that IL-10 protects against OPC loss and white matter injury by reducing lipid ROS, supporting further development of potential clinical applications to benefit patients with stroke and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Zhaoli Luo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Danmin Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Ting Lan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Zhongnan Xiao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Meng Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Liye Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Tingting Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yamei Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Jian-Nan Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Chenguang Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Peipei Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yabin Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Fei Yang
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China; Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China; Laboratory for Clinical Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
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3
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Mirzahosseini G, Ismael S, Salman M, Kumar S, Ishrat T. Genetic and Pharmacological Modulation of P75 Neurotrophin Receptor Attenuate Brain Damage After Ischemic Stroke in Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:276-293. [PMID: 37606717 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03550-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
The precursor nerve growth factor (ProNGF) and its receptor p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) are upregulated in several brain diseases, including ischemic stroke. The activation of p75NTR is associated with neuronal apoptosis and inflammation. Thus, we hypothesized that p75NTR modulation attenuates brain damage and improves functional outcomes after ischemic stroke. Two sets of experiments were performed. (1) Adult wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 J mice were subjected to intraluminal suture-middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) to induce cerebral ischemia. Pharmacological inhibitor of p75NTR, LM11A-31 (50 mg/kg), or normal saline was administered intraperitoneally (IP) 1 h post-MCAO, and animals survived for 24 h. (2) Adult p75NTR heterozygous knockout (p75NTR+/-) and WT were subjected to photothrombotic (pMCAO) to induce ischemic stroke, and the animals survived for 72 h. The sensory-motor function of animals was measured using Catwalk XT. The brain samples were collected to assess infarction volume, edema, hemorrhagic transformation, neuroinflammation, and signaling pathway at 24 and 72 h after the stroke. The findings described that pharmacological inhibition and genetic knocking down of p75NTR reduce infarction size, edema, and hemorrhagic transformation following ischemic stroke. Additionally, p75NTR modulation significantly decreased several anti-apoptosis markers and improved sensory motor function compared to the WT mice following ischemic stroke. Our observations exhibit that the involvement of p75NTR in ischemic stroke and modulation of p75NTR could improve the outcome of ischemic stroke by increasing cell survival and enhancing motor performance. LM11A-31 has the potential to be a promising therapeutic agent for ischemic stroke. However, more evidence is needed to illuminate the efficacy of LM11A-31 in ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Golnoush Mirzahosseini
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 875 Monroe Avenue, Wittenborg Bldg, Room-231, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, TN, 38163, Memphis, USA
| | - Saifudeen Ismael
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, LA, 70112, New Orleans, USA
| | - Mohd Salman
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 875 Monroe Avenue, Wittenborg Bldg, Room-231, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Santosh Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, TN, 38163, Memphis, USA
| | - Tauheed Ishrat
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 875 Monroe Avenue, Wittenborg Bldg, Room-231, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, TN, 38163, Memphis, USA.
- Neuroscience Institute, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.
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Xian H, Guo H, Liu YY, Zhang JL, Hu WC, Yu MJ, Zhao R, Xie RG, Zhang H, Cong R. Peripheral BDNF Regulates Somatosensory-Sympathetic Coupling in Brachial Plexus Avulsion-Induced Neuropathic Pain. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:1789-1806. [PMID: 37335428 PMCID: PMC10661543 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01075-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Brachial plexus avulsion (BPA) is a combined injury involving the central and peripheral nervous systems. Patients with BPA often experience severe neuropathic pain (NP) in the affected limb. NP is insensitive to the existing treatments, which makes it a challenge to researchers and clinicians. Accumulated evidence shows that a BPA-induced pain state is often accompanied by sympathetic nervous dysfunction, which suggests that the excitation state of the sympathetic nervous system is correlated with the existence of NP. However, the mechanism of how somatosensory neural crosstalk with the sympathetic nerve at the peripheral level remains unclear. In this study, through using a novel BPA C7 root avulsion mouse model, we found that the expression of BDNF and its receptor TrκB in the DRGs of the BPA mice increased, and the markers of sympathetic nervous system activity including α1 and α2 adrenergic receptors (α1-AR and α2-AR) also increased after BPA. The phenomenon of superexcitation of the sympathetic nervous system, including hypothermia and edema of the affected extremity, was also observed in BPA mice by using CatWalk gait analysis, an infrared thermometer, and an edema evaluation. Genetic knockdown of BDNF in DRGs not only reversed the mechanical allodynia but also alleviated the hypothermia and edema of the affected extremity in BPA mice. Further, intraperitoneal injection of adrenergic receptor inhibitors decreased neuronal excitability in patch clamp recording and reversed the mechanical allodynia of BPA mice. In another branch experiment, we also found the elevated expression of BDNF, TrκB, TH, α1-AR, and α2-AR in DRG tissues from BPA patients compared with normal human DRGs through western blot and immunohistochemistry. Our results revealed that peripheral BDNF is a key molecule in the regulation of somatosensory-sympathetic coupling in BPA-induced NP. This study also opens a novel analgesic target (BDNF) in the treatment of this pain with fewer complications, which has great potential for clinical transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Xian
- Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Huan Guo
- Pain and Related Diseases Research Laboratory, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou, 515041, China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, The Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Yuan-Ying Liu
- School of Life Science and Research Center for Resource Peptide Drugs, Shaanxi Engineering and Technological Research Center for Conversation and Utilization of Regional Biological Resources, Yanan University, Yanan, 716000, China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, The Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Jian-Lei Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Wen-Chao Hu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, The Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
- The Sixth Regiment, School of Basic Medicine, The Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Ming-Jun Yu
- The Tenth Squadron of the Third Regiment, School of Basic Medicine, The Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Rou-Gang Xie
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medicine, The Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Hang Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Rui Cong
- Department of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, The Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
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Molina LA, Milla-Cruz JJ, Ghavasieh Z, Kim LH, Cheng N, Whelan PJ. High-throughput gait acquisition system for freely moving mice. J Neurophysiol 2023; 130:1081-1091. [PMID: 37728487 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00133.2023] [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: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Normal and pathological locomotion can be discriminated by analyzing an animal's gait on a linear walkway. This step is labor intensive and introduces experimental bias due to the handling involved while placing and removing the animal between trials. We designed a system consisting of a runway embedded within a larger arena, which can be traversed ad libitum by unsupervised, freely moving mice, triggering the recording of short clips of locomotor activity. Multiple body parts were tracked using DeepLabCut and fed to an analysis pipeline (GaitGrapher) to extract gait metrics. We compared the results from unsupervised against the standard experimenter-supervised approach and found that gait parameters analyzed via the new approach were similar to a previously validated approach (Visual Gait Lab). These data show the utility of incorporating an unsupervised, automated, approach for collecting kinematic data for gait analysis.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The acquisition and analysis of walkway data is a time-consuming task. Here, we provide an unmonitored approach for collecting gait metrics that reduces the handling and stress of mice and saves time. A detailed pipeline is outlined that provides for the collection and analysis of data using an integrated suite of tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo A Molina
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jonathan J Milla-Cruz
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Zahra Ghavasieh
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Linda H Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ning Cheng
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Patrick J Whelan
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Walter J, Mende J, Hutagalung S, Alhalabi OT, Grutza M, Zheng G, Skutella T, Unterberg A, Zweckberger K, Younsi A. The Single-Dose Application of Interleukin-4 Ameliorates Secondary Brain Damage in the Early Phase after Moderate Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12756. [PMID: 37628939 PMCID: PMC10454634 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612756] [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: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Activation of the interleukin-4 (IL-4) pathway ameliorates secondary injury mechanisms after experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI); therefore, we assessed the effect of a therapeutic IL-4 administration on secondary brain damage after experimental TBI. We subjected 100 C57/Bl6 wildtype mice to controlled cortical impact (CCI) and administered IL-4 or a placebo control subcutaneously 15 min thereafter. Contusion volume (Nissl staining), neurological function (hole board, video open field, and CatWalkXT®), and the immune response (immunofluorescent staining) were analyzed up to 28 days post injury (dpi). Contusion volumes were significantly reduced after IL-4 treatment up to 14 dpi (e.g., 6.47 ± 0.41 mm3 vs. 3.80 ± 0.85 mm3, p = 0.011 3 dpi). Macrophage invasion and microglial response were significantly attenuated in the IL-4 group in the acute phase after CCI (e.g., 1.79 ± 0.15 Iba-1+/CD86+ cells/sROI vs. 1.06 ± 0.21 Iba-1/CD86+ cells/sROI, p = 0.030 in the penumbra 3 dpi), whereas we observed an increased neuroinflammation thereafter (e.g., mean GFAP intensity of 3296.04 ± 354.21 U vs. 6408.65 ± 999.54 U, p = 0.026 in the ipsilateral hippocampus 7 dpi). In terms of functional outcome, several gait parameters were improved in the acute phase following IL-4 treatment (e.g., a difference in max intensity of -7.58 ± 2.00 U vs. -2.71 ± 2.44 U, p = 0.041 3 dpi). In conclusion, the early single-dose administration of IL-4 significantly reduces secondary brain damage in the acute phase after experimental TBI in mice, which seems to be mediated by attenuation of macrophage and microglial invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Walter
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (J.M.); (S.H.); (O.T.A.); (M.G.); (G.Z.); (A.U.); (K.Z.)
