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Mustafin RN. A hypothesis about interrelations of epigenetic factors and transposable elements in memory formation. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2024; 28:476-486. [PMID: 39280851 PMCID: PMC11393658 DOI: 10.18699/vjgb-24-54] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The review describes the hypothesis that the drivers of epigenetic regulation in memory formation are transposable elements that influence the expression of specific genes in the brain. The hypothesis is confirmed by research into transposon activation in neuronal stem cells during neuronal differentiation. These changes occur in the hippocampus dentate gyrus, where a pronounced activity of transposons and their insertion near neuron-specific genes have been detected. In experiments on changing the activity of histone acetyltransferase and inhibition of DNA methyltransferase and reverse transcriptase, the involvement of epigenetic factors and retroelements in the mechanisms of memory formation has been shown. Also, a number of studies on different animals have revealed the preservation of long-term memory without the participation of synaptic plasticity. The data obtained suggest that transposons, which are genome sensors highly sensitive to various environmental and internal influences, form memory at the nuclear coding level. Therefore, long-term memory is preserved after elimination of synaptic connections. This is confirmed by the fact that the proteins involved in memory formation, including the transfer of genetic information through synapses between neurons (Arc protein), originate from transposons. Long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs also originate from transposons; their role in memory consolidation has been described. Pathological activation of transposable elements is a likely cause of neurodegenerative diseases with memory impairment. Analysis of the scientific literature allowed us to identify changes in the expression of 40 microRNAs derived from transposons in Alzheimer's disease. For 24 of these microRNAs, the mechanisms of regulation of genes involved in the functioning of the brain have been described. It has been suggested that the microRNAs we identified could become potential tools for regulating transposon activity in the brain in order to improve memory.
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Zhang Y, Tian K, Wei W, Mi W, Lu F, Liu Z, Zhu Q, Zhang X, Geng P, Qiu J, Song Y, Zha D. Translocation of telomerase reverse transcriptase coincided with ATP release in postnatal cochlear supporting cells. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1119-1125. [PMID: 37862217 PMCID: PMC10749606 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.382862] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The spontaneous bursts of electrical activity in the developing auditory system are derived from the periodic release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by supporting cells in the Kölliker's organ. However, the mechanisms responsible for initiating spontaneous ATP release have not been determined. Our previous study revealed that telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is expressed in the basilar membrane during the first postnatal week. Its role in cochlear development remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression and role of TERT in postnatal cochlea supporting cells. Our results revealed that in postnatal cochlear Kölliker's organ supporting cells, TERT shifts from the nucleus into the cytoplasm over time. We found that the TERT translocation tendency in postnatal cochlear supporting cells in vitro coincided with that observed in vivo. Further analysis showed that TERT in the cytoplasm was mainly located in mitochondria in the absence of oxidative stress or apoptosis, suggesting that TERT in mitochondria plays roles other than antioxidant or anti-apoptotic functions. We observed increased ATP synthesis, release and activation of purine signaling systems in supporting cells during the first 10 postnatal days. The phenomenon that TERT translocation coincided with changes in ATP synthesis, release and activation of the purine signaling system in postnatal cochlear supporting cells suggested that TERT may be involved in regulating ATP release and activation of the purine signaling system. Our study provides a new research direction for exploring the spontaneous electrical activity of the cochlea during the early postnatal period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukai Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Keyong Tian
- Department of Otolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Otolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Wenjuan Mi
- Department of Otolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Fei Lu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Zhenzhen Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Qingwen Zhu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Panling Geng
- Department of Otolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jianhua Qiu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yongli Song
- Department of Otolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Dingjun Zha
- Department of Otolaryngology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
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Wang W, Chen C, Wang Q, Ma J, Li Y, Guan Z, Wang R, Chen X. Electroacupuncture pretreatment preserves telomerase reverse transcriptase function and alleviates postoperative cognitive dysfunction by suppressing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in aged mice. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14373. [PMID: 37501354 PMCID: PMC10848091 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elderly patients often exhibit postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), a postsurgical decline in memory and executive function. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, both pathological characteristics of the aged brain, contribute to this decline. This study posits that electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation, an effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory modality, may enhance telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) function, the catalytic subunit of telomerase known for its protective properties against cellular senescence and oxidative damage, to alleviate POCD in aged mice. METHODS The animal POCD model was created by subjecting aged mice to abdominal surgery, followed by EA pretreatment at the Baihui acupoint (GV20). Postoperative cognitive function was gauged using the Morris water maze (MWM) test. Hippocampal TERT mRNA levels and telomerase activity were determined through qPCR and a Telomerase PCR ELISA kit, respectively. Oxidative stress was assessed through superoxide dismutase (SOD), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Iba-1 immunostaining determined the quantity of hippocampal microglia. Additionally, western blotting assessed TERT, autophagy markers, and proinflammatory cytokines at the protein level. RESULTS Abdominal surgery in aged mice significantly decreased telomerase activity and TERT mRNA and protein levels, but increased oxidative stress and neuroinflammation and decreased autophagy in the hippocampus. EA-pretreated mice demonstrated improved postoperative cognitive performance, enhanced telomerase activity, increased TERT protein expression, improved TERT mitochondrial localization, and reduced oxidative damage, autophagy dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. The neuroprotective benefits of EA pretreatment were diminished following TERT knockdown. CONCLUSIONS Our findings underscore the significance of TERT function preservation in alleviating surgery-induced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in aged mice. A novel neuroprotective mechanism of EA stimulation is highlighted, whereby modulation of TERT and telomerase activity reduces oxidative damage and neuroinflammation. Consequently, maintaining TERT function via EA treatment could serve as an effective strategy for managing POCD in elderly patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First People's Hospital of FoshanFoshanGuangdongChina
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Burns and Plastic surgeryHainan Hospital of PLA General HospitalSanyaHainanChina
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Ji‐Guang Ma
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Yan‐Song Li
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Zheng Guan
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe First People's Hospital of FoshanFoshanGuangdongChina
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4
