1
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Plug BC, Revers IM, Breur M, González GM, Timmerman JA, Meijns NRC, Hamberg D, Wagendorp J, Nutma E, Wolf NI, Luchicchi A, Mansvelder HD, van Til NP, van der Knaap MS, Bugiani M. Human post-mortem organotypic brain slice cultures: a tool to study pathomechanisms and test therapies. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:83. [PMID: 38822428 PMCID: PMC11140981 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01784-1] [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: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Human brain experimental models recapitulating age- and disease-related characteristics are lacking. There is urgent need for human-specific tools that model the complex molecular and cellular interplay between different cell types to assess underlying disease mechanisms and test therapies. Here we present an adapted ex vivo organotypic slice culture method using human post-mortem brain tissue cultured at an air-liquid interface to also study brain white matter. We assessed whether these human post-mortem brain slices recapitulate the in vivo neuropathology and if they are suitable for pathophysiological, experimental and pre-clinical treatment development purposes, specifically regarding leukodystrophies. Human post-mortem brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid were obtained from control, psychiatric and leukodystrophy donors. Slices were cultured up to six weeks, in culture medium with or without human cerebrospinal fluid. Human post-mortem organotypic brain slice cultures remained viable for at least six weeks ex vivo and maintained tissue structure and diversity of (neural) cell types. Supplementation with cerebrospinal fluid could improve slice recovery. Patient-derived organotypic slice cultures recapitulated and maintained known in vivo neuropathology. The cultures also showed physiologic multicellular responses to lysolecithin-induced demyelination ex vivo, indicating their suitability to study intrinsic repair mechanisms upon injury. The slice cultures were applicable for various experimental studies, as multi-electrode neuronal recordings. Finally, the cultures showed successful cell-type dependent transduction with gene therapy vectors. These human post-mortem organotypic brain slice cultures represent an adapted ex vivo model suitable for multifaceted studies of brain disease mechanisms, boosting translation from human ex vivo to in vivo. This model also allows for assessing potential treatment options, including gene therapy applications. Human post-mortem brain slice cultures are thus a valuable tool in preclinical research to study the pathomechanisms of a wide variety of brain diseases in living human tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie C Plug
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ilma M Revers
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Breur
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gema Muñoz González
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, MS Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, VU University, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam, 1081 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap A Timmerman
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Niels R C Meijns
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, MS Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, VU University, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam, 1081 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Daniek Hamberg
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jikke Wagendorp
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Nutma
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole I Wolf
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Antonio Luchicchi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, MS Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, VU University, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1108, Amsterdam, 1081 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Huibert D Mansvelder
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Niek P van Til
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Marjo S van der Knaap
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Marianna Bugiani
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Cellular & Molecular Mechanisms, Meibergdreef 9, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1100 DD, The Netherlands.
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Bagnoli E, Trotier A, McMahon J, Quinlan LR, Biggs M, Pandit A, FitzGerald U. Prodromal Parkinson's disease and the catecholaldehyde hypothesis: Insight from olfactory bulb organotypic cultures. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23272. [PMID: 37997495 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301253r] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder with an increasing incidence, unknown etiology, and is currently incurable. Advances in understanding the pathological mechanisms at a molecular level have been slow, with little attention focused on the early prodromal phase of the disease. Consequently, the development of early-acting disease-modifying therapies has been hindered. The olfactory bulb (OB), the brain region responsible for initial processing of olfactory information, is particularly affected early in PD at both functional and molecular levels but there is little information on how the cells in this region are affected by disease. Organotypic and primary OB cultures were developed and characterized. These platforms were then used to assess the effects of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetylaldehyde (DOPAL), a metabolite of dopamine present in increased levels in post-mortem PD tissue and which is thought to contribute to PD pathogenesis. Our findings showed that DOPAL exposure can recapitulate many aspects of PD pathology. Oxidative stress, depolarization of mitochondrial membranes, and neurodegeneration were all induced by DOPAL addition, as were measured transcriptomic changes consistent with those reported in PD clinical studies. These olfactory models of prodromal disease lend credence to the catecholaldehyde hypothesis of PD and provide insight into the mechanisms by which the OB may be involved in disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Bagnoli
- CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Galway Neuroscience Centre, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Alexandre Trotier
- CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Galway Neuroscience Centre, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Jill McMahon
- CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Galway Neuroscience Centre, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Leo R Quinlan
- CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Physiology, School of Medicine, Galway, Ireland
| | - Manus Biggs
- CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Galway Neuroscience Centre, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Abhay Pandit
- CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Galway Neuroscience Centre, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Una FitzGerald
- CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Galway Neuroscience Centre, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
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3
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Werner L, Gliem M, Rychlik N, Pavic G, Reiche L, Kirchhoff F, Silva Oliveira Junior M, Gruchot J, Meuth SG, Küry P, Göttle P. A Novel Ex Vivo Model to Study Therapeutic Treatments for Myelin Repair following Ischemic Damage. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10972. [PMID: 37446147 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Stroke is a major reason for persistent disability due to insufficient treatment strategies beyond reperfusion, leading to oligodendrocyte death and axon demyelination, persistent inflammation and astrogliosis in peri-infarct areas. After injury, oligodendroglial precursor cells (OPCs) have been shown to compensate for myelin loss and prevent axonal loss through the replacement of lost oligodendrocytes, an inefficient process leaving axons chronically demyelinated. Phenotypic screening approaches in demyelinating paradigms revealed substances that promote myelin repair. We established an ex vivo adult organotypic coronal slice culture (OCSC) system to study repair after stroke in a resource-efficient way. Post-photothrombotic OCSCs can be manipulated for 8 d by exposure to pharmacologically active substances testing remyelination activity. OCSCs were isolated from a NG2-CreERT2-td-Tomato knock-in transgenic mouse line to analyze oligodendroglial fate/differentiation and kinetics. Parbendazole boosted differentiation of NG2+ cells and stabilized oligodendroglial fate reflected by altered expression of associated markers PDGFR-α, CC1, BCAS1 and Sox10 and GFAP. In vitro scratch assay and chemical ischemia confirmed the observed effects upon parbendazole treatment. Adult OCSCs represent a fast, reproducible, and quantifiable model to study OPC differentiation competence after stroke. Pharmacological stimulation by means of parbendazole promoted OPC differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Werner
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Gliem
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nicole Rychlik
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Goran Pavic
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Laura Reiche
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Molecular Physiology, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, 66424 Homburg, Germany
| | | | - Joel Gruchot
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sven G Meuth
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Patrick Küry
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Peter Göttle
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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4
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Garcia-Diaz C, Pöysti A, Mereu E, Clements MP, Brooks LJ, Galvez-Cancino F, Castillo SP, Tang W, Beattie G, Courtot L, Ruiz S, Roncaroli F, Yuan Y, Marguerat S, Quezada SA, Heyn H, Parrinello S. Glioblastoma cell fate is differentially regulated by the microenvironments of the tumor bulk and infiltrative margin. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112472. [PMID: 37149862 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) recurrence originates from invasive margin cells that escape surgical debulking, but to what extent these cells resemble their bulk counterparts remains unclear. Here, we generated three immunocompetent somatic GBM mouse models, driven by subtype-associated mutations, to compare matched bulk and margin cells. We find that, regardless of mutations, tumors converge on common sets of neural-like cellular states. However, bulk and margin have distinct biology. Injury-like programs associated with immune infiltration dominate in the bulk, leading to the generation of lowly proliferative injured neural progenitor-like cells (iNPCs). iNPCs account for a significant proportion of dormant GBM cells and are induced by interferon signaling within T cell niches. In contrast, developmental-like trajectories are favored within the immune-cold margin microenvironment resulting in differentiation toward invasive astrocyte-like cells. These findings suggest that the regional tumor microenvironment dominantly controls GBM cell fate and biological vulnerabilities identified in the bulk may not extend to the margin residuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Garcia-Diaz
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Anni Pöysti
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Elisabetta Mereu
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Melanie P Clements
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Lucy J Brooks
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Felipe Galvez-Cancino
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Simon P Castillo
- Division of Molecular Pathology & Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Wenhao Tang
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Gordon Beattie
- CRUK City of London Centre Single Cell Genomics Facility, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK; Genomics Translational Technology Platform, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lilas Courtot
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Sara Ruiz
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Federico Roncaroli
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Brain and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Yinyin Yuan
- Division of Molecular Pathology & Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Samuel Marguerat
- Genomics Translational Technology Platform, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sergio A Quezada
- Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Holger Heyn
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Simona Parrinello
- Samantha Dickson Brain Cancer Unit, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK.
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5
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Kemppainen S, Huber N, Willman RM, Zamora A, Mäkinen P, Martiskainen H, Takalo M, Haapasalo A, Sobrino T, González Gómez MA, Piñeiro Y, Rivas J, Himmelreich U, Hiltunen M. Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures from Adult Tauopathy Mice and Theragnostic Evaluation of Nanomaterial Phospho-TAU Antibody-Conjugates. Cells 2023; 12:1422. [PMID: 37408256 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Organotypic slice culture models surpass conventional in vitro methods in many aspects. They retain all tissue-resident cell types and tissue hierarchy. For studying multifactorial neurodegenerative diseases such as tauopathies, it is crucial to maintain cellular crosstalk in an accessible model system. Organotypic slice cultures from postnatal tissue are an established research tool, but adult tissue-originating systems are missing, yet necessary, as young tissue-originating systems cannot fully model adult or senescent brains. To establish an adult-originating slice culture system for tauopathy studies, we made hippocampal slice cultures from transgenic 5-month-old hTau.P301S mice. In addition to the comprehensive characterization, we set out to test a novel antibody for hyperphosphorylated TAU (pTAU, B6), with and without a nanomaterial conjugate. Adult hippocampal slices retained intact hippocampal layers, astrocytes, and functional microglia during culturing. The P301S-slice neurons expressed pTAU throughout the granular cell layer and secreted pTAU to the culture medium, whereas the wildtype slices did not. Additionally, cytotoxicity and inflammation-related determinants were increased in the P301S slices. Using fluorescence microscopy, we showed target engagement of the B6 antibody to pTAU-expressing neurons and a subtle but consistent decrease in intracellular pTAU with the B6 treatment. Collectively, this tauopathy slice culture model enables measuring the extracellular and intracellular effects of different mechanistic or therapeutic manipulations on TAU pathology in adult tissue without the hindrance of the blood-brain barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Kemppainen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Nadine Huber
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Roosa-Maria Willman
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Ana Zamora
- Molecular Imaging and Photonics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Petra Mäkinen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Henna Martiskainen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mari Takalo
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Annakaisa Haapasalo
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tomás Sobrino
- NeuroAging Group (NEURAL), Clinical Neurosciences Research Laboratory (LINC), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Manuel Antonio González Gómez
- Institute of Materials, Applied Physics Department, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Yolanda Piñeiro
- Institute of Materials, Applied Physics Department, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José Rivas
- Institute of Materials, Applied Physics Department, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Uwe Himmelreich
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mikko Hiltunen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
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A novel ex vivo assay to define charge-balanced electrical stimulation parameters for neural precursor cell activation in vivo. Brain Res 2023; 1804:148263. [PMID: 36702184 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148263] [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: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Endogenous neural stem cells and their progeny (together termed neural precursor cells (NPCs)) are promising candidates to facilitate neuroregeneration. Charge-balanced biphasic monopolar stimulation (BPMP) is a clinically relevant approach that can activate NPCs both in vitro and in vivo. Herein, we established a novel ex vivo stimulation system to optimize the efficacy of BPMP electric field (EF) application in activating endogenous NPCs. Using the ex vivo system, we discerned that cathodal amplitude of 200 μA resulted in the greatest NPC pool expansion and enhanced cathodal migration. Application of the same stimulation parameters in vivo resulted in the same NPC activation in the mouse brain. The design and implementation of the novel ex vivo model bridges the gap between in vitro and in vivo systems, enabling a moderate throughput stimulation system to explore and optimize EF parameters that can be applied to clinically relevant brain injury/disease models.
