Linking acquired neurodevelopmental disorders to defects in cell adhesion

ADNP prompts the cisplatin-resistance of bladder cancer via TGF-β-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway

Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) is vital for embryonic development and brain formation. Besides, the upregulated expression of ADNP enhances tumorigenesis in some human tumors like bladder cancer (BC). However, the potential roles of ADNP in drug resistance and the related mechanisms in BC is unknown. We performed this study to elucidate the influence of ADNP in the chemoresistance of BC and tried to explore the underlying molecular mechanism. The expressions of ADNP in BC from progression and non-progression patient specimens were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In vitro experiments including colony formation, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, and in vivo tumorigenesis assay were performed to explore the effects of ADNP on chemoresistance of BC. The impacts of ADNP on TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways were explored by western blot. Our results showed that the expression of ADNP mRNA and protein were significantly upregulated in BC tissues of the patients who suffered tumor-progression via RT-PCR and western blot. Cox regression survival analysis revealed that patients with high ADNP expression closely linked to shorter tumor-free survival. ADNP downregulation in BC showed more sensitive to cisplatin in vivo, while ADNP overexpression showed the opposite results. Additionally, we confirmed that ADNP promoted cell migration and EMT, thereby inducing cisplatin resistance, which may be related to TGF-β / Smad signaling pathway.

Harnessing neural stem cells for treating psychiatric symptoms associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and epilepsy

Brain insults with progressive neurodegeneration are inherent in pathological symptoms that represent many psychiatric illnesses. Neural network disruptions characterized by impaired neurogenesis have been recognized to precede, accompany, and possibly even exacerbate the evolution and progression of symptoms of psychiatric disorders. Here, we focus on the neurodegeneration and the resulting psychiatric symptoms observed in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and epilepsy, in an effort to show that these two diseases are candidate targets for stem cell therapy. In particular, we provide preclinical evidence in the transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in both conditions, highlighting the potential of this cell-based treatment for correcting the psychiatric symptoms that plague these two disorders. Additionally, we discuss the challenges of NSC transplantation and offer insights into the mechanisms that may mediate the therapeutic benefits and can be exploited to overcome the hurdles of translating this therapy from the laboratory to the clinic. Our ultimate goal is to advance stem cell therapy for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.

The potential of neural stem cell transplantation for the treatment of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is caused by intrauterine exposure to alcohol and can cause a full range of abnormalities to brain development, as well as long-term sequelae of cognitive, sensory and motor impairments. The incidence is estimated to be as high as 2% to 5% in children born within the US, however the prevalence is even higher in low socioeconomic populations. Despite the various mechanisms thought to explain the etiology of FASD, molecular targets of ethanol toxicity during development are not completely understood. More recent findings explore the role of GABA-A and GABA-B mechanisms, as well as cell death, cell signaling and gene expression malfunctions. Stem cell based therapies have grown exponentially over the last decade, which have lead to novel clinical interventions across many disciplines. Thus, early detailed understanding of the therapeutic potential of stem cell research has provided promising applications across a wide range of illnesses. Consequently, these potential benefits may ultimately lead to a reduced incidence and severity of this highly preventable and prevalent birth defect. It is recognized that stem cell derivations provide unique difficulties and limitations of therapeutic applications. This review will outline the current knowledge, along with the benefits and challenges of stem cell therapy for FASD.

Fetal alcohol exposure: consequences, diagnosis, and treatment

Maternal alcohol use during pregnancy is prevalent, with as many as 12% of pregnant women consuming alcohol. Alcohol intake may vary from an occasional drink, to weekly binge drinking, to chronic alcohol use throughout pregnancy. Whereas there are certain known consequences from fetal alcohol exposure, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, other effects are less well defined. Craniofacial dysmorphologies, abnormalities of organ systems, behavioral and intellectual deficits, and fetal death have all been attributed to maternal alcohol consumption. This review article considers the theoretical mechanisms of how alcohol affects the fetus, including the variable susceptibility to fetal alcohol exposure and the implications of ethanol dose and timing of exposure. Criteria for diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome are discussed, as well as new methods for early detection of maternal alcohol use and fetal alcohol exposure, such as the use of fatty acid ethyl esters. Finally, current and novel treatment strategies, both in utero and post utero, are reviewed.

Ethanol-induced disruption of Golgi apparatus morphology, primary neurite number and cellular orientation in developing cortical neurons

Prenatal ethanol exposure disrupts cortical neurite initiation and outgrowth, but prior studies have reported both ethanol-dependent growth promotion and inhibition. To resolve this ambiguity and better approximate in vivo conditions, we quantitatively analyzed neuronal morphology using a new, whole hemisphere explant model. In this model, Layer 6 (L6) cortical neurons migrate, laminate and extend neurites in an organotypic fashion. To selectively label L6 neurons, we performed ex utero electroporation of a GFP expression construct at embryonic day 13 and allowed the explants to develop for 2 days in vitro. Explants were exposed to (400 mg/dL) ethanol for either 4 or 24 h prior to fixation. Complete 3-D reconstructions were made of >80 GFP-positive neurons in each experimental condition. Acute responses to ethanol exposure included compaction of the Golgi apparatus accompanied by elaboration of supernumerary primary apical neurites, as well as a modest (∼15%) increase in higher order apical neurite length. With longer exposure time, ethanol exposure leads to a consistent, significant disorientation of the cell (cell body, primary apical neurite, and Golgi) with respect to the pial surface. The effects on cellular orientation were accompanied by decreased expression of cytoskeletal elements, microtubule-associated protein 2 and F-actin. These findings indicate that upon exposure to ethanol, developing L6 neurons manifest disruptions in Golgi apparatus and cytoskeletal elements which may in turn trigger selective and significant perturbations to primary neurite formation and neuronal polarity.

The effect of acute and chronic exposure to ethanol on the developing encephalon: a review

OBJECTIVES: to compare the acute and chronic effects of ethanol on the neural development, by analysis of the ontogenetic neural structure of mammals. METHODS: searches were performed in the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, SciElo, PubMed, LILACS, CAPES periodical, and the Open Journal System. The descriptors used were: "chronic ethanol toxicity", "chronic alcohol toxicity", "acute ethanol toxicity", "acute alcohol", "neural ontogenic development", "neuronal migration disturbances", "neural structure". The following inclusion criteria were used: articles published between 2003 and 2007, some classic articles in the field and an important neuropsychology textbook. RESULTS: the analysis of papers revealed that, although several studies of the chronic effects of ethanol exposure on the mammalian nervous system have been conducted, only a few have investigated the acute effects of ethanol on specific days of gestation, and these studies have revealed important disorders relating to the cerebral tissue. CONCLUSIONS: it should be recommended that women refrain from the consumption of ethanol during gestational phase to protect the fetus' health. Furthermore, the acute consumption of ethanol by women nearing the eighth or ninth week of gestation has been shown to be potentially harmful to the nervous tissue of the fetus.

Agenesis of the corpus callosum: genetic, developmental and functional aspects of connectivity

Agenesis of the corpus callosum (AgCC), a failure to develop the large bundle of fibres that connect the cerebral hemispheres, occurs in 1:4000 individuals. Genetics, animal models and detailed structural neuroimaging are now providing insights into the developmental and molecular bases of AgCC. Studies using neuropsychological, electroencephalogram and functional MRI approaches are examining the resulting impairments in emotional and social functioning, and have begun to explore the functional neuroanatomy underlying impaired higher-order cognition. The study of AgCC could provide insight into the integrated cerebral functioning of healthy brains, and may offer a model for understanding certain psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and autism.