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Makoudjou MA, Fico E, Rosso P, Triaca V, De Simone L, Rossetti D, Cattani F, Allegretti M, Tirassa P. ProNGF processing in adult rat tissues and bioactivity of NGF prodomain peptides. FEBS Open Bio 2024; 14:643-654. [PMID: 38429912 PMCID: PMC10988682 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13768] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The neurotrophin nerve growth factor (NGF) and its precursor proNGF are both bioactive and exert similar or opposite actions depending on the cell target and its milieu. The balance between NGF and proNGF is crucial for cell and tissue homeostasis and it is considered an indicator of pathological conditions. Proteolytical cleavage of proNGF to the mature form results in different fragments, whose function and/or bioactivity is still unclear. The present study was conducted to investigate the distribution of proNGF fragments derived from endogenous cleavage in brain and peripheral tissues of adult rats in the healthy condition and following inflammatory lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Different anti-proNGF antibodies were tested and the presence of short peptides corresponding to the prodomain sequence (pdNGFpep) was identified. Processing of proNGF was found to be tissue-specific and accumulation of pdNGFpeps was found in inflamed tissues, mainly in testis, intestine and heart, suggesting a possible correlation between organ functions and a response to insults and/or injury. The bioactivity of pdNGFpep was also demonstrated in vitro by using primary hippocampal neurons. Our study supports a biological function for the NGF precursor prodomain and indicates that short peptides from residues 1-60, differing from the 70-110 sequence, induce apoptosis, thereby opening the way for identification of new molecular targets to study pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Anne Makoudjou
- Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of BiologyUniversity of Rome “Tor Vergata”RomeItaly
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC)National Research Council (CNR)RomeItaly
| | - Elena Fico
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC)National Research Council (CNR)RomeItaly
| | - Pamela Rosso
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC)National Research Council (CNR)RomeItaly
| | - Viviana Triaca
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC)National Research Council (CNR)Campus A. Buzzati‐Traverso, MonterotondoRomeItaly
| | | | | | | | | | - Paola Tirassa
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC)National Research Council (CNR)RomeItaly
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Malerba F, Florio R, Arisi I, Zecca C, Dell’Abate MT, Logroscino G, Cattaneo A. Cerebrospinal fluid level of proNGF as potential diagnostic biomarker in patients with frontotemporal dementia. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 15:1298307. [PMID: 38332808 PMCID: PMC10850263 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1298307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is an extremely heterogeneous and complex neurodegenerative disease, exhibiting different phenotypes, genetic backgrounds, and pathological states. Due to these characteristics, and to the fact that clinical symptoms overlap with those of other neurodegenerative diseases or psychiatric disorders, the diagnosis based only on the clinical evaluation is very difficult. The currently used biomarkers help in the clinical diagnosis, but are insufficient and do not cover all the clinical needs. Methods By the means of a new immunoassay, we have measured and analyzed the proNGF levels in 43 cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) from FTD patients, and compared the results to those obtained in CSF from 84 Alzheimer's disease (AD), 15 subjective memory complaints (SMC) and 13 control subjects. Results A statistically significant difference between proNGF levels in FTD compared to AD, SMC and controls subjects was found. The statistical models reveal that proNGF determination increases the accuracy of FTD diagnosis, if added to the clinically validated CSF biomarkers. Discussion These results suggest that proNGF could be included in a panel of biomarkers to improve the FTD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Malerba
- Fondazione European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Florio
- Fondazione European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivan Arisi
- Fondazione European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology – National Research Council (IFT-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Zecca
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari “Aldo Moro” at “Pia Fondazione Card G. Panico” Hospital Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Dell’Abate
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari “Aldo Moro” at “Pia Fondazione Card G. Panico” Hospital Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari “Aldo Moro” at “Pia Fondazione Card G. Panico” Hospital Tricase, Lecce, Italy
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Fondazione European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
- BIO@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
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Mirzahosseini G, Adam JM, Nasoohi S, El-Remessy AB, Ishrat T. Lost in Translation: Neurotrophins Biology and Function in the Neurovascular Unit. Neuroscientist 2023; 29:694-714. [PMID: 35769016 DOI: 10.1177/10738584221104982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The neurovascular unit (NVU) refers to the functional building unit of the brain and the retina, where neurons, glia, and microvasculature orchestrate to meet the demand of the retina's and brain's function. Neurotrophins (NTs) are structural families of secreted proteins and are known for exerting neurotrophic effects on neuronal differentiation, survival, neurite outgrowth, synaptic formation, and plasticity. NTs include several molecules, such as nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, NT-3, NT-4, and their precursors. Furthermore, NTs are involved in signaling pathways such as inflammation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis in a nonneuronal cell type. Interestingly, NTs and the precursors can bind and activate the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) at low and high affinity. Mature NTs bind their cognate tropomyosin/tyrosine-regulated kinase receptors, crucial for maintenance and neuronal development in the brain and retina axis. Activation of p75NTR results in neuronal apoptosis and cell death, while tropomysin receptor kinase upregulation contributes to differentiation and cell growth. Recent findings indicate that modulation of NTs and their receptors contribute to neurovascular dysfunction in the NVU. Several chronic metabolic and acute ischemic diseases affect the NVU, including diabetic and ischemic retinopathy for the retina, as well as stroke, acute encephalitis, and traumatic brain injury for the brain. This work aims to review the current evidence through published literature studying the impact of NTs and their receptors, including the p75NTR receptor, on the injured and healthy brain-retina axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Golnoush Mirzahosseini
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Justin Mark Adam
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sanaz Nasoohi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Tauheed Ishrat
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
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Dasgupta S, Montroull LE, Pandya MA, Zanin JP, Wang W, Wu Z, Friedman WJ. Cortical Brain Injury Causes Retrograde Degeneration of Afferent Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons via the p75NTR. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0067-23.2023. [PMID: 37558465 PMCID: PMC10467018 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0067-23.2023] [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: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) elicits neuronal loss at the site of injury and progressive neuronal loss in the penumbra. However, the consequences of TBI on afferent neurons projecting to the injured tissue from distal locations is unknown. Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) extend long projections to multiple brain regions including the cortex, regulate many cognitive functions, and are compromised in numerous neurodegenerative disorders. To determine the consequence of cortical injury on these afferent neurons, we used the fluid percussion injury model of traumatic brain injury and assessed the effects on BFCN survival and axon integrity in male and female mice. Survival or death of BF neurons can be regulated by neurotrophins or proneurotrophins, respectively. The injury elicited an induction of proNGF and proBDNF in the cortex and a loss of BFCNs ipsilateral to the injury compared with sham uninjured mice. The p75NTR knock-out mice did not show loss of BFCN neurons, indicating a retrograde degenerative effect of the cortical injury on the afferent BFCNs mediated through p75NTR. In contrast, locus ceruleus neurons, which also project throughout the cortex, were unaffected by the injury, suggesting specificity in retrograde degeneration after cortical TBI. Proneurotrophins (proNTs) provided directly to basal forebrain axons in microfluidic cultures triggered retrograde axonal degeneration and cell death, which did not occur in the absence of p75NTR. This study shows that after traumatic brain injury, proNTs induced in the injured cortex promote BFCN axonal degeneration and retrograde neuron loss through p75NTR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srestha Dasgupta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102
| | - Laura E Montroull
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102
| | - Mansi A Pandya
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102
| | - Juan P Zanin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102
| | - Wei Wang
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
| | - Zhuhao Wu
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Research Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 10021
| | - Wilma J Friedman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey 07102
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The Nerve Growth Factor Receptor (NGFR/p75 NTR): A Major Player in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043200. [PMID: 36834612 PMCID: PMC9965628 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents the most prevalent type of dementia in elderly people, primarily characterized by brain accumulation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptides, derived from Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP), in the extracellular space (amyloid plaques) and intracellular deposits of the hyperphosphorylated form of the protein tau (p-tau; tangles or neurofibrillary aggregates). The Nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR/p75NTR) represents a low-affinity receptor for all known mammalians neurotrophins (i.e., proNGF, NGF, BDNF, NT-3 e NT-4/5) and it is involved in pathways that determine both survival and death of neurons. Interestingly, also Aβ peptides can blind to NGFR/p75NTR making it the "ideal" candidate in mediating Aβ-induced neuropathology. In addition to pathogenesis and neuropathology, several data indicated that NGFR/p75NTR could play a key role in AD also from a genetic perspective. Other studies suggested that NGFR/p75NTR could represent a good diagnostic tool, as well as a promising therapeutic target for AD. Here, we comprehensively summarize and review the current experimental evidence on this topic.
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ProNGF Expression and Targeting in Glioblastoma Multiforme. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021616. [PMID: 36675126 PMCID: PMC9863529 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021616] [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: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal adult brain cancer. Temozolomide (TMZ), the standard chemotherapeutic drug used in GBM, has limited benefit and alternate therapies are needed to improve GBM treatment. Nerve growth factor (NGF) and its precursor proNGF are increasingly recognized as stimulators of human tumor progression. The expression and stimulatory effect of NGF on GBM cell growth has previously been reported, but the status of proNGF in GBM is unreported. In this study, we have investigated proNGF expression and biological activity in GBM. A clinical cohort of GBM (n = 72) and low-grade glioma (n = 20) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry for proNGF and digital quantification. ProNGF expression was significantly increased in GBM compared to low grade gliomas and proNGF was also detected in patient plasma samples. ProNGF was also detected in most GBM cell lines by Western blotting. Although anti-proNGF blocking antibodies inhibited cell growth in GBM cells with methylated MGMT gene promoter, targeting proNGF could not potentiate the efficacy of TMZ. In subcutaneous xenograft of human GBM cells, anti-proNGF antibodies slightly reduced tumor volume but had no impact on TMZ efficacy. In conclusion, this data reveals that proNGF is overexpressed in GBM and can stimulate cancer cell growth. The potential of proNGF as a clinical biomarker and therapeutic target warrants further investigations.
