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Ye C, Ho R, Moberg KH, Zheng JQ. Adverse impact of female reproductive signaling on age-dependent neurodegeneration after mild head trauma in Drosophila. eLife 2024; 13:RP97908. [PMID: 39213032 PMCID: PMC11364438 DOI: 10.7554/elife.97908] [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] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental insults, including mild head trauma, significantly increase the risk of neurodegeneration. However, it remains challenging to establish a causative connection between early-life exposure to mild head trauma and late-life emergence of neurodegenerative deficits, nor do we know how sex and age compound the outcome. Using a Drosophila model, we demonstrate that exposure to mild head trauma causes neurodegenerative conditions that emerge late in life and disproportionately affect females. Increasing age-at-injury further exacerbates this effect in a sexually dimorphic manner. We further identify sex peptide signaling as a key factor in female susceptibility to post-injury brain deficits. RNA sequencing highlights a reduction in innate immune defense transcripts specifically in mated females during late life. Our findings establish a causal relationship between early head trauma and late-life neurodegeneration, emphasizing sex differences in injury response and the impact of age-at-injury. Finally, our findings reveal that reproductive signaling adversely impacts female response to mild head insults and elevates vulnerability to late-life neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changtian Ye
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
| | - Ryan Ho
- College of Art and Science, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Kenneth H Moberg
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
| | - James Q Zheng
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
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Ye C, Ho R, Moberg KH, Zheng JQ. Sexual Dimorphism in Age-Dependent Neurodegeneration After Mild Head Trauma in Drosophila : Unveiling the Adverse Impact of Female Reproductive Signaling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.06.583747. [PMID: 38496515 PMCID: PMC10942469 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.06.583747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Environmental insults, including mild head trauma, significantly increase the risk of neurodegeneration. However, it remains challenging to establish a causative connection between early-life exposure to mild head trauma and late-life emergence of neurodegenerative deficits, nor do we know how sex and age compound the outcome. Using a Drosophila model, we demonstrate that exposure to mild head trauma causes neurodegenerative conditions that emerge late in life and disproportionately affect females. Increasing age-at-injury further exacerbates this effect in a sexually dimorphic manner. We further identify Sex Peptide (SP) signaling as a key factor in female susceptibility to post-injury brain deficits. RNA sequencing highlights a reduction in innate immune defense transcripts specifically in mated females during late life. Our findings establish a causal relationship between early head trauma and late-life neurodegeneration, emphasizing sex differences in injury response and the impact of age-at-injury. Finally, our findings reveal that reproductive signaling adversely impacts female response to mild head insults and elevates vulnerability to late-life neurodegeneration.
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3
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Fesharaki-Zadeh A, Datta D. An overview of preclinical models of traumatic brain injury (TBI): relevance to pathophysiological mechanisms. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1371213. [PMID: 38682091 PMCID: PMC11045909 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1371213] [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: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting millions annually worldwide. Although the majority of TBI patients return to premorbid baseline, a subset of patient can develop persistent and often debilitating neurocognitive and behavioral changes. The etiology of TBI within the clinical setting is inherently heterogenous, ranging from sport related injuries, fall related injuries and motor vehicle accidents in the civilian setting, to blast injuries in the military setting. Objective Animal models of TBI, offer the distinct advantage of controlling for injury modality, duration and severity. Furthermore, preclinical models of TBI have provided the necessary temporal opportunity to study the chronic neuropathological sequelae of TBI, including neurodegenerative sequelae such as tauopathy and neuroinflammation within the finite experimental timeline. Despite the high prevalence of TBI, there are currently no disease modifying regimen for TBI, and the current clinical treatments remain largely symptom based. The preclinical models have provided the necessary biological substrate to examine the disease modifying effect of various pharmacological agents and have imperative translational value. Methods The current review will include a comprehensive survey of well-established preclinical models, including classic preclinical models including weight drop, blast injury, fluid percussion injury, controlled cortical impact injury, as well as more novel injury models including closed-head impact model of engineered rotational acceleration (CHIMERA) models and closed-head projectile concussive impact model (PCI). In addition to rodent preclinical models, the review will include an overview of other species including large animal models and Drosophila. Results There are major neuropathological perturbations post TBI captured in various preclinical models, which include neuroinflammation, calcium dysregulation, tauopathy, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, axonopathy, as well as glymphatic system disruption. Conclusion The preclinical models of TBI continue to offer valuable translational insight, as well as essential neurobiological basis to examine specific disease modifying therapeutic regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arman Fesharaki-Zadeh
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Dibyadeep Datta
- Division of Aging and Geriatric Psychiatry, Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, New Haven, CT, United States
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Katchur NJ, Notterman DA. Recent insights from non-mammalian models of brain injuries: an emerging literature. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1378620. [PMID: 38566857 PMCID: PMC10985199 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1378620] [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: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major global health concern and is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Repetitive TBIs (rTBIs), commonly observed in contact sports, military service, and intimate partner violence (IPV), pose a significant risk for long-term sequelae. To study the long-term consequences of TBI and rTBI, researchers have typically used mammalian models to recapitulate brain injury and neurodegenerative phenotypes. However, there are several limitations to these models, including: (1) lengthy observation periods, (2) high cost, (3) difficult genetic manipulations, and (4) ethical concerns regarding prolonged and repeated injury of a large number of mammals. Aquatic vertebrate model organisms, including Petromyzon marinus (sea lampreys), zebrafish (Danio rerio), and invertebrates, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), and Drosophila melanogaster (Drosophila), are emerging as valuable tools for investigating the mechanisms of rTBI and tauopathy. These non-mammalian models offer unique advantages, including genetic tractability, simpler nervous systems, cost-effectiveness, and quick discovery-based approaches and high-throughput screens for therapeutics, which facilitate the study of rTBI-induced neurodegeneration and tau-related pathology. Here, we explore the use of non-vertebrate and aquatic vertebrate models to study TBI and neurodegeneration. Drosophila, in particular, provides an opportunity to explore the longitudinal effects of mild rTBI and its impact on endogenous tau, thereby offering valuable insights into the complex interplay between rTBI, tauopathy, and neurodegeneration. These models provide a platform for mechanistic studies and therapeutic interventions, ultimately advancing our understanding of the long-term consequences associated with rTBI and potential avenues for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole J. Katchur
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
- Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Daniel A. Notterman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
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5