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Liu M, Fan Y, Ni N, Yu T, Mao Z, Huang H, Zhang J, Tang Y, He H, Meng F, You Y, Zhou Q. TERT mediates the U-shape of glucocorticoids effects in modulation of hippocampal neural stem cells and associated brain function. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14577. [PMID: 38421107 PMCID: PMC10850922 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14577] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroidal hormones produced by the adrenal cortex. A physiological-level GCs have a crucial function in maintaining many cognitive processes, like cognition, memory, and mood, however, both insufficient and excessive GCs impair these functions. Although this phenomenon could be explained by the U-shape of GC effects, the underlying mechanisms are still not clear. Therefore, understanding the underlying mechanisms of GCs may provide insight into the treatments for cognitive and mood-related disorders. METHODS Consecutive administration of corticosterone (CORT, 10 mg/kg, i.g.) proceeded for 28 days to mimic excessive GCs condition. Adrenalectomy (ADX) surgery was performed to ablate endogenous GCs in mice. Microinjection of 1 μL of Ad-mTERT-GFP virus into mouse hippocampus dentate gyrus (DG) and behavioral alterations in mice were observed 4 weeks later. RESULTS Different concentrations of GCs were shown to affect the cell growth and development of neural stem cells (NSCs) in a U-shaped manner. The physiological level of GCs (0.01 μM) promoted NSC proliferation in vitro, while the stress level of GCs (10 μM) inhibited it. The glucocorticoid synthesis blocker metyrapone (100 mg/kg, i.p.) and ADX surgery both decreased the quantity and morphological development of doublecortin (DCX)-positive immature cells in the DG. The physiological level of GCs activated mineralocorticoid receptor and then promoted the production of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT); in contrast, the stress level of GCs activated glucocorticoid receptor and then reduced the expression of TERT. Overexpression of TERT by AD-mTERT-GFP reversed both chronic stresses- and ADX-induced deficiency of TERT and the proliferation and development of NSCs, chronic stresses-associated depressive symptoms, and ADX-associated learning and memory impairment. CONCLUSION The bidirectional regulation of TERT by different GCs concentrations is a key mechanism mediating the U-shape of GC effects in modulation of hippocampal NSCs and associated brain function. Replenishment of TERT could be a common treatment strategy for GC dysfunction-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng‐Ying Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanjing Drum Tower HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing UniversityNanjingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yixin Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Department of Pharmacy, Sir Run Run HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Ningjie Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Tao Yu
- School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Zhiyuan Mao
- Key Laboratory for Aging & Disease, The State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Human Anatomy, Research Centre for Bone and Stem CellsNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Hanyu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yulin Tang
- Department of Pharmacy, Sir Run Run HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Hongliang He
- Department of Pharmacy, Sir Run Run HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Fan Meng
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yongping You
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Qi‐Gang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Department of Pharmacy, Sir Run Run HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of PharmacyNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
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Vellingiri B, Balasubramani K, Iyer M, Raj N, Elangovan A, Song K, Yeo HC, Jayakumar N, Kinoshita M, Thangarasu R, Narayanasamy A, Dayem AA, Prajapati VK, Gopalakrishnan AV, Cho SG. Role of Telomeres and Telomerase in Parkinson's Disease-A New Theranostics? Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2300097. [PMID: 37590305 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex condition that is significantly influenced by oxidative stress and inflammation. It is also suggested that telomere shortening (TS) is regulated by oxidative stress which leads to various diseases including age-related neurodegenerative diseases like PD. Thus, it is anticipated that PD would result in TS of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Telomeres protect the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes preserving them against fusion and destruction. The TS is a normal process because DNA polymerase is unable to replicate the linear ends of the DNA due to end replication complications and telomerase activity in various cell types counteracts this process. PD is usually observed in the aged population and progresses over time therefore, disparities among telomere length in PBMCs of PD patients are recorded and it is still a question whether it has any useful role. Here, the likelihood of telomere attrition in PD and its implications concerning microglia activation, ageing, oxidative stress, and the significance of telomerase activators are addressed. Also, the possibility of telomeres and telomerase as a diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker in PD is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balachandar Vellingiri
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine/Translational Research, Department of Zoology, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India
| | - Kiruthika Balasubramani
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
| | - Mahalaxmi Iyer
- Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education (Deemed to be University), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641021, India
| | - Neethu Raj
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
| | - Ajay Elangovan
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine/Translational Research, Department of Zoology, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab, 151401, India
| | - Kwonwoo Song
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Molecular and Cellular Reprogramming Center and Institute of Advanced Regenerative Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Cheol Yeo
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Molecular and Cellular Reprogramming Center and Institute of Advanced Regenerative Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Namitha Jayakumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641006, India
| | - Masako Kinoshita
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Utano National Hospital, Ondoyama-Cho, Narutaki, Ukyo-Ku, Kyoto, 616-8255, Japan
| | - Ravimanickam Thangarasu
- Department of Zoology, School of Science, Tamil Nadu Open University, Saidapet, Chennai, 600015, India
| | - Arul Narayanasamy
- Disease Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
| | - Ahmed Abdal Dayem
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Molecular and Cellular Reprogramming Center and Institute of Advanced Regenerative Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Vijay Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632014, India
| | - Ssang-Goo Cho
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Molecular and Cellular Reprogramming Center and Institute of Advanced Regenerative Science, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
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Yu X, Liu MM, Zheng CY, Liu YT, Wang Z, Wang ZY. Telomerase reverse transcriptase and neurodegenerative diseases. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1165632. [PMID: 37063844 PMCID: PMC10091515 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1165632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are chronic conditions that result in progressive damage to the nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Age is a major risk factor for NDs. Telomere shortening is a biological marker of cellular aging, and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) has been shown to slow down this process by maintaining telomere length. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) makes the brain a unique immune organ, and while the number of T cells present in the central nervous system is limited, they play an important role in NDs. Research suggests that NDs can be influenced by modulating peripheral T cell immune responses, and that TERT may play a significant role in T cell senescence and NDs. This review focuses on the current state of research on TERT in NDs and explores the potential connections between TERT, T cells, and NDs. Further studies on aging and telomeres may provide valuable insights for developing therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases.