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Murray TE, Richards CM, Robert-Gostlin VN, Bernath AK, Lindhout IA, Klegeris A. Potential neurotoxic activity of diverse molecules released by astrocytes. Brain Res Bull 2022; 189:80-101. [PMID: 35988785 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are the main support cells of the central nervous system. They also participate in neuroimmune reactions. In response to pathological and immune stimuli, astrocytes transform to reactive states characterized by increased release of inflammatory mediators. Some of these molecules are neuroprotective and inflammation resolving while others, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)- 9, L-glutamate, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF), are well-established toxins known to cause damage to surrounding cells and tissues. We hypothesized that similar to microglia, the brain immune cells, reactive astrocytes can release a broader set of diverse molecules that are potentially neurotoxic. A literature search was conducted to identify such molecules using the following two criteria: 1) evidence of their expression and secretion by astrocytes and 2) direct neurotoxic action. This review describes 14 structurally diverse molecules as less-established astrocyte neurotoxins, including C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)10, CXCL12/CXCL12(5-67), FS-7-associated surface antigen ligand (FasL), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)- 2α, TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF), pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF), chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), cathepsin (Cat)B, group IIA secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-IIA), amyloid beta peptides (Aβ), high mobility group box (HMGB)1, ceramides, and lipocalin (LCN)2. For some of these molecules, further studies are required to establish either their direct neurotoxic effects or the full spectrum of stimuli that induce their release by astrocytes. Only limited studies with human-derived astrocytes and neurons are available for most of these potential neurotoxins, which is a knowledge gap that should be addressed in the future. We also summarize available evidence of the role these molecules play in select neuropathologies where reactive astrocytes are a key feature. A comprehensive understanding of the full spectrum of neurotoxins released by reactive astrocytes is key to understanding neuroinflammatory diseases characterized by the adverse activation of these cells and may guide the development of novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taryn E Murray
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Christy M Richards
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Victoria N Robert-Gostlin
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Anna K Bernath
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Ivan A Lindhout
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Andis Klegeris
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada.
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Electroacupuncture promotes apoptosis and inhibits axonogenesis by activating p75 neurotrophin receptor for triple-negative breast xenograft in mice. J Chem Neuroanat 2022; 124:102133. [PMID: 35777527 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2022.102133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-tumor effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on mice bearing breast tumors by regulating p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) and remodelling intratumoral innervation. METHODS Female BALB/c mice were implanted with 4T1 breast tumor cells to establish a murine mammary cancer model. Tumor volume and weight were measured to evaluate tumor growth. Cell apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL assay. The relative expression of p75NTR, TrkA, TrkB, NGF and proNGF were detected by immunohistochemistry. Neurotransmitter and neurotrophin were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intratumoral innervation was confirmed by β3-tubulin and TH labeling immunohistochemistry. The antagonist TAT-Pep5 was employed to determine if the effects of EA on tumor growth and cell apoptosis were mediated by p75NTR. RESULTS Peritumoral EA alleviated tumor growth especially after 14 days of intervention. Apoptosis index in the tumor tissue was obviously decreased after EA. Meanwhile, EA intervention significantly upregulated the expression of p75NTR and proNGF, along with a decline in the tumor growth and an increase in the cell apoptosis. Besides, EA reduced local sympathetic innervation and downregulated sympathetic neurotransmitter NE level in the local tumor. Furthermore, p75NTR antagonist alleviated EA-mediated cell apoptosis and intratumoral innervation. CONCLUSIONS One mechanism of EA intervention for alleviating tumor progression is mediated by p75NTR to promote apoptosis and decrease intratumoral axonogenesis in the tumor microenvironment.
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Capsoni S, Arisi I, Malerba F, D’Onofrio M, Cattaneo A, Cherubini E. Targeting the Cation-Chloride Co-Transporter NKCC1 to Re-Establish GABAergic Inhibition and an Appropriate Excitatory/Inhibitory Balance in Selective Neuronal Circuits: A Novel Approach for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12060783. [PMID: 35741668 PMCID: PMC9221351 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12060783] [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: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult brain, depolarizes and excites immature neurons because of an initially higher intracellular chloride concentration [Cl-]i due to the delayed expression of the chloride exporter KCC2 at birth. Depolarization-induced calcium rise via NMDA receptors and voltage-dependent calcium channels is instrumental in shaping neuronal circuits and in controlling the excitatory (E)/inhibitory (I) balance in selective brain areas. An E/I imbalance accounts for cognitive impairment observed in several neuropsychiatric disorders. The aim of this review is to summarize recent data on the mechanisms by which alterations of GABAergic signaling alter the E/I balance in cortical and hippocampal neurons in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the role of cation-chloride co-transporters in this process. In particular, we discuss the NGF and AD relationship and how mice engineered to express recombinant neutralizing anti-NGF antibodies (AD11 mice), which develop a neurodegenerative pathology reminiscent of that observed in AD patients, exhibit a depolarizing action of GABA due to KCC2 impairment. Treating AD and other forms of dementia with bumetanide, a selective KCC2 antagonist, contributes to re-establishing a proper E/I balance in selective brain areas, leading to amelioration of AD symptoms and the slowing down of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Capsoni
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Section of Physiology, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Ivan Arisi
- Fondazione European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rita Levi-Montalcini, 00161 Rome, Italy; (I.A.); (F.M.); (M.D.)
| | - Francesca Malerba
- Fondazione European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rita Levi-Montalcini, 00161 Rome, Italy; (I.A.); (F.M.); (M.D.)
| | - Mara D’Onofrio
- Fondazione European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rita Levi-Montalcini, 00161 Rome, Italy; (I.A.); (F.M.); (M.D.)
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Fondazione European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rita Levi-Montalcini, 00161 Rome, Italy; (I.A.); (F.M.); (M.D.)
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (E.C.); Tel.: +39-050-509320 (A.C.); +39-06-49255255 (E.C.)
| | - Enrico Cherubini
- Fondazione European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rita Levi-Montalcini, 00161 Rome, Italy; (I.A.); (F.M.); (M.D.)
- Correspondence: (A.C.); (E.C.); Tel.: +39-050-509320 (A.C.); +39-06-49255255 (E.C.)
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OUP accepted manuscript. Brain 2022; 145:2250-2275. [DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Lin PH, Kuo LT, Luh HT. The Roles of Neurotrophins in Traumatic Brain Injury. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 12:life12010026. [PMID: 35054419 PMCID: PMC8780368 DOI: 10.3390/life12010026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Neurotrophins are a collection of structurally and functionally related proteins. They play important roles in many aspects of neural development, survival, and plasticity. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to different levels of central nervous tissue destruction and cellular repair through various compensatory mechanisms promoted by the injured brain. Many studies have shown that neurotrophins are key modulators of neuroinflammation, apoptosis, blood–brain barrier permeability, memory capacity, and neurite regeneration. The expression of neurotrophins following TBI is affected by the severity of injury, genetic polymorphism, and different post-traumatic time points. Emerging research is focused on the potential therapeutic applications of neurotrophins in managing TBI. We conducted a comprehensive review by organizing the studies that demonstrate the role of neurotrophins in the management of TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Hung Lin
- Department of Medical Education, School of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan;
| | - Lu-Ting Kuo
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan;
| | - Hui-Tzung Luh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan
- Taipei Neuroscience Institute, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 235, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-956279587
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Do Carmo S, Kannel B, Cuello AC. The Nerve Growth Factor Metabolic Pathway Dysregulation as Cause of Alzheimer's Cholinergic Atrophy. Cells 2021; 11:16. [PMID: 35011577 PMCID: PMC8750266 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The cause of the loss of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) and their terminal synapses in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has provoked a decades-long controversy. The cholinergic phenotype of this neuronal system, involved in numerous cognitive mechanisms, is tightly dependent on the target-derived nerve growth factor (NGF). Consequently, the loss of BFCNs cholinergic phenotype in AD was initially suspected to be due to an NGF trophic failure. However, in AD there is a normal NGF synthesis and abundance of the NGF precursor (proNGF), therefore the NGF trophic failure hypothesis for the atrophy of BCNs was abandoned. In this review, we discuss the history of NGF-dependency of BFCNs and the atrophy of these neurons in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Further to it, we propose that trophic factor failure explains the BFCNs atrophy in AD. We discuss evidence of the occurrence of a brain NGF metabolic pathway, the dysregulation of which, in AD explains the severe deficiency of NGF trophic support for the maintenance of BFCNs cholinergic phenotype. Finally, we revise recent evidence that the NGF metabolic dysregulation in AD pathology starts at preclinical stages. We also propose that the alteration of NGF metabolism-related markers in body fluids might assist in the AD preclinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Do Carmo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada;
| | - Benjamin Kannel
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada;
| | - A. Claudio Cuello
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada;
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada;
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C7, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
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Malerba F, Arisi I, Florio R, Zecca C, Dell'Abate MT, Bruni Ercole B, Camerini S, Casella M, Logroscino G, Cattaneo A. proNGF Measurement in Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples of a Large Cohort of Living Patients With Alzheimer's Disease by a New Automated Immunoassay. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:741414. [PMID: 34776928 PMCID: PMC8579109 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.741414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of new biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is essential for an accurate diagnosis, to conceive new strategies of treatments, and for monitoring the efficacy of potential disease-modifying therapies in clinical trials. proNGF levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) represent a promising diagnostic biomarker for AD, but its validation was hampered by the absence of a reliable immunoassay. In the literature, proNGF is currently measured in postmortem brain tissue by semiquantitative immunoblot. Here we describe the development and validation of a new method to measure proNGF in the CSF of living patients. This method, based on molecular size separation by capillary electrophoresis, is automated and shows a 40-fold increase in sensitivity with respect to the proNGF immunoblot, largely used in literature, and is robust, specific, and scalable to high-throughput. We have measured proNGF in the cerebrospinal fluid of 84 living patients with AD, 13 controls, and 15 subjective memory complaints (SMC) subjects. By comparing the proNGF levels in the three groups, we found a very significant difference between proNGF levels in AD samples compared with both controls and SMC subjects, while no significant difference was found between SMC and controls. Because of the development of this new immunoassay, we are ready to explore the potentiality of proNGF as a new biomarker for AD or subgroups thereof, as well as for other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Malerba
- Fondazione EBRI (European Brain Research Institute) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivan Arisi
- Fondazione EBRI (European Brain Research Institute) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy.,Institute of Translational Pharmacology - National Research Council (IFT-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Florio
- Fondazione EBRI (European Brain Research Institute) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Zecca
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari "Aldo Moro" at "Pia Fondazione Card. G. Panico" Hospital Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Dell'Abate
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari "Aldo Moro" at "Pia Fondazione Card. G. Panico" Hospital Tricase, Lecce, Italy
| | - Bruno Bruni Ercole
- Fondazione EBRI (European Brain Research Institute) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Giancarlo Logroscino
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari "Aldo Moro" at "Pia Fondazione Card. G. Panico" Hospital Tricase, Lecce, Italy.,Department of Basic Medicine Sciences, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Fondazione EBRI (European Brain Research Institute) Rita Levi-Montalcini, Rome, Italy.,BIO@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
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14
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proNGF Involvement in the Adult Neurogenesis Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910744. [PMID: 34639085 PMCID: PMC8509282 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, neurogenesis in the adult brain has been well demonstrated in a number of animal species, including humans. Interestingly, work with rodents has shown that adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus is vital for some cognitive aspects, as increasing neurogenesis improves memory, while its disruption triggers the opposite effect. Adult neurogenesis declines with age and has been suggested to play a role in impaired progressive learning and memory loss seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, therapeutic strategies designed to boost adult hippocampal neurogenesis may be beneficial for the treatment of AD. The precursor forms of neurotrophins, such as pro-NGF, display remarkable increase during AD in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. In contrast to mature NGF, pro-NGF exerts adverse functions in survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Hence, we hypothesized that pro-NGF and its p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) contribute to disrupting adult hippocampal neurogenesis during AD. To test this hypothesis, in this study, we took advantage of the availability of mouse models of AD (APP/PS1), which display memory impairment, and AD human samples to address the role of pro-NGF/p75NTR signaling in different aspects of adult neurogenesis. First, we observed that DG doublecortin (DCX) + progenitors express p75NTR both, in healthy humans and control animals, although the percentage of DCX+ cells are significantly reduced in AD. Interestingly, the expression of p75NTR in these progenitors is significantly decreased in AD conditions compared to controls. In order to assess the contribution of the pro-NGF/p75NTR pathway to the memory deficits of APP/PS1 mice, we injected pro-NGF neutralizing antibodies (anti-proNGF) into the DG of control and APP/PS1 mice and animals are subjected to a Morris water maze test. Intriguingly, we observed that anti-pro-NGF significantly restored memory performance of APP/PS1 animals and significantly increase the percentage of DCX+ progenitors in the DG region of these animals. In summary, our results suggest that pro-NGF is involved in disrupting spatial memory in AD, at least in part by blocking adult neurogenesis. Moreover, we propose that adult neurogenesis alteration should be taken into consideration for better understanding of AD pathology. Additionally, we provide a new molecular entry point (pro-NGF/p75NTR signaling) as a promising therapeutic target in AD.
