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Frye BM, Negrey JD, Johnson CSC, Kim J, Barcus RA, Lockhart SN, Whitlow CT, Chiou KL, Snyder-Mackler N, Montine TJ, Craft S, Shively CA, Register TC. Mediterranean diet protects against a neuroinflammatory cortical transcriptome: Associations with brain volumetrics, peripheral inflammation, social isolation, and anxiety in nonhuman primates (Macaca fascicularis). Brain Behav Immun 2024; 119:681-692. [PMID: 38636565 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Mediterranean diets may be neuroprotective and prevent cognitive decline relative to Western diets; however, the underlying biology is poorly understood. We assessed the effects of Western versus Mediterranean-like diets on RNAseq-generated transcriptional profiles in lateral temporal cortex and their relationships with longitudinal changes in neuroanatomy, circulating monocyte gene expression, and observations of social isolation and anxiety in 38 socially-housed, middle-aged female cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). Diet resulted in differential expression of seven transcripts (FDR < 0.05). Cyclin dependent kinase 14 (CDK14), a proinflammatory regulator, was lower in the Mediterranean group. The remaining six transcripts [i.e., "lunatic fringe" (LFNG), mannose receptor C type 2 (MRC2), solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLCA32), butyrophilin subfamily 2 member A1 (BTN2A1), katanin regulatory subunit B1 (KATNB1), and transmembrane protein 268 (TMEM268)] were higher in cortex of the Mediterranean group and generally associated with anti-inflammatory/neuroprotective pathways. KATNB1 encodes a subcomponent of katanin, important in maintaining microtubule homeostasis. BTN2A1 is involved in immunomodulation of γδ T-cells which have anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects. CDK14, LFNG, MRC2, and SLCA32 are associated with inflammatory pathways. The latter four differentially expressed cortex transcripts were associated with peripheral monocyte transcript levels, neuroanatomical changes determined by MRI, and with social isolation and anxiety. These results provide important insights into the potential mechanistic processes linking diet, peripheral and central inflammation, and behavior. Collectively, our results provide evidence that, relative to Western diets, Mediterranean diets confer protection against peripheral and central inflammation which is reflected in preserved brain structure and socioemotional behavior. Ultimately, such protective effects may confer resilience to the development of neuropathology and associated disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett M Frye
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Department of Biology, Emory and Henry College, Emory, VA, USA; Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Jacob D Negrey
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Jeongchul Kim
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Richard A Barcus
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Samuel N Lockhart
- Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Christopher T Whitlow
- Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Kenneth L Chiou
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Noah Snyder-Mackler
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA; School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | | - Suzanne Craft
- Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Carol A Shively
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
| | - Thomas C Register
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
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Ji J, Hou Z, He Y, Liu L, Xue F, Chen H, Yuan Z. Differential network knockoff filter with application to brain connectivity analysis. Stat Med 2024. [PMID: 38922944 DOI: 10.1002/sim.10155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The brain functional connectivity can typically be represented as a brain functional network, where nodes represent regions of interest (ROIs) and edges symbolize their connections. Studying group differences in brain functional connectivity can help identify brain regions and recover the brain functional network linked to neurodegenerative diseases. This process, known as differential network analysis focuses on the differences between estimated precision matrices for two groups. Current methods struggle with individual heterogeneity in measuring the brain connectivity, false discovery rate (FDR) control, and accounting for confounding factors, resulting in biased estimates and diminished power. To address these issues, we present a two-stage FDR-controlled feature selection method for differential network analysis using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. First, we create individual brain connectivity measures using a high-dimensional precision matrix estimation technique. Next, we devise a penalized logistic regression model that employs individual brain connectivity data and integrates a new knockoff filter for FDR control when detecting significant differential edges. Through extensive simulations, we showcase the superiority of our approach compared to other methods. Additionally, we apply our technique to fMRI data to identify differential edges between Alzheimer's disease and control groups. Our results are consistent with prior experimental studies, emphasizing the practical applicability of our method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiadong Ji
- Institute for Financial Studies, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhendong Hou
- Institute for Financial Studies, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yong He
- Institute for Financial Studies, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Division of Biostatistics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Fuzhong Xue
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhongshang Yuan
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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3
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Risby-Jones G, Lee JD, Woodruff TM, Fung JN. Sex differences in Huntington's disease from a neuroinflammation perspective. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1384480. [PMID: 38915800 PMCID: PMC11194371 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1384480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition characterized by motor, cognitive and psychiatric abnormalities. Immune dysregulation, prominently featuring increased immune activity, plays a significant role in HD pathogenesis. In addition to the central nervous system (CNS), systemic innate immune activation and inflammation are observed in HD patients, exacerbating the effects of the Huntingtin (HTT) gene mutation. Recent attention to sex differences in HD symptom severity underscores the need to consider gender as a biological variable in neurodegenerative disease research. Understanding sex-specific immune responses holds promise for elucidating HD pathophysiology and informing targeted treatment strategies to mitigate cognitive and functional decline. This perspective will highlight the importance of investigating gender influence in HD, particularly focusing on sex-specific immune responses predisposing individuals to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Risby-Jones
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - John D. Lee
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Trent M. Woodruff
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Jenny N. Fung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
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4
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Angelini G, Malvaso A, Schirripa A, Campione F, D'Addario SL, Toschi N, Caligiore D. Unraveling sex differences in Parkinson's disease through explainable machine learning. J Neurol Sci 2024; 462:123091. [PMID: 38870732 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.123091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Sex differences affect Parkinson's disease (PD) development and manifestation. Yet, current PD identification and treatments underuse these distinctions. Sex-focused PD literature often prioritizes prevalence rates over feature importance analysis. However, underlying aspects could make a feature significant for predicting PD, despite its score. Interactions between features require consideration, as do distinctions between scoring disparities and actual feature importance. For instance, a higher score in males for a certain feature doesn't necessarily mean it's less important for characterizing PD in females. This article proposes an explainable Machine Learning (ML) model to elucidate these underlying factors, emphasizing the importance of features. This insight could be critical for personalized medicine, suggesting the need to tailor data collection and analysis for males and females. The model identifies sex-specific differences in PD, aiding in predicting outcomes as "Healthy" or "Pathological". It adopts a system-level approach, integrating heterogeneous data - clinical, imaging, genetics, and demographics - to study new biomarkers for diagnosis. The explainable ML approach aids non-ML experts in understanding model decisions, fostering trust and facilitating interpretation of complex ML outcomes, thus enhancing usability and translational research. The ML model identifies muscle rigidity, autonomic and cognitive assessments, and family history as key contributors to PD diagnosis, with sex differences noted. The genetic variant SNCA-rs356181 may be more significant in characterizing PD in males. Interaction analysis reveals a greater occurrence of feature interplay among males compared to females. These disparities offer insights into PD pathophysiology and could guide the development of sex-specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfrancesco Angelini
- Medical Physics Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Malvaso
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, National Neurological Institute, University of Pavia, Via Mondino 2, 27100 Pavia, Italy; Computational and Translational Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council (CTNLab-ISTC-CNR), Via Gian Domenico Romagnosi, 18A, 00196 Rome, Italy
| | - Aurelia Schirripa
- Computational and Translational Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council (CTNLab-ISTC-CNR), Via Gian Domenico Romagnosi, 18A, 00196 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Campione
- Computational and Translational Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council (CTNLab-ISTC-CNR), Via Gian Domenico Romagnosi, 18A, 00196 Rome, Italy
| | - Sebastian Luca D'Addario
- Computational and Translational Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council (CTNLab-ISTC-CNR), Via Gian Domenico Romagnosi, 18A, 00196 Rome, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Del Fosso di Fiorano, 64, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Toschi
- Medical Physics Section, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniele Caligiore
- Computational and Translational Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council (CTNLab-ISTC-CNR), Via Gian Domenico Romagnosi, 18A, 00196 Rome, Italy; AI2Life s.r.l., Innovative Start-Up, ISTC-CNR Spin-Off, Via Sebino 32, 00199 Rome, Italy.
