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Di Francesco V, Chua AJ, Huang D, D'Souza A, Yang A, Bleier BS, Amiji MM. RNA therapies for CNS diseases. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 208:115283. [PMID: 38494152 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115283] [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: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Neurological disorders are a diverse group of conditions that pose an increasing health burden worldwide. There is a general lack of effective therapies due to multiple reasons, of which a key obstacle is the presence of the blood-brain barrier, which limits drug delivery to the central nervous system, and generally restricts the pool of candidate drugs to small, lipophilic molecules. However, in many cases, these are unable to target key pathways in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. As a group, RNA therapies have shown tremendous promise in treating various conditions because they offer unique opportunities for specific targeting by leveraging Watson-Crick base pairing systems, opening up possibilities to modulate pathological mechanisms that previously could not be addressed by small molecules or antibody-protein interactions. This potential paradigm shift in disease management has been enabled by recent advances in synthesizing, purifying, and delivering RNA. This review explores the use of RNA-based therapies specifically for central nervous system disorders, where we highlight the inherent limitations of RNA therapy and present strategies to augment the effectiveness of RNA therapeutics, including physical, chemical, and biological methods. We then describe translational challenges to the widespread use of RNA therapies and close with a consideration of future prospects in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Di Francesco
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 140 The Fenway Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Andy J Chua
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 140 The Fenway Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Sengkang General Hospital, 110 Sengkang E Way, 544886, Singapore
| | - Di Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 140 The Fenway Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Anisha D'Souza
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 140 The Fenway Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Alicia Yang
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Benjamin S Bleier
- Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Mansoor M Amiji
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 140 The Fenway Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 140 The Fenway Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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López-Sánchez C, Lagoa R, Poejo J, García-López V, García-Martínez V, Gutierrez-Merino C. An Update of Kaempferol Protection against Brain Damage Induced by Ischemia-Reperfusion and by 3-Nitropropionic Acid. Molecules 2024; 29:776. [PMID: 38398528 PMCID: PMC10893315 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29040776] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Kaempferol, a flavonoid present in many food products, has chemical and cellular antioxidant properties that are beneficial for protection against the oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Kaempferol administration to model experimental animals can provide extensive protection against brain damage of the striatum and proximal cortical areas induced by transient brain cerebral ischemic stroke and by 3-nitropropionic acid. This article is an updated review of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of protection by kaempferol administration against brain damage induced by these insults, integrated with an overview of the contributions of the work performed in our laboratories during the past years. Kaempferol administration at doses that prevent neurological dysfunctions inhibit the critical molecular events that underlie the initial and delayed brain damage induced by ischemic stroke and by 3-nitropropionic acid. It is highlighted that the protection afforded by kaempferol against the initial mitochondrial dysfunction can largely account for its protection against the reported delayed spreading of brain damage, which can develop from many hours to several days. This allows us to conclude that kaempferol administration can be beneficial not only in preventive treatments, but also in post-insult therapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen López-Sánchez
- Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (J.P.); (V.G.-L.); (V.G.-M.)
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Ricardo Lagoa
- School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Morro do Lena-Alto do Vieiro, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal;
- Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering-Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
| | - Joana Poejo
- Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (J.P.); (V.G.-L.); (V.G.-M.)
| | - Virginio García-López
- Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (J.P.); (V.G.-L.); (V.G.-M.)
- Department of Medical and Surgical Therapeutics, Pharmacology Area, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Virginio García-Martínez
- Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (J.P.); (V.G.-L.); (V.G.-M.)
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Carlos Gutierrez-Merino
- Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (J.P.); (V.G.-L.); (V.G.-M.)