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15
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Pentz R, Iulita MF, Ducatenzeiler A, Bennett DA, Cuello AC. The human brain NGF metabolic pathway is impaired in the pre-clinical and clinical continuum of Alzheimers disease. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:6023-6037. [PMID: 32488129 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0797-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The NGF metabolic pathway entails the proteins that mature pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF) to NGF and those that degrade NGF. Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons require NGF for maintenance of cholinergic phenotype, are critical for cognition, and degenerate early in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In AD, NGF metabolism is altered, but it is not known whether this is an early phenomenon, nor how it relates to AD pathology and symptomology. We acquired dorsolateral/medial prefrontal cortex samples from individuals with Alzheimer's dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), or no cognitive impairment with high (HA-NCI) and low (LA-NCI) brain Aβ from the Religious Orders Study. Cortical proNGF protein, but not mRNA, was higher in AD, MCI, and HA-NCI, while mature NGF was lower. Plasminogen protein was higher in MCI and AD brain tissue, with plasminogen mRNA not likewise elevated, suggesting diminished activation of the proNGF convertase, plasmin. The plasminogen activator tPA was lower in HA-NCI while neuroserpin, the CNS tPA inhibitor, was higher in AD and MCI cortical samples. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), which degrades NGF, was overactive in MCI and AD. Transcription of the MMP9 inhibitor TIMP1 was lower in HA-NCI. ProNGF levels correlated with plasminogen, neuroserpin, and VAChT while NGF correlated with MMP9 activity. In NCI, proNGF correlated with cerebral Aβ and tau deposition and to cognitive performance. In summary, proNGF maturation is impaired in preclinical and clinical AD while mature NGF degradation is enhanced. These differences correlate with cognition, pathology, and cholinergic tone, and may suggest novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan Pentz
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - M Florencia Iulita
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Adriana Ducatenzeiler
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada. .,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada. .,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada. .,Department of Pharmacology, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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16
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Cuello AC. Rita Levi-Montalcini, NGF Metabolism in Health and in the Alzheimer's Pathology. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1331:119-144. [PMID: 34453296 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-74046-7_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This chapter relates biographic personal and scientific interactions with Rita Levi-Montalcini. It highlights research from our laboratory inspired by Rita's fundamental discovery. This work from studies on potentially neuro-reparative gangliosides, their interactions with NGF, the role of exogenous NGF in the recovery of degenerating cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain to the evidence that endogenous NGF maintains the "day-to-day" cortical synaptic phenotype and the discovery of a novel CNS "NGF metabolic pathway." This brain pathway's conceptual platform allowed the investigation of its status during the Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. This revealed a major compromise of the conversion of the NGF precursor molecule (proNGF) into the most biologically active molecule, mature NGF (mNGF). Furthermore, in this pathology, we found enhanced protein levels and enzymatic activity of the proteases responsible for the proteolytic degradation of mNGF. A biochemical prospect explaining the tropic factor vulnerability of the NGF-dependent basal forebrain cholinergic neurons and of their synaptic terminals. The NGF deregulation of this metabolic pathway is evident at preclinical stages and reflected in body fluid particularly in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The findings of a deregulation of the NGF metabolic pathway and its reflection in plasma and CSF are opening doors for the development of novel biomarkers for preclinical detection of AD pathology both in Alzheimer's and in Down syndrome (DS) with "silent" AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Cantero JL, Atienza M, Lage C, Zaborszky L, Vilaplana E, Lopez-Garcia S, Pozueta A, Rodriguez-Rodriguez E, Blesa R, Alcolea D, Lleo A, Sanchez-Juan P, Fortea J. Atrophy of Basal Forebrain Initiates with Tau Pathology in Individuals at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease. Cereb Cortex 2021; 30:2083-2098. [PMID: 31799623 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence suggests that the basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic system degenerates early in the course of Alzheimer's disease (AD), likely due to the vulnerability of BF cholinergic neurons to tau pathology. However, it remains unclear whether the presence of tauopathy is the only requirement for initiating the BF degeneration in asymptomatic subjects at risk for AD (AR-AD), and how BF structural deficits evolve from normal aging to preclinical and prodromal AD. Here, we provide human in vivo magnetic resonance imaging evidence supporting that abnormal cerebrospinal fluid levels of phosphorylated tau (T+) are selectively associated with bilateral volume loss of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM, Ch4) in AR-AD individuals. Spreading of atrophy to medial septum and vertical limb of diagonal band Broca (Ch1-Ch2) occurred in both preclinical and prodromal AD. With the exception of A+, all groups revealed significant correlations between volume reduction of BF cholinergic compartments and atrophy of their innervated regions. Overall, these results support the central role played by tauopathy in instigating the nbM degeneration in AR-AD individuals and the necessary coexistence of both AD proteinopathies for spreading damage to larger BF territories, thus affecting the core of the BF cholinergic projection system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose L Cantero
- Laboratory of Functional Neuroscience, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013 Seville, Spain
- CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Atienza
- Laboratory of Functional Neuroscience, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013 Seville, Spain
- CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Lage
- CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Service of Neurology, IDIVAL, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, 39008 Santander, Spain
| | - Laszlo Zaborszky
- Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, 07102 NJ, USA
| | - Eduard Vilaplana
- CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Neurology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques Sant Pau-Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Lopez-Garcia
- CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Service of Neurology, IDIVAL, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, 39008 Santander, Spain
| | - Ana Pozueta
- CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Service of Neurology, IDIVAL, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, 39008 Santander, Spain
| | - Eloy Rodriguez-Rodriguez
- CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Service of Neurology, IDIVAL, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, 39008 Santander, Spain
| | - Rafael Blesa
- CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Neurology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques Sant Pau-Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Alcolea
- CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Neurology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques Sant Pau-Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alberto Lleo
- CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Neurology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques Sant Pau-Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pascual Sanchez-Juan
- CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Service of Neurology, IDIVAL, University Hospital Marques de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, 39008 Santander, Spain
| | - Juan Fortea
- CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Neurology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques Sant Pau-Hospital Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
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18
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Do Carmo S, Kannel B, Cuello AC. Nerve Growth Factor Compromise in Down Syndrome. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:719507. [PMID: 34434101 PMCID: PMC8381049 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.719507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The basal forebrain cholinergic system relies on trophic support by nerve growth factor (NGF) to maintain its phenotype and function. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) undergo progressive atrophy, suggesting a deficit in NGF trophic support. Within the central nervous system, NGF maturation and degradation are tightly regulated by an activity-dependent metabolic cascade. Here, we present a brief overview of the characteristics of Alzheimer's pathology in Down syndrome (DS) with an emphasis on this NGF metabolic pathway's disruption during the evolving Alzheimer's pathology. Such NGF dysmetabolism is well-established in Alzheimer's brains with advanced pathology and has been observed in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and non-demented individuals with elevated brain amyloid levels. As individuals with DS inexorably develop AD, we then review findings that support the existence of a similar NGF dysmetabolism in DS coinciding with atrophy of the basal forebrain cholinergic system. Lastly, we discuss the potential of NGF-related biomarkers as indicators of an evolving Alzheimer's pathology in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Do Carmo
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Benjamin Kannel
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom
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19
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Franco ML, García-Carpio I, Comaposada-Baró R, Escribano-Saiz JJ, Chávez-Gutiérrez L, Vilar M. TrkA-mediated endocytosis of p75-CTF prevents cholinergic neuron death upon γ-secretase inhibition. Life Sci Alliance 2021; 4:4/4/e202000844. [PMID: 33536237 PMCID: PMC7898468 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202000844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The findings shed light into the adverse effects of GSIs observed in the Alzheimer’s field and explain, at least in part, the unexpected worsening in cognition observed in the semagacestat Phase 3 trial. γ-secretase inhibitors (GSI) were developed to reduce the generation of Aβ peptide to find new Alzheimer’s disease treatments. Clinical trials on Alzheimer’s disease patients, however, showed several side effects that worsened the cognitive symptoms of the treated patients. The observed side effects were partially attributed to Notch signaling. However, the effect on other γ-secretase substrates, such as the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) has not been studied in detail. p75NTR is highly expressed in the basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) during all life. Here, we show that GSI treatment induces the oligomerization of p75CTF leading to the cell death of BFCNs, and that this event is dependent on TrkA activity. The oligomerization of p75CTF requires an intact cholesterol recognition sequence (CRAC) and the constitutive binding of TRAF6, which activates the JNK and p38 pathways. Remarkably, TrkA rescues from cell death by a mechanism involving the endocytosis of p75CTF. These results suggest that the inhibition of γ-secretase activity in aged patients, where the expression of TrkA in the BFCNs is already reduced, could accelerate cholinergic dysfunction and promote neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Luisa Franco
- Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration Unit, Institute of Biomedicine of València (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
| | - Irmina García-Carpio
- Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration Unit, Institute of Biomedicine of València (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
| | - Raquel Comaposada-Baró
- Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration Unit, Institute of Biomedicine of València (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
| | - Juan J Escribano-Saiz
- Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration Unit, Institute of Biomedicine of València (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
| | - Lucía Chávez-Gutiérrez
- Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie Katholieke Universiteit (VIB-KU) Leuven Center for Brain and Disease, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marçal Vilar
- Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration Unit, Institute of Biomedicine of València (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
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20
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Ozalp O, Cark O, Azbazdar Y, Haykir B, Cucun G, Kucukaylak I, Alkan-Yesilyurt G, Sezgin E, Ozhan G. Nradd Acts as a Negative Feedback Regulator of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling and Promotes Apoptosis. Biomolecules 2021; 11:100. [PMID: 33466728 PMCID: PMC7828832 DOI: 10.3390/biom11010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling controls many biological processes for the generation and sustainability of proper tissue size, organization and function during development and homeostasis. Consequently, mutations in the Wnt pathway components and modulators cause diseases, including genetic disorders and cancers. Targeted treatment of pathway-associated diseases entails detailed understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that fine-tune Wnt signaling. Here, we identify the neurotrophin receptor-associated death domain (Nradd), a homolog of p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), as a negative regulator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in zebrafish embryos and in mammalian cells. Nradd significantly suppresses Wnt8-mediated patterning of the mesoderm and neuroectoderm during zebrafish gastrulation. Nradd is localized at the plasma membrane, physically interacts with the Wnt receptor complex and enhances apoptosis in cooperation with Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Our functional analyses indicate that the N-glycosylated N-terminus and the death domain-containing C-terminus regions are necessary for both the inhibition of Wnt signaling and apoptosis. Finally, Nradd can induce apoptosis in mammalian cells. Thus, Nradd regulates cell death as a modifier of Wnt/β-catenin signaling during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozgun Ozalp
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ozge Cark
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Yagmur Azbazdar
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Betul Haykir
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Institute of Physiology, Switzerland and National Center of Competence in Research NCCR Kidney, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gokhan Cucun
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ismail Kucukaylak
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Institute of Zoology-Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Gozde Alkan-Yesilyurt
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
| | - Erdinc Sezgin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden;
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, MRC Human Immunology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford OX39DS, UK
| | - Gunes Ozhan
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
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21
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Soligo M, Protto V, Chiaretti A, Piccinin S, De Stefano ME, Nisticò R, Bracci-Laudiero L, Manni L. Effects of intranasally-delivered pro-nerve growth factors on the septo-hippocampal system in healthy and diabetic rats. Neuropharmacology 2020; 176:108223. [PMID: 32681844 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF) is the predominant form of NGF in the brain and its levels increase in neurodegenerative diseases. The balance between NGF receptors may explain the contradictory biological activities of proNGF. However, the specific role of the two main proNGF variants is mostly unexplored. proNGF-A is prevalently expressed in healthy brain, while proNGF-B content increases in the neuro-degenerating brain. Recently we have investigated in vitro the biological action of native mouse proNGF variants. To gain further insights into the specific functions of the two proNGFs, here we intranasally delivered mouse-derived proNGF-A and proNGF-B to the brain parenchyma of healthy and diabetic rats, the latter characterized by dysfunction in spatial learning and memory, in the septo-hippocampal circuitry and by relative increase in proNGF-B hippocampal levels. Exogenous proNGF-B induces depression of hippocampal DG-LTP and impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis in healthy animals, with concomitant decrease in basal forebrain cholinergic neurons and cholinergic fibers projecting to the hippocampus. proNGF-A, while ineffective in healthy animals, rescues the diabetes-induced impairment in DG-LTP and hippocampal neurogenesis, promoting the concomitant recovery of the basal forebrain cholinergic phenotype. Our experimental evidences suggest that the balance between different proNGFs may influence the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Soligo
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Virginia Protto
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Chiaretti
- Institute of Pediatrics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maria Egle De Stefano
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Robert Nisticò
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Rome, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Bracci-Laudiero
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy; Division of Rheumatology and Immuno-Rheumatology Research Laboratories, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Manni
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy.
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Knockout of p75 neurotrophin receptor attenuates the hyperphosphorylation of Tau in pR5 mouse model. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 11:6762-6791. [PMID: 31479419 PMCID: PMC6756909 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, whether p75NTR is involved in Tau hyperphosphorylation, one of the pathologies observed in AD, remains unclear. In our previous study, the extracellular domain of p75NTR blocked amyloid beta (Aβ) toxicity and attenuated Aβ-induced Tau hyperphosphorylation. Here we show that, in the absence of Aβ, p75NTR regulates Tau phosphorylation in the transgenic mice with the P301L human Tau mutation (pR5). The knockout of p75NTR in pR5 mice attenuated the phosphorylation of human Tau. In addition, the elevated activity of kinases responsible for Tau phosphorylation including glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta; cyclin-dependent-kinase 5; and Rho-associated protein kinase was also inhibited when p75NTR is knocked out in pR5 mice at 9 months of age. The increased caspase-3 activity observed in pR5 mice was also abolished in the absence of p75NTR. Our study also showed that p75NTR is required for Aβ- and pro-brain derived neurotrophin factor (proBDNF)-induced Tau phosphorylation, in vitro. Overall, our data indicate that p75NTR is required for Tau phosphorylation, a key event in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, another hallmark of AD. Thus, targeting p75NTR could reduce or prevent the pathologic hyperphosphorylation of Tau.
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Pro-Nerve Growth Factor Induces Activation of RhoA Kinase and Neuronal Cell Death. Brain Sci 2019; 9:brainsci9080204. [PMID: 31430874 PMCID: PMC6721354 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9080204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that the expression of pro-nerve growth factor (proNGF) was significantly increased, nerve growth factor (NGF) level was decreased, and the expression of p75NTR was enhanced in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) hippocampal samples. NGF regulates cell survival and differentiation by binding TrkA and p75NTR receptors. ProNGF is the precursor form of NGF, binds to p75NTR, and induces cell apoptosis. The objective of this study is to determine whether the increased p75NTR expression in AD is due to the accumulation of proNGF and Rho kinase activation. PC12 cells were stimulated with either proNGF or NGF. Pull-down assay was carried out to determine the RhoA kinase activity. We found the expression of p75NTR was enhanced by proNGF compared to NGF. The proNGF stimulation also increased the RhoA kinase activity leading to apoptosis. The expression of active RhoA kinase was found to be increased in human AD hippocampus compared to control. The addition of RhoA kinase inhibitor Y27632 not only blocked the RhoA kinase activity but also reduced the expression of p75NTR receptor and inhibited the activation of JNK and MAPK induced by proNGF. This suggests that overexpression of proNGF in AD enhances p75NTR expression and activation of RhoA, leading to neuronal cell death.