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Liu MY, Wei LL, Zhu XH, Ding HC, Liu XH, Li H, Li YY, Han Z, Li LD, Du ZW, Zhou YP, Zhang J, Meng F, Tang YL, Liu X, Wang C, Zhou QG. Prenatal stress modulates HPA axis homeostasis of offspring through dentate TERT independently of glucocorticoids receptor. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:1383-1395. [PMID: 36481932 PMCID: PMC10005958 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01898-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In response to stressful events, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is activated, and consequently glucocorticoids are released by the adrenal gland into the blood circulation. A large body of research has illustrated that excessive glucocorticoids in the hippocampus exerts negative feedback regulation of the HPA axis through glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which is critical for the homeostasis of the HPA axis. Maternal prenatal stress causes dysfunction of the HPA axis feedback mechanism in their offspring in adulthood. Here we report that telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene knockout causes hyperactivity of the HPA axis without hippocampal GR deficiency. We found that the level of TERT in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus during the developmental stage determines the responses of the HPA axis to stressful events in adulthood through modulating the excitability of the dentate granular cells (DGCs) rather than the expression of GR. Our study also suggests that the prenatal high level of glucocorticoids exposure-induced hypomethylation at Chr13:73764526 in the first exon of mouse Tert gene accounted for TERT deficiency in the DG and HPA axis abnormality in the adult offspring. This study reveals a novel GR-independent mechanism underlying prenatal stress-associated HPA axis impairment, providing a new angle for understanding the mechanisms for maintaining HPA axis homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Ying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Lu-Lu Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xian-Hui Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hua-Chen Ding
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang-Hu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huan Li
- School of Applied Science, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore, Singapore.,College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhou Han
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Lian-Di Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zi-Wei Du
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ya-Ping Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fan Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yu-Lin Tang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
| | - Chun Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Qi-Gang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. .,Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. .,Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. .,The Key Center of Gene Technology Drugs of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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8
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Sun N, Qin YJ, Xu C, Xia T, Du ZW, Zheng LP, Li AA, Meng F, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Liu X, Li TY, Zhu DY, Zhou QG. Design of fast-onset antidepressant by dissociating SERT from nNOS in the DRN. Science 2022; 378:390-398. [PMID: 36302033 DOI: 10.1126/science.abo3566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders. We designed a fast-onset antidepressant that works by disrupting the interaction between the serotonin transporter (SERT) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CMS) selectively increased the SERT-nNOS complex in the DRN in mice. Augmentation of SERT-nNOS interactions in the DRN caused a depression-like phenotype and accounted for the CMS-induced depressive behaviors. Disrupting the SERT-nNOS interaction produced a fast-onset antidepressant effect by enhancing serotonin signaling in forebrain circuits. We discovered a small-molecule compound, ZZL-7, that elicited an antidepressant effect 2 hours after treatment without undesirable side effects. This compound, or analogous reagents, may serve as a new, rapidly acting treatment for MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinic Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
- Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Analgesia Application, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Ya-Juan Qin
- Department of Pharmacochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Chu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinic Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
- Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Tian Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinic Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Zi-Wei Du
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinic Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Li-Ping Zheng
- Department of Pharmacochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - An-An Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Brain Disease and Bioinformation, Research Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xu Zhou 221004, China
| | - Fan Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinic Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinic Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinic Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ting-You Li
- Department of Pharmacochemistry, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Dong-Ya Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinic Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
- The Key Center of Gene Technology Drugs of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Qi-Gang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Clinic Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
- The Key Center of Gene Technology Drugs of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
- Department of Clinic Pharmacology, Sir runrun Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211167, China
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9
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Lupatov AY, Yarygin KN. Telomeres and Telomerase in the Control of Stem Cells. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102335. [PMID: 36289597 PMCID: PMC9598777 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells serve as a source of cellular material in embryogenesis and postnatal growth and regeneration. This requires significant proliferative potential ensured by sufficient telomere length. Telomere attrition in the stem cells and their niche cells can result in the exhaustion of the regenerative potential of high-turnover organs, causing or contributing to the onset of age-related diseases. In this review, stem cells are examined in the context of the current telomere-centric theory of cell aging, which assumes that telomere shortening depends not just on the number of cell doublings (mitotic clock) but also on the influence of various internal and external factors. The influence of the telomerase and telomere length on the functional activity of different stem cell types, as well as on their aging and prospects of use in cell therapy applications, is discussed.
