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Serafini RA, Farzinpour Z, Patel V, Kelley AM, Estill M, Pryce KD, Sakloth F, Teague CD, Torres-Berrio A, Nestler EJ, Shen L, Akbarian S, Karkhanis AN, Blitzer RD, Zachariou V. Nucleus accumbens myocyte enhancer factor 2C mediates the maintenance of peripheral nerve injury-induced physiological and behavioral maladaptations. Pain 2024:00006396-990000000-00648. [PMID: 38985454 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Preclinical and clinical work has demonstrated altered plasticity and activity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) under chronic pain states, highlighting critical therapeutic avenues for the management of chronic pain conditions. In this study, we demonstrate that myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C), a master regulator of neuronal activity and plasticity, is repressed in NAc neurons after prolonged spared nerve injury (SNI). Viral-mediated overexpression of Mef2c in NAc neurons partially ameliorated sensory hypersensitivity and emotional behaviors in mice with SNI, while also altering transcriptional pathways associated with synaptic signaling. Mef2c overexpression also reversed SNI-induced potentiation of phasic dopamine release and neuronal hyperexcitability in the NAc. Transcriptional changes induced by Mef2c overexpression were different than those observed after desipramine treatment, suggesting a mechanism of action different from antidepressants. Overall, we show that interventions in MEF2C-regulated mechanisms in the NAc are sufficient to disrupt the maintenance of chronic pain states, providing potential new treatment avenues for neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randal A Serafini
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United states
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, & Biophysics, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine at Boston University, Boston, MA, United states
| | - Zahra Farzinpour
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, & Biophysics, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine at Boston University, Boston, MA, United states
| | - Vishwendra Patel
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United states
| | - Abigail M Kelley
- Department of Psychology, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY, United states
| | - Molly Estill
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United states
| | - Kerri D Pryce
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United states
| | - Farhana Sakloth
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United states
| | - Collin D Teague
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United states
| | - Angelica Torres-Berrio
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United states
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United states
| | - Li Shen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United states
| | - Schahram Akbarian
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United states
| | - Anushree N Karkhanis
- Department of Psychology, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY, United states
| | - Robert D Blitzer
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United states
| | - Venetia Zachariou
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United states
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, & Biophysics, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine at Boston University, Boston, MA, United states
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Zhong W, Yang Q, Wang F, Lin X, Chen Z, Xue J, Zhao W, Liu X, Rao B, Zhang J. Cell-specific localization of β-synuclein in the mouse retina. Brain Struct Funct 2024; 229:1279-1298. [PMID: 38703218 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-024-02799-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
β-synuclein, a member of the synuclein family, is frequently co-expressed with α-synuclein in the neural system, where it serves to inhibit abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein in neurodegenerative diseases. Beyond its role in pathological conditions, β-synuclein plays various functions independently of α-synuclein. In our investigation, we discovered a broader expression of β-synuclein in the mouse retina compared to α-synuclein. This widespread pattern implies its potential significance in the retina. Through detailed examination via light- and electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry, we identified β-synuclein expression from the inner segment (IS) and outer segment (OS) of photoreceptor cells to the ganglion cell layer (GCL). Our findings unveiled unique features, including β-synuclein immunoreactive IS and OS of cones, higher expression in cone pedicles than in rod spherules, absence in horizontal cells, limited expression in cone bipolar dendrites and somas, higher expression in cone bipolar terminals, presence in most amacrine cells, and expression in almost majority of somas in GCL with an absence in intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cell (ipRGCs) processes. Notably, all cholinergic amacrine cells express high β- but not α-synuclein, while dopaminergic amacrine cells express α-synuclein exclusively. These distinctive expression patterns offer valuable insights for further exploration into the functions of β-synuclein and its potential role in synuclein pathology within the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease, School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China.
| | - Qingwen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease, School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Fenglan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease, School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Xin Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease, School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Zhongqun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease, School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Jing Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease, School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Wenna Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease, School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Xiaoqing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease, School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Bilin Rao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease, School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
- Laboratory of Retinal Physiology and Disease, School of Optometry and Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325027, China.
