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Zhou L, Xu R. Invertebrate genetic models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1328578. [PMID: 38500677 PMCID: PMC10944931 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1328578] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a common adult-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive death of motor neurons in the cerebral cortex, brain stem, and spinal cord. The exact mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ALS remain unclear. The current consensus regarding the pathogenesis of ALS suggests that the interaction between genetic susceptibility and harmful environmental factors is a promising cause of ALS onset. The investigation of putative harmful environmental factors has been the subject of several ongoing studies, but the use of transgenic animal models to study ALS has provided valuable information on the onset of ALS. Here, we review the current common invertebrate genetic models used to study the pathology, pathophysiology, and pathogenesis of ALS. The considerations of the usage, advantages, disadvantages, costs, and availability of each invertebrate model will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- LiJun Zhou
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Center for Neurological Diseases, Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Jiangxi Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - RenShi Xu
- Department of Neurology, National Regional Center for Neurological Diseases, Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Jiangxi Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
- Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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Tyler SE, Tyler LD. Pathways to healing: Plants with therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2023; 14:210-234. [PMID: 36880056 PMCID: PMC9984566 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2023.01.006] [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: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Some of the greatest challenges in medicine are the neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), which remain without a cure and mostly progress to death. A companion study employed a toolkit methodology to document 2001 plant species with ethnomedicinal uses for alleviating pathologies relevant to NDs, focusing on its relevance to Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to find plants with therapeutic bioactivities for a range of NDs. 1339 of the 2001 plant species were found to have a bioactivity from the literature of therapeutic relevance to NDs such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, AD, motor neurone diseases, multiple sclerosis, prion diseases, Neimann-Pick disease, glaucoma, Friedreich's ataxia and Batten disease. 43 types of bioactivities were found, such as reducing protein misfolding, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and cell death, and promoting neurogenesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, autophagy, longevity, and anti-microbial activity. Ethno-led plant selection was more effective than random selection of plant species. Our findings indicate that ethnomedicinal plants provide a large resource of ND therapeutic potential. The extensive range of bioactivities validate the usefulness of the toolkit methodology in the mining of this data. We found that a number of the documented plants are able to modulate molecular mechanisms underlying various key ND pathologies, revealing a promising and even profound capacity to halt and reverse the processes of neurodegeneration.
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Key Words
- A-H, Alpers-Huttenlocher syndrome
- AD, Alzheimer’s disease
- ALS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- BBB, blood-brain barrier
- C. elegans,, Caenorhabditis elegans
- CJD, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- CMT, Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease
- CS, Cockayne syndrome
- Ech A, Echinochrome A
- FDA, Food and Drug Administration
- FRDA, Friedreich’s ataxia
- FTD, Frontotemporal dementia
- HD, Huntington’s disease
- Hsp, Heat shock protein
- LSD, Lysosomal storage diseases
- MS, Multiple sclerosis
- MSA, Multiple system atrophy
- MSP, Multisystem proteinopathy
- Medicinal plant
- ND, neurodegenerative disease
- NPC, Neimann-Pick disease type C
- NSC, neural stem cells
- Neuro-inflammation
- Neurodegeneration
- Neurogenesis
- PC, pharmacological chaperone
- PD, Parkinson’s disease
- Protein misfolding
- SMA, Spinal muscular atrophy
- VD, Vascular dementia
- prion dis, prion diseases
- α-syn, alpha-synuclein
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena E.B. Tyler
- John Ray Research Field Station, Cheshire, United Kingdom
- Corresponding author.
