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Staurenghi E, Testa G, Leoni V, Cecci R, Floro L, Giannelli S, Barone E, Perluigi M, Leonarduzzi G, Sottero B, Gamba P. Altered Brain Cholesterol Machinery in a Down Syndrome Mouse Model: A Possible Common Feature with Alzheimer's Disease. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:435. [PMID: 38671883 PMCID: PMC11047305 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13040435] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a complex chromosomal disorder considered as a genetically determined form of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Maintenance of brain cholesterol homeostasis is essential for brain functioning and development, and its dysregulation is associated with AD neuroinflammation and oxidative damage. Brain cholesterol imbalances also likely occur in DS, concurring with the precocious AD-like neurodegeneration. In this pilot study, we analyzed, in the brain of the Ts2Cje (Ts2) mouse model of DS, the expression of genes encoding key enzymes involved in cholesterol metabolism and of the levels of cholesterol and its main precursors and products of its metabolism (i.e., oxysterols). The results showed, in Ts2 mice compared to euploid mice, the downregulation of the transcription of the genes encoding the enzymes 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and 24-dehydrocholesterol reductase, the latter originally recognized as an indicator of AD, and the consequent reduction in total cholesterol levels. Moreover, the expression of genes encoding enzymes responsible for brain cholesterol oxidation and the amounts of the resulting oxysterols were modified in Ts2 mouse brains, and the levels of cholesterol autoxidation products were increased, suggesting an exacerbation of cerebral oxidative stress. We also observed an enhanced inflammatory response in Ts2 mice, underlined by the upregulation of the transcription of the genes encoding for α-interferon and interleukin-6, two cytokines whose synthesis is increased in the brains of AD patients. Overall, these results suggest that DS and AD brains share cholesterol cycle derangements and altered oxysterol levels, which may contribute to the oxidative and inflammatory events involved in both diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Staurenghi
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy; (E.S.); (R.C.); (L.F.); (S.G.); (G.L.); (B.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Gabriella Testa
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy; (E.S.); (R.C.); (L.F.); (S.G.); (G.L.); (B.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Valerio Leoni
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Hospital Pio XI of Desio, ASST-Brianza and Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20832 Desio, Italy;
| | - Rebecca Cecci
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy; (E.S.); (R.C.); (L.F.); (S.G.); (G.L.); (B.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Lucrezia Floro
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy; (E.S.); (R.C.); (L.F.); (S.G.); (G.L.); (B.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Serena Giannelli
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy; (E.S.); (R.C.); (L.F.); (S.G.); (G.L.); (B.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Eugenio Barone
- Department of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi-Fanelli”, Sapienza University, 00185 Roma, Italy; (E.B.); (M.P.)
| | - Marzia Perluigi
- Department of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi-Fanelli”, Sapienza University, 00185 Roma, Italy; (E.B.); (M.P.)
| | - Gabriella Leonarduzzi
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy; (E.S.); (R.C.); (L.F.); (S.G.); (G.L.); (B.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Barbara Sottero
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy; (E.S.); (R.C.); (L.F.); (S.G.); (G.L.); (B.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Paola Gamba
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, San Luigi Hospital, 10043 Orbassano, Italy; (E.S.); (R.C.); (L.F.); (S.G.); (G.L.); (B.S.); (P.G.)
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Xiong M, Chen H, Fan Y, Jin M, Yang D, Chen Y, Zhang Y, Petersen RB, Su H, Peng A, Wang C, Zheng L, Huang K. Tubular Elabela-APJ axis attenuates ischemia-reperfusion induced acute kidney injury and the following AKI-CKD transition by protecting renal microcirculation. Theranostics 2023; 13:3387-3401. [PMID: 37351176 PMCID: PMC10283061 DOI: 10.7150/thno.84308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). Post-ischemic recovery of renal blood supply plays an important role in attenuating injury. Exogenous application of elabela (ELA) peptides has been demonstrated by us and others to alleviate AKI, partly through its receptor APJ. However, the endogenous role of ELA in renal I/R remains unclear. Methods: Renal tubule specific ELA knockout (ApelaKsp KO) mice challenged with bilateral or unilateral I/R were used to investigate the role of endogenous ELA in renal I/R. RNA-sequencing analysis was performed to unbiasedly investigate altered genes in kidneys of ApelaKsp KO mice. Injured mice were treated with ELA32 peptide, Nω-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine (nor-NOHA), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), Paricalcitol, ML221 or respective vehicles, individually or in combination. Results: ELA is mostly expressed in renal tubules. Aggravated pathological injury and further reduction of renal microvascular blood flow were observed in ApelaKsp KO mice during AKI and the following transition to chronic kidney disease (AKI-CKD). RNA-seq analysis suggested that two blood flow regulators, arginine metabolizing enzyme arginase 2 (ARG2) and PGE2 metabolizing enzyme carbonyl reductases 1 and 3 (CBR1/3), were altered in injured ApelaKsp KO mice. Notably, combination application of an ARG2 inhibitor nor-NOHA, and Paricalcitol, a clinically used activator for PGE2 synthesis, alleviated injury-induced AKI/AKI-CKD stages and eliminated the worst outcomes observed in ApelaKsp KO mice. Moreover, while the APJ inhibitor ML221 blocked the beneficial effects of ELA32 peptide on AKI, it showed no effect on combination treatment of nor-NOHA and Paricalcitol. Conclusions: An endogenous tubular ELA-APJ axis regulates renal microvascular blood flow that plays a pivotal role in I/R-induced AKI. Furthermore, improving renal blood flow by inhibiting ARG2 and activating PGE2 is an effective treatment for AKI and prevents the subsequent AKI-CKD transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingrui Xiong