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Vorobyov V, Deev A, Chaprov K, Ninkina N. Disruption of Electroencephalogram Coherence between Cortex/Striatum and Midbrain Dopaminergic Regions in the Knock-Out Mice with Combined Loss of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Synucleins. Biomedicines 2024; 12:881. [PMID: 38672235 PMCID: PMC11048202 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040881] [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: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The malfunctioning of the brain synucleins is associated with pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Synucleins' ability to modulate various pre-synaptic processes suggests their modifying effects on the electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded from different brain structures. Disturbances in interrelations between them are critical for the onset and evolution of neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, we have shown that, in mice lacking several synucleins, differences between the frequency spectra of EEG from different brain structures are correlated with specificity of synucleins' combinations. Given that EEG spectra are indirect characteristics of inter-structural relations, in this study, we analyzed a coherence of instantaneous values for EEGs recorded from different structures as a direct measure of "functional connectivity" between them. METHODS EEG data from seven groups of knock-out (KO) mice with combined deletions of alpha, beta, and gamma synucleins versus a group of wild-type (WT) mice were compared. EEG coherence was estimated between the cortex (MC), putamen (Pt), ventral tegmental area (VTA), and substantia nigra (SN) in all combinations. RESULTS EEG coherence suppression, predominantly in the beta frequency band, was observed in KO mice versus WT littermates. The suppression was minimal in MC-Pt and VTA-SN interrelations in all KO groups and in all inter-structural relations in mice lacking either all synucleins or only beta synuclein. In other combinations of deleted synucleins, significant EEG coherence suppression in KO mice was dominant in relations with VTA and SN. CONCLUSION Deletions of the synucleins produced significant attenuation of intra-cerebral EEG coherence depending on the imbalance of different types of synucleins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasily Vorobyov
- Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia;
| | - Alexander Deev
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia;
| | - Kirill Chaprov
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka, Russia;
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Natalia Ninkina
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka, Russia;
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
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Surguchov A, Surguchev AA. Association between Parkinson's Disease and Cancer: New Findings and Possible Mediators. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3899. [PMID: 38612708 PMCID: PMC11011322 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence points to an inverse association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and almost all cancers except melanoma, for which this association is positive. The results of multiple studies have demonstrated that patients with PD are at reduced risk for the majority of neoplasms. Several potential biological explanations exist for the inverse relationship between cancer and PD. Recent results identified several PD-associated proteins and factors mediating cancer development and cancer-associated factors affecting PD. Accumulating data point to the role of genetic traits, members of the synuclein family, neurotrophic factors, the ubiquitin-proteasome system, circulating melatonin, and transcription factors as mediators. Here, we present recent data about shared pathogenetic factors and mediators that might be involved in the association between these two diseases. We discuss how these factors, individually or in combination, may be involved in pathology, serve as links between PD and cancer, and affect the prevalence of these disorders. Identification of these factors and investigation of their mechanisms of action would lead to the discovery of new targets for the treatment of both diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Surguchov
- Department of Neurology, Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Alexei A Surguchev
- Department of Surgery, Section of Otolaryngology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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Mahbub NU, Islam MM, Hong ST, Chung HJ. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and its effect on α-synuclein and prion protein misfolding: consequences for neurodegeneration. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1348279. [PMID: 38435303 PMCID: PMC10904658 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1348279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Abnormal behavior of α-synuclein and prion proteins is the hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) and prion illnesses, respectively, being complex neurological disorders. A primary cause of protein aggregation, brain injury, and cognitive loss in prion illnesses is the misfolding of normal cellular prion proteins (PrPC) into an infectious form (PrPSc). Aggregation of α-synuclein causes disruptions in cellular processes in Parkinson's disease (PD), leading to loss of dopamine-producing neurons and motor symptoms. Alteration in the composition or activity of gut microbes may weaken the intestinal barrier and make it possible for prions to go from the gut to the brain. The gut-brain axis is linked to neuroinflammation; the metabolites produced by the gut microbiota affect the aggregation of α-synuclein, regulate inflammation and immunological responses, and may influence the course of the disease and neurotoxicity of proteins, even if their primary targets are distinct proteins. This thorough analysis explores the complex interactions that exist between the gut microbiota and neurodegenerative illnesses, particularly Parkinson's disease (PD) and prion disorders. The involvement of the gut microbiota, a complex collection of bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses etc., in various neurological illnesses is becoming increasingly recognized. The gut microbiome influences neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter synthesis, mitochondrial function, and intestinal barrier integrity through the gut-brain axis, which contributes to the development and progression of disease. The review delves into the molecular mechanisms that underlie these relationships, emphasizing the effects of microbial metabolites such as bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in regulating brain functioning. Additionally, it looks at how environmental influences and dietary decisions affect the gut microbiome and whether they could be risk factors for neurodegenerative illnesses. This study concludes by highlighting the critical role that the gut microbiota plays in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD) and prion disease. It also provides a promising direction for future research and possible treatment approaches. People afflicted by these difficult ailments may find hope in new preventive and therapeutic approaches if the role of the gut microbiota in these diseases is better understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasir Uddin Mahbub
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute for Medical Science, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Md Minarul Islam
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute for Medical Science, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Tshool Hong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute for Medical Science, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hea-Jong Chung
- Gwangju Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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Casciano F, Zauli E, Celeghini C, Caruso L, Gonelli A, Zauli G, Pignatelli A. Retinal Alterations Predict Early Prodromal Signs of Neurodegenerative Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1689. [PMID: 38338966 PMCID: PMC10855697 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031689] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are an increasingly common group of diseases that occur late in life with a significant impact on personal, family, and economic life. Among these, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the major disorders that lead to mild to severe cognitive and physical impairment and dementia. Interestingly, those diseases may show onset of prodromal symptoms early after middle age. Commonly, the evaluation of these neurodegenerative diseases is based on the detection of biomarkers, where functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have shown a central role in revealing early or prodromal phases, although it can be expensive, time-consuming, and not always available. The aforementioned diseases have a common impact on the visual system due to the pathophysiological mechanisms shared between the eye and the brain. In Parkinson's disease, α-synuclein deposition in the retinal cells, as well as in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, alters the visual cortex and retinal function, resulting in modifications to the visual field. Similarly, the visual cortex is modified by the neurofibrillary tangles and neuritic amyloid β plaques typically seen in the Alzheimer's disease brain, and this may reflect the accumulation of these biomarkers in the retina during the early stages of the disease, as seen in postmortem retinas of AD patients. In this light, the ophthalmic evaluation of retinal neurodegeneration could become a cost-effective method for the early diagnosis of those diseases, overcoming the limitations of functional and structural imaging of the deep brain. This analysis is commonly used in ophthalmic practice, and interest in it has risen in recent years. This review will discuss the relationship between Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease with retinal degeneration, highlighting how retinal analysis may represent a noninvasive and straightforward method for the early diagnosis of these neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Casciano
