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Hammer M, Krzyzaniak C, Bahramnejad E, Smelser K, Hack J, Watkins J, Ronaldson P. Sex differences in physiological response to increased neuronal excitability in a knockin mouse model of pediatric epilepsy. Clin Sci (Lond) 2024; 138:205-223. [PMID: 38348743 PMCID: PMC10881277 DOI: 10.1042/cs20231572] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epilepsy is a common neurological disease; however, few if any of the currently marketed antiseizure medications prevent or cure epilepsy. Discovery of pathological processes in the early stages of epileptogenesis has been challenging given the common use of preclinical models that induce seizures in physiologically normal animals. Moreover, despite known sex dimorphism in neurological diseases, females are rarely included in preclinical epilepsy models. METHODS We characterized sex differences in mice carrying a pathogenic knockin variant (p.N1768D) in the Scn8a gene that causes spontaneous tonic-clonic seizures (TCs) at ∼3 months of age and found that heterozygous females are more resilient than males in mortality and morbidity. To investigate the cellular mechanisms that underlie female resilience, we utilized blood-brain barrier (BBB) and hippocampal transcriptomic analyses in heterozygous mice before seizure onset (pre-TC) and in mice that experienced ∼20 TCs (post-TC). RESULTS In the pre-TC latent phase, both sexes exhibited leaky BBB; however, patterns of gene expression were sexually dimorphic. Females exhibited enhanced oxidative phosphorylation and protein biogenesis, while males activated gliosis and CREB signaling. After seizure onset (chronic phase), females exhibited a metabolic switch to lipid metabolism, while males exhibited increased gliosis and BBB dysfunction and a strong activation of neuroinflammatory pathways. CONCLUSION The results underscore the central role of oxidative stress and BBB permeability in the early stages of epileptogenesis, as well as sex dimorphism in response to increasing neuronal hyperexcitability. Our results also highlight the need to include both sexes in preclinical studies to effectively translate results of drug efficacy studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F. Hammer
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A
| | | | - Erfan Bahramnejad
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A
| | | | - Joshua B. Hack
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A
| | - Joseph C. Watkins
- Department of Mathematics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A
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HAT- and HDAC-Targeted Protein Acetylation in the Occurrence and Treatment of Epilepsy. Biomedicines 2022; 11:biomedicines11010088. [PMID: 36672596 PMCID: PMC9856006 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11010088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a common and severe chronic neurological disorder. Recently, post-translational modification (PTM) mechanisms, especially protein acetylation modifications, have been widely studied in various epilepsy models or patients. Acetylation is regulated by two classes of enzymes, histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). HATs catalyze the transfer of the acetyl group to a lysine residue, while HDACs catalyze acetyl group removal. The expression of many genes related to epilepsy is regulated by histone acetylation and deacetylation. Moreover, the acetylation modification of some non-histone substrates is also associated with epilepsy. Various molecules have been developed as HDAC inhibitors (HDACi), which have become potential antiepileptic drugs for epilepsy treatment. In this review, we summarize the changes in acetylation modification in epileptogenesis and the applications of HDACi in the treatment of epilepsy as well as the mechanisms involved. As most of the published research has focused on the differential expression of proteins that are known to be acetylated and the knowledge of whole acetylome changes in epilepsy is still minimal, a further understanding of acetylation regulation will help us explore the pathological mechanism of epilepsy and provide novel ideas for treating epilepsy.
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Mechanistic Insights into the Neuroprotective Potential of Sacred Ficus Trees. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14224731. [PMID: 36432418 PMCID: PMC9695857 DOI: 10.3390/nu14224731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ficus religiosa (Bo tree or sacred fig) and Ficus benghalensis (Indian banyan) are of immense spiritual and therapeutic importance. Various parts of these trees have been investigated for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, dermoprotective, and nephroprotective properties. Previous reviews of Ficus mostly discussed traditional usages, photochemistry, and pharmacological activities, though comprehensive reviews of the neuroprotective potential of these Ficus species extracts and/or their important phytocompounds are lacking. The interesting phytocompounds from these trees include many bengalenosides, carotenoids, flavonoids (leucopelargonidin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, leucopelargonidin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, lupeol, cetyl behenate, and α-amyrin acetate), flavonols (kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin), leucocyanidin, phytosterols (bergapten, bergaptol, lanosterol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol), terpenes (α-thujene, α-pinene, β-pinene, α-terpinene, limonene, β-ocimene, β-bourbonene, β-caryophyllene, α-trans-bergamotene, α-copaene, aromadendrene, α-humulene, alloaromadendrene, germacrene, γ-cadinene, and δ-cadinene), and diverse polyphenols (tannin, wax, saponin, leucoanthocyanin), contributing significantly to their pharmacological effects, ranging from antimicrobial action to neuroprotection. This review presents extensive mechanistic insights into the neuroprotective potential, especially important phytochemicals from F. religiosa and F. benghalensis. Owing to the complex pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), the currently existing drugs merely alleviate the symptoms. Hence, bioactive compounds with potent neuroprotective effects through a multitarget approach would be of great interest in developing pharmacophores for the treatment of NDDs.
