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Neves D, Salazar IL, Almeida RD, Silva RM. Molecular mechanisms of ischemia and glutamate excitotoxicity. Life Sci 2023; 328:121814. [PMID: 37236602 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Excitotoxicity is classically defined as the neuronal damage caused by the excessive release of glutamate, and subsequent activation of excitatory plasma membrane receptors. In the mammalian brain, this phenomenon is mainly driven by excessive activation of glutamate receptors (GRs). Excitotoxicity is common to several chronic disorders of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and is considered the primary mechanism of neuronal loss of function and cell death in acute CNS diseases (e.g. ischemic stroke). Multiple mechanisms and pathways lead to excitotoxic cell damage including pro-death signaling cascade events downstream of glutamate receptors, calcium (Ca2+) overload, oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairment, excessive glutamate in the synaptic cleft as well as altered energy metabolism. Here, we review the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms that underlie excitotoxicity, emphasizing the role of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) metabolism. We also discuss novel and promising therapeutic strategies to treat excitotoxicity, highlighting recent clinical trials. Finally, we will shed light on the ongoing search for stroke biomarkers, an exciting and promising field of research, which may improve stroke diagnosis, prognosis and allow better treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Neves
- iBiMED - Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ivan L Salazar
- Multidisciplinary Institute of Ageing, MIA - Portugal, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ramiro D Almeida
- iBiMED - Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Raquel M Silva
- iBiMED - Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculdade de Medicina Dentária, Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Saúde, Viseu, Portugal.
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2
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Targeting NMDA Receptors in Emotional Disorders: Their Role in Neuroprotection. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12101329. [PMID: 36291261 PMCID: PMC9599159 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12101329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Excitatory glutamatergic neurotransmission mediated through N-methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptors (NMDARs) is essential for synaptic plasticity and neuronal survival. While under pathological states, abnormal NMDAR activation is involved in the occurrence and development of psychiatric disorders, which suggests a directional modulation of NMDAR activity that contributes to the remission and treatment of psychiatric disorders. This review thus focuses on the involvement of NMDARs in the pathophysiological processes of psychiatric mood disorders and analyzes the neuroprotective mechanisms of NMDARs. Firstly, we introduce NMDAR-mediated neural signaling pathways in brain function and mood regulation as well as the pathophysiological mechanisms of NMDARs in emotion-related mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. Then, we provide an in-depth summary of current NMDAR modulators that have the potential to be developed into clinical drugs and their pharmacological research achievements in the treatment of anxiety and depression. Based on these findings, drug-targeting for NMDARs might open up novel territory for the development of therapeutic agents for refractory anxiety and depression.
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3
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Choudhury D, Autry AE, Tolias KF, Krishnan V. Ketamine: Neuroprotective or Neurotoxic? Front Neurosci 2021; 15:672526. [PMID: 34566558 PMCID: PMC8461018 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.672526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ketamine, a non-competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, has been employed clinically as an intravenous anesthetic since the 1970s. More recently, ketamine has received attention for its rapid antidepressant effects and is actively being explored as a treatment for a wide range of neuropsychiatric syndromes. In model systems, ketamine appears to display a combination of neurotoxic and neuroprotective properties that are context dependent. At anesthetic doses applied during neurodevelopmental windows, ketamine contributes to inflammation, autophagy, apoptosis, and enhances levels of reactive oxygen species. At the same time, subanesthetic dose ketamine is a powerful activator of multiple parallel neurotrophic signaling cascades with neuroprotective actions that are not always NMDAR-dependent. Here, we summarize results from an array of preclinical studies that highlight a complex landscape of intracellular signaling pathways modulated by ketamine and juxtapose the somewhat contrasting neuroprotective and neurotoxic features of this drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Choudhury
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Anita E. Autry
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Kimberley F. Tolias
