1
|
Hayes G, Pinto J, Sparks SN, Wang C, Suri S, Bulte DP. Vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction in neurodegeneration. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1010164. [PMID: 36440263 PMCID: PMC9684644 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1010164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the key moderators of cerebrovascular dynamics in response to the brain's oxygen and nutrient demands. Crucially, VSMCs may provide a sensitive biomarker for neurodegenerative pathologies where vasculature is compromised. An increasing body of research suggests that VSMCs have remarkable plasticity and their pathophysiology may play a key role in the complex process of neurodegeneration. Furthermore, extrinsic risk factors, including environmental conditions and traumatic events can impact vascular function through changes in VSMC morphology. VSMC dysfunction can be characterised at the molecular level both preclinically, and clinically ex vivo. However the identification of VSMC dysfunction in living individuals is important to understand changes in vascular function at the onset and progression of neurological disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. A promising technique to identify changes in the state of cerebral smooth muscle is cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) which reflects the intrinsic dynamic response of blood vessels in the brain to vasoactive stimuli in order to modulate regional cerebral blood flow (CBF). In this work, we review the role of VSMCs in the most common neurodegenerative disorders and identify physiological systems that may contribute to VSMC dysfunction. The evidence collected here identifies VSMC dysfunction as a strong candidate for novel therapeutics to combat the development and progression of neurodegeneration, and highlights the need for more research on the role of VSMCs and cerebrovascular dynamics in healthy and diseased states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Hayes
- Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Joana Pinto
- Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sierra N. Sparks
- Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Congxiyu Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sana Suri
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel P. Bulte
- Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Steventon JJ, Furby H, Ralph J, O'Callaghan P, Rosser AE, Wise RG, Busse M, Murphy K. Altered cerebrovascular response to acute exercise in patients with Huntington's disease. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa044. [PMID: 32566927 PMCID: PMC7293798 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine whether a single session of exercise was sufficient to induce cerebral adaptations in individuals with Huntington’s disease and to explore the time dynamics of any acute cerebrovascular response. In this case–control study, we employed arterial-spin labelling MRI in 19 Huntington’s disease gene-positive participants (32–65 years, 13 males) and 19 controls (29–63 years, 10 males) matched for age, gender, body mass index and self-reported activity levels, to measure global and regional perfusion in response to 20 min of moderate-intensity cycling. Cerebral perfusion was measured at baseline and 15, 40 and 60 min after exercise cessation. Relative to baseline, we found that cerebral perfusion increased in patients with Huntington’s disease yet was unchanged in control participants in the precentral gyrus (P = 0.016), middle frontal gyrus (P = 0.046) and hippocampus (P = 0.048) 40 min after exercise cessation (+15 to +32.5% change in Huntington’s disease participants, −7.7 to 0.8% change in controls). The length of the disease‐causing trinucleotide repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene predicted the change in the precentral gyrus (P = 0.03) and the intensity of the exercise intervention predicted hippocampal perfusion change in Huntington’s disease participants (P < 0.001). In both groups, exercise increased hippocampal blood flow 60 min after exercise cessation (P = 0.039). These findings demonstrate the utility of acute exercise as a clinically sensitive experimental paradigm to modulate the cerebrovasculature. Twenty minutes of aerobic exercise induced transient cerebrovascular adaptations in the hippocampus and cortex selectively in Huntington’s disease participants and likely represents latent neuropathology not evident at rest.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J Steventon
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK.,Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Hannah Furby
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK.,Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - James Ralph
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Peter O'Callaghan
- Cardiology Department, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK
| | - Anne E Rosser
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK.,Cardiff Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Richard G Wise
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Monica Busse
- Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4YS, UK
| | - Kevin Murphy
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Juvenile Huntington's Disease Skin Fibroblasts Respond with Elevated Parkin Level and Increased Proteasome Activity as a Potential Mechanism to Counterbalance the Pathological Consequences of Mutant Huntingtin Protein. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20215338. [PMID: 31717806 PMCID: PMC6861992 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20215338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder, caused by an abnormal polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the huntingtin protein (Htt). Mitochondrial dysfunction and impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) are hallmarks of HD neurons. The extraneural manifestations of HD are still unclear. We investigated the crosstalk between mitochondria and proteolytic function in skin fibroblasts from juvenile HD patients. We found reduced mitosis, increased cell size, elevated ROS and increased mitochondrial membrane potential in juvenile HD fibroblasts, while cellular viability was maintained. Mitochondrial OXPHOS analysis did not reveal significant differences compared to control. However, the level of mitochondrial fusion and fission proteins was significantly lower and branching in the mitochondria network was reduced. We hypothesized that juvenile HD fibroblasts counterbalance cellular damage and mitochondrial network deficit with altered proteasome activity to promote cell survival. Our data reveal that juvenile HD fibroblasts exhibit higher proteasome activity, which was associated with elevated gene and protein expression of parkin. Moreover, we demonstrate elevated proteasomal degradation of the mitochondrial fusion protein Mfn1 in diseased cells compared to control cells. Our data suggest that juvenile HD fibroblasts respond to mutant polyQ expansion of Htt with enhanced proteasome activity and faster turnover of specific UPS substrates to protect cells.