| | - Jannis Mende
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (J.M.); (S.H.); (O.T.A.); (M.G.); (G.Z.); (A.U.); (K.Z.)
| | - Samuel Hutagalung
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (J.M.); (S.H.); (O.T.A.); (M.G.); (G.Z.); (A.U.); (K.Z.)
| | - Obada T. Alhalabi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (J.M.); (S.H.); (O.T.A.); (M.G.); (G.Z.); (A.U.); (K.Z.)
| | - Martin Grutza
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (J.M.); (S.H.); (O.T.A.); (M.G.); (G.Z.); (A.U.); (K.Z.)
| | - Guoli Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (J.M.); (S.H.); (O.T.A.); (M.G.); (G.Z.); (A.U.); (K.Z.)
| | - Thomas Skutella
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 307, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Andreas Unterberg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (J.M.); (S.H.); (O.T.A.); (M.G.); (G.Z.); (A.U.); (K.Z.)
| | - Klaus Zweckberger
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (J.M.); (S.H.); (O.T.A.); (M.G.); (G.Z.); (A.U.); (K.Z.)
| | - Alexander Younsi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (J.M.); (S.H.); (O.T.A.); (M.G.); (G.Z.); (A.U.); (K.Z.)
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7
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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: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [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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8
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Zheng G, Harms AK, Tail M, Zhang H, Nimmo A, Skutella T, Kiening K, Unterberg A, Zweckberger K, Younsi A. Effects of a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist in the acute phase after thoracic spinal cord injury in a rat model. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1128545. [PMID: 37251648 PMCID: PMC10213275 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1128545] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Disruption of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) with subsequent edema formation and further neuroinflammation contributes to aggravation of spinal cord injury (SCI). We aimed to observe the effect of antagonizing the binding of the neuropeptide Substance-P (SP) to its neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor in a rodent SCI model. Methods Female Wistar rats were subjected to a T9 laminectomy with or without (Sham) a T9 clip-contusion/compression SCI, followed by the implantation of an osmotic pump for the continuous, seven-day-long infusion of a NK1 receptor antagonist (NRA) or saline (vehicle) into the intrathecal space. The animals were assessed via MRI, and behavioral tests were performed during the experiment. 7 days after SCI, wet & dry weight and immunohistological analyses were conducted. Results Substance-P inhibition via NRA showed limited effects on reducing edema. However, the invasion of T-lymphocytes and the number of apoptotic cells were significantly reduced with the NRA treatment. Moreover, a trend of reduced fibrinogen leakage, endothelial and microglial activation, CS-GAG deposition, and astrogliosis was found. Nevertheless, only insignificant general locomotion recovery could be observed in the BBB open field score and the Gridwalk test. In contrast, the CatWalk gait analysis showed an early onset of recovery in several parameters. Conclusion Intrathecal administration of NRA might reinforce the integrity of the BSCB in the acute phase after SCI, potentially attenuating aspects of neurogenic inflammation, reducing edema formation, and improving functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoli Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna-Kathrin Harms
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mohamed Tail
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alan Nimmo
- College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Thomas Skutella
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Karl Kiening
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Unterberg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaus Zweckberger
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Younsi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Strontium ion attenuates osteoarthritis through inhibiting senescence and enhancing autophagy in fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:1437-1446. [PMID: 36472726 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-08112-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) mainly occurs in the elderly population and seriously affects their quality of life (QOL). Strontium (Sr) ions have shown positive effects on bone tissue and are promising for OA treatment. However, the adequate treatment dosage and underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of different concentrations of Sr ions in a mouse model of OA induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery. DMM-induced OA mice received intra-articular injections of different concentrations of Sr ions, and a suitable concentration of Sr ions was found to improve OA. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanism by which Sr ions mediate senescence and autophagy in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) in the synovial tissues of DMM-induced OA mice. OA mice treated with 10 µl of 5 mmol/L SrCl2 showed the greatest improvement in pain-related behavior and cartilage damage. In addition, in vivo and in vitro experiments revealed that Sr ions inhibit senescence and improve the autophagic function of FLSs. We also found that enhancement of the autophagic function of FLSs could effectively slow down senescence. Therefore, we show that Sr ions through the AMPK/mTOR/LC3B-II signal axis improve FLSs autophagy function and delay FLSs senescence, and furthermore, improve OA. These results suggest that senescence and autophagy function of FLSs may serve as promising targets for OA treatment, and that Sr ions may inhibit OA progression through these two targets.