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Donnelly KM, Coleman CM, Fuller ML, Reed VL, Smerina D, Tomlinson DS, Pearce MMP. Hunting for the cause: Evidence for prion-like mechanisms in Huntington’s disease. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:946822. [PMID: 36090278 PMCID: PMC9448931 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.946822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The hypothesis that pathogenic protein aggregates associated with neurodegenerative diseases spread from cell-to-cell in the brain in a manner akin to infectious prions has gained substantial momentum due to an explosion of research in the past 10–15 years. Here, we review current evidence supporting the existence of prion-like mechanisms in Huntington’s disease (HD), an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by expansion of a CAG repeat tract in exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene. We summarize information gained from human studies and in vivo and in vitro models of HD that strongly support prion-like features of the mutant HTT (mHTT) protein, including potential involvement of molecular features of mHTT seeds, synaptic structures and connectivity, endocytic and exocytic mechanisms, tunneling nanotubes, and nonneuronal cells in mHTT propagation in the brain. We discuss mechanisms by which mHTT aggregate spreading and neurotoxicity could be causally linked and the potential benefits of targeting prion-like mechanisms in the search for new disease-modifying therapies for HD and other fatal neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirby M. Donnelly
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Cevannah M. Coleman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Madison L. Fuller
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Victoria L. Reed
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Dayna Smerina
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David S. Tomlinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Margaret M. Panning Pearce
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Biology, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Margaret M. Panning Pearce,
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Saba J, Couselo FL, Bruno J, Carniglia L, Durand D, Lasaga M, Caruso C. Neuroinflammation in Huntington's Disease: A Starring Role for Astrocyte and Microglia. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:1116-1143. [PMID: 34852742 PMCID: PMC9886821 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666211201094608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene. HD causes motor, cognitive, and behavioral dysfunction. Since no existing treatment affects the course of this disease, new treatments are needed. Inflammation is frequently observed in HD patients before symptom onset. Neuroinflammation, characterized by the presence of reactive microglia, astrocytes and inflammatory factors within the brain, is also detected early. However, in comparison to other neurodegenerative diseases, the role of neuroinflammation in HD is much less known. Work has been dedicated to altered microglial and astrocytic functions in the context of HD, but less attention has been given to glial participation in neuroinflammation. This review describes evidence of inflammation in HD patients and animal models. It also discusses recent knowledge on neuroinflammation in HD, highlighting astrocyte and microglia involvement in the disease and considering anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Saba
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Federico López Couselo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Bruno
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lila Carniglia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela Durand
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mercedes Lasaga
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla Caruso
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina,Address correspondence to this author at the Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155 Piso 10, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tel: +54 11 5285 3380; E-mail:
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Lopez-Sanchez C, Poejo J, Garcia-Lopez V, Salazar J, Garcia-Martinez V, Gutierrez-Merino C. Kaempferol prevents the activation of complement C3 protein and the generation of reactive A1 astrocytes that mediate rat brain degeneration induced by 3-nitropropionic acid. Food Chem Toxicol 2022; 164:113017. [PMID: 35452770 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.113017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Kaempferol is a natural antioxidant present in vegetables and fruits used in human nutrition. In previous work, we showed that intraperitoneal (i.p.) kaempferol administration strongly protects against striatum neurodegeneration induced by i.p. injections of 3-nitropropionic acid (NPA), an animal model of Huntington's disease. Recently, we have shown that reactive A1 astrocytes generation is an early event in the neurodegeneration induced by NPA i.p. injections. In the present work, we have experimentally evaluated the hypothesis that kaempferol protects both against the activation of complement C3 protein and the generation of reactive A1 astrocytes in rat brain striatum and hippocampus. To this end, we have administered NPA and kaempferol i.p. injections to adult Wistar rats following the protocol described in previous work. Kaempferol administration prevents proteolytic activation of complement C3 protein and generation of reactive A1 astrocytes NPA-induced in the striatum and hippocampus. Also, it blocked the NPA-induced increase of NF-κB expression and enhanced secretion of cytokines IL-1α, TNFα, and C1q, which have been linked to the generation of reactive A1 astrocytes. In addition, kaempferol administration prevented the enhanced production of amyloid β peptides in the striatum and hippocampus, a novel finding in NPA-induced brain degeneration found in this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Lopez-Sanchez
- Instituto de Biomarcadores de Patologías Moleculares, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain; Departamento de Anatomía y Embriología Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.
| | - Joana Poejo
- Instituto de Biomarcadores de Patologías Moleculares, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Virginio Garcia-Lopez
- Instituto de Biomarcadores de Patologías Moleculares, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain; Departamento de Anatomía y Embriología Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Jairo Salazar
- Instituto de Biomarcadores de Patologías Moleculares, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain; Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua-León, León, 21000, Nicaragua
| | - Virginio Garcia-Martinez
- Instituto de Biomarcadores de Patologías Moleculares, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain; Departamento de Anatomía y Embriología Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Carlos Gutierrez-Merino
- Instituto de Biomarcadores de Patologías Moleculares, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.