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Mufson EJ, Counts SE, Ginsberg SD, Mahady L, Perez SE, Massa SM, Longo FM, Ikonomovic MD. Nerve Growth Factor Pathobiology During the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:533. [PMID: 31312116 PMCID: PMC6613497 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The current review summarizes the pathobiology of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its cognate receptors during the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Both transcript and protein data indicate that cholinotrophic neuronal dysfunction is related to an imbalance between TrkA-mediated survival signaling and the NGF precursor (proNGF)/p75NTR-mediated pro-apoptotic signaling, which may be related to alteration in the metabolism of NGF. Data indicate a spatiotemporal pattern of degeneration related to the evolution of tau pathology within cholinotrophic neuronal subgroups located within the nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM). Despite these degenerative events the cholinotrophic system is capable of cellular resilience and/or plasticity during the prodromal and later stages of the disease. In addition to neurotrophin dysfunction, studies indicate alterations in epigenetically regulated proteins occur within cholinotrophic nbM neurons during the progression of AD, suggesting a mechanism that may underlie changes in transcript expression. Findings that increased cerebrospinal fluid levels of proNGF mark the onset of MCI and the transition to AD suggests that this proneurotrophin is a potential disease biomarker. Novel therapeutics to treat NGF dysfunction include NGF gene therapy and the development of small molecule agonists for the cognate prosurvival NGF receptor TrkA and antagonists against the pan-neurotrophin p75NTR death receptor for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliott J. Mufson
- Department of Neurobiology and Neurology, Department of Neurobiology, and Department of Neurological Sciences, Alzheimer’s Disease Laboratory, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Scott E. Counts
- Translational Science and Molecular Medicine Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Stephen D. Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, and Physiology and NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Laura Mahady
- Department of Neurobiology and Neurology, Department of Neurobiology, and Department of Neurological Sciences, Alzheimer’s Disease Laboratory, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Sylvia E. Perez
- Department of Neurobiology and Neurology, Department of Neurobiology, and Department of Neurological Sciences, Alzheimer’s Disease Laboratory, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Stephen M. Massa
- Department of Neurology, San Francisco VA Health Care System, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Frank M. Longo
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Milos D. Ikonomovic
- Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Fleitas C, Piñol-Ripoll G, Marfull P, Rocandio D, Ferrer I, Rampon C, Egea J, Espinet C. proBDNF is modified by advanced glycation end products in Alzheimer's disease and causes neuronal apoptosis by inducing p75 neurotrophin receptor processing. Mol Brain 2018; 11:68. [PMID: 30428894 PMCID: PMC6237019 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-018-0411-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a complex pathology related to multiple causes including oxidative stress. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neutrotrophic factor essential for the survival and differentiation of neurons and is considered a key target in the pathophysiology of various neurodegenerative diseases, as for example AD. Contrarily to BDNF, the precursor form of BDNF (proBDNF) induces apoptosis through the specific interaction with p75 and its co-receptor, Sortilin. We used hippocampal tissue and cerebrospinal fluid from AD patients and controls. to study the localization and the levels of proBDNF, p75 and Sortilin as well as the post-traduccional modifications of proBDNF induced by Radical Oxygen Species, by immunofluorescence and Western blot. Differentiation and survival were assessed on differentiated mouse hippocampal neurons derived from postnatal neural stem cells from WT animals or from the transgenic AD animal model APP/PS1∆E9, based on mutations of familiar AD. In AD patients we observe a significative increase of proBDNF and Sortilin expression and a significative increase of the ratio proBDNF/BDNF in their cerebrospinal fluid compared to controls. In addition, the proBDNF of AD patients is modified by ROS-derived advanced glycation end products, which prevent the processing of the proBDNF to the mature BDNF, leading to an increase of pathogenicity and a decrease of trophic effects. The cerebrospinal fluid from AD patients, but not from controls, induces apoptosis in differentiated hippocampal neurons mainly by the action of AGE-modified proBDNF present in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patients. This effect is triggered by the activation and processing of p75 that stimulate the internalization of the intracellular domain (ICD) within the nucleus causing apoptosis. Induction of apoptosis and p75 ICD internalization by AD patients-derived proBDNF is further enhanced in neuron cultures from the AD model expressing the APP/PS1∆E9 transgene. Our results indicate the importance of proBDNF neurotoxic signaling in AD pathology essentially by three mechanisms: i) by an increase of proBDNF stability due to ROS-induced post-traductional modifications; ii) by the increase of expression of the p75 co-receptor, Sortilin and iii) by the increase of the basal levels of p75 processing found in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Fleitas
- Molecular Developmental Neurobiology Group, IRBLleida-UDL Rovira Roure 82, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Gerard Piñol-Ripoll
- Unitat Trastorns Cognitius, IRBLleida-Hospital Universitari Santa Maria Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Pau Marfull
- Molecular Developmental Neurobiology Group, IRBLleida-UDL Rovira Roure 82, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Daniel Rocandio
- Molecular Developmental Neurobiology Group, IRBLleida-UDL Rovira Roure 82, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claire Rampon
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 31062, Toulouse, France
| | - Joaquim Egea
- Molecular Developmental Neurobiology Group, IRBLleida-UDL Rovira Roure 82, 25198, Lleida, Spain.,Serra Húnter fellow, Associate Professor, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carme Espinet
- Serra Húnter fellow, Associate Professor, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
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Postmortem Brain, Cerebrospinal Fluid, and Blood Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Mol Neurosci 2018; 65:289-300. [PMID: 29956088 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-018-1100-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggest that aberrations of neurotrophic factors are involved in the etiology and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but clinical data were inconsistent. Therefore, a meta-analysis on neurotrophic factor levels in AD is necessary. We performed a systematic review of blood, CSF, and post-mortem brain neurotrophic factor levels in patients with AD compared with controls and quantitatively summarized the clinical data in blood and CSF with a meta-analytical technique. A systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science identified 98 articles in this study (with samples more than 9000). Random effects meta-analysis demonstrated that peripheral blood BDNF levels were significantly decreased in AD patients compared with controls. However, blood NGF, IGF, and VEGF did not show significant differences between cases and controls. In CSF, random effects meta-analysis showed significantly deceased BDNF and increased NGF levels in patients with AD, whereas IGF and VEGF did not show significant differences between the AD group and control group. In addition, 23 post-mortem studies were included in the systematic review. Although data from post-mortem brains were not always consistent across studies, most studies suggested decreased BDNF and increased (pro)NGF levels in hippocampus and neocortex of patients with AD. These results provide strong clinical evidence that AD is accompanied by an aberrant neurotrophin profile, and future investigations into neurotrophins as biomarkers (especially CSF BDNF and NGF) and therapeutic targets for AD may be warranted.
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Lu Z, Sun J, Xin Y, Chen K, Ding W, Wang Y. Sevoflurane-induced memory impairment in the postnatal developing mouse brain. Exp Ther Med 2018; 15:4097-4104. [PMID: 29731813 PMCID: PMC5920718 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.5950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to confirm that sevoflurane induces memory impairment in the postnatal developing mouse brain and determine its mechanism of action. C57BL/6 mice 7 days old were randomly assigned into a 2.6% sevoflurane (n=68), a 1.3% sevoflurane (n=68) and a control (n=38) group. Blood gas analysis was performed to evaluate hypoxia and respiratory depression during anesthesia in 78 mice. Measurements for expression of caspase-3 by immunohistochemistry, cleavage of poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase (PARP) by western blotting, as well as levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine kinase receptor type 2 (Ntrk2), pro-BDNF, p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) and protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed in the hippocampus of 12 mice from each group. A total of 60 mice underwent the Morris water maze (MWM) test. Results from the MWM test indicated that the time spent in the northwest quadrant and platform site crossovers by mice in the 2.6 and 1.3% sevoflurane groups was significantly lower than that of the control group. Meanwhile, levels of caspase-3 and cleaved PARP in the 2.6 and 1.3% sevoflurane groups were significantly higher than that in the control group. Levels of pro-BDNF and p75NTR were significantly increased and the level of PKB/Akt was significantly decreased following exposure to 2.6% sevoflurane. Finally, the memory of postnatal mice was impaired by sevoflurane, this was determined using a MWM test. Therefore, the results of the current study suggest that caspase-3 induced cleavage of PARP, as well as pro-BDNF, p75NTR and PKB/Akt may be important in sevoflurane-induced memory impairment in the postnatal developing mouse brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijun Lu
