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Varga A, Kedves R, Sághy K, Garab D, Zádor F, Lendvai B, Lévay G, Román V. R-Baclofen Treatment Corrects Autistic-like Behavioral Deficits in the RjIbm(m):FH Fawn-Hooded Rat Strain. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:939. [PMID: 39065788 PMCID: PMC11279403 DOI: 10.3390/ph17070939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The Fawn-hooded rat has long been used as a model for various peripheral and central disorders and the data available indicate that the social behavior of this strain may be compromised. However, a thorough description of the Fawn-hooded rat is unavailable in this regard. The objective of the present study was to investigate various aspects of the Fawn-hooded rat's social behavior in depth. Our results show that several facets of socio-communicational behavior are impaired in the RjIbm(m):FH strain, including defective ultrasonic vocalizations in pups upon maternal deprivation, reduced social play in adolescence and impaired social novelty discrimination in adulthood. In addition, Fawn-hooded rats exhibited heightened tactile sensitivity and hyperactivity. The defects observed were comparable to those induced by prenatal valproate exposure, a widely utilized model of autism spectrum disorder. Further on, the pro-social drug R-baclofen (0.25-1 mg/kg) reversed the autistic-like defects observed in Fawn-hooded rats, specifically the deficiency in ultrasonic vocalization, tactile sensitivity and social novelty discrimination endpoints. In conclusion, the asocial, hypersensitive and hyperactive phenotype as well as the responsivity to R-baclofen indicate this variant of the Fawn-hooded rat strain may serve as a model of autism spectrum disorder and could be useful in the identification of novel drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Varga
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology and Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Rita Kedves
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Katalin Sághy
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dénes Garab
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Zádor
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Lendvai
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
- Richter Department, Semmelweis University, Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
| | - György Lévay
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Morphology and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Vas utca 17, 1088 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Viktor Román
- Pharmacology and Drug Safety Research, Gedeon Richter Plc., Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
- Richter Department, Semmelweis University, Gyömrői út 19-21, 1103 Budapest, Hungary
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Karimi P, Ghahfarroki MS, Lorigooini Z, Shahrani M, Amini-Khoei H. Umbelliprenin via increase in the MECP2 and attenuation of oxidative stress mitigates the autistic-like behaviors in mouse model of maternal separation stress. Front Pharmacol 2024; 14:1300310. [PMID: 38259278 PMCID: PMC10800371 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1300310] [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: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition. Maternal separation (MS) stress is an early-life stress factor associated with behaviors resembling Autism. Both MECP2 and oxidative stress are implicated in the pathophysiology of Autism. Umbelliprenin (UMB) is a coumarin compound with various pharmacological properties. Our study aimed to investigate the potential effects of UMB in mitigating autistic-like behaviors in a mouse model subjected to MS stress, focusing on probable alterations in MECP2 gene expression in the hippocampus. Methods: MS paradigm was performed, and mice were treated with saline or UMB. Behavioral tests consisting of the three-chamber test (evaluating social interaction), shuttle box (assessing passive avoidance memory), elevated plus-maze (measuring anxiety-like behaviors), and marble-burying test (evaluating repetitive behaviors) were conducted. Gene expression of MECP2 and measurements of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), nitrite level, and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were assessed in the hippocampus. Results: The findings demonstrated that MS-induced behaviors resembling Autism, accompanied by decreased MECP2 gene expression, elevated nitrite, MDA levels, and reduced TAC in the hippocampus. UMB mitigated these autistic-like behaviors induced by MS and attenuated the adverse effects of MS on oxidative stress and MECP2 gene expression in the hippocampus. Conclusion: In conclusion, UMB likely attenuated autistic-like behaviors caused by MS stress, probably, through the reduction of oxidative stress and an increase in MECP2 gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hossein Amini-Khoei
- Medical Plants Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