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Sun Q, Xu W, Piao J, Su J, Ge T, Cui R, Yang W, Li B. Transcription factors are potential therapeutic targets in epilepsy. J Cell Mol Med 2022; 26:4875-4885. [PMID: 36065764 PMCID: PMC9549512 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Academics generally believe that imbalance between excitation and inhibition of the nervous system is the root cause of epilepsy. However, the aetiology of epilepsy is complex, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. Many studies have shown that epilepsy is closely related to genetic factors. Additionally, the involvement of a variety of tumour‐related transcription factors in the pathogenesis of epilepsy has been confirmed, which also confirms the heredity of epilepsy. In this review, we summarize the existing research on a variety of transcription factors and epilepsy and present relevant evidence related to transcription factors that may be targets in epilepsy. This information is of great significance for revealing the in‐depth molecular and cellular mechanisms of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihan Sun
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wenbo Xu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jingjing Piao
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jingyun Su
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Tongtong Ge
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ranji Cui
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Bingjin Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Wang P, Nan S, Zhang Y, Fan J. Effects of GABA B receptor positive allosteric modulator BHF177 and IRS-1 on apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in rats with refractory epilepsy via the PI3K/Akt pathway. Cell Biol Int 2022; 46:1775-1786. [PMID: 35989486 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The present study was conducted to determine the effects of the γ-aminobutyric acid B (GABAB ) receptor positive allosteric modulator BHF177 on refractory epilepsy (RE). An RE rat model was initially established via treatment with lithium-pilocarpine. The RE rats were then treated with BHF177 or the GABAB receptor antagonist CGP46381, followed by recording of their seizure rate and assessment of their spatial learning in the Morris water maze test. Treatment of BHF177 reduced the seizure intensity, whereas this effect was revered upoj treatment with CGP46381. Immunohistochemistry revealed that BHF177 treatment diminished P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in the hippocampal tissues of RE rats. Next, we found that BHF177 activated GABAB receptor, resulting in upregulated expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and PI3K, as well as antiapoptotic factors (Bcl-2 and mTOR), along with suppression of the apoptosis factors Bax and cleaved caspase-3 in the hippocampal tissues. Further, activation of GABAB receptors by BHF177 alleviated the inflammatory response in hippocampal tissues of RE rats, as evidenced by reduced VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels. Next, we treated primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons with BHF177 and the IRS-1 selective inhibitor NT157. BHF177 inhibited hippocampal apoptosis in rat hippocampal neurons by regulating the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt axis through crosstalk between GABAB and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptors. Collectively, our findings indicate that the BHF177 inhibited neuron apoptosis, thus protecting against RE through the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt axis, which may present a new therapeutic channel for RE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Shanji Nan
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yizhi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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Ding XH, Chai X, Zheng J, Chang H, Zheng W, Bian SZ, Ye P. Baseline Ratio of Soluble Fas/FasL Predicts Onset of Pulmonary Hypertension in Elder Patients Undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Prospective Cohort Study. Front Physiol 2022; 13:847172. [PMID: 35299658 PMCID: PMC8921550 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.847172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is one of the most common complications associated with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Though numerous risk factors have been founded, other risk factors remain unidentified, particularly in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis with elder age. Soluble Fas (sFas) and its ligand FasL (sFasL) have been reported in chronic renal disease patients; however, they have not been identified in the PH patients of elder hemodialysis patients. We aimed to determine the roles of sFas/sFasL in onset of PH in elder patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis with ESRD. Methods Altogether, 163 patients aged 68.00 ± 10.51 years with ESRD who undergoing maintenance hemodialysis in a prospective cohort and were followed-up for a median of 5.5 years. They underwent echocardiography examinations, liver function assessments, residual renal function, and serum ion examinations, before and after dialysis. Furthermore, levels of sFas and sFasL at baseline had also been measured. We compared demographic data, echocardiographic parameters, liver function, ions, and residual renal function as well as serum sFas and sFasL between the PH and non-PH groups. These parameters were correlated with systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) using Spearman’s correlation. Moreover, univariate and adjusted logistic regression analyses have also been conducted. Results The incidence of PH in the elder dialysis patients was 39.1%. PH populations were demonstrated with significantly higher end-diastolic internal diameters of the left atrium, left ventricle, right ventricle (RV), and pulmonary artery, as well as the left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVWP; all p < 0.05). A higher baseline serum sFas and sFasL levels have also been identified ( p < 0.001). They also showed lower fractional shortening and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; p < 0.05). Following dialysis, the post-dialysis serum potassium concentration (K+) was significantly higher in the PH group ( p = 0.013). Furthermore, the adjusted regression identified that ratio of sFas/FasL (OR: 1.587, p = 0.004), RV (OR: 1.184, p = 0.014), LVPW (OR: 1.517, p = 0.007), and post-dialysis K+ (OR: 2.717, p = 0.040) was the independent risk factors for PH while LVEF (OR: 0.875, p = 0.040) protects patients from PH. Conclusion The baseline ratio of sFas/sFasL, RV, LVPW, and post-dialysis K+ was independent risk factors for PH onset, while LVEF was a protective factor for PH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Han Ding
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,Department of Health Care and Geriatrics, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support of PLA, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaoliang Chai
- Department of Health Care and Geriatrics, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support of PLA, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jin Zheng
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Chang
