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Imran Sajid M, Sultan Sheikh F, Anis F, Nasim N, Sumbria RK, Nauli SM, Kumar Tiwari R. siRNA drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer's disease. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114968. [PMID: 37353152 PMCID: PMC10528676 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with a few FDA-approved drugs that provide modest symptomatic benefits and only two FDA-approved disease-modifying treatments for AD. The advancements in understanding the causative genes and non-coding sequences at the molecular level of the pathophysiology of AD have resulted in several exciting research papers that employed small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapy. Although siRNA is being sought by academia and biopharma industries, several challenges still need to be addressed. We comprehensively report the latest advances in AD pathophysiology, druggable targets, ongoing clinical trials, and the siRNA-based approaches across the blood-brain barrier for addressing AD. This review describes the latest delivery systems employed to address this barrier. Critical insights and future perspectives on siRNA therapy for AD are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Imran Sajid
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA 92618, USA; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Fahad Sultan Sheikh
- Shifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Faiza Anis
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Nourina Nasim
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Syed Baber Ali School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences, 54792 Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Rachita K Sumbria
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA 92618, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92868, USA
| | - Surya M Nauli
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
| | - Rakesh Kumar Tiwari
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, CA 92618, USA.
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Skalny AV, Aschner M, Silina EV, Stupin VA, Zaitsev ON, Sotnikova TI, Tazina SI, Zhang F, Guo X, Tinkov AA. The Role of Trace Elements and Minerals in Osteoporosis: A Review of Epidemiological and Laboratory Findings. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1006. [PMID: 37371586 DOI: 10.3390/biom13061006] [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: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to review recent epidemiological and clinical data on the association between selected minerals and trace elements and osteoporosis, as well as to discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations. We have performed a search in the PubMed-Medline and Google Scholar databases using the MeSH terms "osteoporosis", "osteogenesis", "osteoblast", "osteoclast", and "osteocyte" in association with the names of particular trace elements and minerals through 21 March 2023. The data demonstrate that physiological and nutritional levels of trace elements and minerals promote osteogenic differentiation through the up-regulation of BMP-2 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, as well as other pathways. miRNA and epigenetic effects were also involved in the regulation of the osteogenic effects of trace minerals. The antiresorptive effect of trace elements and minerals was associated with the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis. At the same time, the effect of trace elements and minerals on bone health appeared to be dose-dependent with low doses promoting an osteogenic effect, whereas high doses exerted opposite effects which promoted bone resorption and impaired bone formation. Concomitant with the results of the laboratory studies, several clinical trials and epidemiological studies demonstrated that supplementation with Zn, Mg, F, and Sr may improve bone quality, thus inducing antiosteoporotic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anatoly V Skalny
- Laboratory of Ecobiomonitoring and Quality Control, Yaroslavl State University, 150003 Yaroslavl, Russia
- Center of Bioelementology and Human Ecology, Institute of Biodesign and Modeling of Complex Systems, Department of Therapy of the Institute of Postgraduate Education, IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Ekaterina V Silina
- Center of Bioelementology and Human Ecology, Institute of Biodesign and Modeling of Complex Systems, Department of Therapy of the Institute of Postgraduate Education, IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Victor A Stupin
- Department of Hospital Surgery No. 1, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Oleg N Zaitsev
- Department of Physical Education, Yaroslavl State Technical University, 150023 Yaroslavl, Russia
| | - Tatiana I Sotnikova
- Center of Bioelementology and Human Ecology, Institute of Biodesign and Modeling of Complex Systems, Department of Therapy of the Institute of Postgraduate Education, IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119435 Moscow, Russia
- City Clinical Hospital n. a. S.P. Botkin of the Moscow City Health Department, 125284 Moscow, Russia
| | - Serafima Ia Tazina
- Center of Bioelementology and Human Ecology, Institute of Biodesign and Modeling of Complex Systems, Department of Therapy of the Institute of Postgraduate Education, IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Feng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Xiong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Alexey A Tinkov
- Laboratory of Ecobiomonitoring and Quality Control, Yaroslavl State University, 150003 Yaroslavl, Russia
- Center of Bioelementology and Human Ecology, Institute of Biodesign and Modeling of Complex Systems, Department of Therapy of the Institute of Postgraduate Education, IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119435 Moscow, Russia
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Jin J, Li L, Wang Y, Li K, Qian A, Li W, Liu Q, Wen C, Liu Q, Yan G, Xue F. Estrogen alleviates acute and chronic itch in mice. Exp Ther Med 2023; 25:255. [PMID: 37153887 PMCID: PMC10155243 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.11954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Itching is associated with various skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis and allergic dermatitis, and leads to repeated scratching behavior and unpleasant sensation. Although clinical and laboratory research data have shown that estrogen is involved in regulating itch, the molecular and cellular basis of estrogen in itch sensation remains elusive. In the present study, it was found that estrogen-treated mice exhibited reduced scratching bouts when challenged with histamine, chloroquine, the proteinase-activated receptor-2 activating peptide SLIGRL-NH2 (SLIGRL), compound 48/80, and 5-hydroxytryptamine when compared with mice in the placebo group. Moreover, estrogen also suppressed scratching bouts in the mouse model of chronic itch induced by acetone-ether-water treatment. Notably, consistent with the behavioral tests, the present RNA-seq analysis showed that estrogen treatment caused significantly reduced expression levels of itch-related molecules such as Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor member A3, neuromedin B and natriuretic polypeptide b. In addition, estradiol attenuated histamine-induced and chloroquine-induced calcium influx in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Collectively, the data of the present study suggested that estrogen modulates the expression of itch-related molecules and suppresses both acute and chronic itch in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhua Jin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100144, P.R. China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Anatomy, Yanbian University of Medicine, Yanji, Jilin 133002, P.R. China
