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Rehman Z, Alqahtani F, Ashraf W, Rasool MF, Muneeb Anjum SM, Ahmad T, Alsanea S, Alasmari F, Imran I. Neuroprotective potential of topiramate, pregabalin and lacosamide combination in a rat model of acute SE and intractable epilepsy: Perspectives from electroencephalographic, neurobehavioral and regional degenerative analysis. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 978:176792. [PMID: 38950834 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176792] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
The lithium-pilocarpine model is commonly used to recapitulate characteristics of human intractable focal epilepsy. In the current study, we explored the impact of topiramate (TPM) alone and in combination with pregabalin and lacosamide administration for 6 weeks on the evolution of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) and disease-modifying potential on associated neuropsychiatric comorbidities. In addition, redox impairments and neurodegeneration in hippocampus regions vulnerable to temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) were assessed by cresyl violet staining. Results revealed that acute electrophysiological (EEG) profiling of the ASD cocktail markedly halted sharp ictogenic spikes as well as altered dynamics of brain wave oscillations thus validating the need for polytherapy vs. monotherapy. In TLE animals, pharmacological intervention for 6 weeks with topiramate 10 mg/kg in combination with PREG and LAC at the dose of 20 mg/kg exhibited marked protection from SRS incidence, improved body weight, offensive aggression, anxiety-like behavior, cognitive impairments, and depressive-like behavior (p < 0.05). Moreover, combination therapy impeded redox impairments as evidenced by decreased MDA and AchE levels and increased activity of antioxidant SOD, GSH enzymes. Furthermore, polytherapy rescued animals from SE-induced neurodegeneration with increased neuronal density in CA1, CA3c, CA3ab, hilus, and granular cell layer (GCL) of the dentate gyrus. In conclusion, early polytherapy with topiramate in combination with pregabalin and lacosamide prompted synergy and prevented epileptogenesis with associated psychological and neuropathologic alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohabia Rehman
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
| | - Faleh Alqahtani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Waseem Ashraf
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Fawad Rasool
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan
| | - Syed Muhammad Muneeb Anjum
- The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Tanveer Ahmad
- Institut pour L'Avancée des Biosciences, Centre de Recherche UGA, INSERM U1209, CNRS 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, France
| | - Sary Alsanea
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fawaz Alasmari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Imran Imran
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan.
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Yakmaz F, Bozkurt AS, Görücü Yilmaz Ş. PTZ-kindled rat model; evaluation of seizure, hippocampal EGR-1, and Rev-erbα gene regulation, behavioral analysis, and antioxidant capacity of Gum Arabic. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:279. [PMID: 38324049 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09210-4] [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: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epilepsy is a neurological disease characterized by recurrent seizures, hyperexcitable neurons and various behavioral comorbidities. The electrical charge during seizures depletes the antioxidant defense mechanism in the epileptic brain and increases the oxidative burden. Natural antioxidant compounds are potential therapeutics in the treatment of two major pathologies of epilepsy with their anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects and can modulate these targets. Gum Arabic is one of the natural plant polysaccharides that is non-toxic and biodegradable. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 30 Wistar albino male rats (8-12 weeks, 350-500 g), were randomly divided into 5 groups with 6 animals in each group: 1-Control, 2-Sham (Phosphate buffer saline (PBS)), 3-PTZ, 4-Gum Arabic, 5-PTZ + Gum Arabic. PTZ was administered i.p at 35 mg/kg/day for 11 days. After 48 h, the injection was completed with 75 mg/kg PTZ. Locomotor activity, immobilization, rearing, grooming, eating, and drinking behaviors were recorded with the LABORAS behavior system for 30 min after kindling. Animals were treated with Gum Arabic (2 mg/kg/day, oral gavage) for 10 days. At the end of the period, animal behavior was recorded again. Then the hippocampus tissues were removed. Oxidative parameters (TAS and TOS), early growth response 1 (EGR1) and nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group D member 1 (Rev-erbα) gene expressions and behaviors were analyzed. CONCLUSION Gum Arabic increased TAS levels (P = 0.000), decreased TOS levels (P = 0.000), and thus exhibited antioxidant properties by reducing oxidative stress burden. EGR1, which was upregulated in the seizure group, was downregulated after treatment (P = 0.000), and Rev-erbα was downregulated in seizure and upregulated after treatment (P = 0.000). Gum arabic may be an antiepileptic and anxiolytic therapeutic in improving epileptic seizures by reducing oxidative stress burden through EGR1 and Rev-erbα.0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Funda Yakmaz
- Physiology Department, Medicine Faculty, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Sarper Bozkurt
- Physiology Department, Medicine Faculty, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey.