- Department of Anesthesia, Rui Jin Hospital Luwan Branch, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200020, P.R. China
| | - Jihui Sun
- Department of Anesthesia, Rui Jin Hospital Luwan Branch, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200020, P.R. China
| | - Yichun Xin
- Department of Anesthesia, Rui Jin Hospital Luwan Branch, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200020, P.R. China
| | - Ken Chen
- Department of Anesthesia, Rui Jin Hospital Luwan Branch, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200020, P.R. China
| | - Wen Ding
- Department of Anesthesia, Rui Jin Hospital Luwan Branch, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200020, P.R. China
| | - Yujia Wang
- Intensive Care Unit, Shanghai Jing'an District Shibei Hospital, Shanghai 200443, P.R. China
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28
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Alldred MJ, Chao HM, Lee SH, Beilin J, Powers BE, Petkova E, Strupp BJ, Ginsberg SD. CA1 pyramidal neuron gene expression mosaics in the Ts65Dn murine model of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease following maternal choline supplementation. Hippocampus 2018; 28:251-268. [PMID: 29394516 PMCID: PMC5874173 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Although there are changes in gene expression and alterations in neuronal density and afferent inputs in the forebrain of trisomic mouse models of Down syndrome (DS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), there is a lack of systematic assessments of gene expression and encoded proteins within individual vulnerable cell populations, precluding translational investigations at the molecular and cellular level. Further, no effective treatment exists to combat intellectual disability and basal forebrain cholinergic neurodegeneration seen in DS. To further our understanding of gene expression changes before and following cholinergic degeneration in a well-established mouse model of DS/AD, the Ts65Dn mouse, we assessed RNA expression levels from CA1 pyramidal neurons at two adult ages (∼6 months of age and ∼11 months of age) in both Ts65Dn and their normal disomic (2N) littermates. We further examined a therapeutic intervention, maternal choline supplementation (MCS), which has been previously shown to lessen dysfunction in spatial cognition and attention, and have protective effects on the survival of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in the Ts65Dn mouse model. Results indicate that MCS normalized expression of several genes in key gene ontology categories, including synaptic plasticity, calcium signaling, and AD-associated neurodegeneration related to amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) clearance. Specifically, normalized expression levels were found for endothelin converting enzyme-2 (Ece2), insulin degrading enzyme (Ide), Dyrk1a, and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (Camk2a), among other relevant genes. Single population expression profiling of vulnerable CA1 pyramidal neurons indicates that MCS is a viable therapeutic for long-term reprogramming of key transcripts involved in neuronal signaling that are dysregulated in the trisomic mouse brain which have translational potential for DS and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J. Alldred
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY
- Departments of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Helen M. Chao
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY
- Departments of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Sang Han Lee
- Center for Biomedical Imaging and Neuromodulation, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY
- Child Psychiatry, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY
- Departments of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Judah Beilin
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY
| | | | - Eva Petkova
- Child Psychiatry, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Barbara J. Strupp
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Stephen D. Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY
- Departments of Psychiatry, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
- Neuroscience & Physiology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
- NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
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Abstract
Objectives Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of individuals. Moreover, hypothyroidism has been identified as one of the risk factors that may contribute to the development of AD. Here, we investigated whether there was a correlation among expression levels of proteins involved in the formation of AD lesions, neurite outgrowth, and thyroid hormone levels. Methods Cells were grown in media supplemented with different levels of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) and then processed for neurite outgrowth and to prepare RNA samples. RNA samples were analysed using quantitative real-time PCR. Protein levels were measured using in cell-Western blotting analysis. Results By using neurite outgrowth studies, it was demonstrated that T3 treatment enhanced neurite outgrowth in NS-1 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Quantitative real-time PCR studies further confirmed that NS-1 cells expressed substantial levels of TRα and significantly less TRβ, either of which could be responsible for the T3-dependent effects on neurite outgrowth. Although the overall tau protein expression was not affected in response to T3 treatment, the splicing of tau exon 10 was impacted in the direction of producing more tau molecules that excluded the exon (tau 3R). Conclusion The results of this study are critical not only to understand the probable link between hypothyroidism and AD but also in providing the basis for future prevention and treatment of AD in hypothyroid patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oldham Ce
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), College of Arts and Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, USA
| | - Wooten Cj
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), College of Arts and Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, USA
| | - Williams Ab
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), College of Arts and Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, USA
| | - Dixon S
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), College of Arts and Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, USA
| | - Lopez D
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), College of Arts and Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, USA
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30
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Ferrer I. Sisyphus in Neverland. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 62:1023-1047. [PMID: 29154280 PMCID: PMC5870014 DOI: 10.3233/jad-170609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The study of life and living organisms and the way in which these interact and organize to form social communities have been central to my career. I have been fascinated by biology, neurology, and neuropathology, but also by history, sociology, and art. Certain current historical, political, and social events, some occurring proximally but others affecting people in apparently distant places, have had an impact on me. Epicurus, Seneca, and Camus shared their philosophical positions which I learned from. Many scientists from various disciplines have been exciting sources of knowledge as well. I have created a world of hypothesis and experiments but I have also got carried away by serendipity following unexpected observations. It has not been an easy path; errors and wanderings are not uncommon, and opponents close to home much more abundant than one might imagine. Ambition, imagination, resilience, and endurance have been useful in moving ahead in response to setbacks. In the end, I have enjoyed my dedication to science and I am grateful to have glimpsed beauty in it. These are brief memories of a Spanish neuropathologist born and raised in Barcelona, EU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidro Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona; Service of Pathological Anatomy, Bellvitge University Hospital; CIBERNED; Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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31
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Caraci F, Iulita MF, Pentz R, Flores Aguilar L, Orciani C, Barone C, Romano C, Drago F, Cuello AC. Searching for new pharmacological targets for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in Down syndrome. Eur J Pharmacol 2017; 817:7-19. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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32
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Differential deregulation of NGF and BDNF neurotrophins in a transgenic rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2017; 108:307-323. [PMID: 28865749 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence from human neuropathological studies indicates that the levels of the neurotrophins nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are compromised in Alzheimer's disease. However, the causes and temporal (pathology-dependent) evolution of these alterations are not completely understood. To elucidate these issues, we investigated the McGill-R-Thy1-APP transgenic rat, which exhibits progressive intracellular and extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ) pathology and ensuing cognitive deficits. Neurochemical analyses revealed a differential dysregulation of NGF and BDNF transcripts and protein expression. While BDNF mRNA levels were significantly reduced at very early stages of amyloid pathology, before plaques appeared, there were no changes in NGF mRNA expression even at advanced stages. Paradoxically, the protein levels of the NGF precursor were increased. These changes in neurotrophin expression are identical to those seen during the progression of Alzheimer's disease. At advanced pathological stages, deficits in the protease cascade controlling the maturation and degradation of NGF were evident in McGill transgenic rats, in line with the paradoxical upregulation of proNGF, as seen in Alzheimer's disease, in the absence of changes in NGF mRNA. The compromise in NGF metabolism and BDNF levels was accompanied by downregulation of cortical cholinergic synapses; strengthening the evidence that neurotrophin dysregulation affects cholinergic synapses and synaptic plasticity. Our findings suggest a differential temporal deregulation of NGF and BDNF neurotrophins, whereby deficits in BDNF mRNA appear at early stages of intraneuronal Aβ pathology, before alterations in NGF metabolism and cholinergic synapse loss manifest.