- Department of Translational Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Enrico Zauli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Claudio Celeghini
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Caruso
- Department of Environment and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Arianna Gonelli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgio Zauli
- Research Department, King Khaled Eye Specialistic Hospital, Riyadh 12329, Saudi Arabia
| | - Angela Pignatelli
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
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Moors TE, Milovanovic D. Defining a Lewy Body: Running Up the Hill of Shifting Definitions and Evolving Concepts. JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2024; 14:17-33. [PMID: 38189713 PMCID: PMC10836569 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-230183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Lewy bodies (LBs) are pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, characterized by the accumulation of α-synuclein (αSyn) protein in the brain. While LBs were first described a century ago, their formation and morphogenesis mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we present a historical overview of LB definitions and highlight the importance of semantic clarity and precise definitions when describing brain inclusions. Recent breakthroughs in imaging revealed shared features within LB subsets and the enrichment of membrane-bound organelles in these structures, challenging the conventional LB formation model. We discuss the involvement of emerging concepts of liquid-liquid phase separation, where biomolecules demix from a solution to form dense condensates, as a potential LB formation mechanism. Finally, we emphasize the need for the operational definitions of LBs based on morphological characteristics and detection protocols, particularly in studies investigating LB formation mechanisms. A better understanding of LB organization and ultrastructure can contribute to the development of targeted therapeutic strategies for synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim E. Moors
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dragomir Milovanovic
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany
- Einstein Center for Neuroscience, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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Vorobyov V, Deev A, Morozova O, Oganesyan Z, Krayushkina AM, Ivanova TA, Chaprov K. Early Effects of Alpha-Synuclein Depletion by Pan-Neuronal Inactivation of Encoding Gene on Electroencephalogram Coherence between Different Brain Regions in Mice. Biomedicines 2023; 11:3282. [PMID: 38137503 PMCID: PMC10741163 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11123282] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Inactivation of the Snca gene in young mice by chronic injections of tamoxifen (TAM), a selective estrogen receptor modifier, has been shown to decrease the level of alpha-synuclein, a key peptide in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. In young mice, different time courses of the effect were observed in different brain areas, meaning associated disturbances in the intracerebral relations, namely in brain function after TAM-induced synucleinopathy. METHODS We analyzed electroencephalogram (EEG) coherence ("functional connectivity") between the cortex (MC), putamen (Pt), and dopamine-producing brain regions (ventral tegmental area, VTA, and substantia nigra, SN) in two groups of two-month-old male mice. We compared EEG coherences in the conditional knockout Sncaflox/flox mice with those in their genetic background (C57Bl6J) one, two, and three months after chronic (for five days) intraperitoneal injections of TAM or the vehicle (corn oil). The EEG coherences in the TAM-treated group were compared with those in the alpha-synuclein knockout mice. RESULTS A significant suppression of EEG coherence in the TAM-treated mice versus the vehicle group was observed in all inter-structural relations, with the exception of MC-VTA at one and three months and VTA-SN at two months after the injections. Suppressive changes in EEG coherence were observed in the alpha-synuclein knockout mice as well; the changes were similar to those in TAM-treated mice three months after treatment. CONCLUSION our data demonstrate a combined time-dependent suppressive effect induced by TAM on intracerebral EEG coherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasily Vorobyov
- Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
| | - Alexander Deev
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia;
| | - Olga Morozova
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka, Russia; (O.M.); (K.C.)
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov’s University), 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Zoya Oganesyan
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov’s University), 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Anastasia M. Krayushkina
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka, Russia; (O.M.); (K.C.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia
| | - Tamara A. Ivanova
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka, Russia; (O.M.); (K.C.)
| | - Kirill Chaprov
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka, Russia; (O.M.); (K.C.)
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov’s University), 119991 Moscow, Russia;
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia
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Alnaaim SA, Al‐kuraishy HM, Al‐Gareeb AI, Ali NH, Alexiou A, Papadakis M, Saad HM, Batiha GE. New insights on the potential anti-epileptic effect of metformin: Mechanistic pathway. J Cell Mol Med 2023; 27:3953-3965. [PMID: 37737447 PMCID: PMC10747420 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease characterized by recurrent seizures. Epilepsy is observed as a well-controlled disease by anti-epileptic agents (AEAs) in about 69%. However, 30%-40% of epileptic patients fail to respond to conventional AEAs leading to an increase in the risk of brain structural injury and mortality. Therefore, adding some FDA-approved drugs that have an anti-seizure activity to the anti-epileptic regimen is logical. The anti-diabetic agent metformin has anti-seizure activity. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism of the anti-seizure activity of metformin was not entirely clarified. Henceforward, the objective of this review was to exemplify the mechanistic role of metformin in epilepsy. Metformin has anti-seizure activity by triggering adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling and inhibiting the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways which are dysregulated in epilepsy. In addition, metformin improves the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which has a neuroprotective effect. Hence, metformin via induction of BDNF can reduce seizure progression and severity. Consequently, increasing neuronal progranulin by metformin may explain the anti-seizure mechanism of metformin. Also, metformin reduces α-synuclein and increases protein phosphatase 2A (PPA2) with modulation of neuroinflammation. In conclusion, metformin might be an adjuvant with AEAs in the management of refractory epilepsy. Preclinical and clinical studies are warranted in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saud A. Alnaaim
- Clinical Neurosciences Department, College of MedicineKing Faisal UniversityHofufSaudi Arabia
| | - Hayder M. Al‐kuraishy
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of MedicineALmustansiriyia UniversityBaghdadIraq
| | - Ali I. Al‐Gareeb
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Medicine, College of MedicineALmustansiriyia UniversityBaghdadIraq
| | - Naif H. Ali
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical CollegeNajran UniversityNajranSaudi Arabia
| | - Athanasios Alexiou
- Department of Science and EngineeringNovel Global Community Educational FoundationHebershamNew South WalesAustralia
