1
|
McMullan HM, Gansemer BM, Thayer SA. Antiretroviral drugs from multiple classes induce loss of excitatory synapses between hippocampal neurons in culture. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1369757. [PMID: 38533258 PMCID: PMC10963620 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1369757] [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: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs have improved prognoses for people living with HIV. However, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) persist despite undetectable viral loads. Some ARVs have been linked to neuropsychiatric effects that may contribute to HAND. Synapse loss correlates with cognitive decline in HAND and synaptic deficits may contribute to the neuropsychiatric effects of ARV drugs. Methods: Using an automated high content assay, rat hippocampal neurons in culture expressing PSD95-eGFP to label glutamatergic synapses and mCherry to fill neuronal structures were imaged before and after treatment with 25 clinically used ARVs. Results and Discussion: At a concentration of 10 μM the protease inhibitors nelfinavir and saquinavir, the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors etravirine and the 8-OH metabolite of efavirenz, the integrase inhibitor bictegravir, and the capsid inhibitor lenacapavir produced synaptic toxicity. Only lenacapavir produced synapse loss at the nanomolar concentrations estimated free in the plasma, although all 4 ARV drugs induced synapse loss at Cmax. Evaluation of combination therapies did not reveal synergistic synaptic toxicity. Synapse loss developed fully by 24 h and persisted for at least 3 days. Bictegravir-induced synapse loss required activation of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and bictegravir, etravirine, and lenacapavir produced synapse loss by an excitotoxic mechanism. These results indicate that select ARV drugs might contribute to neuropsychiatric effects in combination with drugs that bind serum proteins or in disease states in which synaptic function is altered. The high content imaging assay used here provides an efficient means to evaluate new drugs and drug combinations for potential CNS toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stanley A. Thayer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ji XF, Zhou Q, Wang JW, Sun F, Gao S, Wang K. Associations of Wnt5a expression with liver injury in chronic hepatitis B virus infection. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:860. [PMID: 38062395 PMCID: PMC10704684 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08865-x] [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: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant Wnt5a expression contributes to immunity, inflammation and tissue damage. However, it remains unknown whether Wnt5a is associated with liver injury in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We aimed to explore the potential role of Wnt5a expression in liver injury caused by chronic HBV infection. METHODS Wnt5a mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed in 31 acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) patients, 82 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, and 20 healthy controls using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Intrahepatic Wnt5a protein expression from 32 chronic HBV infection patients and 6 normal controls was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS Wnt5a mRNA expression was increased in CHB patients and ACHBLF patients compared to healthy controls and correlated positively with liver injury markers. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between Wnt5a mRNA expression and HBV DNA load in all patients and CHB patients but not in ACHBLF patients. Furthermore, intrahepatic Wnt5a protein expression was elevated in chronic HBV infection patients compared to that in normal controls. Moreover, chronic HBV infection patients with higher hepatic inflammatory grades had increased intrahepatic Wnt5a protein expression compared with lower hepatic inflammatory grades. In addition, the cut-off value of 12.59 for Wnt5a mRNA level was a strong indicator in predicting ACHBLF in CHB patients. CONCLUSIONS We found that Wnt5a expression was associated with liver injury in chronic HBV infection patients. Wnt5a might be involved in exacerbation of chronic HBV infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Fen Ji
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Shandong University, Qingdao, 266035, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Shandong University, Qingdao, 266035, China
| | - Jing-Wei Wang
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Shandong University, Qingdao, 266035, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Shandong University, Qingdao, 266035, China
| | - Shuai Gao
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Hepatology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
- Hepatology Institute of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hu Y, Liu J, Zhuang R, Zhang C, Lin F, Wang J, Peng S, Zhang W. Progress in Pathological and Therapeutic Research of HIV-Related Neuropathic Pain. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:3343-3373. [PMID: 37470889 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01389-7] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
HIV-related neuropathic pain (HRNP) is a neurodegeneration that gradually develops during the long-term course of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and manifests as abnormal sock/sleeve-like symmetrical pain and nociceptive hyperalgesia in the extremities, which seriously reduces patient quality of life. To date, the pathogenesis of HRNP is not completely clear. There is a lack of effective clinical treatment for HRNP and it is becoming a challenge and hot spot for medical research. In this study, we conducted a systematic review of the progress of HRNP research in recent years including (1) the etiology, classification and clinical symptoms of HRNP, (2) the establishment of HRNP pathological models, (3) the pathological mechanisms underlying HRNP from three aspects: molecules, signaling pathways and cells, (4) the therapeutic strategies for HRNP, and (5) the limitations of recent HRNP research and the future research directions and prospects of HRNP. This detailed review provides new and systematic insight into the pathological mechanism of HRNP, which establishes a theoretical basis for the future exploitation of novel target drugs. HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy and opioid abuse contribute to the etiology of HRNP with symmetrical pain in both hands and feet, allodynia and hyperalgesia. The pathogenesis involves changes in cytokine expression, activation of signaling pathways and neuronal cell states. The therapy for HRNP should be patient-centered, integrating pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments into multimodal intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- YanLing Hu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - JinHong Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Renjie Zhuang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO, 80210, USA