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Zhang Y, Tang D, Wang L, Yang J, Wu X, Xiao X, Wang JS. Prevention of Portal-Tract Fibrosis in Zfyve19-/- Mouse Model with Adeno-Associated Virus Vector Delivering ZFYVE19. Hum Gene Ther 2023; 34:1219-1229. [PMID: 37672510 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2023.041] [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] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Zinc finger FYVE-type containing 19 (ZFYVE19) deficiency, caused by biallelic ZFYVE19 complete loss-of-function variants, is a recently identified chronic hepatobiliary disorder characterized by obvious portal-tract fibrosis, increased numbers of bile ducts with malformations, and abnormal levels of serum markers of hepatobiliary injury. As liver-targeted adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy has been used successfully in hepatobiliary diseases, liver-targeted gene therapy has been explored in a mouse model of this disorder. Three ZFYVE19 AAV vectors (AAV-hZFYVE19, AAV-hZFYVE19-m, and AAV-hZFYVE19-co) were constructed and injected into Zfyve19-/- mice, which were treated with alpha-naphthyl isothiocyanate, a hepatobiliary toxin. Hematoxylin/eosin, immunohistochemical staining, immunofluorescence staining, Sirius Red staining, real-time quantitative PCR, and Western blotting of liver tissue, along with serum hepatobiliary injury marker analyses, were performed to evaluate the effects of gene therapy. AAV-hZFYVE19 decreased serum hepatobiliary injury markers, portal-tract inflammation, ductal hyperplasia, and portal-tract fibrosis in the Zfyve19-/- model mice most substantially at a relatively low dose (1 × 1011 vg/kg), whereas AAV-hZFYVE19 at a higher dose gradually lost the abovementioned benefits and even caused deterioration at the highest dose of 5 × 1012 vg/kg. These observations verified the pathogenicity of ZFYVE19 deficiency and suggested that the ZFYVE19 gene needs to function well at an optimal level of expression; both too low and too high a ZFYVE19 expression may be harmful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Center for Pediatric Liver Diseases, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dingyue Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Wang
- The Center for Pediatric Liver Diseases, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Center for Pediatric Liver Diseases, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xia Wu
- School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China; and
| | - Xiao Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian-She Wang
- The Center for Pediatric Liver Diseases, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defect, Shanghai, China
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Palmieri M, Pozzer D, Landsberger N. Advanced genetic therapies for the treatment of Rett syndrome: state of the art and future perspectives. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1172805. [PMID: 37304036 PMCID: PMC10248472 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1172805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss and gain of functions mutations in the X-linked MECP2 (methyl-CpG-binding protein 2) gene are responsible for a set of generally severe neurological disorders that can affect both genders. In particular, Mecp2 deficiency is mainly associated with Rett syndrome (RTT) in girls, while duplication of the MECP2 gene leads, mainly in boys, to the MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS). No cure is currently available for MECP2 related disorders. However, several studies have reported that by re-expressing the wild-type gene is possible to restore defective phenotypes of Mecp2 null animals. This proof of principle endorsed many laboratories to search for novel therapeutic strategies to cure RTT. Besides pharmacological approaches aimed at modulating MeCP2-downstream pathways, genetic targeting of MECP2 or its transcript have been largely proposed. Remarkably, two studies focused on augmentative gene therapy were recently approved for clinical trials. Both use molecular strategies to well-control gene dosage. Notably, the recent development of genome editing technologies has opened an alternative way to specifically target MECP2 without altering its physiological levels. Other attractive approaches exclusively applicable for nonsense mutations are the translational read-through (TR) and t-RNA suppressor therapy. Reactivation of the MECP2 locus on the silent X chromosome represents another valid choice for the disease. In this article, we intend to review the most recent genetic interventions for the treatment of RTT, describing the current state of the art, and the related advantages and concerns. We will also discuss the possible application of other advanced therapies, based on molecular delivery through nanoparticles, already proposed for other neurological disorders but still not tested in RTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Palmieri
- Rett Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Hospital (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Diego Pozzer
- Rett Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Hospital (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Landsberger
- Rett Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Hospital (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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