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Pampuscenko K, Morkuniene R, Krasauskas L, Smirnovas V, Brown GC, Borutaite V. Extracellular tau stimulates phagocytosis of living neurons by activated microglia via Toll-like 4 receptor-NLRP3 inflammasome-caspase-1 signalling axis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10813. [PMID: 37402829 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37887-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In tauopathies, abnormal deposition of intracellular tau protein followed by gradual elevation of tau in cerebrospinal fluids and neuronal loss has been documented, however, the mechanism how actually neurons die under tau pathology is largely unknown. We have previously shown that extracellular tau protein (2N4R isoform) can stimulate microglia to phagocytose live neurons, i.e. cause neuronal death by primary phagocytosis, also known as phagoptosis. Here we show that tau protein induced caspase-1 activation in microglial cells via 'Toll-like' 4 (TLR4) receptors and neutral sphingomyelinase. Tau-induced neuronal loss was blocked by caspase-1 inhibitors (Ac-YVAD-CHO and VX-765) as well as by TLR4 antibodies. Inhibition of caspase-1 by Ac-YVAD-CHO prevented tau-induced exposure of phosphatidylserine on the outer leaflet of neuronal membranes and reduced microglial phagocytic activity. We also show that suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome, which is down-stream of TLR4 receptors and mediates caspase-1 activation, by a specific inhibitor (MCC550) also prevented tau-induced neuronal loss. Moreover, NADPH oxidase is also involved in tau-induced neurotoxicity since neuronal loss was abolished by its pharmacological inhibitor. Overall, our data indicate that extracellular tau protein stimulates microglia to phagocytose live neurons via Toll-like 4 receptor-NLRP3 inflammasome-caspase-1 axis and NADPH oxidase, each of which may serve as a potential molecular target for pharmacological treatment of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katryna Pampuscenko
- Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50161, Kaunas, Lithuania.
| | - Ramune Morkuniene
- Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50161, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Lukas Krasauskas
- Life Sciences Center, Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, 10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Life Sciences Center, Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, 10257, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Guy C Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Vilmante Borutaite
- Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50161, Kaunas, Lithuania
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2
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Feng Z, Hua S, Li W, Han J, Li F, Chen H, Zhang Z, Xie Y, Ouyang Q, Zou X, Liu Z, Li C, Huang S, Lai Z, Cai X, Cai Y, Zou Y, Tang Y, Jiang X. Mesenchymal stem cells protect against TBI-induced pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro through TSG-6. Cell Commun Signal 2022; 20:125. [PMID: 35982465 PMCID: PMC9387023 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-022-00931-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pyroptosis, especially microglial pyroptosis, may play an important role in central nervous system pathologies, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), such as human umbilical cord MSCs (hUMSCs), has been a focus of brain injury treatment. Recently, MSCs have been found to play a role in many diseases by regulating the pyroptosis pathway. However, the effect of MSC transplantation on pyroptosis following TBI remains unknown. Tumor necrosis factor α stimulated gene 6/protein (TSG-6), a potent anti-inflammatory factor expressed in many cell types including MSCs, plays an anti-inflammatory role in many diseases; however, the effect of TSG-6 secreted by MSCs on pyroptosis remains unclear. Methods Mice were subjected to controlled cortical impact injury in vivo. To assess the time course of pyroptosis after TBI, brains of TBI mice were collected at different time points. To study the effect of TSG-6 secreted by hUMSCs in regulating pyroptosis, normal hUMSCs, sh-TSG-6 hUMSCs, or different concentrations of rmTSG-6 were injected intracerebroventricularly into mice 4 h after TBI. Neurological deficits, double immunofluorescence staining, presence of inflammatory factors, cell apoptosis, and pyroptosis were assessed. In vitro, we investigated the anti-pyroptosis effects of hUMSCs and TSG-6 in a lipopolysaccharide/ATP-induced BV2 microglial pyroptosis model. Results In TBI mice, the co-localization of Iba-1 (marking microglia/macrophages) with NLRP3/Caspase-1 p20/GSDMD was distinctly observed at 48 h. In vivo, hUMSC transplantation or treatment with rmTSG-6 in TBI mice significantly improved neurological deficits, reduced inflammatory cytokine expression, and inhibited both NLRP3/Caspase-1 p20/GSDMD expression and microglial pyroptosis in the cerebral cortices of TBI mice. However, the therapeutic effect of hUMSCs on TBI mice was reduced by the inhibition of TSG-6 expression in hUMSCs. In vitro, lipopolysaccharide/ATP-induced BV2 microglial pyroptosis was inhibited by co-culture with hUMSCs or with rmTSG-6. However, the inhibitory effect of hUMSCs on BV2 microglial pyroptosis was significantly reduced by TSG-6-shRNA transfection. Conclusion In TBI mice, microglial pyroptosis was observed. Both in vivo and in vitro, hUMSCs inhibited pyroptosis, particularly microglial pyroptosis, by regulating the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway via TSG-6. Video Abstract
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-022-00931-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiming Feng
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Shiting Hua
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Wangan Li
- Emergency Trauma Center, Huizhou First Hospital, Huizhou, China
| | - Jianbang Han
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Feng Li
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Haijia Chen
- Guangzhou Saliai Stem Cell Science and Technology Co. Ltd, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongfei Zhang
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Yu Xie
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Qian Ouyang
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Xiaoxiong Zou
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Zhizheng Liu
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Cong Li
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Sixian Huang
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Zelin Lai
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Xiaolin Cai
- Emergency Trauma Center, Huizhou First Hospital, Huizhou, China
| | - Yingqian Cai
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Yuxi Zou
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Yanping Tang
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Xiaodan Jiang
- Neurosurgery Center, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China On Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory On Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, The Neurosurgery Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China.
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Slice Culture Modeling of CNS Viral Infection. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 34033080 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1437-2_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
The complexity of the central nervous system (CNS) is not recapitulated in cell culture models. Thin slicing and subsequent culture of CNS tissue has become a valued means to study neuronal and glial biology within the context of the physiologically relevant tissue milieu. Modern membrane-interface slice culturing methodology allows for straightforward access to both CNS tissue and feeding medium, enabling experimental manipulations and analyses that would otherwise be impossible in vivo. CNS slices can be successfully maintained in culture for up to several weeks for investigation of evolving pathology and long-term intervention in models of chronic neurologic disease.Herein, membrane-interface slice culture models for studying viral encephalitis and myelitis are detailed, with emphasis on the use of these models for investigation of pathogenesis and evaluation of novel treatment strategies. We describe techniques to (1) generate brain and spinal cord slices from rodent donors, (2) virally infect slices, (3) monitor viral replication, (4) assess virally induced injury/apoptosis, (5) characterize "CNS-specific" cytokine production, and, (6) treat slices with cytokines/pharmaceuticals. Although our focus is on CNS viral infection, we anticipate that the described methods can be adapted to address a wide range of investigations within the fields of neuropathology, neuroimmunology, and neuropharmacology.
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Lv Y, Chen P, Kuang L, Han Z, Solanki B, Zhou W, Tao F, Chen R, Yao Y. Role of corticotropin-releasing hormone in the impact of chronic stress during pregnancy on inducing depression in male offspring mice. Brain Res 2020; 1747:147029. [PMID: 32717275 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yili Lv
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Peng Chen
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Liang Kuang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Zhenmin Han
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Bhawna Solanki
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK
| | - Weiju Zhou
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health & Aristogenics, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Ruoling Chen
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK.
| | - Yuyou Yao
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health & Aristogenics, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China.
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5
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Zheng T, Zhao C, Zhao B, Liu H, Wang S, Wang L, Liu P. Impairment of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway and activation of pyroptosis in macular corneal dystrophy. Cell Death Discov 2020; 6:85. [PMID: 32983576 PMCID: PMC7487068 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-020-00320-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) is ascribed to mutations in the carbohydrate sulfotransferase (CHST6) gene affecting keratan sulfate (KS) hydrophilicity and causing non-sulfated KS to precipitate in keratocytes and the corneal stroma. We investigated roles for inflammatory responses in MCD pathogenesis by examining the lysosomal-autophagy pathway and activation of pyroptosis in MCD keratocytes. Normal and lesioned keratocytes were obtained from MCD patients undergoing corneal transplantation. The keratocytes were subjected to gene sequencing, RT-PCR, western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, histological staining, induction and inhibition assays of autophagy and pyroptosis, CCK-8 and LysoTracker Green DND-26 labeling, and flow cytometry. A novel homozygous MCD mutation was identified in a family from Northeast China; the mutation was distinguished by cytoplasmic vacuolation, cell membrane disruption, electron dense deposits, and deposition of a band of Periodic acid-Schiff and Alcian blue-positive material in the keratocytes and stroma layer. KS protein levels were decreased, expression of p62 and LC3-II proteins was enhanced, cathepsin D expression was declined and the LysoTracker Green DND-26 signal was dramatically reduced in MCD keratocytes. Bafilomycin-A1 treatment significantly increased caspase-1 and Pro-IL-1β expression in normal and MCD keratocytes. Nod-like receptors pyrins-3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, Pro-IL-1β, and IL-1β levels were pronouncedly elevated in cells exposed to H2O2. Ac-YVAD-CMK treatment reversed this expression in normal and MCD keratocytes. Suppression of the autophagic degradation of non-sulfated KS by impaired autophagic flux in MCD keratocytes triggers pyroptosis. Amelioration of impaired autophagy and restraint of pyroptosis may, therefore, have therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of MCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Chuchu Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Baowen Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Hanruo Liu
- The Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Shijian Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Liyuan Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001 China
| | - Ping Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001 China
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Cell Death Pathways in Ischemic Stroke and Targeted Pharmacotherapy. Transl Stroke Res 2020; 11:1185-1202. [PMID: 32219729 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-020-00806-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is one of the significant causes of morbidity and mortality, affecting millions of people across the globe. Cell injury in the infarct region is an inevitable consequence of focal cerebral ischemia. Subsequent reperfusion exacerbates the harmful effect and increases the infarct volume. These cellular injuries follow either a regulated pathway involving tightly structured signaling cascades and molecularly defined effector mechanisms or a non-regulated pathway, also known as accidental cell death, where the process is biologically uncontrolled. Classical cell death pathways are long established and well reported in several articles that majorly define apoptotic cell death. A recent focus on cell death study also considers investigation on non-classical pathways that are tightly regulated, may or may not involve caspases, but non-apoptotic. Pathological cell death is a cardinal feature of different neurodegenerative diseases. Although ischemia cannot be classified as a neurodegenerative disease, it is a cerebrovascular event where the infarct region exhibits aberrant cell death. Over the past few decades, several therapeutic options have been implicated for ischemic stroke. However, their use has been hampered owing to the number of limitations that they possess. Ischemic penumbral neurons undergo apoptosis and become dysfunctional; however, they are salvageable. Thus, understanding the role of different cell death pathways is crucial to aid in the modern treatment of protecting apoptotic neurons.
