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Collu R, Yin Z, Giunti E, Daley S, Chen M, Morin P, Killick R, Wong STC, Xia W. Effect of the ROCK inhibitor fasudil on the brain proteomic profile in the tau transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1323563. [PMID: 38440100 PMCID: PMC10911083 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1323563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The goal of this study is to explore the pharmacological potential of the amyloid-reducing vasodilator fasudil, a selective Ras homolog (Rho)-associated kinases (ROCK) inhibitor, in the P301S tau transgenic mouse model (Line PS19) of neurodegenerative tauopathy and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods We used LC-MS/MS, ELISA and bioinformatic approaches to investigate the effect of treatment with fasudil on the brain proteomic profile in PS19 tau transgenic mice. We also explored the efficacy of fasudil in reducing tau phosphorylation, and the potential beneficial and/or toxic effects of its administration in mice. Results Proteomic profiling of mice brains exposed to fasudil revealed the activation of the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and blood-brain barrier (BBB) gap junction metabolic pathways. We also observed a significant negative correlation between the brain levels of phosphorylated tau (pTau) at residue 396 and both fasudil and its metabolite hydroxyfasudil. Conclusions Our results provide evidence on the activation of proteins and pathways related to mitochondria and BBB functions by fasudil treatment and support its further development and therapeutic potential for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Collu
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Bedford VA Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Zheng Yin
- T. T. and W. F. Chao Center for BRAIN, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Elisa Giunti
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Bedford VA Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Sarah Daley
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Bedford VA Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mei Chen
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Bedford VA Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United States
| | - Peter Morin
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Richard Killick
- King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen T. C. Wong
- T. T. and W. F. Chao Center for BRAIN, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Weiming Xia
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Bedford VA Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Kennedy College of Science, Lowell, MA, United States
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Hernandez AR, Barrett ME, Lubke KN, Maurer AP, Burke SN. A long-term ketogenic diet in young and aged rats has dissociable effects on prelimbic cortex and CA3 ensemble activity. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1274624. [PMID: 38155737 PMCID: PMC10753023 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1274624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Age-related cognitive decline has been linked to distinct patterns of cellular dysfunction in the prelimbic cortex (PL) and the CA3 subregion of the hippocampus. Because higher cognitive functions require both structures, selectively targeting a neurobiological change in one region, at the expense of the other, is not likely to restore normal behavior in older animals. One change with age that both the PL and CA3 share, however, is a reduced ability to utilize glucose, which can produce aberrant neural activity patterns. Methods The current study used a ketogenic diet (KD) intervention, which reduces the brain's reliance on glucose, and has been shown to improve cognition, as a metabolic treatment for restoring neural ensemble dynamics in aged rats. Expression of the immediate-early genes Arc and Homer1a were used to quantify the neural ensembles that were active in the home cage prior to behavior, during a working memory/biconditional association task, and a continuous spatial alternation task. Results Aged rats on the control diet had increased activity in CA3 and less ensemble overlap in PL between different task conditions than did the young animals. In the PL, the KD was associated with increased activation of neurons in the superficial cortical layers, establishing a clear link between dietary macronutrient content and frontal cortical activity. The KD did not lead to any significant changes in CA3 activity. Discussion These observations suggest that the availability of ketone bodies may permit the engagement of compensatory mechanisms in the frontal cortices that produce better cognitive outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbi R. Hernandez
- Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Maya E. Barrett
- Department of Psychology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Katelyn N. Lubke
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, and Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Andrew P. Maurer
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, and Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Sara N. Burke
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, and Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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Sousa T, Moreira PI, Cardoso S. Current Advances in Mitochondrial Targeted Interventions in Alzheimer's Disease. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2331. [PMID: 37760774 PMCID: PMC10525414 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder and affects the lives not only of those who are diagnosed but also of their caregivers. Despite the enormous social, economic and political burden, AD remains a disease without an effective treatment and with several failed attempts to modify the disease course. The fact that AD clinical diagnosis is most often performed at a stage at which the underlying pathological events are in an advanced and conceivably irremediable state strongly hampers treatment attempts. This raises the awareness of the need to identify and characterize the early brain changes in AD, in order to identify possible novel therapeutic targets to circumvent AD's cascade of events. One of the most auspicious targets is mitochondria, powerful organelles found in nearly all cells of the body. A vast body of literature has shown that mitochondria from AD patients and model organisms of the disease differ from their non-AD counterparts. In view of this evidence, preserving and/or restoring mitochondria's health and function can represent the primary means to achieve advances to tackle AD. In this review, we will briefly assess and summarize the previous and latest evidence of mitochondria dysfunction in AD. A particular focus will be given to the recent updates and advances in the strategy options aimed to target faulty mitochondria in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Sousa
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-370 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - Paula I. Moreira
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal;
- CIBB—Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-370 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Susana Cardoso
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal;
- CIBB—Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- IIIUC—Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
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Killick R, Elliott C, Ribe E, Broadstock M, Ballard C, Aarsland D, Williams G. Neurodegenerative Disease Associated Pathways in the Brains of Triple Transgenic Alzheimer's Model Mice Are Reversed Following Two Weeks of Peripheral Administration of Fasudil. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11219. [PMID: 37446396 PMCID: PMC10342807 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The pan Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor fasudil acts as a vasodilator and has been used as a medication for post-cerebral stroke for the past 29 years in Japan and China. More recently, based on the involvement of ROCK inhibition in synaptic function, neuronal survival, and processes associated with neuroinflammation, it has been suggested that the drug may be repurposed for neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, fasudil has demonstrated preclinical efficacy in many neurodegenerative disease models. To facilitate an understanding of the wider biological processes at play due to ROCK inhibition in the context of neurodegeneration, we performed a global gene expression analysis on the brains of Alzheimer's disease model mice treated with fasudil via peripheral IP injection. We then performed a comparative analysis of the fasudil-driven transcriptional profile with profiles generated from a meta-analysis of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Our results show that fasudil tends to drive gene expression in a reverse sense to that seen in brains with post-mortem neurodegenerative disease. The results are most striking in terms of pathway enrichment analysis, where pathways perturbed in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are overwhelmingly driven in the opposite direction by fasudil treatment. Thus, our results bolster the repurposing potential of fasudil by demonstrating an anti-neurodegenerative phenotype in a disease context and highlight the potential of in vivo transcriptional profiling of drug activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Killick
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK; (R.K.); (E.R.); (D.A.)
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter EX1 2UL, UK;
| | - Christina Elliott
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK;
| | - Elena Ribe
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK; (R.K.); (E.R.); (D.A.)
| | - Martin Broadstock
- Wolfson CARD, King’s College London, London Bridge, London SE1 1UL, UK;
| | - Clive Ballard
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter EX1 2UL, UK;
| | - Dag Aarsland
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK; (R.K.); (E.R.); (D.A.)
| | - Gareth Williams
- Wolfson CARD, King’s College London, London Bridge, London SE1 1UL, UK;
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Zhao H, Li X, Zheng Y, Zhu X, Qi X, Huang X, Bai S, Wu C, Sun G. Fasudil may alleviate alcohol-induced astrocyte damage by modifying lipid metabolism, as determined by metabonomics analysis. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15494. [PMID: 37304877 PMCID: PMC10252813 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol dependence is a chronic, relapsing encephalopathy characterized by compulsive craving for alcohol, loss of control over alcohol use, and the presence of negative emotions and physical discomfort when alcohol is unavailable. Harmful use of alcohol is one of the greatest risk factors for death, illness, and disability. Rho kinase inhibitors have neuroprotective effects. This study used metabonomics analysis to assess untreated astrocytes, astrocytes exposed to 75 mmol/L of alcohol, and astrocytes exposed to 75 mmol/L of alcohol and treated with 15 µg/mL fasudil for 24 h. One of the clearest differences between the alcohol-exposed and fasudil-treated alcohol-exposed groups was the abundance of lipids and lipid-like molecules, although glycerophospholipid metabolism was comparable in both groups. Our findings show that fasudil may alleviate alcohol-induced astrocyte damage by modifying lipid metabolism, providing a new approach for preventing and treating alcohol dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiying Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xintong Li
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongqi Zheng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yichun Forestry Administration Central Hospital, Yichun, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Mudanjiang Medical College, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xunzhong Qi
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xinyan Huang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Shunjie Bai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Chengji Wu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Guangtao Sun
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, China
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Hernandez AR, Barrett ME, Lubke KN, Maurer AP, Burke SN. A long-term ketogenic diet in young and aged rats has dissociable effects on prelimbic cortex and CA3 ensemble activity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.18.529095. [PMID: 36824737 PMCID: PMC9949134 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.18.529095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
Age-related cognitive decline has been linked to distinct patterns of cellular dysfunction in the prelimbic cortex (PL) and the CA3 subregion of the hippocampus. Because higher cognitive functions require both structures, selectively targeting a neurobiological change in one region, at the expense of the other, is not likely to restore normal behavior in older animals. One change with age that both the PL and CA3 share, however, is a reduced ability to utilize glucose, which can produce aberrant neural activity patterns. The current study used a ketogenic diet (KD) intervention, which reduces the brain’s reliance on glucose, and has been shown to improve cognition, as a metabolic treatment for restoring neural ensemble dynamics in aged rats. Expression of the immediate-early genes Arc and Homer 1a were used to quantify the neural ensembles that were active in the home cage prior to behavior, during a working memory/biconditional association task, and a continuous spatial alternation task. Aged rats on the control diet had increased activity in CA3 and less ensemble overlap in PL between different task conditions than did the young animals. In the PL, the KD was associated with increased activation of neurons in the superficial cortical layers. The KD did not lead to any significant changes in CA3 activity. These observations suggest that the KD does not restore neuron activation patterns in aged animals, but rather the availability of ketone bodies in the frontal cortices may permit the engagement of compensatory mechanisms that produce better cognitive outcomes. Significance Statement This study extends understanding of how a ketogenic diet (KD) intervention may improve cognitive function in older adults. Young and aged rats were given 3 months of a KD or a calorie-match control diet and then expression of the immediate-early genes Arc and Homer 1a were measured to examine neural ensemble dynamics during cognitive testing. The KD diet was associated with increased activation of neurons in the superficial layers of the PL, but there were no changes in CA3. These observations are significant because they suggest that compensatory mechanisms for improving cognition are engaged in the presence of elevated ketone bodies. This metabolic shift away from glycolysis can meet the energetic needs of the frontal cortices when glucose utilization is compromised.