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Olufs ZPG, Wassarman DA, Perouansky M. Stress Pathways Induced by Volatile Anesthetics and Failure of Preconditioning in a Mitochondrial Complex I Mutant. Anesthesiology 2024; 140:463-482. [PMID: 38118175 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000004874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carriers of mutations in the mitochondrial electron transport chain are at increased risk of anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity. To investigate the neurotoxicity mechanism and to test preconditioning as a protective strategy, this study used a Drosophila melanogaster model of Leigh syndrome. Model flies carried a mutation in ND23 (ND2360114) that encodes a mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I subunit. This study investigated why ND2360114 mutants become susceptible to lethal, oxygen-modulated neurotoxicity within 24 h of exposure to isoflurane but not sevoflurane. METHODS This study used transcriptomics and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to identify genes that are differentially expressed in ND2360114 but not wild-type fly heads at 30 min after exposure to high- versus low-toxicity conditions. This study also subjected ND2360114 flies to diverse stressors before isoflurane exposure to test whether isoflurane toxicity could be diminished by preconditioning. RESULTS The ND2360114 mutation had a greater effect on isoflurane- than sevoflurane-mediated changes in gene expression. Isoflurane and sevoflurane did not affect expression of heat shock protein (Hsp) genes (Hsp22, Hsp27, and Hsp68) in wild-type flies, but isoflurane substantially increased expression of these genes in ND2360114 mutant flies. Furthermore, isoflurane and sevoflurane induced expression of oxidative (GstD1 and GstD2) and xenobiotic (Cyp6a8 and Cyp6a14) stress genes to a similar extent in wild-type flies, but the effect of isoflurane was largely reduced in ND2360114 flies. In addition, activating stress response pathways by pre-exposure to anesthetics, heat shock, hyperoxia, hypoxia, or oxidative stress did not suppress isoflurane-induced toxicity in ND2360114 mutant flies. CONCLUSIONS Mutation of a mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I subunit generates differential effects of isoflurane and sevoflurane on gene expression that may underlie their differential effects on neurotoxicity. Additionally, the mutation produces resistance to preconditioning by stresses that protect the brain in other contexts. Therefore, complex I activity modifies molecular and physiologic effects of anesthetics in an anesthetic-specific manner. EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachariah P G Olufs
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - David A Wassarman
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Misha Perouansky
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine and Public Health and Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
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Ratner SW, Fetchko M, Mathivanan AS, Kelly SE, Gupta S, Barber AF. dTBI2: A Calibrated, Tunable Device for Administering Traumatic Brain Injury in Drosophila. Curr Protoc 2024; 4:e996. [PMID: 38511393 PMCID: PMC11239101 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.996] [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] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The second-generation Drosophila traumatic brain injury (TBI) device dTBI2 improves Drosophila TBI administration by providing a moderate-throughput, tunable, head-specific injury. Our updated device design improves user-friendliness, eliminates inconsistencies in injury timing, and has an updated circuit design to extend the longevity of delicate electronic components. dTBI2 improves reproducibility across users and runs, and results in more consistent post-injury phenotypes. This protocol describes the construction, calibration, and use of the dTBI2 device, which uses an Arduino-controlled piezoelectric actuator to deliver a force that compresses a fly head against a metal collar. The duration and depth of head compression is tunable, allowing calibration of injury severity. All device components are commercially available, and the entire device can be constructed in under a week for less than $1000. The dTBI2 design will enable any lab to build a highly reliable, low-cost device for Drosophila TBI, facilitating increased adoption and ease of exploration of closed-head TBI in Drosophila for forward genetic screens. We describe below the three protocols necessary for constructing a dTBI2 device. © 2024 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Construction of the dTBI2 control device Basic Protocol 2: Construction of the piezoelectric actuator housing Basic Protocol 3: Administration of dTBI2 injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen W Ratner
- Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Michael Fetchko
- Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | | | - Seanna E Kelly
- Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Shambhavi Gupta
- School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Annika F Barber
- Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey
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Jones TB, Mackey T, Juba AN, Amin K, Atyam A, McDole M, Yancy J, Thomas TC, Buhlman LM. Mild traumatic brain injury in Drosophila melanogaster alters reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in a sex-dependent manner. Exp Neurol 2024; 372:114621. [PMID: 38029809 PMCID: PMC10872660 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114621] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an outside force causing a modification in brain function and/or structural brain pathology that upregulates brain inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), instigating increased levels of nitric oxide activity which is implicated in secondary pathology leading to behavioral deficits (Hall et al., 2012; Garry et al., 2015; Kozlov et al., 2017). In mammals, TBI-induced NO production activates an immune response and potentiates metabolic crisis through mitochondrial dysfunction coupled with vascular dysregulation; however, the direct influence on pathology is complicated by the activation of numerous secondary cascades and activation of other reactive oxygen species. Drosophila TBI models have demonstrated key features of mammalian TBI, including temporary incapacitation, disorientation, motor deficits, activation of innate immunity (inflammation), and autophagy responses observed immediately after injury (Katzenberger et al., 2013; Barekat et al., 2016; Simon et al., 2017; Anderson et al., 2018; Buhlman et al., 2021b). We hypothesized that acute behavioral phenotypes would be associated with deficits in climbing behavior and increased oxidative stress. Because flies lack mammalian-like cardiovascular and adaptive immune systems, we were able to make our observations in the absence of vascular disruption and adaptive immune system interference in a system where highly targeted interventions can be rapidly evaluated. To demonstrate the induction of injury, ten-day-old transgenic flies received an injury of increasing angles from a modified high impact trauma (HIT) device where angle-dependent increases occurred for acute neurological behavior assessments and twenty-four-hour mortality, and survival was significantly decreased. Injury caused sex-dependent effects on climbing activity and measures of oxidative stress. Specifically, after a single 60-degree HIT, female flies exhibited significant impairments in climbing activity beyond that observed in male flies. We also found that several measures of oxidative stress, including Drosophila NOS (dNOS) expression, protein nitration, and hydrogen peroxide production were significantly decreased in female flies. Interestingly, protein nitration was also decreased in males, but surpassed sham levels with a more severe injury. We also observed decreased autophagy demand in vulnerable dopaminergic neurons in female, but not male flies. In addition, mitophagy initiation was decreased in females. Collectively, our data suggest that TBI in flies induces acute behavioral phenotypes and climbing deficits that are analogous to mammalian TBI. We also observed that various indices of oxidative stress, including dNOS expression, protein tyrosine nitration, and hydrogen peroxide levels, as well as basal levels of autophagy, are altered in response to injury, an effect that is more pronounced in female flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Bucky Jones
- College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Tracy Mackey
- Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Amber N Juba
- College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Kush Amin
- Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Amruth Atyam
- Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Madison McDole
- Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Jarod Yancy
- Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Theresa Currier Thomas
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA; Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
| | - Lori M Buhlman
- College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA.
