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Yang J, Tian M, Zhang L, Xin C, Huo J, Liu Q, Dong H, Li R, Liu Y. Assessment of Rab geranylgeranyltransferase subunit beta in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1447461. [PMID: 39224887 PMCID: PMC11366579 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1447461] [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: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Geranylgeranyltransferase Subunit Beta (RABGGTB) was expressed at higher levels in patients with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared with healthy controls. This study aims to observe the expression of RABGGTB in different cells from patients with ALS and different diseases. Methods In this case-control study, we collected peripheral blood from patients with ALS and healthy controls, and compared the expression of RABGGTB in natural killer cells (NK), T cells and B cells between patients with ALS and healthy controls by flow cytometry. And compared the expression of RABGGTB in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages from patients with ALS, Parkinson's disease (PD), acute cerebrovascular disease (ACVD), and healthy controls by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. Then flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of RABGGTB in monocytes from SOD1G93A mice and WT mice. Results The expression of RABGGTB was not significantly changed in NK cells, cytotoxic T cells (CTL), helper T cells (Th), regulatory T cells (Treg), and B cells from patients with ALS compared to healthy controls. And the expression of RABGGTB in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages was higher in the ALS group than in the PD, ACVD and control group. The expression of RABGGTB was significantly higher in monocytes of SOD1G93A mice compared to WT mice. Conclusion These findings suggest that RABGGTB expression was increased in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages from patients with ALS, not in NK, CTL, Th, Treg, and B cells. Future studies are needed to find the clinical implication of RABGGTB in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Mei Tian
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Emergency, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Cheng Xin
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Jia Huo
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Hui Dong
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Yaling Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- The Key Laboratory of Neurology, Hebei Medical University, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
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Wang H, Chen N, Jian F, Zhang Z, Tai H, Pan H. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and myasthenia gravis overlaps syndrome: a series of case report. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:3549-3553. [PMID: 38403672 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07369-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Hengheng Wang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Na Chen
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Fan Jian
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Zaiqiang Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Hongfei Tai
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, 100050, China
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Pan
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050, China.
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, 100050, China.
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3
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Moțățăianu A, Mănescu IB, Șerban G, Bărcuțean L, Ion V, Bălașa R, Andone S. Exploring the Role of Metabolic Hormones in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5059. [PMID: 38791099 PMCID: PMC11121721 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105059] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of motor neurons. Emerging evidence suggests a potential link between metabolic dysregulation and ALS pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between metabolic hormones and disease progression in ALS patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 44 ALS patients recruited from a tertiary care center. Serum levels of insulin, total amylin, C-peptide, active ghrelin, GIP (gastric inhibitory peptide), GLP-1 active (glucagon-like peptide-1), glucagon, PYY (peptide YY), PP (pancreatic polypeptide), leptin, interleukin-6, MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), and TNFα (tumor necrosis factor alpha) were measured, and correlations with ALSFRS-R, evolution scores, and biomarkers were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficients. Subgroup analyses based on ALS subtypes, progression pattern of disease, and disease progression rate patterns were performed. Significant correlations were observed between metabolic hormones and ALS evolution scores. Insulin and amylin exhibited strong correlations with disease progression and clinical functional outcomes, with insulin showing particularly robust associations. Other hormones such as C-peptide, leptin, and GLP-1 also showed correlations with ALS progression and functional status. Subgroup analyses revealed differences in hormone levels based on sex and disease evolution patterns, with male patients showing higher amylin and glucagon levels. ALS patients with slower disease progression exhibited elevated levels of amylin and insulin. Our findings suggest a potential role for metabolic hormones in modulating ALS progression and functional outcomes. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and explore the therapeutic implications of targeting metabolic pathways in ALS management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Moțățăianu
- Department of Neurology, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș ‘George Emil Palade’, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
- 1st Neurology Clinic, Mures County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Ion Bogdan Mănescu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș ‘George Emil Palade’, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Georgiana Șerban
- Doctoral School, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș ‘George Emil Palade’, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Laura Bărcuțean
- Department of Neurology, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș ‘George Emil Palade’, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
- 1st Neurology Clinic, Mures County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Valentin Ion
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Analytical Chemistry and Drug Analysis, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș ‘George Emil Palade’, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
- Drug Testing Laboratory, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș ‘George Emil Palade’, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Rodica Bălașa
- Department of Neurology, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș ‘George Emil Palade’, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
- 1st Neurology Clinic, Mures County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Sebastian Andone
- Department of Neurology, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu Mureș ‘George Emil Palade’, 540142 Târgu Mureș, Romania
- 1st Neurology Clinic, Mures County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 540136 Târgu Mureș, Romania
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4
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Genge A, Wainwright S, Vande Velde C. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: exploring pathophysiology in the context of treatment. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2024; 25:225-236. [PMID: 38001557 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2278503] [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: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex, neurodegenerative disorder in which alterations in structural, physiological, and metabolic parameters act synergistically. Over the last decade there has been a considerable focus on developing drugs to slow the progression of the disease. Despite this, only four disease-modifying therapies are approved in North America. Although additional research is required for a thorough understanding of ALS, we have accumulated a large amount of knowledge that could be better integrated into future clinical trials to accelerate drug development and provide patients with improved treatment options. It is likely that future, successful ALS treatments will take a multi-pronged therapeutic approach, targeting different pathways, akin to personalized medicine in oncology. In this review, we discuss the link between ALS pathophysiology and treatments, looking at the therapeutic failures as learning opportunities that can help us refine and optimize drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Genge
- Clinical Research Unit Director, ALS Clinic, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Steven Wainwright
- Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and
| | - Christine Vande Velde
- CHUM Research Center, Department of Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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5
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Provenzano F, Torazza C, Bonifacino T, Bonanno G, Milanese M. The Key Role of Astrocytes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Their Commitment to Glutamate Excitotoxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15430. [PMID: 37895110 PMCID: PMC10607805 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015430] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last two decades, there has been increasing evidence supporting non-neuronal cells as active contributors to neurodegenerative disorders. Among glial cells, astrocytes play a pivotal role in driving amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression, leading the scientific community to focus on the "astrocytic signature" in ALS. Here, we summarized the main pathological mechanisms characterizing astrocyte contribution to MN damage and ALS progression, such as neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, energy metabolism impairment, miRNAs and extracellular vesicles contribution, autophagy dysfunction, protein misfolding, and altered neurotrophic factor release. Since glutamate excitotoxicity is one of the most relevant ALS features, we focused on the specific contribution of ALS astrocytes in this aspect, highlighting the known or potential molecular mechanisms by which astrocytes participate in increasing the extracellular glutamate level in ALS and, conversely, undergo the toxic effect of the excessive glutamate. In this scenario, astrocytes can behave as "producers" and "targets" of the high extracellular glutamate levels, going through changes that can affect themselves and, in turn, the neuronal and non-neuronal surrounding cells, thus actively impacting the ALS course. Moreover, this review aims to point out knowledge gaps that deserve further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Provenzano
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Carola Torazza
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Tiziana Bonifacino
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Marco Milanese
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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6
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Suárez-Rivero JM, López-Pérez J, Muela-Zarzuela I, Pastor-Maldonado C, Cilleros-Holgado P, Gómez-Fernández D, Álvarez-Córdoba M, Munuera-Cabeza M, Talaverón-Rey M, Povea-Cabello S, Suárez-Carrillo A, Piñero-Pérez R, Reche-López D, Romero-Domínguez JM, Sánchez-Alcázar JA. Neurodegeneration, Mitochondria, and Antibiotics. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13030416. [PMID: 36984858 PMCID: PMC10056573 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13030416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the progressive loss of neurons, synapses, dendrites, and myelin in the central and/or peripheral nervous system. Actual therapeutic options for patients are scarce and merely palliative. Although they affect millions of patients worldwide, the molecular mechanisms underlying these conditions remain unclear. Mitochondrial dysfunction is generally found in neurodegenerative diseases and is believed to be involved in the pathomechanisms of these disorders. Therefore, therapies aiming to improve mitochondrial function are promising approaches for neurodegeneration. Although mitochondrial-targeted treatments are limited, new research findings have unraveled the therapeutic potential of several groups of antibiotics. These drugs possess pleiotropic effects beyond their anti-microbial activity, such as anti-inflammatory or mitochondrial enhancer function. In this review, we will discuss the controversial use of antibiotics as potential therapies in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M. Suárez-Rivero
- Institute for Biomedical Researching and Innovation of Cádiz (INiBICA) University Hospital Puerta del Mar, 11009 Cádiz, Spain
| | - Juan López-Pérez
- Institute for Biomedical Researching and Innovation of Cádiz (INiBICA) University Hospital Puerta del Mar, 11009 Cádiz, Spain
| | - Inés Muela-Zarzuela
- Institute for Biomedical Researching and Innovation of Cádiz (INiBICA) University Hospital Puerta del Mar, 11009 Cádiz, Spain
| | - Carmen Pastor-Maldonado
- Department of Molecular Biology Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Paula Cilleros-Holgado
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD-CSIC-Pablo de Olavide-University), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - David Gómez-Fernández
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD-CSIC-Pablo de Olavide-University), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Mónica Álvarez-Córdoba
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD-CSIC-Pablo de Olavide-University), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Manuel Munuera-Cabeza
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD-CSIC-Pablo de Olavide-University), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Marta Talaverón-Rey
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD-CSIC-Pablo de Olavide-University), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Suleva Povea-Cabello
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD-CSIC-Pablo de Olavide-University), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alejandra Suárez-Carrillo
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD-CSIC-Pablo de Olavide-University), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Rocío Piñero-Pérez
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD-CSIC-Pablo de Olavide-University), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Diana Reche-López
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD-CSIC-Pablo de Olavide-University), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - José M. Romero-Domínguez
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD-CSIC-Pablo de Olavide-University), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - José Antonio Sánchez-Alcázar
- Andalusian Centre for Developmental Biology (CABD-CSIC-Pablo de Olavide-University), 41013 Sevilla, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-954978071
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7
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Balbi M, Bonanno G, Bonifacino T, Milanese M. The Physio-Pathological Role of Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Expressed by Microglia in Health and Disease with a Focus on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:5240. [PMID: 36982315 PMCID: PMC10048889 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065240] [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: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia cells are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system. They act as the first-line immune guardians of nervous tissue and central drivers of neuroinflammation. Any homeostatic alteration that can compromise neuron and tissue integrity could activate microglia. Once activated, microglia exhibit highly diverse phenotypes and functions related to either beneficial or harmful consequences. Microglia activation is associated with the release of protective or deleterious cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors that can in turn determine defensive or pathological outcomes. This scenario is complicated by the pathology-related specific phenotypes that microglia can assume, thus leading to the so-called disease-associated microglia phenotypes. Microglia express several receptors that regulate the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory features, sometimes exerting opposite actions on microglial functions according to specific conditions. In this context, group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are molecular structures that may contribute to the modulation of the reactive phenotype of microglia cells, and this is worthy of exploration. Here, we summarize the role of group I mGluRs in shaping microglia cells' phenotype in specific physio-pathological conditions, including some neurodegenerative disorders. A significant section of the review is specifically focused on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) since it represents an entirely unexplored topic of research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Balbi
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy (M.M.)