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Hamad MIK, Daoud S, Petrova P, Rabaya O, Jbara A, Melliti N, Stichmann S, Reiss G, Herz J, Förster E. Biolistic transfection and expression analysis of acute cortical slices. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 337:108666. [PMID: 32119875 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108666] [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: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biolistic gene gun transfection has been used to transfect organotypic cultures (OTCs) or dissociated cultures in vitro. Here, we modified this technique to allow successful transfection of acute brain slices, followed by measurement of neuronal activity within a few hours. NEW METHOD We established biolistic transfection of murine acute cortical slices to measure calcium signals. Acute slices are mounted on plasma/thrombin coagulate and transfected with a calcium sensor. Imaging can be performed within 4 h post transfection without affecting cell viability. RESULTS Four hours after GCaMP6s transfection, acute slices display remarkable fluorescent protein expression level allowing to study spontaneous activity and receptor pharmacology. While optimal gas pressure (150 psi) and gold particle size used (1 μm) confirm previously published protocols, the amount of 5 μg DNA was found to be optimal for particle coating. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS The major advantage of this technique is the rapid disposition of acute slices for calcium imaging. No transgenic GECI expressing animals or OTC for long periods are required. In acute slices, network interaction and connectivity are preserved. The method allows to obtain physiological readouts within 4 h, before functional tissue modifications might come into effect. Limitations of this technique are random transfection, low expression efficiency when using specific promotors, and preclusion or genetic manipulations that require a prolonged time before physiological changes become measurable, such as expression of recombinant proteins that require transport to distant subcellular localizations. CONCLUSION The method is optimal for short-time investigation of calcium signals in acute slices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad I K Hamad
- Institute for Anatomy and Clinical Morphology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany; Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Ruhr University Bochum, Medical Faculty, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Solieman Daoud
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Ruhr University Bochum, Medical Faculty, Bochum, Germany
| | - Petya Petrova
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Ruhr University Bochum, Medical Faculty, Bochum, Germany
| | - Obada Rabaya
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Ruhr University Bochum, Medical Faculty, Bochum, Germany
| | - Abdalrahim Jbara
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Ruhr University Bochum, Medical Faculty, Bochum, Germany
| | - Nesrine Melliti
- Institute for Anatomy and Clinical Morphology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany
| | - Sarah Stichmann
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Ruhr University Bochum, Medical Faculty, Bochum, Germany
| | - Gebhard Reiss
- Institute for Anatomy and Clinical Morphology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany
| | - Joachim Herz
- Departments of Molecular Genetics, Neuroscience, Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, Center for Translational Neurodegeneration Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Eckart Förster
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Ruhr University Bochum, Medical Faculty, Bochum, Germany
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Dapaah-Siakwan F, Zambrano R, Luo S, Duncan MR, Kerr N, Donda K, Vaccari JPDR, Keane RW, Dietrich WD, Benny M, Young K, Wu S. Caspase-1 Inhibition Attenuates Hyperoxia-induced Lung and Brain Injury in Neonatal Mice. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2019; 61:341-354. [DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2018-0192oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fredrick Dapaah-Siakwan
- Division of Neonatology and
- Batchelor Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics
| | - Ronald Zambrano
- Division of Neonatology and
- Batchelor Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics
| | - Shihua Luo
- Division of Neonatology and
- Batchelor Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics
| | - Matthew R. Duncan
- Division of Neonatology and
- Batchelor Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics
| | - Nadine Kerr
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, and
| | - Keyur Donda
- Division of Neonatology and
- Batchelor Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics
| | - Juan Pablo de Rivero Vaccari
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Robert W. Keane
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, and
| | - W. Dalton Dietrich
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Merline Benny
- Division of Neonatology and
- Batchelor Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics
| | - Karen Young
- Division of Neonatology and
- Batchelor Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics
| | - Shu Wu
- Division of Neonatology and
- Batchelor Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics
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Chen Y, Meng J, Bi F, Li H, Chang C, Ji C, Liu W. EK7 Regulates NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Neuroinflammation Post-traumatic Brain Injury. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:202. [PMID: 31555089 PMCID: PMC6727020 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
As one of the most common causes of mortality and disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a huge psychological and economic burden to patients, families, and societies worldwide. Neuroinflammation reduction may be a favorable option to alleviate secondary brain injuries and ameliorate the outcome of TBI. The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, has been shown to be involved in TBI. NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7) has been verified as an essential mediator of NLRP3 inflammasome activation that is recruited upstream of the formation of inflammasomes in response to NLRP3 activators. However, the underlying mechanism by which NEK7 operates post-TBI remains undefined. In this study, we performed both in vivo and in vitro experiments. Using an in vivo mouse TBI model, mice were administered an intracerebroventricular injection of NEK7-shRNA virus. For the in vitro analysis, primary cortical neurons with NEK7-shRNA were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/ATP or potassium (K+). We evaluated the effects of NEK7 knock-down on neurological deficits, NLRP3 inflammasomes, caspase-1 activation, and neuronal injury. During the 0–168 h post-TBI period in vivo, NEK7 and NLRP3 inflammasome activation increased in what appeared to be a time-dependent manner. As well as pyroptosis-related markers, caspase-1 activation (p20) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) activation (p17) were up-regulated. NEK7 down-regulation attenuated neurological deficits, NLRP3 inflammasomes, caspase-1 activation, and neuronal injury. The same phenomena were observed during the in vitro experiments. Furthermore, NEK7 knock-down suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis, which were triggered by K+ efflux, and the LPS + ATP-triggered NEK7–NLRP3 complex was reversed in primary cortical neurons placed in 50 mM K+ medium. Collectively, the data demonstrated that NEK7, as a modulator, regulates NLRP3 inflammasomes and downstream neuroinflammation in response to K+ efflux, through NEK7–NLRP3 assembly, pro-caspase-1 recruitment, caspase-1 activation, and pyroptosis in nerve injuries, post-TBI. NEK7 may be a potential therapeutic target for attenuating neuroinflammation and nerve injury post-TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhua Chen
- Department of Central Laboratory, Xi'an Peihua University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiao Meng
- Department of Central Laboratory, Xi'an Peihua University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Basic Medical Science Research Center, Shaanxi Fourth People's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Fangfang Bi
- Department of Central Laboratory, Xi'an Peihua University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Basic Medical Science Research Center, Shaanxi Fourth People's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Hua Li
- Department of Basic Medical Science Research Center, Shaanxi Fourth People's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Cuicui Chang
- Department of Central Laboratory, Xi'an Peihua University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chen Ji
- Department of Central Laboratory, Xi'an Peihua University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China
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10
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Noraberg J. Organotypic Brain Slice Cultures: An Efficient and Reliable Method for Neurotoxicological Screening and Mechanistic Studies. Altern Lab Anim 2019; 32:329-37. [PMID: 15651916 DOI: 10.1177/026119290403200403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
This paper reviews the current state of the use of organotypic brain slice cultures for neurotoxicological and neuropharmacological screening and mechanistic studies, as exemplified by excitotoxin application. At present, no in vitro systems have been approved by the regulatory authorities for neurotoxicity testing. For the evaluation of the slice culture method, organotypic hippocampal slice cultures were exposed to toxic doses of the excitotoxins, glutamate, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), kainic acid and 2-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA), and the glial toxin, DL-alpha-aminoadipic acid (DLAAA). Neuronal cell death was quantified by propidium iodide (PI) uptake, and visualised by Fluoro-Jade (FJ) staining. General cell death was monitored by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release into the culture medium. EC50 values for the different compounds, based on PI uptake after exposure for 48 hours in entire cultures, were: glutamate, 3.5 mM; DL-AAA, 2.3 mM; kainic acid, 13 microM; NMDA, 11 microM; and AMPA, 3.7 microM. In the slice cultures, the hippocampal subfields displayed the same differences in vulnerability as those observed in vivo. When subfield analysis was performed on the cultures, the CA1 subfield was most susceptible to glutamate, NMDA and AMPA, while CA3 was most susceptible to kainic acid. The amount of LDH release for DL-AAA was about four times that of L-glutamate, in accordance with the additional toxic effect on glial cells, which was also found by confocal microscopy to stain for FJ. In conclusion, it was found that organotypic brain slice culture, combined with standardised protocols and quantifiable markers, such as PI and FJ staining, is a relevant and feasible in vitro system for neurotoxicity testing. Considering the amount and quality of the available published data, it is recommended that the brain slice culture method could be subjected to pre-validation and formal validation for inclusion in a tiered in vitro neurotoxicity testing scheme to supplement and replace conventional animal tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Noraberg
- NeuroScreen ApS, Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Southern Denmark, Winslowparken 21, 5000 Odense, Denmark.