| | - Şenay Görücü Yilmaz
- Nutrition and Dietetics Department, Health Science Faculty, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey
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3
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Szydlowska K, Bot A, Nizinska K, Olszewski M, Lukasiuk K. Circulating microRNAs from plasma as preclinical biomarkers of epileptogenesis and epilepsy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:708. [PMID: 38184716 PMCID: PMC10771472 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51357-4] [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: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy frequently develops as a result of brain insult; however, there are no tools allowing to predict which patients suffering from trauma will eventually develop epilepsy. microRNAs are interesting candidates for biomarkers, as several of them have been described to change their levels in the brains, and in the plasma of epileptic subjects. This study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of plasma miRNAs as epileptogenesis/epilepsy biomarkers. In our studies, we used a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy. An epileptogenic insult was status epilepticus evoked by stimulation of the left lateral nucleus of the amygdala. Next, animals were continuously video and EEG monitored for 3 months. Blood was collected at 14, 30, 60, and 90 days after stimulation. Blood plasma was separated and miRNA levels were analyzed. We compared miRNA levels between sham-operated and stimulated animals, and between animals with high and low numbers of seizures. We propose three miRNAs that could be biomarkers of epilepsy: miR-671, miR-9a-3p and miR-7a-5p. According to us, miR-206-5p is a potential biomarker of epileptogenesis, and miR-221-3p is a potential biomarker of epilepsy severity. We think that these five miRNAs can be considered in the future as potential treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Szydlowska
- Laboratory of Epileptogenesis, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Anna Bot
- Laboratory of Epileptogenesis, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karolina Nizinska
- Laboratory of Epileptogenesis, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Olszewski
- Laboratory of Epileptogenesis, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Lukasiuk
- Laboratory of Epileptogenesis, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
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Wang C, Li H, Chen C, Yao X, Yang C, Yu Z, Ren J, Ming Y, Huang Y, Rong Y, Ma Y, Liu L. High-Fat Diet Consumption Induces Neurobehavioral Abnormalities and Neuronal Morphological Alterations Accompanied by Excessive Microglial Activation in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Adolescent Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119394. [PMID: 37298345 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119394] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The association between a high-fat diet (HFD) consumption and emotional/cognitive disorders is widely documented. One distinctive feature of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a kernel emotion- and cognition-related brain region, is its protracted adolescent maturation, which makes it highly vulnerable to the detrimental effects of environmental factors during adolescence. Disruption of the PFC structure and function is linked to emotional/cognitive disorders, especially those that emerge in late adolescence. A HFD consumption is common among adolescents, yet its potential effects on PFC-related neurobehavior in late adolescence and any related underlying mechanisms are yet to be established. In the present study, adolescent (postnatal days 28-56) male C57BL/6J mice were fed a control diet (CD) or a HFD and underwent behavioral tests in addition to Golgi staining and immunofluorescence targeting of the medial PFC (mPFC). The HFD-fed adolescent mice exhibited anxiety- and depression-like behavior and abnormal mPFC pyramidal neuronal morphology accompanied by alterations in microglial morphology indicative of a heightened state of activation and increased microglial PSD95+ inclusions signifying excessive phagocytosis of the synaptic material in the mPFC. These findings offer novel insights into the neurobehavioral effects due to adolescent HFD consumption and suggest a contributing role in microglial dysfunction and prefrontal neuroplasticity deficits for HFD-associated mood disorders in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conghui Wang
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Hong Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiuting Yao
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Chenxi Yang
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Zhehao Yu
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jiayi Ren
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yue Ming
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yi Huang
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yi Rong
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yu Ma
- Medical College, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lijie Liu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
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Dahal A, Govindarajan K, Kar S. Administration of Kainic Acid Differentially Alters Astrocyte Markers and Transiently Enhanced Phospho-tau Level in Adult Rat Hippocampus. Neuroscience 2023; 516:27-41. [PMID: 36805001 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.02.010] [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: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Kainic acid (KA), an analogue of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, when administered systemically can trigger seizures and neuronal loss in a manner that mirrors the neuropathology of human mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE), which affects ∼50 million people globally. Evidence suggests that changes in astrocytes which precede neuronal damage play an important role in the degeneration of neurons and/or development of seizures in TLE pathogenesis. Additionally, a role for microtubule associated tau protein, involved in various neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, has also been suggested in the development of seizure and/or neurodegeneration in TLE pathogenesis. At present, possible alterations of different subtypes of astrocytes and their association, if any, with tau protein in TLE remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated alterations of different subtypes of astrocytes and phospho-/cleaved-tau levels in KA-treated rat model of TLE. Our results reveal that levels/expression of various astrocyte markers such as GFAP, vimentin, S100B, Aldh1L1, but not GS, are increased in the hippocampus of KA-treated rats. The levels/expression of both A1(C3+) and A2(S100A10+)-like astrocytes are also increased in KA-treated rats. Concurrently, the total (Tau1 and Tau5) and phospho-tau (AT270 and PHF1) levels are transiently enhanced following KA administration. Furthermore, the level/expression of cleaved-tau, which is apparent in a subset of GFAP-, S100B- and A2-positive astrocytes, are increased in KA-treated rats. These results, taken together, suggest a differential role for various astrocytic subpopulations and tau protein in the development of seizure and/or loss of neurons in KA model of TLE and possibly in human mTLE pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Dahal
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada; Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Karthivashan Govindarajan
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Satyabrata Kar
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada; Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada.