Collapse
|
4
|
Gomez-Niño A, Docio I, Prieto-Lloret J, Simarro M, de la Fuente MA, Rocher A. Mitochondrial Complex I Dysfunction and Peripheral Chemoreflex Sensitivity in a FASTK-Deficient Mice Model. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1071:51-59. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-91137-3_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
|
5
|
Mouse models of neurodegenerative disease: preclinical imaging and neurovascular component. Brain Imaging Behav 2017; 12:1160-1196. [PMID: 29075922 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-017-9770-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases represent great challenges for basic science and clinical medicine because of their prevalence, pathologies, lack of mechanism-based treatments, and impacts on individuals. Translational research might contribute to the study of neurodegenerative diseases. The mouse has become a key model for studying disease mechanisms that might recapitulate in part some aspects of the corresponding human diseases. Neurodegenerative disorders are very complicated and multifactorial. This has to be taken in account when testing drugs. Most of the drugs screening in mice are very difficult to be interpretated and often useless. Mouse models could be condiderated a 'pathway models', rather than as models for the whole complicated construct that makes a human disease. Non-invasive in vivo imaging in mice has gained increasing interest in preclinical research in the last years thanks to the availability of high-resolution single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), high field Magnetic resonance, Optical Imaging scanners and of highly specific contrast agents. Behavioral test are useful tool to characterize different animal models of neurodegenerative pathology. Furthermore, many authors have observed vascular pathological features associated to the different neurodegenerative disorders. Aim of this review is to focus on the different existing animal models of neurodegenerative disorders, describe behavioral tests and preclinical imaging techniques used for diagnose and describe the vascular pathological features associated to these diseases.
Collapse
|
6
|
Motor phenotype is not associated with vascular dysfunction in symptomatic Huntington's disease transgenic R6/2 (160 CAG) mice. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42797. [PMID: 28211486 PMCID: PMC5314343 DOI: 10.1038/srep42797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Whereas Huntington’s disease (HD) is unequivocally a neurological disorder, a critical mass of emerging studies highlights the occurrence of peripheral pathology like cardiovascular defects in both animal models and humans. The overt impairment in cardiac function is normally expected to be associated with peripheral vascular dysfunction, however whether this assumption is reasonable or not in HD is still unknown. In this study we functionally characterized the vascular system in R6/2 mouse model (line 160 CAG), which recapitulates several features of human pathology including cardiac disease. Vascular reactivity in different arterial districts was determined by wire myography in symptomatic R6/2 mice and age-matched wild type (WT) littermates. Disease stage was assessed by using well-validated behavioural tests like rotarod and horizontal ladder task. Surprisingly, no signs of vascular dysfunction were detectable in symptomatic mice and no link with motor phenotype was found.