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Tiziana Bonifacino
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy (M.M.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Milanese
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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8
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Jiang H, Zhang Y, Wang ZZ, Chen NH. Connexin 43: An Interface Connecting Neuroinflammation to Depression. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28041820. [PMID: 36838809 PMCID: PMC9961786 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28041820] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading chronic mental illness worldwide, characterized by anhedonia, pessimism and even suicidal thoughts. Connexin 43 (Cx43), mainly distributed in astrocytes of the brain, is by far the most widely and ubiquitously expressed connexin in almost all vital organs. Cx43 forms gap junction channels in the brain, which mediate energy exchange and effectively maintain physiological homeostasis. Increasing evidence suggests the crucial role of Cx43 in the pathogenesis of MDD. Neuroinflammation is one of the most common pathological features of the central nervous system dysfunctions. Inflammatory factors are abnormally elevated in patients with depression and are closely related to nearly all links of depression. After activating the inflammatory pathway in the brain, the release and uptake of glutamate and adenosine triphosphate, through Cx43 in the synaptic cleft, would be affected. In this review, we have summarized the association between Cx43 and neuroinflammation, the cornerstones linking inflammation and depression, and Cx43 abnormalities in depression. We also discuss the significant association of Cx43 in inflammation and depression, which will help to explore new antidepressant drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical, Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Anatomy, School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical, Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Correspondence: (Z.-Z.W.); (N.-H.C.); Tel.: +86-10-6316-5182 (Z.-Z.W.); +86-10-63165177 (N.-H.C.)
| | - Nai-Hong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica & Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical, Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Correspondence: (Z.-Z.W.); (N.-H.C.); Tel.: +86-10-6316-5182 (Z.-Z.W.); +86-10-63165177 (N.-H.C.)
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9
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The potential use of tetracyclines in neurodegenerative diseases and the role of nano-based drug delivery systems. Eur J Pharm Sci 2022; 175:106237. [PMID: 35710076 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2022.106237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are still a challenge for effective treatments. The high cost of approved drugs, severity of side effects, injection site pain, and restrictions on drug delivery to the Central Nervous System (CNS) can overshadow the management of these diseases. Due to the chronic and progressive evolution of neurodegenerative disorders and since there is still no cure for them, new therapeutic strategies such as the combination of several drugs or the use of existing drugs with new therapeutic applications are valuable strategies. Tetracyclines are traditionally classified as antibiotics. However, in this class of drugs, doxycycline and minocycline exhibit also anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting microglia/macrophages. Hence, they have been studied as potential agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The results of in vitro and in vivo studies confirm the effective role of these two drugs as anti-inflammatory agents in experimentally induced models of neurodegenerative diseases. In clinical studies, satisfactory results have been obtained in Multiple sclerosis (MS) but not yet in other disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In recent years, researchers have developed and evaluated nanoparticulate drug delivery systems to improve the clinical efficacy of these two tetracyclines for their potential application in neurodegenerative diseases. This study reviews the neuroprotective roles of minocycline and doxycycline in four of the main neurodegenerative disorders: AD, PD, ALS and MS. Moreover, the potential applications of nanoparticulate delivery systems developed for both tetracyclines are also reviewed.
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Abulseoud OA, Alasmari F, Hussein AM, Sari Y. Ceftriaxone as a Novel Therapeutic Agent for Hyperglutamatergic States: Bridging the Gap Between Preclinical Results and Clinical Translation. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:841036. [PMID: 35864981 PMCID: PMC9294323 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.841036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of glutamate homeostasis is a well-established core feature of neuropsychiatric disorders. Extracellular glutamate concentration is regulated by glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1). The discovery of a beta-lactam antibiotic, ceftriaxone (CEF), as a safe compound with unique ability to upregulate GLT-1 sparked the interest in testing its efficacy as a novel therapeutic agent in animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders with hyperglutamatergic states. Indeed, more than 100 preclinical studies have shown the efficacy of CEF in attenuating the behavioral manifestations of various hyperglutamatergic brain disorders such as ischemic stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), seizure, Huntington’s disease, and various aspects of drug use disorders. However, despite rich and promising preclinical data, only one large-scale clinical trial testing the efficacy of CEF in patients with ALS is reported. Unfortunately, in that study, there was no significant difference in survival between placebo- and CEF-treated patients. In this review, we discussed the translational potential of preclinical efficacy of CEF based on four different parameters: (1) initiation of CEF treatment in relation to induction of the hyperglutamatergic state, (2) onset of response in preclinical models in relation to onset of GLT-1 upregulation, (3) mechanisms of action of CEF on GLT-1 expression and function, and (4) non-GLT-1-mediated mechanisms for CEF. Our detailed review of the literature brings new insights into underlying molecular mechanisms correlating the preclinical efficacy of CEF. We concluded here that CEF may be clinically effective in selected cases in acute and transient hyperglutamatergic states such as early drug withdrawal conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osama A. Abulseoud
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Alex School of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- *Correspondence: Osama A. Abulseoud,
| | - Fawaz Alasmari
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelaziz M. Hussein
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Youssef Sari
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
- Youssef Sari,
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Genetic Variability of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Genes Affects Onset, Progression of the Disease and Survival of Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13050757. [PMID: 35627142 PMCID: PMC9140599 DOI: 10.3390/genes13050757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammation and oxidative stress are recognized as important contributors to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease pathogenesis. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms in genes involved in inflammation and oxidative stress on ALS susceptibility and modification. One-hundred-and-eighty-five ALS patients and 324 healthy controls were genotyped for nine polymorphisms in seven antioxidant and inflammatory genes using competitive allele-specific PCR. Logistic regression; nonparametric tests and survival analysis were used in the statistical analysis. Investigated polymorphisms were not associated with ALS susceptibility. Carriers of at least one polymorphic SOD2 rs4880 T or IL1B rs1071676 C allele more often had bulbar ALS onset (p = 0.036 and p = 0.039; respectively). IL1B rs1071676 was also associated with a higher rate of disease progression (p = 0.015). After adjustment for clinical parameters; carriers of two polymorphic IL1B rs1071676 C alleles had shorter survival (HR = 5.02; 95% CI = 1.92–13.16; p = 0.001); while carriers of at least one polymorphic CAT rs1001179 T allele had longer survival (HR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.47–0.99; p = 0.046). Our data suggest that common genetic variants in the antioxidant and inflammatory pathways may modify ALS disease. Such genetic information could support the identification of patients that may be responsive to the immune or antioxidant system—based therapies.
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12
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Cx43 hemichannels contribute to astrocyte-mediated toxicity in sporadic and familial ALS. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2107391119. [PMID: 35312356 PMCID: PMC9060483 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107391119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Our results demonstrate that connexin 43 hemichannels are the conduits for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) astrocyte-mediated motor neuron toxicity and disease spread, acting as a common mechanism that can target both familial ALS and sporadic ALS populations. Furthermore, our present work provides proof of principle that tonabersat, as a drug already studied in clinical trials for other indications, could serve as a potential ALS therapeutic. Connexin 43 (Cx43) gap junctions and hemichannels mediate astrocyte intercellular communication in the central nervous system under normal conditions and contribute to astrocyte-mediated neurotoxicity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we show that astrocyte-specific knockout of Cx43 in a mouse model of ALS slows disease progression both spatially and temporally, provides motor neuron (MN) protection, and improves survival. In addition, Cx43 expression is up-regulated in human postmortem tissue and cerebrospinal fluid from ALS patients. Using human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived astrocytes (hiPSC-A) from both familial and sporadic ALS, we establish that Cx43 is up-regulated and that Cx43-hemichannels are enriched at the astrocyte membrane. We also demonstrate that the pharmacological blockade of Cx43-hemichannels in ALS astrocytes using GAP 19, a mimetic peptide blocker, and tonabersat, a clinically tested small molecule, provides neuroprotection of hiPSC-MN and reduces ALS astrocyte-mediated neuronal hyperexcitability. Extending the in vitro application of tonabersat with chronic administration to SOD1G93A mice results in MN protection with a reduction in reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis. Taking these data together, our studies identify Cx43 hemichannels as conduits of astrocyte-mediated disease progression and a pharmacological target for disease-modifying ALS therapies.
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Satarker S, Bojja SL, Gurram PC, Mudgal J, Arora D, Nampoothiri M. Astrocytic Glutamatergic Transmission and Its Implications in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071139. [PMID: 35406702 PMCID: PMC8997779 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Several neurodegenerative disorders involve impaired neurotransmission, and glutamatergic neurotransmission sets a prototypical example. Glutamate is a predominant excitatory neurotransmitter where the astrocytes play a pivotal role in maintaining the extracellular levels through release and uptake mechanisms. Astrocytes modulate calcium-mediated excitability and release several neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, including glutamate, and significantly modulate neurotransmission. Accumulating evidence supports the concept of excitotoxicity caused by astrocytic glutamatergic release in pathological conditions. Thus, the current review highlights different vesicular and non-vesicular mechanisms of astrocytic glutamate release and their implication in neurodegenerative diseases. As in presynaptic neurons, the vesicular release of astrocytic glutamate is also primarily meditated by calcium-mediated exocytosis. V-ATPase is crucial in the acidification and maintenance of the gradient that facilitates the vesicular storage of glutamate. Along with these, several other components, such as cystine/glutamate antiporter, hemichannels, BEST-1, TREK-1, purinergic receptors and so forth, also contribute to glutamate release under physiological and pathological conditions. Events of hampered glutamate uptake could promote inflamed astrocytes to trigger repetitive release of glutamate. This could be favorable towards the development and worsening of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, across neurodegenerative diseases, we review the relations between defective glutamatergic signaling and astrocytic vesicular and non-vesicular events in glutamate homeostasis. The optimum regulation of astrocytic glutamatergic transmission could pave the way for the management of these diseases and add to their therapeutic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sairaj Satarker
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India; (S.S.); (S.L.B.); (P.C.G.); (J.M.)
| | - Sree Lalitha Bojja
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India; (S.S.); (S.L.B.); (P.C.G.); (J.M.)
| | - Prasada Chowdari Gurram
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India; (S.S.); (S.L.B.); (P.C.G.); (J.M.)
| | - Jayesh Mudgal
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India; (S.S.); (S.L.B.); (P.C.G.); (J.M.)
| | - Devinder Arora
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India; (S.S.); (S.L.B.); (P.C.G.); (J.M.)