- AFNP MedWienAustria
| | - Marios Papadakis
- Department of Surgery IIUniversity Hospital Witten‐Herdecke, University of Witten‐HerdeckeWuppertalGermany
| | - Hebatallah M. Saad
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineMatrouh UniversityMatrouhEgypt
| | - Gaber El‐Saber Batiha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary MedicineDamanhour UniversityDamanhourEgypt
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10
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Zhou S, Zhou Y, Zhong W, Su Z, Qin Z. Involvement of protein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase in the physiopathology of neurodegenerative diseases: Possible substrates associated with synaptic function. Neurochem Int 2023; 170:105606. [PMID: 37657764 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105606] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic dysfunction is a typical pathophysiologic change in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Hintington's disease (HD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which involves protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) including L-isoaspartate (L-isoAsp) formed by isomerization of aspartate or deamidation of asparagine. The formation of L-isoAsp could be repaired by protein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT). Some synaptic proteins have been identified as PIMT potential substrates and play an essential role in ensuring synaptic function. In this review, we discuss the role of certain synaptic proteins as PIMT substrates in neurodegenerative disease, thus providing therapeutic synapse-centered targets for the treatment of NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirui Zhou
- Department of Anatomy, School of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yancheng Zhou
- Department of Anatomy, School of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Wanyu Zhong
- Department of Anatomy, School of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhonghao Su
- Department of Febrile Disease, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhenxia Qin
- Department of Anatomy, School of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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11
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Ninkina N, Kukharsky MS. Editorial of the Special Issue: Recent Advances in Understanding of the Role of Synuclein Family Members in Health and Disease. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2330. [PMID: 37760772 PMCID: PMC10525250 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive studies of α-synuclein function and dysfunction revealed its involvement in multiple normal and aberrant molecular processes and, consequently, numerous and diverse effects on the neuronal cell biology [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Ninkina
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka, Russia;
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia
| | - Michail S. Kukharsky
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka, Russia;
- Department of General and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medical Biology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
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12
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Cheshire WP, Koga S, Tipton PW, Sekiya H, Ross OA, Uitti RJ, Josephs KA, Dickson DW. Cancer in pathologically confirmed multiple system atrophy. Clin Auton Res 2023; 33:451-458. [PMID: 37178348 PMCID: PMC10529111 DOI: 10.1007/s10286-023-00946-w] [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: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to assess whether cancer occurs with increased frequency in multiple system atrophy (MSA). The pathological hallmark of MSA is glial cytoplasmic inclusions containing aggregated α-synuclein, and the related protein γ-synuclein correlates with invasive cancer. We investigated whether these two disorders are associated clinically. METHODS Medical records of 320 patients with pathologically confirmed MSA seen between 1998 and 2022 were reviewed. After excluding those with insufficient medical histories, the remaining 269 and an equal number of controls matched for age and sex were queried for personal and family histories of cancer recorded on standardized questionnaires and in clinical histories. Additionally, age-adjusted rates of breast cancer were compared with US population incidence data. RESULTS Of 269 cases in each group, 37 with MSA versus 45 of controls had a personal history of cancer. Reported cases of cancer in parents were 97 versus 104 and in siblings 31 versus 44 for MSA and controls, respectively. Of 134 female cases in each group, 14 MSA versus 10 controls had a personal history of breast cancer. The age-adjusted rate of breast cancer in MSA was 0.83%, as compared with 0.67% in controls and 2.0% in the US population. All comparisons were nonsignificant. CONCLUSION The evidence from this retrospective cohort found no significant clinical association of MSA with breast cancer or other cancers. These results do not exclude the possibility that knowledge about synuclein pathology at the molecular level in cancer may lead to future discoveries and potential therapeutic targets for MSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- William P Cheshire
- Division of Autonomic Disorders, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
| | - Shunsuke Koga
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Philip W Tipton
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Hiroaki Sekiya
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Owen A Ross
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Ryan J Uitti
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Keith A Josephs
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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13
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Peng H, Chen S, Wu S, Shi X, Ma J, Yang H, Li X. Alpha-synuclein in skin as a high-quality biomarker for Parkinson's disease. J Neurol Sci 2023; 451:120730. [PMID: 37454572 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2023.120730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD), the most common neurological motor system disorder, which characterised by the irreversible loss of dopaminergic neurones in the substantia nigra pars compacta, and leads to the deficiency of dopamine in the striatum. Deposited Lewy bodies (LBs) in diseased neurones and nerve terminals are the pathological hallmark of PD, and alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) is the most prominent protein in LBs. The tight association between α-Syn and the molecular pathology of PD has generatly increaed the interest in using the α-Syn species as biomarkers to diagnose early PD. α-Syn is not confined to the central nervous system, it is also present in the peripheral tissues, such as human skin. The assessment of skin α-Syn has the potential to be a diagnostic method that not only has excellent sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility, but also convenient and acceptable to patients. In this review, we (i) integrate the biochemical, aggregation and structural features of α-Syn; (ii) map the distribution of the α-Syn species present in the brain, biological fluids, and peripheral tissues; and (iii) present a critical and comparative analysis of previous studies that have measured α-Syn in the skin. Finally, we provide an outlook on the future of skin biopsy as a diagnostic approach for PD, and highlight its potential implications for clinical trials, clinical decision-making, treatment strategies as well as the development of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Peng
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China; Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China
| | - Siyuan Chen
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China; Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China; Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Zheng Zhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China
| | - Shaopu Wu
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China; Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China; Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Zheng Zhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China
| | - Xiaoxue Shi
- Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China; Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Zheng Zhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China
| | - Jianjun Ma
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China; Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China; Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Zheng Zhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China
| | - Hongqi Yang
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China; Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China; Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Zheng Zhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China; Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China; Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Zheng Zhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China.
