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El Hajj R, Al Sagheer T, Ballout N. Optogenetics in chronic neurodegenerative diseases, controlling the brain with light: A systematic review. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25321. [PMID: 38588013 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25321] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are progressive disorders characterized by synaptic loss and neuronal death. Optogenetics combines optical and genetic methods to control the activity of specific cell types. The efficacy of this approach in neurodegenerative diseases has been investigated in many reviews, however, none of them tackled it systematically. Our study aimed to review systematically the findings of optogenetics and its potential applications in animal models of chronic neurodegenerative diseases and compare it with deep brain stimulation and designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs techniques. The search strategy was performed based on the PRISMA guidelines and the risk of bias was assessed following the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation tool. A total of 247 articles were found, of which 53 were suitable for the qualitative analysis. Our data revealed that optogenetic manipulation of distinct neurons in the brain is efficient in rescuing memory impairment, alleviating neuroinflammation, and reducing plaque pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Similarly, this technique shows an advanced understanding of the contribution of various neurons involved in the basal ganglia pathways with Parkinson's disease motor symptoms and pathology. However, the optogenetic application using animal models of Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was limited. Optogenetics is a promising technique that enhanced our knowledge in the research of neurodegenerative diseases and addressed potential therapeutic solutions for managing these diseases' symptoms and delaying their progression. Nevertheless, advanced investigations should be considered to improve optogenetic tools' efficacy and safety to pave the way for their translatability to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rojine El Hajj
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Tareq Al Sagheer
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nissrine Ballout
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
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Bhuvanasundaram R, Washburn S, Krzyspiak J, Khodakhah K. Zona incerta modulation of the inferior olive and the pontine nuclei. Netw Neurosci 2024; 8:260-274. [PMID: 38562296 PMCID: PMC10927296 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The zona incerta (ZI) is a subthalamic structure that has been implicated in locomotion, fear, and anxiety. Recently interest has grown in its therapeutic efficacy in deep brain stimulation in movement disorders. This efficacy might be due to the ZI's functional projections to the other brain regions. Notwithstanding some evidence of anatomical connections between the ZI and the inferior olive (IO) and the pontine nuclei (PN), how the ZI modulates the neuronal activity in these regions remains to be determined. We first tested this by monitoring responses of single neurons in the PN and IO to optogenetic activation of channelrhodopsin-expressing ZI axons in wild-type mice, using an in vivo awake preparation. Stimulation of short, single pulses and trains of stimuli at 20 Hz elicited rapid responses in the majority of recorded cells in the PN and IO. Furthermore, the excitatory response of PN neurons scaled with the strength of ZI activation. Next, we used in vitro electrophysiology to study synaptic transmission at ZI-IO synapses. Optogenetic activation of ZI axons evoked a strong excitatory postsynaptic response in IO neurons, which remained robust with repeated stimulation at 20 Hz. Overall, our results demonstrate a functional connection within ZI-PN and ZI-IO pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samantha Washburn
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joanna Krzyspiak
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kamran Khodakhah
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Cui J, Zhao D, Xu M, Li Z, Qian J, Song N, Wang J, Xie J. Characterization of graded 6-Hydroxydopamine unilateral lesion in medial forebrain bundle of mice. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3721. [PMID: 38355892 PMCID: PMC10866897 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54066-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disease, with a progressive loss of dopaminergic cells and fibers. The purpose of this study was to use different doses of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) injection into the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) of mice to mimic the different stages of the disease and to characterize in detail their motor and non-motor behavior, as well as neuropathological features in the nigrostriatal pathway. MFB were injected with 0.5 μg, 1 μg, 2 μg of 6-OHDA using a brain stereotaxic technique. 6-OHDA induced mitochondrial damage dose-dependently, as well as substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (TH+) cell loss and striatal TH fiber loss. Activation of astrocytes and microglia in the SNpc and striatum were consistently observed at 7 weeks, suggesting a long-term glial response in the nigrostriatal system. Even with a partial or complete denervation of the nigrostriatal pathway, 6-OHDA did not cause anxiety, although depression-like behavior appeared. Certain gait disturbances were observed in 0.5 μg 6-OHDA lesioned mice, and more extensive in 1 μg group. Despite the loss of more neurons from 2 μg 6-OHDA, there was no further impairment in behaviors compared to 1 μg 6-OHDA. Our data have implications that 1 μg 6-OHDA was necessary and sufficient to induce motor and non-motor symptoms in mice, thus a valuable mouse tool to explore disease progression and new treatment in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juntao Cui
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Di Zhao
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Manman Xu
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Zheheng Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Junliang Qian
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Ning Song
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Jun Wang
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Junxia Xie
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
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Arena G, Londei F, Ceccarelli F, Ferrucci L, Borra E, Genovesio A. Disentangling the identity of the zona incerta: a review of the known connections and latest implications. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 93:102140. [PMID: 38008404 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
The zona incerta (ZI) is a subthalamic region composed by loosely packed neurochemically mixed neurons, juxtaposed to the main ascending and descending bundles. The extreme neurochemical diversity that characterizes this area, together with the diffuseness of its connections with the entire neuraxis and its hard-to-reach positioning in the brain caused the ZI to keep its halo of mystery for over a century. However, in the last decades, a rich albeit fragmentary body of knowledge regarding both the incertal anatomical connections and functional implications has been built mostly based on rodent studies and its lack of cohesion makes difficult to depict an integrated, exhaustive picture regarding the ZI and its roles. This review aims to provide a unified resource that summarizes the current knowledge regarding the anatomical profile of interactions of the ZI in rodents and non-human primates and the functional significance of its connections, highlighting the aspects still unbeknown to research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Arena
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; PhD program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Londei
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; PhD program in Behavioral Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Ceccarelli
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Ferrucci
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Borra
- University of Parma, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Neuroscience Unit, Italy
| | - Aldo Genovesio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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