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Egunlusi AO, Joubert J. NMDA Receptor Antagonists: Emerging Insights into Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Applications in Neurological Disorders. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:639. [PMID: 38794209 PMCID: PMC11124131 DOI: 10.3390/ph17050639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) include a range of chronic conditions characterized by progressive neuronal loss, leading to cognitive, motor, and behavioral impairments. Common examples include Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The global prevalence of NDs is on the rise, imposing significant economic and social burdens. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms underlying NDs remain incompletely understood, hampering the development of effective treatments. Excitotoxicity, particularly glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity, is a key pathological process implicated in NDs. Targeting the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, which plays a central role in excitotoxicity, holds therapeutic promise. However, challenges, such as blood-brain barrier penetration and adverse effects, such as extrapyramidal effects, have hindered the success of many NMDA receptor antagonists in clinical trials. This review explores the molecular mechanisms of NMDA receptor antagonists, emphasizing their structure, function, types, challenges, and future prospects in treating NDs. Despite extensive research on competitive and noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonists, the quest for effective treatments still faces significant hurdles. This is partly because the same NMDA receptor that necessitates blockage under pathological conditions is also responsible for the normal physiological function of NMDA receptors. Allosteric modulation of NMDA receptors presents a potential alternative, with the GluN2B subunit emerging as a particularly attractive target due to its enrichment in presynaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors, which are major contributors to excitotoxic-induced neuronal cell death. Despite their low side-effect profiles, selective GluN2B antagonists like ifenprodil and radiprodil have encountered obstacles such as poor bioavailability in clinical trials. Moreover, the selectivity of these antagonists is often relative, as they have been shown to bind to other GluN2 subunits, albeit minimally. Recent advancements in developing phenanthroic and naphthoic acid derivatives offer promise for enhanced GluN2B, GluN2A or GluN2C/GluN2D selectivity and improved pharmacodynamic properties. Additional challenges in NMDA receptor antagonist development include conflicting preclinical and clinical results, as well as the complexity of neurodegenerative disorders and poorly defined NMDA receptor subtypes. Although multifunctional agents targeting multiple degenerative processes are also being explored, clinical data are limited. Designing and developing selective GluN2B antagonists/modulators with polycyclic moieties and multitarget properties would be significant in addressing neurodegenerative disorders. However, advancements in understanding NMDA receptor structure and function, coupled with collaborative efforts in drug design, are imperative for realizing the therapeutic potential of these NMDA receptor antagonists/modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayodeji Olatunde Egunlusi
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Makhanda 6140, South Africa
| | - Jacques Joubert
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa;
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Tsamou M, Roggen EL. Sex-associated microRNAs potentially implicated in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD). Brain Res 2024; 1829:148791. [PMID: 38307153 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148791] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The onset and pathology of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (sAD) seem to be affected by both sex and genetic mechanisms. Evidence supports that the high prevalence of sAD in women, worldwide, may be attributed to an interplay among aging, sex, and lifestyle, influenced by genetics, metabolic changes, and hormones. Interestingly, epigenetic mechanisms such as microRNAs (miRNAs), known as master regulators of gene expression, may contribute to this observed sexual dimorphism in sAD. OBJECTIVES To investigate the potential impact of sex-associated miRNAs on processes manifesting sAD pathology, as described by the Tau-driven Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) leading to memory loss. METHODS Using publicly available human miRNA datasets, sex-biased miRNAs, defined as differentially expressed by sex in tissues possibly affected by sAD pathology, were collected. In addition, sex hormone-related miRNAs were also retrieved from the literature. The compiled sex-biased and sex hormone-related miRNAs were further plugged into the dysregulated processes of the Tau-driven AOP for memory loss. RESULTS Several miRNAs, previously identified as sex-associated, were implicated in dysregulated processes associated with the manifestation of sAD pathology. Importantly, the described pathology processes were not confined to a particular sex. A mechanistic-based approach utilizing miRNAs was adopted in order to elucidate the link between sex and biological processes potentially involved in the development of memory loss. CONCLUSIONS The identification of sex-associated miRNAs involved in the early processes manifesting memory loss may shed light to the complex molecular mechanisms underlying sAD pathogenesis in a sex-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tsamou
- ToxGenSolutions (TGS), Oxfordlaan 70, 6229EV Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Erwin L Roggen
- ToxGenSolutions (TGS), Oxfordlaan 70, 6229EV Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Tang S, Huang L, Lin F, Chen X, Wang Y, Xu J, Wang Y, Gao J, Xiao Q. Sex steroid and cognitive function among community-dwelling older men with or without vascular risk factors: a cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:147. [PMID: 38350861 PMCID: PMC10865607 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-04727-6] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship of testosterone and estradiol concentrations with cognitive function among community-dwelling older men was inconclusive. To examine the association of serum testosterone and estradiol concentrations with cognitive function in older men with or without vascular risk factors (VRFs). METHODS This cross-sectional study consisted of 224 community-dwelling men aged 65-90 years in the Songjiang District of Shanghai, China. Serum testosterone and estradiol were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The following five factors were defined as VRFs in this study: obesity, history of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and coronary heart disease. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the association of testosterone and estradiol with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in participants with or without VRF. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression was performed to account for the nonlinearity of these associations. RESULTS An inverted "U" shaped non-linear relationship was found between testosterone concentration and MMSE score in men with one VRF (P overall =.003, non-linear P =.002). Estradiol showed an inverted "U" shaped non-linear relationship with MMSE score independent of VRFs (men without VRF, P overall =.049, non-linear P =.015; men with one VRF, overall P =.007, non-linear P =.003; men with two or more VRFs, overall P =.009, non-linear P =.005). CONCLUSION In older men, an optimal level of sex steroid concentration may be beneficial to cognitive function and the VRFs should be considered when interpreting the relationship between sex steroid and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuning Tang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Limei Huang
- Songjiang Center of Disease Prevention and Control, 201620, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangting Lin
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuqin Chen
- Songjiang Center of Disease Prevention and Control, 201620, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunhui Wang
- Songjiang District Xinqiao Town Community Health Service Center, 201600, Shanghai, China
| | - Jixiang Xu
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Yujie Wang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Junling Gao
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qianyi Xiao
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, The Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
- Health Communication Institute, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
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Lee KH, Song JW, Kim CS, Seong H, Shin DM, Shon WJ. Taste receptor type 1 member 3 mediates diet-induced cognitive impairment in mice. Life Sci 2023; 334:122194. [PMID: 37865176 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122194] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Long-term consumption of a western diet (WD), which is characterized by high intake of saturated fats and sugary drinks, causes cognitive impairment. However, the molecular mechanism by which WD induces cognitive impairment remains unclear. Taste receptor type 1 member 3 (TAS1R3), activated by ligands of WD, is expressed in extra-oral tissues, including the brain, and particularly in the hippocampus. This study investigated whether TAS1R3 regulates WD-induced cognitive impairment in mice. MAIN METHODS Male C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) and Tas1r3 knock-out (KO) mice were fed either a normal diet (ND) or WD for 18 weeks. Cognitive functions were assessed using novel object recognition and Barnes maze tests. The mechanisms underlying WD-induced cognitive impairment were assessed using RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. KEY FINDINGS Cognitive impairment was observed in WT mice fed WD (WT-WD) compared with WT-ND mice. Conversely, mice lacking TAS1R3 were not cognitively impaired even under long-term WD feeding. Hippocampal transcriptome analysis revealed upregulated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling and increased AMPK-targeted sirtuin 3 expression in KO-WD mice. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that response to oxidative stress was downregulated, whereas neurogenesis was upregulated in dentate gyrus of KO-WD mice. In vitro studies validated the findings, indicating that Tas1r3 knockdown directly upregulated decreased sirtuin 3 expression, its downstream genes-related to oxidative stress, and apoptosis induced by WD condition in hippocampal neuron cells. SIGNIFICANCE TAS1R3 acts as a critical mediator of WD-induced cognitive impairment in mice, thereby offering potential as a novel therapeutic target to prevent WD-induced cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keon-Hee Lee
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Won Song
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Chong-Su Kim
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hobin Seong
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Mi Shin
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Woo-Jeong Shon
- Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
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Negrey JD, Frye BM, Johnson CSC, Kim J, Barcus RA, Lockhart SN, Whitlow CT, Sutphen C, Chiou KL, Snyder-Mackler N, Montine TJ, Craft S, Shively CA, Register TC. Mediterranean Diet Protects Against a Neuroinflammatory Cortical Transcriptome: Associations with Brain Volumetrics, Peripheral Inflammation, Social Isolation and Anxiety. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.01.565068. [PMID: 37961556 PMCID: PMC10635044 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.01.565068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mediterranean diets may be neuroprotective and prevent cognitive decline relative to Western diets, however the underlying biology is poorly understood. METHODS We assessed the effects of Western vs. Mediterranean-like diets on RNAseq generated transcriptional profiles in temporal cortex and their relationships with changes in MRI neuroimaging phenotypes, circulating monocyte gene expression, and observations of social isolation and anxiety in 38 socially-housed, middle-aged female cynomolgus macaques. RESULTS Diet resulted in differential expression of seven transcripts (FDR<0.05). Cyclin dependent kinase 14 ( CDK14 ), a proinflammatory regulator, was lower in the Mediterranean group. The remaining six transcripts [i.e., "lunatic fringe" ( LFNG ), mannose receptor C type 2 ( MRC2 ), solute carrier family 3 member 2 ( SLCA32 ), butyrophilin subfamily 2 member A1 ( BTN2A1 ), katanin regulatory subunit B1 ( KATNB1 ), and transmembrane protein 268 ( TMEM268 )] were higher in cortex of the Mediterranean group and generally associated with anti-inflammatory/neuroprotective pathways. KATNB1 encodes a subcomponent of katanin, important in maintaining microtubule homeostasis. BTN2A1 is involved in immunomodulation of γδ T-cells which have anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects. CDK14 , LFNG , MRC2, and SLCA32 are associated with inflammatory pathways. The latter four differentially expressed cortex transcripts were associated with monocyte transcript levels, changes in AD-relevant brain volumes determined by MRI over the course of the study, and social isolation and anxiety. CDK14 was positively correlated with monocyte inflammatory transcripts, changes in total brain, gray matter, cortical gray matter volumes, and time alone and anxious behavior, and negatively correlated with changes in total white matter and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volumes. In contrast, LFNG , MRC2 , and SLCA32 were negatively correlated with monocyte inflammatory transcripts and changes in total gray matter volume, and positively correlated with CSF volume changes, and SLCA32 was negatively correlated with time alone. DISCUSSION Collectively, our results suggest that relative to Western diets, Mediterranean diets confer protection against peripheral and central inflammation which is reflected in preserved brain structure and behavior.
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Harrington EE, Graham-Engeland JE, Sliwinski MJ, Van Bogart K, Mogle JA, Katz MJ, Lipton RB, Engeland CG. Older adults' self-reported prospective memory lapses in everyday life: Connections to inflammation and gender. J Psychosom Res 2023; 174:111489. [PMID: 37690333 PMCID: PMC10591850 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Limited research has focused on the association between inflammatory markers and features of subjective cognitive functioning among older adults. The present work examined links between inflammation and a specific subjective cognitive report: prospective memory (PM), or our memory for future intentions, such as attending an appointment or taking medication. METHOD We assessed self-reported PM lapses using a two-week ecological momentary assessment (EMA) diary protocol via smartphone as well as levels of blood-based inflammation among 231 dementia-free older adults (70-90 years, 66% women) enrolled in the Einstein Aging Study. RESULTS Overall, PM lapses were largely unrelated to inflammatory markers. However, a significant gender difference was observed in the link between basal levels of interleukin (IL)-8 and PM lapses: higher levels of basal IL-8 were associated with more PM lapses among men (estimate = 0.98, 95%CI: [0.43, 1.53], p < .001) but not women (estimate = -0.03, 95%CI: [-0.45, 0.39], p = .826). No other significant relationships between PM lapses and basal or stimulated (ex vivo) cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]) or C-reactive protein (CRP) emerged. CONCLUSION Elevated levels of IL-8 in older men may possibly be an early indicator of neurodegeneration that relates to PM performance. Future studies should continue to examine PM and inflammation across genders to identify possible mechanisms through which these constructs may indicate neurodegeneration and dementia risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Harrington
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82070, USA.
| | - Jennifer E Graham-Engeland
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Martin J Sliwinski
- Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Karina Van Bogart
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | | | - Mindy J Katz
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Richard B Lipton
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Christopher G Engeland
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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11
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Leung E, Taskina D, Schwab N, Hazrati LN. BRCA1 heterozygosity promotes DNA damage-induced senescence in a sex-specific manner following repeated mild traumatic brain injury. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1225226. [PMID: 37638313 PMCID: PMC10450634 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1225226] [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: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests cellular senescence, as a consequence of excess DNA damage and deficient repair, to be a driver of brain dysfunction following repeated mild traumatic brain injury (rmTBI). This study aimed to further investigate the role of deficient DNA repair, specifically BRCA1-related repair, on DNA damage-induced senescence. BRCA1, a repair protein involved in maintaining genomic integrity with multiple roles in the central nervous system, was previously reported to be significantly downregulated in post-mortem brains with a history of rmTBI. Here we examined the effects of impaired BRCA1-related repair on DNA damage-induced senescence and outcomes 1-week post-rmTBI using mice with a heterozygous knockout for BRCA1 in a sex-segregated manner. Altered BRCA1 repair with rmTBI resulted in altered anxiety-related behaviours in males and females using elevated zero maze and contextual fear conditioning. Evaluating molecular markers associated with DNA damage signalling and senescence-related pathways revealed sex-specific differences attributed to BRCA1, where females exhibited elevated DNA damage, impaired DNA damage signalling, and dampened senescence onset compared to males. Overall, the results from this study highlight sex-specific consequences of aberrant DNA repair on outcomes post-injury, and further support a need to develop sex-specific treatments following rmTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Leung
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daria Taskina
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nicole Schwab
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lili-Naz Hazrati
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
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12
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Zelco A, Wapeesittipan P, Joshi A. Insights into Sex and Gender Differences in Brain and Psychopathologies Using Big Data. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1676. [PMID: 37629533 PMCID: PMC10455614 DOI: 10.3390/life13081676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The societal implication of sex and gender (SG) differences in brain are profound, as they influence brain development, behavior, and importantly, the presentation, prevalence, and therapeutic response to diseases. Technological advances have enabled speed up identification and characterization of SG differences during development and in psychopathologies. The main aim of this review is to elaborate on new technological advancements, such as genomics, imaging, and emerging biobanks, coupled with bioinformatics analyses of data generated from these technologies have facilitated the identification and characterization of SG differences in the human brain through development and psychopathologies. First, a brief explanation of SG concepts is provided, along with a developmental and evolutionary context. We then describe physiological SG differences in brain activity and function, and in psychopathologies identified through imaging techniques. We further provide an overview of insights into SG differences using genomics, specifically taking advantage of large cohorts and biobanks. We finally emphasize how bioinformatics analyses of big data generated by emerging technologies provides new opportunities to reduce SG disparities in health outcomes, including major challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anagha Joshi
- Department of Clinical Science, Computational Biology Unit, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway; (A.Z.); (P.W.)
