1
|
Gao J, Li L. Enhancement of neural regeneration as a therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease (Review). Exp Ther Med 2023; 26:444. [PMID: 37614437 PMCID: PMC10443056 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia worldwide, has gradually become a global health concern for society and individuals with the process of global ageing. Although extensive research has been carried out on AD, the etiology and pathological mechanism of the disease are still unclear, and there is no specific drug to cure or delay AD progression. The exploration of enhancing nerve regeneration in AD has gradually attracted increasing attention. In the current review, the existing therapeutic strategies were summarized to induce nerve regeneration which can increase the number of neurons, and improve the survival of neurons, the plasticity of synapses and synaptic activity. The strategies include increasing neurotrophic expression (such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor), inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (such as donepezil, tacrine, rivastigmine and galanthamine), elevating histone deacetylase levels (such as RGFP-966, Tasquinimod, CM-414 and 44B), stimulating the brain by physiotherapy (such as near-infrared light, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and transcranial direct current stimulation) and transplanting exogenous neural stem cells. However, further evaluations need to be performed to determine the optimal treatment. The present study reviews recent interventions for enhancing adult neurogenesis and attempts to elucidate their mechanisms of action, which may provide a theoretical basis for inducing nerve regeneration to fight against AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junyan Gao
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Health Science Centre, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, P.R. China
| | - Liping Li
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Health Science Centre, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Farina L, Minnone G, Alivernini S, Caiello I, MacDonald L, Soligo M, Manni L, Tolusso B, Coppola S, Zara E, Conti LA, Aquilani A, Magni-Manzoni S, Kurowska-Stolarska M, Gremese E, De Benedetti F, Bracci-Laudiero L. Pro Nerve Growth Factor and Its Receptor p75NTR Activate Inflammatory Responses in Synovial Fibroblasts: A Novel Targetable Mechanism in Arthritis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:818630. [PMID: 35309353 PMCID: PMC8931659 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.818630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We have recently provided new evidence for a role of p75NTR receptor and its preferential ligand proNGF in amplifying inflammatory responses in synovial mononuclear cells of chronic arthritis patients. In the present study, to better investigate how activation of the p75NTR/proNGF axis impacts synovial inflammation, we have studied the effects of proNGF on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), which play a central role in modulating local immune responses and in activating pro-inflammatory pathways. Using single cell RNA sequencing in synovial tissues from active and treatment-naïve rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, we demonstrated that p75NTR and sortilin, which form a high affinity receptor complex for proNGF, are highly expressed in PRG4pos lining and THY1posCOL1A1pos sublining fibroblast clusters in RA synovia but decreased in RA patients in sustained clinical remission. In ex vivo experiments we found that FLS from rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA-FLS) retained in vitro a markedly higher expression of p75NTR and sortilin than FLS from osteoarthritis patients (OA-FLS). Inflammatory stimuli further up-regulated p75NTR expression and induced endogenous production of proNGF in RA-FLS, leading to an autocrine activation of the proNGF/p75NTR pathway that results in an increased release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our data on the inhibition of p75NTR receptor, which reduced the release of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, further confirmed the key role of p75NTR activation in regulating inflammatory cytokine production. In a set of ex vivo experiments, we used RA-FLS and cultured them in the presence of synovial fluids obtained from arthritis patients that, as we demonstrated, are characterized by a high concentration of proNGF. Our data show that the high levels of proNGF present in inflamed synovial fluids induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production by RA-FLS. The blocking of NGF binding to p75NTR using specific inhibitors led instead to the disruption of this pro-inflammatory loop, reducing activation of the p38 and JNK intracellular pathways and decreasing inflammatory cytokine production. Overall, our data demonstrate that an active proNGF/p75NTR axis promotes pro-inflammatory responses in synovial fibroblasts, thereby contributing to chronic synovial inflammation, and point to the possible use of p75NTR inhibitors as a novel therapeutic approach in chronic arthritis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luciapia Farina
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory of ImmunoRheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Gaetana Minnone
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory of ImmunoRheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Alivernini
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivan Caiello
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory of ImmunoRheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Lucy MacDonald
- Inflammatory Arthritis Centre Versus Arthritis (RACE), Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Marzia Soligo