| | - Yuhui Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100144, P.R. China
| | - Keyan Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100144, P.R. China
| | - Aihua Qian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China
| | - Weiou Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100144, P.R. China
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, P.R. China
| | - Chao Wen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100144, P.R. China
| | - Quanle Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100144, P.R. China
| | - Guanghai Yan
- Department of Anatomy, Yanbian University of Medicine, Yanji, Jilin 133002, P.R. China
- Correspondence to: Dr Fushan Xue, Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, 95 Yong-An Road, Xi-Cheng, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Fushan Xue
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
- Correspondence to: Dr Fushan Xue, Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, 95 Yong-An Road, Xi-Cheng, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
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Mazid S, Waters EM, Lopez-Lee C, Poultan Kamakura R, Rubin BR, Levin ER, McEwen BS, Milner TA. Both Nuclear and Membrane Estrogen Receptor Alpha Impact the Expression of Estrogen Receptors and Plasticity Markers in the Mouse Hypothalamus and Hippocampus. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:632. [PMID: 37106832 PMCID: PMC10135777 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Estrogens via estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) genomic and nongenomic signaling can influence plasticity processes in numerous brain regions. Using mice that express nuclear only ERα (NOER) or membrane only ERα (MOER), this study examined the effect of receptor compartmentalization on the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) and the hippocampus. The absence of nuclear and membrane ERα expression impacted females but not males in these two brain areas. In the PVN, quantitative immunohistochemistry showed that the absence of nuclear ERα increased nuclear ERβ. Moreover, in the hippocampus CA1, immuno-electron microscopy revealed that the absence of either nuclear or membrane ERα decreased extranuclear ERα and pTrkB in synapses. In contrast, in the dentate gyrus, the absence of nuclear ERα increased pTrkB in synapses, whereas the absence of membrane ERα decreased pTrkB in axons. However, the absence of membrane only ERα decreased the sprouting of mossy fibers in CA3 as reflected by changes in zinc transporter immunolabeling. Altogether these findings support the idea that both membrane and nuclear ERα contribute overlapping and unique actions of estrogen that are tissue- and cellular-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanoara Mazid
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 407 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. Waters
- Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Chloe Lopez-Lee
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 407 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Renata Poultan Kamakura
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 407 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Batsheva R. Rubin
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 407 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ellis R. Levin
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, 3205 McGaugh Hall, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA
| | - Bruce S. McEwen
- Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Teresa A. Milner
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 407 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Vesicular Zinc Modulates Cell Proliferation and Survival in the Developing Hippocampus. Cells 2023; 12:cells12060880. [PMID: 36980221 PMCID: PMC10047515 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In the brain, vesicular zinc, which refers to a subset of zinc that is sequestered into synaptic vesicles by zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3), has extensive effects on neuronal signalling and modulation. Vesicular zinc-focused research has mainly been directed to its role in the hippocampus, particularly in adult neurogenesis. However, whether vesicular zinc is involved in modulating neurogenesis during the early postnatal period has been less studied. As a first step to understanding this, we used ZnT3 knockout (KO) mice, which lack ZnT3 and, thus, vesicular zinc, to evaluate cell proliferation at three different age points spanning postnatal development (P6, P14, and P28). The survival and the neuronal phenotype of these cells was also assessed in adulthood. We found that male ZnT3 KO mice exhibited lower rates of cell proliferation at P14, but a greater number of these cells survived to adulthood. Additionally, significantly more cells labelled on P6 survived to adulthood in male and female ZnT3 KO mice. We also found sex-dependent differences, whereby male mice showed higher levels of cell proliferation at P28, as well as higher levels of cell survival for P14-labelled cells, compared to female mice. However, female mice showed greater percentages of neuronal differentiation for P14-labelled cells. Finally, we found significant effects of age of BrdU injections on cell proliferation, survival, and neuronal differentiation. Collectively, our results suggest that the loss of vesicular zinc affects normal proliferation and survival of cells born at different age points during postnatal development and highlight prominent sex- and age-dependent differences. Our findings provide the foundation for future studies to further probe the role of vesicular zinc in the modulation of developmental neurogenesis.
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Extracellular zinc regulates contextual fear memory formation in male rats through MMP-BDNF-TrkB pathway in dorsal hippocampus and basolateral amygdala. Behav Brain Res 2023; 439:114230. [PMID: 36442645 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Large amount of zinc (100 µM even up to 300 µM) is released from the nerve terminals in response to high frequency neuronal stimulation in certain brain regions including hippocampus and amygdala. However, its precise pharmacological effect is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of extracellular zinc (endogenous zinc) and exogenous zinc in memory formation using contextual fear conditioning (CFC) model. Male Sprague Dawley rats were trained for fear conditioning followed by in vivo microdialysis for collection of microdialysate samples from CA1 and CA3 regions of hippocampus and basolateral amygdala (BLA). Extracellular zinc chelator CaEDTA, BDNF scavenger TrkB-Fc, exogenous 7,8-DHF and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) inhibitor were infused into the CA1 and CA3 regions of hippocampus and BLA after CFC. Different doses of exogenous zinc hydroaspartate were administered intraperitoneally immediately after CFC. We found that CFC increased the level of extracellular zinc in the hippocampus and BLA. Infusing the CaEDTA, TrkB-Fc and MMP inhibitor into the CA1 and CA3 regions of hippocampus and BLA disrupted the fear memory formation. Furthermore, administration of TrKB agonist 7,8-DHF reversed the inhibitory effect of CaEDTA on fear memory formation, suggesting that extracellular zinc may regulate fear memory formation via the BDNF-TrKB pathway. We also found that high dose of exogenous zinc hydroaspartate supplementation increased extracellular zinc levels in brain and enhanced fear memory formation. Altogether, these findings indicate that extracellular zinc may participate in formation of contextual fear memory through MMP-BDNF-TrkB pathway in the hippocampus and BLA.
