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Garcia-Baos A, Pastor A, Gallego-Landin I, de la Torre R, Sanz F, Valverde O. The role of PPAR-γ in memory deficits induced by prenatal and lactation alcohol exposure in mice. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3373-3383. [PMID: 37491462 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02191-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Patients diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) show persistent cognitive disabilities, including memory deficits. However, the neurobiological substrates underlying these deficits remain unclear. Here, we show that prenatal and lactation alcohol exposure (PLAE) in mice induces FASD-like memory impairments. This is accompanied by a reduction of N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) in the hippocampus specifically in a childhood-like period (at post-natal day (PD) 25). To determine their role in memory deficits, two pharmacological approaches were performed during this specific period of early life. Thus, memory performance was tested after the repeated administration (from PD25 to PD34) of: i) URB597, to increase NAEs, with GW9662, a PPAR-γ antagonist; ii) pioglitazone, a PPAR-γ agonist. We observed that URB597 suppresses PLAE-induced memory deficits through a PPAR-γ dependent mechanism, since its effects are prevented by GW9662. Direct PPAR-γ activation, using pioglitazone, also ameliorates memory impairments. Lastly, to further investigate the region and cellular specificity, we demonstrate that an early overexpression of PPAR-γ, by means of a viral vector, in hippocampal astrocytes mitigates memory deficits induced by PLAE. Together, our data reveal that disruptions of PPAR-γ signaling during neurodevelopment contribute to PLAE-induced memory dysfunction. In turn, PPAR-γ activation during a childhood-like period is a promising therapeutic approach for memory deficits in the context of early alcohol exposure. Thus, these findings contribute to the gaining insight into the mechanisms that might underlie memory impairments in FASD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Garcia-Baos
- Neurobiology of Behavior Research Group (GReNeC-NeuroBio), Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Neuroscience Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Pastor
- Neuroscience Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ines Gallego-Landin
- Neurobiology of Behavior Research Group (GReNeC-NeuroBio), Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael de la Torre
- Neurobiology of Behavior Research Group (GReNeC-NeuroBio), Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Neuroscience Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ferran Sanz
- Research Program on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), IMIM-Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olga Valverde
- Neurobiology of Behavior Research Group (GReNeC-NeuroBio), Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
- Neuroscience Research Program, IMIM-Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
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Senn L, Costa AM, Avallone R, Socała K, Wlaź P, Biagini G. Is the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma a putative target for epilepsy treatment? Current evidence and future perspectives. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 241:108316. [PMID: 36436690 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108316] [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: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), which belongs to the family of nuclear receptors, has been mainly studied as an important factor in metabolic disorders. However, in recent years the potential role of PPARγ in different neurological diseases has been increasingly investigated. Especially, in the search of therapeutic targets for patients with epilepsy the question of the involvement of PPARγ in seizure control has been raised. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder causing a major impact on the psychological, social, and economic conditions of patients and their families, besides the problems of the disease itself. Considering that the world prevalence of epilepsy ranges between 0.5% - 1.0%, this condition is the fourth for importance among the other neurological disorders, following migraine, stroke, and dementia. Among others, temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of epilepsy in adult patients. About 65% of individuals who receive antiseizure medications (ASMs) experience seizure independence. For those in whom seizures still recur, investigating PPARγ could lead to the development of novel ASMs. This review focuses on the most important findings from recent investigations about the potential intracellular PPARγ-dependent processes behind different compounds that exhibited anti-seizure effects. Additionally, recent clinical investigations are discussed along with the promising results found for PPARγ agonists and the ketogenic diet (KD) in various rodent models of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Senn
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; PhD School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (CEM), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Anna-Maria Costa
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Rossella Avallone
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Katarzyna Socała
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, PL 20-033 Lublin, Poland
| | - Piotr Wlaź
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, PL 20-033 Lublin, Poland
| | - Giuseppe Biagini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy.
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Staurenghi E, Leoni V, Lo Iacono M, Sottero B, Testa G, Giannelli S, Leonarduzzi G, Gamba P. ApoE3 vs. ApoE4 Astrocytes: A Detailed Analysis Provides New Insights into Differences in Cholesterol Homeostasis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:2168. [PMID: 36358540 PMCID: PMC9686673 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11112168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The strongest genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the presence of the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene, the major apolipoprotein involved in brain cholesterol homeostasis. Being astrocytes the main producers of cholesterol and ApoE in the brain, we investigated the impact of the ApoE genotype on astrocyte cholesterol homeostasis. Two mouse astrocytic cell lines expressing the human ApoE3 or ApoE4 isoform were employed. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis pointed out that the levels of total cholesterol, cholesterol precursors, and various oxysterols are altered in ApoE4 astrocytes. Moreover, the gene expression analysis of more than 40 lipid-related genes by qRT-PCR showed that certain genes are up-regulated (e.g., CYP27A1) and others down-regulated (e.g., PPARγ, LXRα) in ApoE4, compared to ApoE3 astrocytes. Beyond confirming the significant reduction in the levels of PPARγ, a key transcription factor involved in the maintenance of lipid homeostasis, Western blotting showed that both intracellular and secreted ApoE levels are altered in ApoE4 astrocytes, as well as the levels of receptors and transporters involved in lipid uptake/efflux (ABCA1, LDLR, LRP1, and ApoER2). Data showed that the ApoE genotype clearly affects astrocytic cholesterol homeostasis; however, further investigation is needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying these differences and the consequences on neighboring cells. Indeed, drug development aimed at restoring cholesterol homeostasis could be a potential strategy to counteract AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Staurenghi
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Valerio Leoni
- Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital Pius XI of Desio, ASST-Brianza, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Monza, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Monza, Italy
| | - Marco Lo Iacono
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Barbara Sottero
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Gabriella Testa
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Serena Giannelli
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Gabriella Leonarduzzi
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
| | - Paola Gamba
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, Italy
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Lee WJ, Lee HG, Hur J, Lee GH, Won JP, Kim E, Hwang JS, Seo HG. PPARδ Activation Mitigates 6-OHDA-Induced Neuronal Damage by Regulating Intracellular Iron Levels. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11050810. [PMID: 35624674 PMCID: PMC9137940 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11050810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular iron accumulation in dopaminergic neurons contributes to neuronal cell death in progressive neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. However, the mechanisms of iron homeostasis in this context remain incompletely understood. In the present study, we assessed the role of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) in cellular iron homeostasis. We identified that PPARδ inhibited 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-triggered neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. PPARδ activation with GW501516, a specific PPARδ agonist, mitigated 6-OHDA-induced neuronal damage. Further, PPARδ activation also suppressed iron accumulation, which contributes to 6-OHDA-induced neuronal damage. PPARδ activation attenuated 6-OHDA-induced neuronal damage in a similar manner to that of the iron chelator deferoxamine. We further elucidated that PPARδ modulated cellular iron homeostasis by regulating expression of divalent metal transporter 1, ferroportin 1, and ferritin, but not transferrin receptor 1, through iron regulatory protein 1 in 6-OHDA-treated cells. Interestingly, PPARδ activation suppressed 6-OHDA-triggered generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxides. The effects of GW501516 were abrogated by shRNA knockdown of PPARδ, indicating that the effects of GW501516 were PPARδ-dependent. Taken together, these findings suggest that PPARδ attenuates 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity by preventing intracellular iron accumulation, thereby suppressing iron overload-associated generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxides, key mediators of ferroptotic cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Han Geuk Seo
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-450-0428; Fax: +82-2-455-1044
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