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10
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Yu EY, Cheung NKV, Lue NF. Connecting telomere maintenance and regulation to the developmental origin and differentiation states of neuroblastoma tumor cells. J Hematol Oncol 2022; 15:117. [PMID: 36030273 PMCID: PMC9420296 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01337-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A cardinal feature that distinguishes clinically high-risk neuroblastoma from low-risk tumors is telomere maintenance. Specifically, neuroblastoma tumors with either active telomerase or alternative lengthening of telomeres exhibit aggressive growth characteristics that lead to poor outcomes, whereas tumors without telomere maintenance can be managed with observation or minimal treatment. Even though the need for cancer cells to maintain telomere DNA-in order to sustain cell proliferation-is well established, recent studies suggest that the neural crest origin of neuroblastoma may enforce unique relationships between telomeres and tumor malignancy. Specifically in neuroblastoma, telomere structure and telomerase activity are correlated with the adrenergic/mesenchymal differentiation states, and manipulating telomerase activity can trigger tumor cell differentiation. Both findings may reflect features of normal neural crest development. This review summarizes recent advances in the characterization of telomere structure and telomere maintenance mechanisms in neuroblastoma and discusses the findings in the context of relevant literature on telomeres during embryonic and neural development. Understanding the canonical and non-canonical roles of telomere maintenance in neuroblastoma could reveal vulnerabilities for telomere-directed therapies with potential applications to other pediatric malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Young Yu
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, W. R. Hearst Microbiology Research Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Nai-Kong V Cheung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Neal F Lue
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, W. R. Hearst Microbiology Research Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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11
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Ding H, Zhong Y, Liu N, Wu H, Xu H, Wu Y, Liu G, Yuan S, Zhou Q, Wang C. Panic disorder aging characteristics: The role of telomerase reverse transcriptase gene and brain function. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:835963. [PMID: 35992589 PMCID: PMC9389410 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.835963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Panic disorder (PD) causes serious functional damage and disability and accelerates the process of individual aging. The pathological basis of PD is the same as that of age-related diseases, which is proposed as a new viewpoint in recent years. Memory decline and social functional impairment are common manifestations of accelerated aging in PD. The function of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomere length (TL) is abnormal in patients with aging and PD. However, the molecular mechanism behind remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between TERT gene expression (including DNA methylation) and the changes in PD aging characteristics (memory and social function). By TERT gene knockout mice, we found that loss of TERT attenuated the acquisition of recent fear memory during contextual fear conditioning. This study reported that a significantly lower methylation level of human TERT (hTERT) gene was detected in PD patients compared with healthy control and particularly decreased CpG methylation in the promoter region of hTERT was associated with the clinical characteristics in PD. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis showed that the methylation of hTERT (cg1295648) influenced social function of PD patients through moderating the function of the left postcentral gyrus (PCG). This indicates that the hTERT gene may play an important role in the pathological basis of PD aging and may become a biological marker for evaluating PD aging. These findings provide multidimensional evidence for the underlying genetic and pathological mechanisms of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huachen Ding
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuan Zhong
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Na Liu
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huiqin Wu
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huazhen Xu
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Wu
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shiting Yuan
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qigang Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Qigang Zhou,
| | - Chun Wang
- Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Functional Brain Imaging Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Institute of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Chun Wang,
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12
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Kluever V, Fornasiero EF. Principles of brain aging: Status and challenges of modeling human molecular changes in mice. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 72:101465. [PMID: 34555542 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Due to the extension of human life expectancy, the prevalence of cognitive impairment is rising in the older portion of society. Developing new strategies to delay or attenuate cognitive decline is vital. For this purpose, it is imperative to understand the cellular and molecular events at the basis of brain aging. While several organs are directly accessible to molecular analysis through biopsies, the brain constitutes a notable exception. Most of the molecular studies are performed on postmortem tissues, where cell death and tissue damage have already occurred. Hence, the study of the molecular aspects of cognitive decline largely relies on animal models and in particular on small mammals such as mice. What have we learned from these models? Do these animals recapitulate the changes observed in humans? What should we expect from future mouse studies? In this review we answer these questions by summarizing the state of the research that has addressed cognitive decline in mice from several perspectives, including genetic manipulation and omics strategies. We conclude that, while extremely valuable, mouse models have limitations that can be addressed by the optimal design of future studies and by ensuring that results are cross-validated in the human context.