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Giunti E, Collu R, Daley S, Querfurth H, Morin P, Killick R, Melamed RD, Xia W. Reduction of Phosphorylated Tau in Alzheimer's Disease Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neuro-Spheroids by Rho-Associated Coiled-Coil Kinase Inhibitor Fasudil. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 96:1695-1709. [PMID: 38007655 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most predominant form of dementia. Rho-associated coiled coil kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, fasudil, is one of the candidate drugs against the AD progression. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate possible changes of AD associated markers in three-dimensional neuro-spheroids (3D neuro-spheroids) generated from induced pluripotent stem cells derived from AD patients or healthy control subjects (HC) and to determine the impact of pharmacological intervention with the ROCK inhibitor fasudil. METHODS We treated 3D neuro-spheroids with fasudil and tested the possible effect on AD markers by ELISA, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. RESULTS Transcriptomic analysis revealed a reduction in the expression of AKT serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (AKT1) in AD neuro-spheroids, compared to HC. This decrease was reverted in the presence of fasudil. Proteomic analysis showed up- and down-regulation of proteins related to AKT pathway in fasudil-treated neuro-spheroids. We found an evident increase of phosphorylated tau at four different residues (pTau181, 202, 231, and 396) in AD compared to HC-derived neuro-spheroids. This was accompanied by a decrease of secreted clusterin (clu) and an increase of intracellular clu levels in AD patient-derived neuro-spheroids. Increases of phosphorylated tau in AD patient-derived neuro-spheroids were suppressed in the presence of fasudil. CONCLUSIONS Fasudil modulates clu protein levels and enhances AKT1 that results in the suppression of AD associated tau phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Giunti
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Bedford VA Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roberto Collu
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Bedford VA Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Daley
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Bedford VA Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Henry Querfurth
- Department of Neurology, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter Morin
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard Killick
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Rachel D Melamed
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kennedy College of Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Weiming Xia
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Bedford VA Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kennedy College of Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA
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Miller B, Sewell-Loftin MK. Mechanoregulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 in Angiogenesis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 8:804934. [PMID: 35087885 PMCID: PMC8787114 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.804934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelial cells that compose the vascular system in the body display a wide range of mechanotransductive behaviors and responses to biomechanical stimuli, which act in concert to control overall blood vessel structure and function. Such mechanosensitive activities allow blood vessels to constrict, dilate, grow, or remodel as needed during development as well as normal physiological functions, and the same processes can be dysregulated in various disease states. Mechanotransduction represents cellular responses to mechanical forces, translating such factors into chemical or electrical signals which alter the activation of various cell signaling pathways. Understanding how biomechanical forces drive vascular growth in healthy and diseased tissues could create new therapeutic strategies that would either enhance or halt these processes to assist with treatments of different diseases. In the cardiovascular system, new blood vessel formation from preexisting vasculature, in a process known as angiogenesis, is driven by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) binding to VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) which promotes blood vessel development. However, physical forces such as shear stress, matrix stiffness, and interstitial flow are also major drivers and effectors of angiogenesis, and new research suggests that mechanical forces may regulate VEGFR-2 phosphorylation. In fact, VEGFR-2 activation has been linked to known mechanobiological agents including ERK/MAPK, c-Src, Rho/ROCK, and YAP/TAZ. In vascular disease states, endothelial cells can be subjected to altered mechanical stimuli which affect the pathways that control angiogenesis. Both normalizing and arresting angiogenesis associated with tumor growth have been strategies for anti-cancer treatments. In the field of regenerative medicine, harnessing biomechanical regulation of angiogenesis could enhance vascularization strategies for treating a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including ischemia or permit development of novel tissue engineering scaffolds. This review will focus on the impact of VEGFR-2 mechanosignaling in endothelial cells (ECs) and its interaction with other mechanotransductive pathways, as well as presenting a discussion on the relationship between VEGFR-2 activation and biomechanical forces in the extracellular matrix (ECM) that can help treat diseases with dysfunctional vascular growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronte Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Gomi N, Shibuya K, Kawamura K, Kabeya M. Synthesis of oxidative metabolites of K-115, a novel Rho-kinase inhibitor. Tetrahedron Lett 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2021.153589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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10
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Implications of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase-Akt (PI3K-Akt) Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 59:354-385. [PMID: 34699027 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02611-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the foremost type of dementia that afflicts considerable morbidity and mortality in aged population. Several transcription molecules, pathways, and molecular mechanisms such as oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, and immune system interact in a multifaceted way that disrupt physiological processes (cell growth, differentiation, survival, lipid and energy metabolism, endocytosis) leading to apoptosis, tauopathy, β-amyloidopathy, neuron, and synapse loss, which play an important role in AD pathophysiology. Despite of stupendous advancements in pathogenic mechanisms, treatment of AD is still a nightmare in the field of medicine. There is compelling urgency to find not only symptomatic but effective disease-modifying therapies. Recently, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt are identified as a pathway triggered by diverse stimuli, including insulin, growth factors, cytokines, and cellular stress, that link amyloid-β, neurofibrillary tangles, and brain atrophy. The present review aims to explore and analyze the role of PI3K-Akt pathway in AD and agents which may modulate Akt and have therapeutic prospects in AD. The literature was researched using keywords "PI3K-Akt" and "Alzheimer's disease" from PubMed, Web of Science, Bentham, Science Direct, Springer Nature, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases including books. Articles published from 1992 to 2021 were prioritized and analyzed for their strengths and limitations, and most appropriate ones were selected for the purpose of review. PI3K-Akt pathway regulates various biological processes such as cell proliferation, motility, growth, survival, and metabolic functions, and inhibits many neurotoxic mechanisms. Furthermore, experimental data indicate that PI3K-Akt signaling might be an important therapeutic target in treatment of AD.
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Noyes NC, Phan A, Davis RL. Memory suppressor genes: Modulating acquisition, consolidation, and forgetting. Neuron 2021; 109:3211-3227. [PMID: 34450024 PMCID: PMC8542634 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The brain has a remarkable but underappreciated capacity to limit memory formation and expression. The term "memory suppressor gene" was coined in 1998 as an attempt to explain emerging reports that some genes appeared to limit memory. At that time, only a handful of memory suppressor genes were known, and they were understood to work by limiting cAMP-dependent consolidation. In the intervening decades, almost 100 memory suppressor genes with diverse functions have been discovered that affect not only consolidation but also acquisition and forgetting. Here we highlight the surprising extent to which biological limits are placed on memory formation through reviewing the literature on memory suppressor genes. In this review, we present memory suppressors within the framework of their actions on different memory operations: acquisition, consolidation, and forgetting. This is followed by a discussion of the reasons why there may be a biological need to limit memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel C Noyes
- Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Anna Phan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 11355 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Ronald L Davis
- Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research Institute Florida, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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12
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Suthar SK, Rauscher AÁ, Winternitz M, Gyimesi M, Málnási-Csizmadia A. Chiral HPLC separation of enantiomeric blebbistatin derivatives and racemization analysis in vertebrate tissues. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2021; 204:114246. [PMID: 34271288 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2021.114246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Simple and consistent chiral HPLC methods for the efficient separation of enantiomeric blebbistatin derivatives, namely parent compound blebbistatin and derivatives 4-nitroblebbistatin, 4-aminoblebbistatin, 4-dimethylaminoblebbistatin, and 4-t-butylblebbistatin were developed using cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) as a stationary phase (Lux cellulose-1 column). Blebbistatin, 4-aminoblebbistatin, and 4-dimethylaminoblebbistatin racemates were well-separated in normal-phase HPLC conditions while 4-nitroblebbistatin and 4-t-butylblebbistatin were effectively separated in both normal- and reversed-phase HPLC conditions. Furthermore, the order of elution of enantiopure compounds was found to be independent of mobile phase compositions and conditions used, and solely depends on the interaction between the enantiomer and the chiral stationary phase. We found that despite the chiral center being present far from the D-ring in the blebbistatin structure, the D-ring substitutions prominently affect the chiral separation. Ex vivo racemization studies of the most popular blebbistatin derivative (S)-(-)-4-aminoblebbistatin in rat blood and brain tissues revealed that the compound does not convert into the inactive enantiomer. This confirms that (S)-(-)-4-aminoblebbistatin is a useful tool compound in cellular and molecular biology studies without the risks of racemization and degradation effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharad Kumar Suthar
- Printnet Limited, Kisgömb utca 25-27, 1135, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-ELTE Motor Pharmacology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Á Rauscher
- MTA-ELTE Motor Pharmacology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary; Motorpharma Ltd., Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 27, 1026, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Máté Winternitz
- MTA-ELTE Motor Pharmacology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Biochemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Máté Gyimesi
- MTA-ELTE Motor Pharmacology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary; Motorpharma Ltd., Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 27, 1026, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Biochemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - András Málnási-Csizmadia
- MTA-ELTE Motor Pharmacology Research Group, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary; Motorpharma Ltd., Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor 27, 1026, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Biochemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary.