| | - Luke D.K. Tyler
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
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Mocci I, Casu MA, Sogos V, Liscia A, Angius R, Cadeddu F, Fanti M, Muroni P, Talani G, Diana A, Collu M, Setzu MD. Effects of memantine on mania-like phenotypes exhibited by Drosophila Shaker mutants. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023. [PMID: 36942502 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Increased glutamate levels and electrolytic fluctuations have been observed in acutely manic patients. Despite some efficacy of the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist memantine (Mem), such as antidepressant-like and mood-stabilizer drugs in clinical studies, its specific mechanisms of action are still uncertain. The present study aims to better characterize the Drosophila melanogaster fly Shaker mutants (SH), as a translational model of manic episodes within bipolar disorder in humans, and to investigate the potential anti-manic properties of Mem. METHODS AND RESULTS Our findings showed typical behavioral abnormalities in SH, which mirrored with the overexpression of NMDAR-NR1 protein subunit, matched well to glutamate up-regulation. Such molecular features were associated to a significant reduction of SH brain volume in comparison to Wild Type strain flies (WT). Here we report on the ability of Mem treatment to ameliorate behavioral aberrations of SH (similar to that of Lithium), and its ability to reduce NMDAR-NR1 over-expression. CONCLUSIONS Our results show the involvement of the glutamatergic system in the SH, given the interaction between the Shaker channel and the NMDA receptor, suggesting this model as a promising tool for studying the neurobiology of bipolar disorders. Moreover, our results show Mem as a potential disease-modifying therapy, providing insight on new mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazia Mocci
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maria Antonietta Casu
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Valeria Sogos
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Anna Liscia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Rossella Angius
- Unit of Biomedical Research Support, NMR Laboratory and Bioanalytical Technologies, Sardegna Ricerche, Science and Technology Park of Sardinia, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesca Cadeddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Maura Fanti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Patrizia Muroni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Talani
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Andrea Diana
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Maria Collu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Maria Dolores Setzu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
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Holvoet H, Long DM, Law A, McClure C, Choi J, Yang L, Marney L, Poeck B, Strauss R, Stevens JF, Maier CS, Soumyanath A, Kretzschmar D. Withania somnifera Extracts Promote Resilience against Age-Related and Stress-Induced Behavioral Phenotypes in Drosophila melanogaster; a Possible Role of Other Compounds besides Withanolides. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14193923. [PMID: 36235577 PMCID: PMC9573261 DOI: 10.3390/nu14193923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Withania somnifera (WS) extracts have been used in traditional medicine for millennia to promote healthy aging and wellbeing. WS is now also widely used in Western countries as a nutritional supplement to extend healthspan and increase resilience against age-related changes, including sleep deficits and depression. Although human trials have supported beneficial effects of WS, the study designs have varied widely. Plant material is intrinsically complex, and extracts vary widely with the origin of the plant material and the extraction method. Commercial supplements can contain various other ingredients, and the characteristics of the study population can also be varied. To perform maximally controlled experiments, we used plant extracts analyzed for their composition and stability. We then tested these extracts in an inbred Drosophila line to minimize effects of the genetic background in a controlled environment. We found that a water extract of WS (WSAq) was most potent in improving physical fitness, while an ethanol extract (WSE) improved sleep in aged flies. Both extracts provided resilience against stress-induced behavioral changes. WSE contained higher levels of withanolides, which have been proposed to be active ingredients, than WSAq. Therefore, withanolides may mediate the sleep improvement, whereas so-far-unknown ingredients enriched in WSAq likely mediate the effects on fitness and stress-related behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Holvoet
- Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Dani M. Long
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Alexander Law
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Christine McClure
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Jaewoo Choi
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Liping Yang
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Luke Marney
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Burkhard Poeck
- Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Roland Strauss
- Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Jan F. Stevens
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Claudia S. Maier
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Amala Soumyanath
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Doris Kretzschmar
- Botanicals Enhancing Neurological and Functional Resilience in Aging, Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
- Correspondence:
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Zahra W, Birla H, Singh SS, Rathore AS, Dilnashin H, Singh R, Keshri PK, Gautam P, Singh SP. Neuroprotection by Mucuna pruriens in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Neurochem Res 2022; 47:1816-1829. [PMID: 35380400 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03591-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The medicinal plant Mucuna pruriens (Fabaceae) is widely known for its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a well-established drug in Ayurveda and has been widely used for the treatment of neurological disorders and male infertility for ages. The seeds of the plant have potent medicinal value and its extract has been tested in different models of neurodegenerative diseases, especially Parkinson's disease (PD). Apart from PD, Mucuna pruriens is now being studied in models of other nervous systems disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and stroke because of its neuroprotective importance. This review briefly discusses the pathogenesis of PD, AD, ALS and stroke. It aims to summarize the medicinal importance of Mucuna pruriens in treatment of these diseases, and put forward the potential targets where Mucuna pruriens can act for therapeutic interventions. In this review, the effect of Mucuna pruriens on ameliorating the neurodegeneration evident in PD, AD, ALS and stroke is briefly discussed. The potential targets for neuroprotection by the plant are delineated, which can be studied further to validate the hypothesis regarding the use of Mucuna pruriens for the treatment of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walia Zahra
