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Manchinu MF, Pala M, Palmas MF, Diana MA, Maschio A, Etzi M, Pisanu A, Diana FI, Marongiu J, Mansueto S, Carboni E, Fusco G, De Simone A, Carta AR. Region-specific changes in gene expression are associated with cognitive deficits in the alpha-synuclein-induced model of Parkinson's disease: A transcriptomic profiling study. Exp Neurol 2024; 372:114651. [PMID: 38092188 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114651] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a common trait of Parkinson's disease (PD), often associated with early motor deficits, eventually evolving to PD with dementia in later disease stages. The neuropathological substrate of MCI is poorly understood, which weakens the development and administration of proper therapies. In an α-synuclein (αSyn)-based model of PD featuring early motor and cognitive impairments, we investigated the transcriptome profile of brain regions involved in PD with cognitive deficits, via a transcriptomic analysis based on RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology. Rats infused in the substantia nigra with human α-synuclein oligomers (H-SynOs) developed mild cognitive deficits after three months, as measured by the two-trial recognition test in a Y-maze and the novel object recognition test. RNA-seq analysis showed that 17,436 genes were expressed in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and 17,216 genes in the hippocampus (HC). In the ACC, 51 genes were differentially expressed between vehicle and H-αSynOs treated samples, which showed N= 21 upregulated and N = 30 downregulated genes. In the HC, 104 genes were differentially expressed, the majority of them not overlapping with DEGs in the ACC, with N = 41 upregulated and N = 63 downregulated in H-αSynOs-treated samples. The Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, followed by the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network inspection of DEGs, revealed that in the ACC most enriched terms were related with immune functions, specifically with antigen processing/presentation via the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and phagocytosis via CD68, supporting a role for dysregulated immune responses in early PD cognitive dysfunction. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed the decreased expression of CD68 within microglial cells. In contrast, the most significantly enriched terms in the HC were mainly involved in mitochondrial homeostasis, potassium voltage-gated channel, cytoskeleton and fiber organisation, suggesting that the gene expression in the neuronal population was mostly affected in this region in early disease stages. Altogether results show that H-αSynOs trigger a region-specific dysregulation of gene expression in ACC and HC, providing a pathological substrate for MCI associated with early PD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mauro Pala
- National Research Council, Biomedical and Genetic Research Institute, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Maria Antonietta Diana
- National Research Council, Biomedical and Genetic Research Institute, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Andrea Maschio
- National Research Council, Biomedical and Genetic Research Institute, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Michela Etzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Augusta Pisanu
- National Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Jacopo Marongiu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Silvia Mansueto
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Ezio Carboni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giuliana Fusco
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Anna R Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy.
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2
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Angius F, Mocci I, Ercoli T, Loy F, Fadda L, Palmas MF, Cannas G, Manzin A, Defazio G, Carta AR. Combined measure of salivary alpha-synuclein species as diagnostic biomarker for Parkinson's disease. J Neurol 2023; 270:5613-5621. [PMID: 37552278 PMCID: PMC10576686 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11893-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis is still vulnerable to bias, and a definitive diagnosis often relies on post-mortem neuropathological diagnosis. In this regard, alpha-synuclein (αsyn)-specific in vivo biomarkers remain a critical unmet need, based on its relevance in the neuropathology. Specifically, content changes in αsyn species such as total (tot-αsyn), oligomeric (o-αsyn), and phosphorylated (p-αsyn) within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral fluids (i.e., blood and saliva) have been proposed as PD biomarkers possibly reflecting the neuropathological outcome. Here, we measured the p-αsyn levels in the saliva from 15 PD patients along with tot-αsyn, o-αsyn and their ratios, and compared the results with those from 23 healthy subjects (HS), matched per age and sex. We also calculated the optimal cutoff values for different αsyn species to provide information about their capability to discriminate PD from HS. We found that p-αsyn was the most abundant alpha-synuclein species in the saliva. While p-αsyn concentration did not differ between PD and HS when adjusted for total salivary proteins, the ratio p-αsyn/tot-αsyn was largely lower in PD patients than in HS. Moreover, the concentration of o-αsyn was increased in the saliva of PD patients, and tot-αsyn did not differ between PD and HS. The ROC curves indicated that no single αsyn form or ratio could provide an accurate diagnosis of PD. On the other hand, the ratio of different items, namely p-αsyn/tot-αsyn and o-αsyn, yielded more satisfactory diagnostic accuracy, suggesting that the combined measure of different species in the saliva may show more promises as a diagnostic means for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Angius