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT-CNR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Manni
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT-CNR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Tolusso
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Coppola
- National Centre for Rare Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanita’, Rome, Italy
| | - Erika Zara
- National Centre for Rare Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanita’, Rome, Italy
| | - Libenzio Adrian Conti
- Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Research Center, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Aquilani
- Division of Rheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Magni-Manzoni
- Division of Rheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Mariola Kurowska-Stolarska
- Inflammatory Arthritis Centre Versus Arthritis (RACE), Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Gremese
- Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio De Benedetti
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory of ImmunoRheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Bracci-Laudiero
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory of ImmunoRheumatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT-CNR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Manni L, Conti G, Chiaretti A, Soligo M. Intranasal Delivery of Nerve Growth Factor in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Neurotrauma. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:754502. [PMID: 34867367 PMCID: PMC8635100 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.754502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the 1980s, the development of a pharmacology based on nerve growth factor (NGF) has been postulated for the therapy of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This hypothesis was based on the rescuing effect of the neurotrophin on the cholinergic phenotype of the basal forebrain neurons, primarily compromised during the development of AD. Subsequently, the use of NGF was put forward to treat a broader spectrum of neurological conditions affecting the central nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease, degenerative retinopathies, severe brain traumas and neurodevelopmental dysfunctions. While supported by solid rational assumptions, the progress of a pharmacology founded on these hypotheses has been hampered by the difficulty of conveying NGF towards the brain parenchyma without resorting to invasive and risky delivery methods. At the end of the last century, it was shown that NGF administered intranasally to the olfactory epithelium was able to spread into the brain parenchyma. Notably, after such delivery, pharmacologically relevant concentration of exogenous NGF was found in brain areas located at considerable distances from the injection site along the rostral-caudal axis. These observations paved the way for preclinical characterization and clinical trials on the efficacy of intranasal NGF for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and of the consequences of brain trauma. In this review, a summary of the preclinical and clinical studies published to date will be attempted, as well as a discussion about the mechanisms underlying the efficacy and the possible development of the pharmacology based on intranasal conveyance of NGF to the brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Manni
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Conti
- Department of Emergency, Intensive Pediatric Therapy and Pediatric Trauma Center, Anesthesiological and Reanimation Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Chiaretti
- Department of Woman and Child Health, Institute of Pediatrics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marzia Soligo
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dlamini Z, Mathabe K, Padayachy L, Marima R, Evangelou G, Syrigos KN, Bianchi A, Lolas G, Hull R. Many Voices in a Choir: Tumor-Induced Neurogenesis and Neuronal Driven Alternative Splicing Sound Like Suspects in Tumor Growth and Dissemination. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092138. [PMID: 33946706 PMCID: PMC8125307 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092138] [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: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Significant progress has recently been made in understanding the role of the neuronal system in cancer biology, in many solid tumors such as prostate, breast, pancreatic, gastric and brain cancers. Solid tumors and the nervous system appear to influence each other’s development both directly and indirectly. A recurring element in such interactions is constituted by nerve-related substances such as neurotransmitters and neurotrophins, to which the first part of the current review is devoted. The second part of the review focuses on the potential role played by alternative splicing in cancer progression associated with neural signaling. Alternative splicing is the process where pre-mRNA is cut and re-ligated in different ways to give rise to multiple protein isoforms whose expression profile is often cancer specific. Alternative splicing is known to take place in the mRNA of genes that code for proteins involved in neuronal development and the creation of new nerve fibers. The change in alternative splicing patterns that occur as tumors develop and progress may make these splice variants potential targets for the development of drug treatments. They may also serve as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers. Abstract During development, as tissues expand and grow, they require circulatory, lymphatic, and nervous system expansion for proper function and support. Similarly, as tumors arise