1
|
Kim AY, Al Jerdi S, MacDonald R, Triggle CR. Alzheimer's disease and its treatment-yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1399121. [PMID: 38868666 PMCID: PMC11167451 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1399121] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Alois Alzheimer described the first patient with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in 1907 and today AD is the most frequently diagnosed of dementias. AD is a multi-factorial neurodegenerative disorder with familial, life style and comorbidity influences impacting a global population of more than 47 million with a projected escalation by 2050 to exceed 130 million. In the USA the AD demographic encompasses approximately six million individuals, expected to increase to surpass 13 million by 2050, and the antecedent phase of AD, recognized as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), involves nearly 12 million individuals. The economic outlay for the management of AD and AD-related cognitive decline is estimated at approximately 355 billion USD. In addition, the intensifying prevalence of AD cases in countries with modest to intermediate income countries further enhances the urgency for more therapeutically and cost-effective treatments and for improving the quality of life for patients and their families. This narrative review evaluates the pathophysiological basis of AD with an initial focus on the therapeutic efficacy and limitations of the existing drugs that provide symptomatic relief: acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, and the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) receptor allosteric modulator, memantine. The hypothesis that amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau are appropriate targets for drugs and have the potential to halt the progress of AD is critically analyzed with a particular focus on clinical trial data with anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies (MABs), namely, aducanumab, lecanemab and donanemab. This review challenges the dogma that targeting Aβ will benefit the majority of subjects with AD that the anti-Aβ MABs are unlikely to be the "magic bullet". A comparison of the benefits and disadvantages of the different classes of drugs forms the basis for determining new directions for research and alternative drug targets that are undergoing pre-clinical and clinical assessments. In addition, we discuss and stress the importance of the treatment of the co-morbidities, including hypertension, diabetes, obesity and depression that are known to increase the risk of developing AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A. Y. Kim
- Medical Education, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - R. MacDonald
- Health Sciences Library, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - C. R. Triggle
- Department of Pharmacology and Medical Education, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rodrigues DT, Padilha HA, Soares ATG, de Souza MEO, Guerra MT, Ávila DS. The Caenorhabditis elegans neuroendocrine system and their modulators: An overview. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 586:112191. [PMID: 38382589 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112191] [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: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
In this review we seek to systematically bring what has been published in the literature about the nervous system, endocrine system, neuroendocrine relationships, neuroendocrine modulations and endocrine disruptors in the alternative model Caenorhabditis elegans. The serotonergic, dopaminergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic neurotransmitters are related to the modulation of the neuroendocrine axis, leading to the activation or inhibition of several processes that occur in the worm through distinct and interconnected pathways. Furthermore, this review addresses the gut-neuronal axis as it has been revealed in recent years that gut microbiota impacts on neuronal functions. This review also approaches xenobiotics that can positively or negatively impact the neuroendocrine system in C. elegans as in mammals, which allows the application of this nematode to screen new drugs and to identify toxicants that are endocrine disruptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Teixeira Rodrigues
- Graduation Program in Biological Sciences- Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Daiana Silva Ávila
- Graduation Program in Biological Sciences- Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Graduation Program in Biochemistry, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Barros YVR, de Andrade AO, da Silva LPD, Pedroza LAL, Bezerra IC, Cavalcanti IDL, de Britto Lira Nogueira MC, Mousinho KC, Antoniolli AR, Alves LC, de Lima Filho JL, Moura AV, Rosini Silva ÁA, de Melo Porcari A, Gubert P. Bee Venom Toxic Effect on MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells and Caenorhabditis Elegans. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2024; 24:798-811. [PMID: 38500290 DOI: 10.2174/0118715206291634240312062957] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bee venom has therapeutics and pharmacological properties. Further toxicological studies on animal models are necessary due to the severe allergic reactions caused by this product. METHOD Here, Caenorhabditis elegans was used as an in vivo toxicity model, while breast cancer cells were used to evaluate the pharmacological benefits. The bee venom utilized in this research was collected from Apis mellifera species found in Northeast Brazil. The cytotoxicity caused by bee venom was measured by MTT assay on MDA-MB-231 and J774 A.1 cells during 24 - 72 hours of exposure. C. elegans at the L4 larval stage were exposed for three hours to M9 buffer or bee venom. Survival, behavioral parameters, reproduction, DAF-16 transcription factor translocation, the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and metabolomics were analyzed. Bee venom suppressed the growth of MDA-MB-231 cancer cells and exhibited cytotoxic effects on macrophages. Also, decreased C. elegans survival impacted its behaviors by decreasing C. elegans feeding behavior, movement, and reproduction. RESULTS Bee venom did not increase the expression of SOD-3, but it enhanced DAF-16 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. C. elegans metabolites differed after bee venom exposure, primarily related to aminoacyl- tRNA biosynthesis, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, and sphingolipid and purine metabolic pathways. Our findings indicate that exposure to bee venom resulted in harmful effects on the cells and animal models examined. CONCLUSION Thus, due to its potential toxic effect and induction of allergic reactions, using bee venom as a therapeutic approach has been limited. The development of controlled-release drug strategies to improve this natural product's efficacy and safety should be intensified.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Iago Dillion Lima Cavalcanti