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Tower J. Markers and mechanisms of death in Drosophila. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2023; 4:1292040. [PMID: 38149028 PMCID: PMC10749947 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2023.1292040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Parameters correlated with age and mortality in Drosophila melanogaster include decreased negative geotaxis and centrophobism behaviors, decreased climbing and walking speed, and darkened pigments in oenocytes and eye. Cessation of egg laying predicts death within approximately 5 days. Endogenous green fluorescence in eye and body increases hours prior to death. Many flies exhibit erratic movement hours before death, often leading to falls. Loss of intestinal barrier integrity (IBI) is assayed by feeding blue dye ("Smurf" phenotype), and Smurf flies typically die within 0-48 h. Some studies report most flies exhibit Smurf, whereas multiple groups report most flies die without exhibiting Smurf. Transgenic reporters containing heat shock gene promoters and innate immune response gene promoters progressively increase expression with age, and partly predict remaining life span. Innate immune reporters increase with age in every fly, prior to any Smurf phenotype, in presence or absence of antibiotics. Many flies die on their side or supine (on their back) position. The data suggest three mechanisms for death of Drosophila. One is loss of IBI, as revealed by Smurf assay. The second is nervous system malfunction, leading to erratic behavior, locomotor malfunction, and falls. The aged fly is often unable to right itself after a fall to a side-ways or supine position, leading to inability to access the food and subsequent dehydration/starvation. Finally, some flies die upright without Smurf phenotype, suggesting a possible third mechanism. The frequency of these mechanisms varies between strains and culture conditions, which may affect efficacy of life span interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Tower
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Ju L, Glastad KM, Sheng L, Gospocic J, Kingwell CJ, Davidson SM, Kocher SD, Bonasio R, Berger SL. Hormonal gatekeeping via the blood-brain barrier governs caste-specific behavior in ants. Cell 2023; 186:4289-4309.e23. [PMID: 37683635 PMCID: PMC10807403 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Here, we reveal an unanticipated role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in regulating complex social behavior in ants. Using scRNA-seq, we find localization in the BBB of a key hormone-degrading enzyme called juvenile hormone esterase (Jhe), and we show that this localization governs the level of juvenile hormone (JH3) entering the brain. Manipulation of the Jhe level reprograms the brain transcriptome between ant castes. Although ant Jhe is retained and functions intracellularly within the BBB, we show that Drosophila Jhe is naturally extracellular. Heterologous expression of ant Jhe into the Drosophila BBB alters behavior in fly to mimic what is seen in ants. Most strikingly, manipulation of Jhe levels in ants reprograms complex behavior between worker castes. Our study thus uncovers a remarkable, potentially conserved role of the BBB serving as a molecular gatekeeper for a neurohormonal pathway that regulates social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linyang Ju
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Karl M Glastad
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Lihong Sheng
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Janko Gospocic
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Urology and Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Callum J Kingwell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Shawn M Davidson
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Sarah D Kocher
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Lewis-Sigler Institute for Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Roberto Bonasio
- Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shelley L Berger
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Sheng L, Shields EJ, Gospocic J, Sorida M, Ju L, Byrns CN, Carranza F, Berger SL, Bonini N, Bonasio R. Ensheathing glia promote increased lifespan and healthy brain aging. Aging Cell 2023; 22:e13803. [PMID: 36840361 PMCID: PMC10186613 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Glia have an emergent role in brain aging and disease. In the Drosophila melanogaster brain, ensheathing glia function as phagocytic cells and respond to acute neuronal damage, analogous to mammalian microglia. We previously reported changes in glia composition over the life of ants and fruit flies, including a decline in the relative proportion of ensheathing glia with time. How these changes influence brain health and life expectancy is unknown. Here, we show that ensheathing glia but not astrocytes decrease in number during Drosophila melanogaster brain aging. The remaining ensheathing glia display dysregulated expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and apoptosis, which may lead to lipid droplet accumulation, cellular dysfunction, and death. Inhibition of apoptosis rescued the decline of ensheathing glia with age, improved the neuromotor performance of aged flies, and extended lifespan. Furthermore, an expanded ensheathing glia population prevented amyloid-beta accumulation in a fly model of Alzheimer's disease and delayed the premature death of the diseased animals. These findings suggest that ensheathing glia play a vital role in regulating brain health and animal longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain ScienceInstitutes of Brain Science, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Emily J. Shields
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Urology and Institute of NeuropathologyMedical Center–University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Janko Gospocic
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Urology and Institute of NeuropathologyMedical Center–University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Masato Sorida
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Linyang Ju
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - China N. Byrns
- Medical Scientist Training ProgramUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Neuroscience Graduate GroupUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Faith Carranza
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Shelley L. Berger
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of GeneticsUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Nancy Bonini
- Neuroscience Graduate GroupUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Roberto Bonasio
- Epigenetics InstituteUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Department of Urology and Institute of NeuropathologyMedical Center–University of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