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Hareram Birla
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Saumitra Sen Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Aaina Singh Rathore
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Hagera Dilnashin
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Richa Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Priyanka Kumari Keshri
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Priyanka Gautam
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Surya Pratap Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
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Effects of docosanyl ferulate, a constituent of Withania somnifera, on ethanol- and morphine-elicited conditioned place preference and ERK phosphorylation in the accumbens shell of CD1 mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2022; 239:795-806. [PMID: 35088095 PMCID: PMC8891193 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06069-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Docosanyl ferulate (DF) is a behaviourally active GABAA receptor complex (GABAAR) agonist, recently isolated from the standardized methanolic extract of Withania somnifera Dunal (WSE) root. Previous studies have shown that WSE prevents both ethanol- and morphine-dependent acquisition and expression of conditioned place preference (CPP) and stimulation of dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh). AIMS The study aimed at determining (a) whether DF contributes to WSE's ability to affect the acquisition and expression of ethanol- and morphine-elicited CPP and, given that phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) in the AcbSh is involved in associative learning and motivated behaviours, (b) whether WSE and DF may affect ethanol- and morphine-induced ERKs phosphorylation in the AcbSh. METHODS In adult male CD1 mice, DF's effects on the acquisition and expression of ethanol- and morphine-elicited CPP were evaluated by a classical place conditioning paradigm, whereas the effects of WSE and DF on ethanol- and morphine-elicited pERK in the AcbSh were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The study shows that DF, differently from WSE, affects only the acquisition but not the expression of ethanol- and morphine-induced CPP. Moreover, the study shows that both WSE and DF can prevent ethanol- and morphine-elicited pERK expression in the AcbSh. Overall, these results highlight subtle but critical differences for the role of GABAARs in the mechanism by which WSE affects these ethanol- and morphine-dependent behavioural and molecular/cellular responses and support the suggestion of WSE and DF for the control of different components of drug addiction.
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Wang J, Zhang H, Kaul A, Li K, Priyandoko D, Kaul SC, Wadhwa R. Effect of Ashwagandha Withanolides on Muscle Cell Differentiation. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11101454. [PMID: 34680087 PMCID: PMC8533065 DOI: 10.3390/biom11101454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is used in Indian traditional medicine, Ayurveda, and is believed to have a variety of health-promoting effects. The molecular mechanisms and pathways underlying these effects have not yet been sufficiently explored. In this study, we investigated the effect of Ashwagandha extracts and their major withanolides (withaferin A and withanone) on muscle cell differentiation using C2C12 myoblasts. We found that withaferin A and withanone and Ashwagandha extracts possessing different ratios of these active ingredients have different effects on the differentiation of C2C12. Withanone and withanone-rich extracts caused stronger differentiation of myoblasts to myotubes, deaggregation of heat- and metal-stress-induced aggregated proteins, and activation of hypoxia and autophagy pathways. Of note, the Parkinson’s disease model of Drosophila that possess a neuromuscular disorder showed improvement in their flight and climbing activity, suggesting the potential of Ashwagandha withanolides for the management of muscle repair and activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wang
- AIST-INDIA DAILAB, DBT-AIST International Center for Translational & Environmental Research (DAICENTER), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 3058565, Japan; (J.W.); (H.Z.); (A.K.); (K.L.); (D.P.); (S.C.K.)
| | - Huayue Zhang
- AIST-INDIA DAILAB, DBT-AIST International Center for Translational & Environmental Research (DAICENTER), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 3058565, Japan; (J.W.); (H.Z.); (A.K.); (K.L.); (D.P.); (S.C.K.)
| | - Ashish Kaul
- AIST-INDIA DAILAB, DBT-AIST International Center for Translational & Environmental Research (DAICENTER), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 3058565, Japan; (J.W.); (H.Z.); (A.K.); (K.L.); (D.P.); (S.C.K.)
| | - Kejuan Li
- AIST-INDIA DAILAB, DBT-AIST International Center for Translational & Environmental Research (DAICENTER), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 3058565, Japan; (J.W.); (H.Z.); (A.K.); (K.L.); (D.P.); (S.C.K.)
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610066, China
| | - Didik Priyandoko
- AIST-INDIA DAILAB, DBT-AIST International Center for Translational & Environmental Research (DAICENTER), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 3058565, Japan; (J.W.); (H.Z.); (A.K.); (K.L.); (D.P.); (S.C.K.)
- Department of Biology, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bangdung 40154, Indonesia
| | - Sunil C. Kaul
- AIST-INDIA DAILAB, DBT-AIST International Center for Translational & Environmental Research (DAICENTER), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 3058565, Japan; (J.W.); (H.Z.); (A.K.); (K.L.); (D.P.); (S.C.K.)
| | - Renu Wadhwa
- AIST-INDIA DAILAB, DBT-AIST International Center for Translational & Environmental Research (DAICENTER), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 3058565, Japan; (J.W.); (H.Z.); (A.K.); (K.L.); (D.P.); (S.C.K.)