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Rychlik M, Starowicz G, Starnowska-Sokol J, Mlyniec K. The Zinc-sensing Receptor (GPR39) Modulates Declarative Memory and Age-related Hippocampal Gene Expression in Male Mice. Neuroscience 2022; 503:1-16. [PMID: 36087899 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
As a neuromodulator, zinc regulates synaptic plasticity, learning and memory. Synaptic zinc is also a crucial factor in the development of toxic forms of amyloid beta protein and, subsequently, of Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Therefore, efforts to pinpoint mechanisms underlying zinc-dependent cognitive functions might aid AD research, by providing potential novel targets for drugs. One of the most understudied proteins in this regard is a zinc-sensing metabotropic receptor: GPR39. In this study we investigated the impact of GPR39 knock-out (KO) on age-related memory decline in mice of both sexes, by comparing them to age-matched wild-type (WT) littermates. We also tested the effects of a GPR39 agonist (TC-G 1008) on declarative memory of old animals, and its disruption in adult mice. We observed episodic-like memory (ELM) and spatial memory (SM) deficits in male GPR39 KO mice, as well as intact procedural memory in GPR39 KO mice regardless of age and sex. ELM was also absent in old WT male mice, and all female mice regardless of their genotype. Acute application of TC-G 1008 (10 mg/kg) reversed a deficit in two of three ELM components in old WT male mice, and had no promnesic effect on consolidation interference of ELM in adult WT mice. We discuss the possible neurobiological mechanisms and the translational value of these results for potential add-on pharmacotherapy of AD aimed at the zinc-sensing receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Rychlik
- Department of Pharmacobiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, PL 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Gabriela Starowicz
- Department of Pharmacobiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, PL 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Joanna Starnowska-Sokol
- Department of Pharmacobiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, PL 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Mlyniec
- Department of Pharmacobiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, PL 30-688 Krakow, Poland
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Liu T, Bowen RL, Wilson AC, Atwood CS. Estropause, Sex Hormones and Metal Homeostasis in the Mouse Brain. Front Neurol 2022; 13:841822. [PMID: 35645980 PMCID: PMC9130555 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.841822] [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: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in brain metal ion homeostasis have been reported with aging and are implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. To assess whether age-related changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) hormones might be involved in modulating brain metal ion homeostasis, we treated 7.5-month intact, sham-ovariecomized and ovariectomized C57B6SJL mice with vehicle or leuprolide acetate (for 9-months) to differentiate between whether sex steroids or gonadotropins might modulate brain metal ion concentrations. Unlike other aging mammals, there was no increase in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations following estropause in mice, suggesting there was sufficient residual production by the follicle depleted ovary, of sex steroids like estrogens and protein hormones like the inhibins, in order to suppress pituitary LH/FSH production. Castration on the other hand induced significant increases in circulating LH and FSH. Modulation of plasma sex steroid and gonadotropin levels did not significantly alter the concentrations of brain metals tested (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Ni, Al, Li), although there was a tendency for a decrease in all brain metals following ovariectomy (low estrogens and progesterone, high gonadotropins), a response that was reversed with leuprolide acetate treatment (low sex steroids, low gonadotropins). Brain Cu concentration was the only metal correlated with plasma LH (−0.37, n = 30, p < 0.05) and FSH (−0.42, n = 29, p < 0.01). This study demonstrates that sex hormones do not markedly alter brain metal ion homeostasis, unlike previously reported studies of circulating metal ion homeostasis. The role of gonadotropins in regulating metal ion homeostasis does however warrant further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianbing Liu
- Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
| | | | - Andrea C. Wilson
- Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Craig S. Atwood
- Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Administration Hospital, Madison, WI, United States
- School of Exercise, Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
- *Correspondence: Craig S. Atwood
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Sandoval KC, Thackray SE, Wong A, Niewinski N, Chipak C, Rehal S, Dyck RH. Lack of Vesicular Zinc Does Not Affect the Behavioral Phenotype of Polyinosinic:Polycytidylic Acid-Induced Maternal Immune Activation Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:769322. [PMID: 35273483 PMCID: PMC8902171 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.769322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Zinc is important in neural and synaptic development and neuronal transmission. Within the brain, zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) is essential for zinc uptake into vesicles. Loss of vesicular zinc has been shown to produce neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD)-like behavior, such as decreased social interaction and increased anxiety- and repetitive-like behavior. Maternal immune activation (MIA) has been identified as an environmental factor for NDDs, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia (SZ), in offspring, which occurs during pregnancy when the mother’s immune system reacts to the exposure to viruses or infectious diseases. In this study, we investigated the interaction effect of a genetic factor [ZnT3 knockout (KO) mice] and an environmental factor (MIA). We induced MIA in pregnant female (dams) mice during mid-gestation, using polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (polyI:C), which mimics a viral infection. Male and female ZnT3 KO and wild-type (WT) offspring were tested in five behavioral paradigms: Ultrasonic Vocalizations (USVs) at postnatal day 9 (P9), Open Field Test, Marble Burying Test, three-Chamber Social Test, and Pre-pulse Inhibition (PPI) in adulthood (P60–75). Our results indicate that loss of vesicular zinc does not result in enhanced ASD- and SZ-like phenotype compared to WT, nor does it show a more pronounced phenotype in male ZnT3 KO compared to female ZnT3 KO. Finally, MIA offspring demonstrated an ASD- and SZ-like phenotype only in specific behavioral tests: increased calls emitted in USVs and fewer marbles buried. Our results suggest that there is no interaction between the loss of vesicular zinc and MIA induction in the susceptibility to developing an ASD- and SZ-like phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katy Celina Sandoval
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Sarah E. Thackray
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Alison Wong
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Nicole Niewinski
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Colten Chipak
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Suhkjinder Rehal
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Richard H. Dyck
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- *Correspondence: Richard H. Dyck,
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Csikós A, Kozma B, Pór Á, Kovács I, Lampé R, Miklós I, Takacs P. Zinc Transporter 9 (SLC30A9) Expression Is Decreased in the Vaginal Tissues of Menopausal Women. Biol Trace Elem Res 2021; 199:4011-4019. [PMID: 33409913 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-020-02525-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Our aim was to compare zinc transporter (ZnT/SLC30A, and ZIP/SLC39A) expression between pre- and postmenopausal women in human vaginal tissues. Zinc transporter families are responsible for the maintenance of intracellular zinc concentrations. Zinc has significant effects on the extracellular matrix composition. Vaginal wall biopsies were obtained from seven premenopausal and seven postmenopausal women. mRNA expression of twenty-four zinc transporters was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Zinc transporter expression at the protein level was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Student's t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare data. ZnT4 and ZnT9 mRNA expression were significantly lower in postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal women (mean ± SD mRNA expression in relative units, 96.43 ± 140.61 vs. 410.59 ± 304.34, p = 0.03 and 0.62 ± 0.39 vs. 1.13 ± 0.31, p = 0.02). In addition, ZIP2, ZIP3, and ZIP6 mRNA expressions were significantly lower in postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal women (mean ± SD mRNA expression in relative units, 1.11 ± 0.61 vs. 2.29 ± 1.20, p = 0.04; 2.32 ± 1.90 vs. 15.82 ± 12.97, p = 0.02 and 1.10 ± 0.80 vs. 5.73 ± 4.72, p = 0.03). ZnT9 protein expression in the stratum spinosum was significantly lower in postmenopausal women (p = 0.012). Zinc transporters were expressed differentially in the vaginal tissues. ZnT9 expression was significantly lower in postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anett Csikós
- Molecular Biology Group, FemPharma, LLC, Vígkedvű Mihály utca 21. II/5, Debrecen, 4024, Hungary.
