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Wang L, Xu M, Wang Y, Wang F, Deng J, Wang X, Zhao Y, Liao A, Yang F, Wang S, Li Y. Melatonin improves synapse development by PI3K/Akt signaling in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1618-1624. [PMID: 38051907 PMCID: PMC10883500 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.387973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202407000-00043/figure1/v/2023-11-20T171125Z/r/image-tiff
Autism spectrum disorders are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders involving more than 1100 genes, including Ctnnd2 as a candidate gene. Ctnnd2 knockout mice, serving as an animal model of autism, have been demonstrated to exhibit decreased density of dendritic spines. The role of melatonin, as a neurohormone capable of effectively alleviating social interaction deficits and regulating the development of dendritic spines, in Ctnnd2 deletion-induced nerve injury remains unclear. In the present study, we discovered that the deletion of exon 2 of the Ctnnd2 gene was linked to social interaction deficits, spine loss, impaired inhibitory neurons, and suppressed phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signal pathway in the prefrontal cortex. Our findings demonstrated that the long-term oral administration of melatonin for 28 days effectively alleviated the aforementioned abnormalities in Ctnnd2 gene-knockout mice. Furthermore, the administration of melatonin in the prefrontal cortex was found to improve synaptic function and activate the PI3K/Akt signal pathway in this region. The pharmacological blockade of the PI3K/Akt signal pathway with a PI3K/Akt inhibitor, wortmannin, and melatonin receptor antagonists, luzindole and 4-phenyl-2-propionamidotetralin, prevented the melatonin-induced enhancement of GABAergic synaptic function. These findings suggest that melatonin treatment can ameliorate GABAergic synaptic function by activating the PI3K/Akt signal pathway, which may contribute to the improvement of dendritic spine abnormalities in autism spectrum disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luyi Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Man Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Pediatric, Chongqing University Fuling Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Feifei Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Deng
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoya Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ailing Liao
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Yang
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shali Wang
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yingbo Li
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Chen M, Fan L, Wu G, Wang H, Gu S. Histone methyltransferase enzyme enhancer of zeste homolog 2 counteracts ischemic brain injury via H3K27me3-mediated regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2023; 38:2240-2255. [PMID: 37334851 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic histone methylation plays a crucial role in cerebral ischemic injury, particularly in the context of ischemic stroke. However, the complete understanding of regulators involved in histone methylation, such as Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2), along with their functional effects and underlying mechanisms, remains incomplete. METHODS Here, we employed a rat model of MCAO (Middle cerebral artery occlusion) and an OGD (Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation) model of primary cortical neurons to study the role of EZH2 and H3K27me3 in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. The infarct volume was measured through TTC staining, while cell apoptosis was detected using TUNEL staining. The mRNA expression levels were quantified through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), whereas protein expressions were evaluated via western blotting and immunofluorescence experiments. RESULTS The expression levels of EZH2 and H3K27me3 were upregulated in OGD; these expression levels were further enhanced by GSK-J4 but reduced by EPZ-6438 and AKT inhibitor (LY294002) under OGD conditions. Similar trends were observed for mTOR, AKT, and PI3K while contrasting results were noted for UTX and JMJD3. The phosphorylation levels of mTOR, AKT, and PI3K were activated by OGD, further stimulated by GSK-J4, but inhibited by EPZ-6438 and AKT inhibitor. Inhibition of EZH2 or AKT effectively counteracted OGD-/MCAO-induced cell apoptosis. Additionally, inhibition of EZH2 or AKT mitigated MCAO-induced infarct size and neurological deficit in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our results demonstrate that EZH2 inhibition exerts a protective effect against ischemic brain injury by modulating the H3K27me3/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. The results provide novel insights into potential therapeutic mechanisms for stroke treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Chen
- Department of Emergency, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, People's Republic of China
| | - Limin Fan
- The Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Nano Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoping Wu
- Department of Emergency, Sansha People's Hospital, Sansha, People's Republic of China
| | - Hairong Wang
- Department of Emergency, Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuo Gu
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, People's Republic of China