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Ye C, Behnke JA, Hardin KR, Zheng JQ. Drosophila melanogaster as a model to study age and sex differences in brain injury and neurodegeneration after mild head trauma. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1150694. [PMID: 37077318 PMCID: PMC10106652 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1150694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Repetitive physical insults to the head, including those that elicit mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), are a known risk factor for a variety of neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Although most individuals who sustain mTBI typically achieve a seemingly full recovery within a few weeks, a subset experience delayed-onset symptoms later in life. As most mTBI research has focused on the acute phase of injury, there is an incomplete understanding of mechanisms related to the late-life emergence of neurodegeneration after early exposure to mild head trauma. The recent adoption of Drosophila-based brain injury models provides several unique advantages over existing preclinical animal models, including a tractable framework amenable to high-throughput assays and short relative lifespan conducive to lifelong mechanistic investigation. The use of flies also provides an opportunity to investigate important risk factors associated with neurodegenerative conditions, specifically age and sex. In this review, we survey current literature that examines age and sex as contributing factors to head trauma-mediated neurodegeneration in humans and preclinical models, including mammalian and Drosophila models. We discuss similarities and disparities between human and fly in aging, sex differences, and pathophysiology. Finally, we highlight Drosophila as an effective tool for investigating mechanisms underlying head trauma-induced neurodegeneration and for identifying therapeutic targets for treatment and recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changtian Ye
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Joseph A. Behnke
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Katherine R. Hardin
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - James Q. Zheng
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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12
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Contreras EG, Klämbt C. The Drosophila blood-brain barrier emerges as a model for understanding human brain diseases. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 180:106071. [PMID: 36898613 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106071] [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: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The accurate regulation of the microenvironment within the nervous system is one of the key features characterizing complex organisms. To this end, neural tissue has to be physically separated from circulation, but at the same time, mechanisms must be in place to allow controlled transport of nutrients and macromolecules into and out of the brain. These roles are executed by cells of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) found at the interface of circulation and neural tissue. BBB dysfunction is observed in several neurological diseases in human. Although this can be considered as a consequence of diseases, strong evidence supports the notion that BBB dysfunction can promote the progression of brain disorders. In this review, we compile the recent evidence describing the contribution of the Drosophila BBB to the further understanding of brain disease features in human patients. We discuss the function of the Drosophila BBB during infection and inflammation, drug clearance and addictions, sleep, chronic neurodegenerative disorders and epilepsy. In summary, this evidence suggests that the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, can be successfully employed as a model to disentangle mechanisms underlying human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban G Contreras
- University of Münster, Institute of Neuro- and Behavioral Biology, Badestr. 9, Münster, Germany.
| | - Christian Klämbt
- University of Münster, Institute of Neuro- and Behavioral Biology, Badestr. 9, Münster, Germany.
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13
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Katzenberger RJ, Ganetzky B, Wassarman DA. Lissencephaly-1 mutations enhance traumatic brain injury outcomes in Drosophila. Genetics 2023; 223:iyad008. [PMID: 36683334 PMCID: PMC9991514 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad008] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes vary greatly among individuals, but most of the variation remains unexplained. Using a Drosophila melanogaster TBI model and 178 genetically diverse lines from the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP), we investigated the role that genetic variation plays in determining TBI outcomes. Following injury at 20-27 days old, DGRP lines varied considerably in mortality within 24 h ("early mortality"). Additionally, the disparity in early mortality resulting from injury at 20-27 vs 0-7 days old differed among DGRP lines. These data support a polygenic basis for differences in TBI outcomes, where some gene variants elicit their effects by acting on aging-related processes. Our genome-wide association study of DGRP lines identified associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in Lissencephaly-1 (Lis-1) and Patronin and early mortality following injury at 20-27 days old. Lis-1 regulates dynein, a microtubule motor required for retrograde transport of many cargoes, and Patronin protects microtubule minus ends against depolymerization. While Patronin mutants did not affect early mortality, Lis-1 compound heterozygotes (Lis-1x/Lis-1y) had increased early mortality following injury at 20-27 or 0-7 days old compared with Lis-1 heterozygotes (Lis-1x/+), and flies that survived 24 h after injury had increased neurodegeneration but an unaltered lifespan, indicating that Lis-1 affects TBI outcomes independently of effects on aging. These data suggest that Lis-1 activity is required in the brain to ameliorate TBI outcomes through effects on axonal transport, microtubule stability, and other microtubule proteins, such as tau, implicated in chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a TBI-associated neurodegenerative disease in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeccah J Katzenberger
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Barry Ganetzky
- Department of Genetics, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - David A Wassarman
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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14
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Bhasiin K, Heintz O, Colodner KJ. Optimization and Technical Considerations for the Dye-Exclusion Protocol Used to Assess Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity in Adult Drosophila melanogaster. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031886. [PMID: 36768206 PMCID: PMC9916281 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031886] [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: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a multicellular construct that regulates the diffusion and transport of metabolites, ions, toxins, and inflammatory mediators into and out of the central nervous system (CNS). Its integrity is essential for proper brain physiology, and its breakdown has been shown to contribute to neurological dysfunction. The BBB in vertebrates exists primarily through the coordination between endothelial cells, pericytes, and astrocytes, while invertebrates, which lack a vascularized circulatory system, typically have a barrier composed of glial cells that separate the CNS from humoral fluids. Notably, the invertebrate barrier is molecularly and functionally analogous to the vertebrate BBB, and the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is increasingly recognized as a useful model system in which to investigate barrier function. The most widely used technique to assess barrier function in the fly is the dye-exclusion assay, which involves monitoring the infiltration of a fluorescent-coupled dextran into the brain. In this study, we explore analytical and technical considerations of this procedure that yield a more reliable assessment of barrier function, and we validate our findings using a traumatic injury model. Together, we have identified parameters that optimize the dye-exclusion assay and provide an alternative framework for future studies examining barrier function in Drosophila.