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ignazia Mocci
- CNR Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Unit of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Tommaso Ercoli
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesco Loy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Laura Fadda
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Giada Cannas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Aldo Manzin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Defazio
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
| | - Anna R Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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Real CC, Binda KH, Thomsen MB, Lillethorup TP, Brooks DJ, Landau AM. Selecting the Best Animal Model of Parkinson's Disease for Your Research Purpose: Insight from in vivo PET Imaging Studies. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1241-1272. [PMID: 36797611 PMCID: PMC10286593 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230216101659] [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: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative multisystem disorder leading to motor and non-motor symptoms in millions of individuals. Despite intense research, there is still no cure, and early disease biomarkers are lacking. Animal models of PD have been inspired by basic elements of its pathogenesis, such as dopamine dysfunction, alpha-synuclein accumulation, neuroinflammation and disruption of protein degradation, and these have been crucial for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of pathology, the identification of biomarkers, and evaluation of novel therapies. Imaging biomarkers are non-invasive tools to assess disease progression and response to therapies; their discovery and validation have been an active field of translational research. Here, we highlight different considerations of animal models of PD that can be applied to future research, in terms of their suitability to answer different research questions. We provide the reader with important considerations of the best choice of model to use based on the disease features of each model, including issues related to different species. In addition, positron emission tomography studies conducted in PD animal models in the last 5 years are presented. With a variety of different species, interventions and genetic information, the choice of the most appropriate model to answer research questions can be daunting, especially since no single model recapitulates all aspects of this complex disorder. Appropriate animal models in conjunction with in vivo molecular imaging tools, if selected properly, can be a powerful combination for the assessment of novel therapies and developing tools for early diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Cristiano Real
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Karina Henrique Binda
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Majken Borup Thomsen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Thea Pinholt Lillethorup
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - David James Brooks
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Institute of Translational and Clinical Research, University of Newcastle, Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Anne Marlene Landau
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Palmas MF, Etzi M, Pisanu A, Camoglio C, Sagheddu C, Santoni M, Manchinu MF, Pala M, Fusco G, De Simone A, Picci L, Mulas G, Spiga S, Scherma M, Fadda P, Pistis M, Simola N, Carboni E, Carta AR. The Intranigral Infusion of Human-Alpha Synuclein Oligomers Induces a Cognitive Impairment in Rats Associated with Changes in Neuronal Firing and Neuroinflammation in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172628. [PMID: 36078036 PMCID: PMC9454687 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex pathology causing a plethora of non-motor symptoms besides classical motor impairments, including cognitive disturbances. Recent studies in the PD human brain have reported microgliosis in limbic and neocortical structures, suggesting a role for neuroinflammation in the development of cognitive decline. Yet, the mechanism underlying the cognitive pathology is under investigated, mainly for the lack of a valid preclinical neuropathological model reproducing the disease’s motor and non-motor aspects. Here, we show that the bilateral intracerebral infusion of pre-formed human alpha synuclein oligomers (H-αSynOs) within the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) offers a valid model for studying the cognitive symptoms of PD, which adds to the classical motor aspects previously described in the same model. Indeed, H-αSynOs-infused rats displayed memory deficits in the two-trial recognition task in a Y maze and the novel object recognition (NOR) test performed three months after the oligomer infusion. In the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of H-αSynOs-infused rats the in vivo electrophysiological activity was altered and the expression of the neuron-specific immediate early gene (IEG) Npas4 (Neuronal PAS domain protein 4) and the AMPA receptor subunit GluR1 were decreased. The histological analysis of the brain of cognitively impaired rats showed a neuroinflammatory response in cognition-related regions such as the ACC and discrete subareas of the hippocampus, in the absence of any evident neuronal loss, supporting a role of neuroinflammation in cognitive decline. We found an increased GFAP reactivity and the acquisition of a proinflammatory phenotype