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10
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Fil D, Conley RL, Zuberi AR, Lutz CM, Gemelli T, Napierala M, Napierala JS. Neurobehavioral deficits of mice expressing a low level of G127V mutant frataxin. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 177:105996. [PMID: 36638893 PMCID: PMC9901512 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.105996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by reduced expression of the mitochondrial protein frataxin (FXN). Most FRDA patients are homozygous for large expansions of GAA repeats in intron 1 of FXN, while some are compound heterozygotes with an expanded GAA tract in one allele and a missense or nonsense mutation in the other. A missense mutation, changing a glycine to valine at position 130 (G130V), is prevalent among the clinical variants. We and others have demonstrated that levels of mature FXN protein in FRDA G130V samples are reduced below those detected in samples harboring homozygous repeat expansions. Little is known regarding expression and function of endogenous FXN-G130V protein due to lack of reagents and models that can distinguish the mutant FXN protein from the wild-type FXN produced from the GAA-expanded allele. We aimed to determine the effect of the G130V (murine G127V) mutation on Fxn expression and to define its multi-system impact in vivo. We used CRISPR/Cas9 to introduce the G127V missense mutation in the Fxn coding sequence and generated homozygous mice (FxnG127V/G127V). We also introduced the G127V mutation into a GAA repeat expansion FRDA mouse model (FxnGAA230/KO; KIKO) to generate a compound heterozygous strain (FxnG127V/GAA230). We performed neurobehavioral tests on cohorts of WT and Fxn mutant animals at three-month intervals for one year, and collected tissue samples to analyze molecular changes during that time. The endogenous Fxn G127V protein is detected at much lower levels in all tissues analyzed from FxnG127V/G127V mice compared to age and sex-matched WT mice without differences in Fxn transcript levels. FxnG127V/G127V mice are significantly smaller than WT counterparts, but perform similarly in most neurobehavioral tasks. RNA sequencing analysis revealed reduced expression of genes in oxidative phosphorylation and protein synthesis, underscoring the metabolic consequences in our mouse model expressing extremely low levels of Fxn. Results of these studies provide insight into the unique pathogenic mechanism of the FXN G130V mechanism and the tolerable limit of Fxn/FXN expression in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Fil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Robbie L Conley
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Aamir R Zuberi
- Technology Evaluation and Development, JAX Center for Precision Genetics, Rare Disease Translational Center, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Cathleen M Lutz
- The Rare and Orphan Disease Center, JAX Center for Precision Genetics, Rare Disease Translational Center, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Terry Gemelli
- Department of Neurology, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Marek Napierala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Jill S Napierala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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11
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Quan X, Han Y, Lu P, Ding Y, Wang Q, Li Y, Wei J, Huang Q, Wang R, Zhao Y. Annexin V-Modified Platelet-Biomimetic Nanomedicine for Targeted Therapy of Acute Ischemic Stroke. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2200416. [PMID: 35708176 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202200416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Thromboembolic stroke is typically characterized by the activation of platelets, resulting in thrombus in the cerebral vascular system, leading to high morbidity and mortality globally. Intravenous thrombolysis by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration within 4.5 h from the onset of symptoms is providing a standard therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke, but this reagent simultaneously shows potential serious adverse effects, e.g., hemorrhagic transformation. Herein, a novel delivery platform based on Annexin V and platelet membrane is developed for tPA (APLT-PA) to enhance targeting efficiency, therapeutic effects, and reduce the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage in acute ischemic stroke. After preparation by extrusion of platelet membrane and subsequent insertion of Annexin V to liposomes, APLT-PA exhibits a high targeting efficiency to activated platelet in vitro and thrombosis site in vivo, due to the binding to phosphatidylserine (PS) and activated platelet membrane proteins. One dose of APLT-PA leads to obvious thrombolysis and significant improvement of neurological function within 7 days in mice with photochemically induced acute ischemic stroke. This study provides a novel, safe platelet-biomimetic nanomedicine for precise thrombolytic treatment of acute ischemic stroke, and offers new theories for the design and exploitation of cell-mimetic nanomedicine for diverse biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingping Quan
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China
| | - Yan Han
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China
| | - Pengde Lu
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China
| | - Yuanfu Ding
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China
| | - Qingfu Wang
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China
| | - Yiyang Li
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China
| | - Jianwen Wei
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China
| | - Qiaoxian Huang
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China
| | - Ruibing Wang
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China
| | - Yonghua Zhao
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, 999078, P. R. China
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12
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González-Manteiga A, Navarro-González C, Sebestyén VE, Saborit-Torres JM, Talhada D, Vayá MDLI, Ruscher K, Fazzari P. A Novel In Vivo Model for Multiplexed Analysis of Callosal Connections upon Cortical Damage. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158224. [PMID: 35897791 PMCID: PMC9368090 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain damage is the major cause of permanent disability and it is particularly relevant in the elderly. While most studies focused on the immediate phase of neuronal loss upon injury, much less is known about the process of axonal regeneration after damage. The development of new refined preclinical models to investigate neuronal regeneration and the recovery of brain tissue upon injury is a major unmet challenge. Here, we present a novel experimental paradigm in mice that entails the (i) tracing of cortico-callosal connections, (ii) a mechanical lesion of the motor cortex, (iii) the stereological and histological analysis of the damaged tissue, and (iv) the functional characterization of motor deficits. By combining conventional microscopy with semi-automated 3D reconstruction, this approach allows the analysis of fine subcellular structures, such as axonal terminals, with the tridimensional overview of the connectivity and tissue integrity around the lesioned area. Since this 3D reconstruction is performed in serial sections, multiple labeling can be performed by combining diverse histological markers. We provide an example of how this methodology can be used to study cellular interactions. Namely, we show the correlation between active microglial cells and the perineuronal nets that envelop parvalbumin interneurons. In conclusion, this novel experimental paradigm will contribute to a better understanding of the molecular and cellular interactions underpinning the process of cortical regeneration upon brain damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana González-Manteiga
- Laboratory of Cortical Circuits in Health and Disease, CIPF Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain; (A.G.-M.); (C.N.-G.); (V.E.S.)