- Keizo Asami Institute, iLIKA, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Science, Federal University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Mariane Cajuba de Britto Lira Nogueira
- Keizo Asami Institute, iLIKA, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- Academic Center of Vitória, Federal University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | | | - Luiz Carlos Alves
- Keizo Asami Institute, iLIKA, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Science, Federal University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Department of Virology and Experimental Therapy, Recife, Brazil.cr
| | - José Luiz de Lima Filho
- Keizo Asami Institute, iLIKA, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Biological Science, Federal University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Pure and Applied Chemistry, Federal University of Western of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Varão Moura
- MS4Life Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry, Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, São Francisco University, Bragança Paulista, São Paulo 12916-900, Brazil
| | - Álex Aparecido Rosini Silva
- MS4Life Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry, Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, São Francisco University, Bragança Paulista, São Paulo 12916-900, Brazil
| | - Andréia de Melo Porcari
- MS4Life Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry, Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, São Francisco University, Bragança Paulista, São Paulo 12916-900, Brazil
| | - Priscila Gubert
- Keizo Asami Institute, iLIKA, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Pernambuco, Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hassamal S. Chronic stress, neuroinflammation, and depression: an overview of pathophysiological mechanisms and emerging anti-inflammatories. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1130989. [PMID: 37252156 PMCID: PMC10213648 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1130989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In a subset of patients, chronic exposure to stress is an etiological risk factor for neuroinflammation and depression. Neuroinflammation affects up to 27% of patients with MDD and is associated with a more severe, chronic, and treatment-resistant trajectory. Inflammation is not unique to depression and has transdiagnostic effects suggesting a shared etiological risk factor underlying psychopathologies and metabolic disorders. Research supports an association but not necessarily a causation with depression. Putative mechanisms link chronic stress to dysregulation of the HPA axis and immune cell glucocorticoid resistance resulting in hyperactivation of the peripheral immune system. The chronic extracellular release of DAMPs and immune cell DAMP-PRR signaling creates a feed forward loop that accelerates peripheral and central inflammation. Higher plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines, most consistently interleukin IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, are correlated with greater depressive symptomatology. Cytokines sensitize the HPA axis, disrupt the negative feedback loop, and further propagate inflammatory reactions. Peripheral inflammation exacerbates central inflammation (neuroinflammation) through several mechanisms including disruption of the blood-brain barrier, immune cellular trafficking, and activation of glial cells. Activated glial cells release cytokines, chemokines, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species into the extra-synaptic space dysregulating neurotransmitter systems, imbalancing the excitatory to inhibitory ratio, and disrupting neural circuitry plasticity and adaptation. In particular, microglial activation and toxicity plays a central role in the pathophysiology of neuroinflammation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies most consistently show reduced hippocampal volumes. Neural circuitry dysfunction such as hypoactivation between the ventral striatum and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex underlies the melancholic phenotype of depression. Chronic administration of monoamine-based antidepressants counters the inflammatory response, but with a delayed therapeutic onset. Therapeutics targeting cell mediated immunity, generalized and specific inflammatory signaling pathways, and nitro-oxidative stress have enormous potential to advance the treatment landscape. Future clinical trials will need to include immune system perturbations as biomarker outcome measures to facilitate novel antidepressant development. In this overview, we explore the inflammatory correlates of depression and elucidate pathomechanisms to facilitate the development of novel biomarkers and therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sameer Hassamal
- California University of Sciences and Medicine, Colton, CA, United States