by microglia, as indicated by the increased levels of microglial Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) as compared to vehicle-infused rats. Moreover, diffused deposits of phospho-alpha synuclein (p-αSyn) and Lewy neurite-like aggregates were found in the SNpc and striatum, suggesting the spreading of toxic protein within anatomically interconnected areas. Altogether, we present a neuropathological rat model of PD that is relevant for the study of cognitive dysfunction featuring the disease. The intranigral infusion of toxic oligomeric species of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) induced spreading and neuroinflammation in distant cognition-relevant regions, which may drive the altered neuronal activity underlying cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michela Etzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Augusta Pisanu
- National Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Chiara Camoglio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Claudia Sagheddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Michele Santoni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maria Francesca Manchinu
- Istituto Di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica Del Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, 09040 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Mauro Pala
- Istituto Di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica Del Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, 09040 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Giuliana Fusco
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Luca Picci
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giovanna Mulas
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Saturnino Spiga
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maria Scherma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paola Fadda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Pistis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Nicola Simola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ezio Carboni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Anna R. Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Xie S, Yang J, Huang S, Fan Y, Xu T, He J, Guo J, Ji X, Wang Z, Li P, Chen J, Zhang Y. Disrupted myelination network in the cingulate cortex of Parkinson's disease. IET Syst Biol 2022; 16:98-119. [PMID: 35394697 PMCID: PMC9290774 DOI: 10.1049/syb2.12043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cingulate cortex is part of the conserved limbic system, which is considered as a hub of emotional and cognitive control. Accumulating evidence suggested that involvement of the cingulate cortex is significant for cognitive impairment of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, mechanistic studies of the cingulate cortex in PD pathogenesis are limited. Here, transcriptomic and regulatory network analyses were conducted for the cingulate cortex in PD. Enrichment and clustering analyses showed that genes involved in regulation of membrane potential and glutamate receptor signalling pathway were upregulated. Importantly, myelin genes and the oligodendrocyte development pathways were markedly downregulated, indicating disrupted myelination in PD cingulate cortex. Cell‐type‐specific signatures revealed that myelinating oligodendrocytes were the major cell type damaged in the PD cingulate cortex. Furthermore, downregulation of myelination pathways in the cingulate cortex were shared and validated in another independent RNAseq cohort of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). In combination with ATACseq data, gene regulatory networks (GRNs) were further constructed for 32 transcription factors (TFs) and 466 target genes among differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using a tree‐based machine learning algorithm. Several transcription factors, including Olig2, Sox8, Sox10, E2F1, and NKX6‐2, were highlighted as key nodes in a sub‐network, which control many overlapping downstream targets associated with myelin formation and gliogenesis. In addition, the authors have validated a subset of DEGs by qPCRs in two PD mouse models. Notably, seven of these genes,TOX3, NECAB2 NOS1, CAPN3, NR4A2, E2F1 and FOXP2, have been implicated previously in PD or neurodegeneration and are worthy of further studies as novel candidate genes. Together, our findings provide new insights into the role of remyelination as a promising new approach to treat PD after demyelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Xie
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jiajun Yang
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Shenghui Huang
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yuanlan Fan
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Molecular Neuropharmacology Lab, School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,The Eye-Brain Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jiangshuang He
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jiahao Guo
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiang Ji
- Department of Mathematics, School of Science & Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Zhibo Wang
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Peijun Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jiangfan Chen