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13
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Ramzan F, Abrar F, Mishra GG, Liao LMQ, Martin DDO. Lost in traffic: consequences of altered palmitoylation in neurodegeneration. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1166125. [PMID: 37324388 PMCID: PMC10268010 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1166125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the first molecular events in neurodegenerative diseases, regardless of etiology, is protein mislocalization. Protein mislocalization in neurons is often linked to proteostasis deficiencies leading to the build-up of misfolded proteins and/or organelles that contributes to cellular toxicity and cell death. By understanding how proteins mislocalize in neurons, we can develop novel therapeutics that target the earliest stages of neurodegeneration. A critical mechanism regulating protein localization and proteostasis in neurons is the protein-lipid modification S-acylation, the reversible addition of fatty acids to cysteine residues. S-acylation is more commonly referred to as S-palmitoylation or simply palmitoylation, which is the addition of the 16-carbon fatty acid palmitate to proteins. Like phosphorylation, palmitoylation is highly dynamic and tightly regulated by writers (i.e., palmitoyl acyltransferases) and erasers (i.e., depalmitoylating enzymes). The hydrophobic fatty acid anchors proteins to membranes; thus, the reversibility allows proteins to be re-directed to and from membranes based on local signaling factors. This is particularly important in the nervous system, where axons (output projections) can be meters long. Any disturbance in protein trafficking can have dire consequences. Indeed, many proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases are palmitoylated, and many more have been identified in palmitoyl-proteomic studies. It follows that palmitoyl acyl transferase enzymes have also been implicated in numerous diseases. In addition, palmitoylation can work in concert with cellular mechanisms, like autophagy, to affect cell health and protein modifications, such as acetylation, nitrosylation, and ubiquitination, to affect protein function and turnover. Limited studies have further revealed a sexually dimorphic pattern of protein palmitoylation. Therefore, palmitoylation can have wide-reaching consequences in neurodegenerative diseases.
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14
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Chiem E, Zhao K, Stark G, Ghiani CA, Colwell CS, Paul KN. Sex Differences in Sleep Phenotypes in the BACHD Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.28.538324. [PMID: 37162913 PMCID: PMC10168394 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.28.538324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances are common features of Huntington's disease (HD). HD is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder that affects men and women in equal numbers, but some epidemiological studies as well as preclinical work indicate there may be sex differences in disease progression. Since sex differences in HD could provide important insights to understand cellular and molecular mechanism(s), we used the bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mouse model of HD (BACHD) to examine whether sex differences in sleep/wake cycles are detectable in an animal model of the disease. Electroencephalography/electromyography (EEG/EMG) was used to measure sleep/wake states and polysomnographic patterns in young adult (12 week-old) male and female wild-type and BACHD mice. Our findings show that male, but not female, BACHD mice exhibited increased variation in phases of the rhythms as compared to age and sex matched wild-types. For both Rapid-eye movement (REM) and Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, genotypic and sex differences were detected. In particular, the BACHD males spent less time in NREM and exhibited a more fragmented sleep than the other groups. Both male and female BACHD mice exhibited significant changes in delta but not in gamma power compared to wild-type mice. Finally, in response to a 6-hrs sleep deprivation, both genotypes and sexes displayed predicted homeostatic responses to sleep loss. These findings suggest that females are relatively protected early in disease progression in this HD model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Chiem
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles
- Molecular, Cellular, Integrative Physiology program, University of California Los Angeles
| | - Kevin Zhao
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles
| | - Gemma Stark
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles
| | - Cristina A. Ghiani
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles
| | | | - Ketema N. Paul
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California Los Angeles
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles
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15
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Nugent M, St Pierre M, Brown A, Nassar S, Parmar P, Kitase Y, Duck SA, Pinto C, Jantzie L, Fung C, Chavez-Valdez R. Sexual Dimorphism in the Closure of the Hippocampal Postnatal Critical Period of Synaptic Plasticity after Intrauterine Growth Restriction: Link to Oligodendrocyte and Glial Dysregulation. Dev Neurosci 2023; 45:234-254. [PMID: 37019088 DOI: 10.1159/000530451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) resulting from hypertensive disease of pregnancy (HDP) leads to sexually dimorphic hippocampal-dependent cognitive and memory impairment in humans. In our translationally relevant mouse model of IUGR incited by HDP, we have previously shown that the synaptic development in the dorsal hippocampus including GABAergic development, NPTX2+ excitatory synaptic formation, axonal myelination, and perineural net (PNN) formation were perturbed by IUGR at adolescent equivalence in humans (P40). The persistence of these disturbances through early adulthood and the potential upstream mechanisms are currently unknown. Thus, we hypothesized that NPTX2+ expression, PNN formation, axonal myelination, all events closing synaptic development in the hippocampus, will be persistently perturbed, particularly affecting IUGR female mice through P60 given the fact that they had worse short-term recognition memory in this model. We additionally hypothesized that such sexual dimorphism is linked to persistent glial dysregulation. We induced IUGR by a micro-osmotic pump infusion of a potent vasoconstrictor U-46619, a thromboxane A2-analog, in the last week of the C57BL/6 mouse gestation to precipitate HDP. Sham-operated mice were used as controls. At P60, we assessed hippocampal and hemispheric volumes, NPTX2 expression, PNN formation, as well as myelin basic protein (MBP), Olig2, APC/CC1, and M-NF expression. We also evaluated P60 astrocytic (GFAP) reactivity and microglial (Iba1 and TMEM119) activation using immunofluorescent-immunohistochemistry and Imaris morphological analysis plus cytokine profiling using Meso Scale Discovery platform. IUGR offspring continued to have smaller hippocampal volumes at P60 not related to changes in hemisphere volume. NPTX2+ puncta counts and volumes were decreased in IUGR hippocampal CA subregions of female mice compared to sex-matched shams. Intriguingly, NPTX2+ counts and volumes were concurrently increased in the dentate gyrus (DG) subregion. PNN volumes were smaller in CA1 and CA3 of IUGR female mice along with PNN intensity in CA3 but they had larger volumes in the CA3 of IUGR male mice. The myelinated axon (MBP+) areas, volumes, and lengths were all decreased in the CA1 of IUGR female mice compared to sex-matched shams, which correlated with a decrease in Olig2 nuclear expression. No decrease in the number of APC/CC1+ mature oligodendrocytes was identified. We noted an increase in M-NF expression in the mossy fibers connecting DG to CA3 only in IUGR female mice. Reactive astrocytes denoted by GFAP areas, volumes, lengths, and numbers of branching were increased in IUGR female CA1 but not in IUGR male CA3 compared to sex-matched shams. Lastly, activated microglia were only detected in IUGR female CA1 and CA3 subregions. We detected no difference in the cytokine profile between sham and IUGR adult mice of either sex. Collectively, our data support a sexually dimorphic impaired closure of postnatal critical period of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of young adult IUGR mice with greater effects on females. A potential mechanism supporting such dimorphism may include oligodendrocyte dysfunction in IUGR females limiting myelination, allowing axonal overgrowth followed by a reactive glial-mediated synaptic pruning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Nugent
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark St Pierre
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ashley Brown
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Salma Nassar
- Department of Neurosciences, Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Pritika Parmar
- Department of Neurosciences, Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yuma Kitase
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah Ann Duck
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Charles Pinto
- Department of Human Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lauren Jantzie
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Camille Fung
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Raul Chavez-Valdez
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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16
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Pittet F, Heng V, Atufa J, Bliss-Moreau E. Monkeys do not show sex differences in toy preferences through their individual choices. Biol Sex Differ 2023; 14:3. [PMID: 36737809 PMCID: PMC9898904 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-023-00489-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As interest in evaluating sex differences in nonhuman animals grows, the finding that male and female monkeys have toy preferences that differ, and that parallel those documented in human children, has garnered significant attention and is leveraged as an argument in favor of a biological contribution for human sex differences. To date, however, only two studies have investigated sex differences in monkeys' toy preferences, both documenting that males prefer toys considered to be "masculine" (such as vehicles) and females prefer toys considered to be "feminine" (such as dolls). Monkeys in these studies were tested in their social groups, making it hard to determine if the sex differences reported reflect actual individual preferences or result from social dynamics present at the time of testing. METHOD Here, we assessed the preferences of 14 rhesus macaques (N = 7 males; N = 7 females) who were singly tested in a choice test with a variety of toys characterized as masculine (hard non-zoomorphic wheeled toys), feminine (zoomorphic soft toys), neutral (hard non-zoomorphic toys) and ambiguous (zoomorphic or plush vehicles) based on criteria from previous studies. RESULTS Males and females showed similar preferences for neutral and "masculine" toys and preferred them (i.e., were more likely to interact with them) to "feminine" and sex-ambiguous toys. When they interacted with the toys, both males and females interacted more with neutral than with "masculine" toys. Females, but not males, interacted more with neutral and "masculine" toys than with "feminine" toys. The highest frequency of interaction for any single toy for the male monkeys was with the doll-standing is stark contrast to previous findings. CONCLUSIONS Our results contrast greatly with the previous study in rhesus monkeys, as well as findings in human children, suggesting that the previously documented sex differences are likely context dependent, and question the existence of a strong biological basis to sex differences in toy preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Pittet
- Neuroscience and Behavior Unit, California National Primate Research Center, University of California, County Road 98 at Hutchison Drive, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, USA.
| | - Victoria Heng
- Neuroscience and Behavior Unit, California National Primate Research Center, University of California, County Road 98 at Hutchison Drive, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jala Atufa
- Neuroscience and Behavior Unit, California National Primate Research Center, University of California, County Road 98 at Hutchison Drive, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Eliza Bliss-Moreau
- Neuroscience and Behavior Unit, California National Primate Research Center, University of California, County Road 98 at Hutchison Drive, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, USA.