| | - Carmen Navarro-González
- Laboratory of Cortical Circuits in Health and Disease, CIPF Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain; (A.G.-M.); (C.N.-G.); (V.E.S.)
| | - Valentina Evita Sebestyén
- Laboratory of Cortical Circuits in Health and Disease, CIPF Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain; (A.G.-M.); (C.N.-G.); (V.E.S.)
| | - Jose Manuel Saborit-Torres
- Laboratory of Medical Imaging, CIPF Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain; (J.M.S.-T.); (M.d.l.I.V.)
| | - Daniela Talhada
- Laboratory for Experimental Brain Research, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, BMC A13, 2184 Lund, Sweden; (D.T.); (K.R.)
| | - María de la Iglesia Vayá
- Laboratory of Medical Imaging, CIPF Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain; (J.M.S.-T.); (M.d.l.I.V.)
| | - Karsten Ruscher
- Laboratory for Experimental Brain Research, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, BMC A13, 2184 Lund, Sweden; (D.T.); (K.R.)
- LUBIN Lab-Lunds Laboratorium för Neurokirurgisk Hjärnskadeforskning, Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, 22184 Lund, Sweden
| | - Pietro Fazzari
- Laboratory of Cortical Circuits in Health and Disease, CIPF Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain; (A.G.-M.); (C.N.-G.); (V.E.S.)
- Correspondence:
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Targosinski S, Henzi A, Engmann AK, Rushing EJ, Barth AA, Klein HJ, Kim BS, Giovanoli P, Schwab ME, Plock JA, Schweizer R. A swim test for functional assessment of rodent peripheral nerve regeneration. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 379:109663. [PMID: 35809863 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Targosinski
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anna Henzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anne K Engmann
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - André A Barth
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Holger J Klein
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland
| | - Bong-Sung Kim
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Pietro Giovanoli
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin E Schwab
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jan A Plock
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland
| | - Riccardo Schweizer
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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14
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Walter J, Kovalenko O, Younsi A, Grutza M, Unterberg AW, Zweckberger K. Interleukin-4 reduces lesion volume and improves neurological function in the acute phase after experimental traumatic brain injury in mice. J Neurotrauma 2022; 39:1262-1272. [PMID: 35505616 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2021.0497] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the impact of Interleukin-4 (IL-4) on secondary brain damage in the acute phase after experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI). Therefore, we evaluated the effect of IL-4-Knockout on structural damage as well as functional impairment in the acute phase after experimental TBI in mice. 28 C57Bl/6 wildtype and 20 C57BL/6-Il4tm1Nnt/J Interleukin-4-Knockout (IL-4-KO) mice were subjected to Controlled Cortical Impact (CCI). Contusion volumes, body weight and functional outcome (Video Open Field Test (VOF), Hole Board Test (HB), CatWalkXT®) were determined on postoperative days one (D1), three (D3) and seven (D7). Contusion volume (13.45 +/- 0.88 mm³ vs. 9.50 +/- 0.97 mm³, p=0.015) and weight loss (-2.92 +/- 0.52% vs. -0.85 +/- 0.67%, p=0.027) were significantly higher and exploration behavior significantly more impaired (e.g., 150.44 +/- 18.71 fields explored vs. 211.56 +/- 18.90 fields explored, p=0.028 in the VOF; 23.31 +/- 2.03 holes explored vs. 35.65 +/- 1.93 holes explored, p<0.001 in the HB) in IL-4-KO mice on D1. Gait impairment was significantly more pronounced in IL-4-KO mice throughout the first week after CCI (e.g., 0.07 +/- 0.01s vs. 0.00 +/- 0.01s, p=0.047 for right hindpaw Swing on D1; -1.76 +/- 1.34 U vs. 2.53 +/- 0.90 U, p=0.01 for right forepaw Mean Intensity on D3; -0.01 +/- 0.01cm² vs. 0.05 +/- 0.01cm², p=0.015 for left forepaw Mean Area on D7). In conclusion, IL-4 reduces structural damage and improves functional outcome in the acute phase after CCI. Neurobehavioral outcome assessment in IL-4-related studies should focus on motor function on the first three days after trauma induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Walter
- University of Heidelberg, Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Olga Kovalenko
- University of Heidelberg, Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Alexander Younsi
- University of Heidelberg, Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Martin Grutza