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Garcez ML, Mina F, Bellettini-Santos T, Carneiro FG, Luz AP, Schiavo GL, Andrighetti MS, Scheid MG, Bolfe RP, Budni J. Minocycline reduces inflammatory parameters in the brain structures and serum and reverses memory impairment caused by the administration of amyloid β (1-42) in mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2017; 77:23-31. [PMID: 28336494 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the most common type of age-related dementia. Cognitive decline, beta-amyloid (Aβ) accumulation, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuroinflammation are the main pathophysiological characteristics of AD. Minocycline is a tetracycline derivative with anti-inflammatory properties that has a neuroprotective effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of minocycline on memory, neurotrophins and neuroinflammation in an animal model of AD induced by the administration of Aβ (1-42) oligomer. Male BALB/c mice were treated with minocycline (50mg/kg) via the oral route for a total of 17days, 24h after intracerebroventricular administration of Aβ (1-42) oligomer. At the end of this period, was performed the radial maze test, and 24h after the last minocycline administration, serum was collected and the cortex and hippocampus were dissected for biochemical analysis. The administration of minocycline reversed the memory impairment caused by Aβ (1-42). In the hippocampus, minocycline reversed the increases in the levels of interleukin (IL-1β), Tumor Necrosis Factor- alpha (TNF-α) and, IL-10 caused by Aβ (1-42). In the cortex, AD-like model increase the levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and, IL-4. Minocycline treatment reversed this. In the serum, Aβ (1-42) increased the levels of IL-1β and IL-4, and minocycline was able to reverse this action, but not to reverse the decrease of IL-10 levels. Minocycline also reversed the increase in the levels of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus caused by Aβ (1-42), and reduced Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) increases in the total cortex. Therefore, our results indicate that minocycline causes improvements in the spatial memory, and cytokine levels were correlated with this effect in the brain it. Besides this, minocycline reduced BDNF and NGF levels, highlighting the promising effects of minocycline in treating AD-like dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Lima Garcez
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil,; Laboratory of Neuroscience, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Francielle Mina
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil,; Laboratory of Neuroscience, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Tatiani Bellettini-Santos
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil,; Laboratory of Neuroscience, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Franciellen Gonçalves Carneiro
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil,; Laboratory of Neuroscience, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Aline Pereira Luz
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil,; Laboratory of Neuroscience, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Luis Schiavo
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil,; Laboratory of Neuroscience, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Matheus Scopel Andrighetti
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil,; Laboratory of Neuroscience, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Maylton Grégori Scheid
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil,; Laboratory of Neuroscience, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Renan Pereira Bolfe
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil,; Laboratory of Neuroscience, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Josiane Budni
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil,; Laboratory of Neuroscience, Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil..
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PROneurotrophins and CONSequences. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:2934-2951. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0505-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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35
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Sánchez-Sánchez J, Arévalo JC. A Review on Ubiquitination of Neurotrophin Receptors: Facts and Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18030630. [PMID: 28335430 PMCID: PMC5372643 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18030630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitination is a reversible post-translational modification involved in a plethora of different physiological functions. Among the substrates that are ubiquitinated, neurotrophin receptors (TrkA, TrkB, TrkC, and p75NTR) have been studied recently. TrkA is the most studied receptor in terms of its ubiquitination, and different E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases have been implicated in its ubiquitination, whereas not much is known about the other neurotrophin receptors aside from their ubiquitination. Additional studies are needed that focus on the ubiquitination of TrkB, TrkC, and p75NTR in order to further understand the role of ubiquitination in their physiological and pathological functions. Here we review what is currently known regarding the ubiquitination of neurotrophin receptors and its physiological and pathological relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Sánchez-Sánchez
- Department of Cell Biology and Pathology, Institute of Neuroscience Castile & Leon, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
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36
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Janssens J, Lu D, Ni B, Chadwick W, Siddiqui S, Azmi A, Etienne H, Jushaj A, van Gastel J, Martin B, Maudsley S. Development of Precision Small-Molecule Proneurotrophic Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2016; 104:263-311. [PMID: 28215298 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2016.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, will represent one of the largest future burdens on worldwide healthcare systems due to the increasing proportion of elderly in our society. As deficiencies in neurotrophins are implicated in the pathogenesis of many age-related neurodegenerative disorders, it is reasonable to consider that global neurotrophin resistance may also become a major healthcare threat. Central nervous system networks are effectively maintained through aging by neuroprotective and neuroplasticity signaling mechanisms which are predominantly controlled by neurotrophin receptor signaling. Neurotrophin receptors are single pass receptor tyrosine kinases that form dimeric structures upon ligand binding to initiate cellular signaling events that control many protective and plasticity-related pathways. Declining functionality of the neurotrophin ligand-receptor system is considered one of the hallmarks of neuropathological aging. Therefore, it is imperative to develop effective therapeutic strategies to contend with this significant issue. While the therapeutic applications of cognate ligands for neurotrophin receptors are limited, the development of nonpeptidergic, small-molecule ligands can overcome these limitations, and productively regulate this important receptor system with beneficial effects. Using our advanced knowledge of the high-dimensionality complexity of receptor systems, the future generation of precision medicines targeting these systems will be an attainable goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Janssens
- Translational Neurobiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - D Lu
- Receptor Pharmacology Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore MD United States
| | - B Ni
- Receptor Pharmacology Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore MD United States
| | - W Chadwick
- Receptor Pharmacology Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore MD United States
| | - S Siddiqui
- Receptor Pharmacology Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore MD United States
| | - A Azmi
- Translational Neurobiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - H Etienne
- Translational Neurobiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - A Jushaj
- Translational Neurobiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - J van Gastel
- Translational Neurobiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - B Martin
- Metabolism Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore MD United States
| | - S Maudsley
- Translational Neurobiology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium; Receptor Pharmacology Unit, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore MD United States.