- Clinicaltriallink, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- California Neuropsychiatric Institute, Ontario, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ke T, Santamaria A, Barbosa F, Rocha JBT, Skalny AV, Tinkov AA, Bowman AB, Aschner M. Developmental Methylmercury Exposure Induced and Age-Dependent Glutamatergic Neurotoxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:920-928. [PMID: 36385214 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03816-5] [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: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Developmental methylmercury (MeHg) exposures cause latent neurotoxic effects in adults; however, the mechanisms underlying the latent neurotoxicity are not fully understood. In the current study, we used C. elegans as an animal model to investigate the latent neurotoxic effects of developmental MeHg exposures on glutamatergic neurons. The young larvae stage 1 worms were exposed to MeHg (0.05 ~ 5 µM) for 48 h. The morphological and behavioral endpoints of glutamatergic neurons were compared when worms reached to adult stages including the young adult stage (day 1 adult) and the old adult stage (day 10 adult). Here, we showed that C. elegans glutamatergic neurons were morphologically intact following low or medium MeHg exposures (0.05 ~ 0.5 µM). The morphological damage of glutamatergic neurons appeared to be pronounced in day 10 adults developmentally exposed to 5 µM MeHg. Behavioral assays also showed an age-dependent latent effect of MeHg. In the nose touch response assay, only day 10 adult worms exhibited a functional decline following prior 5 µM MeHg exposure. Moreover, the disruption of NaCl memory appeared only in day 1 adults following MeHg exposures but not in day 10 adults. The expression of C. elegans homologs of mammalian vesicular glutamate transporter (eat-4) was repressed in day 1 adults, while the glutamate receptor homolog (glr-1) was upregulated in day 10 adults with 5 µM MeHg. In the comparison of age-dependent changes in the insulin-like pathway (daf-2/age-1/daf-16) following MeHg exposures, we showed that the daf-2/age-1/daf-16 pathway was mobilized in day 1 adults but repressed in day 10 adults. Collectively, our data supports a conclusion that MeHg-induced glutamatergic neurotoxicity exhibits an age-dependent pattern, possibly related to the prominent changes in age-dependent modulation in the glutamatergic neurotransmission and metabolic pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Ke
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Abel Santamaria
- Laboratorio de Aminoácidos Excitadores/Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología Molecular y Nanotecnología, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, 14269, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Fernando Barbosa
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-900, Brazil
| | - João B T Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, 97105900, Brazil
| | - Anatoly V Skalny
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey A Tinkov
- IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
- Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia
| | - Aaron B Bowman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2051, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
- , Forchheimer Building, Room 209, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ge X, Zheng M, Hu M, Fang X, Geng D, Liu S, Wang L, Zhang J, Guan L, Zheng P, Xie Y, Pan W, Zhou M, Zhou L, Tang R, Zheng K, Yu Y, Huang XF. Butyrate ameliorates quinolinic acid-induced cognitive decline in obesity models. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:154612. [PMID: 36787221 PMCID: PMC9927952 DOI: 10.1172/jci154612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a risk factor for neurodegenerative disease associated with cognitive dysfunction, including Alzheimer's disease. Low-grade inflammation is common in obesity, but the mechanism between inflammation and cognitive impairment in obesity is unclear. Accumulative evidence shows that quinolinic acid (QA), a neuroinflammatory neurotoxin, is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative processes. We investigated the role of QA in obesity-induced cognitive impairment and the beneficial effect of butyrate in counteracting impairments of cognition, neural morphology, and signaling. We show that in human obesity, there was a negative relationship between serum QA levels and cognitive function and decreased cortical gray matter. Diet-induced obese mice had increased QA levels in the cortex associated with cognitive impairment. At single-cell resolution, we confirmed that QA impaired neurons, altered the dendritic spine's intracellular signal, and reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. Using Caenorhabditis elegans models, QA induced dopaminergic and glutamatergic neuron lesions. Importantly, the gut microbiota metabolite butyrate was able to counteract those alterations, including cognitive impairment, neuronal spine loss, and BDNF reduction in both in vivo and in vitro studies. Finally, we show that butyrate prevented QA-induced BDNF reductions by epigenetic enhancement of H3K18ac at BDNF promoters. These findings suggest that increased QA is associated with cognitive decline in obesity and that butyrate alleviates neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xing Ge
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mingxuan Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Minmin Hu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoli Fang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Deqin Geng
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sha Liu
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Wang
- Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Li Guan
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Peng Zheng
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI) and School of Medical, Indigenous, and Health, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yuanyi Xie
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI) and School of Medical, Indigenous, and Health, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Wei Pan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Menglu Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Limian Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Renxian Tang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kuiyang Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yinghua Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xu-Feng Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Jiangsu International Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI) and School of Medical, Indigenous, and Health, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