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13
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Zhang T, Ding H, Wang Y, Yuan Z, Zhang Y, Chen G, Xu Y, Chen L. Akt3-mTOR regulates hippocampal neurogenesis in adult mouse. J Neurochem 2021; 159:498-511. [PMID: 34077553 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Akt signaling has been associated with adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). We reported cognitive dysfunction in Akt3 knockout (Akt3-KO) mice with the down-regulation of mTOR activation. However, little is known about the effects of Akt3 signaling on hippocampal neurogenesis. Herein, we show that progenitor cells, neuroblasts, and mature newborn neurons in hippocampal DG expressed Akt3 protein. The Akt3 phosphorylation in hippocampal DG was increased after voluntary wheel running for 7 days in wild-type mice (running WT mice), but not in Akt3-KO mice (running Akt3-KO mice). Subsequently, we observed that the proliferation of progenitor cells was suppressed in Akt3-KO mice and the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin-treated mice, whereas enhanced in running WT mice rather than running Akt3-KO mice. Neurite growth of neuroblasts was impaired in Akt3-KO mice and rapamycin-treated mice. In contrast, neither differentiation of progenitor cells nor migrating of newly generated neurons was altered in Akt3-KO mice or running WT mice. The levels of p70S6K and 4EBP1 phosphorylation were declined in Akt3-KO mice and elevated in running WT mice depending on mTOR activation. Furthermore, telomerase activity, telomere length, and expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) were decreased in Akt3-KO mice but increased in running WT mice rather than running Akt3-KO mice, which required the mTOR activation. The study provides in vivo evidence that Akt3-mTOR signaling plays an important role in the proliferation of progenitor cells and neurite growth through positive regulated TERT expression and activation of p70S6K and 4EBP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong Ding
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ya Wang
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zihao Yuan
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yajie Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guiquan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animal for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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14
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Pathak GA, Wendt FR, Levey DF, Mecca AP, van Dyck CH, Gelernter J, Polimanti R. Pleiotropic effects of telomere length loci with brain morphology and brain tissue expression. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:1360-1370. [PMID: 33831179 PMCID: PMC8255129 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have reported association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and neuropsychiatric disorders. Although telomere length is affected by environmental factors, genetic variants in certain loci are strongly associated with LTL. Thus, we aimed to identify the genomic relationship between genetic variants of LTL with brain-based regulatory changes and brain volume. We tested genetic colocalization of seven and nine LTL loci in two ancestry groups, European (EUR) and East-Asian (EAS), respectively, with brain morphology measures for 101 T1-magnetic resonance imaging-based region of interests (n = 21 821). The posterior probability (>90%) was observed for 'fourth ventricle', 'gray matter' and 'cerebellar vermal lobules I-IV' volumes. We then tested causal relationship using LTL loci for gene and methylation expression. We found causal pleiotropy for gene (EAS = four genes; EUR = five genes) and methylation expression (EUR = 17 probes; EAS = 4 probes) of brain tissues (P ≤ 2.47 × 10-6). Integrating chromatin profiles with LTL-single nucleotide polymorphisms identified 45 genes (EUR) and 79 genes (EAS) (P ≤ 9.78×10-7). We found additional 38 LTL-genes using chromatin-based gene mapping for EUR ancestry population. Gene variants in three LTL-genes-GPR37, OBFC1 and RTEL1/RTEL1-TNFRSF6B-show convergent evidence of pleiotropy with brain morphology, gene and methylation expression and chromatin association. Mapping gene functions to drug-gene interactions, we identified process 'transmission across chemical synapses' (P < 2.78 × 10-4). This study provides evidence that genetic variants of LTL have pleiotropic roles with brain-based effects that could explain the phenotypic association of LTL with several neuropsychiatric traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gita A Pathak
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06551, USA,Veteran Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Frank R Wendt
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06551, USA,Veteran Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Daniel F Levey
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06551, USA,Veteran Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Adam P Mecca
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06551, USA,Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Christopher H van Dyck
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06551, USA,Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA,Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Joel Gelernter
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06551, USA,Veteran Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Renato Polimanti
- To whom correspondence should be addressed at: VA CT 116A2, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516, USA. Tel: +1 2039375711 ext. 5745; Fax: +1 2039373897;
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15
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Fontán-Lozano Á, Morcuende S, Davis-López de Carrizosa MA, Benítez-Temiño B, Mejías R, Matarredona ER. To Become or Not to Become Tumorigenic: Subventricular Zone Versus Hippocampal Neural Stem Cells. Front Oncol 2020; 10:602217. [PMID: 33330101 PMCID: PMC7729188 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.602217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) persist in the adult mammalian brain in two neurogenic regions: the subventricular zone lining the lateral ventricles and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Compelling evidence suggests that NSCs of the subventricular zone could be the cell type of origin of glioblastoma, the most devastating brain tumor. Studies in glioblastoma patients revealed that NSCs of the tumor-free subventricular zone, harbor cancer-driver mutations that were found in the tumor cells but were not present in normal cortical tissue. Endogenous mutagenesis can also take place in hippocampal NSCs. However, to date, no conclusive studies have linked hippocampal mutations with glioblastoma development. In addition, glioblastoma cells often invade or are closely located to the subventricular zone, whereas they do not tend to infiltrate into the hippocampus. In this review we will analyze possible causes by which subventricular zone NSCs might be more susceptible to malignant transformation than their hippocampal counterparts. Cellular and molecular differences between the two neurogenic niches, as well as genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of their respective NSCs will be discussed regarding why the cell type originating glioblastoma brain tumors has been linked mainly to subventricular zone, but not to hippocampal NSCs.