Collapse
|
7
|
Kobal J, Cankar K, Pretnar J, Zaletel M, Kobal L, Teran N, Melik Z. Functional impairment of precerebral arteries in Huntington disease. J Neurol Sci 2016; 372:363-368. [PMID: 27817854 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2016.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiovascular pathology of Huntington disease (HD) appears to be complex; while microvascular dysfunction seems to appear early, deaths from cardiomyopathy and stroke might occur in the late phase of HD. METHODS Our study evaluated global risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), structure and function of precerebral arteries in 41 HD subjects and 41 matched controls. HD subjects were divided into groups by the United Huntington disease rating scale (presymptomatic-PHD, early-EHD, midstage-MHD and late-LHD). CHD risk factors assessment and Doppler examination of precerebral arteries were performed, including measurements of the carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), and parameters indicating local carotid artery distensibility (stiffness index β, pulse wave velocity, pressure strain elasticity module and carotid artery compliance). RESULTS In the HD and controls we identified a comparable number of non-obstructive plaques (<50% lumen narrowing). No obstructive plaques (>50% lumen narrowing) were found. There was significantly increased IMT in MHD. In PHD and EHD the parameters of arterial stiffness were significantly higher and the carotid artery compliance was significantly lower. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal functional vascular pathology in PHD, EHD, and MHD. Precerebral arteries dysfunction in HD therefore appears to be mostly functional and in agreement with recently described autonomic nervous system changes in HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Kobal
- University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Division of Neurology, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Ksenija Cankar
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janja Pretnar
- University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Division of Neurology, Ljubljana, Slovenia; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marjan Zaletel
- University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Division of Neurology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Lucijan Kobal
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Natasa Teran
- University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Division of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ziva Melik
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kane AD, Niu Y, Herrera EA, Morton AJ, Giussani DA. Impaired Nitric Oxide Mediated Vasodilation In The Peripheral Circulation In The R6/2 Mouse Model Of Huntington's Disease. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25979. [PMID: 27181166 PMCID: PMC4867587 DOI: 10.1038/srep25979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence shows that the Huntington's disease (HD) extends beyond the nervous system to other sites, including the cardiovascular system. Further, the cardiovascular pathology pre-dates neurological decline, however the mechanisms involved remain unclear. We investigated in the R6/2 mouse model of HD nitric oxide (NO) dependent and independent endothelial mechanisms. Femoral artery reactivity was determined by wire myography in wild type (WT) and R6/2 mice at 12 and 16 weeks of adulthood. WT mice showed increased endothelial relaxation between 12 and 16 weeks (Rmax: 72 ± 7% vs. 97 ± 13%, P < 0.05). In contrast, R6/2 mice showed enhanced endothelial relaxation already by 12 weeks (Rmax at 12w: 72 ± 7% vs. 94 ± 5%, WT vs. R6/2, P < 0.05) that declined by 16 weeks compared with WT mice (Rmax at 16w: 97 ± 13% vs. 68 ± 7%, WT vs. R6/2, P < 0.05). In WT mice, the increase in femoral relaxation between 12 and 16 weeks was due to enhanced NO dependent mechanisms. By 16 weeks of adult age, the R6/2 mouse developed overt endothelial dysfunction due to an inability to increase NO dependent vasodilation. The data add to the growing literature of non-neural manifestations of HD and implicate NO depletion as a key mechanism underlying the HD pathophysiology in the peripheral vasculature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Kane
- Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Youguo Niu
- Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Emilio A. Herrera
- Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - A. Jennifer Morton
- Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Dino A. Giussani
- Department of Physiology, Development & Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease risk and all-cause mortality are largely predicted by physical fitness. Exercise stimulates vascular mitochondrial biogenesis through endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), sirtuins, and PPARγ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), a response absent in diabetes and hypertension. We hypothesized that an agent regulating eNOS in the context of diabetes could reconstitute exercise-mediated signaling to mitochondrial biogenesis. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) stimulates eNOS and blood flow; we used saxagliptin, an inhibitor of GLP-1 degradation, to test whether vascular mitochondrial adaptation to exercise in diabetes could be restored. Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, a nonobese, type 2 diabetes model, and Wistar controls were exposed to an 8-day exercise intervention with or without saxagliptin (10 mg·kg−1·d−1). We evaluated the impact of exercise and saxagliptin on mitochondrial proteins and signaling pathways in aorta. Mitochondrial protein expression increased with exercise in the Wistar aorta and decreased or remained unchanged in the GK animals. GK rats treated with saxagliptin plus exercise showed increased expression of mitochondrial complexes, cytochrome c, eNOS, nNOS, PGC-1α, and UCP3 proteins. Notably, a 3-week saxagliptin plus exercise intervention significantly increased running time in the GK rats. These data suggest that saxagliptin restores vascular mitochondrial adaptation to exercise in a diabetic rodent model and may augment the impact of exercise on the vasculature.