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Vaishnav Krishnan
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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Valente P, Kiryushko D, Sacchetti S, Machado P, Cobley CM, Mangini V, Porter AE, Spatz JP, Fleck RA, Benfenati F, Fiammengo R. Conopeptide-Functionalized Nanoparticles Selectively Antagonize Extrasynaptic N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptors and Protect Hippocampal Neurons from Excitotoxicity In Vitro. ACS NANO 2020; 14:6866-6877. [PMID: 32510204 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c00866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are ionotropic glutamate receptors controlling fundamental physiological processes in the central nervous system, such as learning and memory. Excessive activation of NMDARs causes excitotoxicity and results in neurodegeneration, which is observed in a number of pathological conditions. Because of their dichotomous role, therapeutic targeting of NMDAR is difficult. However, several lines of evidence suggest that excitotoxicity is predominantly linked to extrasynaptically located NMDARs. Here, we report on a nanoparticle-based strategy to inhibit extrasynaptic NMDARs exclusively and subtype selectively, while allowing synaptic NMDARs activity. We designed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) carrying conopeptide derivatives conjugated on their poly(ethylene glycol) coating as allosteric NMDAR inhibitors and show that these nanoparticles antagonize exclusively extrasynaptic NMDAR-mediated currents in cultured hippocampal neurons. Additionally, we show that conopeptide-functionalized AuNPs are neuroprotective in an in vitro model of excitotoxicity. By using AuNPs carrying different allosteric inhibitors with distinct NMDAR subtype selectivity such as peptide conantokin-G or peptide conantokin-R, we suggest activation of extrasynaptic GluN2B-containing diheteromeric NMDARs as the main cause of excitotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Valente
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa 16132, Italy
- IRCSS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa 16132, Italy
| | - Darya Kiryushko
- Department of Materials and London Center for Nanotechnology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
- Center for Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Silvio Sacchetti
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa 16132, Italy
| | - Pedro Machado
- Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging, Kings College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Claire M Cobley
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
| | - Vincenzo Mangini
- Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies@UniLe, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Arnesano, Lecce 73010, Italy
| | - Alexandra E Porter
- Department of Materials and London Center for Nanotechnology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Joachim P Spatz
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Roland A Fleck
- Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging, Kings College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Fabio Benfenati
- IRCSS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa 16132, Italy
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa 16132, Italy
| | - Roberto Fiammengo
- Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies@UniLe, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Arnesano, Lecce 73010, Italy
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NMDARs in Cell Survival and Death: Implications in Stroke Pathogenesis and Treatment. Trends Mol Med 2020; 26:533-551. [PMID: 32470382 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in developed countries. N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors (NMDARs) have important roles in stroke pathology and recovery. Depending on their subtypes and locations, these NMDARs may promote either neuronal survival or death. Recently, the functions of previously overlooked NMDAR subtypes during stroke were characterized, and NMDARs expressed at different subcellular locations were found to have synergistic rather than opposing functions. Moreover, the complexity of the neuronal survival and death signaling pathways following NMDAR activation was further elucidated. In this review, we summarize the recent developments in these areas and discuss how delineating the dual roles of NMDARs in stroke has directed the development of novel neuroprotective therapeutics for stroke.
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Mammele S, Thompson KS, Abe KK. A rapidly fatal case of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis due to acute brain edema and herniation. Neurology 2019; 92:1014-1016. [PMID: 31019100 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000007545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Mammele
- From the Departments of Pediatrics (S.M., K.K.A.) and Pathology (K.S.T.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu
| | - Karen S Thompson
- From the Departments of Pediatrics (S.M., K.K.A.) and Pathology (K.S.T.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu
| | - Keith K Abe
- From the Departments of Pediatrics (S.M., K.K.A.) and Pathology (K.S.T.), John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu.