| | - Fei Lin
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Rongjun Hospital, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sha Peng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenping Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Liu X, Tang SJ. Pathogenic mechanisms of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated pain. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3613-3624. [PMID: 37857809 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02294-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a prevalent neurological complication among individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) in the post-combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) era. These individuals experience malfunction in various cellular and molecular pathways involved in pain transmission and modulation, including the neuropathology of the peripheral sensory neurons and neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in the spinal dorsal horn. However, the underlying etiologies and mechanisms leading to pain pathogenesis are complex and not fully understood. In this review, we aim to summarize recent progress in this field. Specifically, we will begin by examining neuropathology in the pain pathways identified in PLHIV and discussing potential causes, including those directly related to HIV-1 infection and comorbidities, such as antiretroviral drug use. We will also explore findings from animal models that may provide insights into the molecular and cellular processes contributing to neuropathology and chronic pain associated with HIV infection. Emerging evidence suggests that viral proteins and/or antiretroviral drugs trigger a complex pathological cascade involving neurons, glia, and potentially non-neural cells, and that interactions between these cells play a critical role in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Stony Brook University Pain and Analgesia Research Center (SPARC), Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, 11794, NY, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, 11794, NY, USA
| | - Shao-Jun Tang
- Stony Brook University Pain and Analgesia Research Center (SPARC), Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, 11794, NY, USA.
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, 11794, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chou CH, Chiou JS, Ho MW, Tien N, Li TM, Chiu ML, Tsai FJ, Wu YC, Chou IC, Lu HF, Lin TH, Liao CC, Huang SM, Liang WM, Lin YJ. Association of combination antiretroviral therapy with risk of neurological diseases in patients with HIV/AIDS in Taiwan: a nested case-control study. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1110605. [PMID: 37361207 PMCID: PMC10285306 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1110605] [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: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneous neurocognitive impairment remains an important issue, even in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), with an incidence ranging from 15% to 65%. Although ART drugs with higher penetration scores to the central nervous system (CNS) show better HIV replication control in the CNS, the association between CNS penetration effectiveness (CPE) scores and neurocognitive impairment remains inconclusive. To explore whether ART exposure is associated with the risk of neurological diseases among patients with HIV/AIDS, this study in Taiwan involved 2,571 patients with neurological diseases and 10,284 matched, randomly selected patients without neurological diseases between 2010 and 2017. A conditional logistic regression model was used in this study. The parameters for ART exposure included ART usage, timing of exposure, cumulative defined daily dose (DDD), adherence, and cumulative CPE score. Incident cases of neurological diseases, including CNS infections, cognitive disorders, vasculopathy, and peripheral neuropathy, were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Odds ratios (ORs) for the risk of neurological diseases were conducted using a multivariate conditional logistic regression model. Patients with a history of past exposure (OR: 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.22-2.32), low cumulative DDDs (< 2,500) (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.15-1.42), low adherence (0 < adherence (ADH) ≤ 0.8) (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.30-1.64), or high cumulative CPE scores (>14) (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.14-1.57) had a high risk of neurological diseases. When stratified by classes of ART drugs, patients with low cumulative DDDs or low adherence had a high risk of neurological diseases, including NRTIs, PIs, NNRTIs, INSTIs, and multi-drug tablets. Subgroup analyses also suggested that patients with low cumulative DDDs or low adherence had a high risk of neurological diseases when they had high cumulative CPE scores. Patients with high cumulative DDDs or medication adherence were protected against neurological diseases only when they had low cumulative CPE scores (≤ 14). Patients may be at risk for neurological diseases when they have low cumulative DDDs, low adherence, or usage with high cumulative CPE scores. Continuous usage and low cumulative CPE scores of ART drugs may benefit neurocognitive health in patients with HIV/AIDS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Hsing Chou