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Saray H, Süer C, Koşar B, Tan B, Dursun N. Rho-associated kinases contribute to the regulation of tau phosphorylation and amyloid metabolism during neuronal plasticity. Pharmacol Rep 2021; 73:1303-1314. [PMID: 34060063 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-021-00279-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neural plasticity under physiological condition develops together with normal tau phosphorylation and amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing. Since restoration of PI3-kinase signaling has therapeutic potential in Alzheimer's disease, we investigated plasticity-related changes in tau and APP metabolism by the selective Rho-kinase inhibitor fasudil. METHODS Field potentials composed of a field excitatory post-synaptic potential (fEPSP) and a population spike (PS) were recorded from a granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus. Plasticity of synaptic strength and neuronal function was induced by strong tetanic stimulation (HFS) and low-frequency stimulation (LFS) patterns. Infusions of saline or fasudil were given for 1 h starting from the application of the induction protocols. Total and phosphorylated tau levels and soluble APPα levels were measured in the hippocampus, which was removed after at least 1 h post-induction period. RESULTS Fasudil infusion resulted in attenuation of fEPSP slope and PS amplitude in response to both HFS and LFS. Fasudil reduced total tau and phosphorylated tau at residue Thr181 in the HFS-stimulated hippocampus, while Thr231 phosphorylation was reduced by fasudil treatment in the LFS-stimulated hippocampus. Ser416 phosphorylation was increased by fasudil treatment in both HFS- and LFS-stimulated hippocampus. Fasudil significantly increased soluble APPα in LFS-stimulated hippocampus, but not in HFS-stimulated hippocampus. CONCLUSION In light of our findings, we suggest that increased activity of Rho kinase could trigger a mechanism that goes awry during synaptic plasticity which is reversed by a Rho-kinase inhibitor. Thus, Rho-kinase inhibition might be a therapeutic target in cognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hatice Saray
- Physiology Department of the Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38039, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Cem Süer
- Physiology Department of the Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38039, Kayseri, Turkey.
| | - Bilal Koşar
- Physiology Department of the Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38039, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Burak Tan
- Physiology Department of the Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38039, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Nurcan Dursun
- Physiology Department of the Medical Faculty, Erciyes University, 38039, Kayseri, Turkey
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14
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Li X, Tong J, Liu J, Wang Y. Down-regulation of ROCK2 alleviates ethanol-induced cerebral nerve injury partly by the suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Bioengineered 2021; 11:779-790. [PMID: 32684089 PMCID: PMC8291877 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2020.1795404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic alcohol consumption leads to hippocampal neuronal impairment, which related to neuronal death, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. Rho-associated protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) is a major regulator in the central nervous system injury. However, the effects of ROCK2 in ethanol-induced brain injury have not been explored. In this work, we investigated the neuroprotective effects and the mechanism of ROCK2 inhibition in vivo. Wistar rats were exposed to 37% ethanol for 8 weeks to establish brain injury models. Morris water maze test was performed to evaluate cognitive function, and we found that the down-regulation of ROCK2 reduced the escape latency and increased the passing times and percentage of time spent in the target quadrant of rats. The results of H&E staining and Nissl staining showed that ROCK2 inhibition alleviated the pathological injury induced by ethanol. PI staining and Western blot confirmed that inhibiting ROCK2 attenuated the neuronal death and apoptosis as reflected by the reduced PI-positive neurons and the decreased expression of cleaved-caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-9. Furthermore, the down-regulation of ROCK2 ameliorated the oxidative stress and inflammatory response induced by ethanol in rats as reflected by the up-regulation of IL-10, SOD, and GSH and reduction of TNF-α, IL-6, and MDA respectively. Additionally, Western blot and EMSA analysis revealed that the down-regulation of ROCK2 suppressed the nuclear transfer of NF-κB p65. In conclusion, our data suggested that ROCK2 inhibition ameliorated ethanol-mediated hippocampal neuronal impairment by anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative effects at least partially through the suppression of the NF-κB pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinguo Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University , Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Tong
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of China Medical University , Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jihui Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University , Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yibao Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University , Shenyang, People's Republic of China
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15
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Kermath BA, Vanderplow AM, Cahill ME. Dysregulated Prefrontal Cortical RhoA Signal Transduction in Bipolar Disorder with Psychosis: New Implications for Disease Pathophysiology. Cereb Cortex 2021; 30:59-71. [PMID: 31220216 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
While research has identified alterations in dorsolateral prefrontal cortical function as a key factor to the etiology of bipolar disorder, few studies have uncovered robust changes in protein signal transduction pathways in this disorder. Given the direct relevance of protein-based expressional alterations to cellular functions and because many of the key regulatory mechanisms for the disease pathogenesis likely include alterations in protein activity rather than changes in expression alone, the identification of alterations in discrete signal transduction pathways in bipolar disorder would have broad implications for understanding the disease pathophysiology. As prior microarray data point to a previously unrecognized involvement of the RhoA network in bipolar disorder, here we investigate the protein expression and activity of key components of a RhoA signal transduction pathway in dorsolateral prefrontal cortical homogenates from subjects with bipolar disorder. The results of this investigation implicate overactivation of prefrontal cortical RhoA signaling in specific subtypes of bipolar disorder. The specificity of these findings is demonstrated by a lack of comparable changes in schizophrenia; however, our findings do identify convergence between both disorders at the level of activity-mediated actin cytoskeletal regulation. These findings have implications for understanding the altered cortical synaptic connectivity of bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey A Kermath
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Amanda M Vanderplow
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Michael E Cahill
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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16
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Lee S, Kim J, Jo J, Chang JW, Sim J, Yun H. Recent advances in development of hetero-bivalent kinase inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 216:113318. [PMID: 33730624 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Identifying a pharmacological agent that targets only one of more than 500 kinases present in humans is an important challenge. One potential solution to this problem is the development of bivalent kinase inhibitors, which consist of two connected fragments, each bind to a dissimilar binding site of the bisubstrate enzyme. The main advantage of bivalent (type V) kinase inhibitors is generating more interactions with target enzymes that can enhance the molecules' selectivity and affinity compared to single-site inhibitors. Earlier type V inhibitors were not suitable for the cellular environment and were mostly used in in vitro studies. However, recently developed bivalent compounds have high kinase affinity, high biological and chemical stability in vivo. This review summarized the hetero-bivalent kinase inhibitors described in the literature from 2014 to the present. We attempted to classify the molecules by serine/threonine and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and then each target kinase and its hetero-bivalent inhibitor was assessed in depth. In addition, we discussed the analysis of advantages, limitations, and perspectives of bivalent kinase inhibitors compared with the monovalent kinase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungbeom Lee
- College of Pharmacy, CHA University, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 11160, Republic of Korea
| | - Jisu Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeyun Jo
- College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Won Chang
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jaehoon Sim
- College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hwayoung Yun
- College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.