da Silva TC, da Silveira TL, Dos Santos LV, Arantes LP, Martins RP, Soares FAA, Dalla Corte CL. Exogenous Adenosine Modulates Behaviors and Stress Response in Caenorhabditis elegans. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:117-130. [PMID: 36018438 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03727-5] [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: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Adenosine, a purine nucleoside with neuromodulatory actions, is part of the purinergic signaling system (PSS). Caenorhabditis elegans is a free-living nematode found in soil, used in biological research for its advantages as an alternative experimental model. Since there is a lack of evidence of adenosine's direct actions and the PSS's participation in this animal, such an investigation is necessary. In this research, we aimed to test the effects of acute and chronic adenosine at 1, 5, and 10 mM on nematode's behaviors, morphology, survival after stress conditions, and on pathways related to the response to oxidative stress (DAF-16/FOXO and SKN-1) and genes products downstream these pathways (SOD-3, HSP-16.2, and GCS-1). Acute or chronic adenosine did not alter the worms' morphology analyzed by the worms' length, width, and area, nor interfered with reproductive behavior. On the other hand, acute and chronic adenosine modulated the defecation rate, pharyngeal pumping rate, and locomotion, in addition, to interacting with stress response pathways in C. elegans. Adenosine interfered in the speed and mobility of the worms analyzed. In addition, both acute and chronic adenosine presented modulatory effects on oxidative stress response signaling. Acute adenosine prevented the heat-induced-increase of DAF-16 activation and SOD-3 levels, while chronic adenosine per se induced DAF-16 activation and prevented heat-induced-increase of HSP-16.2 and SKN-1 levels. Together, these results indicate that exogenous adenosine has physiological and biochemical effects on C. elegans and describes possible purinergic signaling in worms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thayanara Cruz da Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima nº 1000, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Tássia Limana da Silveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima nº 1000, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Luiza Venturini Dos Santos
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima nº 1000, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Leticia Priscila Arantes
- Instituto Latino-Americano de Ciências da Vida e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, 85866-000, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Pereira Martins
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima nº 1000, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Félix Alexandre Antunes Soares
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima nº 1000, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Lenz Dalla Corte
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima nº 1000, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
De Vlieger L, Vandenbroucke RE, Van Hoecke L. Recent insights into viral infections as a trigger and accelerator in alzheimer's disease. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:103340. [PMID: 35987492 PMCID: PMC9385395 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.103340] [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: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder for which only symptomatic medication is available, except for the recently FDA-approved aducanumab. This lack of effective treatment urges us to investigate alternative paths that might contribute to disease development. In light of the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the disturbing neurological complications seen in some patients, it is desirable to (re)investigate the viability of the viral infection theory claiming that a microbe could affect AD initiation and/or progression. Here, we review the most important evidence for this theory with a special focus on two viruses, namely HSV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, we discuss the possible involvement of extracellular vesicles (EVs). This overview will contribute to a more rational approach of potential treatment strategies for AD patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lize De Vlieger
- Barriers in Inflammation Lab, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Roosmarijn E Vandenbroucke
- Barriers in Inflammation Lab, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Lien Van Hoecke
- Barriers in Inflammation Lab, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Quinolinic Acid Induces Alterations in Neuronal Subcellular Compartments, Blocks Autophagy Flux and Activates Necroptosis and Apoptosis in Rat Striatum. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:6632-6651. [PMID: 35980566 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02986-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Quinolinic acid (QUIN) is an agonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) used to study the underlying mechanism of excitotoxicity in animal models. There is evidence indicating that impairment in autophagy at early times contributes to cellular damage in excitotoxicity; however, the status of autophagy in QUIN model on day 7 remains unexplored. In this study, the ultrastructural analysis of subcellular compartments and the status of autophagy, necroptosis, and apoptosis in the striatum of rats administered with QUIN (120 nmol and 240 nmol) was performed on day 7. QUIN induced circling behavior, neurodegeneration, and cellular damage; also, it promoted swollen mitochondrial crests, spherical-like morphology, and mitochondrial fragmentation; decreased ribosomal density in the rough endoplasmic reticulum; and altered the continuity of myelin sheaths in axons with separation of the compact lamellae. Furthermore, QUIN induced an increase and a decrease in ULK1 and p-70-S6K phosphorylation, respectively, suggesting autophagy activation; however, the increased microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3-II (LC3-II) and sequestosome-1/p62 (SQSTM1/p62), the coexistence of p62 and LC3 in the same structures, and the decrease in Beclin 1 and mature cathepsin D also indicates a blockage in autophagy flux. Additionally, QUIN administration increased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) levels and its phosphorylation (p-RIPK3), as well as decreased B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and increased Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) levels and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation, suggesting an activation of necroptosis and apoptosis, respectively. These results suggest that QUIN activates the autophagy, but on day 7, it is blocked and organelle and cellular damage, neurodegeneration, and behavior alterations could be caused by necroptosis and apoptosis activation.