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Vallès A, Evers MM, Stam A, Sogorb-Gonzalez M, Brouwers C, Vendrell-Tornero C, Acar-Broekmans S, Paerels L, Klima J, Bohuslavova B, Pintauro R, Fodale V, Bresciani A, Liscak R, Urgosik D, Starek Z, Crha M, Blits B, Petry H, Ellederova Z, Motlik J, van Deventer S, Konstantinova P. Widespread and sustained target engagement in Huntington's disease minipigs upon intrastriatal microRNA-based gene therapy. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:13/588/eabb8920. [PMID: 33827977 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abb8920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Huntingtin (HTT)-lowering therapies hold promise to slow down neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease (HD). Here, we assessed the translatability and long-term durability of recombinant adeno-associated viral vector serotype 5 expressing a microRNA targeting human HTT (rAAV5-miHTT) administered by magnetic resonance imaging-guided convention-enhanced delivery in transgenic HD minipigs. rAAV5-miHTT (1.2 × 1013 vector genome (VG) copies per brain) was successfully administered into the striatum (bilaterally in caudate and putamen), using age-matched untreated animals as controls. Widespread brain biodistribution of vector DNA was observed, with the highest concentration in target (striatal) regions, thalamus, and cortical regions. Vector DNA presence and transgene expression were similar at 6 and 12 months after administration. Expression of miHTT strongly correlated with vector DNA, with a corresponding reduction of mutant HTT (mHTT) protein of more than 75% in injected areas, and 30 to 50% lowering in distal regions. Translational pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic measures in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were largely in line with the effects observed in the brain. CSF miHTT expression was detected up to 12 months, with CSF mHTT protein lowering of 25 to 30% at 6 and 12 months after dosing. This study demonstrates widespread biodistribution, strong and durable efficiency of rAAV5-miHTT in disease-relevant regions in a large brain, and the potential of using CSF analysis to determine vector expression and efficacy in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Vallès
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Paasheuvelweg 25a, 1105 BP Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Melvin M Evers
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Paasheuvelweg 25a, 1105 BP Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Anouk Stam
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Paasheuvelweg 25a, 1105 BP Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marina Sogorb-Gonzalez
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Paasheuvelweg 25a, 1105 BP Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Cynthia Brouwers
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Paasheuvelweg 25a, 1105 BP Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carlos Vendrell-Tornero
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Paasheuvelweg 25a, 1105 BP Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Seyda Acar-Broekmans
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Paasheuvelweg 25a, 1105 BP Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Lieke Paerels
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Paasheuvelweg 25a, 1105 BP Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jiri Klima
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Rumburská 89, 277 21 Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Bozena Bohuslavova
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Rumburská 89, 277 21 Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Roberta Pintauro
- Department of Translational Biology, IRBM Science Park S.p.A., Via Pontina km 30,600, 00071 Pomezia, Italy
| | - Valentina Fodale
- Department of Translational Biology, IRBM Science Park S.p.A., Via Pontina km 30,600, 00071 Pomezia, Italy
| | - Alberto Bresciani
- Department of Translational Biology, IRBM Science Park S.p.A., Via Pontina km 30,600, 00071 Pomezia, Italy
| | - Roman Liscak
- Department of Stereotactic Radioneurosurgery, Na Homolce Hospital, Roentgenova 37/2, 150 30, Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Dusan Urgosik
- Department of Stereotactic Radioneurosurgery, Na Homolce Hospital, Roentgenova 37/2, 150 30, Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenek Starek
- Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology, St. Anne's University Hospital, Pekařská 53, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Crha
- Small Animal Clinic, Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Palackého třída 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Bas Blits
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Paasheuvelweg 25a, 1105 BP Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Harald Petry
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Paasheuvelweg 25a, 1105 BP Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Zdenka Ellederova
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Rumburská 89, 277 21 Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Motlik
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Rumburská 89, 277 21 Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Sander van Deventer
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Paasheuvelweg 25a, 1105 BP Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Pavlina Konstantinova
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Paasheuvelweg 25a, 1105 BP Amsterdam, Netherlands
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MicroRNAs Dysregulation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21175986. [PMID: 32825273 PMCID: PMC7504116 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21175986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are debilitating and currently incurable conditions causing severe cognitive and motor impairments, defined by the progressive deterioration of neuronal structure and function, eventually causing neuronal loss. Understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying these disorders are essential to develop therapeutic approaches. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs implicated in gene expression regulation at the post-transcriptional level. Moreover, miRNAs are crucial for different processes, including cell growth, signal transmission, apoptosis, cancer and aging-related neurodegenerative diseases. Altered miRNAs levels have been associated with the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS formation occur in many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. The crosstalk existing among oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and miRNAs dysregulation plays a pivotal role in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Based on this evidence, in this review, with a focus on miRNAs and their role in mitochondrial dysfunction in aging-related neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Crapser JD, Ochaba J, Soni N, Reidling JC, Thompson LM, Green KN. Microglial depletion prevents extracellular matrix changes and striatal volume reduction in a model of Huntington's disease. Brain 2020; 143:266-288. [PMID: 31848580 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is associated with a reactive microglial response and consequent inflammation. To address the role of these cells in disease pathogenesis, we depleted microglia from R6/2 mice, a rapidly progressing model of Huntington's disease marked by behavioural impairment, mutant huntingtin (mHTT) accumulation, and early death, through colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibition (CSF1Ri) with pexidartinib (PLX3397) for the duration of disease. Although we observed an interferon gene signature in addition to downregulated neuritogenic and synaptic gene pathways with disease, overt inflammation was not evident by microglial morphology or cytokine transcript levels in R6/2 mice. Nonetheless, CSF1Ri-induced microglial elimination reduced or prevented disease-related grip strength and object recognition deficits, mHTT accumulation, astrogliosis, and striatal volume loss, the latter of which was not associated with reductions in cell number but with the extracellular accumulation of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs)-a primary component of glial scars. A concurrent loss of proteoglycan-containing perineuronal nets was also evident in R6/2 mice, and microglial elimination not only prevented this but also strikingly increased perineuronal nets in the brains of naïve littermates, suggesting a new role for microglia as homeostatic regulators of perineuronal net formation and integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Crapser
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine (UCI), Irvine, CA, USA.,Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Joseph Ochaba
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine (UCI), Irvine, CA, USA.,Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Neelakshi Soni
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine (UCI), Irvine, CA, USA.,Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jack C Reidling
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine (UCI), Irvine, CA, USA.,Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Leslie M Thompson
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine (UCI), Irvine, CA, USA.,Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Kim N Green
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine (UCI), Irvine, CA, USA.,Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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Hirbec H, Déglon N, Foo LC, Goshen I, Grutzendler J, Hangen E, Kreisel T, Linck N, Muffat J, Regio S, Rion S, Escartin C. Emerging technologies to study glial cells. Glia 2020; 68:1692-1728. [PMID: 31958188 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Development, physiological functions, and pathologies of the brain depend on tight interactions between neurons and different types of glial cells, such as astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Assessing the relative contribution of different glial cell types is required for the full understanding of brain function and dysfunction. Over the recent years, several technological breakthroughs were achieved, allowing "glio-scientists" to address new challenging biological questions. These technical developments make it possible to study the roles of specific cell types with medium or high-content workflows and perform fine analysis of their mutual interactions in a preserved environment. This review illustrates the potency of several cutting-edge experimental approaches (advanced cell cultures, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived human glial cells, viral vectors, in situ glia imaging, opto- and chemogenetic approaches, and high-content molecular analysis) to unravel the role of glial cells in specific brain functions or diseases. It also illustrates the translation of some techniques to the clinics, to monitor glial cells in patients, through specific brain imaging methods. The advantages, pitfalls, and future developments are discussed for each technique, and selected examples are provided to illustrate how specific "gliobiological" questions can now be tackled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Hirbec
- Institute for Functional Genomics (IGF), University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicole Déglon
- Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Neuroscience Research Center, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lynette C Foo
- Neuroimmunology and Neurodegeneration Section, The Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area, F. Hoffman-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Inbal Goshen
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jaime Grutzendler
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Emilie Hangen
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Département de la Recherche Fondamentale, Institut de Biologie François Jacob, MIRCen, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, UMR 9199, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Tirzah Kreisel
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nathalie Linck
- Institute for Functional Genomics (IGF), University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Julien Muffat
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, and Department of Molecular Genetics, The University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sara Regio
- Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Laboratory of Neurotherapies and Neuromodulation, Neuroscience Research Center, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sybille Rion
- Neuroimmunology and Neurodegeneration Section, The Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area, F. Hoffman-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carole Escartin
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Département de la Recherche Fondamentale, Institut de Biologie François Jacob, MIRCen, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, UMR 9199, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
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