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Kim KJ, Hwang ES, Kim MJ, Rha CS, Song MC, Maeng S, Park JH, Kim DO. Effects of Phenolic-Rich Pinus densiflora Extract on Learning, Memory, and Hippocampal Long-Term Potentiation in Scopolamine-Induced Amnesic Rats. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11122497. [PMID: 36552705 PMCID: PMC9774118 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11122497] [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: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia with cognitive impairment. Various plant-derived phenolics are known to alleviate cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease by radical scavenging and strengthening synaptic plasticity activities. Here, we examined the cognition-improving effect of Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. bark extract (PBE). We identified and quantified phenolics in the PBE using a UHPLC-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. To evaluate the cognition-enhancing effects of PBE, scopolamine-induced amnesic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (5 weeks old) and ion channel antagonist-induced organotypic hippocampal slices of SD rats (7 days old) were used. Twenty-three phenolics were tentatively identified in PBE, 10 of which were quantified. Oral administration of PBE to the scopolamine-induced SD rats improved cognitive impairment in behavioral tests. PBE-fed SD rats showed significantly improved antioxidant indices (superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and malondialdehyde content) and reduced acetylcholinesterase activity in hippocampal lysate compared with the scopolamine group. PBE increased the long-term potentiation (LTP) induction and rescued LTP from blockades by the muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist (scopolamine) and N-methyl-D-aspartate channel antagonist (2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid) in the organotypic hippocampal slices. These results suggest that polyphenol-rich PBE is applicable as a cognition-improving agent due to its antioxidant properties and enhancement of LTP induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwan Joong Kim
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Sang Hwang
- Department of Gerontology (AgeTech-Service Convergence Major), Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Jeong Kim
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan-Su Rha
- AMOREPACIFIC R&I Center, Yongin 17074, Republic of Korea
| | - Myoung Chong Song
- Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungho Maeng
- Department of Gerontology (AgeTech-Service Convergence Major), Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Ho Park
- Department of Gerontology (AgeTech-Service Convergence Major), Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: (J.-H.P.); (D.-O.K.); Tel.: +82-31-201-2916 (J.-H.P.); Tel.: +82-31-201-3796 (D.-O.K.)
| | - Dae-Ok Kim
- Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin 17104, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: (J.-H.P.); (D.-O.K.); Tel.: +82-31-201-2916 (J.-H.P.); Tel.: +82-31-201-3796 (D.-O.K.)
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Korde DS, Humpel C. Spreading of P301S Aggregated Tau Investigated in Organotypic Mouse Brain Slice Cultures. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12091164. [PMID: 36139003 PMCID: PMC9496515 DOI: 10.3390/biom12091164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau pathology extends throughout the brain in a prion-like fashion through connected brain regions. However, the details of the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. The present study aims to examine the spreading of P301S aggregated tau, a mutation that is implicated in tauopathies, using organotypic slice cultures. Coronal hippocampal organotypic brain slices (170 µm) were prepared from postnatal (day 8–10) C57BL6 wild-type mice. Collagen hydrogels loaded with P301S aggregated tau were applied to slices and the spread of tau was assessed by immunohistochemistry after 8 weeks in culture. Collagen hydrogels prove to be an effective protein delivery system subject to natural degradation in 14 days and they release tau proteins up to 8 weeks. Slices with un- and hyperphosphorylated P301S aggregated tau demonstrate significant spreading to the ventral parts of the hippocampal slices compared to empty collagen hydrogels after 8 weeks. Moreover, the spread of P301S aggregated tau occurs in a time-dependent manner, which was interrupted when the neuroanatomical pathways are lesioned. We illustrate that the spreading of tau can be investigated in organotypic slice cultures using collagen hydrogels to achieve a localized application and slow release of tau proteins. P301S aggregated tau significantly spreads to the ventral areas of the slices, suggesting that the disease-relevant aggregated tau form possesses spreading potential. Thus, the results offer a novel experimental approach to investigate tau pathology.
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McKenna M, Filteau JR, Butler B, Sluis K, Chungyoun M, Schimek N, Nance E. Organotypic whole hemisphere brain slice models to study the effects of donor age and oxygen-glucose-deprivation on the extracellular properties of cortical and striatal tissue. J Biol Eng 2022; 16:14. [PMID: 35698088 PMCID: PMC9195469 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-022-00293-w] [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: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The brain extracellular environment is involved in many critical processes associated with neurodevelopment, neural function, and repair following injury. Organization of the extracellular matrix and properties of the extracellular space vary throughout development and across different brain regions, motivating the need for platforms that provide access to multiple brain regions at different stages of development. We demonstrate the utility of organotypic whole hemisphere brain slices as a platform to probe regional and developmental changes in the brain extracellular environment. We also leverage whole hemisphere brain slices to characterize the impact of cerebral ischemia on different regions of brain tissue. RESULTS Whole hemisphere brain slices taken from postnatal (P) day 10 and P17 rats retained viable, metabolically active cells through 14 days in vitro (DIV). Oxygen-glucose-deprivation (OGD), used to model a cerebral ischemic event in vivo, resulted in reduced slice metabolic activity and elevated cell death, regardless of slice age. Slices from P10 and P17 brains showed an oligodendrocyte and microglia-driven proliferative response after OGD exposure, higher than the proliferative response seen in DIV-matched normal control slices. Multiple particle tracking in oxygen-glucose-deprived brain slices revealed that oxygen-glucose-deprivation impacts the extracellular environment of brain tissue differently depending on brain age and brain region. In most instances, the extracellular space was most difficult to navigate immediately following insult, then gradually provided less hindrance to extracellular nanoparticle diffusion as time progressed. However, changes in diffusion were not universal across all brain regions and ages. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate whole hemisphere brain slices from P10 and P17 rats can be cultured up to two weeks in vitro. These brain slices provide a viable platform for studying both normal physiological processes and injury associated mechanisms with control over brain age and region. Ex vivo OGD impacted cortical and striatal brain tissue differently, aligning with preexisting data generated in in vivo models. These data motivate the need to account for both brain region and age when investigating mechanisms of injury and designing potential therapies for cerebral ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael McKenna
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, 105 Benson Hall, Box 351750, Seattle, WA, 98195-1750, USA
| | - Jeremy R Filteau
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, 105 Benson Hall, Box 351750, Seattle, WA, 98195-1750, USA
| | - Brendan Butler
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, 105 Benson Hall, Box 351750, Seattle, WA, 98195-1750, USA
| | - Kenneth Sluis
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, 105 Benson Hall, Box 351750, Seattle, WA, 98195-1750, USA
| | - Michael Chungyoun
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, 105 Benson Hall, Box 351750, Seattle, WA, 98195-1750, USA
| | - Nels Schimek
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Nance
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, 105 Benson Hall, Box 351750, Seattle, WA, 98195-1750, USA. .,e-Science Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. .,Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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10
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Huang L, Zhang Y, Zhao L, Chen Q, Li L. Ferrostatin-1 Polarizes Microglial Cells Toward M2 Phenotype to Alleviate Inflammation After Intracerebral Hemorrhage. Neurocrit Care 2022; 36:942-954. [PMID: 35099711 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-021-01401-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the most lethal stroke types and lacks effective therapeutic regimens. Recently, evidence has suggested the involvement of the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) in the pathophysiological process of ICH. In this study, we examined the underlying mechanism. METHODS We induced an in vitro apoptosis model in organotypic hippocampal slice (OHS) using hemoglobin (Hb) and an in vivo ICH model using collagenase. OHSs were treated with MK-801, Fer-1, glutamate, and Hb to assess the impacts of Fer-1 on neuron apoptosis, glutathione peroxidase-4 activity, reactive oxygen species production, inflammation-related factors, expression of M1 markers and M2 markers, and the phagocytic function of microglial cells in vitro. Then, ICH mice were treated with Fer-1 and ruxolitinib to evaluate the effects of Fer-1-orchestrating janus kinase 1/signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 pathway on neurological function, brain water content, hematoma volume, the anti-inflammatory factor, M1 and M2 markers, and the phagocytic function of microglial cells in vivo. RESULTS Hb or glutamate facilitated glutathione peroxidase dysfunction, reactive oxygen species production, and neuronal apoptosis in OHSs, which was nullified by Fer-1. Fer-1 polarized microglial cells to the M2 phenotype, enhanced their phagocytic function, and prevented inflammation in Hb-induced OHSs. In the ICH mouse model, Fer-1 was found to improve neurological function and promote hematoma absorption. In addition, Fer-1 activated the Fer-1-orchestrating janus kinase 1/signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 pathway, which accelerated microglial M2 polarization, enhanced the phagocytic function of microglial cells, and restrained inflammation in ICH mice. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our findings suggest that Fer-1 may be a novel mechanism underlying microglial M2 polarization and inflammation after ICH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Huang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar Cancer Hospital, No. 27, Taishun Street, Tiefeng District, Heilongjiang, 161000, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanjiao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar Cancer Hospital, No. 27, Taishun Street, Tiefeng District, Heilongjiang, 161000, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar Cancer Hospital, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingyou Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar Cancer Hospital, No. 27, Taishun Street, Tiefeng District, Heilongjiang, 161000, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar Cancer Hospital, No. 27, Taishun Street, Tiefeng District, Heilongjiang, 161000, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China.