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11
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Ma C, Liu S, Zhang S, Xu T, Yu X, Gao Y, Zhai C, Li C, Lei C, Fan S, Chen Y, Tian H, Wang Q, Cheng F, Wang X. Evidence and perspective for the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in ischemic stroke and its therapeutic potential (Review). Int J Mol Med 2018; 42:2979-2990. [PMID: 30280193 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2018.3911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic stroke is one of the main causes of death and disablement globally. The NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is established as a sensor of detecting cellular damage and modulating inflammatory responses to injury during the progress of ischemic stroke. Inhibiting or blocking the NLRP3 inflammasome at different stages, including expression, assembly, and secretion, may have great promise to improve the neurological deficits during ischemic stroke. The current review provides a comprehensive summary of the current understanding in the literature of the molecular structure, expression, and assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and highlights its potential as a novel therapeutic target for ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongyang Ma
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Shuling Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Tian Xu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Xue Yu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Yushan Gao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Changming Zhai
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Changxiang Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Chaofang Lei
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Shuning Fan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Yuxi Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Huiling Tian
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Qingguo Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Fafeng Cheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
| | - Xueqian Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, P.R. China
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12
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Barrington J, Lemarchand E, Allan SM. A brain in flame; do inflammasomes and pyroptosis influence stroke pathology? Brain Pathol 2018; 27:205-212. [PMID: 27997059 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Inflammation plays a key role across the time course of stroke, from onset to the post-injury reparative phase days to months later. Several regulatory molecules are implicated in inflammation, but the most established inflammatory mediator of acute brain injury is the cytokine interleukin-1. Interleukin-1 is regulated by large, macromolecular complexes called inflammasomes, which play a central role in cytokine release and cell death. In this review we highlight recent advances in inflammasome research and propose key roles for inflammasome components in the progression of stroke damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Barrington
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Eloise Lemarchand
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart M Allan
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
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13
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Liu W, Chen Y, Meng J, Wu M, Bi F, Chang C, Li H, Zhang L. Ablation of caspase-1 protects against TBI-induced pyroptosis in vitro and in vivo. J Neuroinflammation 2018; 15:48. [PMID: 29458437 PMCID: PMC5817788 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-018-1083-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a critical public health and socioeconomic problem throughout the world. Inflammation-induced secondary injury is one of the vital pathogenic parameters of TBI. Molecular signaling cascades of pyroptosis, a specific type of cellular necrosis, are key drivers of TBI-induced inflammation. Methods In this study, mice with genetically ablated caspase-1 (caspase-1−/−) were subjected to controlled cortical impact injury in vivo, and primary neuron deficient in caspase-1 through siRNA knockdown and pharmacologic inhibition was stimulated by mechanical scratch, equiaxial stretch, and LPS/ATP in vitro. We evaluated the effects of caspase-1 deficiency on neurological deficits, inflammatory factors, histopathology, cell apoptosis, and pyroptosis. Results During the acute post-injury period (0–48 h) in vivo, motor deficits, anti-inflammatory cytokines (TGF-β and IL-10), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-18), and blood lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as pyroptosis-related proteins (caspase-1, caspase-1 fragments, caspase-11 and GSDMD), were increased. Caspase-1 was activated in the cortex of TBI mice. Inflammatory activation was more profound in injured wild-type mice than in caspase-1−/− mice. In vitro, mechanical scratch, equiaxial stretch, and LPS/ATP-induced neuron pyroptosis, apoptosis, LDH release, and increased expression of inflammatory factors. The effects of mechanical and inflammatory stress were reduced through inhibition of caspase-1 activity through siRNA knockdown and pharmacologic inhibition. Conclusion Collectively, these data demonstrate that pyroptosis is involved in neuroinflammation and neuronal injury after TBI, and ablation of caspase-1 inhibits TBI-induced pyroptosis. Our findings suggest that caspase-1 may be a potential target for TBI therapy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12974-018-1083-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Department of Medical Science Research Center, Peihua University, Xi'an, 710125, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Medical Science Research Center, Shaanxi Fourth People Hospital, Xi'an, 710043, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yuhua Chen
- Department of Medical Science Research Center, Peihua University, Xi'an, 710125, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Medical Science Research Center, Shaanxi Fourth People Hospital, Xi'an, 710043, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jiao Meng
- Department of Medical Science Research Center, Peihua University, Xi'an, 710125, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medical Science Research Center, Shaanxi Fourth People Hospital, Xi'an, 710043, People's Republic of China
| | - Minfei Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Jilin University Second Hospital, Changchun, 8974617, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangfang Bi
- Department of Medical Science Research Center, Peihua University, Xi'an, 710125, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medical Science Research Center, Shaanxi Fourth People Hospital, Xi'an, 710043, People's Republic of China
| | - Cuicui Chang
- Department of Medical Science Research Center, Peihua University, Xi'an, 710125, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medical Science Research Center, Shaanxi Fourth People Hospital, Xi'an, 710043, People's Republic of China
| | - Hua Li
- Department of Medical Science Research Center, Shaanxi Fourth People Hospital, Xi'an, 710043, People's Republic of China
| | - Liangjun Zhang
- Department of Medical Science Research Center, Shaanxi Fourth People Hospital, Xi'an, 710043, People's Republic of China
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14
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Şekerdağ E, Solaroğlu I, Gürsoy-Özdemir Y. Cell Death Mechanisms in Stroke and Novel Molecular and Cellular Treatment Options. Curr Neuropharmacol 2018; 16:1396-1415. [PMID: 29512465 PMCID: PMC6251049 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x16666180302115544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 207] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As a result of ischemia or hemorrhage, blood supply to neurons is disrupted which subsequently promotes a cascade of pathophysiological responses resulting in cell loss. Many mechanisms are involved solely or in combination in this disorder including excitotoxicity, mitochondrial death pathways, and the release of free radicals, protein misfolding, apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy and inflammation. Besides neuronal cell loss, damage to and loss of astrocytes as well as injury to white matter contributes also to cerebral injury. The core problem in stroke is the loss of neuronal cells which makes recovery difficult or even not possible in the late states. Acute treatment options that can be applied for stroke are mainly targeting re-establishment of blood flow and hence, their use is limited due to the effective time window of thrombolytic agents. However, if the acute time window is exceeded, neuronal loss starts due to the activation of cell death pathways. This review will explore the most updated cellular death mechanisms leading to neuronal loss in stroke. Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke as well as subarachnoid hemorrhage will be debated in the light of cell death mechanisms and possible novel molecular and cellular treatment options will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emine Şekerdağ
- Address correspondence to this author at the Neuroscience Research Lab, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey; Tel: +90 850 250 8250; E-mail:
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15
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Sherafat A, Hill RA, Nishiyama A. Organotypic Slice Cultures to Study Oligodendrocyte Proliferation, Fate, and Myelination. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1791:145-156. [PMID: 30006707 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7862-5_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Oligodendrocyte development and myelination are processes in the central nervous system that are regulated by cell intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. Organotypic slice cultures provide a simple method for studying factors that affect oligodendrocyte proliferation, differentiation, and myelination in the context of the local cellular environment. Here we show that major glial cell types and neurons are preserved in slice cultures from postnatal mouse forebrain, and their morphological characteristics are retained. We further demonstrate that cellular processes requiring interactions with neighboring cells such as myelination can proceed in slice culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Sherafat
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Robert A Hill
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.,Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.,Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Akiko Nishiyama
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA. .,Institute of Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA. .,Institute of Brain and Cognitive Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.
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16
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Intranasal Delivery of a Caspase-1 Inhibitor in the Treatment of Global Cerebral Ischemia. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:4936-4952. [PMID: 27520275 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-0034-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Caspase-1 is an enzyme implicated in neuroinflammation, a critical component of many diseases that affect neuronal degeneration. However, it is unknown whether a caspase-1 inhibitor can modify apoptotic neuronal damage incurred during transient global cerebral ischemia (GCI) and whether intranasal administration of a caspase-1 inhibitor is an effective treatment following GCI. The present study was conducted to examine the potential efficiency of post-ischemic intranasal administration of the caspase-1 inhibitor Boc-D-CMK in a 4-vessel occlusion model of GCI in the rat. Herein, we show that intranasal Boc-D-CMK readily penetrated the central nervous system, subsequently inhibiting caspase-1 activity, decreasing mitochondrial dysfunction, and attenuating caspase-3-dependent apoptotic pathway in ischemia-vulnerable hippocampal CA1 region. Further investigation regarding the mechanisms underlying Boc-D-CMK's neuroprotective effects revealed marked inhibition of reactive gliosis, as well as reduction of the neuroinflammatory response via inhibition of the downstream pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Intranasal Boc-D-CMK post-treatment also significantly enhanced the numbers of NeuN-positive cells while simultaneously decreasing the numbers of TUNEL-positive and PARP1-positive cells in hippocampal CA1. Correspondingly, behavioral tests showed that deteriorations in spatial learning and memory performance, and long-term recognition memory following GCI were significantly improved in the Boc-D-CMK post-treated animals. In summary, the current study demonstrates that the caspase-1 inhibitor Boc-D-CMK coordinates anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic actions to attenuate neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region following GCI. Furthermore, our data suggest that pharmacological inhibition of caspase-1 is a promising neuroprotective strategy to target ischemic neuronal injury and functional deficits following transient GCI.