- Molecular Neuropharmacology Lab, School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,The Eye-Brain Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,The Eye-Brain Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.,Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Aging, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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Lateralized deficits after unilateral AAV-vector based overexpression of alpha-synuclein in the midbrain of rats on drug-free behavioural tests. Behav Brain Res 2022; 429:113887. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Lindberg I, Shu Z, Lam H, Helwig M, Yucer N, Laperle A, Svendsen C, Di Monte DA, Maidment NT. The proSAAS Chaperone Provides Neuroprotection and Attenuates Transsynaptic α-Synuclein Spread in Rodent Models of Parkinson's Disease. JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2022; 12:1463-1478. [PMID: 35527562 PMCID: PMC9731515 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-213053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parkinson's disease involves aberrant aggregation of the synaptic protein alpha-synuclein (aSyn) in the nigrostriatal tract. We have previously shown that proSAAS, a small neuronal chaperone, blocks aSyn-induced dopaminergic cytotoxicity in primary nigral cultures. OBJECTIVE To determine if proSAAS overexpression is neuroprotective in animal models of Parkinson's disease. METHODS proSAAS- or GFP-encoding lentivirus was injected together with human aSyn-expressing AAV unilaterally into the substantia nigra of rats and motor asymmetry assessed using a battery of motor performance tests. Dopamine neuron survival was assessed by nigral stereology and striatal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) densitometry. To examine transsynaptic spread of aSyn, aSyn AAV was injected into the vagus of mice in the presence of AAVs encoding either GFP or proSAAS; the spread of aSyn-positive neurites into rostral nuclei was quantified following immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Coinjection of proSAAS-encoding lentivirus profoundly reduced the motor asymmetry caused by unilateral nigral AAV-mediated human aSyn overexpression. This was accompanied by significant amelioration of the human aSyn-induced loss of both nigral TH-positive cells and striatal TH-positive terminals, demonstrating clear proSAAS-mediated protection of the nigrostriatal tract. ProSAAS overexpression reduced human aSyn protein levels in nigra and striatum and reduced the loss of TH protein in both regions. Following vagal administration of human aSyn-encoding AAV, the number of human aSyn-positive neurites in the pons and caudal midbrain was considerably reduced in mice coinjected with proSAAS-, but not GFP-encoding AAV, supporting proSAAS-mediated blockade of transsynaptic aSyn transmission. CONCLUSION The proSAAS chaperone may represent a promising target for therapeutic development in Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Lindberg
- University of Maryland-Baltimore;,To whom correspondence should be addressed: Iris Lindberg, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland Medical School, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, Phone: (410) 7064778, and Nigel T. Maidment, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Hatos Center for Neuropharmacology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA 90024, Phone: (310) 206-7767,
| | - Zhan Shu
- University of California-Los Angeles
| | - Hoa Lam
- University of California-Los Angeles
| | | | - Nur Yucer
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles
| | | | | | | | - Nigel T. Maidment
- University of California-Los Angeles;,To whom correspondence should be addressed: Iris Lindberg, Ph.D., Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland Medical School, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21201, Phone: (410) 7064778, and Nigel T. Maidment, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Hatos Center for Neuropharmacology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA 90024, Phone: (310) 206-7767,
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8
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Palmas MF, Ena A, Burgaletto C, Casu MA, Cantarella G, Carboni E, Etzi M, De Simone A, Fusco G, Cardia MC, Lai F, Picci L, Tweedie D, Scerba MT, Coroneo V, Bernardini R, Greig NH, Pisanu A, Carta AR. Repurposing Pomalidomide as a Neuroprotective Drug: Efficacy in an Alpha-Synuclein-Based Model of Parkinson's Disease. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:305-324. [PMID: 35072912 PMCID: PMC9130415 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01182-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Marketed drugs for Parkinson's disease (PD) treat disease motor symptoms but are ineffective in stopping or slowing disease progression. In the quest of novel pharmacological approaches that may target disease progression, drug-repurposing provides a strategy to accelerate the preclinical and clinical testing of drugs already approved for other medical indications. Here, we targeted the inflammatory component of PD pathology, by testing for the first time the disease-modifying properties of the immunomodulatory imide drug (IMiD) pomalidomide in a translational rat model of PD neuropathology based on the intranigral bilateral infusion of toxic preformed oligomers of human α-synuclein (H-αSynOs). The neuroprotective effect of pomalidomide (20 mg/kg; i.p. three times/week 48 h apart) was tested in the first stage of disease progression by means of a chronic two-month administration, starting 1 month after H-αSynOs infusion, when an already ongoing neuroinflammation is observed. The intracerebral infusion of H-αSynOs induced an impairment in motor and coordination performance that was fully rescued by pomalidomide, as assessed via a battery of motor tests three months after infusion. Moreover, H-αSynOs-infused rats displayed a 40-45% cell loss within the bilateral substantia nigra, as measured by stereological counting of TH + and Nissl-stained neurons, that was largely abolished by pomalidomide. The inflammatory response to H-αSynOs infusion and the pomalidomide treatment was evaluated both in