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Che P, Zhang J, Yu M, Tang P, Wang Y, Lin A, Xu J, Zhang N. Dl-3-n-butylphthalide promotes synaptic plasticity by activating the Akt/ERK signaling pathway and reduces the blood-brain barrier leakage by inhibiting the HIF-1α/MMP signaling pathway in vascular dementia model mice. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:1392-1404. [PMID: 36756709 PMCID: PMC10068471 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14112] [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: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS DL-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) exerts beneficial effects on global cognitive functions, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. The present study aimed to investigate whether NBP mediates synaptic plasticity and blood-brain barrier (BBB) function, which play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of vascular dementia (VaD), in a mouse model of bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS). METHODS NBP was administered to model mice at a dose of 80 mg/kg by gavage for 28 days after surgery. Cognitive function was evaluated by behavioral tests, and hippocampal synaptic plasticity was evaluated by in vivo electrophysiological recording. Cerebral blood flow (CBF), hippocampal volume, and white matter integrity were measured with laser speckle imaging (LSI) and MRI. In addition, BBB leakage and the expression of proteins related to the Akt/ERK and HIF-1α/MMP signaling pathways were assessed by biochemical assays. RESULTS NBP treatment alleviated cognitive impairment, hippocampal atrophy, and synaptic plasticity impairment induced by BCAS. In addition, NBP treatment increased CBF, promoted white matter integrity, and decreased BBB leakage. Regarding the molecular mechanisms, in mice with BCAS, NBP may activate the Akt/ERK signaling pathway, which upregulates the expression of synapse-associated proteins, and it may also inhibit the HIF-1α/MMP signaling pathway, thereby increasing the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our results demonstrated the therapeutic effects of NBP in improving cognitive function via a wide range of targets in mice subjected to BCAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Che
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Department of Neurology, Gucheng Hospital in Hebei Province, Hengshui, China
| | - Mingqian Yu
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ping Tang
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanhui Wang
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Aolei Lin
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Department of Neurology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital Airport Site, Tianjin, China
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Gao J, Yao M, Chang D, Liu J. mTOR (Mammalian Target of Rapamycin): Hitting the Bull's Eye for Enhancing Neurogenesis After Cerebral Ischemia? Stroke 2023; 54:279-285. [PMID: 36321454 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.122.040376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of morbidity and disability around the world. The sequelae of serious neurological damage are irreversible due to body's own limited repair capacity. However, endogenous neurogenesis induced by cerebral ischemia plays a critical role in the repair and regeneration of impaired neural cells after ischemic brain injury. mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) kinase has been suggested to regulate neural stem cells ability to self-renew and differentiate into proliferative daughter cells, thus leading to improved cell growth, proliferation, and survival. In this review, we summarized the current evidence to support that mTOR signaling pathways may enhance neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and synaptic plasticity following cerebral ischemia, which could highlight the potential of mTOR to be a viable therapeutic target for the treatment of ischemic brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiale Gao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences of Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, China (J.G., M.Y., J.L.)
| | - Mingjiang Yao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences of Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, China (J.G., M.Y., J.L.)
| | - Dennis Chang
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia (D.C.)
| | - Jianxun Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences of Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, China (J.G., M.Y., J.L.)
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Components of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Panax notoginseng Protect Pericytes Against OGD/R-Induced Injury via Regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and JNK/ERK/P38 Signaling Pathways. J Mol Neurosci 2022; 72:2377-2388. [PMID: 36394713 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-022-02082-y] [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: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Salvia miltiorrhiza (SAL) and Panax notoginseng (PNS) are widely used in treating of ischemic stroke. However, it is unknown which components of SAL and PNS protect brain microvascular pericytes after an ischemic stroke. We evaluated the protective effects and mechanisms of SAL and PNS components in pericytes subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R). Pericytes were subjected to OGD/R. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to evaluate cell viability. ROS and SOD kits were used to detect oxidative stress. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze cell apoptosis. To evaluate cell migration, a scratch assay was performed. Expression of cleaved caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, VEGF, Ang-1, PDGFR-β, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and JNK/ERK/P38 signaling pathways were identified using western blot. The results revealed that salvianolic acid B (Sal B), salvianolic acid D (Sal D), notoginsenoside R1 (R1), ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), and ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) increased the cell viability of pericytes subjected to OGD/R, reduced the level of ROS, and increased the expression of SOD. The components reduced cell apoptosis, increased the protein level of Bcl-2/Bax, reduced the level of cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3, increased cell migration, and enhanced the levels of Ang-1, PDGFR-β, and VEGF. The components could activate PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway while inhibiting the JNK/ERK/P38 pathway. Studies found that Sal B, Sal D, R1, Rb1, and Rg1 inhibited oxidative stress and apoptosis while increasing the release of pro-angiogenic regulators of pericytes related to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and JNK/ERK/P38 signaling pathways. This provides a potential foundation for developing monomeric drugs for treating ischemic stroke.
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