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17
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Chong CM, Ma D, Zhao C, Franklin RJM, Zhou ZY, Ai N, Li C, Yu H, Hou T, Sa F, Lee SMY. Discovery of a novel neuroprotectant, BHDPC, that protects against MPP+/MPTP-induced neuronal death in multiple experimental models. Free Radic Biol Med 2015; 89:1057-66. [PMID: 26415025 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2015.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Revised: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Progressive degeneration and death of neurons are main causes of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Although some current medicines may temporarily improve their symptoms, no treatments can slow or halt the progression of neuronal death. In this study, a pyrimidine derivative, benzyl 7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-4,7-dihydrotetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxylate (BHDPC), was found to attenuate dramatically the MPTP-induced death of dopaminergic neurons and improve behavior movement deficiency in zebrafish, supporting its potential neuroprotective activity in vivo. Further study in rat organotypic cerebellar cultures indicated that BHDPC was able to suppress MPP(+)-induced cell death of brain tissue slices ex vivo. The protective effect of BHDPC against MPP(+) toxicity was also effective in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells through restoring abnormal changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and numerous apoptotic regulators. Western blotting analysis indicated that BHDPC was able to activate PKA/CREB survival signaling and further up-regulate Bcl2 expression. However, BHDPC failed to suppress MPP(+)-induced cytotoxicity and the increase of caspase 3 activity in the presence of the PKA inhibitor H89. Taken together, these results suggest that BHDPC is a potential neuroprotectant with prosurvival effects in multiple models of neurodegenerative disease in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheong-Meng Chong
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Dan Ma
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Chao Zhao
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Robin J M Franklin
- Wellcome Trust - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Zhong-Yan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Nana Ai
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Chuwen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Huidong Yu
- Rongene Pharma Co., Ltd. 3 Juquan Rd, International Business Incubator, Guangzhou Science Town, Guangdong, 510663, China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China; Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM) and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials & Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Fei Sa
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Simon Ming-Yuen Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
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18
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Abstract
Organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHSCs) have been used as a powerful ex vivo model for decades. They have been used successfully in studies of neuronal death, microglial activation, mossy fiber regeneration, neurogenesis, and drug screening. As a pre-animal experimental phase for physiologic and pathologic brain research, OHSCs offer outcomes that are relatively closer to those of whole-animal studies than outcomes obtained from cell culture in vitro. At the same time, mechanisms can be studied more precisely in OHSCs than they can be in vivo. Here, we summarize stroke and traumatic brain injury research that has been carried out in OHSCs and review classic experimental applications of OHSCs and its limitations.
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19
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Optimized heterologous transfection of viable adult organotypic brain slices using an enhanced gene gun. BMC Res Notes 2013; 6:544. [PMID: 24354851 PMCID: PMC3878247 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-6-544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Organotypic brain slices (OTBS) are an excellent experimental compromise between the facility of working with cell cultures and the biological relevance of using animal models where anatomical, morphological, and cellular function of specific brain regions can be maintained. The biological characteristics of OTBS can subsequently be examined under well-defined conditions. They do, however, have a number of limitations; most brain slices are derived from neonatal animals, as it is difficult to properly prepare and maintain adult OTBS. There are ample problems with tissue integrity as OTBS are delicate and frequently become damaged during the preparative stages. Notwithstanding these obstacles, the introduced exogenous proteins into both neuronal cells, and cells imbedded within tissues, have been consistently difficult to achieve. Results Following the ex vivo extraction of adult mouse brains, mounted inside a medium-agarose matrix, we have exploited a precise slicing procedure using a custom built vibroslicer. To transfect these slices we used an improved biolistic transfection method using a custom made low-pressure barrel and novel DNA-coated nanoparticles (40 nm), which are drastically smaller than traditional microparticles. These nanoparticles also minimize tissue damage as seen by a significant reduction in lactate dehydrogenase activity as well as propidium iodide (PI) and dUTP labelling compared to larger traditional gold particles used on these OTBS. Furthermore, following EYFP exogene delivery by gene gun, the 40 nm treated OTBS displayed a significantly larger number of viable NeuN and EYFP positive cells. These OTBS expressed the exogenous proteins for many weeks. Conclusions Our described methodology of producing OTBS, which results in better reproducibility with less tissue damage, permits the exploitation of mature fully formed adult brains for advanced neurobiological studies. The novel 40 nm particles are ideal for the viable biolistic transfection of OTBS by reducing tissue stress while maintaining long term exogene expression.
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20
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Fann DYW, Lee SY, Manzanero S, Chunduri P, Sobey CG, Arumugam TV. Pathogenesis of acute stroke and the role of inflammasomes. Ageing Res Rev 2013; 12:941-66. [PMID: 24103368 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2013.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2013] [Revised: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 09/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Inflammation is an innate immune response to infection or tissue damage that is designed to limit harm to the host, but contributes significantly to ischemic brain injury following stroke. The inflammatory response is initiated by the detection of acute damage via extracellular and intracellular pattern recognition receptors, which respond to conserved microbial structures, termed pathogen-associated molecular patterns or host-derived danger signals termed damage-associated molecular patterns. Multi-protein complexes known as inflammasomes (e.g. containing NLRP1, NLRP2, NLRP3, NLRP6, NLRP7, NLRP12, NLRC4, AIM2 and/or Pyrin), then process these signals to trigger an effector response. Briefly, signaling through NLRP1 and NLRP3 inflammasomes produces cleaved caspase-1, which cleaves both pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18 into their biologically active mature pro-inflammatory cytokines that are released into the extracellular environment. This review will describe the molecular structure, cellular signaling pathways and current evidence for inflammasome activation following cerebral ischemia, and the potential for future treatments for stroke that may involve targeting inflammasome formation or its products in the ischemic brain.
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21
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Abstract
The complexity of the central nervous system (CNS) is not recapitulated in cell culture models. Thin slicing and subsequent culture of CNS tissue has become a valued means to study neuronal and glial biology within the context of the physiologically relevant tissue milieu. Modern membrane-interface slice culturing methodology allows straightforward access to both CNS tissue and feeding medium, enabling experimental manipulations and analyses that would otherwise be impossible in vivo. CNS slices can be successfully maintained in culture for up to several weeks for investigation of evolving pathology and long-term intervention in models of chronic neurologic disease.Herein, membrane-interface slice culture models for studying viral encephalitis and myelitis are detailed, with emphasis on the use of these models for investigation of pathogenesis and evaluation of novel treatment strategies. We describe techniques to (1) generate brain and spinal cord slices from rodent donors, (2) virally infect slices, (3) assess virally induced injury/apoptosis, (4) characterize "CNS-specific" cytokine production, and (5) treat slices with cytokines/pharmaceuticals. Although our focus is on CNS viral infection, we anticipate that the described methods can be adapted to address a wide range of investigations within the fields of neuropathology, neuroimmunology, and neuropharmacology.
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22
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Inada C, Thi Le X, Tsuneyama K, Fujiwara H, Miyata T, Matsumoto K. Endogenous acetylcholine rescues NMDA-induced long-lasting hippocampal cell damage via stimulation of muscarinic M1 receptors: Elucidation using organic hippocampal slice cultures. Eur J Pharmacol 2013; 699:150-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2012.11.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Revised: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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23
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Abstract
Caspase-1, formerly known as interleukin (IL)-1-converting enzyme is best established as the protease responsible for the processing of the key pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β from an inactive precursor to an active, secreted molecule. Thus, caspase-1 is regarded as a key mediator of inflammatory processes, and has become synonymous with inflammation. In addition to the processing of IL-1β, caspase-1 also executes a rapid programme of cell death, termed pyroptosis, in macrophages in response to intracellular bacteria. Pyroptosis is also regarded as a host response to remove the niche of the bacteria and to hasten their demise. These processes are generally accepted as the main roles of caspase-1. However, there is also a wealth of literature supporting a direct role for caspase-1 in non-infectious cell death processes. This is true in mammals, but also in non-mammalian vertebrates where caspase-1-dependent processing of IL-1β is absent because of the lack of appropriate caspase-1 cleavage sites. This literature is most prevalent in the brain where caspase-1 may directly regulate neuronal cell death in response to diverse insults. We attempt here to summarise the evidence for caspase-1 as a cell death enzyme and propose that, in addition to the processing of IL-1β, caspase-1 has an important and a conserved role as a cell death protease.
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24
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Renic M, Kumar SN, Gebremedhin D, Florence MA, Gerges NZ, Falck JR, Harder DR, Roman RJ. Protective effect of 20-HETE inhibition in a model of oxygen-glucose deprivation in hippocampal slice cultures. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2012; 302:H1285-93. [PMID: 22245774 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00340.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have indicated that inhibitors of the synthesis of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) may have direct neuroprotective actions since they reduce infarct volume after ischemia reperfusion in the brain without altering blood flow. To explore this possibility, the present study used organotypic hippocampal slice cultures subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and reoxygenation to examine whether 20-HETE is released by organotypic hippocampal slices after OGD and whether it contributes to neuronal death through the generation of ROS and activation of caspase-3. The production of 20-HETE increased twofold after OGD and reoxygenation. Blockade of the synthesis of 20-HETE with N-hydroxy-N'-(4-butyl-2-methylphenol)formamidine (HET0016) or its actions with a 20-HETE antagonist, 20-hydroxyeicosa-6(Z),15(Z)-dienoic acid, reduced cell death, as measured by the release of lactate dehydrogenase and propidium iodide uptake. Administration of a 20-HETE mimetic, 20-hydroxyeicosa-5(Z),14(Z)-dienoic acid (5,14-20-HEDE), had the opposite effect and increased injury after OGD. The death of neurons after OGD was associated with an increase in the production of ROS and activation of caspase-3. These effects were attenuated by HET0016 and potentiated after the administration of 5,14-20-HEDE. These findings indicate that the production of 20-HETE by hippocampal slices is increased after OGD and that inhibitors of the synthesis or actions of 20-HETE protect neurons from ischemic cell death. The protective effect of 20-HETE inhibitors is associated with a decrease in superoxide production and activation of caspase-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Renic
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
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Troy CM, Akpan N, Jean YY. Regulation of Caspases in the Nervous System. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2011; 99:265-305. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-385504-6.00007-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Cho S, Wood A, Bowlby MR. Brain slices as models for neurodegenerative disease and screening platforms to identify novel therapeutics. Curr Neuropharmacol 2010; 5:19-33. [PMID: 18615151 DOI: 10.2174/157015907780077105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2006] [Revised: 12/07/2006] [Accepted: 01/01/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent improvements in brain slice technology have made this biological preparation increasingly useful for examining pathophysiology of brain diseases in a tissue context. Brain slices maintain many aspects of in vivo biology, including functional local synaptic circuitry with preserved brain architecture, while allowing good experimental access and precise control of the extracellular environment, making them ideal platforms for dissection of molecular pathways underlying neuronal dysfunction. Importantly, these ex vivo systems permit direct treatment with pharmacological agents modulating these responses and thus provide surrogate therapeutic screening systems without recourse to whole animal studies. Virus or particle mediated transgenic expression can also be accomplished relatively easily to study the function of novel genes in a normal or injured brain tissue context.In this review we will discuss acute brain injury models in organotypic hippocampal and co-culture systems and the effects of pharmacological modulation on neurodegeneration. The review will also cover the evidence of developmental plasticity in these ex vivo models, demonstrating emergence of injury-stimulated neuronal progenitor cells, and neurite sprouting and axonal regeneration following pathway lesioning. Neuro-and axo-genesis are emerging as significant factors contributing to brain repair following many acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore brain slice models may provide a critical contextual experimental system to explore regenerative mechanisms in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seongeun Cho
- Discovery Neuroscience, Wyeth Research, CN8000, Princeton, NJ 08543, USA.