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11
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Hupp S, Tomov NS, Bischoff C, Baronti D, Iliev AI. Easy to build cost-effective acute brain slice incubation system for parallel analysis of multiple treatment conditions. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 366:109405. [PMID: 34785269 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109405] [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: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute brain slices represent a powerful tool for analysis of brain function in physiology and pathology. Commercial systems and custom-build solutions with carbogen (95% O2/5% CO2) aeration, but they are expensive, have a high working volume requiring large amount of substances, and only limited options for treatment in parallel are possible. NEW METHOD We developed a novel cost-effective incubation system using materials available in every laboratory, allowing parallel incubation of several treatment conditions, thus also reducing the number of experimental animals. Our system incubation parameters were optimized for cortical neuron observation. RESULTS We tested several different options using 6, 12 or 24 standard culture well plates, combining them with cell strainer baskets inside. The system was placed in a pre-warmed incubator at 37 °C. Carbogen was injected through a 22 gauge needle, positioned between the basket and the wall of the well. Best results were achieved in a 6-well plate. In 12 and 24-well plates bubbles accumulated beneath the basket, displacing it upwards, making it unsuitable for our purposes. The gas oxygenized the medium without mechanically disturbing the slices, protected within the strainer basket, but still allowing optimal diffusion through the 100 µm pores. In a 6-well plate, six simultaneous treatments were possible in parallel. LDH/Cytotoxicity tests showed an acute toxicity of less than 7%. The system lost about 2.5% per hour of the fluid through evaporation, which was replenished every 2 h. Up to 6 h after treatment, however, this evaporation was excellently tolerated by the neurons even without fluid replenishment, most probably due to the anti-swelling effect of the mildly hypertonic medium. We performed two staining procedures, working excellently with this experimental setup, namely - a modified DiI staining and a slice silver impregnation method, both confirming the intact neuronal morphology. Preserved CA3 calcium influx and removal response following KCl depolarization confirmed the normal physiology of the pyramidal neurons 6 h after exposure in the system. COMPARISON TO EXISTING METHODS The proposed system is much cheaper than the commercial solutions, can be constructed in any lab, allows up to 6 different treatments in parallel, which none of the existing systems allows. Antibiotic presence in the incubation medium and adequate evaporation control is required if longer incubation (> 6 h) is needed. Lower incubation volumes (3-6 ml) allow sparing expensive reagents. Our procedure was optimized for cortical neurons, further fine tuning to meet other specific requirements is possible. CONCLUSIONS The system we propose allows filling the gap for budget solutions for short to mid-term incubation of acute brain slices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Hupp
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 2, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | | | - Carolin Bischoff
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, Versbacherstrasse 9, 97073 Würzburg, Germany.
| | - Dario Baronti
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 2, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Asparouh I Iliev
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 2, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
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12
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Hohmann U, Dehghani F, Hohmann T. Assessment of Neuronal Damage in Brain Slice Cultures Using Machine Learning Based on Spatial Features. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:740178. [PMID: 34690679 PMCID: PMC8531652 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.740178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal damage presents a major health issue necessitating extensive research to identify mechanisms of neuronal cell death and potential therapeutic targets. Commonly used models are slice cultures out of different brain regions extracted from mice or rats, excitotoxically, ischemic, or traumatically lesioned and subsequently treated with potential neuroprotective agents. Thereby cell death is regularly assessed by measuring the propidium iodide (PI) uptake or counting of PI-positive nuclei. The applied methods have a limited applicability, either in terms of objectivity and time consumption or regarding its applicability. Consequently, new tools for analysis are needed. Here, we present a framework to mimic manual counting using machine learning algorithms as tools for semantic segmentation of PI-positive dead cells in hippocampal slice cultures. Therefore, we trained a support vector machine (SVM) to classify images into either “high” or “low” neuronal damage and used naïve Bayes, discriminant analysis, random forest, and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) as classifiers for segmentation of dead cells. In our final models, pixel-wise accuracies of up to 0.97 were achieved using the MLP classifier. Furthermore, a SVM-based post-processing step was introduced to differentiate between false-positive and false-negative detections using morphological features. As only very few false-positive objects and thus training data remained when using the final model, this approach only mildly improved the results. A final object splitting step using Hough transformations was used to account for overlap, leading to a recall of up to 97.6% of the manually assigned PI-positive dead cells. Taken together, we present an analysis tool that can help to objectively and reproducibly analyze neuronal damage in brain-derived slice cultures, taking advantage of the morphology of pycnotic cells for segmentation, object splitting, and identification of false positives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Hohmann
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Faramarz Dehghani
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Tim Hohmann
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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13
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Michaelson SD, Müller TM, Bompolaki M, Miranda Tapia AP, Villarroel HS, Mackay JP, Balogun PJ, Urban JH, Colmers WF. Long-Lived Organotypic Slice Culture Model of the Rat Basolateral Amygdala. Curr Protoc 2021; 1:e267. [PMID: 34670009 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Organotypic slice cultures (OTCs) have been employed in the laboratory since the early 1980s and have proved to be useful for the study of a number of neural systems. Our recent work focuses on the development of behavioral stress resilience induced by repeated daily injections of neuropeptide Y into the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Resilience develops over weeks, persisting to 8 weeks. To unravel the cellular mechanisms underlying neuropeptide Y-induced stress resilience we developed in vitro OTCs of the BLA. Here, we provide an optimized protocol that consistently yields viable and healthy OTCs containing the BLA and surrounding tissue using the interface method, prepared with slices taken from postnatal (P) day 14 rats. We explain key points to optimizing tissue viability and discuss mitigation or avoidance of pitfalls that can arise to aid in successful implementation of this technique. We show that principal neurons in BLA OTCs (8 weeks in vitro = equivalent postnatal day 70) develop into networks that are electrophysiologically very similar to those from acute slices obtained from older rats (P70) and respond to pharmacological treatments in a comparable way. Furthermore, we highlight how these cultures be used to further understand the molecular, cellular, and circuit-level neuropathophysiological changes underlying stress disorders. BLA OTCs provide long-term physiological and pharmacological results whose predictions were borne out in vivo, supporting the validity of the BLA OTC as a model to unravel BLA neurocircuitry. Recent preliminary results also support the successful application of this approach to preparing long-lived OTCs of BLA and neocortex from mice. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Organotypic slice culture Support Protocol 1: Changing medium Support Protocol 2: Drug incubations Basic Protocol 2: Excision of OTC slices from inserts Support Protocol 3: Fixation of slices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheldon D Michaelson
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Taylor M Müller
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Maria Bompolaki
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Chicago Medical School/Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, North Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ana Pamela Miranda Tapia
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Heika Silveira Villarroel
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - James P Mackay
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Pauline J Balogun
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Janice H Urban
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Chicago Medical School/Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, North Chicago, Illinois
| | - William F Colmers
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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14
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Mayerl S, Ffrench-Constant C. Establishing an Adult Mouse Brain Hippocampal Organotypic Slice Culture System that Allows for Tracing and Pharmacological Manipulation of ex vivo Neurogenesis. Bio Protoc 2021; 11:e3869. [PMID: 33732759 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.3869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The function of the hippocampus depends on the process of adult hippocampal neurogenesis which underpins the exceptional neural plasticity of this structure, and is also frequently affected in CNS pathologies. Thus, manipulation of this process represents an important therapeutic goal. To identify potential strategies, organotypic adult brain slices are emerging as a valuable tool. Over the recent years, this methodology has been refined and here we present a combined protocol that brings together these refinements to enable long-term culture of adult hippocampal slices. We employ a sectioning technique that retains essential afferent inputs onto the hippocampus as well as serum-free culture conditions, so allowing an extended culture period. To sustain the neurogenic potential in the slices, we utilize the gliogenesis-inhibitor Indomethacin. Using EdU retention analysis enables us to assess the effects of pharmacological intervention on neurogenesis. With these improvements, we have established an easy and reliable method to study the effects of small molecules/drugs on proliferation and neuron formation ex vivo which will facilitate future discovery driven drug screenings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Mayerl
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,University Hospital Essen, Department of Endocrinology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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15
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Hodges NA, Barr RW, Murfee WL. The maintenance of adult peripheral adult nerve and microvascular networks in the rat mesentery culture model. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 346:108923. [PMID: 32888964 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurovascular patterning is an emerging area of microvascular research. While overlapping molecular signals highlight links between angiogenesis and neurogenesis, advancing our understanding is limited by a lack of in vitro models containing both systems. One potential model is the rat mesentery culture model, which our laboratory has recently introduced as an ex vivo tool to investigate cellular dynamics during angiogenesis in a microvascular network scenario. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the use of the rat mesentery culture model as an ex vivo platform for maintaining the spatiotemporal relationship between blood vessels and peripheral nerves during angiogenesis in adult microvascular networks. METHODS Adult male Wistar rat mesenteric tissue windows were harvested, rinsed in sterile DPBS and medium and then cultured per group: 1) MEM alone and 2) NBM with NGF and 20 % FBS (nerve culture medium). On day 3 post culture tissues were labeled for endothelial (PECAM) and neural (class III β-tubulin, NG2, tyrosine hydroxylase, CGRP) markers. RESULTS In MEM alone tissues nerve segment degeneration was supported by discontinuous nerve or absence of nerve marker labeling. Nerve presence at the arteriole level and capillary level was maintained for the nerve culture medium group compared to day 0, non-cultured control group (unstimulated). COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS AND CONCLUSIONS The results support the use of specific medium types to maintain nerve presence across cultured microvascular networks and implicates the rat mesentery culture model as a novel ex vivo tool for investigating neurovascular patterning in adult tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Hodges
- Tulane University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Orleans, LA, 70118, United States; University of Florida, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States
| | - Ryan W Barr
- Tulane University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Orleans, LA, 70118, United States
| | - Walter L Murfee
- Tulane University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, New Orleans, LA, 70118, United States; University of Florida, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States.
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16
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POSCAbilities: The Application of the Prion Organotypic Slice Culture Assay to Neurodegenerative Disease Research. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10071079. [PMID: 32698402 PMCID: PMC7407827 DOI: 10.3390/biom10071079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal, transmissible neurodegenerative disorders whose pathogenesis is driven by the misfolding, self-templating and cell-to-cell spread of the prion protein. Other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington’s disease, share some of these prion-like features, with different aggregation-prone proteins. Consequently, researchers have begun to apply prion-specific techniques, like the prion organotypic slice culture assay (POSCA), to these disorders. In this review we explore the ways in which the prion phenomenon has been used in organotypic cultures to study neurodegenerative diseases from the perspective of protein aggregation and spreading, strain propagation, the role of glia in pathogenesis, and efficacy of drug treatments. We also present an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of this culture system compared to in vivo and in vitro models and provide suggestions for new directions.