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Striatal Patchwork of D1-like and D2-like Receptors Binding Densities in Rats with Genetic Audiogenic and Absence Epilepsies. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13040587. [PMID: 36832075 PMCID: PMC9955649 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13040587] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Binding densities to dopamine D1-like and D2-like receptors (D1DR and D2DR) were studied in brain regions of animals with genetic generalized audiogenic (AGS) and/or absence (AbS) epilepsy (KM, WAG/Rij-AGS, and WAG/Rij rats, respectively) as compared to non-epileptic Wistar (WS) rats. Convulsive epilepsy (AGS) exerted a major effect on the striatal subregional binding densities for D1DR and D2DR. An increased binding density to D1DR was found in the dorsal striatal subregions of AGS-prone rats. Similar changes were seen for D2DR in the central and dorsal striatal territories. Subregions of the nucleus accumbens demonstrated consistent subregional decreases in the binding densities of D1DR and D2DR in epileptic animals, irrespective of epilepsy types. This was seen for D1DR in the dorsal core, dorsal, and ventrolateral shell; and for D2DR in the dorsal, dorsolateral, and ventrolateral shell. An increased density of D2DR was found in the motor cortex of AGS-prone rats. An AGS-related increase in binding densities to D1DR and D2DR in the dorsal striatum and motor cortex, areas responsible for motor activity, possibly reflects the activation of brain anticonvulsive loops. General epilepsy-related decreases in binding densities to D1DR and D2DR in the accumbal subregions might contribute to behavioral comorbidities of epilepsy.
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Tetrapleura tetraptera curtails oxidative and proinflammatory biochemical events in lithium-pilocarpine model of status epilepticus. ADVANCES IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13596-022-00675-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Guarino A, Bettegazzi B, Aziz N, Barbieri M, Bochicchio D, Crippa L, Marino P, Sguizzato M, Soukupova M, Zucchini S, Simonato M. Low-dose 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone Administration After Status Epilepticus Prevents Epilepsy Development. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1951-1965. [PMID: 36180719 PMCID: PMC9723075 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01299-4] [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] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Temporal lobe epilepsy often manifests months or even years after an initial epileptogenic insult (e.g., stroke, trauma, status epilepticus) and, therefore, may be preventable. However, no such preventive treatment is currently available. Aim of this study was to test an antioxidant agent, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), that is well tolerated and effective in preclinical models of many neurological disorders, as an anti-epileptogenic drug. However, 7,8-DHF also acts as a TrkB receptor agonist and, based on the literature, this effect may imply an anti- or a pro-epileptogenic effect. We found that low- (5 mg/kg), but not high-dose 7,8-DHF (10 mg/kg) can exert strong anti-epileptogenic effects in the lithium-pilocarpine model (i.e., highly significant reduction in the frequency of spontaneous seizures and in the time to first seizure after status epilepticus). The mechanism of these different dose-related effects remains to be elucidated. Nonetheless, considering its excellent safety profile and antioxidant properties, as well as its putative effects on TrkB receptors, 7,8-DHF represents an interesting template for the development of effective and well-tolerated anti-epileptogenic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annunziata Guarino
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Barbara Bettegazzi
- University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Nimra Aziz
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Mario Barbieri
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Daniela Bochicchio
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lucia Crippa
- University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, via Olgettina 58, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Pietro Marino
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maddalena Sguizzato
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marie Soukupova
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milan, Italy
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Vouros A, Gehring TV, Jura B, Węsierska MJ, Wójcik DK, Vasilaki E. Strategies discovery in the active allothetic place avoidance task. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12675. [PMID: 35879365 PMCID: PMC9314408 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16374-1] [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: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The Active Allothetic Place Avoidance task is an alternative setup to Morris Water Maze that allows studying spatial memory in a dynamic world in the presence of conflicting information. In this task, a rat, freely moving on a rotating circular arena, has to avoid a sector defined within the room frame where shocks are presented. While for Morris Water Maze several studies have identified animal strategies which specifically affect performance, there were no such studies for the Active Allothetic Place Avoidance task. Using standard machine learning methods, we were able to reveal for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, explainable strategies that the animals employ in this task and demonstrate that they can provide a high-level interpretation for performance differences between an animal group treated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and the control group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avgoustinos Vouros
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 4DP, UK
| | - Tiago V Gehring
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 4DP, UK
| | - Bartosz Jura
- Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Jagiellonian University, 30-348, Cracow, Poland
| | - Małgorzata J Węsierska
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, 02-093, Poland
| | - Daniel K Wójcik
- Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Jagiellonian University, 30-348, Cracow, Poland. .,Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, 02-093, Poland.