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia;
| | - Madhavan Nampoothiri
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India; (S.S.); (S.L.B.); (P.C.G.); (J.M.)
- Correspondence:
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14
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Ni K, Zhu J, Xu X, Liu Y, Yang S, Huang Y, Xu R, Jiang L, Zhang J, Zhang W, Ma Z. Hippocampal Activated Microglia May Contribute to Blood–Brain Barrier Impairment and Cognitive Dysfunction in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-Like Rats. J Mol Neurosci 2022; 72:975-982. [PMID: 35167061 PMCID: PMC8852956 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-022-01981-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-associated cognitive dysfunction significantly disturbs patients’ quality of life and will to live. However, its underlying mechanism is as yet unknown. Recent researches indicate that blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown is responsible for early cognitive dysfunction. Microglia might participate in remodeling of BBB-associated tight junction and regulating BBB integrity. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether microglia activation and BBB injury involve in PTSD-associated cognitive dysfunction. Hence, we established an animal model of PTSD, single prolonged stress (SPS), and investigated permeability changes in the hippocampus and further explored the effects of microglia on BBB remodeling. The Y maze was used to assess the changes of cognitive function. The sodium fluorescein (NaFlu) assay and western blotting analysis were employed to detect BBB integrity changes. Minocycline was administered to inhibit microglial activation. Immunofluorescence stains were used to assess the activation states in microglia. The results showed that SPS-exposed rats exhibited poorer cognitive performance, higher passage of NaFlu, and lower expression of tight junction proteins (occludin and claudin 5) in the hippocampus on the day after SPS, but no difference on the 7th day. Inhibition of microglial activation by minocycline attenuated poor cognitive performance and BBB impairment including the extravasation of NaFlu and protein levels of the tight junction. Taken together, the present study indicates that BBB impairment may underlie the shared pathological basis of PTSD and cognitive dysfunction. Microglial activation may involve in BBB remodeling at the early stage of SPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Ni
- Department of Anesthesiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Jixiang Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Xuan Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Yue Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Shuai Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Yulin Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Rui Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China.
| | - Zhengliang Ma
- Department of Anesthesiology, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China.
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 210008, China.
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15
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Markulin I, Matasin M, Turk VE, Salković-Petrisic M. Challenges of repurposing tetracyclines for the treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2022; 129:773-804. [PMID: 34982206 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-021-02457-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The novel antibiotic-exploiting strategy in the treatment of Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) disease has emerged as a potential breakthrough in the field. The research in animal AD/PD models provided evidence on the antiamyloidogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic activity of tetracyclines, associated with cognitive improvement. The neuroprotective effects of minocycline and doxycycline in animals initiated investigation of their clinical efficacy in AD and PD patients which led to inconclusive results and additionally to insufficient safety data on a long-standing doxycycline and minocycline therapy in these patient populations. The safety issues should be considered in two levels; in AD/PD patients (particularly antibiotic-induced alteration of gut microbiota and its consequences), and as a world-wide threat of development of bacterial resistance to these antibiotics posed by a fact that AD and PD are widespread incurable diseases which require daily administered long-lasting antibiotic therapy. Recently proposed subantimicrobial doxycycline doses should be thoroughly explored for their effectiveness and long-term safety especially in AD/PD populations. Keeping in mind the antibacterial activity-related far-reaching undesirable effects both for the patients and globally, further work on repurposing these drugs for a long-standing therapy of AD/PD should consider the chemically modified tetracycline compounds tailored to lack antimicrobial but retain (or introduce) other activities effective against the AD/PD pathology. This strategy might reduce the risk of long-term therapy-related adverse effects (particularly gut-related ones) and development of bacterial resistance toward the tetracycline antibiotic agents but the therapeutic potential and desirable safety profile of such compounds in AD/PD patients need to be confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Markulin
- Community Health Centre Zagreb-Centre, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Viktorija Erdeljic Turk
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Melita Salković-Petrisic
- Department of Pharmacology, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Salata 11, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia.
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Polaryzacja mikrogleju i makrofagów w wybranych chorobach degeneracyjnych i zapalnych układu nerwowego. POSTEP HIG MED DOSW 2021. [DOI: 10.2478/ahem-2021-0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstrakt
Makrofagi to komórki efektorowe układu odpornościowego zdolne do polaryzacji, czyli zmiany fenotypu powiązanej ze zmianą aktywności. Można wyróżnić: polaryzację klasyczną (M1), która służy obronie przed patogenami, a makrofagi M1 mają aktywność ogólnie prozapalną, oraz polaryzację alternatywną (M2), która sprzyja wygaszaniu stanu zapalnego i regeneracji tkanki. Makrofagi zasiedlają niemal cały organizm, więc zjawisko ich polaryzacji ma wpływ na wiele procesów zachodzących w różnych tkankach. W układzie nerwowym reprezentacją osiadłych makrofagów jest mikroglej. Jednak w wielu sytuacjach patologicznych w mózgu pojawiają się także makrofagi rekrutowane z monocytów krążących we krwi. Choroby neurodegeneracyjne, urazy i choroby autoimmunologiczne są związane z reakcją układu odpornościowego, która może mieć istotny wpływ na dalszy przebieg choroby i na tempo regeneracji tkanki. Polaryzacja makrofagów ma w związku z tym znaczenie w chorobach centralnego układu nerwowego. Aktywność komórek M1 i M2 może bowiem różnie wpływać na przeżywalność neuronów i oligodendrocytów, na wzrost aksonów, na proces demielinizacji czy na szczelność bariery krew–mózg. Wynika to z różnic między fenotypami w wytwarzaniu reaktywnych form tlenu i tlenku azotu, wydzielaniu cytokin i czynników wzrostu, bezpośrednich oddziaływaniach na sąsiednie komórki i zdolnościach do fagocytozy. W artykule omówiono to zagadnienie w: udarze mózgu, urazie rdzenia kręgowego, chorobie Alzheimera, stwardnieniu zanikowym bocznym i stwardnieniu rozsianym. W wielu spośród tych patologii obserwuje się gradient czasowy lub przestrzenny rozmieszczenia w tkance poszczególnych fenotypów mikrogleju i/lub makrofagów. Wydaje się zatem, że zmiany polaryzacji makrofagów mogą potencjalnie sprzyjać regeneracji tkanki lub hamować rozwój chorób neurodegeneracyjnych.
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17
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Amor S, Nutma E, Marzin M, Puentes F. Imaging immunological processes from blood to brain in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Exp Immunol 2021; 206:301-313. [PMID: 34510431 PMCID: PMC8561688 DOI: 10.1111/cei.13660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropathology studies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and animal models of ALS reveal a strong association between aberrant protein accumulation and motor neurone damage, as well as activated microglia and astrocytes. While the role of neuroinflammation in the pathology of ALS is unclear, imaging studies of the central nervous system (CNS) support the idea that innate immune activation occurs early in disease in both humans and rodent models of ALS. In addition, emerging studies also reveal changes in monocytes, macrophages and lymphocytes in peripheral blood as well as at the neuromuscular junction. To more clearly understand the association of neuroinflammation (innate and adaptive) with disease progression, the use of biomarkers and imaging modalities allow monitoring of immune parameters in the disease process. Such approaches are important for patient stratification, selection and inclusion in clinical trials, as well as to provide readouts of response to therapy. Here, we discuss the different imaging modalities, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy and positron emission tomography as well as other approaches, including biomarkers of inflammation in ALS, that aid the understanding of the underlying immune mechanisms associated with motor neurone degeneration in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Amor
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Erik Nutma
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Manuel Marzin
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC Location VUmc, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Fabiola Puentes
- Department of Neuroscience and Trauma, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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18
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Abcouwer SF, Shanmugam S, Muthusamy A, Lin CM, Kong D, Hager H, Liu X, Antonetti DA. Inflammatory resolution and vascular barrier restoration after retinal ischemia reperfusion injury. J Neuroinflammation 2021; 18:186. [PMID: 34446062 PMCID: PMC8394696 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-021-02237-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Several retinal pathologies exhibit both inflammation and breakdown of the inner blood-retinal barrier (iBRB) resulting in vascular permeability, suggesting that treatments that trigger resolution of inflammation may also promote iBRB restoration. Methods Using the mouse retinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury model, we followed the time course of neurodegeneration, inflammation, and iBRB disruption and repair to examine the relationship between resolution of inflammation and iBRB restoration and to determine if minocycline, a tetracycline derivative shown to reverse microglial activation, can hasten these processes. Results A 90-min ischemic insult followed by reperfusion in the retina induced cell apoptosis and inner retina thinning that progressed for approximately 2 weeks. IR increased vascular permeability within hours, which resolved between 3 and 4 weeks after injury. Increased vascular permeability coincided with alteration and loss of endothelial cell tight junction (TJ) protein content and disorganization of TJ protein complexes. Shunting of blood flow away from leaky vessels and dropout of leaky capillaries were eliminated as possible mechanisms for restoring the iBRB. Repletion of TJ protein contents occurred within 2 days after injury, long before restoration of the iBRB. In contrast, the eventual re-organization of TJ complexes at the cell border coincided with restoration of the barrier. A robust inflammatory response was evident a 1 day after IR and progressed to resolution over the 4-week time course. The inflammatory response included a rapid and transient infiltration of granulocytes and Ly6C+ classical inflammatory monocytes, a slow accumulation of Ly6Cneg monocyte/macrophages, and activation, proliferation, and mobilization of resident microglia. Extravasation of the majority of CD45+ leukocytes occurred from the superficial plexus. The presence of monocyte/macrophages and increased numbers of microglia were sustained until the iBRB was eventually restored. Intervention with minocycline to reverse microglial activation at 1 week after injury promoted early restoration of the iBRB coinciding with decreased expression of mRNAs for the microglial M1 markers TNF-α, IL-1β, and Ptgs2 (Cox-2) and increased expression of secreted serine protease inhibitor Serpina3n mRNA. Conclusions These results suggest that iBRB restoration occurs as TJ complexes are reorganized and that resolution of inflammation and restoration of the iBRB following retinal IR injury are functionally linked. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-021-02237-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven F Abcouwer
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Michigan Medicine, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA.