- PhD Program for Health Science and Industry, College of Health Care, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jian-Shiun Chiou
- PhD Program for Health Science and Industry, College of Health Care, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Mao-Wang Ho
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ni Tien
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Te-Mao Li
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Mu-Lin Chiu
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Fuu-Jen Tsai
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Genetic Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, China Medical University Children’s Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yang-Chang Wu
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - I-Ching Chou
- Department of Pediatrics, China Medical University Children’s Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hsing-Fang Lu
- Genetic Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Hsu Lin
- Genetic Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chiu-Chu Liao
- Genetic Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Mei Huang
- Genetic Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Miin Liang
- Department of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Ju Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Genetic Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Huang C, Hoque T, Bendayan R. Antiretroviral drugs efavirenz, dolutegravir and bictegravir dysregulate blood-brain barrier integrity and function. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1118580. [PMID: 36969875 PMCID: PMC10030948 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1118580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The implementation of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) significantly reduces the mortality associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, complications such as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remain a major health concern. We hypothesized that the toxicity of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) may contribute to the pathogenesis of HAND in addition to cerebral viral infection. To address this question, we evaluated the impact of HIV integrase strand transfer inhibitors (dolutegravir and bictegravir), and a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (efavirenz) on the integrity and permeability of various human and mouse blood-brain barrier (BBB) models, in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo. We observed a significant downregulation of tight junction proteins (TJP1/Tjp1, OCLN/Ocln and CLDN5/Cldn5), upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines (IL6/Il6, IL8/Il8, IL1β/Il1β) and NOS2/Nos2, and alteration of membrane-associated transporters (ABCB1/Abcb1a, ABCG2/Abcg2 and SLC2A1/Slc2a1) mRNA expression, in vitro, in human (hCMEC/D3) and primary cultures of mouse microvascular endothelial cells, and ex vivo in isolated mouse brain capillaries treated with efavirenz, dolutegravir, and/or bictegravir. We also observed a significant increase in BBB permeability in vivo following treatment with the selected ARVs in mice applying NaF permeability assay. Taken together, these results suggest that clinically recommended integrase strand transfer inhibitors such as dolutegravir may exacerbate HIV-associated cerebrovascular pathology, which may contribute to the associated short-term neuropsychiatric side effects and the high incidence of mild forms of HAND reported in the clinical setting.
Collapse
|
7
|
Rudd H, Toborek M. Pitfalls of Antiretroviral Therapy: Current Status and Long-Term CNS Toxicity. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12070894. [PMID: 35883450 PMCID: PMC9312798 DOI: 10.3390/biom12070894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV can traverse the BBB using a Trojan horse-like mechanism. Hidden within infected immune cells, HIV can infiltrate the highly safeguarded CNS and propagate disease. Once integrated within the host genome, HIV becomes a stable provirus, which can remain dormant, evade detection by the immune system or antiretroviral therapy (ART), and result in rebound viraemia. As ART targets actively replicating HIV, has low BBB penetrance, and exposes patients to long-term toxicity, further investigation into novel therapeutic approaches is required. Viral proteins can be produced by latent HIV, which may play a synergistic role alongside ART in promoting neuroinflammatory pathophysiology. It is believed that the ability to specifically target these proviral reservoirs would be a vital driving force towards a cure for HIV infection. A novel drug design platform, using the in-tandem administration of several therapeutic approaches, can be used to precisely target the various components of HIV infection, ultimately leading to the eradication of active and latent HIV and a functional cure for HIV. The aim of this review is to explore the pitfalls of ART and potential novel therapeutic alternatives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harrison Rudd
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Michal Toborek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
- Institute of Physiotherapy and Health Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, 40-065 Katowice, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(305)-243-0230
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Vafaei S, Wu X, Tu J, Nematollahi-mahani SN. The Effects of Crocin on Bone and Cartilage Diseases. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:830331. [PMID: 35126154 PMCID: PMC8807478 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.830331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Crocin, the main biologically active carotenoid of saffron, generally is derived from the dried trifid stigma of Crocus sativus L. Many studies have demonstrated that crocin has several therapeutic effects on biological systems through its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The wide range of crocin activities is believed to be because of its ability to anchor to many proteins, triggering some cellular pathways responsible for cell proliferation and differentiation. It also has therapeutic potentials in arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and articular pain probably due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Anti-apoptotic effects, as well as osteoclast inhibition effects of crocin, have suggested it as a natural substance to treat osteoporosis and degenerative disease of bone and cartilage. Different mechanisms underlying crocin effects on bone and cartilage repair have been investigated, but remain to be fully elucidated. The present review aims to undertake current knowledge on the effects of crocin on bone and cartilage degenerative diseases with an emphasis on its proliferative and differentiative properties in mesenchymal stem cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shayan Vafaei