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14
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Zanotti LC, Malizia F, Cesatti Laluce N, Avila A, Mamberto M, Anselmino LE, Menacho-Márquez M. Synuclein Proteins in Cancer Development and Progression. Biomolecules 2023; 13:980. [PMID: 37371560 PMCID: PMC10296229 DOI: 10.3390/biom13060980] [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: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Synucleins are a family of small, soluble proteins mainly expressed in neural tissue and in certain tumors. Since their discovery, tens of thousands of scientific reports have been published about this family of proteins as they are associated with severe human diseases. Although the physiological function of these proteins is still elusive, their relationship with neurodegeneration and cancer has been clearly described over the years. In this review, we summarize data connecting synucleins and cancer, going from the structural description of these molecules to their involvement in tumor-related processes, and discuss the putative use of these proteins as cancer molecular biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía C. Zanotti
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER, CONICET-UNR), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (UNR), Rosario 3100, Argentina
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental, CONICET, Rosario 3100, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación y Producción de Reactivos Biológicos (CIPReB), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (UNR), Suipacha 660, Rosario 2000, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario, Red de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario (RICaR), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Florencia Malizia
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER, CONICET-UNR), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (UNR), Rosario 3100, Argentina
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental, CONICET, Rosario 3100, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación y Producción de Reactivos Biológicos (CIPReB), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (UNR), Suipacha 660, Rosario 2000, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario, Red de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario (RICaR), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Nahuel Cesatti Laluce
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER, CONICET-UNR), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (UNR), Rosario 3100, Argentina
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental, CONICET, Rosario 3100, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación y Producción de Reactivos Biológicos (CIPReB), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (UNR), Suipacha 660, Rosario 2000, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario, Red de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario (RICaR), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Aylén Avila
- Centro de Investigación y Producción de Reactivos Biológicos (CIPReB), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (UNR), Suipacha 660, Rosario 2000, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario, Red de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario (RICaR), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Macarena Mamberto
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER, CONICET-UNR), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (UNR), Rosario 3100, Argentina
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental, CONICET, Rosario 3100, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación y Producción de Reactivos Biológicos (CIPReB), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (UNR), Suipacha 660, Rosario 2000, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario, Red de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario (RICaR), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Luciano E. Anselmino
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER, CONICET-UNR), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (UNR), Rosario 3100, Argentina
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental, CONICET, Rosario 3100, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación y Producción de Reactivos Biológicos (CIPReB), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (UNR), Suipacha 660, Rosario 2000, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario, Red de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario (RICaR), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Mauricio Menacho-Márquez
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER, CONICET-UNR), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (UNR), Rosario 3100, Argentina
- Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental, CONICET, Rosario 3100, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación y Producción de Reactivos Biológicos (CIPReB), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (UNR), Suipacha 660, Rosario 2000, Argentina
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario, Red de Investigación del Cáncer de Rosario (RICaR), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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15
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Sansevrino R, Hoffmann C, Milovanovic D. Condensate biology of synaptic vesicle clusters. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:293-306. [PMID: 36725404 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal communication crucially relies on exocytosis of neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles (SVs) which are clustered at synapses. To ensure reliable neurotransmitter release, synapses need to maintain an adequate pool of SVs at all times. Decades of research have established that SVs are clustered by synapsin 1, an abundant SV-associated phosphoprotein. The classical view postulates that SVs are crosslinked in a scaffold of protein-protein interactions between synapsins and their binding partners. Recent studies have shown that synapsins cluster SVs via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), thus providing a new framework for the organization of the synapse. We discuss the evidence for phase separation of SVs, emphasizing emerging questions related to its regulation, specificity, and reversibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Sansevrino
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Hoffmann
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dragomir Milovanovic
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany.