| | - Sumathi Shanmugam
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Michigan Medicine, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA
| | | | - Cheng-Mao Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Michigan Medicine, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA
| | - Dejuan Kong
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Michigan Medicine, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA
| | - Heather Hager
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Michigan Medicine, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA
| | - Xuwen Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Michigan Medicine, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA
| | - David A Antonetti
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Michigan Medicine, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA.,Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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19
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Post J, Schaffrath A, Gering I, Hartwig S, Lehr S, Shah NJ, Langen KJ, Willbold D, Kutzsche J, Willuweit A. Oral Treatment with RD2RD2 Impedes Development of Motoric Phenotype and Delays Symptom Onset in SOD1 G93A Transgenic Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22137066. [PMID: 34209129 PMCID: PMC8269060 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a pathological hallmark of several neurodegenerative disorders and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It has been implicated as driver of disease progression and is observed in ALS patients, as well as in the transgenic SOD1G93A mouse model. Here, we explore and validate the therapeutic potential of the d-enantiomeric peptide RD2RD2 upon oral administration in SOD1G93A mice. Transgenic mice were treated daily with RD2RD2 or placebo for 10 weeks and phenotype progression was followed with several behavioural tests. At the end of the study, plasma cytokine levels and glia cell markers in brain and spinal cord were analysed. Treatment resulted in a significantly increased performance in behavioural and motor coordination tests and a decelerated neurodegenerative phenotype in RD2RD2-treated SOD1G93A mice. Additionally, we observed retardation of the average disease onset. Treatment of SOD1G93A mice led to significant reduction in glial cell activation and a rescue of neurons. Analysis of plasma revealed normalisation of several cytokines in samples of RD2RD2-treated SOD1G93A mice towards the levels of non-transgenic mice. In conclusion, these findings qualify RD2RD2 to be considered for further development and testing towards a disease modifying ALS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Post
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (J.P.); (A.S.); (I.G.)
| | - Anja Schaffrath
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (J.P.); (A.S.); (I.G.)
| | - Ian Gering
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (J.P.); (A.S.); (I.G.)
| | - Sonja Hartwig
- Institute for Clinical Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (S.H.); (S.L.)
- German Center for Diabetes Research, Partner Düsseldorf, 85764 München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Lehr
- Institute for Clinical Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (S.H.); (S.L.)
- German Center for Diabetes Research, Partner Düsseldorf, 85764 München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - N. Jon Shah
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Medical Imaging Physics (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (N.J.S.); (K.-J.L.)
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 11, INM-11, JARA, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
- JARA-Brain-Translational Medicine, 52062 Aachen, Germany
- Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Karl-Josef Langen
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Medical Imaging Physics (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (N.J.S.); (K.-J.L.)
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (J.P.); (A.S.); (I.G.)
- Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Correspondence: (D.W.); (J.K.); (A.W.); Tel.: +49-2461-612100 (D.W.); +49-2461-619496 (J.K.); +49-2461-6196358 (A.W.); Fax: +49-2461-612023 (D.W.); +49-2461-619497 (J.K.); +49-2461-612302 (A.W.)
| | - Janine Kutzsche
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Structural Biochemistry (IBI-7), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (J.P.); (A.S.); (I.G.)
- Correspondence: (D.W.); (J.K.); (A.W.); Tel.: +49-2461-612100 (D.W.); +49-2461-619496 (J.K.); +49-2461-6196358 (A.W.); Fax: +49-2461-612023 (D.W.); +49-2461-619497 (J.K.); +49-2461-612302 (A.W.)
| | - Antje Willuweit
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Medical Imaging Physics (INM-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (N.J.S.); (K.-J.L.)
- Correspondence: (D.W.); (J.K.); (A.W.); Tel.: +49-2461-612100 (D.W.); +49-2461-619496 (J.K.); +49-2461-6196358 (A.W.); Fax: +49-2461-612023 (D.W.); +49-2461-619497 (J.K.); +49-2461-612302 (A.W.)
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Harcha PA, Garcés P, Arredondo C, Fernández G, Sáez JC, van Zundert B. Mast Cell and Astrocyte Hemichannels and Their Role in Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, and Harmful Stress Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041924. [PMID: 33672031 PMCID: PMC7919494 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Considered relevant during allergy responses, numerous observations have also identified mast cells (MCs) as critical effectors during the progression and modulation of several neuroinflammatory conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MC granules contain a plethora of constituents, including growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and mitogen factors. The release of these bioactive substances from MCs occurs through distinct pathways that are initiated by the activation of specific plasma membrane receptors/channels. Here, we focus on hemichannels (HCs) formed by connexins (Cxs) and pannexins (Panxs) proteins, and we described their contribution to MC degranulation in AD, ALS, and harmful stress conditions. Cx/Panx HCs are also expressed by astrocytes and are likely involved in the release of critical toxic amounts of soluble factors—such as glutamate, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), complement component 3 derivate C3a, tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), apoliprotein E (ApoE), and certain miRNAs—known to play a role in the pathogenesis of AD, ALS, and other neurodegenerative disorders. We propose that blocking HCs on MCs and glial cells offers a promising novel strategy for ameliorating the progression of neurodegenerative diseases by reducing the release of cytokines and other pro-inflammatory compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paloma A. Harcha
- Instituto de Neurociencia, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2381850, Chile
- Correspondence: (P.A.H.); (J.C.S.); (B.v.Z.)
| | - Polett Garcés
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB), Faculty of Medicine & Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370186, Chile; (P.G.); (C.A.); (G.F.)
- CARE Biomedical Research Center, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330005, Chile
| | - Cristian Arredondo
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB), Faculty of Medicine & Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370186, Chile; (P.G.); (C.A.); (G.F.)
- CARE Biomedical Research Center, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330005, Chile
| | - Germán Fernández
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB), Faculty of Medicine & Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370186, Chile; (P.G.); (C.A.); (G.F.)
- CARE Biomedical Research Center, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330005, Chile
| | - Juan C. Sáez
- Instituto de Neurociencia, Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2381850, Chile
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
- Correspondence: (P.A.H.); (J.C.S.); (B.v.Z.)
| | - Brigitte van Zundert
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICB), Faculty of Medicine & Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago 8370186, Chile; (P.G.); (C.A.); (G.F.)
- CARE Biomedical Research Center, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 8330005, Chile
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Correspondence: (P.A.H.); (J.C.S.); (B.v.Z.)
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21
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Zhang C, Wang H, Liang W, Yang Y, Cong C, Wang Y, Wang S, Wang X, Wang D, Huo D, Feng H. Diphenyl diselenide protects motor neurons through inhibition of microglia-mediated inflammatory injury in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Pharmacol Res 2021; 165:105457. [PMID: 33515706 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Microglia-mediated neuroinflammatory response and neuron damage are considered as a self-propelling progressive cycle, being strongly implicated in the progression of neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Diphenyl diselenide (DPDS), a simple organoselenium compound, has been known to possess multiple pharmacological properties. The purpose of this study was to explore the neuroprotective effects of DPDS against microglia-mediated neuroinflammatory injury in ALS models. We found that DPDS pretreatment inhibited LPS-induced activation of IκB/NF-κB pathway and subsequent release of proinflammatory factors from activated primary hSOD1G93A microglia. Moreover, DPDS suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation by decreasing protein nitration via reduction in NO and ROS levels, whose low levels are related to NF-κB inhibition responsible for iNOS and NOX2 down-regulations, respectively. Notably, DPDS-mediated ROS attenuation was not linked to Nrf2 activation in this cellular model. Furthermore, in the absence of activated microglia, DPDS has no significant effect on the individual hSOD1G93A-NSC34 cells; however, in in vitro neuron-microglia conditional culture and co-culture experiments, DPDS protected motor neurons from neurotoxic damage caused by LPS or BzATP-stimulated microglia activation. Above observations suggest that DPDS-afforded neuroprotection is linked to inhibition of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in ALS, which was further verified in vivo as shown by improvements of motor deficits, prolonged survival, and reduction of motor neuron loss and reactive microgliosis in hSOD1G93A transgenic mouse. Altogether, our results show that DPDS elicited neuroprotection in ALS models through inactivation of microglia by inhibiting IκB/NF-κB pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, suggesting that DPDS may be a promising candidate for potential therapy for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunting Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei City, Anhui Province, PR China; Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Hongyong Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Weiwei Liang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China; Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Yueqing Yang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Chaohua Cong
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Shuyu Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Xudong Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Di Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Di Huo
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Honglin Feng
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China.
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22
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Cipollina G, Davari Serej A, Di Nolfi G, Gazzano A, Marsala A, Spatafora MG, Peviani M. Heterogeneity of Neuroinflammatory Responses in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Challenge or an Opportunity? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7923. [PMID: 33113845 PMCID: PMC7662281 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a complex pathology: (i) the neurodegeneration is chronic and progressive; it starts focally in specific central nervous system (CNS) areas and spreads to different districts; (ii) multiple cell types further than motor neurons (i.e., glial/immune system cells) are actively involved in the disease; (iii) both neurosupportive and neurotoxic neuroinflammatory responses were identified. Microglia cells (a key player of neuroinflammation in the CNS) attracted great interest as potential target cell population that could be modulated to counteract disease progression, at least in preclinical ALS models. However, the heterogeneous/multifaceted microglia cell responses occurring in different CNS districts during the disease represent a hurdle for clinical translation of single-drug therapies. To address this issue, over the past ten years, several studies attempted to dissect the complexity of microglia responses in ALS. In this review, we shall summarize these results highlighting how the heterogeneous signature displayed by ALS microglia reflects not only the extent of neuronal demise in different regions of the CNS, but also variable engagement in the attempts to cope with the neuronal damage. We shall discuss novel avenues opened by the advent of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics technologies, underlining the potential for discovery of novel therapeutic targets, as well as more specific diagnostic/prognostic not-invasive markers of neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Marco Peviani
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (G.C.); (A.D.S.); (G.D.N.); (A.G.); (A.M.); (M.G.S.)