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17
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Mayerl S, Heuer H, Ffrench-Constant C. Hippocampal Neurogenesis Requires Cell-Autonomous Thyroid Hormone Signaling. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 14:845-860. [PMID: 32302557 PMCID: PMC7220957 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is strongly dependent on thyroid hormone (TH). Whether TH signaling regulates this process in a cell-autonomous or non-autonomous manner remains unknown. To answer this question, we used global and conditional knockouts of the TH transporter monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8), having first used FACS and immunohistochemistry to demonstrate that MCT8 is the only TH transporter expressed on neuroblasts and adult slice cultures to confirm a necessary role for MCT8 in neurogenesis. Both mice with a global deletion or an adult neural stem cell-specific deletion of MCT8 showed decreased expression of the cell-cycle inhibitor P27KIP1, reduced differentiation of neuroblasts, and impaired generation of new granule cell neurons, with global knockout mice also showing enhanced neuroblast proliferation. Together, our results reveal a cell-autonomous role for TH signaling in adult hippocampal neurogenesis alongside non-cell-autonomous effects on cell proliferation earlier in the lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Mayerl
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK.
| | - Heike Heuer
- University of Duisburg-Essen, University Hospital Essen, Department of Endocrinology, Essen, Germany
| | - Charles Ffrench-Constant
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
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18
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Michaelson SD, Miranda Tapia AP, McKinty A, Silveira Villarroel H, Mackay JP, Urban JH, Colmers WF. Contribution of NPY Y 5 Receptors to the Reversible Structural Remodeling of Basolateral Amygdala Dendrites in Male Rats Associated with NPY-Mediated Stress Resilience. J Neurosci 2020; 40:3231-3249. [PMID: 32144180 PMCID: PMC7159890 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2621-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Endogenous neuropeptide Y (NPY) and corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) modulate the responses of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) to stress and are associated with the development of stress resilience and vulnerability, respectively. We characterized persistent effects of repeated NPY and CRF treatment on the structure and function of BLA principal neurons in a novel organotypic slice culture (OTC) model of male rat BLA, and examined the contributions of specific NPY receptor subtypes to these neural and behavioral effects. In BLA principal neurons within the OTCs, repeated NPY treatment caused persistent attenuation of excitatory input and induced dendritic hypotrophy via Y5 receptor activation; conversely, CRF increased excitatory input and induced hypertrophy of BLA principal neurons. Repeated treatment of OTCs with NPY followed by an identical treatment with CRF, or vice versa, inhibited or reversed all structural changes in OTCs. These structural responses to NPY or CRF required calcineurin or CaMKII, respectively. Finally, repeated intra-BLA injections of NPY or a Y5 receptor agonist increased social interaction, a validated behavior for anxiety, and recapitulated structural changes in BLA neurons seen in OTCs, while a Y5 receptor antagonist prevented NPY's effects both on behavior and on structure. These results implicate the Y5 receptor in the long-term, anxiolytic-like effects of NPY in the BLA, consistent with an intrinsic role in stress buffering, and highlight a remarkable mechanism by which BLA neurons may adapt to different levels of stress. Moreover, BLA OTCs offer a robust model to study mechanisms associated with resilience and vulnerability to stress in BLA.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Within the basolateral amygdala (BLA), neuropeptide Y (NPY) is associated with buffering the neural stress response induced by corticotropin releasing factor, and promoting stress resilience. We used a novel organotypic slice culture model of BLA, complemented with in vivo studies, to examine the cellular mechanisms associated with the actions of NPY. In organotypic slice cultures, repeated NPY treatment reduces the complexity of the dendritic extent of anxiogenic BLA principal neurons, making them less excitable. NPY, via activation of Y5 receptors, additionally inhibits and reverses the increases in dendritic extent and excitability induced by the stress hormone, corticotropin releasing factor. This NPY-mediated neuroplasticity indicates that resilience or vulnerability to stress may thus involve neuropeptide-mediated dendritic remodeling in BLA principal neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheldon D Michaelson
- Department of Pharmacology, and the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada, and
| | - Ana Pamela Miranda Tapia
- Department of Pharmacology, and the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada, and
| | - Amanda McKinty
- Department of Pharmacology, and the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada, and
| | - Heika Silveira Villarroel
- Department of Pharmacology, and the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada, and
| | - James P Mackay
- Department of Pharmacology, and the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada, and
| | - Janice H Urban
- Center for the Neurobiology of Stress Resilience and Psychiatric Disorders, Discipline of Physiology and Biophysics, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois 60064
| | - William F Colmers
- Department of Pharmacology, and the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada, and
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19
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Humpel C. Organotypic Brain Slices of ADULT Transgenic Mice: A Tool to Study Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Alzheimer Res 2020; 16:172-181. [PMID: 30543174 DOI: 10.2174/1567205016666181212153138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Transgenic mice have been extensively used to study the Alzheimer pathology. In order to reduce, refine and replace (3Rs) the number of animals, ex vivo cultures are used and optimized. Organotypic brain slices are the most potent ex vivo slice culture models, keeping the 3-dimensional structure of the brain and being closest to the in vivo situation. Organotypic brain slice cultures have been used for many decades but were mainly prepared from postnatal (day 8-10) old rats or mice. More recent work (including our lab) now aims to culture organotypic brain slices from adult mice including transgenic mice. Especially in Alzheimer´s disease research, brain slices from adult transgenic mice will be useful to study beta-amyloid plaques, tau pathology and glial activation. This review will summarize the studies using organotypic brain slice cultures from adult mice to mimic Alzheimer's disease and will highlight advantages and also pitfalls using this technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Humpel
- Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental Alzheimer's Research, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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20
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Romero-Leguizamón CR, Elnagar MR, Kristiansen U, Kohlmeier KA. Increasing cellular lifespan with a flow system in organotypic culture of the Laterodorsal Tegmentum (LDT). Sci Rep 2019; 9:1486. [PMID: 30728375 PMCID: PMC6365664 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37606-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Organotypic brain culture is an experimental tool widely used in neuroscience studies. One major drawback of this technique is reduced neuronal survival across time, which is likely exacerbated by the loss of blood flow. We have designed a novel, tube flow system, which is easily incorporated into the commonly-used, standard semi-permeable membrane culture methodology which has significantly enhanced neuronal survival in a brain stem nucleus involved in control of motivated and arousal states: the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT). Our automated system provides nutrients and removes waste in a comparatively aseptic environment, while preserving temperature, and oxygen levels. Using immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology, our system was found superior to standard techniques in preserving tissue quality and survival of LDT cells for up to 2 weeks. In summary, we provide evidence for the first time that the LDT can be preserved in organotypic slice culture, and further, our technical improvements of adding a flow system, which likely enhanced perfusion to the slice, were associated with enhanced neuronal survival. Our perfusion system is expected to facilitate organotypic experiments focused on chronic stimulations and multielectrode recordings in the LDT, as well as enhance neuronal survival in slice cultures originating from other brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- César R Romero-Leguizamón
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Mohamed R Elnagar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Uffe Kristiansen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Kristi A Kohlmeier
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark.
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21
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Torres Á, Erices JI, Sanchez F, Ehrenfeld P, Turchi L, Virolle T, Uribe D, Niechi I, Spichiger C, Rocha JD, Ramirez M, Salazar-Onfray F, San Martín R, Quezada C. Extracellular adenosine promotes cell migration/invasion of Glioblastoma Stem-like Cells through A 3 Adenosine Receptor activation under hypoxia. Cancer Lett 2019; 446:112-122. [PMID: 30660649 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2018] [Revised: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the brain tumor with the worst prognosis composed of a cell subpopulation called Glioblastoma Stem-like Cells (GSCs) responsible for tumor recurrence mediated by cell invasion. GSCs persist in a hypoxic microenvironment which promotes extracellular adenosine production and activation of the A3 Adenosine Receptor (A3AR), therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the role of extracellular adenosine and A3AR on GSCs invasion under hypoxia. GSCs were obtained from a U87MG cell line and primary cultures of GBM patients, and then incubated under normoxia or hypoxia. Gene expression was evaluated by RNAseq, RT-qPCR, and western blot. Cell migration was measured by spreading and transwell boyden chamber assays; cell invasion was evaluated by Matrigel-coated transwell, ex vivo brain slice, and in vivo xenograft assays. The contribution of A3AR on cell migration/invasion was evaluated using the A3AR antagonist, MRS1220. Extracellular adenosine production was higher under hypoxia than normoxia, mainly by the catalytic action of the prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), promoting cell migration/invasion in a HIF-2-dependent process. A3AR blockade decreased cell migration/invasion and the expression of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition markers. In conclusion, high levels of extracellular adenosine production enhance cell migration/invasion of GSCs, through HIF-2/PAP-dependent activation of A3AR under hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángelo Torres
- Laboratorio de Patología Molecular, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Jose Ignacio Erices
- Laboratorio de Patología Molecular, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Fabiola Sanchez
- Instituto de Inmunología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Pamela Ehrenfeld
- Laboratorio de Patología Celular, Instituto de Anatomia, Histología y Patología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile; Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, F-06108, France
| | - Laurent Turchi
- Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, F-06108, France; CNRS, UMR7277, F-06108, France; Inserm, U1091, Nice, F-06108, France
| | - Thierry Virolle
- Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, F-06108, France; CNRS, UMR7277, F-06108, France; Inserm, U1091, Nice, F-06108, France
| | - Daniel Uribe
- Laboratorio de Patología Molecular, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Ignacio Niechi
- Laboratorio de Patología Molecular, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Carlos Spichiger
- Laboratorio de Patología Molecular, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - José Dellis Rocha
- Laboratorio de Patología Molecular, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Marcos Ramirez
- Servicio de Neurocirugía, Instituto de Neurocirugía Dr. Asenjo, Santiago, Chile; Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Instituto Oncológico Fundación Arturo Lopez Perez (FALP), Santiago, Chile
| | - Flavio Salazar-Onfray
- Instituto Milenio de Inmunología e Inmunoterapia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rody San Martín
- Laboratorio de Patología Molecular, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Claudia Quezada
- Laboratorio de Patología Molecular, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
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Huang MW, Lin YJ, Chang CW, Lei FJ, Ho EP, Liu RS, Shyu WC, Hsieh CH. RGS4 deficit in prefrontal cortex contributes to the behaviors related to schizophrenia via system x c--mediated glutamatergic dysfunction in mice. Am J Cancer Res 2018; 8:4781-4794. [PMID: 30279737 PMCID: PMC6160762 DOI: 10.7150/thno.25189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Although molecular investigations of regulator of G-protein signaling 4 (RGS4) alterations in schizophrenia patients yielded partially inconsistent findings, the previous studies suggested that RGS4 is both a positional and functional candidate gene for schizophrenia and is significantly decreased in the prefrontal cortex. However, the exact role of RGS4 in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia is unclear. Moreover, a whole genome transcription profile study showed the possibility of RGS4-regulated expression of SLC7A11(xCT), a component of cysteine/glutamate transporter or system xc-. We hypothesized that system xc- is a therapeutic target of RGS4 deficit-mediated schizophrenia. Methods: Pharmacological and genetic manipulation of RGS4 in organotypic brain slice cultures were used as an ex vivo model to investigate its role in system xc- and glutamatergic function. Lentiviral-based mouse models with RGS4 deficit in the prefrontal cortex and treatment with system xc- activator, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), were utilized to observe their impacts on glutamatergic function and schizophrenic behaviors. Results: Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of RGS4 resulted in a significant decrease in SLC7A11 (xCT) expression and hypofunction of system xc- and reduced glutamatergic function in organotypic brain slice cultures. However, NAC restored the dysregulation of RGS4-mediated functional deficits of glutamate. Moreover, knockdown of RGS4 specifically in the prefrontal cortex caused mice to exhibit behaviors related to schizophrenia such as increased stereotypy, impaired prepulse inhibition, deficits in social interactions, working memory, and nesting behavior, while enhancing sensitivity to the locomotor stimulatory effect of MK-801. These mice displayed glutamatergic dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex, which may have contributed to the behavioral deficits. RGS4 knockdown mice that received NAC treatment had improved glutamatergic dysfunction and schizophrenia behaviors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that RGS4 deficit induces dysregulation and dysfunction of system xc-, which further results in functional deficits of the glutamatergic system and subsequently to schizophrenia-related behavioral phenotypes. Activation of system xc- offers a promising strategy to treat RGS4 deficit-mediated schizophrenia.