Collapse
|
10
|
Veldman MB, Rios-Galdamez Y, Lu XH, Gu X, Qin W, Li S, Yang XW, Lin S. The N17 domain mitigates nuclear toxicity in a novel zebrafish Huntington's disease model. Mol Neurodegener 2015; 10:67. [PMID: 26645399 PMCID: PMC4673728 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-015-0063-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although the genetic cause for Huntington’s disease (HD) has been known for over 20 years, the mechanisms that cause the neurotoxicity and behavioral symptoms of this disease are not well understood. One hypothesis is that N-terminal fragments of the HTT protein are the causative agents in HD and that peptide sequences adjacent to the poly-glutamine (Q) repeats modify its toxicity. Here we test the function of the N-terminal 17 amino acids (N17) in the context of the exon 1 fragment of HTT in a novel, inducible zebrafish model of HD. Results Deletion of N17 coupled with 97Q expansion (mHTT-ΔN17-exon1) resulted in a robust, rapidly progressing movement deficit, while fish with intact N17 and 97Q expansion (mHTT-exon1) have more delayed-onset movement deficits with slower progression. The level of mHTT-ΔN17-exon1 protein was significantly higher than mHTT-exon1, although the mRNA level of each transgene was marginally different, suggesting that N17 may regulate HTT protein stability in vivo. In addition, cell lineage specific induction of the mHTT-ΔN17-exon1 transgene in neurons was sufficient to recapitulate the consequences of ubiquitous transgene expression. Within neurons, accelerated nuclear accumulation of the toxic HTT fragment was observed in mHTT-ΔN17-exon1 fish, demonstrating that N17 also plays an important role in sub-cellular localization in vivo. Conclusions We have developed a novel, inducible zebrafish model of HD. These animals exhibit a progressive movement deficit reminiscent of that seen in other animal models and human patients. Deletion of the N17 terminal amino acids of the huntingtin fragment results in an accelerated HD-like phenotype that may be due to enhanced protein stability and nuclear accumulation of HTT. These transgenic lines will provide a valuable new tool to study mechanisms of HD at the behavioral, cellular, and molecular levels. Future experiments will be focused on identifying genetic modifiers, mechanisms and therapeutics that alleviate polyQ aggregation in the nucleus of neurons. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13024-015-0063-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew B Veldman
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California-Los Angeles, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Yesenia Rios-Galdamez
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California-Los Angeles, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Xiao-Hong Lu
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.,Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Gu
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.,Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Wei Qin
- Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Song Li
- Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - X William Yang
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA.,Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Shuo Lin
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California-Los Angeles, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. .,Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Chang KH, Wu YR, Chen YC, Chen CM. Plasma inflammatory biomarkers for Huntington's disease patients and mouse model. Brain Behav Immun 2015; 44:121-7. [PMID: 25266150 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Revised: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD), caused by expanded CAG repeats encoding a polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin (HTT) protein, presents with a predominant degeneration of neurons in the striatum and cortex. Lines of evidence have observed neuroinflammation, particularly microglial activation, is involved in the pathogenesis of HD. Given that HTT is also expressed in peripheral inflammatory cells, it is possible that inflammatory changes detected in peripheral plasma may be biologically relevant and parallel the neuroinflammatory process of HD patients. By examining the expression levels of 13 microglia-derived inflammatory markers in the plasma of 5 PreHD carriers, 15 HD patients and 16 healthy controls, we found plasma levels of IL-6, MMP-9, VEGF and TGF-β1 were significantly increased in HD patients when compared with the controls, while plasma level of IL-18 were significantly reduced in HD patients compared with controls. Plasma level of IL-6 was reversely correlated with the UHDRS independence scale and functional capacity. To understand the temporal correlation between these inflammatory markers and HD progression, their levels were further tested in plasma from R6/2 mouse HD model at different ages. In rotarod test, R6/2 HD mice started to manifest HD phenotype at 7.5 weeks of age. Higher plasma VEGF levels of R6/2 mice than those of age-matched wild-type (WT) littermates were noted from 7 (presymptomatic stage) to 13 weeks of age (late symptomatic stage). The plasma IL-6 levels of R6/2 mice were higher than those of the WT littermates from 9 (early symptomatic stage) to 13 weeks of age. R6/2 mice demonstrated higher MMP-9 and TGF-β1 levels than their WT littermates from 11 (middle symptomatic stage) to 13 weeks of age. In contrast, the plasma IL-18 level was lower than those in WT littermates since 11 weeks of age. These altered expressions of inflammatory markers may serve as the potential biomarkers for HD onset and progression. Specific inhibition/activation of these inflammatory markers may be the targets of HD drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yih-Ru Wu