CNS affected areas and peripherally in the serum. A reactive microgliosis, measured as the volume occupied by the microglial marker Iba-1, was present in the substantia nigra three months after H-αSynOs infusion as well as after H-αSynOs plus pomalidomide treatment. However, microglia differed for their phenotype among experimental groups. After H-αSynOs infusion, microglia displayed a proinflammatory profile, producing a large amount of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α. In contrast, pomalidomide inhibited the TNF-α overproduction and elevated the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Moreover, the H-αSynOs infusion induced a systemic inflammation with overproduction of serum proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, that was largely mitigated by pomalidomide. Results provide evidence of the disease modifying potential of pomalidomide in a neuropathological rodent model of PD and support the repurposing of this drug for clinical testing in PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Ena
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Chiara Burgaletto
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppina Cantarella
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Ezio Carboni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Michela Etzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuliana Fusco
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maria Cristina Cardia
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesco Lai
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Luca Picci
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute On Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michael T Scerba
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute On Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Valentina Coroneo
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Renato Bernardini
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute On Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Augusta Pisanu
- National Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Anna R Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
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9
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Mechanistic Insight from Preclinical Models of Parkinson's Disease Could Help Redirect Clinical Trial Efforts in GDNF Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111702. [PMID: 34769132 PMCID: PMC8583859 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by four pathognomonic hallmarks: (1) motor and non-motor deficits; (2) neuroinflammation and oxidative stress; (3) pathological aggregates of the α-synuclein (α-syn) protein; (4) neurodegeneration of the nigrostriatal system. Recent evidence sustains that the aggregation of pathological α-syn occurs in the early stages of the disease, becoming the first trigger of neuroinflammation and subsequent neurodegeneration. Thus, a therapeutic line aims at striking back α-synucleinopathy and neuroinflammation to impede neurodegeneration. Another therapeutic line is restoring the compromised dopaminergic system using neurotrophic factors, particularly the glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Preclinical studies with GDNF have provided encouraging results but often lack evaluation of anti-α-syn and anti-inflammatory effects. In contrast, clinical trials have yielded imprecise results and have reported the emergence of severe side effects. Here, we analyze the discrepancy between preclinical and clinical outcomes, review the mechanisms of the aggregation of pathological α-syn, including neuroinflammation, and evaluate the neurorestorative properties of GDNF, emphasizing its anti-α-syn and anti-inflammatory effects in preclinical and clinical trials.
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10
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Huntington TE, Srinivasan R. Adeno-Associated Virus Expression of α-Synuclein as a Tool to Model Parkinson's Disease: Current Understanding and Knowledge Gaps. Aging Dis 2021; 12:1120-1137. [PMID: 34221553 PMCID: PMC8219504 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2021.0517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the aging population and is characterized by a constellation of motor and non-motor symptoms. The abnormal aggregation and spread of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is thought to underlie the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), leading to the development of PD. It is in this context that the use of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) to express a-syn in the rodent midbrain has become a popular tool to model SNc DA neuron loss during PD. In this review, we summarize results from two decades of experiments using AAV-mediated a-syn expression in rodents to model PD. Specifically, we outline aspects of AAV vectors that are particularly relevant to modeling a-syn dysfunction in rodent models of PD such as changes in striatal neurochemistry, a-syn biochemistry, and PD-related behaviors resulting from AAV-mediated a-syn expression in the midbrain. Finally, we discuss the emerging role of astrocytes in propagating a-syn pathology, and point to future directions for employing AAVs as a tool to better understand how astrocytes contribute to a-syn pathology during the development of PD. We envision that lessons learned from two decades of utilizing AAVs to express a-syn in the rodent brain will enable us to develop an optimized set of parameters for gaining a better understanding of how a-syn leads to the development of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor E Huntington
- Department of Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, 8447 Riverside Pkwy, Bryan, TX 77807, USA.
