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Kumar G, Zhou Z, Wang Z, Kwan KM, Tin C, Ma CHE. Real-time field-programmable gate array-based closed-loop deep brain stimulation platform targeting cerebellar circuitry rescues motor deficits in a mouse model of cerebellar ataxia. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14638. [PMID: 38488445 PMCID: PMC10941591 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS The open-loop nature of conventional deep brain stimulation (DBS) produces continuous and excessive stimulation to patients which contributes largely to increased prevalence of adverse side effects. Cerebellar ataxia is characterized by abnormal Purkinje cells (PCs) dendritic arborization, loss of PCs and motor coordination, and muscle weakness with no effective treatment. We aim to develop a real-time field-programmable gate array (FPGA) prototype targeting the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) to close the loop for ataxia using conditional double knockout mice with deletion of PC-specific LIM homeobox (Lhx)1 and Lhx5, resulting in abnormal dendritic arborization and motor deficits. METHODS We implanted multielectrode array in the DCN and muscles of ataxia mice. The beneficial effect of open-loop DCN-DBS or closed-loop DCN-DBS was compared by motor behavioral assessments, electromyography (EMG), and neural activities (neurospike and electroencephalogram) in freely moving mice. FPGA board, which performed complex real-time computation, was used for closed-loop DCN-DBS system. RESULTS Closed-loop DCN-DBS was triggered only when symptomatic muscle EMG was detected in a real-time manner, which restored motor activities, electroencephalogram activities and neurospike properties completely in ataxia mice. Closed-loop DCN-DBS was more effective than an open-loop paradigm as it reduced the frequency of DBS. CONCLUSION Our real-time FPGA-based DCN-DBS system could be a potential clinical strategy for alleviating cerebellar ataxia and other movement disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajendra Kumar
- Department of NeuroscienceCity University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong SAR
| | - Zhanhong Zhou
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringCity University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong SAR
| | - Zhihua Wang
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringCity University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong SAR
| | - Kin Ming Kwan
- School of Life Sciences, Center for Cell and Developmental Biology and State Key Laboratory of AgrobiotechnologyThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong SAR
| | - Chung Tin
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringCity University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong SAR
| | - Chi Him Eddie Ma
- Department of NeuroscienceCity University of Hong KongHong KongHong Kong SAR
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Guo X, Asthana P, Zhai L, Cheng KW, Gurung S, Huang J, Wu J, Zhang Y, Mahato AK, Saarma M, Ustav M, Kwan HY, Lyu A, Chan KM, Xu P, Bian ZX, Wong HLX. Artesunate treats obesity in male mice and non-human primates through GDF15/GFRAL signalling axis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1034. [PMID: 38310105 PMCID: PMC10838268 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45452-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity, a global health challenge, is a major risk factor for multiple life-threatening diseases, including diabetes, fatty liver, and cancer. There is an ongoing need to identify safe and tolerable therapeutics for obesity management. Herein, we show that treatment with artesunate, an artemisinin derivative approved by the FDA for the treatment of severe malaria, effectively reduces body weight and improves metabolic profiles in preclinical models of obesity, including male mice with overnutrition-induced obesity and male cynomolgus macaques with spontaneous obesity, without inducing nausea and malaise. Artesunate promotes weight loss and reduces food intake in obese mice and cynomolgus macaques by increasing circulating levels of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15), an appetite-regulating hormone with a brainstem-restricted receptor, the GDNF family receptor α-like (GFRAL). Mechanistically, artesunate induces the expression of GDF15 in multiple organs, especially the liver, in mice through a C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP)-directed integrated stress response. Inhibition of GDF15/GFRAL signalling by genetic ablation of GFRAL or tissue-specific knockdown of GDF15 abrogates the anti-obesity effect of artesunate in mice with diet-induced obesity, suggesting that artesunate controls bodyweight and appetite in a GDF15/GFRAL signalling-dependent manner. These data highlight the therapeutic benefits of artesunate in the treatment of obesity and related comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanming Guo
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Pallavi Asthana
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Lixiang Zhai
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ka Wing Cheng
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development Limited, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Susma Gurung
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jiangang Huang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research and State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jiayan Wu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yijing Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Arun Kumar Mahato
- Institute of Biotechnology-HILIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mart Saarma
- Institute of Biotechnology-HILIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Hiu Yee Kwan
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Aiping Lyu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kui Ming Chan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Pingyi Xu
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhao-Xiang Bian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Centre for Chinese Herbal Medicine Drug Development Limited, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Au NPB, Wu T, Kumar G, Jin Y, Li YYT, Chan SL, Lai JHC, Chan KWY, Yu KN, Wang X, Ma CHE. Low-dose ionizing radiation promotes motor recovery and brain rewiring by resolving inflammatory response after brain injury and stroke. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 115:43-63. [PMID: 37774892 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke share a common pathophysiology that worsens over time due to secondary tissue injury caused by sustained inflammatory response. However, studies on pharmacological interventions targeting the complex secondary injury cascade have failed to show efficacy. Here, we demonstrated that low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) reduced lesion size and reversed motor deficits after TBI and photothrombotic stroke. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated significant reduction of infarct volume in LDIR-treated mice after stroke. Systems-level transcriptomic analysis showed that genes upregulated in LDIR-treated stoke mice were enriched in pathways associated with inflammatory and immune response involving microglia. LDIR induced upregulation of anti-inflammatory- and phagocytosis-related genes, and downregulation of key pro-inflammatory cytokine production. These findings were validated by live-cell assays, in which microglia exhibited higher chemotactic and phagocytic capacities after LDIR. We observed substantial microglial clustering at the injury site, glial scar clearance and reversal of motor deficits after stroke. Cortical microglia/macrophages depletion completely abolished the beneficial effect of LDIR on motor function recovery in stroke mice. LDIR promoted axonal projections (brain rewiring) in motor cortex and recovery of brain activity detected by electroencephalography recordings months after stroke. LDIR treatment delayed by 8 h post-injury still maintained full therapeutic effects on motor recovery, indicating that LDIR is a promising therapeutic strategy for TBI and stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tan Wu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gajendra Kumar
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuting Jin
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Shun Lam Chan
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Joseph Ho Chi Lai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kannie Wai Yan Chan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kwan Ngok Yu
- Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Surgery, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Him Eddie Ma
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.