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23
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Lossi L, Merighi A. The Use of ex Vivo Rodent Platforms in Neuroscience Translational Research With Attention to the 3Rs Philosophy. Front Vet Sci 2018; 5:164. [PMID: 30073174 PMCID: PMC6060265 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The principles of the 3Rs—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—are at the basis of most advanced national and supranational (EU) regulations on animal experimentation and welfare. In the perspective to reduce and refine the use of these animals in translational research, we here discuss the use of rodent acute and organotypically cultured central nervous system slices. We describe novel applications of these ex vivo platforms in medium-throughput screening of neuroactive molecules of potential pharmacological interest, with particular attention to more recent developments that permit to fully exploit the potential of direct genetic engineering of organotypic cultures using transfection techniques. We then describe the perspectives for expanding the use ex vivo platforms in neuroscience studies under the 3Rs philosophy using the following approaches: (1) Use of co-cultures of two brain regions physiologically connected to each other (source-target) to analyze axon regeneration and reconstruction of circuitries; (2) Microinjection or co-cultures of primary cells and/or cell lines releasing one or more neuroactive molecules to screen their physiological and/or pharmacological effects onto neuronal survival and slice circuitry. Microinjected or co-cultured cells are ideally made fluorescent after transfection with a plasmid construct encoding green or red fluorescent protein under the control of a general promoter such as hCMV; (3) Use of “sniffer” cells sensing the release of biologically active molecules from organotypic cultures by means of fluorescent probes. These cells can be prepared with activatable green fluorescent protein, a unique chromophore that remains in a “dark” state because its maturation is inhibited, and can be made fluorescent (de-quenched) if specific cellular enzymes, such as proteases or kinases, are activated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lossi
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Adalberto Merighi
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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24
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Abstract
This study was undertaken to establish a method for the culture of organotypic spinal cord slices. A long-term organotypic spinal cord slice culture was conducted from postnatal rats. Lumbar spinal cord was isolated, and meninges were removed from the spinal cord. The spinal cord was embedded in 4% agarose, and was sectioned by vibratome into slices. Then the slices were cultured on the surface of the membrane inserts, which were placed in six-well plates containing 1 ml of growth medium at 37°C in an incubator with 5% humidified carbon dioxide. The cultured organotypic spinal cord slices were examined by light microscopy and immunocytochemistry. The organotypic spinal cord slices were fully attached to the membrane inserts after 10 days in vitro. The general change in color and transparency from whitish to transparent gray appeared at the seventh and eighth day. Under the light microscope, the outgrowth of cells from the edge of the living slices arose from the second day of the culture, and arose to peak at the sixth and seventh day. The organotypic spinal cord slices were characterized as clear, semitransparent structures with bright and good refraction until the 14th day of culture. The viability of the slices was excellent as assessed by the trypan blue exclusion method at the 28th day, and they were positive for NeuN and GFAP. This culture technique, which does not require complex operation skills, might be a simple and efficient method for obtaining organotypic spinal cord slices in sufficient number, high viability, and contamination-free from postnatal rats.
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25
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Jang S, Kim EW, Zhang Y, Lee J, Cho SY, Ha J, Kim H, Kim E. Particulate matter increases beta-amyloid and activated glial cells in hippocampal tissues of transgenic Alzheimer's mouse: Involvement of PARP-1. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 500:333-338. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.04.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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26
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André EM, Daviaud N, Sindji L, Cayon J, Perrot R, Montero-Menei CN. A novel ex vivo Huntington's disease model for studying GABAergic neurons and cell grafts by laser microdissection. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193409. [PMID: 29505597 PMCID: PMC5837106 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Organotypic brain slice cultures have been recently used to study neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease (HD). They preserve brain three-dimensional architecture, synaptic connectivity and brain cells microenvironment. Here, we developed an innovative model of Huntington’s disease from coronal rat brain slices, that include all the areas involved in the pathology. HD-like neurodegeneration was obtained in only one week, in a single step, during organotypic slice preparation, without the use of neurotoxins. HD-like histopathology was analysed and after one week, a reduction of 40% of medium spiny neurons was observed. To analyse new therapeutic approaches in this innovative HD model, we developed a novel protocol of laser microdissection to isolate and analyse by RT-qPCR, grafted cells as well as surrounding tissue of fresh organotypic slices. We determined that laser microdissection could be performed on a 400μm organotypic slice after alcohol dehydration protocol, allowing the analysis of mRNA expression in the rat tissue as well as in grafted cells. In conclusion, we developed a new approach for modeling Huntington's disease ex vivo, and provided a useful innovative method for screening new potential therapies for neurodegenerative diseases especially when associated with laser microdissection.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. M. André
- CRCINA, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Université d’Angers, Angers, France
| | - N. Daviaud
- CRCINA, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Université d’Angers, Angers, France
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - L. Sindji
- CRCINA, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Université d’Angers, Angers, France
| | - J. Cayon
- PACEM, Angers University, Angers, France
| | - R. Perrot
- SCIAM, Angers University, Angers, France
| | - C. N. Montero-Menei
- CRCINA, INSERM, Université de Nantes, Université d’Angers, Angers, France
- * E-mail:
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27
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Jang S, Kim H, Kim HJ, Lee SK, Kim EW, Namkoong K, Kim E. Long-Term Culture of Organotypic Hippocampal Slice from Old 3xTg-AD Mouse: An ex vivo Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Psychiatry Investig 2018; 15:205-213. [PMID: 29475217 PMCID: PMC5900409 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2017.04.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 04/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Conventional methods for organotypic hippocampal tissue slice culture (OHSC) have shown several disadvantages or limitations regarding age of animals used, duration of culture and difficulty using neurodegenerative models. Therefore, we tried to establish OHSC from old 3xTg-Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice for longer period (over 4 weeks) and to validate utility of this system as a valid platform for translational neuroscience of AD. METHODS OHSC was performed with old 3xTg-AD mice (12-14 months), old wild type mice (12-14 months) and young 3xTg-AD mice (2-4 months) using serum-free medium for 4 weeks. Hippocampal structure was evaluated by 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) intensity and neuronal metabolism was measured by Alamarblue assay. Pathologic characteristics of AD were also investigated; β-amyloid levels by ELISA, amyloid plaque deposition by Thioflavin-S staining, and glial activation by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Following 4-week culture in serum-free media, hippocampal cells and layers were well preserved in cultured slices from old AD mice as was in those from young AD and old wild type mice. On the contrary, excessive regression of total visible cells was observed in conventional serum-containing medium regardless of genotype of mice. In parallel with this well preserved structure, major pathologic characteristics of AD were also well manifested in hippocampal slices from old AD mice. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that long-term OHSC from old 3xTg-AD mouse can serve as a promising ex vivo system for studies on pathophysiology of AD, especially with the minimum number of sacrifice of experimental animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sooah Jang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjeong Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Jin Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Kyoung Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Woo Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kee Namkoong
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eosu Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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28
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Welsch JC, Lionnet C, Terzian C, Horvat B, Gerlier D, Mathieu C. Organotypic Brain Cultures: A Framework for Studying CNS Infection by Neurotropic Viruses and Screening Antiviral Drugs. Bio Protoc 2017; 7:e2605. [PMID: 34595280 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.2605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 50% of emerging viruses endowed with pathogenicity in humans can infect the Central Nervous System (CNS) with induction of encephalitis and other neurologic diseases ( Taylor et al., 2001 ; Olival and Daszak, 2005). While neurological diseases are progressively documented, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in virus infection and dissemination within the CNS are still poorly understood (Swanson and McGavern, 2015; Ludlow et al., 2016 ). For example, measles virus (MeV) can infect neural cells, and cause a persistent brain infections leading to lethal encephalitis from several months to years after primary infection with no available treatment (Reuter and Schneider-Schaulies, 2010; Laksono et al., 2016 ). The Organotypic Brain Culture (OBC) is a suitable model for the virology field to better understand the CNS infections. Indeed, it allows not only studying the infection and the dissemination of neurotropic viruses within the CNS but it could also serve as screening model of innovative antiviral strategies or molecules, such as our recently published studies about fusion inhibitory peptides and the HSP90 chaperone activity inhibitor, 17-DMAG ( Welsch et al., 2013 ; Bloyet et al., 2016 ). Based on our previous work, we propose here an optimized method to prepare OBC of hippocampi and cerebellums which are suitable for small rodent models based virus studies, including mice, rats as well as hamsters at a post-natal stage, between P6 to P10. We notably took into account the stress of the slice procedure on the tissue and the subsequent cellular reactions, which is essential to fully characterize the model prior to any use in infectious conditions. With this knowledge, we propose a protocol highlighting the requirements, including potential trouble shootings of the slicing parameters, to consider the variations we observed according to the structure and animal studied. This framework should facilitate the use of OBC for better conclusive studies of neurotropic viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Charles Welsch
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Université de Lyon, LYON, France.,LabEx Ecofect, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Claire Lionnet
- Laboratoire Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, Université de Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, INRA, Lyon, France.,Lyon Bio-Image, Plateau Technique d'Imagerie/Microscopie (PLATIM), UMS3444/US8 BioSciences Gerland-Lyon Sud, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Christophe Terzian
- Retrovirus and Comparative Pathology, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Université de Lyon, Unité Mixte de Recherche 754, Unité Mixte de Service 3444, Lyon, France.,École Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Paris, France
| | - Branka Horvat
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Université de Lyon, LYON, France.,LabEx Ecofect, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Denis Gerlier
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Université de Lyon, LYON, France.,LabEx Ecofect, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Cyrille Mathieu
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm, U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS de Lyon, Université de Lyon, LYON, France.,LabEx Ecofect, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
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29
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Grabiec U, Hohmann T, Hammer N, Dehghani F. Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures As a Model to Study Neuroprotection and Invasiveness of Tumor Cells. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28872113 DOI: 10.3791/55359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHSC), the morphological and functional characteristics of both neurons and glial cells are well preserved. This model is suitable for addressing different research questions that involve studies on neuroprotection, electrophysiological experiments on neurons, neuronal networks or tumor invasion. The hippocampal architecture and neuronal activity in multisynaptic circuits are well conserved in OHSC, even though the slicing procedure itself initially lesions and leads to formation of a glial scar. The scar formation alters presumably the mechanical properties and diffusive behavior of small molecules, etc. Slices allow the monitoring of time dependent processes after brain injury without animal surgery, and studies on interactions between various brain-derived cell types, namely astrocytes, microglia and neurons under both physiological and pathological conditions. An ambivalent aspect of this model is the absence of blood flow and immune blood cells. During the progression of the neuronal injury, migrating immune cells from the blood play an important role. As those cells are missing in slices, the intrinsic processes in the culture may be observed without external interference. Moreover, in OHSC the composition of the medium-external environment is precisely controlled. A further advantage of this method is the lower number of sacrificed animals compared to standard preparations. Several OHSC can be obtained from one animal making simultaneous studies with multiple treatments in one animal possible. For these reasons, OHSC are well suited to analyze the effects of new protective therapeutics after tissue damage or during tumor invasion. The protocol presented here describes a preparation method of OHSC that allows generating highly reproducible, well preserved slices that can be used for a variety of experimental research, like neuroprotection or tumor invasion studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Grabiec