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China, 430030
| | - Hong Chen
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China, 430030
| | - Yu Fan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, 430072
| | - Muchuan Jin
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, 430072
| | - Dong Yang
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China, 430030
| | - Yuchen Chen
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China, 430030
| | - Yu Zhang
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China, 430030
| | - Robert B. Petersen
- Foundational Sciences, Central Michigan University College of Medicine, Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA, 48859
| | - Hua Su
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, 430030
| | - Anlin Peng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Hospital of Wuhan, Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, 430075
| | - Congyi Wang
- The Center for Biomedical Research, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China, 430030
| | - Ling Zheng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, 430072
| | - Kun Huang
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China, 430030
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Yokoyama M, Fujita T, Kadonosawa Y, Tatara Y, Motooka D, Ikawa M, Fujii H, Yokoayama Y. Development of transgenic mice overexpressing mouse carbonyl reductase 1. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:531-540. [PMID: 36352178 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07994-x] [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: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1) is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent reductase with broad substrate specificity. CBR1 catalyzes the reduction of numerous carbonyl compounds, including quinones, prostaglandins, menadione, and multiple xenobiotics, while also participating in various cellular processes, such as carcinogenesis, apoptosis, signal transduction, and drug resistance. In this study, we aimed to generate transgenic mice overexpressing mouse Cbr1 (mCbr1), characterize the mCbr1 expression in different organs, and identify changes in protein expression patterns. METHODS AND RESULTS To facilitate a deeper understanding of the functions of CBR1, we generated transgenic mice overexpressing CBR1 throughout the body. These transgenic mice overexpress 3xFLAG-tagged mCbr1 (3xFLAG-mCbr1) under the CAG promoter. Two lines of transgenic mice were generated, one with 3xFLAG-mCbr1 expression in multiple tissues, and the other, with specific expression of 3xFLAG-mCbr1 in the heart. Pathway and network analysis using transgenic mouse hearts identified 73 proteins with levels of expression correlating with mCbr1 overexpression. The expression of voltage-gated anion channels, which may be directly related to calcium ion-related myocardial contraction, was also upregulated. CONCLUSION mCbr1 transgenic mice may be useful for further in vivo analyses of the molecular mechanisms regulated by Cbr1; such analyses will provide a better understanding of its effects on carcinogenesis and cardiotoxicity of certain cancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minako Yokoyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, 5 Zaifu-cho, 036-8562, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Toshitsugu Fujita
- Department of Biochemistry and Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, 5 Zaifu-cho, 036-8562, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Yuka Kadonosawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, 5 Zaifu-cho, 036-8562, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Yota Tatara
- Department of Stress Response Science, Center for Advanced Medical Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, 5 Zaifu-cho, 036-8562, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Daisuke Motooka
- Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, 565-0871, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, 565-0871, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hodaka Fujii
- Department of Biochemistry and Genome Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, 5 Zaifu-cho, 036-8562, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Yoshihito Yokoayama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki University, 5 Zaifu-cho, 036-8562, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan.
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Bartesaghi R. Brain circuit pathology in Down syndrome: from neurons to neural networks. Rev Neurosci 2022; 34:365-423. [PMID: 36170842 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2022-0067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), a genetic pathology caused by triplication of chromosome 21, is characterized by brain hypotrophy and impairment of cognition starting from infancy. While studies in mouse models of DS have elucidated the major neuroanatomical and neurochemical defects of DS, comparatively fewer investigations have focused on the electrophysiology of the DS brain. Electrical activity is at the basis of brain functioning. Therefore, knowledge of the way in which brain circuits operate in DS is fundamental to understand the causes of behavioral impairment and devise targeted interventions. This review summarizes the state of the art regarding the electrical properties of the DS brain, starting from individual neurons and culminating in signal processing in whole neuronal networks. The reported evidence derives from mouse models of DS and from brain tissues and neurons derived from individuals with DS. EEG data recorded in individuals with DS are also provided as a key tool to understand the impact of brain circuit alterations on global brain activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Bartesaghi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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