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23
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Béland LC, Markovinovic A, Jakovac H, De Marchi F, Bilic E, Mazzini L, Kriz J, Munitic I. Immunity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: blurred lines between excessive inflammation and inefficient immune responses. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa124. [PMID: 33134918 PMCID: PMC7585698 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite wide genetic, environmental and clinical heterogeneity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a rapidly fatal neurodegenerative disease targeting motoneurons, neuroinflammation is a common finding. It is marked by local glial activation, T cell infiltration and systemic immune system activation. The immune system has a prominent role in the pathogenesis of various chronic diseases, hence some of them, including some types of cancer, are successfully targeted by immunotherapeutic approaches. However, various anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive therapies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have failed. This prompted increased scrutiny over the immune-mediated processes underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Perhaps the biggest conundrum is that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathogenesis exhibits features of three otherwise distinct immune dysfunctions-excessive inflammation, autoimmunity and inefficient immune responses. Epidemiological and genome-wide association studies show only minimal overlap between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and autoimmune diseases, so excessive inflammation is usually thought to be secondary to protein aggregation, mitochondrial damage or other stresses. In contrast, several recently characterized amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked mutations, including those in TBK1, OPTN, CYLD and C9orf72, could lead to inefficient immune responses and/or damage pile-up, suggesting that an innate immunodeficiency may also be a trigger and/or modifier of this disease. In such cases, non-selective immunosuppression would further restrict neuroprotective immune responses. Here we discuss multiple layers of immune-mediated neuroprotection and neurotoxicity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Particular focus is placed on individual patient mutations that directly or indirectly affect the immune system, and the mechanisms by which these mutations influence disease progression. The topic of immunity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is timely and relevant, because it is one of the few common and potentially malleable denominators in this heterogenous disease. Importantly, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis progression has recently been intricately linked to patient T cell and monocyte profiles, as well as polymorphisms in cytokine and chemokine receptors. For this reason, precise patient stratification based on immunophenotyping will be crucial for efficient therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Markovinovic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
- ENCALS Center Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Hrvoje Jakovac
- Department of Physiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Fabiola De Marchi
- Department of Neurology, ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, “Maggiore della Carità” Hospital, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Ervina Bilic
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- ENCALS Center Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- Department of Neurology, ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, “Maggiore della Carità” Hospital, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Jasna Kriz
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Ivana Munitic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
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24
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Ashford BA, Boche D, Cooper-Knock J, Heath PR, Simpson JE, Highley JR. Review: Microglia in motor neuron disease. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2020; 47:179-197. [PMID: 32594542 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is a fatal neurodegenerative condition, which is characterized by the selective loss of the upper and lower motor neurons. At the sites of motor neuron injury, accumulation of activated microglia, the primary immune cells of the central nervous system, is commonly observed in both human post mortem studies and animal models of MND. Microglial activation has been found to correlate with many clinical features and importantly, the speed of disease progression in humans. Both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory microglial responses have been shown to influence disease progression in humans and models of MND. As such, microglia could both contribute to and protect against inflammatory mechanisms of pathogenesis in MND. While murine models have characterized the microglial response to MND, these studies have painted a complex and often contradictory picture, indicating a need for further characterization in humans. This review examines the potential role microglia play in MND in human and animal studies. Both the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses will be addressed, throughout the course of disease, followed by the potential of microglia as a target in the development of disease-modifying treatments for MND.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - D Boche
- University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - P R Heath
- University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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25
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Trageser KJ, Smith C, Herman FJ, Ono K, Pasinetti GM. Mechanisms of Immune Activation by c9orf72-Expansions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1298. [PMID: 31920478 PMCID: PMC6914852 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are neurodegenerative disorders with overlapping pathomechanisms, neurobehavioral features, and genetic etiologies. Individuals diagnosed with either disorder exhibit symptoms within a clinical spectrum. Symptoms of ALS involve neuromusculature deficits, reflecting upper and lower motor neurodegeneration, while the primary clinical features of FTD are behavioral and cognitive impairments, reflecting frontotemporal lobar degeneration. An intronic G4C2 hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) within the promoter region of chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) is the predominant monogenic cause of both ALS and FTD. While the heightened risk to develop ALS/FTD in response to C9orf72 expansions is well-established, studies continue to define the precise mechanisms by which this mutation elicits neurodegeneration. Studies show that G4C2 expansions undergo repeat-associated non-ATG dependent (RAN) translation, producing dipeptide repeat proteins (DRPs) with varying toxicities. Accumulation of DRPs in neurons, in particular arginine containing DRPs, have neurotoxic effects by potently impairing nucleocytoplasmic transport, nucleotide metabolism, lysosomal processes, and cellular metabolic pathways. How these pathophysiological effects of C9orf72 expansions engage and elicit immune activity with additional neurobiological consequences is an important line of future investigations. Immunoreactive microglia and elevated levels of peripheral inflammatory cytokines noted in individuals with C9orf72 ALS/FTD provide evidence that persistent immune activation has a causative role in the progression of each disorder. This review highlights the current understanding of the cellular, proteomic and genetic substrates through which G4C2 HREs may elicit detrimental immune activity, facilitating region-specific neurodegeneration in C9orf72 mediated ALS/FTD. We in particular emphasize interactions between intracellular pathways induced by C9orf72 expansions and innate immune inflammasome complexes, intracellular receptors responsible for eliciting inflammation in response to cellular stress. A further understanding of the intricate, reciprocal relationship between the cellular and molecular pathologies resulting from C9orf72 HREs and immune activation may yield novel therapeutics for ALS/FTD, which currently have limited treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J Trageser
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Chad Smith
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Francis J Herman
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kenjiro Ono
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Giulio Maria Pasinetti
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.,Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center, JJ Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
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26
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Melbourne JK, Thompson KR, Peng H, Nixon K. Its complicated: The relationship between alcohol and microglia in the search for novel pharmacotherapeutic targets for alcohol use disorders. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2019; 167:179-221. [PMID: 31601404 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2019.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing disorder with wide-ranging health consequences. Alcohol targets the central nervous system producing neurodegeneration and subsequent cognitive and behavioral deficits, but the mechanisms behind these effects remain unclear. Recently, evidence has been mounting for the role of neuroimmune activation in the pathogenesis of AUDs, but our nascent state of knowledge about the interaction of alcohol with the neuroimmune system supports that the relationship is complicated. As the resident macrophage of the central nervous system, microglia are a central focus. Human and animal research on the interplay between microglia and alcohol in AUDs has proven to be complex, and though early research focused on a pro-inflammatory phenotype of microglia, the anti-inflammatory and homeostatic roles of microglia must be considered. How these new roles for microglia should be incorporated into our thinking about the neuroimmune system in AUDs is discussed in the context of developing novel pharmacotherapies for AUDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer K Melbourne
- The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Austin, TX, United States
| | - K Ryan Thompson
- The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Hui Peng
- University of Kentucky, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Kimberly Nixon
- The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Austin, TX, United States.
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27
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Wosiski-Kuhn M, Lyon MS, Caress J, Milligan C. Inflammation, immunity, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: II. immune-modulating therapies. Muscle Nerve 2018; 59:23-33. [PMID: 29979478 DOI: 10.1002/mus.26288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
With the emerging popularity of immune-modulatory therapies to treat human diseases there is a need to step back from hypotheses aimed at assessing a condition in a single-system context and instead take into account the disease pathology as a whole. In complex diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the use of these therapies to treat patients has been largely unsuccessful and likely premature given our lack of understanding of how the immune system influences disease progression and initiation. In addition, we still have an incomplete understanding of the role of these responses in our model systems and how this may translate clinically to human patients. In this review we discuss preclinical evidence and clinical trial results for a selection of recently conducted studies in ALS. We provide evidence-based reasoning for the failure of these trials and offer suggestions to improve the design of future investigations. Muscle Nerve 59:23-33, 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlena Wosiski-Kuhn
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, USA
| | - Miles S Lyon
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, USA
| | - James Caress
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carol Milligan
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, USA
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28
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Pardo-Peña K, Lorea-Hernández JJ, Camacho-Hernández NP, Ordaz B, Villasana-Salazar B, Morales-Villagrán A, Peña-Ortega F. Hydrogen peroxide extracellular concentration in the ventrolateral medulla and its increase in response to hypoxia in vitro: Possible role of microglia. Brain Res 2018; 1692:87-99. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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29
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Kälin S, Miller KR, Kälin RE, Jendrach M, Witzel C, Heppner FL. CNS myeloid cells critically regulate heat hyperalgesia. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:2774-2786. [PMID: 29634489 DOI: 10.1172/jci95305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of non-neuronal microglia is thought to play a causal role in spinal processing of neuropathic pain. To specifically investigate microglia-mediated effects in a model of neuropathic pain and overcome the methodological limitations of previous approaches exploring microglia function upon nerve injury, we selectively ablated resident microglia by intracerebroventricular ganciclovir infusion into male CD11b-HSVTK-transgenic mice, which was followed by a rapid, complete, and persistent (23 weeks) repopulation of the CNS by peripheral myeloid cells. In repopulated mice that underwent sciatic nerve injury, we observed a normal response to mechanical stimuli, but an absence of thermal hypersensitivity ipsilateral to the injured nerve. Furthermore, we found that neuronal expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which is a marker of neurons essential for heat responses, was diminished in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in repopulated mice. These findings identify distinct mechanisms for heat and mechanical hypersensitivity and highlight a crucial contribution of CNS myeloid cells in the facilitation of noxious heat.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Christian Witzel
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank L Heppner
- Department of Neuropathology and.,Cluster of Excellence, NeuroCure, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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30
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Mishra PS, Vijayalakshmi K, Nalini A, Sathyaprabha TN, Kramer BW, Alladi PA, Raju TR. Etiogenic factors present in the cerebrospinal fluid from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients induce predominantly pro-inflammatory responses in microglia. J Neuroinflammation 2017; 14:251. [PMID: 29246232 PMCID: PMC5732516 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-017-1028-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Microglial cell-associated neuroinflammation is considered as a potential contributor to the pathophysiology of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the specific role of microglia in the disease pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. Methods We studied the activation profiles of the microglial cultures exposed to the cerebrospinal fluid from these patients which recapitulates the neurodegeneration seen in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This was done by investigating the morphological and functional changes including the expression levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-10, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), arginase, and trophic factors. We also studied the effect of chitotriosidase, the inflammatory protein found upregulated in the cerebrospinal fluid from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients, on these cultures. Results We report that the cerebrospinal fluid from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients could induce an early and potent response in the form of microglial activation, skewed primarily towards a pro-inflammatory profile. It was seen in the form of upregulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and factors including IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS, COX-2, and PGE2. Concomitantly, a downregulation of beneficial trophic factors and anti-inflammatory markers including VEGF, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, and IFN-γ was seen. In addition, chitotriosidase-1 appeared to act specifically via the microglial cells. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that the cerebrospinal fluid from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients holds enough cues to induce microglial inflammatory processes as an early event, which may contribute to the neurodegeneration seen in the sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These findings highlight the dynamic role of microglial cells in the pathogenesis of the disease, thus suggesting the need for a multidimensional and temporally guarded therapeutic approach targeting the inflammatory pathways for its treatment. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12974-017-1028-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja-Shree Mishra
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, 560029, India.,Present Address: Centre de Recherche CERVO, Quebec, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - K Vijayalakshmi
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, 560029, India
| | - A Nalini
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, 560029, India
| | - T N Sathyaprabha
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, 560029, India
| | - B W Kramer
- School of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht Universitair Medisch Centrum, Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands
| | - Phalguni Anand Alladi
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, 560029, India
| | - T R Raju
- Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, 560029, India.