and develop, they also require the expansion of these systems to support them. While the contribution of blood and lymphatic systems to the development and progression of cancer is well known and is targeted with anticancer drugs, the contribution of the nervous system is less well studied and understood. Recent studies have shown that the interaction between neurons and a tumor are bilateral and promote metastasis on one hand, and the formation of new nerve structures (neoneurogenesis) on the other. Substances such as neurotransmitters and neurotrophins being the main actors in such interplay, it seems reasonable to expect that alternative splicing and the different populations of protein isoforms can affect tumor-derived neurogenesis. Here, we report the different, documented ways in which neurons contribute to the development and progression of cancer and investigate what is currently known regarding cancer-neuronal interaction in several specific cancer types. Furthermore, we discuss the incidence of alternative splicing that have been identified as playing a role in tumor-induced neoneurogenesis, cancer development and progression. Several examples of changes in alternative splicing that give rise to different isoforms in nerve tissue that support cancer progression, growth and development have also been investigated. Finally, we discuss the potential of our knowledge in alternative splicing to improve tumor diagnosis and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zodwa Dlamini
- SAMRC Precision Prevention and Novel Drug Targets for HIV-Associated Cancers (PPNDTHAC) Unit, Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa; (K.M.); (L.P.); (R.M.); (G.L.); (R.H.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Kgomotso Mathabe
- SAMRC Precision Prevention and Novel Drug Targets for HIV-Associated Cancers (PPNDTHAC) Unit, Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa; (K.M.); (L.P.); (R.M.); (G.L.); (R.H.)
- Department of Urology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
| | - Llewellyn Padayachy
- SAMRC Precision Prevention and Novel Drug Targets for HIV-Associated Cancers (PPNDTHAC) Unit, Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa; (K.M.); (L.P.); (R.M.); (G.L.); (R.H.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0084, South Africa
| | - Rahaba Marima
- SAMRC Precision Prevention and Novel Drug Targets for HIV-Associated Cancers (PPNDTHAC) Unit, Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa; (K.M.); (L.P.); (R.M.); (G.L.); (R.H.)
| | - George Evangelou
- 3rd Department of Medicine, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (G.E.); (K.N.S.)
| | - Konstantinos N. Syrigos
- 3rd Department of Medicine, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (G.E.); (K.N.S.)
| | | | - Georgios Lolas
- SAMRC Precision Prevention and Novel Drug Targets for HIV-Associated Cancers (PPNDTHAC) Unit, Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa; (K.M.); (L.P.); (R.M.); (G.L.); (R.H.)
- 3rd Department of Medicine, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; (G.E.); (K.N.S.)
| | - Rodney Hull
- SAMRC Precision Prevention and Novel Drug Targets for HIV-Associated Cancers (PPNDTHAC) Unit, Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI), University of Pretoria, Hatfield 0028, South Africa; (K.M.); (L.P.); (R.M.); (G.L.); (R.H.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lanshakov DA, Sukhareva EV, Bulygina VV, Bannova AV, Shaburova EV, Kalinina TS. Single neonatal dexamethasone administration has long-lasting outcome on depressive-like behaviour, Bdnf, Nt-3, p75ngfr and sorting receptors (SorCS1-3) stress reactive expression. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8092. [PMID: 33854153 PMCID: PMC8046778 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87652-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Elevated glucocorticoid level in the early postnatal period is associated with glucocorticoid therapy prescribed at preterm delivery most often has severe long-lasting neurodevelopmental and behavioural effects. Detailed molecular mechanisms of such programming action of antenatal glucocorticoids on behaviour are still poorly understood. To address this question we studied neurotrophins: Bdnf, Nt-3, Ngf and their receptors: p75ngfr, Sorcs3 expression changes after subcutaneous dexamethasone (DEX) 0.2 mg/kg injection to P2 rat pups. Neurotrophins expression level was studied in the hippocampus (HPC). Disturbances in these brain regions have been implicated in the emergence of multiple psychopathologies. p75ngfr and Sorcs3 expression was studied in the brainstem—region where monoamine neurons are located. Immunohistochemically P75NTR protein level changes after DEX were investigated in the brainstem Locus Coereleus norepinephrine neurons (NE). In the first hours after DEX administration elevation of neurotrophins expression in HPC and decline of receptor’s expression in the NE brainstem neurons were observed. Another critical time point during maturation is adolescence. Impact of elevated glucocorticoid level in the neonatal period and unpredictable stress (CMUS) at the end of adolescence on depressive-like behaviour was studied. Single neonatal DEX injection leads to decrease in depressive-like behaviour, observed in FST, independently from chronic stress. Neonatal DEX administration decreased Ntf3 and SorCS1 expression in the brainstem. Also Bdnf mRNA level in the brainstem of these animals didn’t decrease after FST. CMUS at the end of adolescence changed p75ngfr and SorCS3 expression in the brainstem in the animals that received single neonatal DEX administration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D A Lanshakov
- Laboratory of Postgenomics Neurobiology, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, 630090.