- Department of Anatomical Science, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Xuming Wu
- Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China
| | - Jiajie Tu
- Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Jiajie Tu, ; Seyed Noureddin Nematollahi-mahani,
| | - Seyed Noureddin Nematollahi-mahani
- Department of Anatomical Science, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- *Correspondence: Jiajie Tu, ; Seyed Noureddin Nematollahi-mahani,
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ngarka L, Siewe Fodjo JN, Aly E, Masocha W, Njamnshi AK. The Interplay Between Neuroinfections, the Immune System and Neurological Disorders: A Focus on Africa. Front Immunol 2022; 12:803475. [PMID: 35095888 PMCID: PMC8792387 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.803475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurological disorders related to neuroinfections are highly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), constituting a major cause of disability and economic burden for patients and society. These include epilepsy, dementia, motor neuron diseases, headache disorders, sleep disorders, and peripheral neuropathy. The highest prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is in SSA. Consequently, there is a high prevalence of neurological disorders associated with HIV infection such as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders, motor disorders, chronic headaches, and peripheral neuropathy in the region. The pathogenesis of these neurological disorders involves the direct role of the virus, some antiretroviral treatments, and the dysregulated immune system. Furthermore, the high prevalence of epilepsy in SSA (mainly due to perinatal causes) is exacerbated by infections such as toxoplasmosis, neurocysticercosis, onchocerciasis, malaria, bacterial meningitis, tuberculosis, and the immune reactions they elicit. Sleep disorders are another common problem in the region and have been associated with infectious diseases such as human African trypanosomiasis and HIV and involve the activation of the immune system. While most headache disorders are due to benign primary headaches, some secondary headaches are caused by infections (meningitis, encephalitis, brain abscess). HIV and neurosyphilis, both common in SSA, can trigger long-standing immune activation in the central nervous system (CNS) potentially resulting in dementia. Despite the progress achieved in preventing diseases from the poliovirus and retroviruses, these microbes may cause motor neuron diseases in SSA. The immune mechanisms involved in these neurological disorders include increased cytokine levels, immune cells infiltration into the CNS, and autoantibodies. This review focuses on the major neurological disorders relevant to Africa and neuroinfections highly prevalent in SSA, describes the interplay between neuroinfections, immune system, neuroinflammation, and neurological disorders, and how understanding this can be exploited for the development of novel diagnostics and therapeutics for improved patient care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Ngarka
- Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Neuroscience Lab, Faculty of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo
- Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Esraa Aly
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Willias Masocha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Alfred K. Njamnshi
- Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Neuroscience Lab, Faculty of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Department of Neurology, Yaoundé Central Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Sonti S, Sharma AL, Tyagi M. HIV-1 persistence in the CNS: Mechanisms of latency, pathogenesis and an update on eradication strategies. Virus Res 2021; 303:198523. [PMID: 34314771 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Despite four decades of research into the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), a successful strategy to eradicate the virus post-infection is lacking. The major reason for this is the persistence of the virus in certain anatomical reservoirs where it can become latent and remain quiescent for as long as the cellular reservoir is alive. The Central Nervous System (CNS), in particular, is an intriguing anatomical compartment that is tightly regulated by the blood-brain barrier. Targeting the CNS viral reservoir is a major challenge owing to the decreased permeability of drugs into the CNS and the cellular microenvironment that facilitates the compartmentalization and evolution of the virus. Therefore, despite effective antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, virus persists in the CNS, and leads to neurological and neurocognitive deficits. To date, viral eradication strategies fail to eliminate the virus from the CNS. To facilitate the improvement of the existing elimination strategies, as well as the development of potential therapeutic targets, the aim of this review is to provide an in-depth understanding of HIV latency in CNS and the onset of HIV-1 associated neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Sonti
- Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | | | - Mudit Tyagi
- Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