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31
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Socias SB, González-Lizárraga F, Avila CL, Vera C, Acuña L, Sepulveda-Diaz JE, Del-Bel E, Raisman-Vozari R, Chehin RN. Exploiting the therapeutic potential of ready-to-use drugs: Repurposing antibiotics against amyloid aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases. Prog Neurobiol 2017; 162:17-36. [PMID: 29241812 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic and progressive disorders that affect specific regions of the brain, causing gradual disability and suffering that results in a complete inability of patients to perform daily functions. Amyloid aggregation of specific proteins is the most common biological event that is responsible for neuronal death and neurodegeneration in various neurodegenerative diseases. Therapeutic agents capable of interfering with the abnormal aggregation are required, but traditional drug discovery has fallen short. The exploration of new uses for approved drugs provides a useful alternative to fill the gap between the increasing incidence of neurodegenerative diseases and the long-term assessment of classical drug discovery technologies. Drug re-profiling is currently the quickest possible transition from bench to bedside. In this way, experimental evidence shows that some antibiotic compounds exert neuroprotective action through anti-aggregating activity on disease-associated proteins. The finding that many antibiotics can cross the blood-brain barrier and have been used for several decades without serious toxic effects makes them excellent candidates for therapeutic switching towards neurological disorders. The present review is, to our knowledge, the first extensive evaluation and analysis of the anti-amyloidogenic effect of different antibiotics on well-known disease-associated proteins. In addition, we propose a common structural signature derived from the antiaggregant antibiotic molecules that could be relevant to rational drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio B Socias
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr. Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT. Chacabuco 461, T4000ILI, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, Argentina
| | - Florencia González-Lizárraga
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr. Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT. Chacabuco 461, T4000ILI, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, Argentina
| | - Cesar L Avila
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr. Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT. Chacabuco 461, T4000ILI, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Vera
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr. Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT. Chacabuco 461, T4000ILI, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, Argentina
| | - Leonardo Acuña
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr. Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT. Chacabuco 461, T4000ILI, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, Argentina; Sorbonne Universite, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, UM75, U1127, UMR 7225, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière, Paris, France
| | - Julia E Sepulveda-Diaz
- Sorbonne Universite, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, UM75, U1127, UMR 7225, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière, Paris, France
| | - Elaine Del-Bel
- Department of Morphology, Physiology and Stomatology, Faculty of Odontology of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil; Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), University of São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rita Raisman-Vozari
- Sorbonne Universite, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, CNRS, UM75, U1127, UMR 7225, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière, Paris, France.
| | - Rosana N Chehin
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, and Instituto de Química Biológica "Dr. Bernabé Bloj", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNT. Chacabuco 461, T4000ILI, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, Argentina.
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Kuroda A, Fuchigami T, Fuke S, Koyama N, Ikenaka K, Hitoshi S. Minocycline Directly Enhances the Self-Renewal of Adult Neural Precursor Cells. Neurochem Res 2017; 43:219-226. [PMID: 29081002 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-017-2422-6] [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] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Minocycline not only has antibacterial action but also produces a variety of pharmacological effects. It has drawn considerable attention as a therapeutic agent for symptoms caused by inflammation in many neurological disorders, leading to several clinical trials. Although some of these effects are mediated through its function of suppressing microglial activation, it is not clear whether minocycline acts on other cell types in the adult brain. In this study, we utilized a colony-forming neurosphere assay, in which neural stem cells (NSCs) clonally proliferate to form floating colonies, called neurospheres. We found that minocycline (at therapeutically relevant concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid) enhances the self-renewal capability of NSCs derived from the subependymal zone of adult mouse brain and facilitates their differentiation into oligodendrocytes. Importantly, these effects were independent of a suppression of microglial activation and were specifically observed with minocycline (among tetracycline derivatives). In addition, the size of the NSC population in the adult brain was increased when minocycline was infused into the lateral ventricle by an osmotic minipump in vivo. While precise molecular mechanisms of how minocycline alters the behavior of adult NSCs remain unknown, our data provide a basis for the clinical use of minocycline to treat neurodegenerative and demyelinating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anri Kuroda
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, 520-2192, Japan
| | - Takahiro Fuchigami
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, 520-2192, Japan
| | - Satoshi Fuke
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, 520-2192, Japan
| | - Natsu Koyama
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, 520-2192, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Ikenaka
- Division of Neurobiology and Bioinformatics, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, 444-8787, Japan.,Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Life Sciences, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Okazaki, 444-8787, Japan
| | - Seiji Hitoshi
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, 520-2192, Japan. .,Division of Neurobiology and Bioinformatics, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, 444-8787, Japan. .,Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Life Sciences, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Okazaki, 444-8787, Japan.
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Tortarolo M, Lo Coco D, Veglianese P, Vallarola A, Giordana MT, Marcon G, Beghi E, Poloni M, Strong MJ, Iyer AM, Aronica E, Bendotti C. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a Multisystem Pathology: Insights into the Role of TNF α. Mediators Inflamm 2017; 2017:2985051. [PMID: 29081600 PMCID: PMC5610855 DOI: 10.1155/2017/2985051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is considered a multifactorial, multisystem disease in which inflammation and the immune system play important roles in development and progression. The pleiotropic cytokine TNFα is one of the major players governing the inflammation in the central nervous system and peripheral districts such as the neuromuscular and immune system. Changes in TNFα levels are reported in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and nerve tissues of ALS patients and animal models. However, whether they play a detrimental or protective role on the disease progression is still not clear. Our group and others have recently reported opposite involvements of TNFR1 and TNFR2 in motor neuron death. TNFR2 mediates TNFα toxic effects on these neurons presumably through the activation of MAP kinase-related pathways. On the other hand, TNFR2 regulates the function and proliferation of regulatory T cells (Treg) whose expression is inversely correlated with the disease progression rate in ALS patients. In addition, TNFα is considered a procachectic factor with a direct catabolic effect on skeletal muscles, causing wasting. We review and discuss the role of TNFα in ALS in the light of its multisystem nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Tortarolo
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Lo Coco
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
- ALS Research Center, Dipartimento di Biomedicina Sperimentale e Neuroscienze Cliniche (BioNeC), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Pietro Veglianese
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Vallarola
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Gabriella Marcon
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- DAME, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Ettore Beghi
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Poloni
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Michael J. Strong
- Cell Biology Research Group, Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Anand M. Iyer
- Department of Neuropathology, Academisch Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of Neuropathology, Academisch Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Caterina Bendotti
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
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Abstract
There is an increasing recognition that inflammation plays a critical role in neurodegenerative diseases of the CNS, including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and the prototypic neuroinflammatory disease multiple sclerosis (MS). Differential immune responses involving the adaptive versus the innate immune system are observed at various stages of neurodegenerative diseases, and may not only drive disease processes but could serve as therapeutic targets. Ongoing investigations into the specific inflammatory mechanisms that play roles in disease causation and progression have revealed lessons about inflammation-driven neurodegeneration that can be applied to other neurodegenerative diseases. An increasing number of immunotherapeutic strategies that have been successful in MS are now being applied to other neurodegenerative diseases. Some approaches suppress CNS immune mechanisms, while others harness the immune system to clear deleterious products and cells. This Review focuses on the mechanisms by which inflammation, mediated either by the peripheral immune response or by endogenous CNS immune mechanisms, can affect CNS neurodegeneration.