| | - Eleni Vasilaki
- Department of Computer Science, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 4DP, UK. .,Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Alves SS, da Silva Junior RMP, Delfino-Pereira P, Pereira MGAG, Vasconcelos I, Schwaemmle H, Mazzei RF, Carlos ML, Espreafico EM, Tedesco AC, Sebollela A, Almeida SS, de Oliveira JAC, Garcia-Cairasco N. A Genetic Model of Epilepsy with a Partial Alzheimer's Disease-Like Phenotype and Central Insulin Resistance. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:3721-3737. [PMID: 35378696 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02810-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Studies have suggested an important connection between epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease (AD), mostly due to the high number of patients diagnosed with AD who develop epileptic seizures later on. However, this link is not well understood. Previous studies from our group have identified memory impairment and metabolic abnormalities in the Wistar audiogenic rat (WAR) strain, a genetic model of epilepsy. Our goal was to investigate AD behavioral and molecular alterations, including brain insulin resistance, in naïve (seizure-free) animals of the WAR strain. We used the Morris water maze (MWM) test to evaluate spatial learning and memory performance and hippocampal tissue to verify possible molecular and immunohistochemical alterations. WARs presented worse performance in the MWM test (p < 0.0001), higher levels of hyperphosphorylated tau (S396) (p < 0.0001) and phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3 (S21/9) (p < 0.05), and lower insulin receptor levels (p < 0.05). Conversely, WARs and Wistar controls present progressive increase in amyloid fibrils (p < 0.0001) and low levels of soluble amyloid-β. Interestingly, the detected alterations were age-dependent, reaching larger differences in aged than in young adult animals. In summary, the present study provides evidence of a partial AD-like phenotype, including altered regulation of insulin signaling, in a genetic model of epilepsy. Together, these data contribute to the understanding of the connection between epilepsy and AD as comorbidities. Moreover, since both tau hyperphosphorylation and altered insulin signaling have already been reported in epilepsy and AD, these two events should be considered as important components in the interconnection between epilepsy and AD pathogenesis and, therefore, potential therapeutic targets in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suélen Santos Alves
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School - University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Polianna Delfino-Pereira
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School - University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Israel Vasconcelos
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School - University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Hanna Schwaemmle
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School - University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Focosi Mazzei
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FFCLRP-USP), Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Maiko Luiz Carlos
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FFCLRP-USP), Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Enilza Maria Espreafico
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, Ribeirão Preto Medical School - University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Antônio Claudio Tedesco
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FFCLRP-USP), Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Adriano Sebollela
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School - University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - Sebastião Sousa Almeida
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FFCLRP-USP), Ribeirao Preto, Brazil
| | - José Antônio Cortes de Oliveira
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School - University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Dos Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil
| | - Norberto Garcia-Cairasco
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Sciences, Ribeirão Preto Medical School - University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.
- Department of Physiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School - University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), Av. Dos Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil.
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Sandouka S, Shekh-Ahmad T. Induction of the Nrf2 Pathway by Sulforaphane Is Neuroprotective in a Rat Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Model. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10111702. [PMID: 34829573 PMCID: PMC8615008 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10111702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a chronic disease of the brain that affects over 65 million people worldwide. Acquired epilepsy is initiated by neurological insults, such as status epilepticus, which can result in the generation of ROS and induction of oxidative stress. Suppressing oxidative stress by upregulation of the transcription factor, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has been shown to be an effective strategy to increase endogenous antioxidant defences, including in brain diseases, and can ameliorate neuronal damage and seizure occurrence in epilepsy. Here, we aim to test the neuroprotective potential of a naturally occurring Nrf2 activator sulforaphane, in in vitro epileptiform activity model and a temporal lobe epilepsy rat model. Sulforaphane significantly decreased ROS generation during epileptiform activity, restored glutathione levels, and prevented seizure-like activity-induced neuronal cell death. When given to rats after 2 h of kainic acid-induced status epilepticus, sulforaphane significantly increased the expression of Nrf2 and related antioxidant genes, improved oxidative stress markers, and increased the total antioxidant capacity in both the plasma and hippocampus. In addition, sulforaphane significantly decreased status epilepticus-induced neuronal cell death. Our results demonstrate that Nrf2 activation following an insult to the brain exerts a neuroprotective effect by reducing neuronal death, increasing the antioxidant capacity, and thus may also modify epilepsy development.
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