Collapse
|
10
|
COVID-19, Oxidative Stress, and Neuroinflammation in the Depression Route. J Mol Neurosci 2022; 72:1166-1181. [PMID: 35322375 PMCID: PMC8942178 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-022-02004-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 is associated with oxidative stress, peripheral hyper inflammation, and neuroinflammation, especially in individuals with a more severe form of the disease. Some studies provide evidence on the onset or exacerbation of major depressive disorder (MDD), among other psychiatric disorders due to COVID-19. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are associated conditions, especially in the more severe form of MDD and in refractoriness to available therapeutic strategies. Inflammatory cytokines in the COVID-19 hyper inflammation process can activate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) enzyme. IDO activation can reduce tryptophan and increase toxic metabolites of the kynurenine pathway, which increases glial activation, neuroinflammation, toxicity, and neuronal death. This review surveyed a number of studies and analyzed the mechanisms of oxidative stress, inflammation, and neuroinflammation involved in COVID-19 and depression. Finally, the importance of more protocols that can help elucidate the interaction between these mechanisms underlying COVID-19 and MDD and the possible therapeutic strategies involved in the interaction of these mechanisms are highlighted.
Collapse
|
11
|
Limana da Silveira T, Lopes Machado M, Bicca Obetine Baptista F, Farina Gonçalves D, Duarte Hartmann D, Marafiga Cordeiro L, Franzen da Silva A, Lenz Dalla Corte C, Aschner M, Antunes Soares FA. Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for studies on quinolinic acid-induced NMDAR-dependent glutamatergic disorders. Brain Res Bull 2021; 175:90-98. [PMID: 34271120 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.07.007] [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: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Quinolinic acid (QUIN) is an agonist of the neurotransmitter glutamate (Glu) capable of binding to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) increasing glutamatergic signaling. QUIN is known for being an endogenous neurotoxin, able to induce neurodegeneration. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the mechanism by which QUIN induces behavioral and metabolic toxicity has not been fully elucidated. The effects of QUIN on behavioral and metabolic parameters in nmr-1 and nmr-2 NMDA receptors in transgenic and wild-type (WT) worms were performed to decipher the pathway by which QUIN exerts its toxicity. QUIN increased locomotion parameters such as wavelength and movement amplitude medium, as well as speed and displacement, without modifying the number of body bends in an NMDAR-dependent-manner. QUIN increased the response time to the chemical stimulant 1-octanol, which is modulated by glutamatergic neurotransmission in the ASH neuron. Brood size increased after exposure to QUIN, dependent upon nmr-2/NMDA-receptor, with no change in lifespan. Oxygen consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential, and the flow of coupled and unbound electrons to ATP production were reduced by QUIN in wild-type animals, but did not alter citrate synthase activity, altering the functionality but the mitochondrial viability. Notably, QUIN modified fine locomotor and chemosensory behavioral parameters, as well as metabolic parameters, analogous to previously reported effects in mammals. Our results indicate that QUIN can be used as a neurotoxin to elicit glutamatergic dysfunction in C. elegans in a way analogous to other animal models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tássia Limana da Silveira
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Marina Lopes Machado
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Fabiane Bicca Obetine Baptista
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Débora Farina Gonçalves
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Diane Duarte Hartmann
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Universidade Regional do Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul
| | - Larissa Marafiga Cordeiro
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Aline Franzen da Silva
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Lenz Dalla Corte
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Forchheimer 209, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Felix Alexandre Antunes Soares
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bhat A, Pires AS, Tan V, Babu Chidambaram S, Guillemin GJ. Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Tryptophan Metabolism. Int J Tryptophan Res 2020; 13:1178646920970902. [PMID: 33281456 PMCID: PMC7686593 DOI: 10.1177/1178646920970902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep has a regulatory role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and cellular functions. Inadequate sleep time and sleep disorders have become more prevalent in the modern lifestyle. Fragmentation of sleep pattern alters critical intracellular second messengers and neurotransmitters which have key functions in brain development and behavioral functions. Tryptophan metabolism has also been found to get altered in SD and it is linked to various neurodegenerative diseases. The kynurenine pathway is a major regulator of the immune response. Adequate sleep alleviates neuroinflammation and facilitates the cellular clearance of metabolic toxins produced within the brain, while sleep deprivation activates the enzymatic degradation of tryptophan via the kynurenine pathway, which results in an increased accumulation of neurotoxic metabolites. SD causes increased production and accumulation of kynurenic acid in various regions of the brain. Higher levels of kynurenic acid have been found to trigger apoptosis, leads to cognitive decline, and inhibit neurogenesis. This review aims to link the impact of sleep deprivation on tryptophan metabolism and associated complication in the brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abid Bhat