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16
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Lin S, Leitão ADG, Fang S, Gu Y, Barber S, Gilliard-Telefoni R, Castro A, Sung K, Shen R, Florio JB, Mante ML, Ding J, Spencer B, Masliah E, Rissman RA, Wu C. Overexpression of alpha synuclein disrupts APP and Endolysosomal axonal trafficking in a mouse model of synucleinopathy. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 178:106010. [PMID: 36702318 PMCID: PMC10754494 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106010] [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: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations or triplication of the alpha synuclein (ASYN) gene contribute to synucleinopathies including Parkinson's disease (PD), Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Recent evidence suggests that ASYN also plays an important role in amyloid-induced neurotoxicity, although the mechanism(s) remains unknown. One hypothesis is that accumulation of ASYN alters endolysosomal pathways to impact axonal trafficking and processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). To define an axonal function for ASYN, we used a transgenic mouse model of synucleinopathy that expresses a GFP-human ASYN (GFP-hASYN) transgene and an ASYN knockout (ASYN-/-) mouse model. Our results demonstrate that expression of GFP-hASYN in primary neurons derived from a transgenic mouse impaired axonal trafficking and processing of APP. In addition, axonal transport of BACE1, Rab5, Rab7, lysosomes and mitochondria were also reduced in these neurons. Interestingly, axonal transport of these organelles was also affected in ASYN-/- neurons, suggesting that ASYN plays an important role in maintaining normal axonal transport function. Therefore, selective impairment of trafficking and processing of APP by ASYN may act as a potential mechanism to induce pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzhen Lin
- Institute of Neurology, Ruijing Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - André D G Leitão
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Savannah Fang
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yingli Gu
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sophia Barber
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Alfredo Castro
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kijung Sung
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ruinan Shen
- Institute of Neurology, Ruijing Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jazmin B Florio
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael L Mante
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jianqing Ding
- Institute of Neurology, Ruijing Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Brian Spencer
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Robert A Rissman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; VA San Diego Health System, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Chengbiao Wu
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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17
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Sharma M, Burré J. α-Synuclein in synaptic function and dysfunction. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:153-166. [PMID: 36567199 PMCID: PMC9877183 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
α-Synuclein is a neuronal protein that is enriched in presynaptic terminals. Under physiological conditions, it binds to synaptic vesicle membranes and functions in neurotransmitter release, although the molecular details remain unclear, and it is controversial whether α-synuclein inhibits or facilitates neurotransmitter release. Pathologically, in synucleinopathies including Parkinson's disease (PD), α-synuclein forms aggregates that recruit monomeric α-synuclein and spread throughout the brain, which triggers neuronal dysfunction at molecular, cellular, and organ levels. Here, we present an overview of the effects of α-synuclein on SNARE-complex assembly, neurotransmitter release, and synaptic vesicle pool homeostasis, and discuss how the observed divergent effects of α-synuclein on neurotransmitter release can be reconciled. We also discuss how gain-of-function versus loss-of-function of α-synuclein may contribute to pathogenesis in synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu Sharma
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Jacqueline Burré
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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18
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Myers AJ, Brahimi A, Jenkins IJ, Koob AO. The Synucleins and the Astrocyte. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12020155. [PMID: 36829434 PMCID: PMC9952504 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Synucleins consist of three proteins exclusively expressed in vertebrates. α-Synuclein (αS) has been identified as the main proteinaceous aggregate in Lewy bodies, a pathological hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. Less is understood about β-synuclein (βS) and γ-synuclein (γS), although it is known βS can interact with αS in vivo to inhibit aggregation. Likewise, both γS and βS can inhibit αS's propensity to aggregate in vitro. In the central nervous system, βS and αS, and to a lesser extent γS, are highly expressed in the neural presynaptic terminal, although they are not strictly located there, and emerging data have shown a more complex expression profile. Synapse loss and astrocyte atrophy are early aspects of degenerative diseases of the brain and correlate with disease progression. Synucleins appear to be involved in synaptic transmission, and astrocytes coordinate and organize synaptic function, with excess αS degraded by astrocytes and microglia adjacent to the synapse. βS and γS have also been observed in the astrocyte and may provide beneficial roles. The astrocytic responsibility for degradation of αS as well as emerging evidence on possible astrocytic functions of βS and γS, warrant closer inspection on astrocyte-synuclein interactions at the synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail J. Myers
- Neuroscience Program, Health Science Research Facility, University of Vermont, 149 Beaumont Ave., Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Ayat Brahimi
- Biology Department, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117, USA
| | - Imani J. Jenkins
- Biology Department, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117, USA
| | - Andrew O. Koob
- Biology Department, University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-860-768-5780
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19
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Dias SB, de Lemos L, Sousa L, Bitoque DB, Silva GA, Seabra MC, Tenreiro S. Age-Related Changes of the Synucleins Profile in the Mouse Retina. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13010180. [PMID: 36671565 PMCID: PMC9855780 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (aSyn) plays a central role in Parkinson's disease (PD) and has been extensively studied in the brain. This protein is part of the synuclein family, which is also composed of beta-synuclein (bSyn) and gamma-synuclein (gSyn). In addition to its neurotoxic role, synucleins have important functions in the nervous system, modulating synaptic transmission. Synucleins are expressed in the retina, but they have been poorly characterized. However, there is evidence that they are important for visual function and that they can play a role in retinal degeneration. This study aimed to profile synucleins in the retina of naturally aged mice and to correlate their patterns with specific retinal cells. With aging, we observed a decrease in the thickness of specific retinal layers, accompanied by an increase in glial reactivity. Moreover, the aSyn levels decreased, whereas bSyn increased with aging. The colocalization of both proteins was decreased in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) of the aged retina. gSyn presented an age-related decrease at the inner nuclear layer but was not significantly changed in the ganglion cell layer. The synaptic marker synaptophysin was shown to be preferentially colocalized with aSyn in the IPL with aging. At the same time, aSyn was found to exist at the presynaptic endings of bipolar cells and was affected by aging. Overall, this study suggests that physiological aging can be responsible for changes in the retinal tissue, implicating functional alterations that could affect synuclein family function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Batista Dias
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luísa de Lemos
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Luís Sousa
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Diogo B. Bitoque
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Gabriela Araújo Silva
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel C. Seabra
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Sandra Tenreiro
- iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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20