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37
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Naaldijk Y, Jäger C, Fabian C, Leovsky C, Blüher A, Rudolph L, Hinze A, Stolzing A. Effect of systemic transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on neuropathology markers in APP/PS1 Alzheimer mice. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2016; 43:299-314. [PMID: 26918424 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have recently attracted interest as a potential basis for a cell-based therapy of AD. We investigated the putative immune-modulatory effects in neuroinflammation of systemic transplantation of MSC into APP/PS1 transgenic mice. METHODS 106 MSC were injected into APP/PS1 mice via the tail vein and histological analysis was performed for microglia and amyloid (pE3-Aβ) plaque numbers, glial distribution and pE3-Aβ plaque size. In addition, a biochemical analysis by qPCR for pro-inflammatory, chemoattractant and neurotrophic factors was performed. RESULTS MSC are associated with pE3-Aβ plaques. The effects of transplantation on microglia-associated pathology could be observed after 28 days. Animals showed a reduction in microglial numbers in the cortex and in microglia size. Gene expression was reduced for TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, and for NGF, in MSC recipients. Also, we investigated for the first time and found no changes in expression of IL-10, CCR5, BDNF, VEGF and IFNγ. PTGER2 expression levels were increased in the hippocampus but were reduced in the cortex of MSC recipients. While there were no transplant-related changes in pE3-Aβ plaque numbers, a reduction in the size of pE3-Aβ plaques was observed in the hippocampus of transplant recipients. CONCLUSION This is the first study to show reduction in pE3-Aβ plaque size. pE3-Aβ plaques have gained attention as potential key participants in AD due to their increased aggregation propensity, the possibility for the initial seeding event, resistance against degradation and neurotoxicity. These findings support the hypothesis that MSC-transplants may affect AD pathology via an immune-modulatory function that includes an effect on microglial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Naaldijk
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany.,Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine (TRM), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - C Jäger
- Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - C Fabian
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany.,Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine (TRM), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - C Leovsky
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
| | - A Blüher
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
| | - L Rudolph
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
| | - A Hinze
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany
| | - A Stolzing
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany.,Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine (TRM), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
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38
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Alder J, Fujioka W, Giarratana A, Wissocki J, Thakkar K, Vuong P, Patel B, Chakraborty T, Elsabeh R, Parikh A, Girn HS, Crockett D, Thakker-Varia S. Genetic and pharmacological intervention of the p75NTR pathway alters morphological and behavioural recovery following traumatic brain injury in mice. Brain Inj 2015; 30:48-65. [PMID: 26579945 DOI: 10.3109/02699052.2015.1088963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE Neurotrophin levels are elevated after TBI, yet there is minimal regeneration. It was hypothesized that the pro-neurotrophin/p75NTR pathway is induced more than the mature neurotrophin/Trk pathway and that interfering with p75 signalling improves recovery following TBI. RESEARCH DESIGN Lateral Fluid Percussion (LFP) injury was performed on wildtype and p75 mutant mice. In addition, TrkB agonist 7,8 Dihydroxyflavone or p75 antagonist TAT-Pep5 were tested. Western blot and immunohistochemistry revealed biochemical and cellular changes. Morris Water Maze and Rotarod tests demonstrated cognitive and vestibulomotor function. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS p75 was up-regulated and TrkB was down-regulated 1 day post-LFP. p75 mutant mice as well as mice treated with the p75 antagonist or the TrkB agonist exhibited reduced neuronal death and degeneration and less astrocytosis. The cells undergoing apoptosis appear to be neurons rather than glia. There was improved motor function and spatial learning in p75 mutant mice and mice treated with the p75 antagonist. CONCLUSIONS Many of the pathological and behavioural consequences of TBI might be due to activation of the pro-neurotrophin/p75 toxic pathway overriding the protective mechanisms of the mature neurotrophin/Trk pathway. Targeting p75 can be a novel strategy to counteract the damaging effects of TBI.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apoptosis/physiology
- Astrocytes/metabolism
- Astrocytes/pathology
- Brain Injuries, Traumatic/drug therapy
- Brain Injuries, Traumatic/genetics
- Brain Injuries, Traumatic/metabolism
- Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism
- Cognition/physiology
- Flavones/pharmacology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Mutant Strains
- Nerve Growth Factors/metabolism
- Receptor, trkB/agonists
- Receptor, trkB/genetics
- Receptor, trkB/metabolism
- Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor/genetics
- Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor/metabolism
- Sensory Receptor Cells/metabolism
- Sensory Receptor Cells/pathology
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Alder
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Wendy Fujioka
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Anna Giarratana
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Jenna Wissocki
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Keya Thakkar
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Phung Vuong
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Bijal Patel
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | | | - Rami Elsabeh
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Ankit Parikh
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - Hartaj S Girn
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
| | - David Crockett
- a Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Piscataway , NJ , USA
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Update on the role of p75NTR in neurological disorders: A novel therapeutic target. Biomed Pharmacother 2015; 76:17-23. [PMID: 26653545 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2015.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
As a low-affinity neurotrophins receptor, p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) is a transmembrane receptor involved in a diverse array of cellular responses, including apoptosis, survival, neurite outgrowth, migration, and cell cycle arrest, which may be related to some neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson's disease (PD). Indeed, a series of studies during the last decade has demonstrated that the p75NTR signaling plays key roles in most aspects of the neurological disorder diseases. In spite of the limited information available, this review still tried to summary the relationship between p75NTR and diverse neurological disorder diseases, and tried to further clarify the possible mechanism, which may provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of neurological disorders.
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40
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p75NTR ectodomain is a physiological neuroprotective molecule against amyloid-beta toxicity in the brain of Alzheimer's disease. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:1301-10. [PMID: 25917367 PMCID: PMC4759103 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease (AD), neurodegenerative signals such as amyloid-beta (Aβ) and the precursors of neurotrophins, outbalance neurotrophic signals, causing synaptic dysfunction and neurodegeneration. The neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75NTR) is a receptor of Aβ and mediates Aβ-induced neurodegenerative signals. The shedding of its ectodomain from the cell surface is physiologically regulated; however, the function of the diffusible p75NTR ectodomain (p75ECD) after shedding remains largely not known. Here, we show that p75ECD levels in cerebrospinal fluid and in the brains of Alzheimer's patients and amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP)/PS1 transgenic mice were significantly reduced, due to inhibition of the sheddase-tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme by Aβ. Restoration of p75ECD to the normal level by brain delivery of the gene encoding human p75ECD before or after Aβ deposition in the brain of APP/PS1 mice reversed the behavioral deficits and AD-type pathologies, such as Aβ deposit, apoptotic events, neuroinflammation, Tau phosphorylation and loss of dendritic spine, neuronal structures and synaptic proteins. Furthermore, p75ECD can also reduce amyloidogenesis by suppressing β-secretase expression and activities. Our data demonstrate that p75ECD is a physiologically neuroprotective molecule against Aβ toxicity and would be a novel therapeutic target and biomarker for AD.
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41
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Budni J, Bellettini-Santos T, Mina F, Garcez ML, Zugno AI. The involvement of BDNF, NGF and GDNF in aging and Alzheimer's disease. Aging Dis 2015; 6:331-41. [PMID: 26425388 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2015.0825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 259] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is a normal physiological process accompanied by cognitive decline. This aging process has been the primary risk factor for development of aging-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cognitive deficit is related to alterations of neurotrophic factors level such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). These strong relationship between aging and AD is important to investigate the time which they overlap, as well as, the pathophysiological mechanism in each event. Considering that aging and AD are related to cognitive impairment, here we discuss the involving these neurotrophic factors in the aging process and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiane Budni
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Tatiani Bellettini-Santos
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Francielle Mina
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Michelle Lima Garcez
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Alexandra Ioppi Zugno
- Laboratório de Neurociências, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil
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42
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Perez SE, He B, Nadeem M, Wuu J, Scheff SW, Abrahamson EE, Ikonomovic MD, Mufson EJ. Resilience of precuneus neurotrophic signaling pathways despite amyloid pathology in prodromal Alzheimer's disease. Biol Psychiatry 2015; 77:693-703. [PMID: 24529280 PMCID: PMC4096429 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2013] [Revised: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reduction of precuneus choline acetyltransferase activity co-occurs with greater beta-amyloid (Aβ) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Whether this cholinergic deficit is associated with alteration in nerve growth factor (NGF) signaling and its relation to Aβ plaque and neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) pathology during disease onset is unknown. METHODS Precuneus NGF upstream and downstream signaling levels relative to Aβ and NFT pathology were evaluated using biochemistry and histochemistry in 62 subjects with a premortem diagnosis of non-cognitively impaired (NCI; n = 23), mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n = 21), and mild to moderate AD (n = 18). RESULTS Immunoblots revealed increased levels of proNGF in AD subjects but not MCI subjects, whereas cognate receptors were unchanged. There were no significant differences in protein level for the downstream survival kinase-signaling proteins Erk and phospho-Erk among groups. Apoptotic phospho-JNK, phospho-JNK/JNK ratio, and Bcl-2 were significantly elevated in AD subjects. Soluble Aβ1-42 and fibrillar Aβ measured by [(3)H] Pittsburgh compound-B ([(3)H]PiB) binding were significantly higher in AD subjects compared with MCI and NCI subjects. The density of plaques showed a trend to increase, but only 6-CN-PiB-positive plaques reached significance in AD subjects. AT8-positive, TOC-1-positive, and Tau C3-positive NFT densities were unchanged, whereas only AT8-positive neuropil thread density was statistically higher in AD subjects. A negative correlation was found between proNGF, phospho-JNK, and Bcl-2 levels and phospho-JNK/JNK ratio and cognition, whereas proNGF correlated positively with 6-CN-PiB-positive plaques during disease progression. CONCLUSIONS Data indicate that precuneus neurotrophin pathways are resilient to amyloid toxicity during the onset of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia E. Perez
- Dept. Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - Bin He
- Dept. Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - Muhammad Nadeem
- Dept. Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
| | - Joanne Wuu
- Dept. Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Stephen W. Scheff
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
| | - Eric E. Abrahamson
- Depts. Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh and Geriatric Research Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Milos D. Ikonomovic
- Depts. Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh and Geriatric Research Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Elliott J. Mufson
- Dept. Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
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43
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Zheng C, Geetha T, Gearing M, Ramesh Babu J. Amyloid β-abrogated TrkA ubiquitination in PC12 cells analogous to Alzheimer's disease. J Neurochem 2015; 133:919-25. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2014] [Revised: 01/31/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zheng
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Hospitality Management; Auburn University; Auburn Alabama USA
| | - Thangiah Geetha
- Department of Chemistry; Auburn University at Montgomery; Montgomery Alabama USA
| | - Marla Gearing
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta Georgia USA
| | - Jeganathan Ramesh Babu
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Hospitality Management; Auburn University; Auburn Alabama USA
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44
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Meeker R, Williams K. Dynamic nature of the p75 neurotrophin receptor in response to injury and disease. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2014; 9:615-28. [PMID: 25239528 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-014-9566-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Neurotrophins and their respective tropomyosin related kinase (Trk) receptors (TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC) and the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) play a fundamental role in the development and maintenance of the nervous system making them important targets for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Whereas Trk receptors are directly activated by specific neurotrophins, the p75(NTR) is a multifunctional receptor that exerts its effects via heterodimeric interactions with TrkA, TrkB, TrkC, sortilin or the Nogo receptor to regulate a wide array of cellular functions. By partnering with different receptors the p75(NTR) regulates binding of mature versus pro-neurotrophins and activation of different signaling pathways with outcomes ranging from growth and survival to cell death. While the developmental downregulation of the p75(NTR) has raised questions regarding its role in the mature nervous system, recent data have revealed widespread expression of low levels, a role in synaptic plasticity and adult neurogenesis and upregulation in response to injury or disease. Studies are needed to better understand these processes, particularly in the damaged nervous system, but will be complicated by expression of p75(NTR) on immune cells including macrophages and microglia that are intimately involved in disease and repair processes. Recent approaches that regulate p75(NTR) function with small non-peptide ligands have demonstrated potent neuroprotection in models of injury and neurodegenerative diseases that highlight the importance of the p75(NTR) as a therapeutic target. Future studies hold the promise of revealing a wealth of information on the multifaceted actions of the p75(NTR) that will inform the design of new neurotrophin-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick Meeker
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, CB #7025 6109F Neuroscience Research Building, 115 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA,
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45
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Demir IE, Boldis A, Pfitzinger PL, Teller S, Brunner E, Klose N, Kehl T, Maak M, Lesina M, Laschinger M, Janssen KP, Algül H, Friess H, Ceyhan GO. Investigation of Schwann cells at neoplastic cell sites before the onset of cancer invasion. J Natl Cancer Inst 2014; 106:dju184. [PMID: 25106646 DOI: 10.1093/jnci/dju184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In neural invasion (NI), cancer cells are classically assumed to actively invade nerves and to cause local recurrence and pain. However, the opposite possibility, that nerves may reach cancer cells even in their preinvasive stage and thereby promote cancer spread, has not yet been genuinely considered. The present study analyzes the reaction of Schwann cells of peripheral nerves to carcinogenesis in pancreatic cancer and colon cancer. METHODS Two novel 3D migration and Schwann cell outgrowth assays were developed to monitor the timing and the specificity of Schwann cell migration and cancer invasion toward peripheral neurons through digital-time-lapse microscopy and after blockade of nerve growth factor (NGF) signalling via siRNA or a small-molecule inhibitor of the p75(NTR) receptor. The frequency and emergence of the Schwann cell markers Sox10, S100, ALDH1L1, and glial-fibrillary-acidic-protein (GFAP) around cancer precursor lesions were studied in human and conditional murine pancreatic and colon cancer specimens using multiple immunolabeling. RESULTS Schwann cells migrated toward pancreatic and colon cancer cells, but not toward benign cells, before the onset of cancer migration toward peripheral neurons. This chemoattraction was inhibited after blockade of p75(NTR)-signaling on Schwann and pancreatic cancer cells. Schwann cells were specifically detected around murine and human pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs) (mean percent of murine PanINs surrounded by Schwann cells = 78.9%, 95% CI = 70.9 to 86.8%, and mean percent of human PanINs surrounded by Schwann cells = 52.5%, 95% CI = 14.7 to 90.4%; human: n = 44, murine: n = 14) and intestinal adenomas (mean percent of murine adenomas surrounded by Schwann cells = 64.2%, 95% CI = 28.6 to 99.8%, and mean percent of human adenomas surrounded by Schwann cells = 17.2%, 95% CI = -126.9 to 161.4; human: n = 36, murine: n = 12). The Schwann cell presence in this premalignant stage was associated with the frequency of NI in the malignant phase. CONCLUSIONS Schwann cells have particular and specific affinity to cancer cells. Emergence of Schwann cells in the premalignant phase of pancreatic and colon cancer implies that, in contrast with the traditional assumption, nerves-and not cancer cells-migrate first during NI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ihsan Ekin Demir
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA).