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16
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Nicaise AM, Willis CM, Crocker SJ, Pluchino S. Stem Cells of the Aging Brain. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:247. [PMID: 32848716 PMCID: PMC7426063 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The adult central nervous system (CNS) contains resident stem cells within specific niches that maintain a self-renewal and proliferative capacity to generate new neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes throughout adulthood. Physiological aging is associated with a progressive loss of function and a decline in the self-renewal and regenerative capacities of CNS stem cells. Also, the biggest risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases is age, and current in vivo and in vitro models of neurodegenerative diseases rarely consider this. Therefore, combining both aging research and appropriate interrogation of animal disease models towards the understanding of the disease and age-related stem cell failure is imperative to the discovery of new therapies. This review article will highlight the main intrinsic and extrinsic regulators of neural stem cell (NSC) aging and discuss how these factors impact normal homeostatic functions within the adult brain. We will consider established in vivo animal and in vitro human disease model systems, and then discuss the current and future trajectories of novel senotherapeutics that target aging NSCs to ameliorate brain disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Nicaise
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Cory M Willis
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen J Crocker
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Stefano Pluchino
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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17
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Corrêa T, Poswar F, Feltes BC, Riegel M. Candidate Genes Associated With Neurological Findings in a Patient With Trisomy 4p16.3 and Monosomy 5p15.2. Front Genet 2020; 11:561. [PMID: 32625234 PMCID: PMC7311770 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this report, we present a patient with brain alterations and dysmorphic features associated with chromosome duplication seen in 4p16.3 region and chromosomal deletion in a critical region responsible for Cri-du-chat syndrome (CdCS). Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) revealed a 41.1 Mb duplication encompassing the band region 4p16.3-p13, and a 14.7 Mb deletion located between the bands 5p15.33 and p15.1. The patient's clinical findings overlap with previously reported cases of chromosome 4p duplication syndrome and CdCS. The patient's symptoms are notably similar to those of CdCS patients as she presented with a weak, high-pitched voice and showed a similar pathogenicity observed in the brain MRI. These contiguous gene syndromes present with distinct clinical manifestations. However, the phenotypic and cytogenetic variability in affected individuals, such as the low frequency and the large genomic regions that can be altered, make it challenging to identify candidate genes that contribute to the pathogenesis of these syndromes. Therefore, systems biology and CMA techniques were used to investigate the extent of chromosome rearrangement on critical regions in our patient's phenotype. We identified the candidate genes PPARGC1A, CTBP1, TRIO, TERT, and CCT5 that are associated with the neuropsychomotor delay, microcephaly, and neurological alterations found in our patient. Through investigating pathways that associate with essential nodes in the protein interaction network, we discovered proteins involved in cellular differentiation and proliferation, as well as proteins involved in the formation and disposition of the cytoskeleton. The combination of our cytogenomic and bioinformatic analysis provided these possible explanations for the unique clinical phenotype, which has not yet been described in scientific literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Corrêa
- Post-Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Genetics Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Fabiano Poswar
- Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Bruno César Feltes
- Department of Theoritical Informatics, Institute of Informatics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Mariluce Riegel
- Post-Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Genetics Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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18
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Thompson CA, Wong JM. Non-canonical Functions of Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase: Emerging Roles and Biological Relevance. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:498-507. [DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200131125110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence from research on telomerase suggests that in addition to its catalytic telomere
repeat synthesis activity, telomerase may have other biologically important functions. The canonical
roles of telomerase are at the telomere ends where they elongate telomeres and maintain genomic
stability and cellular lifespan. The catalytic protein component Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase
(TERT) is preferentially expressed at high levels in cancer cells despite the existence of an alternative
mechanism for telomere maintenance (alternative lengthening of telomeres or ALT). TERT is also expressed
at higher levels than necessary for maintaining functional telomere length, suggesting other possible
adaptive functions. Emerging non-canonical roles of TERT include regulation of non-telomeric
DNA damage responses, promotion of cell growth and proliferation, acceleration of cell cycle kinetics,
and control of mitochondrial integrity following oxidative stress. Non-canonical activities of TERT primarily
show cellular protective effects, and nuclear TERT has been shown to protect against cell death
following double-stranded DNA damage, independent of its role in telomere length maintenance. TERT
has been suggested to act as a chromatin modulator and participate in the transcriptional regulation of
gene expression. TERT has also been reported to regulate transcript levels through an RNA-dependent
RNA Polymerase (RdRP) activity and produce siRNAs in a Dicer-dependent manner. At the mitochondria,
TERT is suggested to protect against oxidative stress-induced mtDNA damage and promote mitochondrial
integrity. These extra-telomeric functions of TERT may be advantageous in the context of increased
proliferation and metabolic stress often found in rapidly-dividing cancer cells. Understanding
the spectrum of non-canonical functions of telomerase may have important implications for the rational
design of anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor A.H. Thompson
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Judy M.Y. Wong
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
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19
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Ding X, Liu X, Wang F, Wang F, Geng X. Role of Senescence and Neuroprotective Effects of Telomerase in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Rejuvenation Res 2020; 23:150-158. [DOI: 10.1089/rej.2018.2115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xuelu Ding
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuewen Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Neurology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Geng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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20