González P, González-Fernández C, Javier Rodríguez F. Effects of Wnt5a overexpression in spinal cord injury. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:5150-5163. [PMID: 33939286 PMCID: PMC8178287 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Accordingly to its known function in corticospinal tract (CST) developmental growth, previous reports have shown an inhibitory role of Wnt5a in CST regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI). Interestingly, it has been subsequently demonstrated that Wnt5a also modulates the developmental growth of non‐CST axons and that different Wnt5a receptors are expressed in neurons, oligodendrocytes, NG2+ glial precursors and reactive microglia/macrophages and astrocytes after SCI. However, the role of Wnt5a in the response of these cell types, in the regeneration of non‐CST axons and in functional recovery after SCI is currently unknown. To evaluate this, rats were subjected to spinal cord contusion and injected with a lentiviral vector generated to overexpress Wnt5a. Histological analyses were performed in spinal cord sections processed for the visualization of myelin, oligodendrocytes, neurons, microglia/macrophages, astrocytes, NG2+ glial precursors and serotonergic axons. Motor and bladder function recovery were also assessed. Further advancing our knowledge on the role of Wnt5a in SCI, we found that, besides its previously reported functions, Wnt5a overexpression elicits a reduction on neuronal cell density, the accumulation of NG2+ glial precursors and the descending serotonergic innervation in the affected areas, along with impairment of motor and bladder function recovery after SCI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pau González
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Toledo, Spain
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lu HJ, Fu YY, Wei QQ, Zhang ZJ. Neuroinflammation in HIV-Related Neuropathic Pain. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:653852. [PMID: 33959022 PMCID: PMC8093869 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.653852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection around the world, chronic complications are becoming a new problem along with the prolonged life expectancy. Chronic pain is widespread in HIV infected patients and even affects those with a low viral load undergoing long-term treatment with antiviral drugs, negatively influencing the adherence to disease management and quality of life. A large proportion of chronic pain is neuropathic pain, which defined as chronic pain caused by nervous system lesions or diseases, presenting a series of nervous system symptoms including both positive and negative signs. Injury caused by HIV protein, central and peripheral sensitization, and side effects of antiretroviral therapy lead to neuroinflammation, which is regarded as a maladaptive mechanism originally serving to promote regeneration and healing, constituting the main mechanism of HIV-related neuropathic pain. Gp120, as HIV envelope protein, has been found to be the major toxin that induces neuropathic pain. Particularly, the microglia, releasing numerous pro-inflammatory substances (such as TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6), not only sensitize the neurons but also are the center part of the crosstalk bridging the astrocytes and oligodendrocytes together forming the central sensitization during HIV infection, which is not discussed detailly in recent reviews. In the meantime, some NRTIs and PIs exacerbate the neuroinflammation response. In this review, we highlight the importance of clarifying the mechanism of HIV-related neuropathic pain, and discuss about the limitation of the related studies as future research directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Jun Lu
- Institute of Pain Medicine and Special Environmental Medicine, Nantong University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Fu
- Institute of Pain Medicine and Special Environmental Medicine, Nantong University, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Qian-Qi Wei
- Department of Infectious Diseases, General Hospital of Tibet Military Command, Xizang, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Zhang
- Institute of Pain Medicine and Special Environmental Medicine, Nantong University, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wilkerson JL, Felix JS, Bilbrey JA, McCurdy CR, McMahon LR. Characterization of a mouse neuropathic pain model caused by the highly active antiviral therapy (HAART) Stavudine. Pharmacol Rep 2021; 73:1457-1464. [PMID: 33860918 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-021-00262-y] [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: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although highly active antiviral therapies (HAART) exert control over viral replication in persons with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), neuropathic pain is a side effect. Symptoms include hyperalgesia and allodynia. Stavudine, also known as D4T, is a HAART used to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This study examined the extent to which D4T produces neuropathic pain and examined pharmacological management with a standard opioid analgesic. METHODS Male and female C57BL/6 J mice were injected intraperitoneally with one dose of vehicle or D4T (10-56 mg/kg). Mice were tested through day 92 post injection for mechanical allodynia, assessed with von Frey filaments, and thermal hyperalgesia, assessed via the hotplate test. Separate cohorts received vehicle or 56 mg/kg D4T, the presence of allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia confirmed, and mice received intraperitoneal vehicle, morphine, or 0.032 mg/kg naltrexone + morphine. RESULTS D4T produced dose- and time-dependent mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. The smallest effective D4T dose was 17.8 mg/kg. This dose produced mechanical allodynia but not thermal hyperalgesia. Larger D4T doses (32 and 56 mg/kg) produced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia lasting 92 days. Morphine dose-dependently alleviated both mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in D4T-treated mice with ED50 values of 4.4 and 1.2 mg/kg, respectively. Naltrexone produced a rightward shift of the morphine dose-response function, i.e., increased the ED50 value of morphine by at least 3.8-fold. CONCLUSION Stavudine produced neuropathic pain as a function of dose and time in mice. Opioid analgesics appear to be effective in alleviating neuropathic pain in a D4T-induced mouse model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L Wilkerson
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100487, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Jasmine S Felix