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Ballard C, Aarsland D, Cummings J, O'Brien J, Mills R, Molinuevo JL, Fladby T, Williams G, Doherty P, Corbett A, Sultana J. Drug repositioning and repurposing for Alzheimer disease. Nat Rev Neurol 2020; 16:661-673. [PMID: 32939050 PMCID: PMC8291993 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-020-0397-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Drug repositioning and repurposing can enhance traditional drug development efforts and could accelerate the identification of new treatments for individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD) dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Transcriptional profiling offers a new and highly efficient approach to the identification of novel candidates for repositioning and repurposing. In the future, novel AD transcriptional signatures from cells isolated at early stages of disease, or from human neurons or microglia that carry mutations that increase the risk of AD, might be used as probes to identify additional candidate drugs. Phase II trials assessing repurposed agents must consider the best target population for a specific candidate therapy as well as the mechanism of action of the treatment. In this Review, we highlight promising compounds to prioritize for clinical trials in individuals with AD, and discuss the value of Delphi consensus methodology and evidence-based reviews to inform this prioritization process. We also describe emerging work, focusing on the potential value of transcript signatures as a cost-effective approach to the identification of novel candidates for repositioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clive Ballard
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
| | - Dag Aarsland
- Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- SESAM (Regional Center for Elderly Medicine and Interaction), University Hospital Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Jeffrey Cummings
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - John O'Brien
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Roger Mills
- Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Vincere Consulting, LLC, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Tormod Fladby
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gareth Williams
- Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Pat Doherty
- Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anne Corbett
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Janet Sultana
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morpho-functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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18
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Li X, Tong J, Liu J, Wang Y. Downregulation of ROCK2 attenuates alcohol-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in astrocytes. Int J Neurosci 2020; 132:1-10. [PMID: 32942936 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2020.1825421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alcohol abuse can cause severe injury to human brain. Astrocytes are the most abundant nonneuronal cells that function to maintain the brain homeostasis. In present study, we aimed to investigate the role of ROCK2 in astrocytes exposed to alcohol. METHODS Astrocytes were transfected with lentivirus (LV)-anti-ROCK2 vector to downregulate the expression of ROCK2. The ROCK2 expression in mRNA and protein level was analyzed by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Cytokines or indicators involved in inflammation and oxidative stress were determined by assay kits. Proteins involved in nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS Alcohol exposure dramatically upregulated ROCK2 expression and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in astrocytes. On the contrary, transfecting with LV-anti-ROCK2 vector downregulated ROCK2 expression and LDH activity in astrocytes, demonstrating that downregulation of ROCK2 alleviated alcohol-induced astrocytic injury. Furthermore, downregulation of ROCK2 attenuated alcohol-induced inflammation by reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6) and enhanced the level of anti-inflammatory IL-10. Downregulation of ROCK2 also attenuated alcohol-induced oxidative stress by reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as well as enhancing the activity of anti-oxidative superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH). More importantly, downregulation of ROCK2 inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome. CONCLUSION Therefore, ROCK2 could be a potential target to treat alcohol-induced astrocytic injury and the downregulation of ROCK2 might be a promising approach to protect against alcohol-induced astrocytic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinguo Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Tong
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jihui Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yibao Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China
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Non-Muscle Myosin 2A (NM2A): Structure, Regulation and Function. Cells 2020; 9:cells9071590. [PMID: 32630196 PMCID: PMC7408548 DOI: 10.3390/cells9071590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-muscle myosin 2A (NM2A) is a motor cytoskeletal enzyme with crucial importance from the early stages of development until adulthood. Due to its capacity to convert chemical energy into force, NM2A powers the contraction of the actomyosin cytoskeleton, required for proper cell division, adhesion and migration, among other cellular functions. Although NM2A has been extensively studied, new findings revealed that a lot remains to be discovered concerning its spatiotemporal regulation in the intracellular environment. In recent years, new functions were attributed to NM2A and its activity was associated to a plethora of illnesses, including neurological disorders and infectious diseases. Here, we provide a concise overview on the current knowledge regarding the structure, the function and the regulation of NM2A. In addition, we recapitulate NM2A-associated diseases and discuss its potential as a therapeutic target.
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20
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Ras acts as a molecular switch between two forms of consolidated memory in Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:2133-2139. [PMID: 31932418 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1819925117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Long-lasting, consolidated memories require not only positive biological processes that facilitate long-term memories (LTM) but also the suppression of inhibitory processes that prevent them. The mushroom body neurons (MBn) in Drosophila melanogaster store protein synthesis-dependent LTM (PSD-LTM) as well as protein synthesis-independent, anesthesia-resistant memory (ARM). The formation of ARM inhibits PSD-LTM but the underlying molecular processes that mediate this interaction remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the Ras→Raf→rho kinase (ROCK) pathway in MBn suppresses ARM consolidation, allowing the formation of PSD-LTM. Our initial results revealed that the effects of Ras on memory are due to postacquisition processes. Ras knockdown enhanced memory expression but had no effect on acquisition. Additionally, increasing Ras activity optogenetically after, but not before, acquisition impaired memory performance. The elevated memory produced by Ras knockdown is a result of increased ARM. While Ras knockdown enhanced the consolidation of ARM, it eliminated PSD-LTM. We found that these effects are mediated by the downstream kinase Raf. Similar to Ras, knockdown of Raf enhanced ARM consolidation and impaired PSD-LTM. Surprisingly, knockdown of the canonical downstream extracellular signal-regulated kinase did not reproduce the phenotypes observed with Ras and Raf knockdown. Rather, Ras/Raf inhibition of ROCK was found to be responsible for suppressing ARM. Constitutively active ROCK enhanced ARM and impaired PSD-LTM, while decreasing ROCK activity rescued the enhanced ARM produced by Ras knockdown. We conclude that MBn Ras/Raf inhibition of ROCK suppresses the consolidation of ARM, which permits the formation of PSD-LTM.
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21
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Zhang Y, Li W, He Z, Wang Y, Shao B, Cheng C, Zhang S, Tang M, Qian X, Kong W, Wang H, Chai R, Gao X. Pre-treatment With Fasudil Prevents Neomycin-Induced Hair Cell Damage by Reducing the Accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:264. [PMID: 31780893 PMCID: PMC6851027 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00264] [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: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ototoxic drug-induced hair cell (HC) damage is one of the main causes of sensorineural hearing loss, which is one of the most common sensory disorders in humans. Aminoglycoside antibiotics are common ototoxic drugs, and these can cause the accumulation of intracellular oxygen free radicals and lead to apoptosis in HCs. Fasudil is a Rho kinase inhibitor and vasodilator that has been widely used in the clinic and has been shown to have neuroprotective effects. However, the possible application of fasudil in protecting against aminoglycoside-induced HC loss and hearing loss has not been investigated. In this study, we investigated the ability of fasudil to protect against neomycin-induced HC loss both in vitro and in vivo. We found that fasudil significantly reduced the HC loss in cochlear whole-organ explant cultures and reduced the cell death of auditory HEI-OC1 cells after neomycin exposure in vitro. Moreover, we found that fasudil significantly prevented the HC loss and hearing loss of mice in the in vivo neomycin damage model. Furthermore, we found that fasudil could significantly inhibit the Rho signaling pathway in the auditory HEI-OC1 cells after neomycin exposure, thus further reducing the neomycin-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent apoptosis in HEI-OC1 cells. This study suggests that fasudil might contribute to the increased viability of HCs after neomycin exposure by inhibition of the Rho signaling pathway and suggests a new therapeutic target for the prevention of aminoglycoside-induced HC loss and hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqiu Zhang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Discipline (Laboratory), Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Otolaryngology, Nanjing, China
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xuzhou Cancer Hospital, Xuzhou, China
| | - Wei Li
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Discipline (Laboratory), Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Otolaryngology, Nanjing, China
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Zuhong He
- MOE Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine of NHFPC, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, ENT Institute and Otorhinolaryngology Department of Affiliated Eye and ENT Hospital, Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Cochlear Implant, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Fenyang Vision & Audition Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Buwei Shao
- MOE Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Cheng Cheng
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Discipline (Laboratory), Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- MOE Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Otolaryngology, Nanjing, China
| | - Shasha Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingliang Tang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyun Qian
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Discipline (Laboratory), Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weijia Kong
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Renjie Chai
- MOE Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Otolaryngology, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine of NHFPC, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, ENT Institute and Otorhinolaryngology Department of Affiliated Eye and ENT Hospital, Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Cochlear Implant, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Gao
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Discipline (Laboratory), Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Research Institute of Otolaryngology, Nanjing, China
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Up regulation of Rho-associated coiled-coil containing kinase1 (ROCK1) is associated with genetic instability and poor prognosis in prostate cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 11:7859-7879. [PMID: 31557128 PMCID: PMC6781985 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Overexpression of the cytoskeleton-modulating kinase ROCK1 has been associated with unfavorable outcome in many cancers, but its impact in prostate cancer is largely unknown. RESULTS A weak ROCK1 staining was found in >90% of normal, and cancerous prostate tissues, but was generally stronger in cancer cells as compared to adjacent normal glands. In cancer, ROCK1 staining was considered weak, moderate, and strong in 22%, 53%, and 18% of cases respectively. Higher ROCK1 expression levels were associated with tumor stage, and Gleason grade, positive nodal stage, positive surgical margin, accelerated cell proliferation and early PSA recurrence in multivariable analysis. ROCK1 up regulation was associated with androgen receptor (AR) expression, TMPRSS2:ERG fusion, genomic deletions of the PTEN tumor suppressor, as well as recurrent deletions at chromosomes 3p, 5q, 6q. Strong ROCK1 staining was found in 3% of AR-negative, but in 27% of strongly AR positive cancers, in 13% of ERG-negative but in 25% of ERG positive cancers, and in 12% of PTEN normal but in 26% of PTEN deleted cancers. CONCLUSIONS This study identifies ROCK1 expression associated with prognosis in prostate cancer. METHODS We tested ROCK1 expression in 12 427 prostate cancer specimens and followed PSA recurrence after prostatectomy.