- University of Heidelberg, Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg, Germany;
| | | | - Klaus Zweckberger
- University of Heidelberg, Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg, Germany;
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15
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Walter J, Mende J, Hutagalung S, Grutza M, Younsi A, Zheng G, Unterberg AW, Zweckberger K. Focal lesion size poorly correlates with motor function after experimental traumatic brain injury in mice. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265448. [PMID: 35294482 PMCID: PMC8926209 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background It remains unclear whether neurobehavioral testing adds significant information to histologic assessment of experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI) and if automated gait assessment using the CatWalk XT®, while shown to be effective in in the acute phase, is also effective in the chronic phase after experimental TBI. Therefore, we evaluated the correlation of CatWalk XT® parameters with histologic lesion volume and analyzed their temporal and spatial patterns over four weeks after trauma induction. Methods C57Bl/6 mice were subjected to controlled cortical impact (CCI). CatWalk XT® analysis was performed one day prior to surgery and together with the histological evaluation of lesion volume on postoperative days one, three, seven, 14 and 28. Temporal and spatial profiles of gait impairment were analyzed and a total of 100 CatWalk XT® parameters were correlated to lesion size. Results While in the first week after CCI, there was significant impairment of nearly all CatWalk XT® parameters, impairment of paw prints, intensities and dynamic movement parameters resolved thereafter; however, impairment of dynamic single paw parameters persisted up to four weeks. Correlation of the CatWalk XT® parameters with lesion volume was poor at all timepoints. Conclusion As CatWalk XT® parameters do not correlate with focal lesion size after CCI, gait assessment using the CatWalk XT® might add valuable information to solitary histologic evaluation of the injury site. While all CatWalk XT® parameters can be used for gait assessments in the first week after CCI, dynamic single paw parameters might be more relevant in the chronic phase after experimental TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Walter
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Jannis Mende
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Samuel Hutagalung
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Grutza
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Younsi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Guoli Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas W. Unterberg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaus Zweckberger
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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16
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Ferroptosis in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells mediates white matter injury after hemorrhagic stroke. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:259. [PMID: 35318305 PMCID: PMC8941078 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04712-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) differentiate to myelin-producing mature oligodendrocytes and enwrap growing or demyelinated axons during development and post central nervous diseases. Failure of remyelination owing to cell death or undifferentiation of OPCs contributes to severe neurologic deficits and motor dysfunction. However, how to prevent the cell death of OPCs is still poorly understood, especially in hemorrhagic diseases. In the current study, we injected autologous blood into the mouse lateral ventricular to study the hemorrhage-induced OPC cell death in vivo. The integrity of the myelin sheath of the corpus callosum was disrupted post intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) assessed by using magnetic resonance imaging, immunostaining, and transmission electron microscopy. Consistent with the severe demethylation, we observed massive cell death of oligodendrocyte lineages in the periventricular area. In addition, we found that ferroptosis is the major cell death form in Hemin-induced OPC death by using RNA-seq analysis, and the mechanism was glutathione peroxidase 4 activity reduction-resulted lipid peroxide accumulation. Furthermore, inhibition of ferroptosis rescued OPC cell death in vitro, and in vivo attenuated IVH-induced white matter injury and promoted recovery of neurological function. These data demonstrate that ferroptosis is an essential form of OPC cell death in hemorrhagic stroke, and rescuing ferroptotic OPCs could serve as a therapeutic target for stroke and related diseases.