| | - E V Sukhareva
- Functional Neurogenomics Laboratory, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, 630090.,Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, 630090
| | - V V Bulygina
- Functional Neurogenomics Laboratory, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, 630090
| | - A V Bannova
- Functional Neurogenomics Laboratory, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, 630090
| | - E V Shaburova
- Functional Neurogenomics Laboratory, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, 630090.,Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, 630090
| | - T S Kalinina
- Functional Neurogenomics Laboratory, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, 630090.,Department of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation, 630090
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang X, Li Y, Wang Y, Liu Y, Xue C, Cong P, Xu J. Sea urchin gangliosides exhibit neuritogenic effects in neuronal PC12 cells via TrkA- and TrkB-related pathways. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2021; 85:675-686. [PMID: 33589896 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbaa088] [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: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Gangliosides (GLSs) are ubiquitously distributed in all tissues but highly enriched in nervous system. Currently, it is unclear how exogenous GLSs regulate neuritogenesis, although neural functions of endogenous GLSs are widely studied. Herein, we evaluated the neuritogenic activities and mechanism of sea urchin gangliosides (SU-GLSs) in vitro. These different glycosylated SU-GLSs, including GM4(1S), GD4(1S), GD4(2A), and GD4(2G), promoted differentiation of NGF-induced PC12 cells in a dose-dependent and structure-selective manner. Sulfate-type and disialo-type GLSs exhibited stronger neuritogenic effects than monosialoganglioside GM1. Furthermore, SU-GLSs might act as neurotrophic factors possessing neuritogenic effects, via targeting tyrosine-kinase receptors (TrkA and TrkB) and activating MEK1/2-ERK1/2-CREB and PI3K-Akt-CREB pathways. This activation resulted in increased expression and secretion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF). These pathways were verified by specific inhibitors. Our results confirmed the neuritogenic functions of SU-GLS in vitro and indicated their potential roles as natural nutrition for neuritogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxu Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiyang Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuliu Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanjun Liu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Changhu Xue
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory of Marine Drugs and Biological Products, Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Peixu Cong
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Xu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Soligo M, Protto V, Chiaretti A, Piccinin S, De Stefano ME, Nisticò R, Bracci-Laudiero L, Manni L. Effects of intranasally-delivered pro-nerve growth factors on the septo-hippocampal system in healthy and diabetic rats. Neuropharmacology 2020; 176:108223. [PMID: 32681844 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108223] [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: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF) is the predominant form of NGF in the brain and its levels increase in neurodegenerative diseases. The balance between NGF receptors may explain the contradictory biological activities of proNGF. However, the specific role of the two main proNGF variants is mostly unexplored. proNGF-A is prevalently expressed in healthy brain, while proNGF-B content increases in the neuro-degenerating brain. Recently we have investigated in vitro the biological action of native mouse proNGF variants. To gain further insights into the specific functions of the two proNGFs, here we intranasally delivered mouse-derived proNGF-A and proNGF-B to the brain parenchyma of healthy and diabetic rats, the latter characterized by dysfunction in spatial learning and memory, in the septo-hippocampal circuitry and by relative increase in proNGF-B hippocampal levels. Exogenous proNGF-B induces depression of hippocampal DG-LTP and impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis in healthy animals, with concomitant decrease in basal forebrain cholinergic neurons and cholinergic fibers projecting to the hippocampus. proNGF-A, while ineffective in healthy animals, rescues the diabetes-induced impairment in DG-LTP and hippocampal neurogenesis, promoting the concomitant recovery of the basal forebrain cholinergic phenotype. Our experimental evidences suggest that the balance between different proNGFs may influence the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Soligo
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Virginia Protto
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Chiaretti
