Modeling disrupted synapse formation in wolfram syndrome using hESCs-derived neural cells and cerebral organoids identifies Riluzole as a therapeutic molecule

Association between urinary metals and prostate-specific antigen in aging population with depression: a cross-sectional study

Objective

This study aims to investigate the impact of depression and urinary metals on Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA).

Methods

Analysis was conducted on 1901 samples collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database between 2001 and 2010. Analytical methods included stepwise multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis of the overall population's urinary metals and PSA relationship, analysis of urinary metals and PSA relationship in older adults and BMI subgroups, analysis of urinary metals and PSA relationship in the depressed population, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

In the stepwise multiple linear regression, beryllium (Be) showed a dose-response association with PSA (third quartile: β = 0.05, 95%CI (0.02, 0.09); fourth quartile: β = 0.07, 95%CI (0.02, 0.12), p trend = 0.048). Subgroup analysis indicated that in individuals aged >60, Be at Q4 level [β = 0.09, 95%CI (0.05, 0.21)] exhibited a dose-response correlation with PSA. In the population with 25 ≤ BMI < 30, Be might more significantly elevate PSA, with Q4 level having a pronounced impact on PSA levels [β = 0.03, 95%CI (0.02, 1.27)]. In the depressed population, urinary cadmium (Cd) levels showed a significant positive dose-response relationship, with Q4 level of Cd having the maximum impact on PSA [β = 0.3, 95%CI (0.09, 0.49)].

Conclusion

Individuals exposed to beryllium (Be), especially the older adults and overweight, should monitor their PSA levels. In depressed patients, cadmium (Cd) levels may further elevate PSA levels, necessitating increased monitoring of PSA levels among males.

Optogenetic and chemogenetic approaches for modeling neurological disorders in vivo

Animal models of human neurological disorders provide valuable experimental tools which enable us to study various aspects of disorder pathogeneses, ranging from structural abnormalities and disrupted metabolism and signaling to motor and mental deficits, and allow us to test novel therapies in preclinical studies. To be valid, these animal models should recapitulate complex pathological features at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and behavioral levels as closely as possible to those observed in human subjects. Pathological states resembling known human neurological disorders can be induced in animal species by toxins, genetic factors, lesioning, or exposure to extreme conditions. In recent years, novel animal models recapitulating neuropathologies in humans have been introduced. These animal models are based on synthetic biology approaches: opto- and chemogenetics. In this paper, we review recent opto- and chemogenetics-based animal models of human neurological disorders. These models allow for the creation of pathological states by disrupting specific processes at the cellular level. The artificial pathological states mimic a range of human neurological disorders, such as aging-related dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, epilepsy, and ataxias. Opto- and chemogenetics provide new opportunities unavailable with other animal models of human neurological disorders. These techniques enable researchers to induce neuropathological states varying in severity and ranging from acute to chronic. We also discuss future directions for the development and application of synthetic biology approaches for modeling neurological disorders.

ISR inhibition reverses pancreatic β-cell failure in Wolfram syndrome models

Pancreatic β-cell failure by WFS1 deficiency is manifested in individuals with wolfram syndrome (WS). The lack of a suitable human model in WS has impeded progress in the development of new treatments. Here, human pluripotent stem cell derived pancreatic islets (SC-islets) harboring WFS1 deficiency and mouse model of β cell specific Wfs1 knockout were applied to model β-cell failure in WS. We charted a high-resolution roadmap with single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) to investigate pathogenesis for WS β-cell failure, revealing two distinct cellular fates along pseudotime trajectory: maturation and stress branches. WFS1 deficiency disrupted β-cell fate trajectory toward maturation and directed it towards stress trajectory, ultimately leading to β-cell failure. Notably, further investigation of the stress trajectory identified activated integrated stress response (ISR) as a crucial mechanism underlying WS β-cell failure, characterized by aberrant eIF2 signaling in WFS1-deficient SC-islets, along with elevated expression of genes in regulating stress granule formation. Significantly, we demonstrated that ISRIB, an ISR inhibitor, efficiently reversed β-cell failure in WFS1-deficient SC-islets. We further validated therapeutic efficacy in vivo with β-cell specific Wfs1 knockout mice. Altogether, our study provides novel insights into WS pathogenesis and offers a strategy targeting ISR to treat WS diabetes.

Wfs1 loss-of-function disrupts the composition of mouse pancreatic endocrine cells from birth and impairs Glut2 localization to cytomembrane in pancreatic β cells

Wfs1 is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane located protein highly expressed in pancreatic β cells and brain. Wfs1 deficiency causes adult pancreatic β cells dysfunction following β cells apoptosis. Previous studies mainly focus on the Wfs1 function in adult mouse pancreatic β cells. However, whether Wfs1 loss-of-function impairs mouse pancreatic β cell from its early development is unknown. In our study, Wfs1 deficiency disrupts the composition of mouse pancreatic endocrine cells from early postnatal day 0 (P0) to 8 weeks old, with decreased percentage of β cells and increased percentage of α and δ cells. Meanwhile, Wfs1 loss-of-function leads to reduced intracellular insulin content. Notably, Wfs1 deficiency impairs Glut2 localization and causes the accumulation of Glut2 in mouse pancreatic β cell cytoplasm. In Wfs1-deficient mice, glucose homeostasis is disturbed from early 3 weeks old to 8 weeks old. This work reveals that Wfs1 is significantly required for the composition of pancreatic endocrine cells and is essential for Glut2 localization in mouse pancreatic β cells.

Chronic Stress Alters Hippocampal Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Component Expression in an Aged Rat Model of Wolfram Syndrome

Biallelic mutations in the gene encoding WFS1 underlie the development of Wolfram syndrome (WS), a rare neurodegenerative disorder with no available cure. We have previously shown that Wfs1 deficiency can impair the functioning of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). The expression of two key receptors, angiotensin II receptor type 2 (Agtr2) and bradykinin receptor B1 (Bdkrb1), was downregulated both in vitro and in vivo across multiple organs in a rat model of WS. Here, we show that the expression of key RAAS components is also dysregulated in neural tissue from aged WS rats and that these alterations are not normalized by pharmacological treatments (liraglutide (LIR), 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) or their combination). We found that the expression of angiotensin II receptor type 1a (Agtr1a), angiotensin II receptor type 1b (Agtr1b), Agtr2 and Bdkrb1 was significantly downregulated in the hippocampus of WS animals that experienced chronic experimental stress. Treatment-naïve WS rats displayed different gene expression patterns, underscoring the effect of prolonged experiment-induced stress. Altogether, we posit that Wfs1 deficiency disturbs RAAS functioning under chronic stressful conditions, thereby exacerbating neurodegeneration in WS.