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Kong W, Li X, Guo X, Sun Y, Chai W, Chang Y, Huang Q, Wang P, Wang X. Ultrasound-Assisted CRISPRi-Exosome for Epigenetic Modification of α-Synuclein Gene in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease. ACS NANO 2024; 18:7837-7851. [PMID: 38437635 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c05864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Currently, there is a lack of effective treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). In PD patients, aberrant methylation of SNCA (α-synuclein gene) has been reported and may be a potential therapeutic target. In this study, we established an epigenetic regulation platform based on an exosomal CRISPR intervention system. With the assist of focused ultrasound (FUS) opening the blood-brain barrier, engineered exosomes carrying RVG (rabies viral glycoprotein) targeting peptide, sgRNA (single guide RNA), and dCas9-DNMT3A (named RVG-CRISPRi-Exo) were efficiently delivered into the brain lesions and induced specific methylation of SNCA. In vivo, FUS combined with RVG-CRISPRi-Exo significantly improved motor performance, balance coordination, and neurosensitivity in PD mice, greatly down-regulated the elevation of α-synuclein (α-syn) caused by modeling, rescued cell apoptosis, and alleviated the progression of PD in mice. [18F]-FP-DTBZ imaging suggested that the synaptic function of the nigrostriatal pathway could be restored, which was conducive to the control of motor behavior in PD mice. Pyrosequencing results showed that RVG-CRISPRi-Exo could methylate CpG at specific sites of SNCA, and this fine-tuned editing achieved good therapeutic effects in PD model mice. In vitro, RVG-CRISPRi-Exo down-regulated SNCA transcripts and α-syn expression and relieved neuronal cell damage. Collectively, our findings provide a proof-of-principle for the development of targeted brain nanodelivery based on engineered exosomes and provide insights into epigenetic regulation of brain diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weirong Kong
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Developing of Endangered Chinese Crude Drugs in Northwest China, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, #620 West Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Xin Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Developing of Endangered Chinese Crude Drugs in Northwest China, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, #620 West Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Xiaoyu Guo
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Developing of Endangered Chinese Crude Drugs in Northwest China, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, #620 West Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Yue Sun
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Developing of Endangered Chinese Crude Drugs in Northwest China, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, #620 West Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Wenyu Chai
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Developing of Endangered Chinese Crude Drugs in Northwest China, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, #620 West Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Yawei Chang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Developing of Endangered Chinese Crude Drugs in Northwest China, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, #620 West Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Qichao Huang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Developing of Endangered Chinese Crude Drugs in Northwest China, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, #620 West Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Pan Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Developing of Endangered Chinese Crude Drugs in Northwest China, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, #620 West Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Xiaobing Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Developing of Endangered Chinese Crude Drugs in Northwest China, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Resources and Natural Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, #620 West Chang'an Road, Xi'an 710119, China
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Alwindi M, Bizanti A. Vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT) regional expression and roles in pathological conditions. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22413. [PMID: 38034713 PMCID: PMC10687066 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Vesicular monoamine transporters (VMATs) are key regulators of neurotransmitter release responsible for controlling numerous physiological, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functions. They represent important therapeutic targets for numerous pathological conditions. There are two isoforms of VMAT transporter proteins that function as secondary active transporters into the vesicle for storage and release via exocytosis: VMAT1 (SLC18A1) and VMAT2 (SLC18A2) which differ in their function, quantity, and regional expression. VMAT2 has gained considerable interest as a therapeutic target and diagnostic marker. Inhibitors of VMAT2 have been used as an effective therapy for a range of pathological conditions. Additionally, the functionality and phenotypic classification of classical and nonclassical catecholaminergic neurons are identified by the presence of VMAT2 in catecholaminergic neurons. Dysregulation of VMAT2 is also implicated in many neuropsychiatric diseases. Despite the complex role of VMAT2, many aspects of its function remain unclear. Therefore, our aim is to expand our knowledge of the role of VMAT with a special focus on VMAT2 in different systems and cellular pathways which may potentially facilitate development of novel, more specific therapeutic targets. The current review provides a summary demonstrating the mechanism of action of VMAT, its functional role, and its contribution to disease progression and utilization as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malik Alwindi
- St George's University Hospital, London SW17 0QT, United Kingdom
| | - Ariege Bizanti
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
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Kong L, He Q, Li Q, Schreiber R, Kaitin KI, Shao L. Rapid progress in neuroimaging technologies fuels central nervous system translational medicine. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103485. [PMID: 36623797 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) drug discovery suffers from high attrition rates; translational neuroscience approaches aiming to reduce these high rates include the use of brain imaging technologies. However, there is a need to better understand what methods are being used and for what diseases and purposes. Our analysis of the literature found that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) were the neuroimaging techniques used most often in clinical trials for the most prevalent CNS diseases: Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), depression, and schizophrenia. Moreover, the number of initiated clinical trials using MRI, PET, and SPECT increased over the period 1981-2021. Such insights indicate that the significant increase in the use of neuroimaging studies could decrease the attrition of novel drug candidates in late clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linghui Kong
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qian He
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qiu Li
- Shanghai Center for iDrug Discovery & Development, 826 Zhangheng Road, Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Rudy Schreiber
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Section Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Kenneth I Kaitin
- Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (CSDD), Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liming Shao
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, 826 Zhangheng Road, Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai 201203, China; Shanghai Center for iDrug Discovery & Development, 826 Zhangheng Road, Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai 201203, China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, No. 138 Yixueyuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China.