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Hernandez AR, Hernandez CM, Truckenbrod LM, Campos KT, McQuail JA, Bizon JL, Burke SN. Age and Ketogenic Diet Have Dissociable Effects on Synapse-Related Gene Expression Between Hippocampal Subregions. Front Aging Neurosci 2019; 11:239. [PMID: 31607897 PMCID: PMC6755342 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
As the number of individuals living beyond the age of 65 is rapidly increasing, so is the need to develop strategies to combat the age-related cognitive decline that may threaten independent living. Although the link between altered neuronal signaling and age-related cognitive impairments is not completely understood, it is evident that declining cognitive abilities are at least partially due to synaptic dysfunction. Aging is accompanied by well-documented changes in both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic signaling across species. Age-related synaptic alterations are not uniform across the brain, however, with different regions showing unique patterns of vulnerability in advanced age. In the hippocampus, increased activity within the CA3 subregion has been observed across species, and this can be reversed with anti-epileptic medication. In contrast to CA3, the dentate gyrus shows reduced activity with age and declining metabolic activity. Ketogenic diets have been shown to decrease seizure incidence and severity in epilepsy, improve metabolic function in diabetes type II, and improve cognitive function in aged rats. This link between neuronal activity and metabolism suggests that metabolic interventions may be able to ameliorate synaptic signaling deficits accompanying advanced age. We therefore investigated the ability of a dietary regimen capable of inducing nutritional ketosis and improving cognition to alter synapse-related gene expression across the dentate gyrus, CA3 and CA1 subregions of the hippocampus. Following 12 weeks of a ketogenic or calorie-matched standard diet, RTq-PCR was used to quantify expression levels of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic signaling genes within CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus. While there were no age or diet-related changes in CA1 gene expression, expression levels were significantly altered within CA3 by age and within the dentate gyrus by diet for several genes involved in presynaptic glutamate regulation and postsynaptic excitation and plasticity. These data demonstrate subregion-specific alterations in synaptic signaling with age and the potential for a ketogenic diet to alter these processes in dissociable ways across different brain structures that are uniquely vulnerable in older animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbi R. Hernandez
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Caesar M. Hernandez
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Leah M. Truckenbrod
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Keila T. Campos
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Joseph A. McQuail
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Jennifer L. Bizon
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Sara N. Burke
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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Shapiro LP, Kietzman HW, Guo J, Rainnie DG, Gourley SL. Rho-kinase inhibition has antidepressant-like efficacy and expedites dendritic spine pruning in adolescent mice. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 124:520-530. [PMID: 30593834 PMCID: PMC6365018 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Adolescence represents a critical period of neurodevelopment, defined by structural and synaptic pruning within the prefrontal cortex. While characteristic of typical development, this structural instability may open a window of vulnerability to developing neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression. Thus, therapeutic interventions that support or expedite neural remodeling in adolescence may be advantageous. Here, we inhibited the neuronally-expressed cytoskeletal regulatory factor Rho-kinase (ROCK), focusing primarily on the clinically-viable ROCK inhibitor fasudil. ROCK inhibition had rapid antidepressant-like effects in adolescent mice, and its efficacy was comparable to ketamine and fluoxetine. It also modified levels of the antidepressant-related signaling factors, tropomyosin/tyrosine receptor kinase B and Akt, as well as the postsynaptic marker PSD-95, in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). Meanwhile, adolescent-typical dendritic spine pruning on excitatory pyramidal neurons in the vmPFC was expedited. Further, vmPFC-specific shRNA-mediated reduction of ROCK2, the dominant ROCK isoform in the brain, had antidepressant-like consequences. We cautiously suggest that ROCK inhibitors may have therapeutic potential for adolescent-onset depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren P Shapiro
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Henry W Kietzman
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jidong Guo
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Donald G Rainnie
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
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25
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Kumar M, Bansal N. Fasudil hydrochloride ameliorates memory deficits in rat model of streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer’s disease: Involvement of PI3-kinase, eNOS and NFκB. Behav Brain Res 2018; 351:4-16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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26
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ROCK inhibition in models of neurodegeneration and its potential for clinical translation. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 189:1-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Rho GTPases in Intellectual Disability: From Genetics to Therapeutic Opportunities. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19061821. [PMID: 29925821 PMCID: PMC6032284 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19061821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Rho-class small GTPases are implicated in basic cellular processes at nearly all brain developmental steps, from neurogenesis and migration to axon guidance and synaptic plasticity. GTPases are key signal transducing enzymes that link extracellular cues to the neuronal responses required for the construction of neuronal networks, as well as for synaptic function and plasticity. Rho GTPases are highly regulated by a complex set of activating (GEFs) and inactivating (GAPs) partners, via protein:protein interactions (PPI). Misregulated RhoA, Rac1/Rac3 and cdc42 activity has been linked with intellectual disability (ID) and other neurodevelopmental conditions that comprise ID. All genetic evidences indicate that in these disorders the RhoA pathway is hyperactive while the Rac1 and cdc42 pathways are consistently hypoactive. Adopting cultured neurons for in vitro testing and specific animal models of ID for in vivo examination, the endophenotypes associated with these conditions are emerging and include altered neuronal networking, unbalanced excitation/inhibition and altered synaptic activity and plasticity. As we approach a clearer definition of these phenotype(s) and the role of hyper- and hypo-active GTPases in the construction of neuronal networks, there is an increasing possibility that selective inhibitors and activators might be designed via PPI, or identified by screening, that counteract the misregulation of small GTPases and result in alleviation of the cognitive condition. Here we review all knowledge in support of this possibility.
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Xueyang D, Zhanqiang M, Chunhua M, Kun H. Fasudil, an inhibitor of Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase, improves cognitive impairments induced by smoke exposure. Oncotarget 2018; 7:78764-78772. [PMID: 27791202 PMCID: PMC5346675 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study was designed to investigate the pathological changes in brain induced by smoke exposure, and explore whether fasudil could alleviate these impairments. Adult C57BL/6 mice were exposed to tobacco smoking for four months, and fasudil was treated from the third months. To investigate lung injuries, the immunohistochemistry of lung tissue, immune cell infiltrations, cytokine productions in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and seurm inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. To investigate cognitive impairments, Morris water maze test, hippocampal inflammatory cytokines and Rho associated signaling pathways were evaluated. Our findings showed fasudil administration inhibited the inflitration of inflammatory cells (macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes), suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines both in the BAL fluid, serum, and hippocampus. Further, fasudil significantly improved the spatial learning and memory impairments and reduced the elevation of hippocampal inflammatory cytokines induced by tobacco smoking. Of note, expressions of RhoA, ROCK1, ROCK2, caspase-3, caspase-9, bax and the phosphorylation of NF-κBp65 were increased accompanying the smoke exposure-induced cognitive impairments, which were significantly inhibited by fasudil treatment as indicted in western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis. Our results showed that fasudil exhibited protective effects on smoke exposure induced cognitive deficits which might involve with the regulation of Rho/ROCK/NF-κB pathways. Further studies are warranted before clinical application of fasudil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deng Xueyang
- Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Ma Zhanqiang
- Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
| | - Ma Chunhua
- Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.,Central Laboratory, Nanjing Municipal Hospital of T.C.M, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of T.C.M, Nanjing 210001, China
| | - Hao Kun
- Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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29
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Zhang X, Wu N. Fasudil inhibits proliferation and migration of Hep-2 laryngeal carcinoma cells. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2018; 12:373-381. [PMID: 29503530 PMCID: PMC5825979 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s147547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Rho-kinase signal pathway is a new target for cancer therapy. Fasudil, a selective Rho-kinase inhibitor, is found to exert antitumor effects on several types of cancer, but whether fasudil has antitumor effects on laryngeal carcinoma is still unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of fasudil on laryngeal carcinoma and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms in this process. Methods After treatment with fasudil, changes in biological behaviors, including the growth, proliferation, clone formation, apoptosis, and migration of human laryngeal carcinoma cells (Hep-2 cells) were observed. The influences on apoptotic protease activity factor-1 (APAF-1)-mediated apoptosis pathway and the activities of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) were measured by Western blotting and gelatin zymography assay. Results Half-maximal inhibitory concentration of fasudil to Hep-2 cells was ~3.40×103 µM (95% CI: 2.53-4.66×103 µM). Moreover, fasudil treatment significantly decreased the ability of growth, proliferation, clone formation, and migration of Hep-2 cells, while remarkably increased the apoptosis rate. Furthermore, the expressions of APAF-1, caspase-9, and caspase-3 significantly increased in fasudil treatment group. Meanwhile, fasudil led to a remarkable decrease in the expressions and activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Conclusion Our findings first demonstrate that fasudil not only inhibits the proliferation of laryngeal carcinoma cells through activating APAF-1-mediated apoptosis pathway, but also prevents migration by inhibiting the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Therefore, fasudil is an attractive antitumor drug candidate for the treatment of laryngeal carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Zhang
- Medical Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Nan Wu
- The Core Laboratory for Public Health Science and Practice, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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30
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Swanson AM, DePoy LM, Gourley SL. Inhibiting Rho kinase promotes goal-directed decision making and blocks habitual responding for cocaine. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1861. [PMID: 29187752 PMCID: PMC5707361 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01915-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The prelimbic prefrontal cortex is necessary for associating actions with their consequences, enabling goal-directed decision making. We find that the strength of action–outcome conditioning correlates with dendritic spine density in prelimbic cortex, suggesting that new action–outcome learning involves dendritic spine plasticity. To test this, we inhibited the cytoskeletal regulatory factor Rho kinase. We find that the inhibitor fasudil enhances action–outcome memory, resulting in goal-directed behavior in mice that would otherwise express stimulus-response habits. Fasudil transiently reduces prelimbic cortical dendritic spine densities during a period of presumed memory consolidation, but only when paired with new learning. Fasudil also blocks habitual responding for cocaine, an effect that persists over time, across multiple contexts, and depends on actin polymerization. We suggest that Rho kinase inhibition promotes goal-oriented action selection by augmenting the plasticity of prelimbic cortical dendritic spines during the formation of new action–outcome memories. Action-outcome learning requires the prelimbic prefrontal cortex. Here the authors report that fasudil, a Rho kinase inhibitor, reduces dendritic spine densities on prelimbic neurons in an activity-dependent manner, stimulating goal-directed actions, and reducing habitual responding for cocaine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Swanson