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17
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Chiu SY, Wyman-Chick KA, Ferman TJ, Bayram E, Holden SK, Choudhury P, Armstrong MJ. Sex differences in dementia with Lewy bodies: Focused review of available evidence and future directions. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2023; 107:105285. [PMID: 36682958 PMCID: PMC10024862 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2023.105285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on sex differences in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) relating to epidemiology, clinical features, neuropathology, biomarkers, disease progression, and caregiving. While many studies show a higher DLB prevalence in men, this finding is inconsistent and varies by study approach. Visual hallucinations may be more common and occur earlier in women with DLB, whereas REM sleep behavior disorder may be more common and occur earlier in men. Several studies report a higher frequency of parkinsonism in men with DLB, while the frequency of fluctuations appears similar between sexes. Women tend to be older, have greater cognitive impairment at their initial visit, and are delayed in meeting DLB criteria compared to men. Women are also more likely to have Lewy body disease with co-existing AD-related pathology than so-called "pure" Lewy body disease, while men may present with either. Research is mixed regarding the impact of sex on DLB progression. Biomarker and treatment research assessing for sex differences is lacking. Women provide the majority of caregiving in DLB but how this affects the caregiving experience is uncertain. Gaining a better understanding of sex differences will be instrumental in aiding future development of sex-specific strategies in DLB for early diagnosis, care, and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Y Chiu
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA; Norman Fixel Institute for Neurologic Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Kathryn A Wyman-Chick
- Center for Memory and Aging, Department of Neurology, HealthPartners, Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - Tanis J Ferman
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Ece Bayram
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Samantha K Holden
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Parichita Choudhury
- Cleo Roberts Center, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, USA
| | - Melissa J Armstrong
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA; Norman Fixel Institute for Neurologic Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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18
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Sabayan B, Wyman-Chick KA, Sedaghat S. The Burden of Dementia Spectrum Disorders and Associated Comorbid and Demographic Features. Clin Geriatr Med 2023; 39:1-14. [PMID: 36404023 DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2022.07.001] [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] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Dementia spectrum disorders (DSDs) are a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide. DSDs encompass a large group of medical conditions that all ultimately lead to major functional and cognitive decline and disability. Demographic and comorbid conditions that are associated with DSDs have significant prognostic and preventive implications. In this article, we will discuss the global and regional burden of DSDs and cover key demographic and clinical conditions linked with DSDs. In the absence of disease-modifying treatments, the role of primary prevention has become more prominent. Implementation of preventive measures requires an understanding of predisposing and exacerbating factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnam Sabayan
- Department of Neurology, HealthPartners Neuroscience Center, 295 Phalen Boulevard, St Paul, MN 55130, USA; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S Second Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA.
| | - Kathryn A Wyman-Chick
- Department of Neurology, HealthPartners Neuroscience Center, 295 Phalen Boulevard, St Paul, MN 55130, USA
| | - Sanaz Sedaghat
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S Second Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
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19
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Tian L, Dong T, Hu S, Zhao C, Yu G, Hu H, Yang W. Radiomic and clinical nomogram for cognitive impairment prediction in Wilson's disease. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1131968. [PMID: 37188313 PMCID: PMC10177658 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1131968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate potential biomarkers for the early detection of cognitive impairment in patients with Wilson's disease (WD), we developed a computer-assisted radiomics model to distinguish between WD and WD cognitive impairment. Methods Overall, 136 T1-weighted MR images were retrieved from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, including 77 from patients with WD and 59 from patients with WD cognitive impairment. The images were divided into training and test groups at a ratio of 70:30. The radiomic features of each T1-weighted image were extracted using 3D Slicer software. R software was used to establish clinical and radiomic models based on clinical characteristics and radiomic features, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic profiles of the three models were evaluated to assess their diagnostic accuracy and reliability in distinguishing between WD and WD cognitive impairment. We combined relevant neuropsychological test scores of prospective memory to construct an integrated predictive model and visual nomogram to effectively assess the risk of cognitive decline in patients with WD. Results The area under the curve values for distinguishing WD and WD cognitive impairment for the clinical, radiomic, and integrated models were 0.863, 0.922, and 0.935 respectively, indicative of excellent performance. The nomogram based on the integrated model successfully differentiated between WD and WD cognitive impairment. Conclusion The nomogram developed in the current study may assist clinicians in the early identification of cognitive impairment in patients with WD. Early intervention following such identification may help improve long-term prognosis and quality of life of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Tian
- Graduate School, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Ting Dong
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Xin’An Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui, China
- *Correspondence: Ting Dong,
| | - Sheng Hu
- Centers for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Chenling Zhao
- Graduate School, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Guofang Yu
- Graduate School, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Huibing Hu
- Qimen People's Hospital, Huangshan, Anhui, China
| | - Wenming Yang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Xin’An Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, Anhui, China
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20
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Garcia AX, Xu J, Cheng F, Ruppin E, Schäffer AA. Altered gene expression in excitatory neurons is associated with Alzheimer's disease and its higher incidence in women. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2023; 9:e12373. [PMID: 36873924 PMCID: PMC9983144 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving interactions between different cell types in the brain. Previous single-cell and bulk expression Alzheimer's studies have reported conflicting findings about the key cell types and cellular pathways whose expression is primarily altered in this disease. We re-analyzed these data in a uniform, coherent manner aiming to resolve and extend past findings. Our analysis sheds light on the observation that females have higher AD incidence than males. Methods We re-analyzed three single-cell transcriptomics datasets. We used the software Model-based Analysis of Single-cell Transcriptomics (MAST) to seek differentially expressed genes comparing AD cases to matched controls for both sexes together and each sex separately. We used the GOrilla software to search for enriched pathways among the differentially expressed genes. Motivated by the male/female difference in incidence, we studied genes on the X-chromosome, focusing on genes in the pseudoautosomal region (PAR) and on genes that are heterogeneous across individuals or tissues for X-inactivation. We validated findings by analyzing bulk AD datasets from the cortex in the Gene Expression Omnibus. Results Our results resolve a contradiction in the literature, showing that by comparing AD patients to unaffected controls, excitatory neurons have more differentially expressed genes than do other cell types. Synaptic transmission and related pathways are altered in a sex-specific analysis of excitatory neurons. PAR genes and X-chromosome heterogeneous genes, including, for example, BEX1 and ELK1, may contribute to the difference in sex incidence of Alzheimer's disease. GRIN1, stood out as an overexpressed autosomal gene in cases versus controls in all three single-cell datasets and as a functional candidate gene contributing to pathways upregulated in cases. Discussion Taken together, these results point to a potential linkage between two longstanding questions concerning AD pathogenesis, involving which cell type is the most important and why females have a higher incidence than males. Highlights By reanalyzing three, published, single-cell RNAseq datasets, we resolved a contradiction in the literature and showed that when comparing AD patients to unaffected controls, excitatory neurons have more differentially expressed genes than do other cell types.Further analysis of the published single-cell datasets showed that synaptic transmission and related pathways are altered in a sex-specific analysis of excitatory neurons.Combining analysis of single-cell datasets and publicly available bulk transcriptomics datasets revealed that X-chromosome genes, such as BEX1, ELK1, and USP11, whose X-inactivation status is heterogeneous may contribute to the higher incidence in females of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Xavier Garcia
- Cancer Data Science LaboratoryCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
- Present address:
Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri‐Institutional MD‐PhD ProgramNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Jielin Xu
- Genomic Medicine InstituteLerner Research InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Feixiong Cheng
- Genomic Medicine InstituteLerner Research InstituteCleveland ClinicClevelandOhioUSA
- Department of Molecular MedicineCleveland Clinic Lerner College of MedicineCase Western Reserve UniversityClevelandOhioUSA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer CenterCase Western Reserve University School of MedicineClevelandOhioUSA
| | - Eytan Ruppin
- Cancer Data Science LaboratoryCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Alejandro A. Schäffer
- Cancer Data Science LaboratoryCenter for Cancer ResearchNational Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
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21
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McGovern AJ, Arevalo MA, Ciordia S, Garcia-Segura LM, Barreto GE. Respirasome Proteins Are Regulated by Sex-Hormone Interactions in the Brain. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314754. [PMID: 36499081 PMCID: PMC9741126 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The existence of sex differences in disease incidence is attributed, in part, to sex differences in metabolism. Uncovering the precise mechanism driving these differences is an extraordinarily complex process influenced by genetics, endogenous hormones, sex-specific lifetime events, individual differences and external environmental/social factors. In fact, such differences may be subtle, but across a life span, increase susceptibility to a pathology. Whilst research persists in the hope of discovering an elegant biological mechanism to underpin sex differences in disease, here, we show, for the first time, that such a mechanism may be subtle in nature but influenced by multiple sex-specific factors. A proteomic dataset was generated from a gonadectomized mouse model treated with Tibolone, a menopausal hormone therapy. Following functional enrichment analysis, we identified that Alzheimer's disease and the electron transport chain-associated pathways were regulated by sex-hormone interactions. Specifically, we identified that the expression of three respirasome proteins, NDUFA2, NDUFA7 and UQCR10, is significantly altered by compounding factors that contribute to sex differences. These proteins function in bioenergetics and produce reactive oxygen species, which are each dysregulated in many diseases with sex differences in incidence. We show sex-specific reprogrammed responses to Tibolone following gonadectomy, which primarily influence the expression of proteins contributing to metabolic pathways. This further infers that metabolic differences may underpin the observed sex differences in disease, but also that hormone therapy research now has potential in exploring sex-specific interventions to produce an effective method of prevention or treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. McGovern
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
| | - Maria Angeles Arevalo
- Instituto Cajal, CSIC, 28002 Madrid, Spain
- CIBERFES, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Ciordia
- Unidad de Proteómica, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Miguel Garcia-Segura
- Instituto Cajal, CSIC, 28002 Madrid, Spain
- CIBERFES, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - George E. Barreto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +353-(0)-61-202676
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22
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Dietary vitamin B6 restriction aggravates neurodegeneration in mice fed a high-fat diet. Life Sci 2022; 309:121041. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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23
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Metzner K, Darawsha O, Wang M, Gaur N, Cheng Y, Rödiger A, Frahm C, Witte OW, Perocchi F, Axer H, Grosskreutz J, Brill MS. Age-dependent increase of cytoskeletal components in sensory axons in human skin. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:965382. [PMID: 36393849 PMCID: PMC9664158 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.965382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is a complex process characterized by several molecular and cellular imbalances. The composition and stability of the neuronal cytoskeleton is essential for the maintenance of homeostasis, especially in long neurites. Using human skin biopsies containing sensory axons from a cohort of healthy individuals, we investigate alterations in cytoskeletal content and sensory axon caliber during aging via quantitative immunostainings. Cytoskeletal components show an increase with aging in both sexes, while elevation in axon diameter is only evident in males. Transcriptomic data from aging males illustrate various patterns in gene expression during aging. Together, the data suggest gender-specific changes during aging in peripheral sensory axons, possibly influencing cytoskeletal functionality and axonal caliber. These changes may cumulatively increase susceptibility of aged individuals to neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Metzner
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany,Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Omar Darawsha
- Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Mengzhe Wang
- Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nayana Gaur
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany,Laboratory Animal Centre, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Yiming Cheng
- Helmholtz Diabetes Center (HDC), Helmholtz Center Munich, Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Christiane Frahm
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Otto W. Witte
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Fabiana Perocchi
- Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany,Helmholtz Diabetes Center (HDC), Helmholtz Center Munich, Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Munich, Germany,Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Hubertus Axer
- Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Julian Grosskreutz
- Precision Neurology of the University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany,PMI Cluster, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Monika S. Brill
- Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany,Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany,*Correspondence: Monika S. Brill,
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24
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Relations of neuropsychiatric symptoms with disease stage, sex, and daily function in mild cognitive impairment and dementia due to Alzheimer's disease: A cross-sectional study. J Psychosom Res 2022; 161:110994. [PMID: 35939891 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.110994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To reveal the relations between neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), stages of cognitive impairment, sex, and daily function in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2014 to 2021 on 1154 patients. Cognitive function, disease severity, NPS, and daily function were evaluated by Mini-mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) respectively. Multivariate logistic regression and linear regression were used to explore the correlations between NPS, disease stage, sex and ADL. RESULTS Affective disturbance displayed the highest prevalence from MCI (52.7%) to severe dementia due to AD (98.2%). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that aberrant motor behavior displayed higher prevalence between groups from MCI to severe dementia due to AD (OR = 4.710, P < 0.001; OR = 3.141, P < 0.001; OR = 2.722, P = 0.002, respectively). In patients with dementia due to AD, hallucination and depression were more prevalent in female (OR = 1.730, P = 0.001; OR = 2.376, P < 0.001, respectively) while male presented higher prevalence in apathy (OR = 0.608, P = 0.002). Linear regression analysis showed that delusion and sleep disturbance were significantly associated with basic ADL across all dementia due to AD stages (delusion: mild: β = 0.113, P = 0.015; moderate: β = 0.159, P = 0.019; severe: β = 0.317, P = 0.018; sleep disturbance: mild: β = 0.164, P < 0.001; moderate: β = 0.167, P = 0.013; severe: β = 0.308, P = 0.025) while anxiety was correlated with instrumental ADL from MCI to moderate dementia due to AD (MCI: β = 0.119, P = 0.006; mild: β = 0.149, P < 0.001; moderate: β = 0.130, P = 0.042). CONCLUSION Different subitems of NPS are strongly correlated with sex, stage of cognitive impairment, and ADL.