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100487, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Joshua A Bilbrey
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100487, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Christopher R McCurdy
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lance R McMahon
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100487, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Bush KM, Barber KR, Martinez JA, Tang SJ, Wairkar YP. Drosophila model of anti-retroviral therapy induced peripheral neuropathy and nociceptive hypersensitivity. Biol Open 2021; 10:bio.054635. [PMID: 33504470 PMCID: PMC7860131 DOI: 10.1242/bio.054635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The success of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved the survival of HIV-infected patients significantly. However, significant numbers of patients on ART whose HIV disease is well controlled show peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN), suggesting that ART may cause PSN. Although the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), one of the vital components of ART, are thought to contribute to PSN, the mechanisms underlying the PSN induced by NRTIs are unclear. In this study, we developed a Drosophila model of NRTI-induced PSN that recapitulates the salient features observed in patients undergoing ART: PSN and nociceptive hypersensitivity. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that pathways known to suppress PSN induced by chemotherapeutic drugs are ineffective in suppressing the PSN or nociception induced by NRTIs. Instead, we found that increased dynamics of a peripheral sensory neuron may possibly underlie NRTI-induced PSN and nociception. Our model provides a solid platform in which to investigate further mechanisms of ART-induced PSN and nociceptive hypersensitivity. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) that are important components of anti-retroviral therapies also cause peripheral sensory neuropathies (PSN). This article investigates ways in which NRTIs may cause PSN and outlines ways to better understand the mechanisms underlying it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keegan M Bush
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.,Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Kara R Barber
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.,Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Jade A Martinez
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Shao-Jun Tang
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA .,Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Yogesh P Wairkar
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA .,Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Huang J, Bloe CB, Zhou X, Wu S, Zhang W. The Role of the Spinal Wnt Signaling Pathway in HIV-Related Neuropathic Pain. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2020; 40:1075-1085. [PMID: 32100186 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-00805-6] [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: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related neuropathic pain includes HIV-induced neuropathic pain (HNP) and antiretroviral therapy-induced neuropathic pain (ART-NP). A significant amount of evidence from the past few years has shown that the development of HIV-related neuropathic pain is closely related to the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway in the spinal cord. This review summarizes the function of the spinal Wnt signaling pathway in HIV-induced neuropathic pain, focusing on the role of the spinal Wnt signaling pathway in HNP, and provides a theoretical basis for further studies and the exploration of new target drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jian Huang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Chris Bloe Bloe
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Xinxin Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Shengjun Wu
- Clinical Laboratory of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
| | - Wenping Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silkworm Bioreactor and Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Crocin Alleviates Pain Hyperalgesia in AIA Rats by Inhibiting the Spinal Wnt5a/ β-Catenin Signaling Pathway and Glial Activation. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:4297483. [PMID: 32399022 PMCID: PMC7201501 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4297483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
At present, most of the drugs have little effect on the pathological process of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Analgesia is an important measure in the treatment of RA and is also one of the criteria to determine the therapeutic effects of the disease. Some studies have found that crocin, a kind of Chinese medicine, can effectively alleviate pain sensitization in pain model rats, but the mechanism is not clear. Emerging evidence indicates that crocin may inhibit the metastasis of lung and liver cancer cells from the breast by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin and the Wnt signaling pathway is closely related to RA. Wnt5a belongs to the Wnt protein family and was previously thought to be involved only in nonclassical Wnt signaling pathways. Recent studies have shown that Wnt5a has both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the classical Wnt signaling pathway, and so, Wnt5a has attracted increasing attention. This study demonstrated that crocin significantly increased the mechanical thresholds of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats, suggesting that crocin can alleviate neuropathic pain. Crocin significantly decreased the levels of pain-related factors and glial activation. Foxy5, activator of Wnt5a, inhibited the above effects of crocin in AIA rats. In addition, intrathecal injection of a Wnt5a inhibitor significantly decreased hyperalgesia in AIA rats. This research shows that crocin may alleviate neuropathic pain in AIA rats by inhibiting the expression of pain-related molecules through the Wnt5a/β-catenin pathway, elucidating the mechanism by which crocin relieves neuropathic pain and provides a new way of thinking for the treatment of AIA pain.