| | - Alexandra Boldis
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA).
| | - Paulo L Pfitzinger
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA)
| | - Steffen Teller
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA)
| | - Eva Brunner
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA)
| | - Natascha Klose
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA)
| | - Timo Kehl
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA)
| | - Matthias Maak
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA)
| | - Marina Lesina
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA)
| | - Melanie Laschinger
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA)
| | - Klaus-Peter Janssen
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA)
| | - Hana Algül
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA)
| | - Helmut Friess
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA)
| | - Güralp O Ceyhan
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (IED, AB, PLP, ST, EB, NK, TK, MM, MeL, KPJ, HF, GOC); Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany (MaL, HA)
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46
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Abstract
Neurotrophins are a family of trophic factors well known for their effects on neuronal survival, growth and neuronal differentiation. During the last decade, a large literature has shown in humans and in animal models that nerve growth factor (NGF) is a peripheral mediator of pain, especially in the states of inflammatory pain. NGF synthesis is indeed increased in a wide variety of inflammatory diseases and NGF neutralizing molecules are effective analgesic agents in these models of persistent pain. Therapeutical strategies targeting the sequestering of NGF did yield very encouraging results in clinical trials (stages II and III) but have been on hold since 2010 due to potential harmful effects in combination with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug. NGF regulates the expression of a second neurotrophin, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), in nociceptors. BDNF is released where nociceptors are activated, and it acts as a modulator of pain in the central nervous system and is involved in central sensitization.
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47
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Iulita MF, Cuello AC. Nerve growth factor metabolic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2014; 35:338-48. [PMID: 24962069 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2014.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2014] [Revised: 04/16/2014] [Accepted: 04/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative condition and the most common type of amnestic dementia in the elderly. Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are at increased risk of developing AD in adulthood as a result of chromosome 21 trisomy and triplication of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene. In both conditions, the central nervous system (CNS) basal forebrain cholinergic system progressively degenerates, and such changes contribute to the manifestation of cognitive decline and dementia. Given the strong dependency of these neurons on nerve growth factor (NGF), it was hypothesized that their atrophy was caused by NGF deficits. However, in AD, the synthesis of NGF is not affected at the transcript level and there is a marked increase in its precursor, proNGF. This apparent paradox remained elusive for many years. In this review, we discuss the recent evidence supporting a CNS deficit in the extracellular metabolism of NGF, both in AD and in DS brains. We describe the nature of this trophic disconnection and its implication for the atrophy of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. We further discuss the potential of NGF pathway markers as diagnostic indicators of a CNS trophic disconnection.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Florencia Iulita
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, H3G1Y6, Canada
| | - A Claudio Cuello
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, H3G1Y6, Canada; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, H3G1Y6, Canada; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, H3G1Y6, Canada.
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48
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Milanović D, Pešić V, Popić J, Tanić N, Kanazir S, Jevtović-Todorović V, Ruždijić S. Propofol anesthesia induces proapoptotic tumor necrosis factor-α and pro-nerve growth factor signaling and prosurvival Akt and XIAP expression in neonatal rat brain. J Neurosci Res 2014; 92:1362-73. [PMID: 24827783 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Revised: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Previously we observed that prolonged exposure to propofol anesthesia causes caspase-3- and calpain-mediated neuronal death in the developing brain. The present study examines the effects of propofol anesthesia on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), pro-nerve growth factor (NGF), and their receptors in the cortex and the thalamus. We also investigated how propofol influences the expression of Akt and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) expression, proteins that promote prosurvival pathways. Seven-day-old rats (P7) were exposed to propofol anesthesia lasting 2, 4, or 6 hr and killed 0, 4, 16, or 24 hr after anesthesia termination. The relative levels of mRNA and protein expression were estimated by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. The treatments caused marked activation of TNFα and its receptor TNFR-1 and pro-NGF and p75(NTR) receptor expression. In parallel with the induction of these prodeath signals, we established that propofol anesthesia promotes increased expression of the prosurvival molecules pAkt and XIAP during the 24-hr postanesthesia period. These results show that different brain structures respond to propofol anesthesia with a time- and duration of exposure-dependent increase in proapoptotic signaling and with concomitant increases in activities of prosurvival proteins. We hypothesized that the fine balance between these opposing processes sustains homeostasis in the immature rat brain and prevents unnecessary damage after exposure to an injurious stimulus. The existence of this highly regulated process provides a time frame for potential therapeutic intervention directed toward suppressing the deleterious component of propofol anesthesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desanka Milanović
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Biological Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
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49
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Thakker-Varia S, Behnke J, Doobin D, Dalal V, Thakkar K, Khadim F, Wilson E, Palmieri A, Antila H, Rantamaki T, Alder J. VGF (TLQP-62)-induced neurogenesis targets early phase neural progenitor cells in the adult hippocampus and requires glutamate and BDNF signaling. Stem Cell Res 2014; 12:762-77. [PMID: 24747217 PMCID: PMC4991619 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2014.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2013] [Revised: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide VGF (non-acronymic), which has antidepressant-like effects, enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis as well as synaptic activity and plasticity in the hippocampus, however the interaction between these processes and the mechanism underlying this regulation remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that VGF-derived peptide TLQP-62 specifically enhances the generation of early progenitor cells in nestin-GFP mice. Specifically, TLQP-62 significantly increases the number of Type 2a neural progenitor cells (NPCs) while reducing the number of more differentiated Type 3 cells. The effect of TLQP-62 on proliferation rather than differentiation was confirmed using NPCs in vitro; TLQP-62 but not scrambled peptide PEHN-62 increases proliferation in a cell line as well as in primary progenitors from adult hippocampus. Moreover, TLQP-62 but not scrambled peptide increases Cyclin D mRNA expression. The proliferation of NPCs induced by TLQP-62 requires synaptic activity, in particular through NMDA and metabotropic glutamate receptors. The activation of glutamate receptors by TLQP-62 activation induces phosphorylation of CaMKII through NMDA receptors and protein kinase D through metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5). Furthermore, pharmacological antagonists to CaMKII and PKD inhibit TLQP-62-induced proliferation of NPCs indicating that these signaling molecules downstream of glutamate receptors are essential for the actions of TLQP-62 on neurogenesis. We also show that TLQP-62 gradually activates Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)-receptor TrkB in vitro and that Trk signaling is required for TLQP-62-induced proliferation of NPCs. Understanding the precise molecular mechanism of how TLQP-62 influences neurogenesis may reveal mechanisms by which VGF-derived peptides act as antidepressant-like agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smita Thakker-Varia
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Joseph Behnke
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - David Doobin
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Vidhi Dalal
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Keya Thakkar
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Farah Khadim
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Wilson
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Alicia Palmieri
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
| | - Hanna Antila
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, Viikinkaari 4, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Tomi Rantamaki
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 56, Viikinkaari 4, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Janet Alder
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
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50
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Fields J, Dumaop W, Langford TD, Rockenstein E, Masliah E. Role of neurotrophic factor alterations in the neurodegenerative process in HIV associated neurocognitive disorders. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2014; 9:102-16. [PMID: 24510686 PMCID: PMC3973421 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-013-9520-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2013] [Accepted: 12/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Migration of HIV infected cells into the CNS is associated with a spectrum of neurological disorders, ranging from milder forms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) to HIV-associated dementia (HAD). These neuro-psychiatric syndromes are related to the neurodegenerative pathology triggered by the release of HIV proteins and cytokine/chemokines from monocytes/macrophages into the CNS -a condition known as HIV encephalitis (HIVE). As a result of more effective combined anti-retroviral therapy patients with HIV are living longer and thus the frequency of HAND has increased considerably, resulting in an overlap between the neurodegenerative pathology associated with HIV and that related to aging. In fact, HIV infection is believed to hasten the aging process. The mechanisms through which HIV and aging lead to neurodegeneration include: abnormal calcium flux, excitotoxicity, signaling abnormalities, oxidative stress and autophagy defects. Moreover, recent studies have shown that defects in the processing and transport of neurotrophic factors such as fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), neural growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived growth factor (BDNF) might also play a role. Recent evidence implicates alterations in neurotrophins in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration associated with HAND in the context of aging. Here, we report FGF overexpression curtails gp120-induced neurotoxicity in a double transgenic mouse model. Furthermore, our data show disparities in brain neurotrophic factor levels may be exacerbated in HIV patients over 50 years of age. In this review, we discuss the most recent findings on neurotrophins and HAND in the context of developing new therapies to combat HIV infection in the aging population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerel Fields
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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