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25
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Sex differences in the human brain: a roadmap for more careful analysis and interpretation of a biological reality. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:43. [PMID: 35883159 PMCID: PMC9327177 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00448-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence, magnitude, and significance of sex differences in the human brain are hotly debated topics in the scientific community and popular media. This debate is largely fueled by studies containing strong, opposing conclusions: either little to no evidence exists for sex differences in human neuroanatomy, or there are small-to-moderate differences in the size of certain brain regions that are highly reproducible across cohorts (even after controlling for sex differences in average brain size). Our Commentary uses the specific comparison between two recent large-scale studies that adopt these opposing views-namely the review by Eliot and colleagues (2021) and the direct analysis of ~ 40k brains by Williams and colleagues (2021)-in an effort to clarify this controversy and provide a framework for conducting this research. First, we review observations that motivate research on sex differences in human neuroanatomy, including potential causes (evolutionary, genetic, and environmental) and effects (epidemiological and clinical evidence for sex-biased brain disorders). We also summarize methodological and empirical support for using structural MRI to investigate such patterns. Next, we outline how researchers focused on sex differences can better specify their study design (e.g., how sex was defined, if and how brain size was adjusted for) and results (by e.g., distinguishing sexual dimorphisms from sex differences). We then compare the different approaches available for studying sex differences across a large number of individuals: direct analysis, meta-analysis, and review. We stress that reviews do not account for methodological differences across studies, and that this variation explains many of the apparent inconsistencies reported throughout recent reviews (including the work by Eliot and colleagues). For instance, we show that amygdala volume is consistently reported as male-biased in studies with sufficient sample sizes and appropriate methods for brain size correction. In fact, comparing the results from multiple large direct analyses highlights small, highly reproducible sex differences in the volume of many brain regions (controlling for brain size). Finally, we describe best practices for the presentation and interpretation of these findings. Care in interpretation is important for all domains of science, but especially so for research on sex differences in the human brain, given the existence of broad societal gender-biases and a history of biological data being used justify sexist ideas. As such, we urge researchers to discuss their results from simultaneously scientific and anti-sexist viewpoints.
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26
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Villar-Conde S, Astillero-Lopez V, Gonzalez-Rodriguez M, Saiz-Sanchez D, Ubeda-Banon I, Flores-Cuadrado A, Martinez-Marcos A. Neuronal and glial characterization in the rostrocaudal axis of the human anterior olfactory nucleus: Involvement in Parkinson’s disease. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:907373. [PMID: 35923614 PMCID: PMC9339613 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.907373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyposmia is one of the prodromal symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and a red flag in clinical diagnosis. Neuropathologically, this sign correlates with α-synuclein involvement in the anterior olfactory nucleus (AON). Neurodegeneration, microgliosis, and astrogliosis in AON are poorly studied, and bulbar AON is the focus of these studies with contradictory results. Additionally, male sex is a risk marker for developing PD, but sexual dimorphism of neural and glial populations in the AON has rarely been considered. The aim of this study was to analyze the density of NeuN, Iba-1, GFAP, and Lewy bodies (LBs), as well as the relationship of these cell type markers with pathology along the rostrocaudal axis of the AON (bulbar, retrobulbar, cortical anterior, and posterior divisions). Cavalieri, optical fractionator, and area fraction fractionator stereological approaches were used for the volume, cell populations and LBs densities, area fraction, and percentage of overlap. Iba-1 and α-syn intensities were measured using ImageJ. In non-PD (NPD) cases, the volume was lower in the AON at the extremes of the rostrocaudal axis than in the intermediate divisions. Cortical anterior AON volume decreased in PD compared with NPD cases. NeuN density decreased rostrocaudally in AON portions in NPD and PD cases. This occurred similarly in Iba-1 but only in PD samples. Iba-1 intensity significantly increased in bulbar AON between PD and NPD. No changes were found in astrocytes. Eight percent of NeuN, 0.1% of Iba-1, and 0.1% of GFAP areas overlapped with LBs area along the AON portions. The data indicate that bulbar AON, which is the most rostral portion in this axis, could play a major role in the pathology. This could be related to the larger area occupied by LBs in these divisions.
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27
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Behavioral and Synaptic Phenotypes of Female Prdx6-/- Mice. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11061201. [PMID: 35740098 PMCID: PMC9219992 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11061201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) is expressed throughout the brain, including the hippocampus, where it plays a potential role in synaptic regulation and forming emotional and spatial memories. PRDX6 is predominantly detected in the female mouse’s hippocampus; thus, we investigate the effect of the Prdx6 gene on behavioral phenotypes and synaptic functions using female Prdx6 knockout (Prdx6−/−) mice. Our results demonstrate that female Prdx6−/− mice exhibited anxiety-like behavior, enhanced contextual fear memory, and impaired spatial memory. We also found increased, paired–pulse facilitation ratios, and decreased long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal region of these female Prdx6−/− mice. The present study helps to understand better the PRDX6’s role in emotional response and spatial memory formation in female mice.
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28
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Dysmetabolism and Neurodegeneration: Trick or Treat? Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14071425. [PMID: 35406040 PMCID: PMC9003269 DOI: 10.3390/nu14071425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests the existence of a strong link between metabolic syndrome and neurodegeneration. Indeed, epidemiologic studies have described solid associations between metabolic syndrome and neurodegeneration, whereas animal models contributed for the clarification of the mechanistic underlying the complex relationships between these conditions, having the development of an insulin resistance state a pivotal role in this relationship. Herein, we review in a concise manner the association between metabolic syndrome and neurodegeneration. We start by providing concepts regarding the role of insulin and insulin signaling pathways as well as the pathophysiological mechanisms that are in the genesis of metabolic diseases. Then, we focus on the role of insulin in the brain, with special attention to its function in the regulation of brain glucose metabolism, feeding, and cognition. Moreover, we extensively report on the association between neurodegeneration and metabolic diseases, with a particular emphasis on the evidence observed in animal models of dysmetabolism induced by hypercaloric diets. We also debate on strategies to prevent and/or delay neurodegeneration through the normalization of whole-body glucose homeostasis, particularly via the modulation of the carotid bodies, organs known to be key in connecting the periphery with the brain.
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29
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Redefining microglia states: Lessons and limits of human and mouse models to study microglia states in neurodegenerative diseases. Semin Immunol 2022; 60:101651. [PMID: 36155944 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Microglia are resident macrophages of the brain parenchyma and play an essential role in various aspects of brain development, plasticity, and homeostasis. With recent advances in single-cell RNA-sequencing, heterogeneous microglia transcriptional states have been identified in both animal models of neurodegenerative disorders and patients. However, the functional roles of these microglia states remain unclear; specifically, the question of whether individual states or combinations of states are protective or detrimental (or both) in the context of disease progression. To attempt to answer this, the field has largely relied on studies employing mouse models, human in vitro and chimeric models, and human post-mortem tissue, all of which have their caveats, but used in combination can enable new biological insight and validation of candidate disease pathways and mechanisms. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of disease-associated microglia states and phenotypes in neurodegenerative disorders, discuss important considerations when comparing mouse and human microglia states and functions, and identify areas of microglia biology where species differences might limit our understanding of microglia state.