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg;
| | - Tim Hohmann
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
| | | | - Faramarz Dehghani
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
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30
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Tan GA, Furber KL, Thangaraj MP, Sobchishin L, Doucette JR, Nazarali AJ. Organotypic Cultures from the Adult CNS: A Novel Model to Study Demyelination and Remyelination Ex Vivo. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2017; 38:317-328. [DOI: 10.1007/s10571-017-0529-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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31
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Schaefer N, Rotermund C, Blumrich EM, Lourenco MV, Joshi P, Hegemann RU, Jamwal S, Ali N, García Romero EM, Sharma S, Ghosh S, Sinha JK, Loke H, Jain V, Lepeta K, Salamian A, Sharma M, Golpich M, Nawrotek K, Paidi RK, Shahidzadeh SM, Piermartiri T, Amini E, Pastor V, Wilson Y, Adeniyi PA, Datusalia AK, Vafadari B, Saini V, Suárez-Pozos E, Kushwah N, Fontanet P, Turner AJ. The malleable brain: plasticity of neural circuits and behavior - a review from students to students. J Neurochem 2017. [PMID: 28632905 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
One of the most intriguing features of the brain is its ability to be malleable, allowing it to adapt continually to changes in the environment. Specific neuronal activity patterns drive long-lasting increases or decreases in the strength of synaptic connections, referred to as long-term potentiation and long-term depression, respectively. Such phenomena have been described in a variety of model organisms, which are used to study molecular, structural, and functional aspects of synaptic plasticity. This review originated from the first International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) and Journal of Neurochemistry (JNC) Flagship School held in Alpbach, Austria (Sep 2016), and will use its curriculum and discussions as a framework to review some of the current knowledge in the field of synaptic plasticity. First, we describe the role of plasticity during development and the persistent changes of neural circuitry occurring when sensory input is altered during critical developmental stages. We then outline the signaling cascades resulting in the synthesis of new plasticity-related proteins, which ultimately enable sustained changes in synaptic strength. Going beyond the traditional understanding of synaptic plasticity conceptualized by long-term potentiation and long-term depression, we discuss system-wide modifications and recently unveiled homeostatic mechanisms, such as synaptic scaling. Finally, we describe the neural circuits and synaptic plasticity mechanisms driving associative memory and motor learning. Evidence summarized in this review provides a current view of synaptic plasticity in its various forms, offers new insights into the underlying mechanisms and behavioral relevance, and provides directions for future research in the field of synaptic plasticity. Read the Editorial Highlight for this article on page 788. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.13815.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Schaefer
- Institute for Clinical Neurobiology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Carola Rotermund
- German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Blumrich
- Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, Faculty 2 (Biology/Chemistry), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.,Centre for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Mychael V Lourenco
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pooja Joshi
- Inserm UMR 1141, Robert Debre Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Regina U Hegemann
- Department of Psychology, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sumit Jamwal
- Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Nilufar Ali
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Sorabh Sharma
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan, India
| | - Shampa Ghosh
- National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Tarnaka, Hyderabad, India
| | - Jitendra K Sinha
- National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Tarnaka, Hyderabad, India
| | - Hannah Loke
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vishal Jain
- Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi, India
| | - Katarzyna Lepeta
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ahmad Salamian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mahima Sharma
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mojtaba Golpich
- Department of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (HUKM), Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Katarzyna Nawrotek
- Department of Process Thermodynamics, Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland
| | - Ramesh K Paidi
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Sheila M Shahidzadeh
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Tetsade Piermartiri
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Elham Amini
- Department of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (HUKM), Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Veronica Pastor
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. Eduardo De Robertis, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yvette Wilson
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Philip A Adeniyi
- Cell Biology and Neurotoxicity Unit, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado - Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | | | - Benham Vafadari
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Vedangana Saini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Edna Suárez-Pozos
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Toxicología, México
| | - Neetu Kushwah
- Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi, India
| | - Paula Fontanet
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Institute of Cellular Biology and Neuroscience (IBCN), CONICET-UBA, School of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Anthony J Turner
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Doussau F, Dupont JL, Neel D, Schneider A, Poulain B, Bossu JL. Organotypic cultures of cerebellar slices as a model to investigate demyelinating disorders. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2017; 12:1011-1022. [PMID: 28712329 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2017.1356285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Demyelinating disorders, characterized by a chronic or episodic destruction of the myelin sheath, are a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults in western countries. Studying the complex mechanisms involved in axon myelination, demyelination and remyelination requires an experimental model preserving the neuronal networks and neuro-glial interactions. Organotypic cerebellar slice cultures appear to be the best alternative to in vivo experiments and the most commonly used model for investigating etiology or novel therapeutic strategies in multiple sclerosis. Areas covered: This review gives an overview of slice culture techniques and focuses on the use of organotypic cerebellar slice cultures on semi-permeable membranes for studying many aspects of axon myelination and cerebellar functions. Expert opinion: Cerebellar slice cultures are probably the easiest way to faithfully reproduce all stages of axon myelination/demyelination/remyelination in a three-dimensional neuronal network. However, in the cerebellum, neurological disability in multiple sclerosis also results from channelopathies which induce changes in Purkinje cell excitability. Cerebellar cultures offer easy access to electrophysiological approaches which are largely untapped and we believe that these cultures might be of great interest when studying changes in neuronal excitability, axonal conduction or synaptic properties that likely occur during multiple sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Doussau
- a Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Jean-Luc Dupont
- a Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Dorine Neel
- a Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Aline Schneider
- a Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Bernard Poulain
- a Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Jean Louis Bossu
- a Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212 , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
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Rybachuk O, Kopach O, Krotov V, Voitenko N, Pivneva T. Optimized Model of Cerebral Ischemia In situ for the Long-Lasting Assessment of Hippocampal Cell Death. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:388. [PMID: 28729821 PMCID: PMC5498507 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Among all the brain, the hippocampus is the most susceptible region to ischemic lesion, with the highest vulnerability of CA1 pyramidal neurons to ischemic damage. This damage may cause either prompt neuronal death (within hours) or with a delayed appearance (over days), providing a window for applying potential therapies to reduce or prevent ischemic impairments. However, the time course when ischemic damage turns to neuronal death strictly depends on experimental modeling of cerebral ischemia and, up to now, studies were predominantly focused on a short time-window—from hours to up to a few days post-lesion. Using different schemes of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), the conditions taking place upon cerebral ischemia, we optimized a model of mimicking ischemic conditions in organotypical hippocampal slices for the long-lasting assessment of CA1 neuronal death (at least 3 weeks). By combining morphology and electrophysiology, we show that prolonged (30-min duration) OGD results in a massive neuronal death and overwhelmed astrogliosis within a week post-OGD whereas OGD of a shorter duration (10-min) triggered programmed CA1 neuronal death with a significant delay—within 2 weeks—accompanied with drastically impaired CA1 neuron functions. Our results provide a rationale toward optimized modeling of cerebral ischemia for reliable examination of potential treatments for brain neuroprotection, neuro-regeneration, or testing neuroprotective compounds in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oksana Rybachuk
- Department of Sensory Signaling, Bogomoletz Institute of PhysiologyKyiv, Ukraine
| | - Olga Kopach
- Department of Sensory Signaling, Bogomoletz Institute of PhysiologyKyiv, Ukraine
| | - Volodymyr Krotov
- Department of Sensory Signaling, Bogomoletz Institute of PhysiologyKyiv, Ukraine
| | - Nana Voitenko
- Department of Sensory Signaling, Bogomoletz Institute of PhysiologyKyiv, Ukraine
| | - Tatyana Pivneva
- Department of Sensory Signaling, Bogomoletz Institute of PhysiologyKyiv, Ukraine
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Kallendrusch S, Merz F, Bechmann I, Mayr SG, Zink M. Long-Term Tissue Culture of Adult Brain and Spleen Slices on Nanostructured Scaffolds. Adv Healthc Mater 2017; 6. [PMID: 28218503 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201601336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2016] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Long-term tissue culture of adult mammalian organs is a highly promising approach to bridge the gap between single cell cultures and animal experiments, and bears the potential to reduce in vivo studies. Novel biomimetic materials open up new possibilities to maintain the complex tissue structure in vitro; however, survival times of adult tissues ex vivo are still limited to a few days with established state-of-the-art techniques. Here, it is demonstrated that TiO2 nanotube scaffolds with specific tissue-tailored characteristics can serve as superior substrates for long-term adult brain and spleen tissue culture. High viability of the explants for at least two weeks is achieved and compared to tissues cultured on standard polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes. Histological and immunohistochemical staining and live imaging are used to investigate tissue condition after 5 and 14 d in vitro, while environmental scanning electron microscopy qualifies the interaction with the underlying scaffold. In contrast to tissues cultured on PTFE membranes, enhanced tissue morphology is detected in spleen slices, as well as minor cell death in neuronal tissue, both cultured on nanotube scaffolds. This novel biomimetic tissue model will prove to be useful to address fundamental biological and medical questions from tissue regeneration up to tumor progression and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Kallendrusch
- Institute of Anatomy; University of Leipzig; Oststr. 25 04317 Leipzig Germany
| | - Felicitas Merz
- Institute of Anatomy; University of Leipzig; Oststr. 25 04317 Leipzig Germany
| | - Ingo Bechmann
- Institute of Anatomy; University of Leipzig; Oststr. 25 04317 Leipzig Germany
| | - Stefan G. Mayr
- Leibniz Institute for Surface Modification (IOM) e.V.; Permoser Str. 15 04318 Leipzig Germany
- Division of Surface Physics; Department of Physics and Earth Sciences; University of Leipzig; 04103 Leipzig Germany
| | - Mareike Zink
- Soft Matter Physics Division; Institute for Experimental Physics 1; University of Leipzig; Linnéstr. 5 04103 Leipzig Germany
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Abstract
Organotypic slicing of brain tissue from young rodents has been used as a powerful model system for biomedical research [1], [2], [3]. Organotypic slicing complements cell culture and in vivo studies in multiple facets. This system can be useful for investigating manipulation of cellular signaling pathways without the hindrance of the blood-brain barrier while sacrificing fewer animals in the process. It also allows for preserved cellular connectivity and local intact circuitry which is a drawback of isolated cell cultures. Studies on age-related diseases have mainly used embryonic or early postnatal organotypic slice tissue. Excluding synaptic plasticity studies that are usually carried-out over a few hours and use adult mice or rats, a handful of studies performed on adult animals have had success for survival of slices [4], [5]. Here we describe a method for culturing organotypic slices with high viability from hippocampus of aged mice and rabbits. Our method permits slices from mice as old as 16 months and rabbits as old as years of age to survive ex vivo up to 8 weeks [6], [7], [8], [9]. Such a slice system may be relevant to investigating age-related brain diseases.