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Au NPB, Wu T, Chen X, Gao F, Li YTY, Tam WY, Yu KN, Geschwind DH, Coppola G, Wang X, Ma CHE. Genome-wide study reveals novel roles for formin-2 in axon regeneration as a microtubule dynamics regulator and therapeutic target for nerve repair. Neuron 2023; 111:3970-3987.e8. [PMID: 38086376 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Peripheral nerves regenerate successfully; however, clinical outcome after injury is poor. We demonstrated that low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) promoted axon regeneration and function recovery after peripheral nerve injury (PNI). Genome-wide CpG methylation profiling identified LDIR-induced hypermethylation of the Fmn2 promoter, exhibiting injury-induced Fmn2 downregulation in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). Constitutive knockout or neuronal Fmn2 knockdown accelerated nerve repair and function recovery. Mechanistically, increased microtubule dynamics at growth cones was observed in time-lapse imaging of Fmn2-deficient DRG neurons. Increased HDAC5 phosphorylation and rapid tubulin deacetylation were found in regenerating axons of neuronal Fmn2-knockdown mice after injury. Growth-promoting effect of neuronal Fmn2 knockdown was eliminated by pharmaceutical blockade of HDAC5 or neuronal Hdac5 knockdown, suggesting that Fmn2deletion promotes axon regeneration via microtubule post-translational modification. In silico screening of FDA-approved drugs identified metaxalone, administered either immediately or 24-h post-injury, accelerating function recovery. This work uncovers a novel axon regeneration function of Fmn2 and a small-molecule strategy for PNI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tan Wu
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xinyu Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Wing Yip Tam
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwan Ngok Yu
- Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Him Eddie Ma
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Salim S, Hussain S, Banu A, Gowda SBM, Ahammad F, Alwa A, Pasha M, Mohammad F. The ortholog of human ssDNA-binding protein SSBP3 influences neurodevelopment and autism-like behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002210. [PMID: 37486945 PMCID: PMC10399856 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
1p32.3 microdeletion/duplication is implicated in many neurodevelopmental disorders-like phenotypes such as developmental delay, intellectual disability, autism, macro/microcephaly, and dysmorphic features. The 1p32.3 chromosomal region harbors several genes critical for development; however, their validation and characterization remain inadequate. One such gene is the single-stranded DNA-binding protein 3 (SSBP3) and its Drosophila melanogaster ortholog is called sequence-specific single-stranded DNA-binding protein (Ssdp). Here, we investigated consequences of Ssdp manipulations on neurodevelopment, gene expression, physiological function, and autism-associated behaviors using Drosophila models. We found that SSBP3 and Ssdp are expressed in excitatory neurons in the brain. Ssdp overexpression caused morphological alterations in Drosophila wing, mechanosensory bristles, and head. Ssdp manipulations also affected the neuropil brain volume and glial cell number in larvae and adult flies. Moreover, Ssdp overexpression led to differential changes in synaptic density in specific brain regions. We observed decreased levels of armadillo in the heads of Ssdp overexpressing flies, as well as a decrease in armadillo and wingless expression in the larval wing discs, implicating the involvement of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway in Ssdp functionality. RNA sequencing revealed perturbation of oxidative stress-related pathways in heads of Ssdp overexpressing flies. Furthermore, Ssdp overexpressing brains showed enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS), altered neuronal mitochondrial morphology, and up-regulated fission and fusion genes. Flies with elevated levels of Ssdp exhibited heightened anxiety-like behavior, altered decisiveness, defective sensory perception and habituation, abnormal social interaction, and feeding defects, which were phenocopied in the pan-neuronal Ssdp knockdown flies, suggesting that Ssdp is dosage sensitive. Partial rescue of behavioral defects was observed upon normalization of Ssdp levels. Notably, Ssdp knockdown exclusively in adult flies did not produce behavioral and functional defects. Finally, we show that optogenetic manipulation of Ssdp-expressing neurons altered autism-associated behaviors. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that Ssdp, a dosage-sensitive gene in the 1p32.3 chromosomal region, is associated with various anatomical, physiological, and behavioral defects, which may be relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism. Our study proposes SSBP3 as a critical gene in the 1p32.3 microdeletion/duplication genomic region and sheds light on the functional role of Ssdp in neurodevelopmental processes in Drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safa Salim
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), College of Health & Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Sadam Hussain
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), College of Health & Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Ayesha Banu
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), College of Health & Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Swetha B. M. Gowda
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), College of Health & Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Foysal Ahammad
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), College of Health & Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Amira Alwa
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), College of Health & Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Mujaheed Pasha
- HBKU Core Labs, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU): Doha, Qatar
| | - Farhan Mohammad
- Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), College of Health & Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
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