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30
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Bahatyrevich-Kharitonik B, Medina-Guzman R, Flores-Cortes A, García-Cruzado M, Kavanagh E, Burguillos MA. Cell Death Related Proteins Beyond Apoptosis in the CNS. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:825747. [PMID: 35096845 PMCID: PMC8794922 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.825747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell death related (CDR) proteins are a diverse group of proteins whose original function was ascribed to apoptotic cell death signaling. Recently, descriptions of non-apoptotic functions for CDR proteins have increased. In this minireview, we comment on recent studies of CDR proteins outside the field of apoptosis in the CNS, encompassing areas such as the inflammasome and non-apoptotic cell death, cytoskeleton reorganization, synaptic plasticity, mitophagy, neurodegeneration and calcium signaling among others. Furthermore, we discuss the evolution of proteomic techniques used to predict caspase substrates that could potentially explain their non-apoptotic roles. Finally, we address new concepts in the field of non-apoptotic functions of CDR proteins that require further research such the effect of sexual dimorphism on non-apoptotic CDR protein function and the emergence of zymogen-specific caspase functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bazhena Bahatyrevich-Kharitonik
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Rafael Medina-Guzman
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Alicia Flores-Cortes
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Marta García-Cruzado
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Edel Kavanagh
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Burguillos
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, and Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC, Seville, Spain
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31
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Yuan J, Sang S, Pham J, Kong WJ. Gender Modifies the Association of Cognition With Age-Related Hearing Impairment in the Health and Retirement Study. Front Public Health 2021; 9:751828. [PMID: 34976918 PMCID: PMC8718684 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.751828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Despite growing recognition of hearing loss as a risk factor for late life cognitive disorders, sex and gender analysis of this association has been limited. Elucidating this is one means to advocate for holistic medicine by considering the psychosocial attributes of people. With a composite Gender Score (GS), we aimed to assess this among aging participants (50+) from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) cohort. Methods: The GS was derived from gender-related variables in HRS by factor analyses and logistic regression, ranging from 0 (toward masculinity) to 100 (toward femininity). GS tertiles were also used to indicate three gender types (GS tertile 1: lower GS indicates masculinity; GS tertile 2: middle GS indicates androgyny; GS tertile 3: higher GS indicates femininity). Univariate followed by multiple logistic regressions were used to estimate the Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of cognitive impairment (assessed by adapted Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status) from hearing acuity, as well as to explore the interactions of sex and gender with hearing acuity. The risk of cognitive impairment among hearing-impaired participants was assessed using multivariable models including sex and gender as exposure variables. Results: Five variables (taking risks, loneliness, housework, drinking, and depression) were retained to compute the GS for each participant. The distribution of GS between sexes partly overlapped. After adjusting for confounding factors, the OR for cognitive impairment associated with hearing impairment was significantly higher (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.15), and this association was not modified by female sex (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.46, 1.27), but by androgynous gender (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.81). In the multivariable models for participants with hearing impairment, androgynous and feminine gender, as opposed to female sex, was associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment (OR of GS tertile 2 = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.84; OR of GS tertile 3 = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.41, 0.87; OR of female sex = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.57, 1.08). Conclusions: Hearing impairment was associated with cognitive impairment among older people, and this association may be attenuated by a more feminine GS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yuan
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuping Sang
- School of Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Jessica Pham
- School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Wei-Jia Kong
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Wei-Jia Kong
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32
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Lin JZ, Duan MR, Lin N, Zhao WJ. The emerging role of the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan family in neurodegenerative diseases. Rev Neurosci 2021; 32:737-750. [PMID: 33655733 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2020-0146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a kind of linear polysaccharide that is covalently linked to proteins to form proteoglycans. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) consist of a core protein, with one or more CS chains covalently attached. CSPGs are precisely regulated and they exert a variety of physiological functions by binding to adhesion molecules and growth factors. Widely distributed in the nervous system in human body, CSPGs contribute to the major component of extracellular matrix (ECM), where they play an important role in the development and maturation of the nervous system, as well as in the pathophysiological response to damage to the central nervous system (CNS). While there are more than 30 types of CSPGs, this review covers the roles of the most important ones, including versican, aggrecan, neurocan and NG2 in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. The updated reports of the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases are involving CSPGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Zhe Lin
- Neurosurgical Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
- Center for Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Ming-Rui Duan
- Center for Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Nuan Lin
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei-Jiang Zhao
- Center for Neuroscience, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong, China
- Cell Biology Department, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, Jiangsu, China
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Sumien N, Cunningham JT, Davis DL, Engelland R, Fadeyibi O, Farmer GE, Mabry S, Mensah-Kane P, Trinh OTP, Vann PH, Wilson EN, Cunningham RL. Neurodegenerative Disease: Roles for Sex, Hormones, and Oxidative Stress. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6360925. [PMID: 34467976 PMCID: PMC8462383 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases cause severe impairments in cognitive and motor function. With an increasing aging population and the onset of these diseases between 50 and 70 years, the consequences are bound to be devastating. While age and longevity are the main risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases, sex is also an important risk factor. The characteristic of sex is multifaceted, encompassing sex chromosome complement, sex hormones (estrogens and androgens), and sex hormone receptors. Sex hormone receptors can induce various signaling cascades, ranging from genomic transcription to intracellular signaling pathways that are dependent on the health of the cell. Oxidative stress, associated with aging, can impact the health of the cell. Sex hormones can be neuroprotective under low oxidative stress conditions but not in high oxidative stress conditions. An understudied sex hormone receptor that can induce activation of oxidative stress signaling is the membrane androgen receptor (mAR). mAR can mediate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX)-generated oxidative stress that is associated with several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer disease. Further complicating this is that aging can alter sex hormone signaling. Prior to menopause, women experience more estrogens than androgens. During menopause, this sex hormone profile switches in women due to the dramatic ovarian loss of 17β-estradiol with maintained ovarian androgen (testosterone, androstenedione) production. Indeed, aging men have higher estrogens than aging women due to aromatization of androgens to estrogens. Therefore, higher activation of mAR-NOX signaling could occur in menopausal women compared with aged men, mediating the observed sex differences. Understanding of these signaling cascades could provide therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Sumien
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Center for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - J Thomas Cunningham
- Department of Physiology & Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Delaney L Davis
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Center for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Rachel Engelland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Oluwadarasimi Fadeyibi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - George E Farmer
- Department of Physiology & Anatomy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Steve Mabry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Paapa Mensah-Kane
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Center for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Oanh T P Trinh
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Center for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Philip H Vann
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Center for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - E Nicole Wilson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Rebecca L Cunningham
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
- Correspondence: Rebecca L. Cunningham, PhD, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3400 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, USA, 76107-2699.
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Garrick JM, Cole TB, Bammler TK, MacDonald JW, Marsillach J, Furlong CE, Costa LG. Paraoxonase 2 deficiency in mice alters motor behavior and causes region-specific transcript changes in the brain. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2021; 87:107010. [PMID: 34216730 PMCID: PMC8440460 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.107010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Paraoxonase 2 (PON2) is an intracellular antioxidant enzyme shown to play an important role in mitigating oxidative stress in the brain. Oxidative stress is a common mechanism of toxicity for neurotoxicants and is increasingly implicated in the etiology of multiple neurological diseases. While PON2 deficiency increases oxidative stress in the brain in-vitro, little is known about its effects on behavior in-vivo and what global transcript changes occur from PON2 deficiency. We sought to characterize the effects of PON2 deficiency on behavior in mice, with an emphasis on locomotion, and evaluate transcriptional changes with RNA-Seq. Behavioral endpoints included home-cage behavior (Noldus PhenoTyper), motor coordination (Rotarod) and various gait metrics (Noldus CatWalk). Home-cage behavior analysis showed PON2 deficient mice had increased activity at night compared to wildtype controls and spent more time in the center of the cage, displaying a possible anxiolytic phenotype. PON2 deficient mice had significantly shorter latency to fall when tested on the rotarod, suggesting impaired motor coordination. Minimal gait alterations were observed, with decreased girdle support posture noted as the only significant change in gait with PON2 deficiency. Beyond one home-cage metric, no significant sex-based behavioral differences were found in this study. Finally, A subset of samples were utilized for RNA-Seq analysis, looking at three discrete brain regions: cerebral cortex, striatum, and cerebellum. Highly regional- and sex-specific changes in RNA expression were found when comparing PON2 deficient and wildtype mice, suggesting PON2 may play distinct regional roles in the brain in a sex-specific manner. Taken together, these findings demonstrates that PON2 deficiency significantly alters the brain on both a biochemical and phenotypic level, with a specific impact on motor function. These data have implications for future gene-environment toxicological studies and warrants further investigation of the role of PON2 in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M Garrick
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States..
| | - Toby B Cole
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.; Center on Human Development and Disabilities, University of Washington, United States
| | - Theo K Bammler
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - James W MacDonald
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Judit Marsillach
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Clement E Furlong
- Depts. of Medicine (Div. Medical Genetics) and of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, United States
| | - Lucio G Costa
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.; Dept. of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy
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35
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Nhu NT, Cheng YJ, Lee SD. Effects of Treadmill Exercise on Neural Mitochondrial Functions in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review of Animal Studies. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1011. [PMID: 34440215 PMCID: PMC8394716 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9081011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
This systematic review sought to determine the effects of treadmill exercise on the neural mitochondrial respiratory deficiency and neural mitochondrial quality-control dysregulation in Parkinson's disease. PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were searched through March 2020. The English-published animal studies that mentioned the effects of treadmill exercise on neural mitochondria in Parkinson's disease were included. The CAMARADES checklist was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. Ten controlled trials were included (median CAMARADES score = 5.7/10) with various treadmill exercise durations (1-18 weeks). Seven studies analyzed the neural mitochondrial respiration, showing that treadmill training attenuated complex I deficits, cytochrome c release, ATP depletion, and complexes II-V abnormalities in Parkinson's disease. Nine studies analyzed the neural mitochondrial quality-control, reporting that treadmill exercise improved mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial fusion, and mitophagy in Parkinson's disease. The review findings supported the hypothesis that treadmill training could attenuate both neural mitochondrial respiratory deficiency and neural mitochondrial quality-control dysregulation in Parkinson's disease, suggesting that treadmill training might slow down the progression of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Thanh Nhu
- Faculty of Medicine, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho 94117, Vietnam;
- Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan;
| | - Yu-Jung Cheng
- Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan;
| | - Shin-Da Lee
- Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan;
- School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, China
- Department of Physical Therapy, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
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36
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Migliore L, Nicolì V, Stoccoro A. Gender Specific Differences in Disease Susceptibility: The Role of Epigenetics. Biomedicines 2021; 9:652. [PMID: 34200989 PMCID: PMC8228628 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9060652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many complex traits or diseases, such as infectious and autoimmune diseases, cancer, xenobiotics exposure, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the outcome of vaccination, show a differential susceptibility between males and females. In general, the female immune system responds more efficiently to pathogens. However, this can lead to over-reactive immune responses, which may explain the higher presence of autoimmune diseases in women, but also potentially the more adverse effects of vaccination in females compared with in males. Many clinical and epidemiological studies reported, for the SARS-CoV-2 infection, a gender-biased differential response; however, the majority of reports dealt with a comparable morbidity, with males, however, showing higher COVID-19 adverse outcomes. Although gender differences in immune responses have been studied predominantly within the context of sex hormone effects, some other mechanisms have been invoked: cellular mosaicism, skewed X chromosome inactivation, genes escaping X chromosome inactivation, and miRNAs encoded on the X chromosome. The hormonal hypothesis as well as other mechanisms will be examined and discussed in the light of the most recent epigenetic findings in the field, as the concept that epigenetics is the unifying mechanism in explaining gender-specific differences is increasingly emerging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Migliore
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, Medical School, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (V.N.); (A.S.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Vanessa Nicolì
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, Medical School, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (V.N.); (A.S.)
| | - Andrea Stoccoro
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, Medical School, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (V.N.); (A.S.)
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37
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Leung E, Hazrati LN. Breast cancer type 1 and neurodegeneration: consequences of deficient DNA repair. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab117. [PMID: 34222870 PMCID: PMC8242133 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous cellular processes, including toxic protein aggregation and oxidative stress, have been studied extensively as potential mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration. However, limited therapeutic efficacy targeting these processes has prompted other mechanisms to be explored. Previous research has emphasized a link between cellular senescence and neurodegeneration, where senescence induced by excess DNA damage and deficient DNA repair results in structural and functional changes that ultimately contribute to brain dysfunction and increased vulnerability for neurodegeneration. Specific DNA repair proteins, such as breast cancer type 1, have been associated with both stress-induced senescence and neurodegenerative diseases, however, specific mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, this review explores DNA damage-induced senescence in the brain as a driver of neurodegeneration, with particular focus on breast cancer type 1, and its potential contribution to sex-specific differences associated with neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Leung
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 1 Kings College Cir, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Lili-Naz Hazrati
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 1 Kings College Cir, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
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Asken BM, Rabinovici GD. Identifying degenerative effects of repetitive head trauma with neuroimaging: a clinically-oriented review. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:96. [PMID: 34022959 PMCID: PMC8141132 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01197-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND SCOPE OF REVIEW Varying severities and frequencies of head trauma may result in dynamic acute and chronic pathophysiologic responses in the brain. Heightened attention to long-term effects of head trauma, particularly repetitive head trauma, has sparked recent efforts to identify neuroimaging biomarkers of underlying disease processes. Imaging modalities like structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) are the most clinically applicable given their use in neurodegenerative disease diagnosis and differentiation. In recent years, researchers have targeted repetitive head trauma cohorts in hopes of identifying in vivo biomarkers for underlying biologic changes that might ultimately improve diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in living persons. These populations most often include collision sport athletes (e.g., American football, boxing) and military veterans with repetitive low-level blast exposure. We provide a clinically-oriented review of neuroimaging data from repetitive head trauma cohorts based on structural MRI, FDG-PET, Aβ-PET, and tau-PET. We supplement the review with two patient reports of neuropathology-confirmed, clinically impaired adults with prior repetitive head trauma who underwent structural MRI, FDG-PET, Aβ-PET, and tau-PET in addition to comprehensive clinical examinations before death. REVIEW CONCLUSIONS Group-level comparisons to controls without known head trauma have revealed inconsistent regional volume differences, with possible propensity for medial temporal, limbic, and subcortical (thalamus, corpus callosum) structures. Greater frequency and severity (i.e., length) of cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) is observed in repetitive head trauma cohorts compared to unexposed controls. It remains unclear whether CSP predicts a particular neurodegenerative process, but CSP presence should increase suspicion that clinical impairment is at least partly attributable to the individual's head trauma exposure (regardless of underlying disease). PET imaging similarly has not revealed a prototypical metabolic or molecular pattern associated with repetitive head trauma or predictive of CTE based on the most widely studied radiotracers. Given the range of clinical syndromes and neurodegenerative pathologies observed in a subset of adults with prior repetitive head trauma, structural MRI and PET imaging may still be useful for differential diagnosis (e.g., assessing suspected Alzheimer's disease).