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, India.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ananda Staats Pires
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Vanessa Tan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Saravana Babu Chidambaram
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
| | - Gilles J Guillemin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Muneer A. Kynurenine Pathway of Tryptophan Metabolism in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Pathophysiologic and Therapeutic Considerations. CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE 2020; 18:507-526. [PMID: 33124585 PMCID: PMC7609208 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2020.18.4.507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Under physiological conditions 95% of the ingested essential amino acid tryptophan is metabolized by the kynurenine pathway (KP) to yield the ubiquitous co-enzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, fulfilling cellular energy require-ments. Importantly, the intermediaries of KP exert crucial effects throughout the body, including the central nervous system. Besides, KP metabolites are implicated in diverse disease processes such as inflammation/immune disorders, endocrine/metabolic conditions, cancers and neuropsychiatric diseases. A burgeoning body of research indicates that the KP plays a pathogenic role in major psychiatric diseases like mood disorders and schizophrenia. Triggered by inflammatory processes, the balance between neurotoxic and neuroprotective branches of the KP is disturbed. In preclinical models these discrepancies result in behaviors reminiscent of depression and psychosis. In clinical samples, recent studies are discovering key kynurenine pathway abnormalities which incriminate it in the pathogenesis of the main psychiatric disorders. Harnessing this knowledge has the potential to find disease biomarkers helpful in identifying and prognosticating neuropsychiatric disorders. Concurrently, earnest research efforts directed towards manipulating the KP hold the promise of discovering novel pharmacological agents that have therapeutic value. In this manuscript, an in-depth appraisal of the extant literature is done to understand the working of KP as this applies to neuropsychiatric disorders. It is concluded that this pathway plays an overarching role in the development of major psychiatric disorders, the KP metabolites have the potential to serve as disease markers and new medications based on KP modulation can bring lasting cures for patients suffering from these intractable conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ather Muneer
- Islamic International Medical College, Riphah International University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Moraes DP, Machado ML, Farias CAA, Barin JS, Zabot GL, Lozano-Sánchez J, Ferreira DF, Vizzotto M, Leyva-Jimenez FJ, Da Silveira TL, Ries EF, Barcia MT. Effect of Microwave Hydrodiffusion and Gravity on the Extraction of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Properties of Blackberries (Rubus spp.): Scale-Up Extraction. FOOD BIOPROCESS TECH 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11947-020-02557-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
15
|
Caldwell KA, Willicott CW, Caldwell GA. Modeling neurodegeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:13/10/dmm046110. [PMID: 33106318 PMCID: PMC7648605 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.046110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The global burden of neurodegenerative diseases underscores the urgent need for innovative strategies to define new drug targets and disease-modifying factors. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has served as the experimental subject for multiple transformative discoveries that have redefined our understanding of biology for ∼60 years. More recently, the considerable attributes of C. elegans have been applied to neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Transgenic nematodes with genes encoding normal and disease variants of proteins at the single- or multi-copy level under neuronal-specific promoters limits expression to select neuronal subtypes. The anatomical transparency of C. elegans affords the use of co-expressed fluorescent proteins to follow the progression of neurodegeneration as the animals age. Significantly, a completely defined connectome facilitates detailed understanding of the impact of neurodegeneration on organismal health and offers a unique capacity to accurately link cell death with behavioral