- Institute of Pediatrics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Egle De Stefano
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Robert Nisticò
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Rome, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Bracci-Laudiero
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy; Division of Rheumatology and Immuno-Rheumatology Research Laboratories, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Manni
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Soligo M, Chiaretti A, Leotta E, Lardone E, Boschelle C, Mantuano E, Veneziano L, Manni L. Construction and preliminary characterization of human recombinant proNGF-A variant. Neurochem Int 2020; 140:104812. [PMID: 32758589 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The precursor of Nerve Growth Factor (proNGF) is the predominant form of NGF in the brain, where its tissue levels are increased in neurodegenerative diseases. proNGF exists in two main splicing variants, the long proNGF-A and the short proNGF-B. We demonstrated that proNGF-B is selectively increased in the hippocampus of rats affected by early diabetic encephalopathy and that native, purified proNGFs elicit different responses when used to stimulate PC12 cells. Therefore, the evaluation of the proNGF-B/proNGF-A ratio may be of important diagnostic and prognostic value in pathologies characterized by dysfunctions of NGF system. To date there is not clear pharmacological characterization of the different proNGFs variants, due to the lack of a proper recombinant proNGF-A. Using a bioinformatics approach, we predicted aminoacid sites involved in proNGF-A intracellular cleavage/conversion into proNGF-B, we cloned and expressed non-cleavable proNGF-A in HeLa cells and pursued a first characterization of their secretion modalities. Finally, we studied the biological effects of different proNGF-A mutants, stimulating PC12 cells with conditioned media from transfected HeLa cells. Based on our results, we propose the A73Y mutation as essential to obtaining an intact proNGF-A, limiting its conversion to proNGF-B. proNGF-A A73Y is probably released in an activity dependent manner and, when supplied to PC12 cells, shows a moderate differentiative capacity opposed to high neuroprotective potential. This preliminary study lays the foundation for future research aimed at uncovering the selective biological activities of proNGF-A and proNGF-B, and at developing pharmacological treatments that target the unbalance of proNGF system, induced by neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Soligo
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Chiaretti
- Institute of Pediatrics, Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Leotta
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Lardone
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Boschelle
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Elide Mantuano
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Liana Veneziano
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Manni
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Muscarinic receptors modulate Nerve Growth Factor production in rat Schwann-like adipose-derived stem cells and in Schwann cells. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7159. [PMID: 32346125 PMCID: PMC7188814 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63645-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Regenerative capability of the peripheral nervous system after injury is enhanced by Schwann cells (SCs) producing several growth factors. The clinical use of SCs in nerve regeneration strategies is hindered by the necessity of removing a healthy nerve to obtain the therapeutic cells. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) can be chemically differentiated towards a SC-like phenotype (dASCs), and represent a promising alternative to SCs. Their physiology can be further modulated pharmacologically by targeting receptors for neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine (ACh). In this study, we compare the ability of rat dASCs and native SCs to produce NGF in vitro. We also evaluate the ability of muscarinic receptors, in particular the M2 subtype, to modulate NGF production and maturation from the precursor (proNGF) to the mature (mNGF) form. For the first time, we demonstrate that dASCs produce higher basal levels of proNGF and mature NGF compared to SCs. Moreover, muscarinic receptor activation, and in particular M2 subtype stimulation, modulates NGF production and maturation in both SCs and dASCs. Indeed, both cell types express both proNGF A and B isoforms, as well as mNGF. After M2 receptor stimulation, proNGF-B (25 kDa), which is involved in apoptotic processes, is strongly reduced at transcript and protein level. Thus, we demonstrate that dASCs possess a stronger neurotrophic potential compared to SCs. ACh, via M2 muscarinic receptors, contributes to the modulation and maturation of NGF, improving the regenerative properties of dASCs.
Collapse
|