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Affiliation(s)
- Breton M. Asken
- Department of Neurology, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Gil D. Rabinovici
- Departments of Neurology, Radiology & Biomedical Imaging, Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, Suite 190, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
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39
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Sex- and age-specific genetic analysis of chronic back pain. Pain 2021; 162:1176-1187. [PMID: 33021770 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Sex differences for chronic back pain (cBP) have been reported, with females usually exhibiting greater morbidity, severity, and poorer response to treatment. Genetic factors acting in an age-specific manner have been implicated but never comprehensively explored. We performed sex- and age-stratified genome-wide association study and single nucleotide polymorphism-by-sex interaction analysis for cBP defined as "Back pain for 3+ months" in 202,077 males and 237,754 females of European ancestry from UK Biobank. Two and 7 nonoverlapping genome-wide significant loci were identified for males and females, respectively. A male-specific locus on chromosome 10 near SPOCK2 gene was replicated in 4 independent cohorts. Four loci demonstrated single nucleotide polymorphism-by-sex interaction, although none of them were formally replicated. Single nucleotide polymorphism-explained heritability was higher in females (0.079 vs 0.067, P = 0.006). There was a high, although not complete, genetic correlation between the sexes (r = 0.838 ± 0.041, different from 1 with P = 7.8E-05). Genetic correlation between the sexes for cBP decreased with age (0.858 ± 0.049 in younger people vs 0.544 ± 0.157 in older people; P = 4.3E-05). There was a stronger genetic correlation of cBP with self-reported diagnosis of intervertebral disk degeneration in males than in females (0.889 vs 0.638; P = 3.7E-06). Thus, the genetic component of cBP in the UK Biobank exhibits a mild sex- and age-dependency. This provides an insight into the possible causes of sex- and age-specificity in epidemiology and pathophysiology of cBP and chronic pain at other anatomical sites.
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Chabrun F, Dieu X, May-Panloup P, Chupin S, Bourreau J, Henrion D, Letournel F, Procaccio V, Bonneau D, Lenaers G, Mirebeau-Prunier D, Chao de la Barca JM, Reynier P. Metabolomic Sexual Dimorphism of the Mouse Brain is Predominantly Abolished by Gonadectomy with a Higher Impact on Females. J Proteome Res 2021; 20:2772-2779. [PMID: 33851846 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The importance of sexual dimorphism of the mouse brain metabolome was recently highlighted, in addition to a high regional specificity found between the frontal cortex, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. To address the origin of this dimorphism, we performed gonadectomy on both sexes, followed by a metabolomic study targeting 188 metabolites in the three brain regions. While sham controls, which underwent the same surgical procedure without gonadectomy, reproduced the regional sexual dimorphism of the metabolome previously identified, no sex difference was identifiable after gonadectomy, through both univariate and multivariate analyses. These experiments also made it possible to identify which sex was responsible for the dimorphism for 35 metabolites. The female sex contributed to the difference for more than 80% of them. Our results show that gonads are the main contributors to the brain sexual dimorphism previously observed, especially in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floris Chabrun
- Département de Biochimie et Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 49933 Angers, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) MITOVASC, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 6015, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1083, Université d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Xavier Dieu
- Département de Biochimie et Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 49933 Angers, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) MITOVASC, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 6015, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1083, Université d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Pascale May-Panloup
- Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) MITOVASC, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 6015, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1083, Université d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France.,Département de Biologie de la Reproduction, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Stéphanie Chupin
- Département de Biochimie et Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Jennifer Bourreau
- Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) MITOVASC, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 6015, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1083, Université d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Daniel Henrion
- Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) MITOVASC, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 6015, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1083, Université d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Franck Letournel
- Laboratoire de Neurobiologie et Neuropathologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 49933 Angers, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) MINT, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 6021, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1066, Université d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Vincent Procaccio
- Département de Biochimie et Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 49933 Angers, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) MITOVASC, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 6015, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1083, Université d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Dominique Bonneau
- Département de Biochimie et Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 49933 Angers, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) MITOVASC, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 6015, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1083, Université d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Guy Lenaers
- Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) MITOVASC, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 6015, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1083, Université d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Delphine Mirebeau-Prunier
- Département de Biochimie et Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 49933 Angers, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) MITOVASC, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 6015, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1083, Université d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Juan Manuel Chao de la Barca
- Département de Biochimie et Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 49933 Angers, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) MITOVASC, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 6015, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1083, Université d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
| | - Pascal Reynier
- Département de Biochimie et Génétique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, 49933 Angers, France.,Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) MITOVASC, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 6015, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1083, Université d'Angers, 49933 Angers, France
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Hentosh S, Zhu L, Patino J, Furr JW, Rocha NP, Furr Stimming E. Sex Differences in Huntington's Disease: Evaluating the Enroll-HD Database. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2021; 8:420-426. [PMID: 33816672 PMCID: PMC8015889 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.13178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying sex-related differences is critical for enhancing our understanding of factors that may impact prognosis and advance treatments in Huntington's disease (HD). OBJECTIVES To investigate if sex-related differences exist in clinical HD. METHODS Longitudinal study of the Enroll-HD database. Manifest HD patients were included in the analysis (N = 8401). Linear mixed models were used to assess motor, behavioral, and cognitive functioning over a series of four annual visits, and compared male and female HD gene carriers. RESULTS HD patients showed significant sex-dependent differences in motor, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms. Both sexes had worsened motor symptoms over the course of four visits, but there was a significant disparity between sexes, with females consistently presenting with more symptoms than males. For behavioral symptoms, specifically depressive symptoms, females had significantly more depressive symptoms, although self-reported symptoms in both sexes became less severe throughout time. CONCLUSIONS Our analyses suggest that women have worse symptoms than men during the course of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Hentosh
- McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth)HoustonTexasUSA
| | - Liang Zhu
- Department of Internal MedicineMcGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth)HoustonTexasUSA
| | - Jorge Patino
- McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth)HoustonTexasUSA
- HDSA Center of Excellence at UTHealthHoustonTexasUSA
| | - J. Weldon Furr
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center ShreveportShreveportLouisianaUSA
| | - Natalia P. Rocha
- The Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's disease and Related Brain Disorders, Department of NeurologyMcGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science CenterHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Erin Furr Stimming
- McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth)HoustonTexasUSA
- HDSA Center of Excellence at UTHealthHoustonTexasUSA
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42
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Carli G, Tondo G, Boccalini C, Perani D. Brain Molecular Connectivity in Neurodegenerative Conditions. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11040433. [PMID: 33800680 PMCID: PMC8067093 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) allows for the in vivo assessment of early brain functional and molecular changes in neurodegenerative conditions, representing a unique tool in the diagnostic workup. The increased use of multivariate PET imaging analysis approaches has provided the chance to investigate regional molecular processes and long-distance brain circuit functional interactions in the last decade. PET metabolic and neurotransmission connectome can reveal brain region interactions. This review is an overview of concepts and methods for PET molecular and metabolic covariance assessment with evidence in neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy bodies disease spectrum. We highlight the effects of environmental and biological factors on brain network organization. All of the above might contribute to innovative diagnostic tools and potential disease-modifying interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Carli
- School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20121 Milan, Italy; (G.C.); (G.T.); (C.B.)
- In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20121 Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo Tondo
- School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20121 Milan, Italy; (G.C.); (G.T.); (C.B.)
- In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20121 Milan, Italy
| | - Cecilia Boccalini
- School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20121 Milan, Italy; (G.C.); (G.T.); (C.B.)
- In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20121 Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Perani
- School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20121 Milan, Italy; (G.C.); (G.T.); (C.B.)