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Zhang KL, Li SJ, Pu XY, Wu FF, Liu H, Wang RQ, Liu BZ, Li Z, Li KF, Qian NS, Yang YL, Yuan H, Wang YY. Targeted up-regulation of Drp1 in dorsal horn attenuates neuropathic pain hypersensitivity by increasing mitochondrial fission. Redox Biol 2021; 49:102216. [PMID: 34954498 PMCID: PMC8718665 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.102216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria play an essential role in pathophysiology of both inflammatory and neuropathic pain (NP), but the mechanisms are not yet clear. Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) is broadly expressed in the central nervous system and plays a role in the induction of mitochondrial fission process. Spared nerve injury (SNI), due to the dysfunction of the neurons within the spinal dorsal horn (SDH), is the most common NP model. We explored the neuroprotective role of Drp1 within SDH in SNI. SNI mice showed pain behavior and anxiety-like behavior, which was associated with elevation of Drp1, as well as increased density of mitochondria in SDH. Ultrastructural analysis showed SNI induced damaged mitochondria into smaller perimeter and area, tending to be circular. Characteristics of vacuole in the mitochondria further showed SNI induced the increased number of vacuole, widened vac-perimeter and vac-area. Stable overexpression of Drp1 via AAV under the control of the Drp1 promoter by intraspinal injection (Drp1 OE) attenuated abnormal gait and alleviated pain hypersensitivity of SNI mice. Mitochondrial ultrastructure analysis showed that the increased density of mitochondria induced by SNI was recovered by Drp1 OE which, however, did not change mitochondrial morphology and vacuole parameters within SDH. Contrary to Drp1 OE, down-regulation of Drp1 in the SDH by AAV-Drp1 shRNA (Drp1 RNAi) did not alter painful behavior induced by SNI. Ultrastructural analysis showed the treatment by combination of SNI and Drp1 RNAi (SNI + Drp1 RNAi) amplified the damages of mitochondria with the decreased distribution density, increased perimeter and area, as well as larger circularity tending to be more circular. Vacuole data showed SNI + Drp1 RNAi increased vacuole density, perimeter and area within the SDH mitochondria. Our results illustrate that mitochondria within the SDH are sensitive to NP, and targeted mitochondrial Drp1 overexpression attenuates pain hypersensitivity. Drp1 offers a novel therapeutic target for pain treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun-Long Zhang
- Specific Lab for Mitochondrial Plasticity Underlying Nervous System Diseases, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Preclinical Medicine Education, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Xi-Jing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Shu-Jiao Li
- Specific Lab for Mitochondrial Plasticity Underlying Nervous System Diseases, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Preclinical Medicine Education, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Xue-Yin Pu
- Specific Lab for Mitochondrial Plasticity Underlying Nervous System Diseases, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Preclinical Medicine Education, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Fei-Fei Wu
- Specific Lab for Mitochondrial Plasticity Underlying Nervous System Diseases, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Preclinical Medicine Education, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Yan-An University, Yan'an, 716000, China
| | - Rui-Qing Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Yan-An University, Yan'an, 716000, China
| | - Bo-Zhi Liu
- Specific Lab for Mitochondrial Plasticity Underlying Nervous System Diseases, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Preclinical Medicine Education, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Ze Li
- Specific Lab for Mitochondrial Plasticity Underlying Nervous System Diseases, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Preclinical Medicine Education, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Kai-Feng Li
- Specific Lab for Mitochondrial Plasticity Underlying Nervous System Diseases, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Preclinical Medicine Education, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China
| | - Nian-Song Qian
- Department of Oncology, First Medical Center, The General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Yan-Ling Yang
- Department of Liver and Gallbladder Surgery, Xi-Jing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Hua Yuan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Xi-Jing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Ya-Yun Wang
- Specific Lab for Mitochondrial Plasticity Underlying Nervous System Diseases, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Preclinical Medicine Education, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China; State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
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Pitzer C, Kurpiers B, Eltokhi A. Gait performance of adolescent mice assessed by the CatWalk XT depends on age, strain and sex and correlates with speed and body weight. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21372. [PMID: 34725364 PMCID: PMC8560926 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00625-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The automatization of behavioral tests assessing motor activity in rodent models is important for providing robust and reproducible results and evaluating new therapeutics. The CatWalk system is an observer-independent, automated and computerized technique for the assessment of gait performance in rodents. This method has previously been used in adult rodent models of CNS-based movement disorders such as Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. As motor and gait abnormalities in neuropsychiatric disorders are observed during infancy and adolescence, it became important to validate the CatWalk XT in the gait analysis of adolescent mice and unravel factors that may cause variations in gait performance. Three adolescent wild-type inbred mouse strains, C57BL/6N, DBA/2 and FVB/N, were tested using the CatWalk XT (Version 10.6) for suitable detection settings to characterize several gait parameters at P32 and P42. The same detection settings being suitable for C57BL/6N and DBA/2 mice allowed a direct comparison between the two strains. On the other hand, due to their increased body weight and size, FVB/N mice required different detection settings. The CatWalk XT reliably measured the temporal, spatial, and interlimb coordination parameters in the investigated strains during adolescence. Additionally, significant effects of sex, development, speed and body weight within each strain confirmed the sensitivity of motor and gait functions to these factors. The CatWalk gait analysis of rodents during adolescence, taking the effect of age, strain, sex, speed and body weight into consideration, will decrease intra-laboratory discrepancies and increase the face validity of rodent models of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Pitzer