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15
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Kundu S, Singh S. What Happens in TBI? A Wide Talk on Animal Models and Future Perspective. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1139-1164. [PMID: 35794772 PMCID: PMC10286592 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666220706094248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global healthcare concern and a leading cause of death. The most common causes of TBI include road accidents, sports injuries, violence in warzones, and falls. TBI induces neuronal cell death independent of age, gender, and genetic background. TBI survivor patients often experience long-term behavioral changes like cognitive and emotional changes. TBI affects social activity, reducing the quality and duration of life. Over the last 40 years, several rodent models have been developed to mimic different clinical outcomes of human TBI for a better understanding of pathophysiology and to check the efficacy of drugs used for TBI. However, promising neuroprotective approaches that have been used preclinically have been found to be less beneficial in clinical trials. So, there is an urgent need to find a suitable animal model for establishing a new therapeutic intervention useful for TBI. In this review, we have demonstrated the etiology of TBI and post- TBI social life alteration, and also discussed various preclinical TBI models of rodents, zebrafish, and drosophila.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satyabrata Kundu
- Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Shamsher Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
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16
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Damage-responsive neuro-glial clusters coordinate the recruitment of dormant neural stem cells in Drosophila. Dev Cell 2022; 57:1661-1675.e7. [PMID: 35716661 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Recruitment of stem cells is crucial for tissue repair. Although stem cell niches can provide important signals, little is known about mechanisms that coordinate the engagement of disseminated stem cells across an injured tissue. In Drosophila, adult brain lesions trigger local recruitment of scattered dormant neural stem cells suggesting a mechanism for creating a transient stem cell activation zone. Here, we find that injury triggers a coordinated response in neuro-glial clusters that promotes the spread of a neuron-derived stem cell factor via glial secretion of the lipocalin-like transporter Swim. Strikingly, swim is induced in a Hif1-α-dependent manner in response to brain hypoxia. Mammalian Swim (Lcn7) is also upregulated in glia of the mouse hippocampus upon brain injury. Our results identify a central role of neuro-glial clusters in promoting neural stem cell activation at a distance, suggesting a conserved function of the HIF1-α/Swim/Wnt module in connecting injury-sensing and regenerative outcomes.
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17
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Delventhal R, Wooder ER, Basturk M, Sattar M, Lai J, Bolton D, Muthukumar G, Ulgherait M, Shirasu-Hiza MM. Dietary restriction ameliorates TBI-induced phenotypes in Drosophila melanogaster. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9523. [PMID: 35681073 PMCID: PMC9184478 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13128-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects millions annually and is associated with long-term health decline. TBI also shares molecular and cellular hallmarks with neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), typically increasing in prevalence with age, and is a major risk factor for developing neurodegeneration later in life. While our understanding of genes and pathways that underlie neurotoxicity in specific NDs has advanced, we still lack a complete understanding of early molecular and physiological changes that drive neurodegeneration, particularly as an individual ages following a TBI. Recently Drosophila has been introduced as a model organism for studying closed-head TBI. In this paper, we deliver a TBI to flies early in adult life, and then measure molecular and physiological phenotypes at short-, mid-, and long-term timepoints following the injury. We aim to identify the timing of changes that contribute to neurodegeneration. Here we confirm prior work demonstrating a TBI-induced decline in lifespan, and present evidence of a progressive decline in locomotor function, robust acute and modest chronic neuroinflammation, and a late-onset increase in protein aggregation. We also present evidence of metabolic dysfunction, in the form of starvation sensitivity and decreased lipids, that persists beyond the immediate injury response, but does not differ long-term. An intervention of dietary restriction (DR) partially ameliorates some TBI-induced phenotypes, including lifespan and locomotor function, though it does not alter the pattern of starvation sensitivity of injured flies. In the future, molecular pathways identified as altered following TBI—particularly in the short-, or mid-term—could present potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Delventhal
- Department of Biology, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL, 60045, USA.
| | - Emily R Wooder
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Maylis Basturk
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Mohima Sattar
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Jonathan Lai
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Danielle Bolton
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Gayathri Muthukumar
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Matthew Ulgherait
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Mimi M Shirasu-Hiza
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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18
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Johnson-Schlitz D, Fischer JA, Schiffman HJ, Scharenbrock AR, Olufs ZPG, Wassarman DA, Perouansky M. Anesthetic Preconditioning of Traumatic Brain Injury Is Ineffective in a Drosophila Model of Obesity. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2022; 381:229-235. [PMID: 35347062 PMCID: PMC9190232 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.000997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that obesity influences the pharmacodynamics of volatile general anesthetics (VGAs) by comparing effects of anesthetic exposure on mortality from traumatic brain injury (TBI) in lean and obese Drosophila melanogaster We induced TBI with a high-impact trauma device. Starvation-selection over multiple generations resulted in an obese phenotype (SS flies). Fed flies served as lean controls (FC flies). Adult (1-8-day-old) SS and FC flies were exposed to equianesthetic doses of isoflurane or sevoflurane either before or after TBI. The principal outcome was percent mortality 24 hours after injury, expressed as the Mortality Index at 24 hours (MI24). TBI resulted in a lower MI24 in FC than in SS flies [21 (2.35) and 57.8 (2.14), respectively n = 12, P = 0.0001]. Pre-exposure to isoflurane or sevoflurane preconditioned FC flies to TBI, reducing the risk of death to 0.53 (0.25 to 1.13) and 0.82 (0.43 to 1.58), respectively, but had no preconditioning effect in SS flies. Postexposure to isoflurane or sevoflurane increased the risk of death in SS flies, but only postexposure to isoflurane increased the risk in FC flies [1.39 (0.81 to 2.38)]. Thus, obesity affects the pharmacodynamics of VGAs, thwarting the preconditioning effect of isoflurane and sevoflurane in TBI. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Inadvertent preconditioning in models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a recognized confounder. The findings in a fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) model of closed-head TBI indicate that anesthetic pharmacodynamics are profoundly affected by obesity. Specifically, obesity thwarts the brain-protective effect of anesthetic preconditioning. This finding is important for experimental studies of TBI and supports the versatility of the fruit fly as a model for the exploration of anesthetic pharmacodynamics in a wide parameter space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dena Johnson-Schlitz
- Department of Anesthesiology (D.J.-S., J.A.F., H.J.S., A.R.S., Z.P.G.O., M.P.) and Department of Medical Genetics (D.A.W.), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Julie A Fischer