- In Vivo Human Molecular and Structural Neuroimaging Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20121 Milan, Italy
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, 20121 Milan, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-26432224
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43
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Bretland KA, Lin L, Bretland KM, Smith MA, Fleming SM, Dengler-Crish CM. Irisin treatment lowers levels of phosphorylated tau in the hippocampus of pre-symptomatic female but not male htau mice. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2021; 47:967-978. [PMID: 33768561 PMCID: PMC9292848 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Irisin is a hormone cleaved from fibronectin type-III domain-containing protein 5 in response to exercise and may be therapeutic in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Irisin is shown to repair damage caused by midlife cardiometabolic risk factors for AD (i.e., diabetes mellitus; hypertension), prevent neural amyloid beta aggregation and reduce neuroinflammation. However, there are no investigations of irisin's effect on AD-associated tauopathy in the brain. This study begins to address this gap in knowledge. METHODS Transgenic htau mice that selectively develop age-related tauopathy were treated with recombinant irisin (100 µg/kg weekly i.p.) beginning at a pre-symptomatic age (4 months) to determine if irisin could prevent emergence of early neuropathology. One month later, mice were sacrificed to collect brain tissue and serum. Protein levels of ptau (serine 202), inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and FNDC5 were quantified using capillary-based western blotting (Wes). RESULTS Our data show that irisin treatment significantly reduced ptau and TNFα in the hippocampus and serum of female htau mice compared to vehicle-treated controls. Irisin treatment did not alter ptau levels in male htau hippocampus and appeared to enhance both neural and systemic TNFα levels. CONCLUSIONS This study provides the first evidence that enhancing the endogenous hormone irisin may be therapeutic against emerging neuropathology in a tauopathy-selective AD model. This is important because there are currently no disease-modifying therapeutics available for AD, and few agents in development address the multiple disease targets irisin appears to-making irisin an intriguing therapeutic candidate for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie A Bretland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
| | - Li Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
| | - Kimberly M Bretland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA.,Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Matthew A Smith
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA.,Akron Children's Hospital, Rebecca D. Considine Research Institute, Akron, OH, USA
| | - Sheila M Fleming
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
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44
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Gurvich C, Thomas N. Hormones and Cognition. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11030318. [PMID: 33802267 PMCID: PMC7998363 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11030318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Gurvich
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Central Clinical School, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia;
- Correspondence:
| | - Natalie Thomas
- Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Central Clinical School, Monash University and The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia;
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
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45
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Sinaeefar MJ, Saadat P, Hamidia A, Hosseini SR. Evaluation of the cognitive impairments and depressive symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease: A case-control study from Iran. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2021; 203:106549. [PMID: 33631508 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and the second most common neurological disease in the world, which usually affects people mainly in later years of life. Cognitive impairments and depressive symptoms are important symptoms in these patients that are associated with a poor prognosis. The study will focus on the original data regarding the cognitive impairments and depressive symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease and control group. METHODS In a case-control study, a total of 100 Parkinson's patients who were hospitalized in Rouhani Hospital and 200 non-Parkinson's people (control group) from Amirkola Health and aging project (AHAP) Marras et al., Babol, Iran were enrolled between September 2019 to February 2020. Data were collected by simple random sampling. Data were collected using a four-part questionnaire, including demographic characteristics, Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Modified Hoehn and Yahr staging Scale (MHYSS), Mini-M ental State Examination (MMSE) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). P-value less than 0.05 was considered as significant RESULTS: A total of 300 persons were enrolled in the study. The mean age of Parkinson's patients and non-Parkinson's people was 70.34 ± 7.76 and 70.87 ± 7.59 years, respectively. The mean MMSE score in Parkinson's and non-Parkinson's people was 24.80 ± 4.53 and 25.40 ± 3.1, respectively (p = 0.182). The mean GDS score in Parkinson's and non-Parkinson's people was 7.06 ± 4.06 and 4.31 ± 3.47, respectively (p = 0.001). There was a statistically significant relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive impairments with disease severity (p = 0.022 and p = 0.012, respectively). In addition, variables, such as age and the education level were associated with cognitive impairments (p = 0.001 and p = 0.021, respectively), but these variables were not significantly associated with depressive symptoms (p = 0.843 and p = 0.411, respectively). There was a significant relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment in Parkinson's patients and the control group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Cognitive impairments and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with an increase in the severity of Parkinson's disease, and also, depressive symptoms in Parkinson's patients was associated with an increase in cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Payam Saadat
- Mobility Impairment Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
| | - Angela Hamidia
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Seyed Reza Hosseini
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
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Seibel R, Schneider RH, Gottlieb MGV. Effects of Spices (Saffron, Rosemary, Cinnamon, Turmeric and Ginger) in Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2021; 18:347-357. [PMID: 34279199 DOI: 10.2174/1567205018666210716122034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/06/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent dementia in the elderly, causing disability, physical, psychological, social, and economic damage to the individual, their families, and caregivers. Studies have shown some spices, such as saffron, rosemary, cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger, have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that act in inhibiting the aggregation of acetylcholinesterase and amyloid in AD. For this reason, spices have been studied as beneficial sources against neurodegenerative diseases, including AD. In this sense, this study aims to present a review of some spices (Saffron, Rosemary, Cinnamon, Turmeric and Ginger) and their bioactive compounds, most consumed and investigated in the world regarding AD. In this article, scientific evidence is compiled in clinical trials in adults, the elderly, animals, and in vitro, on properties considered neuroprotective, having no or negative effects on neuroprotection of these spices and their bioactive compounds. The importance of this issue is based on the pharmacological treatment for AD that is still not very effective. In addition, the recommendations and prescriptions of these spices are still permeated by questioning and lack of robust evidence of their effects on neurodegeneration. The literature search suggests all spices included in this article have bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions associated with neuroprotection. To date, the amounts of spice ingestion in humans are not uniform, and there is no consensus on its indication and chronic consumption guarantees safety and efficacy in neuroprotection. Therefore, clinical evidence on this topic is necessary to become a formal adjuvant treatment for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Seibel
- School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo H Schneider
- School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil
| | - Maria G V Gottlieb
- School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil
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47
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Giacometti LL, Huang F, Hamilton BS, Barker JM. Brain region-dependent alterations in polysialic acid immunoreactivity across the estrous cycle in mice. Horm Behav 2020; 126:104851. [PMID: 32941849 PMCID: PMC7725886 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
N-glycosylation is a posttranslational modification that plays significant roles in regulating protein function. One form of N-glycosylation, polysialylation, has been implicated in many processes including learning and memory, addiction, and neurodegenerative disease. Polysialylation appears to be modulated by the estrous cycle in the hypothalamus in rat, but this has not been assessed in other brain regions. To determine if polysialylation was similarly estrous phase-dependent in other neuroanatomical structures, the percent area of polysialic acid (PSA) immunoreactivity in subregions of the medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens was assessed in each of the four phases in adult female mice. In this study, we found that PSA immunoreactivity fluctuated across the estrous cycle in a subregion-specific manner. In the prefrontal cortex, PSA immunoreactivity was significantly lower in proestrus phase compared to estrus in the prelimbic cortex, but did not differ across the estrous cycle in the infralimbic cortex. In the hippocampus, PSA immunoreactivity was significantly increased in proestrus compared to metestrus in the CA1 and CA2 and compared to diestrus in CA3, but remain unchanged in the dentate gyrus. PSA immunoreactivity did not vary across the estrous cycle in the nucleus accumbens core or shell. These findings may have implications for estrous cycle-dependent alterations in behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura L Giacometti
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States of America
| | - Fangyi Huang
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States of America
| | - Brianna S Hamilton
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States of America
| | - Jacqueline M Barker
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States of America.
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48
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Chang KH, Huang CC, Chen CM, Wu HC, Kuo HC. Differences in Clinical Presentation of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Alzheimer's Disease According to Sex and Education Level. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 78:711-719. [PMID: 33044179 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) seriously affect the quality of life of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their caregivers. OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify associations between demographic/genetic factors and clinical presentations of BPSD. METHODS In a cohort of 463 AD patients with BPSD, we retrospectively analyzed sex, education level, AD severity (assessed using the Clinical Dementia Rating and Mini-Mental Status Examination), and BPSD severity (assessed using the Neuropsychiatry Inventory, NPI). Severe BPSD was defined as NPI ≥10 for 3 consecutive years. RESULTS Among patients with severe BPSD (NPI ≥10), we observed more female patients (62.96%) and a lower level of education (6.03±4.77 years) as compared to those with mild BPSD (NPI <10) (female: 51.09%, p = 0.007; education years: 7.91±4.93, p < 0.001). Females had a lower level of education (5.72±4.50 years) and higher scores for depression/dysphoria (1.22±2.05) compared with males (education: 8.96±4.89 years, p < 0.001; depression/dysphoria: 0.78±1.42, p = 0.047). Patients with a high level of education (defined as ≥12 years) had higher scores for appetite/eating (0.90±2.02) than did those without (0.69±1.79; p = 0.001). Genetic analysis showed similar total and subscale NPI scores between patients with and without APOE4 and with and without the GRN rs5848 genotype. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate potential contributions of sex and education to the presentation of BPSD. Further study is warranted to provide models for tailoring therapeutic programs to individual AD patients according to these factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Chang Huang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Mei Chen
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Chuan Wu
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chou Kuo
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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49
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Conner MR, Jang D, Anderson BJ, Kritzer MF. Biological Sex and Sex Hormone Impacts on Deficits in Episodic-Like Memory in a Rat Model of Early, Pre-motor Stages of Parkinson's Disease. Front Neurol 2020; 11:942. [PMID: 33041964 PMCID: PMC7527538 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Episodic memory deficits are among the earliest appearing and most commonly occurring examples of cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD). These enduring features can also predict a clinical course of rapid motor decline, significant cognitive deterioration, and the development of PD-related dementia. The lack of effective means to treat these deficits underscores the need to better understand their neurobiological bases. The prominent sex differences that characterize episodic memory in health, aging and in schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease suggest that neuroendocrine factors may also influence episodic memory dysfunction in PD. However, while sex differences have been well-documented for many facets of PD, sex differences in, and sex hormone influences on associated episodic memory impairments have been less extensively studied and have never been examined in preclinical PD models. Accordingly, we paired bilateral neostriatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions with behavioral testing using the What-Where-When Episodic-Like Memory (ELM) Task in adult rats to first determine whether episodic-like memory is impaired in this model. We further compared outcomes in gonadally intact female and male subjects, and in male rats that had undergone gonadectomy—with and without hormone replacement, to determine whether biological sex and/or sex hormones influenced the expression of dopamine lesioned-induced memory deficits. These studies showed that 6-OHDA lesions profoundly impaired recall for all memory domains in male and female rats. They also showed that in males, circulating gonadal hormones powerfully modulated the negative impacts of 6-OHDA lesions on What, Where, and When discriminations in domain-specific ways. Specifically, the absence of androgens was shown to fully attenuate 6-OHDA lesion-induced deficits in ELM for “Where” and to partially protect against lesion-induced deficits in ELM for “What.” In sum, these findings show that 6-OHDA lesions in rats recapitulate the vulnerability of episodic memory seen in early PD. Together with similar evidence recently obtained for spatial working memory, the present findings also showed that diminished androgen levels provide powerful, highly selective protections against the harmful effects that 6-OHDA lesions have on memory functions in male rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan R Conner
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States.,Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Doyeon Jang
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Brenda J Anderson
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Mary F Kritzer
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
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50
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Warnecke AMP, Kang MS, Jakowec MW, Davies DL. The macrocyclic lactones ivermectin and moxidectin show differential effects on rotational behavior in the 6-hydroxydopamine mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Behav Brain Res 2020; 393:112804. [PMID: 32668263 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor and cognitive deficits, the result of dopamine (DA)-depletion within the basal ganglia. Currently, DA replacement therapy in the form of Sinemet (L-DOPA plus Carbidopa) provides symptomatic motor benefits and remains the "gold standard" for treatment. Several pharmacological approaches can enhance DA neurotransmission including the administration of DA receptor agonists, the inhibition of DA metabolism, and enhancing pre-synaptic DA release. DA neurotransmission is regulated by several receptor subtypes including signaling through the purinergic system. P2 × 4 receptors (P2 × 4Rs) are a class of cation-permeable ligand-gated ion channels activated by the synaptic release of extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP). P2 × 4Rs are expressed throughout the central nervous system including the dopaminergic circuitry of the substantia nigra, basal ganglia, and related reward networks. Previous studies have demonstrated that P2 × 4Rs can modulate several DA-dependent characteristics including motor, cognitive, and reward behaviors. Ivermectin (IVM) and moxidectin (MOX) are two macrocyclic lactones that can potentiate P2 × 4Rs. In this study, we sought to investigate the role of P2 × 4Rs in mediating DA neurotransmission by exploring their impact on DA-dependent behavior, specifically rotation frequency in the unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned mouse model of DA-depletion. While we did not observe any differences in the degree of lesioning based on immunostaining for tyrosine hydroxylase between sexes, male mice displayed a greater number of rotations with L-DOPA compared to female mice. In contrast, we observed that IVM plus L-DOPA increased the number of rotations (per 10 min) in female, but not male mice. These findings highlight the potential role of pharmacologically targeting the purinergic receptor system in modulating DA neurotransmission as well as the importance of sex differences impacting outcome measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia M P Warnecke
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Moon S Kang
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Michael W Jakowec
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1333 San Pablo Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Daryl L Davies
- Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, 1985 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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