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Gao V, Briano JA, Komer LE, Burré J. Functional and Pathological Effects of α-Synuclein on Synaptic SNARE Complexes. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167714. [PMID: 35787839 PMCID: PMC10472340 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein is an abundant protein at the neuronal synapse that has been implicated in Parkinson's disease for over 25 years and characterizes the hallmark pathology of a group of neurodegenerative diseases now known as the synucleinopathies. Physiologically, α-synuclein exists in an equilibrium between a synaptic vesicle membrane-bound α-helical multimer and a cytosolic largely unstructured monomer. Through its membrane-bound state, α-synuclein functions in neurotransmitter release by modulating several steps in the synaptic vesicle cycle, including synaptic vesicle clustering and docking, SNARE complex assembly, and homeostasis of synaptic vesicle pools. These functions have been ascribed to α-synuclein's interactions with the synaptic vesicle SNARE protein VAMP2/synaptobrevin-2, the synaptic vesicle-attached synapsins, and the synaptic vesicle membrane itself. How α-synuclein affects these processes, and whether disease is due to loss-of-function or gain-of-toxic-function of α-synuclein remains unclear. In this review, we provide an in-depth summary of the existing literature, discuss possible reasons for the discrepancies in the field, and propose a working model that reconciles the findings in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Gao
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute & Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neurology, New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Juan A Briano
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute & Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauren E Komer
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute & Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA. https://www.twitter.com/lauren_komer
| | - Jacqueline Burré
- Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute & Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Gamma-Synuclein Dysfunction Causes Autoantibody Formation in Glaucoma Patients and Dysregulation of Intraocular Pressure in Mice. Biomedicines 2022; 11:biomedicines11010060. [PMID: 36672569 PMCID: PMC9856171 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11010060] [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: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of intraocular pressure (IOP) is one of the main risk factors for glaucoma. γ-synuclein is a member of the synuclein family of widely expressed synaptic proteins within the central nervous system that are implicated in certain types of neurodegeneration. γ-synuclein expression and localization changes in the retina and optic nerve of patients with glaucoma. However, the mechanisms by which γ-synuclein could contribute to glaucoma are poorly understood. We assessed the presence of autoantibodies to γ-synuclein in the blood serum of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) by immunoblotting. A positive reaction was detected for five out of 25 patients (20%) with POAG. Autoantibodies to γ-synuclein were not detected in a group of patients without glaucoma. We studied the dynamics of IOP in response to IOP regulators in knockout mice (γ-KO) to understand a possible link between γ-synuclein dysfunction and glaucoma-related pathophysiological changes. The most prominent decrease of IOP in γ-KO mice was observed after the instillation of 1% phenylephrine and 10% dopamine. The total protein concentration in tear fluid of γ-KO mice was approximately two times higher than that of wild-type mice, and the activity of neurodegeneration-linked protein α2-macroglobulin was reduced. Therefore, γ-synuclein dysfunction contributes to pathological processes in glaucoma, including dysregulation of IOP.
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Neupane S, De Cecco E, Aguzzi A. The Hidden Cell-to-Cell Trail of α-Synuclein Aggregates. J Mol Biol 2022:167930. [PMID: 36566800 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The progressive accumulation of insoluble aggregates of the presynaptic protein alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD), Multiple System Atrophy, and Dementia with Lewy Bodies, commonly referred to as synucleinopathies. Despite considerable progress on the structural biology of these aggregates, the molecular mechanisms mediating their cell-to-cell transmission, propagation, and neurotoxicity remain only partially understood. Numerous studies have highlighted the stereotypical spatiotemporal spreading of pathological α-Syn aggregates across different tissues and anatomically connected brain regions over time. Experimental evidence from various cellular and animal models indicate that α-Syn transfer occurs in two defined steps: the release of pathogenic α-Syn species from infected cells, and their uptake via passive or active endocytic pathways. Once α-Syn aggregates have been internalized, little is known about what drives their toxicity or how they interact with the endogenous protein to promote its misfolding and subsequent aggregation. Similarly, unknown genetic factors modulate different cellular responses to the aggregation and accumulation of pathogenic α-Syn species. Here we discuss the current understanding of the molecular phenomena associated with the intercellular spreading of pathogenic α-Syn seeds and summarize the evidence supporting the transmission hypothesis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in α-Syn aggregates transmission is essential to develop novel targeted therapeutics against PD and related synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandesh Neupane
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 12, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland. https://twitter.com/neuron_sandesh
| | - Elena De Cecco
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 12, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 12, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Synucleins: New Data on Misfolding, Aggregation and Role in Diseases. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123241. [PMID: 36551997 PMCID: PMC9775291 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The synucleins are a family of natively unfolded (or intrinsically unstructured) proteins consisting of α-, β-, and γ-synuclein involved in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. The current number of publications on synucleins has exceeded 16.000. They remain the subject of constant interest for over 35 years. Two reasons explain this unchanging attention: synuclein's association with several severe human diseases and the lack of understanding of the functional roles under normal physiological conditions. We analyzed recent publications to look at the main trends and developments in synuclein research and discuss possible future directions. Traditional areas of peak research interest which still remain high among last year's publications are comparative studies of structural features as well as functional research on of three members of the synuclein family. Another popular research topic in the area is a mechanism of α-synuclein accumulation, aggregation, and fibrillation. Exciting fast-growing area of recent research is α-synuclein and epigenetics. We do not present here a broad and comprehensive review of all directions of studies but summarize only the most significant recent findings relevant to these topics and outline potential future directions.
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Loss of the Synuclein Family Members Differentially Affects Baseline- and Apomorphine-Associated EEG Determinants in Single-, Double- and Triple-Knockout Mice. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123128. [PMID: 36551884 PMCID: PMC9775760 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Synucleins comprise a family of small proteins highly expressed in the nervous system of vertebrates and involved in various intraneuronal processes. The malfunction of alpha-synuclein is one of the key events in pathogenesis of Parkinson disease and certain other neurodegenerative diseases, and there is a growing body of evidence that malfunction of other two synucleins might be involved in pathological processes in the nervous system. The modulation of various presynaptic mechanisms of neurotransmission is an important function of synucleins, and therefore, it is feasible that their deficiency might affect global electrical activity detected of the brain. However, the effects of the loss of synucleins on the frequency spectra of electroencephalograms (EEGs) have not been systematically studied so far. In the current study, we assessed changes in such spectra in single-, double- and triple-knockout mice lacking alpha-, beta- and gamma-synucleins in all possible combinations. EEGs were recorded from the motor cortex, the putamen, the ventral tegmental area and the substantia nigra of 78 3-month-old male mice from seven knockout groups maintained on the C57BL/6J genetic background, and 10 wild-type C57BL/6J mice for 30 min before and for 60 min after the systemic injection of a DA receptor agonist, apomorphine (APO). We found that almost any variant of synuclein deficiency causes multiple changes in both basal and APO-induced EEG oscillation profiles. Therefore, it is not the absence of any particular synuclein but rather a disbalance of synucleins that causes widespread changes in EEG spectral profiles.