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Kratsios P, Catela C, Salimova E, Huth M, Berno V, Rosenthal N, Mourkioti F. Distinct roles for cell-autonomous Notch signaling in cardiomyocytes of the embryonic and adult heart. Circ Res 2009; 106:559-72. [PMID: 20007915 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.109.203034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The Notch signaling pathway is important for cell-cell communication that controls tissue formation and homeostasis during embryonic and adult life, but the precise cell targets of Notch signaling in the mammalian heart remain poorly defined. OBJECTIVE To investigate the functional role of Notch signaling in the cardiomyocyte compartment of the embryonic and adult heart. METHODS AND RESULTS Here, we report that either conditional overexpression of Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD1) or selective silencing of Notch signaling in the embryonic cardiomyocyte compartment results in developmental defects and perinatal lethality. In contrast, augmentation of endogenous Notch reactivation after myocardial infarction in the adult, either by inducing cardiomyocyte-specific Notch1 transgene expression or by intramyocardial delivery of a Notch1 pseudoligand, increases survival rate, improves cardiac functional performance, and minimizes fibrosis, promoting antiapoptotic and angiogenic mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS These results reveal a strict requirement for cell-autonomous modulation of Notch signaling during heart morphogenesis, and illustrate how the same signaling pathway that promotes congenital heart defects when perturbed in the embryo can be therapeutically redeployed for the treatment of adult myocardial damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paschalis Kratsios
- Mouse Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Campus A. Buzzati-Traverso, Rome, Italy
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Abstract
GLYX-13 (threonine-proline-proline-threonine-amide) is an amidated di-pyrrolidine that acts as a functional partial agonist at the glycine site on N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors (NMDARs). GLYX-13 can both increase NMDAR conductance at NR2B-containing receptors, and reduce conductance of non-NR2B-containing receptors. Here, we report that GLYX-13 potently reduces delayed (24 h) death of CA1 pyramidal neurons produced by bilateral carotid occlusion in Mongolian gerbils, when administered up to 5 h post-ischemia. GLYX-13 also reduced delayed (24 h) neuronal death of CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus principal neurons elicited by oxygen/glucose deprivation in in-vitro hippocampal organotypic slice cultures, when applied up to 2 h post-oxygen/glucose deprivation. The glycine site full agonist D-serine completely occluded neuroprotection, indicating that GLYX-13 acts by modulating activation of this site.
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29
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Cell death and proliferation in acute slices and organotypic cultures of mammalian CNS. Prog Neurobiol 2009; 88:221-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2008] [Revised: 12/09/2008] [Accepted: 01/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Cui HS, Matsumoto K, Murakami Y, Hori H, Zhao Q, Obi R. Berberine exerts neuroprotective actions against in vitro ischemia-induced neuronal cell damage in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures: involvement of B-cell lymphoma 2 phosphorylation suppression. Biol Pharm Bull 2009; 32:79-85. [PMID: 19122285 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.32.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In this study we elucidated the effects of berberine, a major alkaloid component contained in medicinal herbs, such as Phellodendri Cortex and Coptidis Rhizoma, on ischemic neuronal damage in mouse organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHSCs) caused by oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) -type glutamate receptor stimulation. Hippocampal slices obtained from 7-d-old ICR mice were cultured for 10 d before the experiments. Ischemia-related damage was induced by OGD (5, 15, 45 min) or NMDA (10 microM) treatment, and was evaluated by measuring propidium iodide (PI) uptake. Levels of apoptotic marker proteins, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and phosphorylated-Bcl-2 (p-Bcl-2), in the OHSCs were measured as indices of biochemical neuronal cell damage by Western blotting. Berberine (5, 25 microM) or the NMDA antagonist MK-801 (25 microM) was added to the medium 30 min before OGD or NMDA treatment. OGD time-dependently increased PI uptake of the OHSCs. Both berberine (5, 25 microM) and MK-801 (25 microM) significantly inhibited PI uptake at 24 h after 45-min OGD treatment and PI uptake in OHSCs exposed to NMDA for 24 h. OGD treatment also significantly increased the level of p-Bcl-2 but not that of Bcl-2 or glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in OHSCs. Berberine (5-25 microM) significantly suppressed the OGD-induced increase of p-Bcl-2 level in OHSCs when tissue was exposed to the alkaloid prior to OGD or simultaneously with OGD. These findings suggest that berberine has protective effects against ischemic damage in mouse OHSCs and that the effects are at least partly mediated by suppression of Bcl-2 phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu-Shan Cui
- Division of Medicinal Pharmacology, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Japan
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31
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RIBE EM, SERRANO-SAIZ E, AKPAN N, TROY CM. Mechanisms of neuronal death in disease: defining the models and the players. Biochem J 2008; 415:165-82. [PMID: 18800967 PMCID: PMC9334905 DOI: 10.1042/bj20081118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Dysregulation of life and death at the cellular level leads to a variety of diseases. In the nervous system, aberrant neuronal death is an outstanding feature of neurodegenerative diseases. Since the discovery of the caspase family of proteases, much effort has been made to determine how caspases function in disease, including neurodegenerative diseases. Although many papers have been published examining caspases in neuronal death and disease, the pathways have not been fully clarified. In the present review, we examine the potential players in the death pathways, the current tools for examining these players and the models for studying neurological disease. Alzheimer's disease, the most common neurodegenerative disorder, and cerebral ischaemia, the most common cause of neurological death, are used to illustrate our current understanding of death signalling in neurodegenerative diseases. A better understanding of the neuronal death pathways would provide targets for the development of therapeutic interventions for these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena M. RIBE
- Departments of Pathology and Neurology, Taub Center for the Study of Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, U.S.A
| | - Esther SERRANO-SAIZ
- Departments of Pathology and Neurology, Taub Center for the Study of Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, U.S.A
| | - Nsikan AKPAN
- Departments of Pathology and Neurology, Taub Center for the Study of Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, U.S.A
| | - Carol M. TROY
- Departments of Pathology and Neurology, Taub Center for the Study of Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, U.S.A
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Neuroprotective effects of Ac.YVAD.cmk on experimental spinal cord injury in rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 69:561-7. [PMID: 18262241 DOI: 10.1016/j.surneu.2007.03.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2007] [Accepted: 03/12/2007] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apoptosis as a cell death mechanism is important in numerous diseases, including traumatic SCI. We evaluated the neuroprotective effects of Ac.YVAD.cmk and functional outcomes in a rat SCI model. METHODS Thirty rats were randomized into 3 groups of 10: sham-operated, trauma only, and trauma plus Ac.YVAD.cmk treatment. Trauma was produced in the thoracic region by a weight-drop technique. Group 3 rats received Ac.YVAD.cmk (1 mg/kg, ip) 1 minute after trauma. The rats were killed at 24 hours and 5 days after injury. Efficacy was evaluated with light microscopy and TUNEL staining. Functional outcomes were assessed with the inclined plane technique and a modified version of the Tarlov grading system. RESULTS At 24 hours postinjury, the respective mean number of apoptotic cells in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 0, 5.26 +/- 0.19, and 0.97 +/- 0.15. Microscopic examination of group 2 tissues showed widespread hemorrhage, edema, necrosis, and polymorphic nuclear leukocyte infiltration and vascular thrombi. Group 3 tissues revealed similar features, but cavitation and demyelination were less prominent than those in group 2 samples at this period. At 5 days postinjury, the respective mean inclined plane angles in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 65.5 +/- 2.09, 42.00 +/- 2.74, and 52.5 +/- 1.77. Motor grading of animals revealed a similar trend. These differences were statistically significant (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Ac.YVAD.cmk inhibited posttraumatic apoptosis in a rat SCI model. This may provide the basis for development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of SCI.