| | - Bence Kozma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Pór
- Department of Pathology, Gyula Kenézy County Hospital, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Ilona Kovács
- Department of Pathology, Gyula Kenézy County Hospital, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Rudolf Lampé
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Ida Miklós
- Department of Genetics and Applied Microbiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Peter Takacs
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
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Paul V, Krishnakumar S, Gowd GS, Nair SV, Koyakutty M, Paul-Prasanth B. Sex-Dependent Bioaccumulation of Nano Zinc Oxide and Its Adverse Effects on Sexual Behavior and Reproduction in Japanese Medaka. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2021; 4:7408-7421. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Vinod Paul
- Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi 682041, India
| | | | | | - Shantikumar V. Nair
- Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi 682041, India
| | - Manzoor Koyakutty
- Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi 682041, India
| | - Bindhu Paul-Prasanth
- Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi 682041, India
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12
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Krall RF, Tzounopoulos T, Aizenman E. The Function and Regulation of Zinc in the Brain. Neuroscience 2021; 457:235-258. [PMID: 33460731 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Nearly sixty years ago Fredrich Timm developed a histochemical technique that revealed a rich reserve of free zinc in distinct regions of the brain. Subsequent electron microscopy studies in Timm- stained brain tissue found that this "labile" pool of cellular zinc was highly concentrated at synaptic boutons, hinting a possible role for the metal in synaptic transmission. Although evidence for activity-dependent synaptic release of zinc would not be reported for another twenty years, these initial findings spurred decades of research into zinc's role in neuronal function and revealed a diverse array of signaling cascades triggered or regulated by the metal. Here, we delve into our current understanding of the many roles zinc plays in the brain, from influencing neurotransmission and sensory processing, to activating both pro-survival and pro-death neuronal signaling pathways. Moreover, we detail the many mechanisms that tightly regulate cellular zinc levels, including metal binding proteins and a large array of zinc transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca F Krall
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA; Pittsburgh Hearing Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA; Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA
| | - Thanos Tzounopoulos
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA; Pittsburgh Hearing Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA.
| | - Elias Aizenman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA; Pittsburgh Hearing Research Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA; Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA.
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13
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Lei P, Ayton S, Bush AI. The essential elements of Alzheimer's disease. J Biol Chem 2020; 296:100105. [PMID: 33219130 PMCID: PMC7948403 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.008207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) directed against the prominent amyloid plaque neuropathology are yet to be proved effective despite many phase 3 clinical trials. There are several other neurochemical abnormalities that occur in the AD brain that warrant renewed emphasis as potential therapeutic targets for this disease. Among those are the elementomic signatures of iron, copper, zinc, and selenium. Here, we review these essential elements of AD for their broad potential to contribute to Alzheimer’s pathophysiology, and we also highlight more recent attempts to translate these findings into therapeutics. A reinspection of large bodies of discovery in the AD field, such as this, may inspire new thinking about pathogenesis and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Lei
- Department of Neurology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, P.R. China; Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Scott Ayton
- Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ashley I Bush
- Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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14
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Datki Z, Galik-Olah Z, Janosi-Mozes E, Szegedi V, Kalman J, Hunya ÁG, Fulop L, Tamano H, Takeda A, Adlard PA, Bush AI. Alzheimer risk factors age and female sex induce cortical Aβ aggregation by raising extracellular zinc. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:2728-2741. [PMID: 32518388 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0800-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Aging and female sex are the major risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and its associated brain amyloid-β (Aβ) neuropathology, but the mechanisms mediating these risk factors remain uncertain. Evidence indicates that Aβ aggregation by Zn2+ released from glutamatergic neurons contributes to amyloid neuropathology, so we tested whether aging and sex adversely influences this neurophysiology. Using acute hippocampal slices, we found that extracellular Zn2+-elevation induced by high K+ stimulation was significantly greater with older (65 weeks vs 10 weeks old) rats, and was exaggerated in females. This was driven by slower reuptake of extracellular Zn2+, which could be recapitulated by mitochondrial intoxication. Zn2+:Aβ aggregates were toxic to the slices, but Aβ alone was not. Accordingly, high K+ caused synthetic human Aβ added to the slices to form soluble oligomers as detected by bis-ANS, attaching to neurons and inducing toxicity, with older slices being more vulnerable. Age-dependent energy failure impairing Zn2+ reuptake, and a higher maximal capacity for Zn2+ release by females, could contribute to age and sex being major risk factors for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsolt Datki
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6725, Hungary.
| | - Zita Galik-Olah
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6725, Hungary
| | | | - Viktor Szegedi
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Janos Kalman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6725, Hungary
| | - Ákos Gábor Hunya
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Livia Fulop
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Haruna Tamano
- Department of Neurophysiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Atsushi Takeda
- Department of Neurophysiology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Paul A Adlard
- Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, and The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Ashley I Bush
- Melbourne Dementia Research Centre, Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health, and The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
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15
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Allelic variants in the zinc transporter-3 gene, SLC30A3, a candidate gene identified from gene expression studies, show gender-specific association with schizophrenia. Eur Psychiatry 2020; 29:172-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2013.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2012] [Revised: 01/30/2013] [Accepted: 05/23/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractPrevious microarray analysis of gene expression in frontal cortex showed differential expression of genes associated with synaptic function in schizophrenia compared to matched-controls in two independent cohorts. One of these genes validated in both cohorts, SLC30A3, which encodes the Zinc Transporter 3 (ZNT3), is localised to synaptic vesicles in glutamate synapses and known to be involved in cognitive function. In view of the robust depletion of SLC30A3 mRNA in two independent studies and the importance of this gene in cognitive function, we investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associations with schizophrenia could be detected in a UK case controlled schizophrenia cohort. Four SNPs were selected across this gene and genotyped in a cohort of cases and controls from East UK. We found significant associations with schizophrenia at the allelic (ORs: 1.51 to 1.57), genotype (ORs: 1.46 to 1.53) and haplotype level (P = 2.15 × 10−4). These associations proved to be gender-specific with significant effects of allele (ORs: 1.74 to 2.11), genotype (ORs: 1.78 to 2.14) and haplotype (P = 3.51 × 10−5) observed in female schizophrenia cases but not males, when split by gender. In conclusion, SNPs in SLC30A3 showed a gender-specific association with schizophrenia in this East UK cohort, which merits further investigation in other population samples.