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Lauren M DePoy
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA. .,Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
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31
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Aliper A, Belikov AV, Garazha A, Jellen L, Artemov A, Suntsova M, Ivanova A, Venkova L, Borisov N, Buzdin A, Mamoshina P, Putin E, Swick AG, Moskalev A, Zhavoronkov A. In search for geroprotectors: in silico screening and in vitro validation of signalome-level mimetics of young healthy state. Aging (Albany NY) 2017; 8:2127-2152. [PMID: 27677171 PMCID: PMC5076455 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Populations in developed nations throughout the world are rapidly aging, and the search for geroprotectors, or anti-aging interventions, has never been more important. Yet while hundreds of geroprotectors have extended lifespan in animal models, none have yet been approved for widespread use in humans. GeroScope is a computational tool that can aid prediction of novel geroprotectors from existing human gene expression data. GeroScope maps expression differences between samples from young and old subjects to aging-related signaling pathways, then profiles pathway activation strength (PAS) for each condition. Known substances are then screened and ranked for those most likely to target differential pathways and mimic the young signalome. Here we used GeroScope and shortlisted ten substances, all of which have lifespan-extending effects in animal models, and tested 6 of them for geroprotective effects in senescent human fibroblast cultures. PD-98059, a highly selective MEK1 inhibitor, showed both life-prolonging and rejuvenating effects. Natural compounds like N-acetyl-L-cysteine, Myricetin and Epigallocatechin gallate also improved several senescence-associated properties and were further investigated with pathway analysis. This work not only highlights several potential geroprotectors for further study, but also serves as a proof-of-concept for GeroScope, Oncofinder and other PAS-based methods in streamlining drug prediction, repurposing and personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Aliper
- Insilico Medicine, Inc, Research Department, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Aleksey V Belikov
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia
| | - Andrew Garazha
- Insilico Medicine, Inc, Research Department, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.,Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia.,Center for Biogerontology and Regenerative Medicine, Moscow, 121099, Russia
| | - Leslie Jellen
- Insilico Medicine, Inc, Research Department, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.,Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Artem Artemov
- Insilico Medicine, Inc, Research Department, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Maria Suntsova
- D. Rogachev Federal Research and Clinical Center for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Alena Ivanova
- D. Rogachev Federal Research and Clinical Center for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Larisa Venkova
- Insilico Medicine, Inc, Research Department, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.,Pathway Pharmaceuticals, Ltd, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Nicolas Borisov
- Insilico Medicine, Inc, Research Department, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.,Pathway Pharmaceuticals, Ltd, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Anton Buzdin
- Pathway Pharmaceuticals, Ltd, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Polina Mamoshina
- Insilico Medicine, Inc, Research Department, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Evgeny Putin
- Insilico Medicine, Inc, Research Department, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | | | - Alexey Moskalev
- Insilico Medicine, Inc, Research Department, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.,Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia.,Laboratory of Molecular Radiobiology and Gerontology, Institute of Biology of Komi Science Center of Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Syktyvkar, 167982, Russia.,School of Systems Biology, George Mason University (GMU), Fairfax, VA 22030, USA.,Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Alex Zhavoronkov
- Insilico Medicine, Inc, Research Department, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.,The Biogerontology Research Foundation, Oxford, UK
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32
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Lacivita E, Perrone R, Margari L, Leopoldo M. Targets for Drug Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder: Challenges and Future Directions. J Med Chem 2017; 60:9114-9141. [PMID: 29039668 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. Various factors are involved in the etiopathogenesis of ASD, including genetic factors, environmental toxins and stressors, impaired immune responses, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. The heterogeneity in the phenotype among ASD patients and the complex etiology of the condition have long impeded the advancement of the development of pharmacological therapies. In the recent years, the integration of findings from mouse models to human genetics resulted in considerable progress toward the understanding of ASD pathophysiology. Currently, strategies to treat core symptoms of ASD are directed to correct synaptic dysfunctions, abnormalities in central oxytocin, vasopressin, and serotonin neurotransmission, and neuroinflammation. Here, we present a survey of the studies that have suggested molecular targets for drug development for ASD and the state-of-the-art of medicinal chemistry efforts in related areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enza Lacivita
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro , via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Roberto Perrone
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro , via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Lucia Margari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche di Base, Neuroscienze e Organi di Senso, Unità di Neuropsichiatria Infantile, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro , Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Marcello Leopoldo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia-Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro , via Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy
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Amyloid β synaptotoxicity is Wnt-PCP dependent and blocked by fasudil. Alzheimers Dement 2017; 14:306-317. [PMID: 29055813 PMCID: PMC5869054 DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2017.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Synapse loss is the structural correlate of the cognitive decline indicative of dementia. In the brains of Alzheimer's disease sufferers, amyloid β (Aβ) peptides aggregate to form senile plaques but as soluble peptides are toxic to synapses. We previously demonstrated that Aβ induces Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1), which in turn activates the Wnt–planar cell polarity (Wnt-PCP) pathway to drive tau pathology and neuronal death. Methods We compared the effects of Aβ and of Dkk1 on synapse morphology and memory impairment while inhibiting or silencing key elements of the Wnt-PCP pathway. Results We demonstrate that Aβ synaptotoxicity is also Dkk1 and Wnt-PCP dependent, mediated by the arm of Wnt-PCP regulating actin cytoskeletal dynamics via Daam1, RhoA and ROCK, and can be blocked by the drug fasudil. Discussion Our data add to the importance of aberrant Wnt signaling in Alzheimer's disease neuropathology and indicate that fasudil could be repurposed as a treatment for the disease. Aβ synaptotoxicity is Dickkopf-1 and Wnt-PCP dependent. The Wnt-PCP pathway drives Aβ-driven synapse loss via RhoA and ROCK. ROCK inhibitor fasudil blocks Aβ-driven synapse loss and cognitive impairment. Fasudil should be assessed for repurposing for Alzheimer's disease.
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Mulherkar S, Firozi K, Huang W, Uddin MD, Grill RJ, Costa-Mattioli M, Robertson C, Tolias KF. RhoA-ROCK Inhibition Reverses Synaptic Remodeling and Motor and Cognitive Deficits Caused by Traumatic Brain Injury. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10689. [PMID: 28878396 PMCID: PMC5587534 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11113-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes extensive neural damage, often resulting in long-term cognitive impairments. Unfortunately, effective treatments for TBI remain elusive. The RhoA-ROCK signaling pathway is a potential therapeutic target since it is activated by TBI and can promote the retraction of dendritic spines/synapses, which are critical for information processing and memory storage. To test this hypothesis, RhoA-ROCK signaling was blocked by RhoA deletion from postnatal neurons or treatment with the ROCK inhibitor fasudil. We found that TBI impairs both motor and cognitive performance and inhibiting RhoA-ROCK signaling alleviates these deficits. Moreover, RhoA-ROCK inhibition prevents TBI-induced spine remodeling and mature spine loss. These data argue that TBI elicits pathological spine remodeling that contributes to behavioral deficits by altering synaptic connections, and RhoA-ROCK inhibition enhances functional recovery by blocking this detrimental effect. As fasudil has been safely used in humans, our results suggest that it could be repurposed to treat TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalaka Mulherkar
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Karen Firozi
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,The Solomon Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | | | - Raymond J Grill
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, 39216, USA
| | - Mauro Costa-Mattioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Memory and Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Claudia Robertson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kimberley F Tolias
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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35
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Lester AW, Moffat SD, Wiener JM, Barnes CA, Wolbers T. The Aging Navigational System. Neuron 2017; 95:1019-1035. [PMID: 28858613 PMCID: PMC5659315 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 207] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of neuronal systems dedicated to computing spatial information, composed of functionally distinct cell types such as place and grid cells, combined with an extensive body of human-based behavioral and neuroimaging research has provided us with a detailed understanding of the brain's navigation circuit. In this review, we discuss emerging evidence from rodents, non-human primates, and humans that demonstrates how cognitive aging affects the navigational computations supported by these systems. Critically, we show 1) that navigational deficits cannot solely be explained by general deficits in learning and memory, 2) that there is no uniform decline across different navigational computations, and 3) that navigational deficits might be sensitive markers for impending pathological decline. Following an introduction to the mechanisms underlying spatial navigation and how they relate to general processes of learning and memory, the review discusses how aging affects the perception and integration of spatial information, the creation and storage of memory traces for spatial information, and the use of spatial information during navigational behavior. The closing section highlights the clinical potential of behavioral and neural markers of spatial navigation, with a particular emphasis on neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam W Lester
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Division of Neural Systems, Memory and Aging, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Scott D Moffat
- School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332 USA
| | - Jan M Wiener
- Department of Psychology, Ageing and Dementia Institute, Bournemouth University, Poole BH12 5BB, UK
| | - Carol A Barnes
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Division of Neural Systems, Memory and Aging, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Departments of Psychology, Neurology, and Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Thomas Wolbers
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Aging and Cognition Research Group, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), 39118 Magdeburg, Germany.