- Department of Anesthesiology (D.J.-S., J.A.F., H.J.S., A.R.S., Z.P.G.O., M.P.) and Department of Medical Genetics (D.A.W.), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Hannah J Schiffman
- Department of Anesthesiology (D.J.-S., J.A.F., H.J.S., A.R.S., Z.P.G.O., M.P.) and Department of Medical Genetics (D.A.W.), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Amanda R Scharenbrock
- Department of Anesthesiology (D.J.-S., J.A.F., H.J.S., A.R.S., Z.P.G.O., M.P.) and Department of Medical Genetics (D.A.W.), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Zachariah P G Olufs
- Department of Anesthesiology (D.J.-S., J.A.F., H.J.S., A.R.S., Z.P.G.O., M.P.) and Department of Medical Genetics (D.A.W.), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - David A Wassarman
- Department of Anesthesiology (D.J.-S., J.A.F., H.J.S., A.R.S., Z.P.G.O., M.P.) and Department of Medical Genetics (D.A.W.), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Misha Perouansky
- Department of Anesthesiology (D.J.-S., J.A.F., H.J.S., A.R.S., Z.P.G.O., M.P.) and Department of Medical Genetics (D.A.W.), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
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19
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Aggarwal P, Thapliyal D, Sarkar S. The past and present of Drosophila models of Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 371:109533. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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20
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van Alphen B, Stewart S, Iwanaszko M, Xu F, Li K, Rozenfeld S, Ramakrishnan A, Itoh TQ, Sisobhan S, Qin Z, Lear BC, Allada R. Glial immune-related pathways mediate effects of closed head traumatic brain injury on behavior and lethality in Drosophila. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001456. [PMID: 35081110 PMCID: PMC8791498 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In traumatic brain injury (TBI), the initial injury phase is followed by a secondary phase that contributes to neurodegeneration, yet the mechanisms leading to neuropathology in vivo remain to be elucidated. To address this question, we developed a Drosophila head-specific model for TBI termed Drosophila Closed Head Injury (dCHI), where well-controlled, nonpenetrating strikes are delivered to the head of unanesthetized flies. This assay recapitulates many TBI phenotypes, including increased mortality, impaired motor control, fragmented sleep, and increased neuronal cell death. TBI results in significant changes in the transcriptome, including up-regulation of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). To test the in vivo functional role of these changes, we examined TBI-dependent behavior and lethality in mutants of the master immune regulator NF-κB, important for AMP induction, and found that while sleep and motor function effects were reduced, lethality effects were enhanced. Similarly, loss of most AMP classes also renders flies susceptible to lethal TBI effects. These studies validate a new Drosophila TBI model and identify immune pathways as in vivo mediators of TBI effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart van Alphen
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Samuel Stewart
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Marta Iwanaszko
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Preventive Medicine—Biostatistics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Fangke Xu
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Keyin Li
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Sydney Rozenfeld
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Anujaianthi Ramakrishnan
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Taichi Q. Itoh
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Shiju Sisobhan
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Zuoheng Qin
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Bridget C. Lear
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Ravi Allada
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
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21
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Shoemaker AR, Jones IE, Jeffris KD, Gabrielli G, Togliatti AG, Pichika R, Martin E, Kiskinis E, Franz CK, Finan J. Biofidelic dynamic compression of human cortical spheroids reproduces neurotrauma phenotypes. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:273823. [PMID: 34746950 PMCID: PMC8713991 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.048916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fundamental questions about patient heterogeneity and human-specific pathophysiology currently obstruct progress towards a therapy for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Human in vitro models have the potential to address these questions. 3D spheroidal cell culture protocols for human-origin neural cells have several important advantages over their 2D monolayer counterparts. Three dimensional spheroidal cultures may mature more quickly, develop more biofidelic electrophysiological activity and/or reproduce some aspects of brain architecture. Here, we present the first human in vitro model of non-penetrating TBI employing 3D spheroidal cultures. We used a custom-built device to traumatize these spheroids in a quantifiable, repeatable and biofidelic manner and correlated the heterogeneous, mechanical strain field with the injury phenotype. Trauma reduced cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential and spontaneous, synchronous, electrophysiological activity in the spheroids. Electrophysiological deficits emerged at lower injury severities than changes in cell viability. Also, traumatized spheroids secreted lactate dehydrogenase, a marker of cell damage, and neurofilament light chain, a promising clinical biomarker of neurotrauma. These results demonstrate that 3D human in vitro models can reproduce important phenotypes of neurotrauma in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron R Shoemaker
- Department of Neurosurgery, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Ian E Jones
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kira D Jeffris
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Gina Gabrielli
- Department of Neurosurgery, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL, USA
| | | | - Rajeswari Pichika
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Eric Martin
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Evangelos Kiskinis
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Colin K Franz
- Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.,The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - John Finan
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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22
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Buhlman LM, Krishna G, Jones TB, Thomas TC. Drosophila as a model to explore secondary injury cascades after traumatic brain injury. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 142:112079. [PMID: 34463269 PMCID: PMC8458259 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophilae are emerging as a valuable model to study traumatic brain injury (TBI)-induced secondary injury cascades that drive persisting neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative pathology that imposes significant risk for long-term neurological deficits. As in mammals, TBI in Drosophila triggers axonal injury, metabolic crisis, oxidative stress, and a robust innate immune response. Subsequent neurodegeneration stresses quality control systems and perpetuates an environment for neuroprotection, regeneration, and delayed cell death via highly conserved cell signaling pathways. Fly injury models continue to be developed and validated for both whole-body and head-specific injury to isolate, evaluate, and modulate these parallel pathways. In conjunction with powerful genetic tools, the ability for longitudinal evaluation, and associated neurological deficits that can be tested with established behavioral tasks, Drosophilae are an attractive model to explore secondary injury cascades and therapeutic intervention after TBI. Here, we review similarities and differences between mammalian and fly pathophysiology and highlight strategies for their use in translational neurotrauma research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori M Buhlman
- Biomedical Sciences Program, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA.