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16
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Wiqas A, LeSauter J, Taub A, Austin RN, Silver R. Elevated zinc transporter ZnT3 in the dentate gyrus of mast cell-deficient mice. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 51:1504-1513. [PMID: 31502721 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Zinc is important in neurogenesis, but excessive levels can cause apoptosis and other pathologies leading to cognitive impairments. Mast cells are present in many brain regions including the hippocampus, an area rich in vesicular zinc. Mast cells contain zinc-rich granules and a well-developed mechanism for uptake of zinc ions; both features point to the potential for a role in zinc homeostasis. Prior work using the Timm stain supported this hypothesis, as increased labile zinc was detected in the hippocampus of mast cell-deficient mice compared to wild-type mice while no differences in total zinc were found between the two genotypes in the whole brain or other tissues. The current report further examines differences in zinc homeostasis between wild-type and mast cell-deficient mice by exploring the zinc transporter ZnT3, which transports labile zinc into synaptic vesicles. The first study used immunocytochemistry to localize ZnT3 within the mossy fibre layer of the hippocampus to determine whether there was differential expression of ZnT3 in wild-type versus mast cell-deficient mice. The second study used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine total zinc content in the whole dentate gyrus of the two genotypes. The immunocytochemical results indicate that there are higher levels of ZnT3 localized to the mossy fibre layer of the dentate gyrus of mast cell-deficient mice than in wild-type mice. The ICP-MS data reveal no differences in total zinc in dentate gyrus as a whole. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that mast cells participate in zinc homeostasis at the level of synaptic vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amen Wiqas
- Department of Biology, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Joseph LeSauter
- Department of Neuroscience, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Alana Taub
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | | | - Rae Silver
- Department of Neuroscience, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, New York.,Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York
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Chacon J, Rosas L, Cuajungco MP. ZnT3 expression levels are down-regulated in the brain of Mcoln1 knockout mice. Mol Brain 2019; 12:24. [PMID: 30914059 PMCID: PMC6434829 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-019-0446-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim Zinc is a critical divalent cation in mammalian brain, but its concentration must be strictly-controlled. Within certain subsets of glutamatergic neurons, ZnT3 (encoded by the Slc30a3 gene) facilitates the transport and storage of zinc in synaptic vesicles. It has been previously reported that Slc30a3 mRNA levels are perturbed in numerous neurodegenerative disorders. Given the growing evidence of zinc dysregulation in another neurodegenerative disease known as Mucolipidosis IV (MLIV), we hypothesized that abnormal ZnT3 expression would be observed in the brain of MLIV mouse model. Elucidating the link between abnormal ZnT3 and zinc levels could reveal the neuropathological correlates between MLIV and other age-related brain disorders. Methods Total RNAs from cortical tissues of Mucolipin-1 knockout (Mcoln1−/− KO) and Mcoln1+/+ wild-type (WT) littermate control mice were analyzed for differential gene expression (DGE) using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blot techniques were used to validate the data. Results RNA-seq analysis showed a marked decrease in baseline levels of Slc30a3 mRNA in Mcoln1−/− mice. Real-time qPCR and Western blot analyses confirmed that Slc30a3 transcripts and its protein levels were significantly reduced. Our observations add MLIV to a growing list of neurodegenerative diseases that parallels abnormal ZnT3 expression with zinc dyshomeostasis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13041-019-0446-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Chacon
- Department of Biological Science, California State University Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA, 92831, USA
| | - Lauren Rosas
- Department of Biological Science, California State University Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA, 92831, USA
| | - Math P Cuajungco
- Department of Biological Science, California State University Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA, 92831, USA. .,Center for Applied Biotechnology Studies, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA, 92831, USA.