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Gemma C, Bachstetter AD, Cole MJ, Fister M, Hudson C, Bickford PC. Blockade of caspase-1 increases neurogenesis in the aged hippocampus. Eur J Neurosci 2007; 26:2795-803. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2007.05875.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Karanian DA, Baude AS, Brown QB, Parsons CG, Bahr BA. 3-Nitropropionic acid toxicity in hippocampus: protection through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonism. Hippocampus 2006; 16:834-42. [PMID: 16897723 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.20214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The over-activation of glutamate receptors can lead to excitotoxic cell death and is believed to be involved in the progression of neurodegenerative events in the vulnerable hippocampus. Here, we used an in vitro slice model to study toxicity produced in the hippocampus by the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP). The organotypic slice cultures exhibit native cellular organization as well as dense arborization of neuronal processes and synaptic contacts. The hippocampal slices were exposed to 3-NP for 2-20 days, causing calpain-mediated breakdown of the spectrin cytoskeleton, a loss of pre- and postsynaptic markers, and neuronal atrophy. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist memantine reduced both the cytoskeletal damage and synaptic decline in a dose-dependent manner. 3-NP-induced cytotoxicity, as determined by the release of lactate dehydrogenase, was also reduced by memantine with EC50 values from 1.7 to 2.3 microM. Propidium iodide fluorescence and phase contrast microscopy confirmed memantine neuroprotection against the chronic toxin exposure. In addition, the protected tissue exhibited normal neuronal morphology in the major hippocampal subfields. These results indicate that antagonists of NMDA-type glutamate receptors are protective during the toxic outcome associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. They also provide further evidence of memantine's therapeutic potential against neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Karanian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3092, USA.
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35
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Bonde C, Noraberg J, Noer H, Zimmer J. Ionotropic glutamate receptors and glutamate transporters are involved in necrotic neuronal cell death induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation of hippocampal slice cultures. Neuroscience 2006; 136:779-94. [PMID: 16344151 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2005] [Revised: 06/27/2005] [Accepted: 07/12/2005] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Organotypic hippocampal slice cultures represent a feasible model for studies of cerebral ischemia and the role of ionotropic glutamate receptors in oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced neurodegeneration. New results and a review of existing data are presented in the first part of this paper. The role of glutamate transporters, with special reference to recent results on inhibition of glutamate transporters under normal and energy-failure (ischemia-like) conditions is reviewed in the last part of the paper. The experimental work is based on hippocampal slice cultures derived from 7 day old rats and grown for about 3 weeks. In such cultures we investigated the subfield neuronal susceptibility to oxygen-glucose deprivation, the type of induced cell death and the involvement of ionotropic glutamate receptors. Hippocampal slice cultures were also used in our studies on glutamate transporters reviewed in the last part of this paper. Neurodegeneration was monitored and/or shown by cellular uptake of propidium iodide, loss of immunocytochemical staining for microtubule-associated protein 2 and staining with Fluoro-Jade B. To distinguish between necrotic vs. apoptotic neuronal cell death we used immunocytochemical staining for active caspase-3 (apoptosis indicator) and Hoechst 33342 staining of nuclear chromatin. Our experimental studies on oxygen-glucose deprivation confirmed that CA1 pyramidal cells were the most susceptible to this ischemia-like condition. Judged by propidium iodide uptake, a selective CA1 lesion, with only minor affection on CA3, occurred in cultures exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation for 30 min. Nuclear chromatin staining by Hoechst 33342 and staining for active caspase-3 showed that oxygen-glucose deprivation induced necrotic cell death only. Addition of 10 microM of the N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor antagonist MK-801, and 20 microM of the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor antagonist 2,3-dihyroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-benzo(F)quinoxaline to the culture medium confirmed that both N-methyl-D-aspartate and non-N-methyl-D-aspartate ionotropic glutamate receptors were involved in the oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced cell death. Glutamate is normally quickly removed, from the extracellular space by sodium-dependent glutamate transporters. Effects of blocking the transporters by addition of the DL-threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartate are reviewed in the last part of the paper. Under normal conditions addition of DL-threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartate in concentrations of 25 microM or more to otherwise untreated hippocampal slice cultures induced neuronal cell death, which was prevented by addition of 2,3-dihyroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-benzo(F)quinoxaline and MK-801. In energy failure situations, like cerebral ischemia and oxygen-glucose deprivation, the transporters are believed to reverse and release glutamate to the extracellular space. Blockade of the transporters by a subtoxic (10 microM) dose of DL-threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartate during oxygen-glucose deprivation (but not during the next 48 h after oxygen-glucose deprivation) significantly reduced the oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced propidium iodide uptake, suggesting a neuroprotective inhibition of reverse transporter activity by DL-threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartate during oxygen-glucose deprivation under these conditions. Adding to this, other results from our laboratory have demonstrated that pre-treatment of the slice cultures with glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor upregulates glutamate transporters. As a logical, but in some glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor therapy-related conditions clearly unwanted consequence the susceptibility for oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced glutamate receptor-mediated cell death is increased after glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor treatment. In summary, we conclude that both ionotropic glutamate receptors and glutamate transporters are involved in oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced necrotic cell death in hippocampal slice cultures, which have proven to be a feasible tool in experimental studies on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Bonde
- Anatomy and Neurobiology, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Winslowparken 21, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
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Hoffmann U, Pomper J, Graulich J, Zeller M, Schuchmann S, Gabriel S, Maier RF, Heinemann U. Changes of neuronal activity in areas CA1 and CA3 during anoxia and normoxic or hyperoxic reoxygenation in juvenile rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Brain Res 2005; 1069:207-15. [PMID: 16380097 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2005.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2004] [Revised: 10/01/2005] [Accepted: 11/02/2005] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
In neonates, asphyxia is usually followed by hyperoxic treatment. In order to study whether hyperoxic reoxygenation might cause additional impairment of neuronal function, we subjected organotypic hippocampal slice cultures of juvenile rats (7 DIV, P6-8) to 30 min anoxia followed by 60 min hyperoxic or normoxic reoxygenation (95% or 19% O2, respectively). Spontaneous and evoked field potentials as well as [Ca2+]o were recorded in the pyramidal layer of area CA1 or area CA3. In area CA1, 30 min of anoxia led to decline of evoked field potential amplitudes by on average 67% and to profound changes in field potential characteristics and Ca2+ homeostasis which were not related to outcome after reoxygenation. Hyperoxic reoxygenation resulted first in a fast recovery of the field potential amplitude to 82% of the control value and then, in 75% of slice cultures, in a large negative field potential shift accompanied by a prolonged decrease of [Ca2+]o and loss of excitability outlasting the experiment. Recovery of field potential amplitude under normoxic conditions stayed poor, with a first increase to 51% and a second decrease to 22%. In contrast, field potential amplitude in area CA3 recovered to 80% of the initial amplitude, irrespective of the reoxygenation mode. The selective loss of function during hyperoxic reoxygenation in area CA1 might be a first sign of neuronal injury that we observed 1 h after end of hyperoxic reoxygenation in a previous study. Whether the poor outcome after normoxic reoxygenation would favour long-term recovery remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Hoffmann
- Institut für Neurophysiologie, Tucholskystr. 2, D 10117 Berlin, Germany
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Rytter A, Cardoso CMP, Johansson P, Cronberg T, Hansson MJ, Mattiasson G, Elmér E, Wieloch T. The temperature dependence and involvement of mitochondria permeability transition and caspase activation in damage to organotypic hippocampal slices following in vitro ischemia. J Neurochem 2005; 95:1108-17. [PMID: 16144540 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03420.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The aggravating effect of hyperglycemia on ischemic brain injury can be mimicked in a model of in vitro ischemia (IVI) using murine hippocampal slice cultures. Using this model, we found that the damage in the CA1 region following IVI in the absence or presence of 40 mm glucose (hyperglycemia) is highly temperature dependent. Decreasing the temperature from 35 to 31 degrees C during IVI prevented cell death, whereas increasing the temperature by 2 degrees C markedly aggravated damage. As blockade of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) is equally effective as hypothermia in preventing ischemic cell death in vivo, we investigated whether inhibition of MPT or of caspases was protective following IVI. In the absence of glucose, the MPT blockers cyclosporin A and MeIle4-CsA but not the immunosuppressive compound FK506 diminished cell death. In contrast, following hyperglycemic IVI, MPT blockade was ineffective. Also, the pan-caspase inhibitor Boc-Asp(OMe)fluoromethyl ketone did not decrease cell death in the CA1 region following IVI or hyperglycemic IVI. We conclude that cell death in the CA1 region of organotypic murine hippocampal slices following IVI is highly temperature dependent and involves MPT. In contrast, cell death following hyperglycemic IVI, although completely prevented by hypothermia, is not mediated by mechanisms that involve MPT or caspase activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rytter
- Laboratory for Experimental Brain Research, Lund University, Sweden
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Liu C, Cotten JF, Schuyler JA, Fahlman CS, Au JD, Bickler PE, Yost CS. Protective effects of TASK-3 (KCNK9) and related 2P K channels during cellular stress. Brain Res 2005; 1031:164-73. [PMID: 15649441 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2004.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/28/2004] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Tandem pore domain (or 2P) K channels form a recently isolated family of channels that are responsible for background K currents in excitable tissues. Previous studies have indicated that 2P K channel activity produces membrane hyperpolarization, which may offer protection from cellular insults. To study the effect of these channels in neuroprotection, we overexpressed pH-sensitive 2P K channels by transfecting the partially transformed C8 cell line with these channels. Tandem pore weak inward rectifier K channel (TWIK)-related acid-sensitive K channel 3 (TASK-3, KCNK9) as well as other pH sensitive 2P K channels (TASK-1 and TASK-2) enhanced cell viability by inhibiting the activation of intracellular apoptosis pathways. To explore the cellular basis for this protection in a more complex cellular environment, we infected cultured hippocampal slices with Sindbis virus constructs containing the coding sequences of these channels. Expression of TASK-3 throughout the hippocampal structure afforded neurons within the dentate and CA1 regions significant protection from an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) injury. Neuroprotection within TASK-3 expressing slices was also enhanced by incubation with isoflurane. These results confirm a protective physiologic capability of TASK-3 and related 2P K channels, and suggest agents that enhance their activity, such as volatile anesthetics may intensify these protective effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Canhui Liu