| | - Gokul Krishna
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA; Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - T Bucky Jones
- Department of Anatomy, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Theresa Currier Thomas
- Department of Child Health, University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA; Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
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23
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Behnke JA, Ye C, Moberg KH, Zheng JQ. A protocol to detect neurodegeneration in Drosophila melanogaster whole-brain mounts using advanced microscopy. STAR Protoc 2021; 2:100689. [PMID: 34382016 PMCID: PMC8339312 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster is an excellent model organism to study neurodegeneration. Assessing evident neurodegeneration within the fly brain involves the laborious preparation of thin-sectioned H&E-stained heads to visualize brain vacuole degeneration. Here, we present an advanced microscopy-based protocol, without the need for sectioning, to detect vacuole degeneration within whole fly brains by applying commonly used stains to reveal the brain parenchyma. This approach preserves the whole-brain architecture and enables rapid, reproducible, and quantitative analyses of vacuole-like degeneration associated with specific brain regions. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Behnke et al. (2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Behnke
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Changtian Ye
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Kenneth H Moberg
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - James Q Zheng
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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24
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Saikumar J, Bonini NM. Synergistic effects of brain injury and aging: common mechanisms of proteostatic dysfunction. Trends Neurosci 2021; 44:728-740. [PMID: 34301397 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The aftermath of TBI is associated with an acute stress response and the accumulation of insoluble protein aggregates. Even after the symptoms of TBI are resolved, insidious molecular processes continue to develop, which often ultimately result in the development of age-associated neurodegenerative disorders. The precise molecular cascades that drive unhealthy brain aging are still largely unknown. In this review, we discuss proteostatic dysfunction as a converging mechanism contributing to accelerated brain aging after TBI. We examine evidence from human tissue and in vivo animal models, spanning both the aging and injury contexts. We conclude that TBI has a sustained debilitating effect on the proteostatic machinery, which may contribute to the accelerated pathological and cognitive hallmarks of aging that are observed following injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janani Saikumar
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nancy M Bonini
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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25
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Byrns CN, Saikumar J, Bonini NM. Glial AP1 is activated with aging and accelerated by traumatic brain injury. NATURE AGING 2021; 1:585-597. [PMID: 34723199 PMCID: PMC8553014 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-021-00072-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of degenerative disease after traumatic brain injury is often described as an acceleration of normal age-related processes. Whether similar molecular processes occur after injury and in age is unclear. Here we identify a functionally dynamic and lasting transcriptional response in glia, mediated by the conserved transcription factor AP1. In the early post-TBI period, glial AP1 is essential for recovery, ensuring brain integrity and animal survival. In sharp contrast, chronic AP1 activation promotes human tau pathology, tissue loss, and mortality. We show a similar process activates in healthy fly brains with age. In humans, AP1 activity is detected after moderate TBI and correlates with microglial activation and tau pathology. Our data provide key molecular insight into glia, highlighting that the same molecular process drives dynamic and contradictory glia behavior in TBI, and possibly age, first acting to protect but chronically promoting disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- China N Byrns
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Janani Saikumar
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nancy M Bonini
- Neuroscience Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Madry H, Grässel S, Nöth U, Relja B, Bernstein A, Docheva D, Kauther MD, Katthagen JC, Bader R, van Griensven M, Wirtz DC, Raschke MJ, Huber-Lang M. The future of basic science in orthopaedics and traumatology: Cassandra or Prometheus? Eur J Med Res 2021; 26:56. [PMID: 34127057 PMCID: PMC8200553 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-021-00521-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Orthopaedic and trauma research is a gateway to better health and mobility, reflecting the ever-increasing and complex burden of musculoskeletal diseases and injuries in Germany, Europe and worldwide. Basic science in orthopaedics and traumatology addresses the complete organism down to the molecule among an entire life of musculoskeletal mobility. Reflecting the complex and intertwined underlying mechanisms, cooperative research in this field has discovered important mechanisms on the molecular, cellular and organ levels, which subsequently led to innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that reduced individual suffering as well as the burden on the society. However, research efforts are considerably threatened by economical pressures on clinicians and scientists, growing obstacles for urgently needed translational animal research, and insufficient funding. Although sophisticated science is feasible and realized in ever more individual research groups, a main goal of the multidisciplinary members of the Basic Science Section of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery is to generate overarching structures and networks to answer to the growing clinical needs. The future of basic science in orthopaedics and traumatology can only be managed by an even more intensified exchange between basic scientists and clinicians while fuelling enthusiasm of talented junior scientists and clinicians. Prioritized future projects will master a broad range of opportunities from artificial intelligence, gene- and nano-technologies to large-scale, multi-centre clinical studies. Like Prometheus in the ancient Greek myth, transferring the elucidating knowledge from basic science to the real (clinical) world will reduce the individual suffering from orthopaedic diseases and trauma as well as their socio-economic impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henning Madry
- Institute of Experimental Orthopaedics and Osteoarthritis Research, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Grässel
- Experimental Orthopedics, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Nöth
- Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Evangelisches Waldkrankenhaus Berlin Spandau, Berlin, Germany
| | - Borna Relja
- Experimental Radiology, University Clinic for Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Anke Bernstein
- G.E.R.N. Research Center for Tissue Replacement, Regeneration & Neogenesis, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Medical Center - Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Breisgau, Germany
| | - Denitsa Docheva
- Experimental Trauma Surgery, Department of Trauma Surgery, University Regensburg Medical Centre, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Max Daniel Kauther
- Department of Trauma-, Hand- and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jan Christoph Katthagen
- Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Rainer Bader
- Department of Orthopaedics, Research Lab for Biomechanics and Implant Technology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Martijn van Griensven
- Department of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, MERLN-Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Dieter C Wirtz
- Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Hopsital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael J Raschke
- Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Markus Huber-Lang
- Institute for Clinical and Experimental Trauma-Immunology (ITI), University Hospital Ulm, Helmholzstr. 8/1, Ulm, Germany.