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18
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Medeiros ADM, Silva RH. Sex Differences in Alzheimer’s Disease: Where Do We Stand? J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 67:35-60. [DOI: 10.3233/jad-180213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- André de Macêdo Medeiros
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Center of Health and Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido, Mossoró, Brazil
| | - Regina Helena Silva
- Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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19
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Wolf C, Weth A, Walcher S, Lax C, Baumgartner W. Modeling of Zinc Dynamics in the Synaptic Cleft: Implications for Cadherin Mediated Adhesion and Synaptic Plasticity. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:306. [PMID: 30233309 PMCID: PMC6131644 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While the numerous influences of synaptically released zinc on synaptic efficiency during long-term potentiation have been discussed by many authors already, we focused on the possible effect of zinc on cadherins and therefore its contribution to morphological changes in the context of synaptic plasticity. The difficulty with gaining insights into the dynamics of zinc-cadherin interaction is the inability to directly observe it on a suitable timescale. Therefore our approach was to establish an analytical model of the zinc diffusion dynamics in the synaptic cleft and experimentally validate, if the theoretical concentrations at the periphery of the synaptic cleft are sufficient to significantly modulate cadherin-mediated adhesion. Our results emphasize, that synaptically released zinc might have a strong accelerating effect on the morphological changes involved in long-term synaptic plasticity. The approach presented here might also prove useful for investigations on other synaptically released trace metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Wolf
- Institute of Medical Biomechatronics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
| | - Agnes Weth
- Institute of Medical Biomechatronics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
| | | | - Christian Lax
- Lehrstuhl A für Mathematik, RWTH-Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Werner Baumgartner
- Institute of Medical Biomechatronics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
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20
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Gagné F, Gagnon C, Turcotte P, Blaise C. Changes in Metallothionein Levels in Freshwater Mussels Exposed to Urban Wastewaters: Effects from Exposure to Heavy Metals? Biomark Insights 2017. [DOI: 10.1177/117727190700200012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Municipal effluents are complex mixtures of compounds such as heavy metals, aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, and micro-organisms and are released in aquatic ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to verify whether changes in metallothioneins (MT) were associated with the accumulation of labile metals in tissue of freshwater mussels exposed to the dispersion plume of a major municipal effluent. Mussels were placed in experimental cages deployed at sites 1.5 km upstream, 8 km downstream and 12 km downstream of the outfall of a major, primary-treated municipal effluent in the St. Lawrence River (Québec, Canada). Mussels were analysed for MT and labile zinc levels in their gonads, gills and digestive glands. Lipogenic enzyme (isocitrate and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and arachidonic acid cyclooxygenase (COX) activities were also measured in gonad and gill tissues. Although MT was induced in all the tissues examined, the results showed that labile zinc levels were significantly reduced in gill and gonad tissues, with an increase observed only at the 12 km downstream site in the digestive gland. COX activity was readily induced in gills and gonads. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was reduced at both downstream sites, but isocitrate dehydrogenase activity was significantly induced at the farthest (12 km) site. Analysis of covariance revealed that MT levels in gills were more influenced by COX activity than with distance in the dispersion plume and was negatively correlated with labile zinc levels. In conclusion, MT induction was inversely related to the levels of labile zinc but positively so with the inflammation biomarker COX. Hence, the induction of MT in mussels exposed to the municipal effluent of a large city appears to be associated with either inflammatory processes or as compensation for the loss of labile essential metals. We propose that the simple and complimentary parameters of labile zinc and COX evaluations be used to link MT induction with divalent heavy metal exposure in environmental studies dealing with various type of contaminants in such complex contaminant mixture effluents.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Gagné
- St. Lawrence Centre, Environment Canada, 105 McGill, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 2E7
| | - C. Gagnon
- St. Lawrence Centre, Environment Canada, 105 McGill, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 2E7
| | - P. Turcotte
- St. Lawrence Centre, Environment Canada, 105 McGill, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 2E7
| | - C. Blaise
- St. Lawrence Centre, Environment Canada, 105 McGill, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 2E7
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21
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McAllister BB, Dyck RH. Zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) and vesicular zinc in central nervous system function. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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22
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Bhat WF, Bhat SA, Bhat IA, Sohail A, Shah A, Bano B. Anti-fibrillogenic and fibril destabilizing effects of metal ions on cystatin fibrils. Process Biochem 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2017.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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23
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Behavioral characterization of female zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) knockout mice. Behav Brain Res 2017; 321:36-49. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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24
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Tian T, Ni H, Sun BL. Neurobehavioral Deficits in a Rat Model of Recurrent Neonatal Seizures Are Prevented by a Ketogenic Diet and Correlate with Hippocampal Zinc/Lipid Transporter Signals. Biol Trace Elem Res 2015; 167:251-8. [PMID: 25778834 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-015-0285-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The ketogenic diet (KD) has been shown to be effective as an antiepileptic therapy in adults, but it has not been extensively tested for its efficacy in neonatal seizure-induced brain damage. We have previously shown altered expression of zinc/lipid metabolism-related genes in hippocampus following penicillin-induced developmental model of epilepsy. In this study, we further investigated the effect of KD on the neurobehavioral and cognitive deficits, as well as if KD has any influence in the activity of zinc/lipid transporters such as zinc transporter 3 (ZnT-3), MT-3, ApoE, ApoJ (clusterin), and ACAT-1 activities in neonatal rats submitted to flurothyl-induced recurrent seizures. Postnatal day 9 (P9), 48 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to two groups: flurothyl-induced recurrent seizure group (EXP) and control group (CONT). On P28, they were further randomly divided into the seizure group without ketogenic diet (EXP1), seizure plus ketogenic diet (EXP2), the control group without ketogenic diet (CONT1), and the control plus ketogenic diet (CONT2). Neurological behavioral parameters of brain damage (plane righting reflex, cliff avoidance reflex, and open field test) were observed from P35 to P49. Morris water maze test was performed during P51-P57. Then hippocampal mossy fiber sprouting and the protein levels of ZnT3, MT3, ApoE, CLU, and ACAT-1 were detected by Timm staining and Western blot analysis, respectively. Flurothyl-induced neurobehavioral toxicology and aberrant mossy fiber sprouting were blocked by KD. In parallel with these behavioral changes, rats treated with KD (EXP2) showed a significant down-regulated expression of ZnT-3, MT-3, ApoE, clusterin, and ACAT-1 in hippocampus when compared with the non-KD-treated EXP1 group. Our findings provide support for zinc/lipid transporter signals being potential targets for the treatment of neonatal seizure-induced brain damage by KD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Tian
- Neurology Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, No.303, Jingde Road, Suzhou, 215003, People's Republic of China
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25
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Mot AI, Wedd AG, Sinclair L, Brown DR, Collins SJ, Brazier MW. Metal attenuating therapies in neurodegenerative disease. Expert Rev Neurother 2014; 11:1717-45. [DOI: 10.1586/ern.11.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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26