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36
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Lai AY, McLaurin J. Rho-associated protein kinases as therapeutic targets for both vascular and parenchymal pathologies in Alzheimer's disease. J Neurochem 2017; 144:659-668. [PMID: 28722749 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 06/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The causes of late-onset Alzheimer's disease are unclear and likely multifactorial. Rho-associated protein kinases (ROCKs) are ubiquitously expressed signaling messengers that mediate a wide array of cellular processes. Interestingly, they play an important role in several vascular and brain pathologies implicated in Alzheimer's etiology, including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, blood-brain barrier disruption, oxidative stress, deposition of vascular and parenchymal amyloid-beta peptides, tau hyperphosphorylation, and cognitive decline. The current review summarizes the functions of ROCKs with respect to the various risk factors and pathologies on both sides of the blood-brain barrier and present support for targeting ROCK signaling as a multifactorial and multi-effect approach for the prevention and amelioration of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. This article is part of the Special Issue "Vascular Dementia".
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Y Lai
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - JoAnne McLaurin
- Biological Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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37
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Grabowski B, Schmidt MA, Rüter C. Immunomodulatory Yersinia outer proteins (Yops)-useful tools for bacteria and humans alike. Virulence 2017; 8:1124-1147. [PMID: 28296562 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2017.1303588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-pathogenic Yersinia produce plasmid-encoded Yersinia outer proteins (Yops), which are necessary to down-regulate anti-bacterial responses that constrict bacterial survival in the host. These Yops are effectively translocated directly from the bacterial into the target cell cytosol by the type III secretion system (T3SS). Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) in contrast are characterized by their ability to autonomously cross cell membranes and to transport cargo - independent of additional translocation systems. The recent discovery of bacterial cell-penetrating effector proteins (CPEs) - with the prototype being the T3SS effector protein YopM - established a new class of autonomously translocating immunomodulatory proteins. CPEs represent a vast source of potential self-delivering, anti-inflammatory therapeutics. In this review, we give an update on the characteristic features of the plasmid-encoded Yops and, based on recent findings, propose the further development of these proteins for potential therapeutic applications as natural or artificial cell-penetrating forms of Yops might be of value as bacteria-derived biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Grabowski
- a Institute of Infectiology - Centre for Molecular Biology of Inflammation (ZMBE), University of Münster , Münster , Germany
| | - M Alexander Schmidt
- a Institute of Infectiology - Centre for Molecular Biology of Inflammation (ZMBE), University of Münster , Münster , Germany
| | - Christian Rüter
- a Institute of Infectiology - Centre for Molecular Biology of Inflammation (ZMBE), University of Münster , Münster , Germany
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Li Y, Xu J, Xu P, Song S, Liu P, Chi T, Ji X, Jin G, Qiu S, Hou Y, Zheng C, Wang L, Meng D, Zou L. Xanthoceras sorbifolia extracts ameliorate dendritic spine deficiency and cognitive decline via upregulation of BDNF expression in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurosci Lett 2016; 629:208-214. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Newell-Litwa KA, Horwitz R, Lamers ML. Non-muscle myosin II in disease: mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. Dis Model Mech 2015; 8:1495-515. [PMID: 26542704 PMCID: PMC4728321 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.022103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The actin motor protein non-muscle myosin II (NMII) acts as a master regulator of cell morphology, with a role in several essential cellular processes, including cell migration and post-synaptic dendritic spine plasticity in neurons. NMII also generates forces that alter biochemical signaling, by driving changes in interactions between actin-associated proteins that can ultimately regulate gene transcription. In addition to its roles in normal cellular physiology, NMII has recently emerged as a critical regulator of diverse, genetically complex diseases, including neuronal disorders, cancers and vascular disease. In the context of these disorders, NMII regulatory pathways can be directly mutated or indirectly altered by disease-causing mutations. NMII regulatory pathway genes are also increasingly found in disease-associated copy-number variants, particularly in neuronal disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. Furthermore, manipulation of NMII-mediated contractility regulates stem cell pluripotency and differentiation, thus highlighting the key role of NMII-based pharmaceuticals in the clinical success of stem cell therapies. In this Review, we discuss the emerging role of NMII activity and its regulation by kinases and microRNAs in the pathogenesis and prognosis of a diverse range of diseases, including neuronal disorders, cancer and vascular disease. We also address promising clinical applications and limitations of NMII-based inhibitors in the treatment of these diseases and the development of stem-cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen A Newell-Litwa
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Rick Horwitz
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Marcelo L Lamers
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Institute of Basic Health Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90610-010, Brazil
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Swanger SA, Mattheyses AL, Gentry EG, Herskowitz JH. ROCK1 and ROCK2 inhibition alters dendritic spine morphology in hippocampal neurons. CELLULAR LOGISTICS 2015; 5:e1133266. [PMID: 27054047 PMCID: PMC4820816 DOI: 10.1080/21592799.2015.1133266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Revised: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Communication among neurons is mediated through synaptic connections between axons and dendrites, and most excitatory synapses occur on actin-rich protrusions along dendrites called dendritic spines. Dendritic spines are structurally dynamic, and synapse strength is closely correlated with spine morphology. Abnormalities in the size, shape, and number of dendritic spines are prevalent in neurologic diseases, including autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer disease. However, therapeutic targets that influence spine morphology are lacking. Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinases (ROCK) 1 and ROCK2 are potent regulators of the actin cytoskeleton and highly promising drug targets for central nervous system disorders. In this report, we addressed how pharmacologic inhibition of ROCK1 and ROCK2 affects dendritic spine morphology. Hippocampal neurons were transfected with plasmids expressing fluorescently labeled Lifeact, a small actin binding peptide, and then incubated with or without Y-27632, an established pan-ROCK small molecule inhibitor. Using an automated 3D spine morphometry analysis method, we showed that inhibition of ROCK1 and ROCK2 significantly increased the mean protrusion density and significantly reduced the mean protrusion width. A trending increase in mean protrusion length was observed following Y-27632 treatment, and novel effects were observed among spine classes. Exposure to Y-27632 significantly increased the number of filopodia and thin spines, while the numbers of stubby and mushroom spines were similar to mock-treated samples. These findings support the hypothesis that pharmacologic inhibition of ROCK1 and ROCK2 may convey therapeutic benefit for neurologic disorders that feature dendritic spine loss or aberrant structural plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon A Swanger
- Department of Pharmacology; Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Alexa L Mattheyses
- Department of Cell Biology; Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta; GA USA
| | - Erik G Gentry
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics; University of Alabama at Birmingham; Birmingham, AL USA
- Department of Neurology; University of Alabama at Birmingham; Birmingham, AL USA
| | - Jeremy H Herskowitz
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics; University of Alabama at Birmingham; Birmingham, AL USA
- Department of Neurology; University of Alabama at Birmingham; Birmingham, AL USA
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41
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Vaidya B, Gupta V. Novel therapeutic approaches for pulmonary arterial hypertension: Unique molecular targets to site-specific drug delivery. J Control Release 2015; 211:118-33. [PMID: 26036906 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.05.287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2015] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a cardiopulmonary disorder characterized by increased blood pressure in the small arterioles supplying blood to lungs for oxygenation. Advances in understanding of molecular and cellular biology techniques have led to the findings that PAH is indeed a cascade of diseases exploiting multi-faceted complex pathophysiology, with cellular proliferation and vascular remodeling being the key pathogenic events along with several cellular pathways involved. While current therapies for PAH do provide for amelioration of disease symptoms and acute survival benefits, their full therapeutic potential is hindered by patient incompliance and off-target side effects. To overcome the issues related with current therapy and to devise a more selective therapy, various novel pathways are being investigated for PAH treatment. In addition, inability to deliver anti-PAH drugs to the disease site i.e., distal pulmonary arterioles has been one of the major challenges in achieving improved patient outcomes and improved therapeutic efficacy. Several novel carriers have been explored to increase the selectivity of currently approved anti-PAH drugs and to act as suitable carriers for the delivery of investigational drugs. In the present review, we have discussed potential of various novel molecular pathways/targets including RhoA/Rho kinase, tyrosine kinase, endothelial progenitor cells, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and miRNA in PAH therapeutics. We have also discussed various techniques for site-specific drug delivery of anti-PAH therapeutics so as to improve the efficacy of approved and investigational drugs. This review will provide gainful insights into current advances in PAH therapeutics with an emphasis on site-specific drug payload delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhuvaneshwar Vaidya
- School of Pharmacy, Keck Graduate Institute, 535 Watson Drive, Claremont, CA 91711, United States
| | - Vivek Gupta
- School of Pharmacy, Keck Graduate Institute, 535 Watson Drive, Claremont, CA 91711, United States.