- Severinghaus Anesthesia Laboratory, Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Ave., Room S-261, Box 0542, San Francisco, CA 94143-0542, United States
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Rundén-Pran E, Tansø R, Haug FM, Ottersen OP, Ring A. Neuroprotective effects of inhibiting N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, P2X receptors and the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade: A quantitative analysis in organotypical hippocampal slice cultures subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation. Neuroscience 2005; 136:795-810. [PMID: 16344152 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.08.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2005] [Revised: 08/04/2005] [Accepted: 08/30/2005] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Cell death was assessed by quantitative analysis of propidium iodide uptake in rat hippocampal slice cultures transiently exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation, an in vitro model of brain ischemia. The hippocampal subfields CA1 and CA3, and fascia dentata were analyzed at different stages from 0 to 48 h after the insult. Cell death appeared at 3 h and increased steeply toward 12 h. Only a slight additional increase in propidium iodide uptake was seen at later intervals. The mitogen-activated protein kinases extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 were activated immediately after oxygen and glucose deprivation both in CA1 and in CA3/fascia dentata. Inhibition of the specific mitogen-activated protein kinase activator mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase by PD98059 or U0126 offered partial protection against oxygen and glucose deprivation-induced cell damage. The non-selective P2X receptor antagonist suramin gave neuroprotection of the same magnitude as the N-methyl-D-aspartate channel blocker MK-801 (approximately 70%). Neuroprotection was also observed with the P2 receptor blocker PPADS. Immunogold data indicated that hippocampal slice cultures (like intact hippocampi) express several isoforms of P2X receptors at the synaptic level, consistent with the idea that the effects of suramin and PPADS are mediated by P2X receptors. Virtually complete neuroprotection was obtained by combined blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, P2X receptors, and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase. Both P2X receptors and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors mediate influx of calcium. Our results suggest that inhibition of P2X receptors has a neuroprotective potential similar to that of inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. In contrast, our comparative analysis shows that only partial protection can be achieved by inhibiting the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, one of the downstream pathways activated by intracellular calcium overload.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Blotting, Western/methods
- Cell Death/drug effects
- Cell Death/physiology
- Dizocilpine Maleate/pharmacology
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drug Interactions
- Enzyme Activation/drug effects
- Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists/pharmacology
- Glucose/deficiency
- Hippocampus/drug effects
- Hippocampus/pathology
- Hypoxia
- Male
- Microscopy, Immunoelectron/methods
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism
- Neurons/drug effects
- Neurons/ultrastructure
- Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology
- Organ Culture Techniques
- Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists
- Pyridoxal Phosphate/analogs & derivatives
- Pyridoxal Phosphate/pharmacology
- Rats
- Rats, Wistar
- Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/physiology
- Receptors, Purinergic P2/physiology
- Receptors, Purinergic P2/ultrastructure
- Receptors, Purinergic P2X
- Time Factors
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Affiliation(s)
- E Rundén-Pran
- Centre for Molecular Biology and Neuroscience, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1105 Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway.
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40
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Abstract
Cell death mechanisms frequently involve the influx of extracellular calcium through voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, e.g., the NMDA receptor (Greene, 1999). The vanilloid receptor (VR1) is present in regions of the brain (Mezey et al., 2000) that are highly susceptible to neurodegenerative insults, suggesting that this ion channel might contribute to the cellular processes involved in neuronal death. We tested the effects of VR1 ligands in the oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) model of cell death in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. The VR1 agonist capsaicin at concentrations that are selective for VR1 did not affect cell viability per se or the extent of neurodegeneration induced by the OGD insult. In contrast, the VR1 antagonist capsazepine (0.1-10 microm) significantly reduced the amount of OGD-induced cell death. However, capsazepine was still neuroprotective in slices prepared from VR1 knock-out mice, which exhibited the same degree of neurodegeneration to that observed in slices prepared from wild-type mice, excluding the possibility that it afforded neuroprotection through inhibition of VR1. Instead, capsazepine inhibited the hyperpolarization-activated nonspecific cation channel generated current I(h) in a concentration range similar to that which was neuroprotective. Furthermore, the specific I(h) blocker ZD-7288 was also neuroprotective, mirroring the effects of capsazepine, in that it was effective at preventing cell death when applied either during or after the OGD insult. These results demonstrate that capsazepine affords neuroprotection through inhibition of I(h) rather than inhibition of VR1.
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41
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Pringle AK, Morrison B, Bradley M, Iannotti F, Sundstrom LE. Characterisation of a novel class of polyamine-based neuroprotective compounds. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2003; 368:216-24. [PMID: 12904829 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-003-0778-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2003] [Accepted: 06/10/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Prolonged cerebral ischaemia initiates complex intra- and inter-cellular signalling cascades ultimately resulting in neuronal death. Well-characterised mediators of ischaemic cell death are glutamate, free radicals and nitric oxide. Many drugs that block these mechanisms are neuroprotective in vitro, but have unfavourable side-effect profiles in man. We have recently demonstrated that the compound L-arginyl-3,4-spermidine (L-Arg3,4) is neuroprotective in vitro through an interaction with several of these mechanisms, and prevents ischaemic neurodegeneration in vivo with no gross side effects. In this study, we have used solid-phase combinatorial chemistry, to synthesise a number of analogues of L-Arg3,4, and investigate the structure-activity relationship using an in vitro, organotypic hippocampal slice culture model of cerebral ischaemia. A number of molecular features were identified which were essential for the neuroprotective activity including the requirement for a positive charge and an amino acid in the L-configuration. Relatively minor alterations to both the terminal arginine and polyamine moieties significantly attenuated neuroprotective efficacy. Our data implies that these compounds are neuroprotective through a currently undefined mechanism rather than non-specific ionic interactions described previously for other polyamine-containing compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley K Pringle
- Clinical Neurosciences, University of Southampton, Biomedical Sciences Building, Bassett Crescent East, SO16 7PX, Southampton, UK.
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42
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Valentim LM, Rodnight R, Geyer AB, Horn AP, Tavares A, Cimarosti H, Netto CA, Salbego CG. Changes in heat shock protein 27 phosphorylation and immunocontent in response to preconditioning to oxygen and glucose deprivation in organotypic hippocampal cultures. Neuroscience 2003; 118:379-86. [PMID: 12699774 DOI: 10.1016/s0306-4522(02)00919-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Organotypic hippocampal cultures have been recently used to study in vitro ischaemic neuronal death. Sub-lethal periods of ischaemia in vivo confer resistance to lethal insults and many studies have demonstrated the involvement of heat shock proteins in this phenomenon. We used organotypic hippocampal cultures to investigate the involvement of heat shock protein (HSP) 27 in preconditioning to oxygen and glucose deprivation. Neuronal damage was assessed using propidium iodide fluorescence; HSP27 phosphorylation and immunocontent were obtained using (32)Pi labelling followed by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. We observed that immunocontent of HSP27 was increased after lethal or sub-lethal treatment, indicating it is a response to metabolic stress. Treatments with 5 or 10 min of oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) or 1- microM N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) induced tolerance to 40 min of OGD associated with an increase in HSP27 immunocontent and phosphorylation. These data suggest that, in vitro, phosphorylated HSP27 might be involved in preconditioning, probably acting as a modulator of actin filaments or by the blockage of neurodegenerative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Valentim
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, UFRGS, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil
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43
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Liou AKF, Clark RS, Henshall DC, Yin XM, Chen J. To die or not to die for neurons in ischemia, traumatic brain injury and epilepsy: a review on the stress-activated signaling pathways and apoptotic pathways. Prog Neurobiol 2003; 69:103-42. [PMID: 12684068 DOI: 10.1016/s0301-0082(03)00005-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
After a severe episode of ischemia, traumatic brain injury (TBI) or epilepsy, it is typical to find necrotic cell death within the injury core. In addition, a substantial number of neurons in regions surrounding the injury core have been observed to die via the programmed cell death (PCD) pathways due to secondary effects derived from the various types of insults. Apart from the cell loss in the injury core, cell death in regions surrounding the injury core may also contribute to significant losses in neurological functions. In fact, it is the injured neurons in these regions around the injury core that treatments are targeting to preserve. In this review, we present our cumulated understanding of stress-activated signaling pathways and apoptotic pathways in the research areas of ischemic injury, TBI and epilepsy and that gathered from concerted research efforts in oncology and other diseases. However, it is obvious that our understanding of these pathways in the context of acute brain injury is at its infancy stage and merits further investigation. Hopefully, this added research effort will provide a more detailed knowledge from which better therapeutic strategies can be developed to treat these acute brain injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony K F Liou
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, S526 Biomedical Science Tower, 3500 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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44
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Rekling JC. Neuroprotective effects of anticonvulsants in rat hippocampal slice cultures exposed to oxygen/glucose deprivation. Neurosci Lett 2003; 335:167-70. [PMID: 12531459 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(02)01193-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Some anticonvulsants show neuroprotective effects, and may be of use in reducing neuronal death resulting from stroke or traumatic brain injury. Here I report that a broad range of anticonvulsants protect cells in hippocampal slice cultures from death induced by oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD). Hippocampal slice cultures were submitted to 1 h OGD and the resulting cell death was quantified 24 h later using a novel automated fluorescent scanning method. The classical anticonvulsants phenobarbital, phenytoin, ethosuximide, chlordiazepoxide and midazolam all significantly and dose-dependently reduced cell death induced by OGD. The newer anticonvulsants carbamazepine, felbamate, lamotrigine, tiagabine, and oxcarbazepine also had significant neuroprotective effects, but gabapentin, valproic acid (10 mM), levetiracetam and retigabine were not neuroprotective at a concentration up to 300 microM. In conclusion, several classical and newer anticonvulsants have neuroprotective properties in an in vitro model that simulates cerebral ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens C Rekling
- H. Lundbeck A/S, Biological Research, Department 828, Ottiliavej 9, DK-2500 Valby, Denmark.