Collapse
|
17
|
Zhang Q, Liu J, Ma L, Bai N, Xu H. Wnt5a is involved in LOX-1 and TLR4 induced host inflammatory response in peri-implantitis. J Periodontal Res 2019; 55:199-208. [PMID: 31593304 DOI: 10.1111/jre.12702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Peri-implantitis is a plaque-associated pathological condition occurring in tissues around dental implants, characterized by inflammation in the peri-implant mucosa and subsequent progressive loss of supporting bone. Wnt5a is the activating ligand of the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways and plays important roles in leukocyte infiltration and cytokine/ chemokine production in inflammatory disorders. Previous studies showed that Wnt5a was significantly up-regulated in gingival tissues of chronic and aggressive periodontitis. However, the roles and the regulatory mechanisms of Wnt5a in peri-implantitis are not well known. METHODS The expression of Wnt5a in gingival tissues collected from 8 healthy implant patients and 8 peri-implantitis patients was analyzed by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Porphyromonas gingivalis infected macrophages isolated from the peripheral blood of healthy volunteers were used as an in vitro cellular model of peri-implantitis. Using neutralizing antibodies, inhibitors and siRNA, the production and roles of Wnt5a in peri-implantitis were assessed by immunofluorescence, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. Unpaired two-tailed Student's t test was used to compare qRT-PCR and Western blotting results. P ≤ .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Wnt5a was highly expressed in the gingival tissues of peri-implantitis patients. Compared to controls, Wnt5a increased in P gingivalis infected macrophages. Wnt5a production in response to P gingivalis infection was dependent on LOX-1 and TLR4. Compared to controls, Wnt5a knockdown impaired IL-1β, MCP-1, and MMP2 production induced by P gingivalis infection. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that Wnt5a is involved in LOX-1 and TLR4 induced inflammatory signature via inflammatory cytokines production in response to P gingivalis infection. These findings demonstrate that Wnt5a maybe an important component of the host immune response in peri-implantitis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Department of Prosthodontics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Prosthodontics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lei Ma
- Department of Prosthodontics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Na Bai
- Department of Prosthodontics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Huirong Xu
- Department of Pathology, ZiBo Central Hospital, ZiBo, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Cheng H, Wu LY. Influence of Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase/Protein Kinase B-Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Pathway on the Neuropathic Pain Complicated by Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors for the Treatment of HIV Infection. Chin Med J (Engl) 2018; 131:1849-1856. [PMID: 30058583 PMCID: PMC6071467 DOI: 10.4103/0366-6999.237398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are the earliest and most commonly used anti-human immunodeficiency virus drugs and play an important role in high active antiretroviral therapy. However, NRTI drug therapy can cause peripheral neuropathic pain. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms of rapamycin on the pain sensitization of model mice by in vivo experiments to explore the effect of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain caused by NRTIs. Methods: Male Kun Ming (KM) mice weighing 20–22 g were divided into control, 2 mg/kg rapamycin, 12 mg/kg stavudine, and CMC-Na groups. Drugs were orally administered to mice for 42 consecutive days. The von Frey filament detection and thermal pain tests were conducted on day 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 after drug administration. After the last behavioral tests, immunohistochemistry and western blotting assay were used for the measurement of mTOR and other biomarkers. Multivariate analysis of variance was used. Results: The beneficial effects of rapamycin on neuropathic pain were attributed to a reduction in mammalian target of rapamycin sensitive complex 1 (mTORC1)-positive cells (70.80 ± 2.41 vs. 112.30 ± 5.66, F = 34.36, P < 0.01) and mTORC1 activity in the mouse spinal cord. Mechanistic studies revealed that Protein Kinase B (Akt)/mTORsignaling pathway blockade with rapamycin prevented the phosphorylation of mTORC1 in stavudine-intoxicated mice (0.72 ± 0.04 vs. 0.86 ± 0.03, F = 4.24, P = 0.045), as well as decreased the expression of phospho-p70S6K (0.47 ± 0.01 vs. 0.68 ± 0.03, F = 6.01, P = 0.022) and phospho-4EBP1 (0.90 ± 0.04 vs. 0.94 ± 0.06, F = 0.28, P = 0.646). Conclusions: Taken together, these results suggest that stavudine elevates the expression and activity of mTORC1 in the spinal cord through activating the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. The data also provide evidence that rapamycin might be useful for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Cheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Liang-Yu Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Wnt5a contributes to dectin-1 and LOX-1 induced host inflammatory response signature in Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis. Cell Signal 2018; 52:103-111. [PMID: 30172652 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2018.