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Nemirovich-Danchenko NM, Khodanovich MY. Telomerase Gene Editing in the Neural Stem Cells in vivo as a Possible New Approach against Brain Aging. RUSS J GENET+ 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795420040092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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21
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Smith-Sonneborn J. Telomerase Biology Associations Offer Keys to Cancer and Aging Therapeutics. Curr Aging Sci 2020; 13:11-21. [PMID: 31544708 PMCID: PMC7403649 DOI: 10.2174/1874609812666190620124324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although telomerase has potential for age-related disease intervention, the overexpression of telomerase in about 90% of cancers, and in HIV virus reservoirs, cautions against se in anti-aging telomerase therapeutics. While multiple reviews document the canonical function of telomerase for maintenance of telomeres, as well as an increasing numbers of reviews that reveal new non-canonical functions of telomerase, there was no systematic review that focuses on the array of associates of the subunit of Telomerase Reverse transcriptase protein (TERT) as pieces of the puzzle to assemble a picture of the how specific TERT complexes uniquely impact aging and age-related diseases and more can be expected. METHODS A structured search of bibliographic data on TERT complexes was undertaken using databases from the National Center for Biotechnology Information Pubmed with extensive access to biomedical and genomic information in order to obtain a unique documented and cited overview of TERT complexes that may uniquely impact aging and age-related diseases. RESULTS The TERT associations include proper folding, intracellular TERT transport, metabolism, mitochondrial ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) regulation, inflammation, cell division, cell death, and gene expression, in addition to the well-known telomere maintenance. While increase of cell cycle inhibitors promote aging, in cancer, the cell cycle check-point regulators are ambushed in favor of cell proliferation, while cytoplasmic TERT protects a cell cycle inhibitor in oxidative stress. The oncogene cMyc regulates gene expression for overexpression of TERT, and reduction of cell cycle inhibitors-the perfect storm for cancer promotion. TERT binds with the oncogene RMRP RNA, and TERT-RMRP function can regulate levels of that oncogene RNA, and TERT in a TBN complex can regulate heterochromatin. Telomerase benefit and novel function in neurology and cardiology studies open new anti- aging hope. GV1001, a 16 amino acid peptide of TERT that associates with Heat Shock Proteins (HSP's), bypasses the cell membrane with remarkable anti disease potential. CONCLUSIONS TERT "associates" are anti-cancer targets for downregulation, but upregulation in antiaging therapy. The overview revealed that unique TERT associations that impact all seven pillars of aging identified by the Trans-NIH Geroscience Initiative that influence aging and urge research for appropriate targeted telomerase supplements/ stimulation, and inclusion in National Institute on Aging Intervention Testing Program. The preference for use of available "smart drugs", targeted to only cancer, not off-target anti- aging telomerase is implied by the multiplicity of TERT associates functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Smith-Sonneborn
- Department Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, WY, USA
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Muneer A, Minhas FA. Telomere Biology in Mood Disorders: An Updated, Comprehensive Review of the Literature. CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE 2019; 17:343-363. [PMID: 31352701 PMCID: PMC6705109 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2019.17.3.343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Major psychiatric disorders are linked to early mortality and patients afflicted with these ailments demonstrate an increased risk of developing physical diseases that are characteristically seen in the elderly. Psychiatric conditions like major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia may be associated with accelerated cellular aging, indicated by shortened leukocyte telomere length (LTL), which could underlie this connection. Telomere shortening occurs with repeated cell division and is reflective of a cell’s mitotic history. It is also influenced by cumulative exposure to inflammation and oxidative stress as well as the availability of telomerase, the telomere-lengthening enzyme. Precariously short telomeres can cause cells to undergo senescence, apoptosis or genomic instability; shorter LTL correlates with compromised general health and foretells mortality. Important data specify that LTL may be reduced in principal psychiatric illnesses, possibly in proportion to exposure to the ailment. Telomerase, as measured in peripheral blood monocytes, has been less well characterized in psychiatric illnesses, but a role in mood disorder has been suggested by preclinical and clinical studies. In this manuscript, the most recent studies on LTL and telomerase activity in mood disorders are comprehensively reviewed, potential mediators are discussed, and future directions are suggested. An enhanced comprehension of cellular aging in psychiatric illnesses could lead to their re-conceptualizing as systemic ailments with manifestations both inside and outside the brain. At the same time this paradigm shift could identify new treatment targets, helpful in bringing about lasting cures to innumerable sufferers across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ather Muneer
- Department of Psychiatry, Islamic International Medical College, Riphah International University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Fareed Aslam Minhas
- Department of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Center, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
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Anitha A, Thanseem I, Vasu MM, Viswambharan V, Poovathinal SA. Telomeres in neurological disorders. Adv Clin Chem 2019; 90:81-132. [PMID: 31122612 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ever since their discovery, the telomeres and the telomerase have been topics of intensive research, first as a mechanism of cellular aging and later as an indicator of health and diseases in humans. By protecting the chromosome ends, the telomeres play a vital role in preserving the information in our genome. Telomeres shorten with age and the rate of telomere erosion provides insight into the proliferation history of cells. The pace of telomere attrition is known to increase at the onset of several pathological conditions. Telomere shortening has been emerging as a potential contributor in the pathogenesis of several neurological disorders including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and depression. The rate of telomere attrition in the brain is slower than that of other tissues owing to the low rate of cell proliferation in brain. Telomere maintenance is crucial for the functioning of stem cells in brain. Taking together the studies on telomere attrition in various neurological disorders, an association between telomere shortening and disease status has been demonstrated in schizophrenia, AD and depression, in spite of a few negative reports. But, studies in ASD and PD have failed to produce conclusive results. The cause-effect relationship between TL and neurological disorders is yet to be elucidated. The factors responsible for telomere erosion, which have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders, need to be explored in detail. Telomerase activation is now being considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayyappan Anitha
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India.