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Ni R. PET imaging in animal models of Parkinson's disease. Behav Brain Res 2023; 438:114174. [PMID: 36283568 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Alpha-synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy, are characterized by aberrant accumulation of alpha-synuclein and synaptic dysfunction leading to motor and cognitive deficits. Animal models of alpha-synucleinopathy have greatly facilitated the mechanistic understanding of the disease and the development of therapeutics. Various transgenic, alpha-synuclein fibril-injected, and toxin-injected animal models of Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy that recapitulate the disease pathology have been developed and widely used. Recent advances in positron emission tomography have allowed the noninvasive visualization of molecular alterations, underpinning behavioral dysfunctions in the brains of animal models and the longitudinal monitoring of treatment effects. Imaging studies in these disease animal models have employed multi-tracer PET designs to reveal dopaminergic deficits together with other molecular alterations. This review focuses on the development of new positron emission tomography tracers and studies of alpha-synuclein, synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A neurotransmitter receptor deficits such as dopaminergic receptor, dopaminergic transporter, serotonergic receptor, vesicular monoamine transporter 2, hypometabolism, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and leucine rich repeat kinase 2 in animal models of Parkinson's disease. The outstanding challenges and emerging applications are outlined, such as investigating the gut-brain-axis by using positron emission tomography in animal models, and provide a future outlook.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Ni
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich & ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Liu C, Fang Y, Tang J, Chen Z. Derivatization of dihydrotetrabenazine for technetium-99m labelling towards a radiotracer targeting vesicular monoamine transporter 2. ARAB J CHEM 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2023.104572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
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Chen H, Jiang Z, Cheng X, Zheng W, Sun Y, Yu Z, Yang T, Zhang L, Yan J, Liu Y, Ji X, Wu Z. [ 18F]BIBD-239: 18F-Labeled ER176, a Positron Emission Tomography Tracer Specific for the Translocator Protein. Mol Pharm 2022; 19:2351-2366. [PMID: 35671264 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c00157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
[11C]ER176 has adequate sensitivity to image the human brain translocator protein (TSPO) in all three genotypes by positron emission tomography (PET). However, its clinical application is limited by the short half-life of 11C (20.38 min). To overcome the deficiency of [11C]ER176 and keep the pharmacophore features of ER176 to the maximum extent, we designed four fluorine-labeled ER176 derivatives using the deuterium method. In vitro competition binding confirmed that the designed compounds had high affinity for TSPO. Biodistribution experiments showed that tissues with high expression of TSPO had high uptake of these compounds, as well as that the compound showed high brain penetration and mild defluorination in vivo. Therefore, [18F]BIBD-239 with simple synthesis conditions was selected for further biological evaluation. Theoretical simulations showed that BIBD-239 and ER176 have similar binding modes and sites to Ala147-TSPO and Thr147-TSPO, which indicated that the tracers may have consistent sensitivity to the three affinity genotypes. In vitro autoradiography and in vivo PET studies of the ischemic rat brain showed dramatically higher uptake of [18F]BIBD-239 on the lesion site compared to the contralateral side with good brain kinetics. Additionally, [18F]BIBD-239 provided clear tumor PET images in a GL261 glioma model. Importantly, PET imaging and liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) results showed that in vivo defluorination and other metabolites of [18F]BIBD-239 did not interfere with brain imaging. Conclusively, [18F]BIBD-239, similar to ER176 with low polymorphism sensitivity, has simple labeling conditions, high labeling yield, high affinity, and high specificity for TSPO, and it is planned for further evaluation in higher species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hualong Chen
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Zeng Jiang
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Xuebo Cheng
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Wei Zheng
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Yuli Sun
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Ziyue Yu
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Tingyu Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Jun Yan
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Yajing Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Xunming Ji
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.,Institute of Hypoxia Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China
| | - Zehui Wu
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
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