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Fungal keratitis causes devastating corneal ulcers which can result in significant visual impairment and even blindness. As a ligand that activates the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways, Wnt5a triggers the production of important inflammatory chemokines and the chemotactic migration of neutrophils. In this study we aimed to characterize the role of Wnt5a production, in situ, in vivo and in vitro in response to fungal keratitis. Wnt5a expression in corneas of Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) keratitis patients was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunofluorescence. In vivo and in vitro experiments were then performed in mouse models and THP-1 macrophages cell cultures infected with A. fumigatus, respectively. C57BL/6 mice were pretreated with siRNAs or neutralizing antibodies for dectin-1, LOX-1 and Wnt5a, or inhibitors of erk1/2 and JNK. Changes in Wnt5a expression were assessed by clinical evaluation, qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, western blot and bioluminescence imaging system image acquisition. We confirmed that corneal Wnt5a expression increased with A. fumigatus keratitis in patients and a murine model. Wnt5a production was dependent on dectin-1 and LOX-1 expression with contributions by Erk1/2 and JNK pathways. Additionally, Wnt5a knockdown revealed decreased levels of MPO, lower neutrophil recruitment, and a higher fungal load in mouse models. Compared with controls, Wnt5a knockdown impaired pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β production in response to A. fumigatus exposure. Wnt5a also produces dectin-1 and LOX-1 induced inflammatory signature via effective neutrophil recruitment and inflammatory cytokine production in response to A. fumigatus keratitis. These findings demonstrate that Wnt5a is a critical component of the antifungal immune response.
Collapse
|
20
|
Quercetin attenuates AZT-induced neuroinflammation in the CNS. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6194. [PMID: 29670213 PMCID: PMC5906611 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24618-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) is very effective in suppressing HIV-1 replication in patients. However, continuous HAART is required to prevent viral rebound, which may have detrimental effects in various tissues, including persistent neuroinflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we show that quercetin (3,5,7,3’,4’-pentahydroxy flavones), a natural antioxidant used in Chinese traditional medicines, suppresses the neuroinflammation that is induced by chronic exposure to Zidovudine (azidothymidine, AZT), a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) that is commonly part of HAART regimens. We found that the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglial and astrocytic markers induced by AZT (100 mg/kg/day; 8 days) was significantly inhibited by co-administration of quercetin (50 mg/kg/day) in the mouse cortex, hippocampus and spinal cord. We further showed that quercetin attenuated AZT-induced up-regulation of Wnt5a, a key regulator of neuroinflammation. These results suggest that quercetin has an inhibitory effect on AZT-induced neuroinflammation in the CNS, and Wnt5a signaling may play an important role in this process. Our results may further our understanding of the mechanisms of HAART-related neurotoxicity and help in the development of effective adjuvant therapy.
Collapse
|
21
|
Yuan S, Shi Y, Guo K, Tang SJ. Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) Induce Pathological Pain through Wnt5a-Mediated Neuroinflammation in Aging Mice. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2018; 13:230-236. [PMID: 29429030 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-018-9777-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has significantly contributed to the increase of HIV-infected survivors over 50 years of age. Unfortunately, patients are required to stay on long-term HAART, which may be causally related to the development of neurological problems such as chronic pain. Little is known about the contribution of HAART or its therapeutic agents to the pathogenesis of pain during aging. In this study, we determined the effect of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) on the development of mechanical allodynia and the potential underlying mechanism in aging mice (15.5 months). We found that systemic administration of individual NRTIs, including ddC (2'-3'-dideoxycytidine), ddI (didanosine), AZT (3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine) and d4T (2', 3'-didehydro-2', 3'-dideoxythymidine), induced allodynia in similar magnitudes and temporal profiles. We used ddC as a representative to investigate cellular and molecular processes induced by NRTIs in the spinal cord that probably underlie the development of allodynia. The results showed that ddC caused evident neuroinflammation in the spinal cord, suggested by the up-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β and the reactions of microglia and astrocytes. In addition, we found that Wnt5a, a critical regulator of neuroinflammation, was also up-regulated. Pharmacological inhibition of Wnt5a blocked ddC-induced up-regulation of TNF-α and astrocyte reaction, while activation of Wnt5a signaling potentiated these processes. Furthermore, our data showed that inhibition of Wnt5a significantly reversed ddC-induced mechanical allodynia in aging mice. The results collectively suggest that NRTIs may contribute to the development of chronic pain in aging patients by inducing Wnt5a-regulated neuroinflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Subo Yuan
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Yuqiang Shi
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Kaiwen Guo
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.,Department of Immunology, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430065, People's Republic of China
| | - Shao-Jun Tang
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
| |
Collapse
|