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42
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Mikelis CM, Simaan M, Ando K, Fukuhara S, Sakurai A, Amornphimoltham P, Masedunskas A, Weigert R, Chavakis T, Adams RH, Offermanns S, Mochizuki N, Zheng Y, Gutkind JS. RhoA and ROCK mediate histamine-induced vascular leakage and anaphylactic shock. Nat Commun 2015; 6:6725. [PMID: 25857352 PMCID: PMC4394241 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Histamine-induced vascular leakage is an integral component of many highly prevalent human diseases, including allergies, asthma, and anaphylaxis. Yet, how histamine induces the disruption of the endothelial barrier is not well defined. By using genetically modified animal models, pharmacologic inhibitors, and a synthetic biology approach, here we show that the small GTPase RhoA mediates histamine-induced vascular leakage. Histamine causes the rapid formation of focal adherens junctions, disrupting the endothelial barrier by acting on H1R Gαq-coupled receptors, which is blunted in endothelial Gαq/11 KO mice. Interfering with RhoA and ROCK function abolishes endothelial permeability, while phospholipase Cβ plays a limited role. Moreover, endothelial-specific RhoA gene deletion prevents vascular leakage and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in vivo, and ROCK inhibitors protect from lethal systemic anaphylaxis. This study supports a key role for the RhoA signaling circuitry in vascular permeability, thereby identifying novel pharmacological targets for many human diseases characterized by aberrant vascular leakage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantinos M Mikelis
- Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - May Simaan
- Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Koji Ando
- Department of Cell Biology, CREST-JST, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka 565-8565, Japan
| | - Shigetomo Fukuhara
- Department of Cell Biology, CREST-JST, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka 565-8565, Japan
| | - Atsuko Sakurai
- Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Panomwat Amornphimoltham
- Intracellular Membrane Trafficking Unit, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Andrius Masedunskas
- Intracellular Membrane Trafficking Unit, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Roberto Weigert
- Intracellular Membrane Trafficking Unit, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Triantafyllos Chavakis
- Department of Clinical Pathobiochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Ralf H Adams
- 1] Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster D-48149, Germany [2] Faculty of Medicine, University of Münster, Münster 48149, Germany
| | - Stefan Offermanns
- Department of Pharmacology, Max-Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim 61231, Germany
| | - Naoki Mochizuki
- Department of Cell Biology, CREST-JST, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka 565-8565, Japan
| | - Yi Zheng
- Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
| | - J Silvio Gutkind
- Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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Xu YQ, Sun ZQ, Wang YT, Xiao F, Chen MW. Function of Nogo-A/Nogo-A receptor in Alzheimer's disease. CNS Neurosci Ther 2015; 21:479-85. [PMID: 25732725 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Revised: 01/01/2015] [Accepted: 01/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nogo-A is a protein inhibiting axonal regeneration, which is considered a major obstacle to nerve regeneration after injury in mammals. Rapid progress has been achieved in new physiopathological function of Nogo-A in Alzheimer's disease in the past decade. Recent research shows that through binding to Nogo-A receptor, Nogo-A plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Particularly, Nogo-A/Nogo-A receptors modulate the generation of amyloid β-protein (Aβ), which is thought to be a major cause of AD. This review describes the recent development of Nogo-A, Nogo-A receptor, and downstream signaling involved in AD and pharmacological basis of therapeutic drugs. We concluded the Nogo-A/Nogo-A receptor provide new insight into potential mechanisms and promising therapy strategies in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Qi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Zhong-Qing Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Tao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Fei Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China.,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mei-Wan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
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Krogh KA, Lyddon E, Thayer SA. HIV-1 Tat activates a RhoA signaling pathway to reduce NMDA-evoked calcium responses in hippocampal neurons via an actin-dependent mechanism. J Neurochem 2014; 132:354-66. [PMID: 25156524 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Revised: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 08/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders afflict approximately half of HIV-infected patients. HIV-infected cells within the CNS release neurotoxic viral proteins such as the transactivator of transcription (Tat). Tat caused a biphasic change in NMDAR function; NMDA-evoked increases in intracellular Ca(2+) were initially potentiated following 16 h exposure to Tat and then adapted by gradually returning to baseline by 24 h. Following Tat-induced NMDAR potentiation, a RhoA/Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway was activated; a subsequent remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton reduced NMDA-evoked increases in intracellular Ca(2+) . Pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of RhoA or ROCK failed to affect potentiation, but prevented adaptation of NMDAR function. Activation of RhoA/ROCK signaling increases the formation of filamentous actin. Drugs that prevent changes to filamentous actin blocked adaptation of NMDAR function following Tat-induced potentiation, whereas stimulating either depolymerization or polymerization of actin attenuated NMDAR function. These findings indicate that Tat activates a RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway resulting in actin remodeling and subsequent reduction of NMDAR function. Adaptation of NMDAR function may be a mechanism to protect neurons from excessive Ca(2+) influx and could reveal targets for the treatment of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly A Krogh
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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45
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Long-term inhibition of Rho-kinase restores the LTP impaired in chronic forebrain ischemia rats by regulating GABAA and GABAB receptors. Neuroscience 2014; 277:383-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2014] [Revised: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 07/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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46
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Powell AD, Saintot PP, Gill KK, Bharathan A, Buck SC, Morris G, Jiruska P, Jefferys JGR. Reduced gamma oscillations in a mouse model of intellectual disability: a role for impaired repetitive neurotransmission? PLoS One 2014; 9:e95871. [PMID: 24800744 PMCID: PMC4011727 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Intellectual disability affects 2-3% of the population; mutations of the X-chromosome are a major cause of moderate to severe cases. The link between the molecular consequences of the mutation and impaired cognitive function remains unclear. Loss of function mutations of oligophrenin-1 (OPHN1) disrupt Rho-GTPase signalling. Here we demonstrate abnormal neurotransmission at CA3 synapses in hippocampal slices from Ophn1-/y mice, resulting from a substantial decrease in the readily releasable pool of vesicles. As a result, synaptic transmission fails at high frequencies required for oscillations associated with cognitive functions. Both spontaneous and KA-induced gamma oscillations were reduced in Ophn1-/y hippocampal slices. Spontaneous oscillations were rapidly rescued by inhibition of the downstream signalling pathway of oligophrenin-1. These findings suggest that the intellectual disability due to mutations of oligophrenin-1 results from a synaptopathy and consequent network malfunction, providing a plausible mechanism for the learning disabilities. Furthermore, they raise the prospect of drug treatments for affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Powell
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Pierre-Philippe Saintot
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Kalbinder K. Gill
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ashtami Bharathan
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - S. Caroline Buck
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Gareth Morris
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Premysl Jiruska
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Developmental Epileptology, Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Neurology, Charles University, 2 School of Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - John G. R. Jefferys
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Zhang L, Yang S, Wennmann DO, Chen Y, Kremerskothen J, Dong J. KIBRA: In the brain and beyond. Cell Signal 2014; 26:1392-9. [PMID: 24642126 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2014.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2014] [Accepted: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
In mammals, the KIBRA locus has been associated with memory performance and cognition by genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism screening. Genetic studies in Drosophila and human cells have identified KIBRA as a novel regulator of the Hippo signaling pathway, which plays a critical role in human tumorigenesis. Recent studies also indicated that KIBRA is involved in other physiological processes including cell polarity, membrane/vesicular trafficking, mitosis and cell migration. At the biochemical level, KIBRA protein is highly phosphorylated by various kinases in epithelial cells. Here, we discuss the updates concerning the function and regulation of KIBRA in the brain and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhang
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Shuping Yang
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | | | - Yuanhong Chen
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | | | - Jixin Dong
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
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48
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Chen Y, Wei G, Nie H, Lin Y, Tian H, Liu Y, Yu X, Cheng S, Yan R, Wang Q, Liu DH, Deng W, Lai Y, Zhou JH, Zhang SX, Lin WW, Chen DF. β-Asarone prevents autophagy and synaptic loss by reducing ROCK expression in asenescence-accelerated prone 8 mice. Brain Res 2014; 1552:41-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Revised: 12/14/2013] [Accepted: 01/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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49
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Pan P, Shen M, Yu H, Li Y, Li D, Hou T. Advances in the development of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitors. Drug Discov Today 2013; 18:1323-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2013.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2013] [Revised: 08/24/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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50
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Grewal A, Stephan DA. Diagnostics for personalized medicine: what will change in the era of large-scale genomics studies? Per Med 2013; 10:835-848. [DOI: 10.2217/pme.13.82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The era of personalized medicine is upon us and it is being fueled by large available data sets of many types that are setting the foundation for the development of more precise diagnostic tools and targeted therapies, which are improving patient outcomes. Technology innovation and concomitant price decreases in molecular scanning technologies are at the heart of this change, both accelerating at a rate that has exceeded Moore’s law. This technology trend is enabling the research community to generate, and make publicly available, massive amounts of genomic data. These data come in the form not only of contextual information about the structure and function of the genome, but also in the form of variants that are correlated with human disease. Coupled with this molecular information, we are making dramatic inroads into capturing and making available high-resolution phenotypic and environmental exposure data through both incentives to physicians to migrate electronic medical records and to adoption of consumer-facing data collection and aggregation technologies. These large-scale genomic, environmental and phenotypic data together allow us to provide a multitude of new diagnostic correlations across the spectrum of possible clinical indications. To fully leverage the data foundation that will lead us to precise diagnostics and truly move the needle in outcome improvement, we need to achieve a culture shift as to how to apply this new personalized and probabilistic diagnostic information to better practice the art of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anoop Grewal
- Silicon Valley Biosystems, 950 Tower Lane, 11th Floor, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
| | - Dietrich A Stephan
- Silicon Valley Biosystems, 950 Tower Lane, 11th Floor, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
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