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Geloso MC, Corvino V, Marchese E, Serrano A, Michetti F, D'Ambrosi N. The Dual Role of Microglia in ALS: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:242. [PMID: 28790913 PMCID: PMC5524666 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a non-cell autonomous motor neuron loss. While it is generally believed that the disease onset takes place inside motor neurons, different cell types mediating neuroinflammatory processes are considered deeply involved in the progression of the disease. On these grounds, many treatments have been tested on ALS animals with the aim of inhibiting or reducing the pro-inflammatory action of microglia and astrocytes and counteract the progression of the disease. Unfortunately, these anti-inflammatory therapies have been only modestly successful. The non-univocal role played by microglia during stress and injuries might explain this failure. Indeed, it is now well recognized that, during ALS, microglia displays different phenotypes, from surveillant in early stages, to activated states, M1 and M2, characterized by the expression of respectively harmful and protective genes in later phases of the disease. Consistently, the inhibition of microglial function seems to be a valid strategy only if the different stages of microglia polarization are taken into account, interfering with the reactivity of microglia specifically targeting only the harmful pathways and/or potentiating the trophic ones. In this review article, we will analyze the features and timing of microglia activation in the light of M1/M2 phenotypes in the main mice models of ALS. Moreover, we will also revise the results obtained by different anti-inflammatory therapies aimed to unbalance the M1/M2 ratio, shifting it towards a protective outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Concetta Geloso
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Università Cattolica del Sacro CuoreRome, Italy
| | - Valentina Corvino
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Università Cattolica del Sacro CuoreRome, Italy
| | - Elisa Marchese
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Università Cattolica del Sacro CuoreRome, Italy
| | - Alessia Serrano
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Università Cattolica del Sacro CuoreRome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Michetti
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Università Cattolica del Sacro CuoreRome, Italy.,IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Università Vita-Salute San RaffaeleMilan, Italy
| | - Nadia D'Ambrosi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor VergataRome, Italy
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Subramaniam SR, Federoff HJ. Targeting Microglial Activation States as a Therapeutic Avenue in Parkinson's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2017. [PMID: 28642697 PMCID: PMC5463358 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive disorder characterized neuropathologically by loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra, intracellular proteinaceous inclusions, reduction of dopaminergic terminals in the striatum, and increased neuroinflammatory cells. The consequent reduction of dopamine in the basal ganglia results in the classical parkinsonian motor phenotype. A growing body of evidence suggest that neuroinflammation mediated by microglia, the resident macrophage-like immune cells in the brain, play a contributory role in PD pathogenesis. Microglia participate in both physiological and pathological conditions. In the former, microglia restore the integrity of the central nervous system and, in the latter, they promote disease progression. Microglia acquire different activation states to modulate these cellular functions. Upon activation to the M1 phenotype, microglia elaborate pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurotoxic molecules promoting inflammation and cytotoxic responses. In contrast, when adopting the M2 phenotype microglia secrete anti-inflammatory gene products and trophic factors that promote repair, regeneration, and restore homeostasis. Relatively little is known about the different microglial activation states in PD and a better understanding is essential for developing putative neuroprotective agents. Targeting microglial activation states by suppressing their deleterious pro-inflammatory neurotoxicity and/or simultaneously enhancing their beneficial anti-inflammatory protective functions appear as a valid therapeutic approach for PD treatment. In this review, we summarize microglial functions and, their dual neurotoxic and neuroprotective role in PD. We also review molecules that modulate microglial activation states as a therapeutic option for PD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Howard J Federoff
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CAUnited States
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Role of Microglia in Neurological Disorders and Their Potentials as a Therapeutic Target. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:7567-7584. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-0245-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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38
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Ramírez-Jarquín UN, Tapia R. Neuropathological characterization of spinal motor neuron degeneration processes induced by acute and chronic excitotoxic stimulus in vivo. Neuroscience 2016; 331:78-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Revised: 06/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Apolloni S, Fabbrizio P, Amadio S, Volonté C. Actions of the antihistaminergic clemastine on presymptomatic SOD1-G93A mice ameliorate ALS disease progression. J Neuroinflammation 2016; 13:191. [PMID: 27549088 PMCID: PMC4994328 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-016-0658-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease with a strong neuroinflammatory component sustained by activated microglia contributing to motoneuron death. However, how to successfully balance neuroprotective versus neurotoxic actions by the use of antinflammatory agents is still under scrutiny. We have recently shown that the antihistamine clemastine, an FDA-approved drug, can influence the M1/M2 switch occurring in SOD1-G93A ALS microglia. METHODS Here, we have chronically treated female SOD1-G93A mice with clemastine, evaluated disease progression and performed mice lumbar spinal cord analysis at symptomatic and end stage of the disease. Moreover, we have studied the mechanism of action of clemastine in primary adult spinal SOD1-G93A microglia cultures and in NSC-G93A motor neuron-like cells. RESULTS We found that a short treatment with clemastine (50 mg/kg) from asymptomatic (postnatal day 40) to symptomatic phase (postnatal day 120) significantly delayed disease onset and extended the survival of SOD1-G93A mice by about 10 %. Under these conditions, clemastine induced protection of motor neurons, modulation of inflammatory parameters, reduction of SOD1 protein levels and SQSTM1/p62 autophagic marker, when analysed immediately at the end of the treatment (postnatal day 120). A long treatment with clemastine (from asymptomatic until the end stage) instead failed to ameliorate ALS disease progression. At the end stage of the disease, we found that clemastine short treatment decreased microgliosis and SOD1 protein and increased LC3-II autophagic marker, while the long treatment produced opposite effects. Finally, in spinal microglia cultures from symptomatic SOD1-G93A mice clemastine activated inflammatory parameters, stimulated autophagic flux via the mTOR signalling pathway and decreased SOD1 levels. Modulation of autophagy was also demonstrated in NSC34 SOD1-G93A motor neuron-like cells. CONCLUSIONS By gaining insights into the ameliorating actions of an antihistaminergic compound in ALS disease, our findings might represent an exploitable therapeutic approach for familial forms of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savina Apolloni
- Santa Lucia Foundation, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, CNR, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 65, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Susanna Amadio
- Santa Lucia Foundation, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, CNR, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 65, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Volonté
- Santa Lucia Foundation, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. .,Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, CNR, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 65, 00143, Rome, Italy.
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40
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Garbuzova-Davis S, Thomson A, Kurien C, Shytle RD, Sanberg PR. Potential new complication in drug therapy development for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Expert Rev Neurother 2016; 16:1397-1405. [PMID: 27362330 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2016.1207530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor neuron degeneration in the brain and spinal cord. Treatment development for ALS is complicated by complex underlying disease factors. Areas covered: Numerous tested drug compounds have shown no benefits in ALS patients, although effective in animal models. Discrepant results of pre-clinical animal studies and clinical trials for ALS have primarily been attributed to limitations of ALS animal models for drug-screening studies and methodological inconsistencies in human trials. Current status of pre-clinical and clinical trials in ALS is summarized. Specific blood-CNS barrier damage in ALS patients, as a novel potential reason for the clinical failures in drug therapies, is discussed. Expert commentary: Pathological perivascular collagen IV accumulation, one unique characteristic of barrier damage in ALS patients, could be hindering transport of therapeutics to the CNS. Restoration of B-CNS-B integrity would foster delivery of therapeutics to the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svitlana Garbuzova-Davis
- a Center of Excellence for Aging & Brain Repair , University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa , FL , USA.,b Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair , University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa , FL , USA.,c Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology , University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa , FL , USA.,d Department of Pathology and Cell Biology , University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa , FL , USA
| | - Avery Thomson
- e Department of Neurology , University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa , FL , USA
| | - Crupa Kurien
- a Center of Excellence for Aging & Brain Repair , University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa , FL , USA
| | - R Douglas Shytle
- a Center of Excellence for Aging & Brain Repair , University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa , FL , USA.,b Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair , University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa , FL , USA
| | - Paul R Sanberg
- a Center of Excellence for Aging & Brain Repair , University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa , FL , USA.,b Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair , University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa , FL , USA.,d Department of Pathology and Cell Biology , University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa , FL , USA.,f Department of Psychiatry , University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine , Tampa , FL , USA
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Möller T, Bard F, Bhattacharya A, Biber K, Campbell B, Dale E, Eder C, Gan L, Garden GA, Hughes ZA, Pearse DD, Staal RGW, Sayed FA, Wes PD, Boddeke HWGM. Critical data-based re-evaluation of minocycline as a putative specific microglia inhibitor. Glia 2016; 64:1788-94. [PMID: 27246804 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Minocycline, a second generation broad-spectrum antibiotic, has been frequently postulated to be a "microglia inhibitor." A considerable number of publications have used minocycline as a tool and concluded, after achieving a pharmacological effect, that the effect must be due to "inhibition" of microglia. It is, however, unclear how this "inhibition" is achieved at the molecular and cellular levels. Here, we weigh the evidence whether minocycline is indeed a bona fide microglia inhibitor and discuss how data generated with minocycline should be interpreted. GLIA 2016;64:1788-1794.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Möller
- Neuroinflammation Disease Biology Unit, Lundbeck Research USA, Paramus, New Jersey.,Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Anindya Bhattacharya
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC., Neuroscience Drug Discovery, San Diego, California
| | - Knut Biber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Department of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Brian Campbell
- Neuroinflammation Disease Biology Unit, Lundbeck Research USA, Paramus, New Jersey
| | - Elena Dale
- Neuroinflammation Disease Biology Unit, Lundbeck Research USA, Paramus, New Jersey
| | - Claudia Eder
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George's - University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Li Gan
- Gladstone Institute for Neurodegeneration, San Francisco, California
| | - Gwenn A Garden
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Zoë A Hughes
- Neuroscience & Pain Research Unit, Pfizer Global Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Damien D Pearse
- Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Roland G W Staal
- Neuroinflammation Disease Biology Unit, Lundbeck Research USA, Paramus, New Jersey
| | - Faten A Sayed
- Gladstone Institute for Neurodegeneration, San Francisco, California.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Paul D Wes
- Neuroinflammation Disease Biology Unit, Lundbeck Research USA, Paramus, New Jersey
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IL-10 Controls Early Microglial Phenotypes and Disease Onset in ALS Caused by Misfolded Superoxide Dismutase 1. J Neurosci 2016; 36:1031-48. [PMID: 26791230 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0854-15.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
While reactive microgliosis is a hallmark of advanced stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the role of microglial cells in events initiating and/or precipitating disease onset is largely unknown. Here we provide novel in vivo evidence of a distinct adaptive shift in functional microglial phenotypes in preclinical stages of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)-mutant-mediated disease. Using a mouse model for live imaging of microglial activation crossed with SOD1(G93A) and SOD1(G37R) mouse models, we discovered that the preonset phase of SOD1-mediated disease is characterized by development of distinct anti-inflammatory profile and attenuated innate immune/TLR2 responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. This microglial phenotype was associated with a 16-fold overexpression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in baseline conditions followed by a 4.5-fold increase following LPS challenge. While infusion of IL-10R blocking antibody, initiated at day 60, caused a significant increase in markers of microglial activation and precipitated clinical onset of disease, a targeted overexpression of IL-10 in microglial cells, delivered via viral vectors expressed under CD11b promoter, significantly delayed disease onset and increased survival of SOD1(G93A) mice. We propose that the high IL-10 levels in resident microglia in early ALS represent a homeostatic and compensatory "adaptive immune escape" mechanism acting as a nonneuronal determinant of clinical onset of disease. Significance statement: We report here for the first time that changing the immune profile of brain microglia may significantly affect clinical onset and duration of disease in ALS models. We discovered that in presymptomatic disease microglial cells overexpress anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Given that IL-10 is major homeostatic cytokine and its production becomes deregulated with aging, this may suggest that the capacity of microglia to adequately produce IL-10 may be compromised in ALS. We show that blocking IL-10 increased inflammation and precipitated clinical disease onset, whereas overexpression of IL-10 in microglia using a gene therapy approach significantly delayed disease onset and increased survival of ALS mice. Based on our results, we propose that targeted overexpression of IL-10 in microglia may have therapeutic potential in ALS.