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Loss CM, da Rosa NS, Mestriner RG, Xavier LL, Oliveira DL. Blockade of GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors reduces short-term brain damage induced by early-life status epilepticus. Neurotoxicology 2019; 71:138-149. [PMID: 30639357 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Status epilepticus (SE) during developmental periods can cause short- and long-term consequences to the brain. Brain damage induced by SE is associated to NMDA receptors (NMDAR)-mediated excitotoxicity. This study aimed to investigate whether blockade of GluN2B-containing NMDAR is neuroprotective against SE-induced neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in young rats. Forty-eight Wistar rats (16 days of life) were injected with pilocarpine (60 mg/kg; i.p.) 12-18 h after LiCl (3 mEq/kg; i.p.). Fifteen minutes after pilocarpine administration, animals received i.p. injections of saline solution (0.9% NaCl; SE + SAL group), ketamine (a non-selective and noncompetitive NMDAR antagonist; 25 mg/kg; SE + KET), CI-1041 (a GluN2B-containing NMDAR antagonist; 10 mg/kg; SE + CI group) or CP-101,606 (a NMDAR antagonist with great selectivity for NMDAR composed by GluN1/GluN2B diheteromers; 10 mg/kg; SE + CP group). Seven days after SE, brains were removed for Fluoro-Jade C staining and Iba1/ED1 immunolabeling. GluN2B-containing NMDAR blockade by CI-1041 or CP-101,606 did not terminate LiCl-pilocarpine-induced seizures. SE + SAL group presented intense neurodegeneration and Iba1+/ED1+ double-labeling in hippocampus (CA1 and dentate gyrus; DG) and amygdala (MePV nucleus). Administration of CP-101,606 did not alter this pattern. However, GluN2B-containing NMDAR blockade by CI-1041 reduced neurodegeneration and Iba1+/ED1+ double-labeling in hippocampus and amygdala similar to the reduction observed for SE + KET group. Our results indicate that GluN2B-containing NMDAR are involved in SE-induced neurodegeneration and microglial recruitment and activation, and suggest that stopping epileptic activity is not a condition required to prevent short-term brain damage in young animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cássio Morais Loss
- Cellular Neurochemistry Laboratory, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Cellular Biochemistry Laboratory, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Natã Sehn da Rosa
- Cellular Neurochemistry Laboratory, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Régis Gemerasca Mestriner
- Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair Research Group, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Léder Leal Xavier
- Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Biology, School of Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Diogo Losch Oliveira
- Cellular Neurochemistry Laboratory, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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Cui AL, Zhang YH, Li JZ, Song T, Liu XM, Wang H, Zhang C, Ma GL, Zhang H, Li K. Humanin rescues cultured rat cortical neurons from NMDA-induced toxicity through the alleviation of mitochondrial dysfunction. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2017; 11:1243-1253. [PMID: 28458518 PMCID: PMC5402890 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s133042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
N-methyl-D-aspartate (NDMA) receptor-mediated excitotoxicity has been implicated in a variety of pathological situations such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease. However, no effective treatments for the same have been developed so far. Humanin (HN) is a 24-amino acid peptide originally cloned from the brain of patients with AD and it prevents stress-induced cell death in many cells/tissues. In our previous study, HN was found to effectively rescue rat cortical neurons. It is still not clear whether HN protects the neurons through the attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction. In this study, excitatory toxicity was induced by NMDA, which binds the NMDA receptor in primarily cultured rat cortical neurons. We found that NMDA (100 μmol/L) dramatically induced the decrease of cell viability and caused mitochondrial dysfunction. Pretreatment of the neurons with HN (1 μmol/L) led to significant increases of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity and membrane potential. In addition, HN pretreatment significantly reduced the excessive production of both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). Thus, HN could attenuate the excitotoxicity caused by the overactivation of the NMDA receptor through the alleviation of mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai-Ling Cui
- Anatomy Department, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi
| | - Ying-Hua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tissue Regeneration of Henan Province, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan
| | - Jian-Zhong Li
- Clinical Laboratory of Heji Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi
| | - Tianbin Song
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing
| | - Xue-Min Liu
- Anatomy Department, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi
| | - Hui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tissue Regeneration of Henan Province, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan
| | - Ce Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi
| | - Guo-Lin Ma
- Department of Radiology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Radiology, First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Kefeng Li
- School of Medicine, University of California - San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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