| | - Ismail Thanseem
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India
| | - Mahesh Mundalil Vasu
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India
| | - Vijitha Viswambharan
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India
| | - Suresh A Poovathinal
- Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Palakkad, Kerala, India
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Zheng X, Wang X, Wang T, Zhang H, Wu H, Zhang C, Yu L, Guan Y. Gestational Exposure to Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) Leads to Spatial Memory Dysfunction and Neurodevelopmental Impairment in Hippocampus of Mice Offspring. Front Neurosci 2019; 12:1000. [PMID: 30666183 PMCID: PMC6330280 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.01000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to air pollutants has long-term impact on growth retardation of nervous system development and is related to central nervous system diseases in children. However, it is not well-characterized whether gestational exposure to air pollutants affects the development of nervous system in offspring. Here, we investigated the effects of gestational exposure to particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) on hippocampus development in mice offspring, through neurobehavioral, ultrastructural, biochemical and molecular investigations. We found that spatial memory in mice offspring from PM2.5 high-dosage group was impaired. Next, hippocampal ultrastructure of the mice offspring in puberty exhibited mitochondrial damage related to PM2.5 exposure. Interestingly, EdU-positive cells in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of offspring from PM2.5 high-dosage group decreased, with NeuN+/EdU+cells reduced significantly. Furthermore, the numbers of NeuN+/TUNEL+, GFAP+/TUNEL+, and Iba1+/TUNEL+ double-labeled cells increased with PM2.5 exposure in a dosage-dependent manner. In addition, gestational exposure to PM2.5 resulted in increased levels of both mRNAs and proteins involved in apoptosis, including caspase-3, -8, -9, p53, and c-Fos, and decreased Bcl-2/Bax ratios in the hippocampus of mice offspring. Moreover, gestational exposure to PM2.5 was dosage-dependently associated with the increased secretions of inflammatory proteins, including NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Collectively, our results suggest that gestational exposure to PM2.5 leads to spatial memory dysfunction and neurodevelopmental impairment by exerting effects on apoptotic and neuroinflammatory events, as well as the neurogenesis in hippocampus of mice offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinrui Zheng
- Neurologic Disorders and Regeneration Repair Lab of Shandong Higher Education, Department of Histology and Embryology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Xia Wang
- School of Public Health and Management, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- Neurologic Disorders and Regeneration Repair Lab of Shandong Higher Education, Department of Histology and Embryology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Hongxia Zhang
- Neurologic Disorders and Regeneration Repair Lab of Shandong Higher Education, Department of Histology and Embryology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Hongjuan Wu
- Neurologic Disorders and Regeneration Repair Lab of Shandong Higher Education, Department of Histology and Embryology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Can Zhang
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Li Yu
- Neurologic Disorders and Regeneration Repair Lab of Shandong Higher Education, Department of Histology and Embryology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Yingjun Guan
- Neurologic Disorders and Regeneration Repair Lab of Shandong Higher Education, Department of Histology and Embryology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
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26
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Zhou QG, Zhu XH, Nemes AD, Zhu DY. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase and affective disorders. IBRO Rep 2018; 5:116-132. [PMID: 30591953 PMCID: PMC6303682 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibror.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Affective disorders including major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BPD), and general anxiety affect more than 10% of population in the world. Notably, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), a downstream signal molecule of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) activation, is abundant in many regions of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus, amygdala, dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), locus coeruleus (LC), and hypothalamus, which are closely associated with the pathophysiology of affective disorders. Decreased levels of the neurotransmitters including 5-hydroxytryptamine or serotonin (5-HT), noradrenalin (NA), and dopamine (DA) as well as hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are common pathological changes of MDD, BPD, and anxiety. Increasing data suggests that nNOS in the hippocampus play a crucial role in the etiology of MDD whereas nNOS-related dysregulation of the nitrergic system in the LC is closely associated with the pathogenesis of BPD. Moreover, hippocampal nNOS is implicated in the role of serotonin receptor 1 A (5-HTR1 A) in modulating anxiety behaviors. Augment of nNOS and its carboxy-terminal PDZ ligand (CAPON) complex mediate stress-induced anxiety and disrupting the nNOS-CAPON interaction by small molecular drug generates anxiolytic effect. To date, however, the function of nNOS in affective disorders is not well reviewed. Here, we summarize works about nNOS and its signal mechanisms implicated in the pathophysiology of affective disorders. On the basis of this review, it is suggested that future research should more fully focus on the role of nNOS in the pathomechanism and treatment of affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Gang Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, PR China
| | - Xian-Hui Zhu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, PR China
| | - Ashley D Nemes
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA
| | - Dong-Ya Zhu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, PR China
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Liu MY, Nemes A, Zhou QG. The Emerging Roles for Telomerase in the Central Nervous System. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:160. [PMID: 29867352 PMCID: PMC5964194 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomerase, a specialized ribonucleoprotein enzyme complex, maintains telomere length at the 3′ end of chromosomes, and functions importantly in stem cells, cancer and aging. Telomerase exists in neural stem cells (NSCs) and neural progenitor cells (NPCs), at a high level in the developing and adult brains of humans and rodents. Increasing studies have demonstrated that telomerase in NSCs/NPCs plays important roles in cell proliferation, neuronal differentiation, neuronal survival and neuritogenesis. In addition, recent works have shown that telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) can protect newborn neurons from apoptosis and excitotoxicity. However, to date, the link between telomerase and diseases in the central nervous system (CNS) is not well reviewed. Here, we analyze the evidence and summarize the important roles of telomerase in the CNS. Understanding the roles of telomerase in the nervous system is not only important to gain further insight into the process of the neural cell life cycle but would also provide novel therapeutic applications in CNS diseases such as neurodegenerative condition, mood disorders, aging and other ailments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Ying Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Ashley Nemes
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Qi-Gang Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
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