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36
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Kim E, Park M, Jeong J, Kim H, Lee SK, Lee E, Oh BH, Namkoong K. Cholinesterase Inhibitor Donepezil Increases Mitochondrial Biogenesis through AMP-Activated Protein Kinase in the Hippocampus. Neuropsychobiology 2016; 73:81-91. [PMID: 27002982 DOI: 10.1159/000441522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Donepezil, a widely prescribed drug for Alzheimer's disease (AD), is now considered to have multimodal actions beyond cholinesterase inhibition. We aimed to see whether donepezil enhances mitochondrial biogenesis and relevant signaling pathways since mitochondrial dysfunction is a key feature of the hypometabolic AD brain. METHODS As a metabolic gauge, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was investigated as a tentative mediator of neurometabolic action of donepezil. Changes in phospho-AMPK levels, mitochondrial biogenesis, and ATP levels were measured upon donepezil treatment using neuroblastoma cells, primary cultured neurons and ex vivo hippocampal tissue of adult mice. RESULTS Donepezil dose-dependently increased mitochondrial biogenesis and ATP levels as well as expression of PGC-1α and NRF-1 in neuroblastoma cells. Donepezil dose-dependently activated AMPK; however, inhibition of AMPK abolished the observed effects of donepezil, indicating that AMPK is a key mediator of donepezil's action. Notably, mitochondrial biogenesis upon donepezil treatment was mainly observed within dendritic regions of primary cultured hippocampal neurons. Levels of synaptic markers were also increased by donepezil. Finally, AMPK- dependent mitochondrial biogenesis by donepezil was confirmed in organotypic hippocampal tissue. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that AMPK/PGC-1α signaling is involved in beneficial actions of donepezil on neurometabolism. Pharmacological activation of AMPK might be a promising approach to counteract AD pathogenesis associated with brain hypometabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eosu Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Laboratory for Alzheimers Molecular Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Su X, Fang D, Liu Y, Ramamoorthi M, Zeitouni A, Chen W, Tran SD. Three-dimensional organotypic culture of human salivary glands: the slice culture model. Oral Dis 2016; 22:639-48. [PMID: 27214128 DOI: 10.1111/odi.12508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A challenge in studying human salivary glands is to maintain the cells ex vivo in their three-dimensional (3D) morphology with an intact native extracellular matrix (ECM) environment. This paper established a human salivary 3D organotypic slice culture model that could maintain its physiological functions as well as allowing a direct visualization of the cells. METHODS Human salivary biopsies from six patients were embedded in agarose and submerged in cold buffer for thin (50 μm) sectioning using a vibratome. 'Salivary slices' were mechanically supported by a porous membrane insert that allowed an air-liquid interface and cultured in serum-free culture media. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, physiological functions, and gene expression were assessed during 14 days of culture. RESULTS Human salivary slices maintained cell survival (70-40%) and proliferation (6-17%) for 14 days ex vivo. The protein secretory (amylase) function decreased, but fluid (intracellular calcium mobilization) function was maintained. Acinar, ductal, and myoepithelial cell populations survived and maintained their 3D organization within the slice culture model. CONCLUSION The human salivary slice culture model kept cells alive ex vivo for 14 days as well as maintaining their 3D morphology and physiological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Su
- Craniofacial Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,College of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - D Fang
- Craniofacial Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Y Liu
- Craniofacial Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - M Ramamoorthi
- Craniofacial Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - A Zeitouni
- Department of Otolaryngology, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - W Chen
- College of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
| | - S D Tran
- Craniofacial Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Sen A, Hongpaisan J, Wang D, Nelson TJ, Alkon DL. Protein Kinase Cϵ (PKCϵ) Promotes Synaptogenesis through Membrane Accumulation of the Postsynaptic Density Protein PSD-95. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:16462-76. [PMID: 27330081 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.730440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein kinase Cϵ (PKCϵ) promotes synaptic maturation and synaptogenesis via activation of synaptic growth factors such as BDNF, NGF, and IGF. However, many of the detailed mechanisms by which PKCϵ induces synaptogenesis are not fully understood. Accumulation of PSD-95 to the postsynaptic density (PSD) is known to lead to synaptic maturation and strengthening of excitatory synapses. Here we investigated the relationship between PKCϵ and PSD-95. We show that the PKCϵ activators dicyclopropanated linoleic acid methyl ester and bryostatin 1 induce phosphorylation of PSD-95 at the serine 295 residue, increase the levels of PSD-95, and enhance its membrane localization. Elimination of the serine 295 residue in PSD-95 abolished PKCϵ-induced membrane accumulation. Knockdown of either PKCϵ or JNK1 prevented PKCϵ activator-mediated membrane accumulation of PSD-95. PKCϵ directly phosphorylated PSD-95 and JNK1 in vitro Inhibiting PKCϵ, JNK, or calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II activity prevented the effects of PKCϵ activators on PSD-95 phosphorylation. Increase in membrane accumulation of PKCϵ and phosphorylated PSD-95 (p-PSD-95(S295)) coincided with an increased number of synapses and increased amplitudes of excitatory post-synaptic potentials (EPSPs) in adult rat hippocampal slices. Knockdown of PKCϵ also reduced the synthesis of PSD-95 and the presynaptic protein synaptophysin by 30 and 44%, respectively. Prolonged activation of PKCϵ increased synapse number by 2-fold, increased presynaptic vesicle density, and greatly increased PSD-95 clustering. These results indicate that PKCϵ promotes synaptogenesis by activating PSD-95 phosphorylation directly through JNK1 and calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II and also by inducing expression of PSD-95 and synaptophysin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhik Sen
- From the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
| | - Jarin Hongpaisan
- From the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
| | - Desheng Wang
- From the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
| | - Thomas J Nelson
- From the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
| | - Daniel L Alkon
- From the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
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Organotypic Cultures as a Model to Study Adult Neurogenesis in CNS Disorders. Stem Cells Int 2016; 2016:3540568. [PMID: 27127518 PMCID: PMC4835641 DOI: 10.1155/2016/3540568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural regeneration resides in certain specific regions of adult CNS. Adult neurogenesis occurs throughout life, especially from the subgranular zone of hippocampus and the subventricular zone, and can be modulated in physiological and pathological conditions. Numerous techniques and animal models have been developed to demonstrate and observe neural regeneration but, in order to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms and to characterize multiple types of cell populations involved in the activation of neurogenesis and gliogenesis, investigators have to turn to in vitro models. Organotypic cultures best recapitulate the 3D organization of the CNS and can be explored taking advantage of many techniques. Here, we review the use of organotypic cultures as a reliable and well defined method to study the mechanisms of neurogenesis under normal and pathological conditions. As an example, we will focus on the possibilities these cultures offer to study the pathophysiology of diseases like Alzheimer disease, Parkinson's disease, and cerebral ischemia.
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Vargas-Caballero M, Willaime-Morawek S, Gomez-Nicola D, Perry VH, Bulters D, Mudher A. The use of human neurons for novel drug discovery in dementia research. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2016; 11:355-67. [PMID: 26878555 DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2016.1154528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although many disease models exist for neurodegenerative disease, the translation of basic research findings to clinic is very limited. Studies using freshly resected human brain tissue, commonly discarded from neurosurgical procedures, should complement on-going work using stem cell-derived human neurons and glia thus increasing the likelihood of success in clinical trials. AREAS COVERED Herein, the authors discuss key issues in the lack of translation from basic research to clinic. They also review the evidence that human neurons, both freshly resected brain tissue and stem cell-derived neurons, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), can be used for analysis of physiological and molecular mechanisms in health and disease. Furthermore, the authors compare and contrast studies using live human brain tissue and studies using induced human stem cell-derived neuron models. Using an example from the area of neurodegeneration, the authors suggest that replicating elements of research findings from animals and stem cell models in resected human brain tissue would strengthen our understanding of disease mechanisms and the therapeutic strategies and aid translation. EXPERT OPINION The use of human brain tissue alongside iPSC-derived neural models can validate molecular mechanisms identified in rodent disease models and strengthen their relevance to humans. If drug target engagement and mechanism of cellular action can be validated in human brain tissue, this will increase the success rate in clinical research. The combined use of resected human brain tissue, alongside iPSC-derived neural models, could be considered a standard step in pre-clinical research and help to bridge the gap to clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Vargas-Caballero
- a Centre for Biological Sciences , University of Southampton , Southampton , UK.,b Institute for Life Sciences , University of Southampton , Southampton , UK
| | - Sandrine Willaime-Morawek
- c Clinical Neurosciences and Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Centre for Human Development, Stem Cells and Regeneration , University of Southampton , Southampton , UK
| | - Diego Gomez-Nicola
- a Centre for Biological Sciences , University of Southampton , Southampton , UK
| | - V Hugh Perry
- a Centre for Biological Sciences , University of Southampton , Southampton , UK
| | - Diederik Bulters
- d Wessex Neurological Centre , Southampton General Hospital , Southampton , UK
| | - Amrit Mudher
- a Centre for Biological Sciences , University of Southampton , Southampton , UK
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Communication from the periphery to the hypothalamus through the blood–brain barrier: An in vitro platform. Int J Pharm 2016; 499:119-130. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.12.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Humpel C. Organotypic brain slice cultures: A review. Neuroscience 2015; 305:86-98. [PMID: 26254240 PMCID: PMC4699268 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.07.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 271] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Revised: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In vitro cell cultures are an important tool for obtaining insights into cellular processes in an isolated system and a supplement to in vivo animal experiments. While primary dissociated cultures permit a single homogeneous cell population to be studied, there is a clear need to explore the function of brain cells in a three-dimensional system where the main architecture of the cells is preserved. Thus, organotypic brain slice cultures have proven to be very useful in investigating cellular and molecular processes of the brain in vitro. This review summarizes (1) the historical development of organotypic brain slices focusing on the membrane technology, (2) methodological aspects regarding culturing procedures, age of donors or media, (3) whether the cholinergic neurons serve as a model of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease, (4) or the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons as a model of Parkinson’s disease and (5) how the vascular network can be studied, especially with regard to a synthetic blood–brain barrier. This review will also highlight some limits of the model and give an outlook on future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Humpel
- Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental Alzheimer's Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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Abstract
Neuroinvasive larvae of the common dog and cat roundworms, Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, may cause severe neurological and neuropsychological disturbances in humans. Despite their pathogenic potential and high prevalence worldwide, little is known about their cell-specific influences and cerebral host-pathogen interactions in neurotoxocarosis. To address this discrepancy, a co-culture system of viable larvae with murine neuronal (CAD), oligodendrocytal (BO-1) and microglial (BV-2) cell lines has been established. Additionally, murine adult brain slices have been co-cultured with Toxocara larvae to consider complex organotypic cell-cell interplay. Cytotoxicity of larval presence was measured enzymatically and microscopically. Microscopic evaluation using trypan blue exclusion assay revealed to be less reliable and sensitive than the lactate dehydrogenase activity assay. Ultimately, even low numbers of both T. canis and T. cati larvae have impaired survival of differentiated CAD cells, which morphologically resemble primary neurons. In contrast, viability of oligodendrocytal and microglial cells as well as brain slices was not impaired by larval presence. Therefore, immune-mediated mechanisms or trauma by migrating larvae presumably induce the in vivo pathology rather than acute cytotoxic effects. Conclusively, the helminthic larvae co-culture system presented here is a valuable in vitro tool to study cell-specific effects of parasitic larvae and their products.