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience (TAMIN), College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Rahul Srinivasan
- Department of Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, 8447 Riverside Pkwy, Bryan, TX 77807, USA.
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience (TAMIN), College Station, TX 77843, USA
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11
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Huang N, Huang J, Zhang Y, Chen M, Shi J, Jin F. Resveratrol against 6-OHDA-induced damage of PC12 cells via PI3K/Akt. Transl Neurosci 2021; 12:138-144. [PMID: 33976931 PMCID: PMC8060978 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2020-0165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Our previous in vivo study found that resveratrol (Res), which is a phytoalexin, attenuated 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced motor dysfunction by activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway in rats. Therefore, we further explored the protective effect of Res on 6-OHDA-induced damage to PC12 cells in vitro with respect to the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Methods We incubated PC12 cells with 75 μM 6-OHDA for 24 h, and Res was then added at a final concentration of 25 μM; the protective effect was examined via MTT and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. In addition, the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 was used to investigate the potential mechanism. JC-1 staining was used to detect the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and western blotting (WB) was used to detect the phosphorylation of Akt-Ser473. Results Compared with that in the control, the cell viability, total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, MMP, and p-Akt-Ser473 level of 6-OHDA-treated PC12 cells were significantly decreased, while the leakage rate of LDH was increased. And after treatment with 25 μM Res, the cell viability, total SOD activity, MMP, and p-Akt-Ser473 level of 6-OHDA-treated PC12 cells were significantly increased compared with those of the control cells, while the leakage rate of LDH was decreased. These effects of Res were antagonized by LY294002. Conclusions Res ameliorates 6-OHDA-induced damage to PC12 cells via activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanqu Huang
- Drug Clinical Trial Institution, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Zunyi), No. 98, Fenghuang Road, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou, China
| | - Juan Huang
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 280, South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, No. 6, Xuefu West Road, Xinpu New District, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou, China
| | - Mingji Chen
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, No. 6, Xuefu West Road, Xinpu New District, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou, China
| | - Jingshan Shi
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, No. 6, Xuefu West Road, Xinpu New District, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou, China
| | - Feng Jin
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, No. 6, Xuefu West Road, Xinpu New District, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou, China
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12
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Jung YJ, Tweedie D, Scerba MT, Kim DS, Palmas MF, Pisanu A, Carta AR, Greig NH. Repurposing Immunomodulatory Imide Drugs (IMiDs) in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:656921. [PMID: 33854417 PMCID: PMC8039148 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.656921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation represents a common trait in the pathology and progression of the major psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Neuropsychiatric disorders have emerged as a global crisis, affecting 1 in 4 people, while neurological disorders are the second leading cause of death in the elderly population worldwide (WHO, 2001; GBD 2016 Neurology Collaborators, 2019). However, there remains an immense deficit in availability of effective drug treatments for most neurological disorders. In fact, for disorders such as depression, placebos and behavioral therapies have equal effectiveness as antidepressants. For neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, drugs that can prevent, slow, or cure the disease have yet to be found. Several non-traditional avenues of drug target identification have emerged with ongoing neurological disease research to meet the need for novel and efficacious treatments. Of these novel avenues is that of neuroinflammation, which has been found to be involved in the progression and pathology of many of the leading neurological disorders. Neuroinflammation is characterized by glial inflammatory factors in certain stages of neurological disorders. Although the meta-analyses have provided evidence of genetic/proteomic upregulation of inflammatory factors in certain stages of neurological disorders. Although the mechanisms underpinning the connections between neuroinflammation and neurological disorders are unclear, and meta-analysis results have shown high sensitivity to factors such as disorder severity and sample type, there is significant evidence of neuroinflammation associations across neurological disorders. In this review, we summarize the role of neuroinflammation in psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder, as well as in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, and introduce current research on the potential of immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs) as a new treatment strategy for these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoo Jin Jung
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Stanford Neurosciences Interdepartmental Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Michael T. Scerba
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Dong Seok Kim
- AevisBio, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, United States
- Aevis Bio, Inc., Daejeon, South Korea
| | | | - Augusta Pisanu
- National Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Anna R. Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Nigel H. Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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13
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Picconi B, Galati S. Progress of clinical neuroscience in movement disorders: Technical and methodological developments. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 349:109034. [PMID: 33347901 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.109034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Picconi
- Università Telematica San Raffaele, Roma, Italy; Laboratoro Neurofisiologia Sperimentale, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Roma, Italy.