- Correspondence:
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Liguori F, Amadio S, Volonté C. Fly for ALS: Drosophila modeling on the route to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis modifiers. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:6143-6160. [PMID: 34322715 PMCID: PMC11072332 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03905-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare, devastating disease, causing movement impairment, respiratory failure and ultimate death. A plethora of genetic, cellular and molecular mechanisms are involved in ALS signature, although the initiating causes and progressive pathological events are far from being understood. Drosophila research has produced seminal discoveries for more than a century and has been successfully used in the past 25 years to untangle the process of ALS pathogenesis, and recognize potential markers and novel strategies for therapeutic solutions. This review will provide an updated view of several ALS modifiers validated in C9ORF72, SOD1, FUS, TDP-43 and Ataxin-2 Drosophila models. We will discuss basic and preclinical findings, illustrating recent developments and novel breakthroughs, also depicting unsettled challenges and limitations in the Drosophila-ALS field. We intend to stimulate a renewed debate on Drosophila as a screening route to identify more successful disease modifiers and neuroprotective agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Liguori
- Preclinical Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Susanna Amadio
- Preclinical Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Volonté
- Preclinical Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143, Rome, Italy.
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "A. Ruberti", National Research Council (IASI-CNR), Via dei Taurini 19, 00185, Rome, Italy.
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Buratti E. Targeting TDP-43 proteinopathy with drugs and drug-like small molecules. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 178:1298-1315. [PMID: 32469420 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Following the discovery of the involvement of the ribonucleoprotein TDP-43 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), a major research focus has been to develop treatments that can prevent or alleviate these disease conditions. One pharmacological approach has been to use TDP-43-based disease models to test small molecules and drugs already known to have some therapeutic effect in a variety of neurodegenerative conditions. In parallel, various disease models have been used to perform high-throughput screens of drugs and small compound libraries. The aim of this review will be to provide a general overview of the compounds that have been described to alter pathological characteristics of TDP-43. These include expression levels, cytoplasmic mis-localization, post-translational modifications, cleavage, stress granule recruitment and aggregation. In parallel, this review will also address the use of compounds that modify the autophagic/proteasome systems that are known to target TDP-43 misfolding and aggregation. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Neurochemistry in Japan. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.6/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
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Sidisky JM, Babcock DT. Visualizing Synaptic Degeneration in Adult Drosophila in Association with Neurodegeneration. J Vis Exp 2020. [PMID: 32478750 DOI: 10.3791/61363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila serves as a useful model for assessing synaptic structure and function associated with neurodegenerative diseases. While much work has focused on neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in Drosophila larvae, assessing synaptic integrity in adult Drosophila has received much less attention. Here we provide a straightforward method for dissection of the dorsal longitudinal muscles (DLMs), which are required for flight ability. In addition to flight as a behavioral readout, this dissection allows for the both DLM synapses and muscle tissue to be amenable to structural analysis using fluorescently labeled antibodies for synaptic markers or proteins of interest. This protocol allows for the evaluation of the structural integrity of synapses in adult Drosophila during aging to model the progressive, age-dependent nature of most neurodegenerative diseases.
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Evangelakou Z, Manola M, Gumeni S, Trougakos IP. Nutrigenomics as a tool to study the impact of diet on aging and age-related diseases: the Drosophila approach. GENES & NUTRITION 2019; 14:12. [PMID: 31073342 PMCID: PMC6498619 DOI: 10.1186/s12263-019-0638-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a complex phenomenon caused by the time-dependent loss of cellular homeodynamics and consequently of physiological organismal functions. This process is affected by both genetic and environmental (e.g., diet) factors, as well as by their constant interaction. Consistently, deregulation of nutrient sensing and signaling pathways is considered a hallmark of aging. Nutrigenomics is an emerging scientific discipline that studies changes induced by diet on the genome and thus it considers the intersection of three topics, namely health, diet, and genomics. Model organisms, such as the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, have been successfully used for in vivo modeling of higher metazoans aging and for nutrigenomic studies. Drosophila is a well-studied organism with sophisticated genetics and a fully annotated sequenced genome, in which ~ 75% of human disease-related genes have functional orthologs. Also, flies have organs/tissues that perform the equivalent functions of most mammalian organs, while discrete clusters of cells maintain insect carbohydrate homeostasis in a way similar to pancreatic cells. Herein, we discuss the mechanistic connections between nutrition and aging in Drosophila, and how this model organism can be used to study the effect of different diets (including natural products and/or their derivatives) on higher metazoans longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoi Evangelakou
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Manola
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Sentiljana Gumeni
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis P. Trougakos
- Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
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