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Chen
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Mei Chen
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Her LS, Lin JY, Fu MH, Chang YF, Li CL, Tang TY, Jhang YL, Chang CY, Shih MC, Cheng PH, Yang SH. The Differential Profiling of Ubiquitin-Proteasome and Autophagy Systems in Different Tissues before the Onset of Huntington's Disease Models. Brain Pathol 2014; 25:481-90. [PMID: 25178567 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic and neurodegenerative disease, leading to motor and cognitive dysfunction in HD patients. At cellular level, this disease is caused by the accumulation of mutant huntingtin (HTT) in different cells, and finally results in the dysfunction of different cells. To clean these mutant proteins, ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy system are two critical pathways in the brain; however, little is known in other peripheral tissues. As mutant HTT affects different tissues progressively and might influence the UPS and autophagy pathways at early stages, we attempted to examine two clearance systems in HD models before the onset. Here, in vitro results showed that the accumulation of UPS signals with time was observed obviously in neuroblastoma and kidney cells, not in other cells. In HD transgenic mice, we observed the impairment of UPS, but not autophagy, over time in the cortex and striatum. In heart and muscle tissues, disturbance of autophagy was observed, whereas dysfunction of UPS was displayed in liver and lung. These results suggest that two protein clearance pathways are disturbed differentially in different tissues before the onset of HD, and enhancement of protein clearance at early stages might provide a potential stratagem to alleviate the progression of HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Shiun Her
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Jian-Yu Lin
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Mu-Hui Fu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Fan Chang
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ling Li
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Yu Tang
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ling Jhang
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yi Chang
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Chi Shih
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Hsun Cheng
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Hsun Yang
- Department of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Rahman A, Davis B, Lövdahl C, Hanumaiah VT, Feil R, Brakebusch C, Arner A. The small GTPase Rac1 is required for smooth muscle contraction. J Physiol 2013; 592:915-26. [PMID: 24297853 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.262998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the small GTP-binding protein Rac1 in smooth muscle contraction was examined using small molecule inhibitors (EHT1864, NSC23766) and a novel smooth muscle-specific, conditional, Rac1 knockout mouse strain. EHT1864, which affects nucleotide binding and inhibits Rac1 activity, concentration-dependently inhibited the contractile responses induced by several different modes of activation (high-K+, phenylephrine, carbachol and protein kinase C activation by phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate) in several different visceral (urinary bladder, ileum) and vascular (mesenteric artery, saphenous artery, aorta) smooth muscle tissues. This contractile inhibition was associated with inhibition of the Ca2+ transient. Knockout of Rac1 (with a 50% loss of Rac1 protein) lowered active stress in the urinary bladder and the saphenous artery consistent with a role of Rac1 in facilitating smooth muscle contraction. NSC23766, which blocks interaction between Rac1 and some guanine nucleotide exchange factors, specifically inhibited the α1 receptor responses (phenylephrine) in vascular tissues and potentiated prostaglandin F2α and thromboxane (U46619) receptor responses. The latter potentiating effect occurred at lowered intracellular [Ca2+]. These results show that Rac1 activity is required for active contraction in smooth muscle, probably via enabling an adequate Ca2+ transient. At the same time, specific agonists recruit Rac1 signalling via upstream modulators, resulting in either a potentiation of contraction via Ca2+ mobilization (α1 receptor stimulation) or an attenuated contraction via inhibition of Ca2+ sensitization (prostaglandin and thromboxane receptors).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Awahan Rahman
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, von Eulers väg 8, SE 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|