| | - Salvatore Galati
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, Neurocenter of Southern Switzerland - Institute of Clinical Neuroscience of Southern Switzerland, Lugano, Switzerland; Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland.
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14
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Murgia F, Atzori L, Carboni E, Santoru ML, Hendren A, Pisanu A, Caboni P, Boi L, Fusco G, Carta AR. Metabolomics Fingerprint Induced by the Intranigral Inoculation of Exogenous Human Alpha-Synuclein Oligomers in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21186745. [PMID: 32937957 PMCID: PMC7555976 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is considered a synucleinopathy because of the intraneuronal accumulation of aggregated α-synuclein (αSyn). Recent evidence points to soluble αSyn-oligomers (αSynO) as the main cytotoxic species responsible for cell death. Given the pivotal role of αSyn in PD, αSyn-based models are crucial for the investigation of toxic mechanisms and the identification of new therapeutic targets in PD. By using a metabolomics approach, we evaluated the metabolic profile of brain and serum samples of rats infused unilaterally with preformed human αSynOs (HαSynOs), or vehicle, into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Three months postinfusion, the striatum was dissected for striatal dopamine (DA) measurements via High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis and mesencephalon and serum samples were collected for the evaluation of metabolite content via gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis. Multivariate, univariate and correlation statistics were applied. A 40% decrease of DA content was measured in the HαSynO-infused striatum as compared to the contralateral and the vehicle-infused striata. Decreased levels of dehydroascorbic acid, myo-inositol, and glycine, and increased levels of threonine, were found in the mesencephalon, while increased contents of fructose and mannose, and a decrease in glycine and urea, were found in the serum of HαSynO-infused rats. The significant correlation between DA and metabolite content indicated that metabolic variations reflected the nigrostriatal degeneration. Collectively, the metabolomic fingerprint of HαSynO-infused rats points to an increase of oxidative stress markers, in line with PD neuropathology, and provides hints for potential biomarkers of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Murgia
- Clinical Metabolomics Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (L.A.); (M.L.S.); (A.H.)
- Correspondence: (F.M.); (A.R.C.)
| | - Luigi Atzori
- Clinical Metabolomics Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (L.A.); (M.L.S.); (A.H.)
| | - Ezio Carboni
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (E.C.); (L.B.)
| | - Maria Laura Santoru
- Clinical Metabolomics Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (L.A.); (M.L.S.); (A.H.)
| | - Aran Hendren
- Clinical Metabolomics Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (L.A.); (M.L.S.); (A.H.)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, London GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Augusta Pisanu
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy;
| | - Pierluigi Caboni
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy;
| | - Laura Boi
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (E.C.); (L.B.)
| | - Giuliana Fusco
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK;
| | - Anna R. Carta
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (E.C.); (L.B.)
- Correspondence: (F.M.); (A.R.C.)
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15
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Cerri S, Blandini F. In vivo modeling of prodromal stage of Parkinson’s disease. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 342:108801. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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