- Department of Ultrasonography, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support of PLA, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wenxue Zheng
- Department of Cardiology, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support of PLA, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shi-Zhu Bian
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of Xinqiao Hospital and People's Liberation Army of China, Chongqing, China.,Department of Cardiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Ping Ye
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Singh S, Singh TG, Rehni AK. An Insight into Molecular Mechanisms and Novel Therapeutic Approaches in Epileptogenesis. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS-DRUG TARGETS 2021; 19:750-779. [PMID: 32914725 DOI: 10.2174/1871527319666200910153827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is the second most common neurological disease with abnormal neural activity involving the activation of various intracellular signalling transduction mechanisms. The molecular and system biology mechanisms responsible for epileptogenesis are not well defined or understood. Neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and Epigenetic modification elicit epileptogenesis. The excessive neuronal activities in the brain are associated with neurochemical changes underlying the deleterious consequences of excitotoxicity. The prolonged repetitive excessive neuronal activities extended to brain tissue injury by the activation of microglia regulating abnormal neuroglia remodelling and monocyte infiltration in response to brain lesions inducing axonal sprouting contributing to neurodegeneration. The alteration of various downstream transduction pathways resulted in intracellular stress responses associating endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial and lysosomal dysfunction, activation of nucleases, proteases mediated neuronal death. The recently novel pharmacological agents modulate various receptors like mTOR, COX-2, TRK, JAK-STAT, epigenetic modulators and neurosteroids are used for attenuation of epileptogenesis. Whereas the various molecular changes like the mutation of the cell surface, nuclear receptor and ion channels focusing on repetitive episodic seizures have been explored by preclinical and clinical studies. Despite effective pharmacotherapy for epilepsy, the inadequate understanding of precise mechanisms, drug resistance and therapeutic failure are the current fundamental problems in epilepsy. Therefore, the novel pharmacological approaches evaluated for efficacy on experimental models of epilepsy need to be identified and validated. In addition, we need to understand the downstream signalling pathways of new targets for the treatment of epilepsy. This review emphasizes on the current state of novel molecular targets as therapeutic approaches and future directions for the management of epileptogenesis. Novel pharmacological approaches and clinical exploration are essential to make new frontiers in curing epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shareen Singh
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | | | - Ashish Kumar Rehni
- Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Laboratories, Department of Neurology and Neuroscience Program, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33101, United States
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Zhang Y, Ding XH, Rao R, Wang Y, Pang F, Tang S, Nie L, Bian SZ. The Prevalence of Pulmonary Hypertension Among Maintenance Dialysis Patients With ESRD and Its Associated Factors: A Retrospective Study. Front Med (Lausanne) 2020; 7:570874. [PMID: 33344470 PMCID: PMC7746851 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2020.570874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To determine the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and its associated factors among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients who underwent maintenance dialysis. Methods: A total of 491 patients received echocardiography examinations and underwent pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) assessments. A subgroup of 283 patients were subjected to plasma creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen concentration (BUN) tests, routine blood examinations and electrolyte analysis. First, we compared the differences in echocardiographic, Cr and BUN, blood routine and electrolyte parameters between PH and non-PH groups. The correlations between PASP and the parameters mentioned above were also analyzed. Furthermore, univariate and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent associated factors. Results: The incidence of PH among ESRD patients who were treated with maintenance dialysis was 34.6%. Most of the echocardiographic parameters, including end-diastolic internal diameters of the left atrium, left ventricle, right atrium, and pulmonary artery, as well as interventricular septum mobility, left ventricular posterior wall mobility, fractional shortening, stroke volume and left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), were associated with PH. Furthermore, Mg2+ (p = 0.037) and Cl- (p = 0.043) were significantly associated with PASP. However, after adjustments were made in the regression analysis, only internal diameters of the left atrium, right atrium, and LVEF were independently associated with PH. Conclusion: PH is prevalent, with a relatively high incidence among ESRD patients who undergo maintenance dialysis. The sizes of the left and right atria as well as LVEF were independently associated with PH, but further cohort and basic mechanistic studies are needed to confirm this finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- The Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease of Chongqing, Department of Nephrology, Kidney Center of People's Liberation Army, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao-Han Ding
- Department of Health Care and Geriatrics, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support of People's Liberation Army, Lanzhou, China
| | - Rongsheng Rao
- Department of Ultrasonography, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yiqin Wang
- The Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease of Chongqing, Department of Nephrology, Kidney Center of People's Liberation Army, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Fang Pang
- The Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease of Chongqing, Department of Nephrology, Kidney Center of People's Liberation Army, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Sha Tang
- The Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease of Chongqing, Department of Nephrology, Kidney Center of People's Liberation Army, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Ling Nie
- The Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease of Chongqing, Department of Nephrology, Kidney Center of People's Liberation Army, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Shi-Zhu Bian
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases of People's Liberation Army, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China.,Department of Cardiology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
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