- Interdisciplinary Neurobehavioral Core, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Barbara Kurpiers
- Interdisciplinary Neurobehavioral Core, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ahmed Eltokhi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
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Wang Y, Liu X, Hu T, Li X, Chen Y, Xiao G, Huang J, Chang Y, Zhu Y, Zhang H, Wang Y. Astragalus saponins improves stroke by promoting the proliferation of neural stem cells through phosphorylation of Akt. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 277:114224. [PMID: 34044075 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE As one of major components of Buyang Huanwu decoction, Astragali Radix is broadly used for stroke treatment. Astragalus saponins (AST), the main active compound from Astragali Radix has the potentials for neuroprotection and improving spatial memory without clear pharmacological mechanism. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study was to investigate that pretreatment of AST is beneficial to protect against focal ischemic stroke in mouse model and its related underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS The neurological and motor function of MCAO mice were assessed by TTC staining and CatWalk gait analysis. The effect of AST on proliferation of NSCs was showed by the expression of Ki67 of MCAO mice and the number and size of primary neurospheres cultured from adult SVZ. The intersection of stroke-related targets, neurogenesis targets and drug-related targets were identified by the online website (https://www.omicstudio.cn/index). Then GO functional annotation and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed. Candidate target Akt was confirmed to increase proliferation of cultured NSCs from adult SVZ by CCK8 assay and Western blot. RESULTS We found that with the prolongation of administration time, AST improved neurological and motor function of MCAO mice, by promoting the proliferation of NSCs both in vivo and in vitro. Then, the primary network among drug, genes and biological pathway was established by using compound-target-disease & function-pathway analysis of astragalus membranaceus. PI3K/Akt which plays a key role in cell proliferation was among the top 10 most significant GO terms from above three aspects. Further analysis using cultured NSCs from adult SVZ confirmed that AST, astragaloside I (A1) and astragaloside III (A3) increased the proliferation of NSCs through targeting Akt. CONCLUSION The present study elucidated that Astragalus saponins pretreatment could provide a protective effect on experimental stroke mainly by enhancing proliferation of NSCs through targeting Akt. The findings provided a basis for the development of novel strategies for the treatment of stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin 301617, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Xu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Tingdong Hu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Xenotransplantation, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211166, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Li
- Zhongxin Pharma, Tianjin No.6 Traditional Chinese Medicine Factory, Tianjin, 300401, China
| | - Yuru Chen
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin 301617, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Guangxu Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Juyang Huang
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin 301617, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanxu Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Yan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China
| | - Han Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300193, China.
| | - Ying Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Xenotransplantation, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211166, People's Republic of China.
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Garrick JM, Costa LG, Cole TB, Marsillach J. Evaluating Gait and Locomotion in Rodents with the CatWalk. Curr Protoc 2021; 1:e220. [PMID: 34370398 PMCID: PMC8363132 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Motor deficits can significantly affect the completion of daily life activities and have a negative impact on quality of life. Consequently, motor function is an important behavioral endpoint to measure for in vivo pathophysiologic studies in a variety of research areas, such as toxicant exposure, drug development, disease characterization, and transgenic phenotyping. Evaluation of motor function is also critical to the interpretation of cognitive behavioral assays, as many rely on intact motor abilities to derive meaningful data. As such, gait analysis is an important component of behavioral research and can be achieved by manual or video-assisted methods. Manual gait analysis methods, however, are prone to observer bias and are unable to capture many critical parameters. In contrast, automated video-assisted gait analysis can quickly and reliably assess gait and locomotor abnormalities that were previously difficult to collect manually. Here, we describe the evaluation of gait and locomotion in rodents using the automated Noldus CatWalk XT system. We include a step-by-step guide for running an experiment using the CatWalk XT system and discuss theory and considerations when evaluating rodent gait. The protocol and discussion provided here act as a supplemental resource to the manual for this commercially available system and can assist CatWalk users in their experimental design and implementation. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M. Garrick
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Lucio G. Costa
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Dept. of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy
| | - Toby B. Cole
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Center on Human Development and Disabilities, University of Washington, United States
| | - Judit Marsillach
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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