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Barnham KJ, Bush AI. Biological metals and metal-targeting compounds in major neurodegenerative diseases. Chem Soc Rev 2014; 43:6727-49. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cs00138a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 347] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Metals are functionally essential, but redistribute in neurodegenerative disease where they induce protein aggregates, catalyze radical formation, and lose bioavailability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J. Barnham
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
- The University of Melbourne
- Parkville, Australia
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute
- The University of Melbourne
| | - Ashley I. Bush
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
- The University of Melbourne
- Parkville, Australia
- Department of Pathology
- The University of Melbourne
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27
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May RM, Tabatadze N, Czech MM, Woolley CS. Estradiol regulates large dense core vesicles in the hippocampus of adult female rats. Brain Struct Funct 2013; 219:1947-54. [PMID: 23893355 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-013-0614-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Previous work has shown that the steroid hormone estradiol facilitates the release of anticonvulsant neuropeptides from inhibitory neurons in the hippocampus to suppress seizures. Because neuropeptides are packaged in large dense core vesicles, estradiol may facilitate neuropeptide release through regulation of dense core vesicles. In the current study, we used serial section electron microscopy in the hippocampal CA1 region of adult female rats to test three hypotheses about estradiol regulation of dense core vesicles: (1) Estradiol increases the number of dense core vesicles in axonal boutons, (2) Estradiol increases the size of dense core vesicles in axonal boutons, (3) Estradiol shifts the location of dense core vesicles toward the periphery of axonal boutons, potentially lowering the threshold for neuropeptide release during seizures. We found that estradiol increases the number and size of dense core vesicles in inhibitory axonal boutons, consistent with increased neuropeptide content, but does not shift the location of dense core vesicles closer to the bouton periphery. These effects were specific to large dense core vesicles (>80 nm) in inhibitory boutons. Estradiol had no effects on small dense core vesicles or dense core vesicles in excitatory boutons. Our results indicate that estradiol suppresses seizures at least in part by increasing the potentially releasable pool of neuropeptides in the hippocampus, and that estradiol facilitation of neuropeptide release involves a mechanism other than mobilization of dense core vesicles toward sites of release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renee M May
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, 2205 Tech Drive, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
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28
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Abstract
In 1906, Alois Alzheimer first characterized the disease that bears his name. Despite intensive research, which has led to a better understanding of the pathology, there is no effective treatment for this disease. Of the drugs approved by the US FDA, none are disease modifying, only symptomatic. Unfortunately, there have been a number of failed clinical trials in the past 10 years where studies show either no cognitive improvement or, worse, serious side effects associated with treatment. Hence, there is a need for the field to look at alternative approaches to therapy. In this review, we will discuss how metal dyshomeostasis occurs in aging and Alzheimer's disease. Concomitantly, we will discuss how targeting this dyshomeostasis offers an effective and novel therapeutic approach. Thus far, compounds that mediate these effects have shown great potential in both preclinical animal studies as well as in early-stage clinical trials.
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Effect of 17ß-estradiol on zinc content of hippocampal mossy fibers in ovariectomized adult rats. Biometals 2012; 25:1129-39. [PMID: 22842908 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-012-9575-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2012] [Accepted: 07/13/2012] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Sex hormones such as estrogen (17ß-estradiol) may modulate the zinc content of the hippocampus during the female estrous cycle. The mossy fiber system is highly plastic in the adult brain and is influenced by multiple factors including learning, memory, and stress. However, whether 17ß-estradiol is able to modulate the morphological plasticity of the mossy fibers throughout the estrous cycle remains unknown. Ovariectomized (Ovx) female 70- to 90-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats without or with estrogen supplement (OvxE) were compared with control rats in three stages of the estrous cycle: diestrus, proestrus, and estrus. The brain tissue from each of the five groups was processed with Timm's silver sulfide technique using the Image J program to measure the mossy fiber area in the stratum lucidum of CA3. Total zinc in the hippocampus was measured using Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Two additional (Ovx and OvxE) groups were examined in spatial learning and memory tasks using the Morris water maze. Similar increases in total zinc content and mossy fiber area were observed. The mossy fiber area decreased by 26 ± 2 % (difference ± SEM percentages) in Ovx and 23 ± 4 % in estrus as compared to the proestrus group and by 18 ± 2 % in Ovx compared to OvxE. Additionally, only the OvxE group learned and remembered the task. These results suggest that estradiol has a significant effect on zinc content in hippocampal CA3 during the proestrus stage of the estrous cycle and is associated with correct performance in learning and memory.
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Grattan BJ, Freake HC. Zinc and cancer: implications for LIV-1 in breast cancer. Nutrients 2012; 4:648-75. [PMID: 22852056 PMCID: PMC3407987 DOI: 10.3390/nu4070648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Revised: 06/07/2012] [Accepted: 06/27/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Zinc is a trace mineral which is vital for the functioning of numerous cellular processes, is critical for growth, and may play an important role in cancer etiology and outcome. The intracellular levels of this mineral are regulated through the coordinated expression of zinc transporters, which modulate both zinc influx as well as efflux. LIV-1 (ZIP6) was first described in 1988 as an estrogen regulated gene with later work suggesting a role for this transporter in cancer growth and metastasis. Despite evidence of its potential utility as a target gene for cancer prognosis and treatment, LIV-1 has received relatively little attention, with only three prior reviews being published on this topic. Herein, the physiological effects of zinc are reviewed in light of this mineral’s role in cancer growth with specific attention being given to LIV-1 and the potential importance of this transporter to breast cancer etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce J. Grattan
- Department of Family Medicine, Stony Brook University Hospital Medical Center, Stony Brook, New York, NY 11597, USA
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; (B.J.G.); (H.C.F.); Tel.: +1-631-444-8245; Fax: +1-631-444-7552
| | - Hedley C. Freake
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, USA
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; (B.J.G.); (H.C.F.); Tel.: +1-631-444-8245; Fax: +1-631-444-7552
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Lee JY, Cho E, Seo JW, Hwang JJ, Koh JY. Alteration of the cerebral zinc pool in a mouse model of Alzheimer disease. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2012; 71:211-22. [PMID: 22318122 DOI: 10.1097/nen.0b013e3182417387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic vesicle Zn is regulated by zinc transporter 3 (ZnT3) and is involved in neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity. Here, we describe extensive alterations of ZnT3-regulated Zn pools in the brains of human amyloid precursor protein-transgenic (Tg2576) mice. In contrast to wild-type littermates in which ZnT3 expression and synaptic Zn increased with age, there were age-dependent reductions in ZnT3 expression and synaptic Zn levels in the hippocampal mossy fiber area of Tg2576 mice. In these mice, a novel Zn pool and ZnT3 expression were colocalized and appeared along dystrophic neurites surrounding compact amyloid plaques that were identified by in situ blue fluorescence, congophilic birefringence, and Aβ42 immunoreactivity. Zn-specific histofluorescence and ZnT3 immunofluorescence in dystrophic neurites were also colocalized with the δ-subunit of adaptor protein complex 3, lysosome-associated membrane protein, cathepsin D, and neurofilament-containing hyperphosphorylated paired helical filaments. The synaptic vesicle marker protein synaptophysin and vesicle-associated membrane protein were not found in these neurites, suggesting a role of ZnT3 distinct from itsnormal role in synaptic Zn. ZnT3 immunoreactivity and Zn histofluorescence were also evident in activated astrocytes. These datasuggest that extensive modifications of the cerebral Zn pool, particularly synaptic Zn, may underlie neuronal dysfunction characteristic of Alzheimer disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Yong Lee
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 138-736, Republic of Korea.