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43
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Almad AA, Doreswamy A, Gross SK, Richard JP, Huo Y, Haughey N, Maragakis NJ. Connexin 43 in astrocytes contributes to motor neuron toxicity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Glia 2016; 64:1154-69. [PMID: 27083773 DOI: 10.1002/glia.22989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of motor neurons in the CNS. Astrocytes play a critical role in disease progression of ALS. Astrocytes are interconnected through a family of gap junction proteins known as connexins (Cx). Cx43 is a major astrocyte connexin conducting crucial homeostatic functions in the CNS. Under pathological conditions, connexin expression and functions are altered. Here we report that an abnormal increase in Cx43 expression serves as one of the mechanisms for astrocyte-mediated toxicity in ALS. We observed a progressive increase in Cx43 expression in the SOD1(G93A) mouse model of ALS during the disease course. Notably, this increase in Cx43 was also detected in the motor cortex and spinal cord of ALS patients. Astrocytes isolated from SOD1(G93A) mice as well as human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes showed an increase in Cx43 protein, which was found to be an endogenous phenomenon independent of neuronal co-culture. Increased Cx43 expression led to important functional consequences when tested in SOD1(G93A) astrocytes when compared to control astrocytes over-expressing wild-type SOD1 (SOD1(WT) ). We observed SOD1(G93A) astrocytes exhibited enhanced gap junction coupling, increased hemichannel-mediated activity, and elevated intracellular calcium levels. Finally, we tested the impact of increased expression of Cx43 on MN survival and observed that use of both a pan Cx43 blocker and Cx43 hemichannel blocker conferred neuroprotection to MNs cultured with SOD1(G93A) astrocytes. These novel findings show a previously unrecognized role of Cx43 in ALS-related motor neuron loss. GLIA 2016;64:1154-1169.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshata A Almad
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Arpitha Doreswamy
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sarah K Gross
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jean-Philippe Richard
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yuqing Huo
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Norman Haughey
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Nicholas J Maragakis
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Gotaas HT, Skeie GO, Gilhus NE. Myasthenia gravis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A pathogenic overlap. Neuromuscul Disord 2016; 26:337-41. [PMID: 27102003 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2016.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The aim was to examine potential joint disease mechanisms for myasthenia gravis (MG) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through the examination of long-term patient cohorts for comorbidity. Recent studies support early involvement of the neuromuscular junction in ALS patients with subsequent degeneration of motor neurons. Medical records at Haukeland University Hospital from 1987 to 2012 were examined for International Classification of Diseases diagnostic codes for MG and ALS. Sera were re-tested for antibodies to acetylcholine receptor, titin, MuSK and GM1. We report one patient with both MG and ALS, and another 3 patients with suggestive evidence of both conditions. This is far more than expected from prevalence and incidence figures in this area if the disorders were unrelated. Our data suggest that immunological mechanisms in the neuromuscular junction are relevant in ALS pathogenesis. Attention should be given to possible therapeutic targets in the neuromuscular junction and muscle in ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Håvard Torvik Gotaas
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Geir Olve Skeie
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Nils Erik Gilhus
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
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Jeyachandran A, Mertens B, McKissick EA, Mitchell CS. Type I Vs. Type II Cytokine Levels as a Function of SOD1 G93A Mouse Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Disease Progression. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:462. [PMID: 26648846 PMCID: PMC4664727 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motoneuron disease that is characterized by the degradation of neurons throughout the central nervous system. Inflammation have been cited a key contributor to ALS neurodegeneration, but the timeline of cytokine upregulation remains unresolved. The goal of this study was to temporally examine the correlation between the varying levels of pro-inflammatory type I cytokines (IL-1β, IL-1α, IL-12, TNF-α, and GFAP) and anti-inflammatory type II cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) throughout the progression of ALS in the SOD1 G93A mouse model. Cytokine level data from high copy SOD1 G93A transgenic mice was collected from 66 peer-reviewed studies. For each corresponding experimental time point, the ratio of transgenic to wild type (TG/WT) cytokine was calculated. One-way ANOVA and t-tests with Bonferonni correction were used to analyze the data. Meta-analysis was performed for four discrete stages: early, pre-onset, post-onset, and end stage. A significant increase in TG cytokine levels was found when compared to WT cytokine levels across the entire SOD1 G93A lifespan for majority of the cytokines. The rates of change of the individual cytokines, and type I and type II were not significantly different; however, the mean fold change of type I was expressed at significantly higher levels than type II levels across all stages with the difference between the means becoming more pronounced at the end stage. An overexpression of cytokines occurred both before and after the onset of ALS symptoms. The trend between pro-inflammatory type I and type II cytokine mean levels indicate a progressive instability of the dynamic balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines as anti-inflammatory cytokines fail to mediate the pronounced increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines. Very early immunoregulatory treatment is necessary to successfully interrupt ALS-induced neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amilia Jeyachandran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Benjamin Mertens
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric A McKissick
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cassie S Mitchell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
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Pandamooz S, Nabiuni M, Miyan J, Ahmadiani A, Dargahi L. Organotypic Spinal Cord Culture: a Proper Platform for the Functional Screening. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:4659-74. [PMID: 26310972 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9403-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent improvements in organotypic slice culturing and its accompanying technological innovations have made this biological preparation increasingly useful ex vivo experimental model. Among organotypic slice cultures obtained from various central nervous regions, spinal cord slice culture is an absorbing model that represents several unique advantages over other current in vitro and in vivo models. The culture of developing spinal cord slices, as allows real-time observation of embryonic cells behaviors, is an instrumental platform for developmental investigation. Importantly, due to the ability of ex vivo models to recapitulate different aspects of corresponding in vivo conditions, these models have been subject of various manipulations to derive disease-relevant slice models. Moreover spinal cord slice cultures represent a potential platform for screening of different pharmacological agents and evaluation of cell transplantation and neuroregenerative materials. In this review, we will focus on studies carried out using the ex vivo model of spinal cord slice cultures and main advantages linked to practicality of these slices in both normal and neuropathological diseases and summarize them in different categories based on application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sareh Pandamooz
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Nabiuni
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jaleel Miyan
- Neurobiology Research Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Abolhassan Ahmadiani
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Dargahi
- NeuroBiology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Pfohl SR, Halicek MT, Mitchell CS. Characterization of the Contribution of Genetic Background and Gender to Disease Progression in the SOD1 G93A Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Meta-Analysis. J Neuromuscul Dis 2015; 2:137-150. [PMID: 26594635 PMCID: PMC4652798 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-140068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background: The SOD1 G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most frequently used model to examine ALS pathophysiology. There is a lack of homogeneity in usage of the SOD1 G93A mouse, including differences in genetic background and gender, which could confound the field’s results. Objective: In an analysis of 97 studies, we characterized the ALS progression for the high transgene copy control SOD1 G93A mouse on the basis of disease onset, overall lifespan, and disease duration for male and female mice on the B6SJL and C57BL/6J genetic backgrounds and quantified magnitudes of differences between groups. Methods: Mean age at onset, onset assessment measure, disease duration, and overall lifespan data from each study were extracted and statistically modeled as the response of linear regression with the sex and genetic background factored as predictors. Additional examination was performed on differing experimental onset and endpoint assessment measures. Results: C57BL/6 background mice show delayed onset of symptoms, increased lifespan, and an extended disease duration compared to their sex-matched B6SJL counterparts. Female B6SJL generally experience extended lifespan and delayed onset compared to their male counterparts, while female mice on the C57BL/6 background show delayed onset but no difference in survival compared to their male counterparts. Finally, different experimental protocols (tremor, rotarod, etc.) for onset determination result in notably different onset means. Conclusions: Overall, the observed effect of sex on disease endpoints was smaller than that which can be attributed to the genetic background. The often-reported increase in lifespan for female mice was observed only for mice on the B6SJL background, implicating a strain-dependent effect of sex on disease progression that manifests despite identical mutant SOD1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Pfohl
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Martin T Halicek
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cassie S Mitchell
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Zhao Y, Xiao M, He W, Cai Z. Minocycline upregulates cyclic AMP response element binding protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus of cerebral ischemia rats and improves behavioral deficits. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2015; 11:507-16. [PMID: 25750531 PMCID: PMC4348135 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s73836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) plays an important role in the mechanism of cognitive impairment and is also pivotal in the switch from short-term to long-term memory. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) seems a promising avenue in the treatment of cerebral ischemia injury since this neurotrophin could stimulate structural plasticity and repair cognitive impairment. Several findings have displayed that the dysregulation of the CREB-BDNF cascade has been involved in cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cerebral ischemia on learning and memory as well as on the levels of CREB, phosphorylated CREB (pCREB), and BDNF, and to determine the effect of minocycline on CREB, pCREB, BDNF, and behavioral functional recovery after cerebral ischemia. METHODS The animal model was established by permanent bilateral occlusion of both common carotid arteries. Behavior was evaluated 5 days before decapitation with Morris water maze and open-field task. Four days after permanent bilateral occlusion of both common carotid arteries, minocycline was administered by douche via the stomach for 4 weeks. CREB and pCREB were examined by Western blotting, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. BDNF was measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS The model rats after minocycline treatment swam shorter distances than control rats before finding the platform (P=0.0007). The number of times the platform position was crossed for sham-operation rats was more than that of the model groups in the corresponding platform location (P=0.0021). The number of times the platform position was crossed for minocycline treatment animals was significantly increased compared to the model groups in the corresponding platform position (P=0.0016). CREB, pCREB, and BDNF were downregulated after permanent bilateral occlusion of both common carotid arteries in the model group. Minocycline increased the expression of CREB, pCREB, and BDNF, and improved cognitive suffered from impairment of permanent bilateral occlusion of both common carotid arteries. CONCLUSION Minocycline improved cognitive impairment from cerebral ischemia via enhancing CREB, pCREB, and BDNF activity in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhao
- Department of Neurology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Xiao
- Department of Anatomy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenbo He
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan Renmin Hospital, Shiyan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyou Cai
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan Renmin Hospital, Shiyan, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
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Poppe L, Rué L, Robberecht W, Van Den Bosch L. Translating biological findings into new treatment strategies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Exp Neurol 2014; 262 Pt B:138-51. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2014.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2014] [Revised: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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