dysfunction or phenotypic variation in vivo. Moreover, chemical treatments, as well as forward and reverse genetic screening, hasten the identification of modifiers that alter neurodegeneration. When combined, these chemical-genetic analyses establish critical threshold states to enhance or reduce cellular stress for dissecting associated pathways. Furthermore, C. elegans can rapidly reveal whether lifespan or healthspan factor into neurodegenerative processes. Here, we outline the methodologies employed to investigate neurodegeneration in C. elegans and highlight numerous studies that exemplify its utility as a pre-clinical intermediary to expedite and inform mammalian translational research. Summary: While unsurpassed as an experimental system for fundamental biology, Caenorhabditis elegans remains undervalued for its translational potential. Here, we highlight significant outcomes from, and resources available for, C. elegans-based research into neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kim A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA .,Departments of Neurobiology, Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, and Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Corey W Willicott
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Guy A Caldwell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA.,Departments of Neurobiology, Neurology, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, and Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Molecular Mechanisms of Glial Cells Related Signaling Pathways Involved in the Neuroinflammatory Response of Depression. Mediators Inflamm 2020; 2020:3497920. [PMID: 33100903 PMCID: PMC7569467 DOI: 10.1155/2020/3497920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of the glial cells, such as astrocytes and microglia, is one of the pathological features in many psychiatric disorders, including depression, which emphasizes that glial cells driving neuroinflammation is not only an important pathological change in depression but also a potential therapeutic target. In this review, we summarized a recent update about several signaling pathways in which glial cells may play their roles in depression through neuroinflammatory reactions. We focused on the basic knowledge of these signaling pathways by elaborating each of them. This review may provide an updated image about the recent advances on these signaling pathways that are essential parts of neuroinflammation involved in depression.
Collapse
|
17
|
da Silveira TL, Machado ML, Arantes LP, Zamberlan DC, Cordeiro LM, Obetine FBB, da Silva AF, Tassi CL, Soares FAA. Guanosine Prevents against Glutamatergic Excitotoxicity in C. elegans. Neuroscience 2019; 414:265-272. [PMID: 31306683 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Glutamatergic neurotransmission is present in most mammalian excitatory synapses and plays a key role in central nervous system homeostasis. When over-activated, it can induce excitotoxicity, which is present in several neuropathologies. The nucleoside guanosine (GUO) is a guanine-based purine known to have neuroprotective effects by modulating glutamatergic system during glutamate excitotoxicity in mammals. However, GUO action in Caenorhabditis elegans, as well as on C. elegans glutamatergic excitotoxicity model, is not known. The GUO effects on behavioral parameters in Wild Type (WT) and knockouts worms for glutamate transporters (GLT-3, GLT-1), glutamate vesicular transporter (EAT-4), and NMDA and non-NMDA receptors were used to evaluate the GUO modulatory effects. The GUO tested concentrations did not alter the animals' development, but GUO reduced pharyngeal pumps in WT animals in a dose-dependent manner. The same effect was observed in pharyngeal pumps, when the animals were treated with 4 mM of GUO in glr-1, nmr-1 and eat-4, but not in glt-3 and glt-3;glt-1 knockouts. The double mutant glt-3; glt-1 for GluTs had decreased body bends and an increased number of reversions. This effect was reverted after treatment with GUO. Furthermore, GUO did not alter the sensory response in worms with altered glutamatergic signaling. Thus, GUO seems to modulate the worm's glutamatergic system in situations of exacerbated glutamatergic signaling, which are represented by knockout strains to glutamate transporters. However, in WT animals, GUO appears to reinforce glutamatergic signaling in specific neurons. Our findings indicate that C. elegans strains are useful models to study new compounds that could be used in glutamate-associated neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tássia Limana da Silveira
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Marina Lopes Machado
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Leticia Priscilla Arantes
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Daniele Coradini Zamberlan
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Larissa Marafiga Cordeiro
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Fabiane Bicca Baptista Obetine
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Aline Franzen da Silva
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Cintia Letícia Tassi
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Felix Alexandre Antunes Soares
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Bioquímica Toxicológica, Camobi, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|