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Goloborshcheva VV, Kucheryanu VG, Voronina NA, Teterina EV, Ustyugov AA, Morozov SG. Synuclein Proteins in MPTP-Induced Death of Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta Dopaminergic Neurons. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092278. [PMID: 36140378 PMCID: PMC9496024 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the key neurodegenerative disorders caused by a dopamine deficiency in the striatum due to the death of dopaminergic (DA) neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta. The initially discovered A53T mutation in the alpha-synuclein gene was linked to the formation of cytotoxic aggregates: Lewy bodies in the DA neurons of PD patients. Further research has contributed to the discovery of beta- and gamma-synucleins, which presumably compensate for the functional loss of either member of the synuclein family. Here, we review research from 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) toxicity models and various synuclein-knockout animals. We conclude that the differences in the sensitivity of the synuclein-knockout animals compared with the MPTP neurotoxin are due to the ontogenetic selection of early neurons followed by a compensatory effect of beta-synuclein, which optimizes dopamine capture in the synapses. Triple-knockout synuclein studies have confirmed the higher sensitivity of DA neurons to the toxic effects of MPTP. Nonetheless, beta-synuclein could modulate the alpha-synuclein function, preventing its aggregation and loss of function. Overall, the use of knockout animals has helped to solve the riddle of synuclein functions, and these proteins could be promising molecular targets for the development of therapies that are aimed at optimizing the synaptic function of dopaminergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria V. Goloborshcheva
- Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, 125315 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-(909)-644-92-31
| | | | | | - Ekaterina V. Teterina
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka, Russia
| | - Aleksey A. Ustyugov
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka, Russia
| | - Sergei G. Morozov
- Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, 125315 Moscow, Russia
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Sex-Related Differences in Voluntary Alcohol Intake and mRNA Coding for Synucleins in the Brain of Adult Rats Prenatally Exposed to Alcohol. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092163. [PMID: 36140264 PMCID: PMC9496239 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal alcohol consumption is one of the strong predictive factors of alcohol use and consequent abuse; however, investigations of sex differences in response to prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) are limited. Here we compared the effects of PAE throughout gestation on alcohol preference, state anxiety and mRNA expression of presynaptic proteins α-, β- and γ-synucleins in the brain of adult (PND60) male and female Wistar rats. Total RNA was isolated from the hippocampus, midbrain and hypothalamus and mRNA levels were assessed with quantitative RT-PCR. Compared with naïve males, naïve female rats consumed more alcohol in “free choice” paradigm (10% ethanol vs. water). At the same time, PAE produced significant increase in alcohol consumption and preference in males but not in females compared to male and female naïve groups, correspondingly. We found significantly lower α-synuclein mRNA levels in the hippocampus and midbrain of females compared to males and significant decrease in α-synuclein mRNA in these brain areas in PAE males, but not in females compared to the same sex controls. These findings indicate that the impact of PAE on transcriptional regulation of synucleins may be sex-dependent, and in males’ disruption in α-synuclein mRNA expression may contribute to increased vulnerability to alcohol-associated behavior.
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Increased Expression of Alpha-, Beta-, and Gamma-Synucleins in Brainstem Regions of a Non-Human Primate Model of Parkinson’s Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158586. [PMID: 35955716 PMCID: PMC9369189 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by cell loss in the substantia nigra and the presence of alpha-synuclein (α-syn)-containing neuronal Lewy bodies. While α-syn has received major interest in the pathogenesis of PD, the function of beta- and gamma-synucleins (β-syn and γ-syn, respectively) is not really known. Yet, these proteins are members of the same family and also concentrated in neuronal terminals. The current preclinical study investigated the expression levels of α-, β-, and γ-synucleins in brainstem regions involved in PD physiopathology. We analyzed synuclein expression in the substantia nigra, raphe nuclei, pedunculopontine nucleus, and locus coeruleus from control and parkinsonian (by MPTP) macaques. MPTP-intoxicated monkeys developed a more or less severe parkinsonian score and were sacrificed after a variable post-MPTP period ranging from 1 to 20 months. The expression of the three synucleins was increased in the substantia nigra after MPTP, and this increase correlates positively, although not very strongly, with cell loss and motor score and not with the time elapsed after intoxication. In the dorsal raphe nucleus, the expression of the three synucleins was also increased, but only α- and γ-Syn are linked to the motor score and associated cell loss. Finally, although no change in synuclein expression was demonstrated in the locus coeruleus after MPTP, we found increased expression levels of γ-Syn, which are only correlated with cell loss in the pedunculopontine nucleus. Altogether, our data suggest that these proteins may play a key role in brainstem regions and mesencephalic tegmentum. Given the involvement of these brain regions in non-motor symptoms of PD, these data also strengthen the relevance of the MPTP macaque model of PD, which exhibits pathological changes beyond nigral DA cell loss and α-synucleinopathy.
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