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Humpel C. Organotypic vibrosections from whole brain adult Alzheimer mice (overexpressing amyloid-precursor-protein with the Swedish-Dutch-Iowa mutations) as a model to study clearance of beta-amyloid plaques. Front Aging Neurosci 2015; 7:47. [PMID: 25914642 PMCID: PMC4391240 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2015.00047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a severe neurodegenerative disorder of the brain, pathologically characterized by extracellular beta-amyloid plaques, intraneuronal Tau inclusions, inflammation, reactive glial cells, vascular pathology and neuronal cell death. The degradation and clearance of beta-amyloid plaques is an interesting therapeutic approach, and the proteases neprilysin (NEP), insulysin and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are of particular interest. The aim of this project was to establish and characterize a simple in vitro model to study the degrading effects of these proteases. Organoytpic brain vibrosections (120 μm thick) were sectioned from adult (9 month old) wildtype and transgenic mice (expressing amyloid precursor protein (APP) harboring the Swedish K670N/M671L, Dutch E693Q, and Iowa D694N mutations; APP_SDI) and cultured for 2 weeks. Plaques were stained by immunohistochemistry for beta-amyloid and Thioflavin S. Our data show that plaques were evident in 2 week old cultures from 9 month old transgenic mice. These plaques were surrounded by reactive GFAP+ astroglia and Iba1+ microglia. Incubation of fresh slices for 2 weeks with 1-0.1-0.01 μg/ml of NEP, insulysin, MMP-2, or MMP-9 showed that NEP, insulysin, and MMP-9 markedly degraded beta-amyloid plaques but only at the highest concentration. Our data provide for the first time a potent and powerful living brain vibrosection model containing a high number of plaques, which allows to rapidly and simply study the degradation and clearance of beta-amyloid plaques in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Humpel
- Laboratory of Psychiatry and Experimental Alzheimer's Research, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Innsbruck Innsbruck, Austria
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45
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Mosa AJ, Wang S, Tan YF, Wojtowicz JM. Organotypic slice cultures for studies of postnatal neurogenesis. J Vis Exp 2015:52353. [PMID: 25867138 PMCID: PMC4401176 DOI: 10.3791/52353] [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] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we describe a technique for studying hippocampal postnatal neurogenesis in the rodent brain using the organotypic slice culture technique. This method maintains the characteristic topographical morphology of the hippocampus while allowing direct application of pharmacological agents to the developing hippocampal dentate gyrus. Additionally, slice cultures can be maintained for up to 4 weeks and thus, allow one to study the maturation process of newborn granule neurons. Slice cultures allow for efficient pharmacological manipulation of hippocampal slices while excluding complex variables such as uncertainties related to the deep anatomic location of the hippocampus as well as the blood brain barrier. For these reasons, we sought to optimize organotypic slice cultures specifically for postnatal neurogenesis research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Mosa
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto
| | - Sabrina Wang
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University; Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital
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Kovac S, Angelova PR, Holmström KM, Zhang Y, Dinkova-Kostova AT, Abramov AY. Nrf2 regulates ROS production by mitochondria and NADPH oxidase. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2014; 1850:794-801. [PMID: 25484314 PMCID: PMC4471129 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2014.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 426] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2014] [Revised: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 11/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2) factor 2 (Nrf2) is a crucial transcription factor mediating protection against oxidants. Nrf2 is negatively regulated by cytoplasmic Kelch-like ECH associated protein 1 (Keap1) thereby providing inducible antioxidant defence. Antioxidant properties of Nrf2 are thought to be mainly exerted by stimulating transcription of antioxidant proteins, whereas its effects on ROS production within the cell are uncertain. Methods Live cell imaging and qPCR in brain hippocampal glio-neuronal cultures and explants slice cultures with graded expression of Nrf2, i.e. Nrf2-knockout (Nrf2-KO), wild-type (WT), and Keap1-knockdown (Keap1-KD). Results We here show that ROS production in Nrf2-KO cells and tissues is increased compared to their WT counterparts. Mitochondrial ROS production is regulated by the Keap1–Nrf2 pathway by controlling mitochondrial bioenergetics. Surprisingly, Keap1-KD cells and tissues also showed higher rates of ROS production when compared to WT, although with a smaller magnitude. Analysis of the mRNA expression levels of the two NOX isoforms implicated in brain pathology showed, that NOX2 is dramatically upregulated under conditions of Nrf2 deficiency, whereas NOX4 is upregulated when Nrf2 is constitutively activated (Keap1-KD) to a degree which paralleled the increases in ROS production. Conclusions These observations suggest that the Keap1–Nrf2 pathway regulates both mitochondrial and cytosolic ROS production through NADPH oxidase. General significance Findings supports a key role of the Keap1–Nrf2 pathway in redox homeostasis within the cell. We studied ROS production/NADPH oxidase expression in Nrf2-KO and Keap1-KD cells. ROS production is increased in Nrf2-KO and Keap1-KD neurons when compared to WT. NOX2/NOX4 mRNA in Nrf2-KO and Keap1-KD paralleled these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stjepana Kovac
- UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK; Department of Neurology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Plamena R Angelova
- UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Kira M Holmström
- UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Ying Zhang
- Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, Division of Cancer Research, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 9SY, Scotland, UK
| | - Albena T Dinkova-Kostova
- Departments of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Departments of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Andrey Y Abramov
- UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
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Thal SC, Neuhaus W. The blood-brain barrier as a target in traumatic brain injury treatment. Arch Med Res 2014; 45:698-710. [PMID: 25446615 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2014.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/12/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most frequent causes of death in the young population. Several clinical trials have unsuccessfully focused on direct neuroprotective therapies. Recently immunotherapeutic strategies shifted into focus of translational research in acute CNS diseases. Cross-talk between activated microglia and blood-brain barrier (BBB) could initiate opening of the BBB and subsequent recruitment of systemic immune cells and mediators into the brain. Stabilization of the BBB after TBI could be a promising strategy to limit neuronal inflammation, secondary brain damage and acute neurodegeneration. This review provides an overview on the pathophysiology of TBI and brain edema formation including definitions and classification of TBI, current clinical treatment strategies, as well as current understanding on the underlying cellular processes. A summary of in vivo and in vitro models to study different aspects of TBI is presented. Three mechanisms proposed for stabilization of the BBB, myosin light chain kinases, glucocorticoid receptors and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors are reviewed for their influence on barrier-integrity and outcome after TBI. In conclusion, the BBB is recommended as a promising target for the treatment of traumatic brain injury, and it is suggested that a combination of BBB stabilization and neuroprotectants may improve therapeutic success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge C Thal
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Winfried Neuhaus
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse, Vienna, Austria; Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
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Arsenault J, Nagy A, Henderson JT, O'Brien JA. Regioselective biolistic targeting in organotypic brain slices using a modified gene gun. J Vis Exp 2014:e52148. [PMID: 25407047 PMCID: PMC4249736 DOI: 10.3791/52148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Transfection of DNA has been invaluable for biological sciences and with recent advances to organotypic brain slice preparations, the effect of various heterologous genes could thus be investigated easily while maintaining many aspects of in vivo biology. There has been increasing interest to transfect terminally differentiated neurons for which conventional transfection methods have been fraught with difficulties such as low yields and significant losses in viability. Biolistic transfection can circumvent many of these difficulties yet only recently has this technique been modified so that it is amenable for use in mammalian tissues. New modifications to the accelerator chamber have enhanced the gene gun's firing accuracy and increased its depths of penetration while also allowing the use of lower gas pressure (50 psi) without loss of transfection efficiency as well as permitting a focused regioselective spread of the particles to within 3 mm. In addition, this technique is straight forward and faster to perform than tedious microinjections. Both transient and stable expression are possible with nanoparticle bombardment where episomal expression can be detected within 24 hr and the cell survival was shown to be better than, or at least equal to, conventional methods. This technique has however one crucial advantage: it permits the transfection to be localized within a single restrained radius thus enabling the user to anatomically isolate the heterologous gene's effects. Here we present an in-depth protocol to prepare viable adult organotypic slices and submit them to regioselective transfection using an improved gene gun.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Arsenault
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto; MRC-Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andras Nagy
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto
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Inada C, Niu Y, Matsumoto K, Le XT, Fujiwara H. Possible involvement of VEGF signaling system in rescuing effect of endogenous acetylcholine on NMDA-induced long-lasting hippocampal cell damage in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Neurochem Int 2014; 75:39-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2014.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Revised: 05/22/2014] [Accepted: 05/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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50
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Dmitriev RI, Kondrashina AV, Koren K, Klimant I, Zhdanov AV, Pakan JMP, McDermott KW, Papkovsky DB. Small molecule phosphorescent probes for O2imaging in 3D tissue models. Biomater Sci 2014; 2:853-866. [DOI: 10.1039/c3bm60272a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
PtPFPP-carbohydrate conjugates are promising O2probes for 3D PLIM imaging of live spheroids and brain explants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Klaus Koren
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry
- Graz University of Technology
- 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Ingo Klimant
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry
- Graz University of Technology
- 8010 Graz, Austria
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