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Behnke JA, Ye C, Setty A, Moberg KH, Zheng JQ. Repetitive mild head trauma induces activity mediated lifelong brain deficits in a novel Drosophila model. Sci Rep 2021; 11:9738. [PMID: 33958652 PMCID: PMC8102574 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89121-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild head trauma, including concussion, can lead to chronic brain dysfunction and degeneration but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we developed a novel head impact system to investigate the long-term effects of mild head trauma on brain structure and function, as well as the underlying mechanisms in Drosophila melanogaster. We find that Drosophila subjected to repetitive head impacts develop long-term deficits, including impaired startle-induced climbing, progressive brain degeneration, and shortened lifespan, all of which are substantially exacerbated in female flies. Interestingly, head impacts elicit an elevation in neuronal activity and its acute suppression abrogates the detrimental effects in female flies. Together, our findings validate Drosophila as a suitable model system for investigating the long-term effects of mild head trauma, suggest an increased vulnerability to brain injury in female flies, and indicate that early altered neuronal excitability may be a key mechanism linking mild brain trauma to chronic degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Behnke
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Changtian Ye
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Aayush Setty
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Kenneth H Moberg
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - James Q Zheng
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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Willes AM, Krcmarik TR, Daughtry AE, Brusich DJ. Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury causes synergistic effects on mortality. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2021; 2021:10.17912/micropub.biology.000356. [PMID: 33474534 PMCID: PMC7812388 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Repetitive mild TBI (rmTBI) events are common in the U.S. However, rmTBI is challenging to study and this contributes to a poor understanding of mechanistic bases for disease following these injuries. We used fruit flies (D. melanogaster) and a modified version of the high-impact trauma (HIT) method of TBI to assess the pattern of mortality observed after rmTBI. We found that the pattern of mortality was synergistic after a critical number of injuries, similar to that observed previously at more moderate levels of TBI severity. The identity of cellular and molecular factors which contribute to the synergistic effect on mortality remain unknown, but this model offers a platform for investigation into such factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Douglas J Brusich
- University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, Green Bay, WI USA,
Correspondence to: Douglas J Brusich ()
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29
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Inducing different severities of traumatic brain injury in Drosophila using a piezoelectric actuator. Nat Protoc 2020; 16:263-282. [PMID: 33277631 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-00415-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Drosophila models have been instrumental in providing insights into molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, with wide application to human disease. The brain degeneration associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been modeled in Drosophila using devices that inflict trauma on multiple parts of the fly body, including the head. However, the injuries produced by these models are not specific in location and are inconsistent between individual animals. We have recently developed a device that can be used to inflict controlled head injury to flies, resulting in physiological responses that are remarkably similar to those observed in humans with TBI. This protocol describes the construction, calibration and use of the Drosophila TBI (dTBI) device, a platform that employs a piezoelectric actuator to reproducibly deliver a force in order to briefly compress the fly head against a metal surface. The extent of head compression can be controlled through an electrical circuit, allowing the operator to set different levels of injury. The entire device can be assembled and calibrated in under a week. The device components and the necessary electrical tools are readily available and cost ~$800. The dTBI device can be used to harness the power of Drosophila genetics and perform large-scale genetic or pharmacological screens, using a 7-d post-injury survival curve to identify modifiers of injury.
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30
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Swanson LC, Trujillo EA, Thiede GH, Katzenberger RJ, Shishkova E, Coon JJ, Ganetzky B, Wassarman DA. Survival Following Traumatic Brain Injury in Drosophila Is Increased by Heterozygosity for a Mutation of the NF-κB Innate Immune Response Transcription Factor Relish. Genetics 2020; 216:1117-1136. [PMID: 33109529 PMCID: PMC7768241 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.120.303776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) pathologies are caused by primary and secondary injuries. Primary injuries result from physical damage to the brain, and secondary injuries arise from cellular responses to primary injuries. A characteristic cellular response is sustained activation of inflammatory pathways commonly mediated by nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) transcription factors. Using a Drosophila melanogaster TBI model, we previously found that the main proximal transcriptional response to primary injuries is triggered by activation of Toll and Imd innate immune response pathways that engage NF-κB factors Dif and Relish (Rel), respectively. Here, we found by mass spectrometry that Rel protein level increased in fly heads at 4-8 hr after TBI. To investigate the necessity of Rel for secondary injuries, we generated a null allele, Reldel , by CRISPR/Cas9 editing. When heterozygous but not homozygous, the Reldel mutation reduced mortality at 24 hr after TBI and increased the lifespan of injured flies. Additionally, the effect of heterozygosity for Reldel on mortality was modulated by genetic background and diet. To identify genes that facilitate effects of Reldel on TBI outcomes, we compared genome-wide mRNA expression profiles of uninjured and injured +/+, +/Reldel , and Reldel /Reldel flies at 4 hr following TBI. Only a few genes changed expression more than twofold in +/Reldel flies relative to +/+ and Reldel /Reldel flies, and they were not canonical innate immune response genes. Therefore, Rel is necessary for TBI-induced secondary injuries but in complex ways involving Rel gene dose, genetic background, diet, and possibly small changes in expression of innate immune response genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C Swanson
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Edna A Trujillo
- Department of Chemistry, College of Letters & Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- National Center for Quantitative Biology of Complex Systems, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Gene H Thiede
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Rebeccah J Katzenberger
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Evgenia Shishkova
- National Center for Quantitative Biology of Complex Systems, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Joshua J Coon
- Department of Chemistry, College of Letters & Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- National Center for Quantitative Biology of Complex Systems, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - Barry Ganetzky
- Department of Genetics, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
| | - David A Wassarman
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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