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45
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Vincent VAM, Robinson CC, Simsek D, Murphy GM. Macrophage colony stimulating factor prevents NMDA-induced neuronal death in hippocampal organotypic cultures. J Neurochem 2002; 82:1388-97. [PMID: 12354286 DOI: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2002.01087.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) and its receptor are up-regulated in the brain in Alzheimer's disease (AD), in transgenic mouse models for AD, and experimental models for traumatic and ischemic brain injury. M-CSF induces activation and proliferation of microglial cells and expression of proinflammatory cytokines. We examined the role of M-CSF in excitotoxic neuronal cell death in organotypic hippocampal cultures. NMDA treatment induced neuronal apoptosis and caspase-3 activation in organotypic hippocampal cultures, whereas treatment with M-CSF protected hippocampal neurons from NMDA-induced apoptosis. Caspase-3 activation was inhibited by M-CSF treatment to the same degree as with the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. These results suggest that M-CSF has neuroprotective properties through inhibition of caspase-3 that could promote neuronal survival after excitotoxic insult. The role of M-CSF in neurological disease should be reevaluated as a microglial activator with potentially neuroprotective effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie A M Vincent
- Neuroscience Research Laboratories, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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46
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Graulich J, Hoffmann U, Maier RF, Ruscher K, Pomper JK, Ko HK, Gabriel S, Obladen M, Heinemann U. Acute neuronal injury after hypoxia is influenced by the reoxygenation mode in juvenile hippocampal slice cultures. BRAIN RESEARCH. DEVELOPMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH 2002; 137:35-42. [PMID: 12128252 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-3806(02)00365-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In neonates asphyxia is usually followed by hyperoxia due to resuscitation procedures. In order to study whether hyperoxic reoxygenation might cause additional cell injury we subjected organotypic hippocampal slice cultures of juvenile rats to normoxic or hyperoxic reoxygenation (19 or 85% oxygen, respectively) following hypoxia (3% oxygen) for 30, 60, and 120 min. Cell injury was quantified by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and propidium iodide (PI) fluorescence 1 h after end of the reoxygenation period. In both experimental groups, LDH activity was significantly enhanced by hypoxia as compared to normoxic controls. However, hyperoxic reoxygenation caused a larger increase in LDH activity than normoxic reoxygenation (e.g., by a factor of 1.60 vs. 1.29 following 120 min hypoxia). PI fluorescence increased after hypoxia in all principal cell layers of the hippocampus but again showed a larger enhancement after hyperoxic reoxygenation as compared to normoxic reoxygenation (e.g., by a factor of 3.9 vs. 1.7 for CA1 and 120 min of hypoxia). After normoxic reoxygenation, PI fluorescence intensity was lower in the dentate gyrus as compared to CA1 and CA3, while it reached similar values like CA1 after high oxygen supply. In conclusion, juvenile hippocampal slice cultures subjected to hyperoxic reoxygenation display a greater amount of acute neuronal injury than slice cultures undergoing normoxic reoxygenation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Graulich
- Charité, Humboldt University Berlin, Department of Neonatology, Augustenburger Platz 1, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
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47
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Noer H, Kristensen BW, Noraberg J, Zimmer J, Gramsbergen JB. 3-Nitropropionic acid neurotoxicity in hippocampal slice cultures: developmental and regional vulnerability and dependency on glucose. Exp Neurol 2002; 176:237-46. [PMID: 12093101 DOI: 10.1006/exnr.2002.7934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We investigated whether neurotoxic effects of the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) in hippocampal slice cultures are dependent on glucose levels in the culture medium and whether such effects occur via apoptosis or necrosis. In addition, 3-NP toxicity was investigated at two developmental stages of the cultures, prepared from rat brain at postnatal day 5-7 and grown in Neurobasal medium for 1 or 3 weeks. Cultures were exposed to 3-NP in the presence of high (25 mM), normal (5 mM), or low (3 mM) glucose for 48 h, followed by 48 h incubation in medium without 3-NP. Cellular propidium iodide (PI) uptake and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) efflux into the medium revealed time- and dose-dependent cell death by 3-NP, with EC(50) values of about 60 microM in high or normal glucose. Regional vulnerability, as assessed by PI uptake and MAP2 immunostaining, in 3-week-old cultures was as follows: CA1 > CA3 > fascia dentata. In low glucose much lower concentrations of 3-NP (25 microM) triggered neurotoxicity. One-week-old cultures were less susceptible to 3-NP toxicity than 3-week-old cultures, but the dentate granule cells were relatively more affected in the immature cultures. We found no evidence for apoptotic cell death by 3-NP in 3-week-old cultures, but in 1-week-old cultures the putative apoptotic marker c-JUN/AP1 and nuclear fragmentation (Hoechst) were significantly increased in the dentate granule cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helle Noer
- Anatomy and Neurobiology, SDU-Odense University, Denmark
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48
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Ueda H, Hamabe W. [Neuronal death mode switch and neurogenesis as in vivo neuroprotection]. Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi 2002; 119:79-88. [PMID: 11862761 DOI: 10.1254/fpj.119.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The brain has various in vivo neuroprotective mechanisms that allow it to survive for an entire lifetime. As well as neurotrophic factor-mediated inhibition of in vivo apoptotic mechanisms through various protein kinases including Akt and MAP kinase, we propose adding the neuronal death mode switch mechanism observed under the brain ischemic stress to the list of neuroprotective mechanisms. Necrosis occurs when energy or ATP levels are markedly reduced. Lowered ATP levels cause a Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase failure, leading to an osmolysis. On the other hand, sufficient ATP is required for the apoptosome activation. Under the serum-free condition, cortical neurons rapidly die in necrosis. High-glucose treatment converted the cell death mode to apoptosis through an elevation of cellular ATP levels. This treatment also rescued the cell from death due to retinal ischemic injury. These findings suggest the possibility that ischemia-induced neuronal death could be inhibited by some drugs to elevate cellular ATP levels. Neurogenesis in the adult brain is now an important topic in neuroscience. As brain injury is reported to enhance the neurogenesis, this might be also included in the ways of in vivo neuroprotection. As lysophosphatidic acid has various activities to drive neurogenesis, the neurogenesis could also be managed by other drugs to compensate for functions lost by neuronal death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Ueda
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Nagasaki University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan.
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49
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Zhou P, Qian L, Glickstein SB, Golanov EV, Pickel VM, Reis DJ. Electrical stimulation of cerebellar fastigial nucleus protects rat brain, in vitro, from staurosporine-induced apoptosis. J Neurochem 2001; 79:328-38. [PMID: 11677261 DOI: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2001.00585.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Electrical stimulation of the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) elicits a prolonged ( approximately 10 days) and substantial (50-80%) protection against ischemic and excitotoxic injuries. The mechanism(s) of protection are unknown. We investigated whether FN stimulation directly protects brain cells against apoptotic cell death in an in vitro rat brain slice culture model. Rats were electrically stimulated in FN or, as control, the cerebellar dentate nucleus (DN). Coronal slices through the forebrain were explanted, exposed to staurosporine, harvested, and analyzed for caspase-3 activity by a fluorescence assay. FN, but not DN, stimulation significantly reduced staurosporine-induced caspase-3 activity by 39 +/- 7% at 3 h, 31 +/- 3% at 6 h and 26 +/- 4% at 10 h of incubation. Immunocytochemistry revealed FN-specific reductions in activated caspase-3 mainly in glial-like cells throughout the forebrain. FN stimulation also results in a 56.5% reduction in cytochrome c release upon staurosporine incubation. We conclude that neuroprotection elicited from FN stimulation can directly modify the sensitivity of brain cells to apoptotic stimuli and thereby suppress staurosporine induced apoptosis in adult rat brain slices. This model indicates that neuroprotection can be studied in vitro and provides new insight into the potential role of glial cells in ischemic protection of neurons induced by FN stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Zhou
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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50
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Komarova EA, Gudkov AV. Chemoprotection from p53-dependent apoptosis: potential clinical applications of the p53 inhibitors. Biochem Pharmacol 2001; 62:657-67. [PMID: 11556286 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-2952(01)00733-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The p53 tumor suppressor pathway is a key mediator of stress response that protects the organism from accumulating genetically altered and potentially cancerous cells by inducing growth arrest or apoptosis in damaged cells. However, under certain stressful conditions, p53 activity can result in massive apoptosis in sensitive tissues, leading to severe pathological consequences for the organism. One such situation is anticancer therapy that is often associated with general genotoxic stress, leading to p53-dependent apoptosis in the epithelia of the digestive tract and in the hematopoietic system. A chemical inhibitor of p53, capable of suppressing p53-mediated apoptosis, was shown to protect mice from lethal doses of gamma-radiation, making pharmacological suppression of p53 a perspective therapeutic approach to reduce the side-effects of cancer treatment. There are other situations, besides anti-cancer therapy, when humans are exposed to stressful conditions known to involve p53 activation, which, in extreme cases, could result in the development of life-threatening diseases. Here we review the experimental evidence on the role of p53 in tissue injuries associated with hypoxia (heart and brain ischemias) and hyperthermia (fever and burns), comparing these pathologies with the consequences of genotoxic stress of cancer treatment. The accumulated information points to the involvement of p53 in the generation of the pathological outcome of the above stresses, making them potential targets for the therapeutic application of p53 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Komarova
- Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, 60607, USA
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