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Abstract
Our understanding of the roles played by zinc in the physiological and pathological functioning of the brain is rapidly expanding. The increased availability of genetically modified animal models, selective zinc-sensitive fluorescent probes, and novel chelators is producing a remarkable body of exciting new data that clearly establishes this metal ion as a key modulator of intracellular and intercellular neuronal signaling. In this Mini-Symposium, we will review and discuss the most recent findings that link zinc to synaptic function as well as the injurious effects of zinc dyshomeostasis within the context of neuronal death associated with major human neurological disorders, including stroke, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease.
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Ingberg E, Theodorsson A, Theodorsson E, Strom JO. Methods for long-term 17β-estradiol administration to mice. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2012; 175:188-93. [PMID: 22137913 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2011.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2011] [Revised: 10/28/2011] [Accepted: 11/11/2011] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Rodent models constitute a cornerstone in the elucidation of the effects and biological mechanisms of 17β-estradiol. However, a thorough assessment of the methods for long-term administration of 17β-estradiol to mice is lacking. The fact that 17β-estradiol has been demonstrated to exert different effects depending on dose emphasizes the need for validated administration regimens. Therefore, 169 female C57BL/6 mice were ovariectomized and administered 17β-estradiol using one of the two commonly used subcutaneous methods; slow-release pellets (0.18 mg, 60-day release pellets; 0.72 mg, 90-day release pellets) and silastic capsules (with/without convalescence period, silastic laboratory tubing, inner/outer diameter: 1.575/3.175 mm, filled with a 14 mm column of 36 μg 17β-estradiol/mL sesame oil), or a novel peroral method (56 μg 17β-estradiol/day/kg body weight in the hazelnut cream Nutella). Forty animals were used as ovariectomized and intact controls. Serum samples were obtained weekly for five weeks and 17β-estradiol concentrations were measured using radioimmunoassay. The peroral method resulted in steady concentrations within--except on one occasion--the physiological range and the silastic capsules produced predominantly physiological concentrations, although exceeding the range by maximum a factor three during the first three weeks. The 0.18 mg pellet yielded initial concentrations an order of magnitude higher than the physiological range, which then decreased drastically, and the 0.72 mg pellet produced between 18 and 40 times higher concentrations than the physiological range during the entire experiment. The peroral method and silastic capsules described in this article constitute reliable modes of administration of 17β-estradiol, superior to the widely used commercial pellets.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ingberg
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine/Clinical Chemistry, Linkoping University, Linkoping SE-581 85, Sweden.
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Simm C, Luan CH, Weiss E, O'Halloran T. High-throughput screen for identifying small molecules that target fungal zinc homeostasis. PLoS One 2011; 6:e25136. [PMID: 21980385 PMCID: PMC3182986 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2011] [Accepted: 08/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to traditional antifungal drugs has increased significantly over the past three decades, making identification of novel antifungal agents and new targets an emerging priority. Based on the extraordinary zinc requirement of several fungal pathogens and their well-established sensitivity to zinc deprivation, we developed an efficient cell-based screen to identify new antifungal drugs that target the zinc homeostasis machinery. The screen is based on the zinc-regulated transcription factor Zap1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which regulates transcription of genes like the high-affinity zinc transporter ZRT1. We generated a genetically modified strain of S. cerevisae that reports intracellular zinc deficiency by placing the coding sequence of green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the Zap1-regulated ZRT1 promoter. After showing that the GFP fluorescence signal correlates with low intracellular zinc concentrations in this strain, a protocol was developed for screening small-molecule libraries for compounds that induce Zap1-dependent GFP expression. Comparison of control compounds and known modulators of metal metabolism from the library reveals a robust screen (Z′ = 0.74) and validates this approach to the discovery of new classes of antifungal compounds that interfere with the intracellular zinc homeostasis. Given that growth of many pathogenic organisms is significantly impaired by zinc limitation; these results identify new types of antifungal drugs that target critical nutrient acquisition pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Simm
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Chi-Hao Luan
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Eric Weiss
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Thomas O'Halloran
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
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Smidt K, Rungby J. ZnT3: a zinc transporter active in several organs. Biometals 2011; 25:1-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s10534-011-9490-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2011] [Accepted: 08/17/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Corona C, Frazzini V, Silvestri E, Lattanzio R, La Sorda R, Piantelli M, Canzoniero LMT, Ciavardelli D, Rizzarelli E, Sensi SL. Effects of dietary supplementation of carnosine on mitochondrial dysfunction, amyloid pathology, and cognitive deficits in 3xTg-AD mice. PLoS One 2011; 6:e17971. [PMID: 21423579 PMCID: PMC3058055 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2011] [Accepted: 02/16/2011] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The pathogenic road map leading to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still not completely understood; however, a large body of studies in the last few years supports the idea that beside the classic hallmarks of the disease, namely the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles, other factors significantly contribute to the initiation and the progression of the disease. Among them, mitochondria failure, an unbalanced neuronal redox state, and the dyshomeostasis of endogenous metals like copper, iron, and zinc have all been reported to play an important role in exacerbating AD pathology. Given these factors, the endogenous peptide carnosine may be potentially beneficial in the treatment of AD because of its free-radical scavenger and metal chelating properties. Methodology In this study, we explored the effect of L-carnosine supplementation in the 3xTg-AD mouse, an animal model of AD that shows both Aβ- and tau-dependent pathology. Principal Findings We found that carnosine supplementation in 3xTg-AD mice promotes a strong reduction in the hippocampal intraneuronal accumulation of Aβ and completely rescues AD and aging-related mitochondrial dysfunctions. No effects were found on tau pathology and we only observed a trend toward the amelioration of cognitive deficits. Conclusions and Significance Our data indicate that carnosine can be part of a combined therapeutic approach for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Corona
- Molecular Neurology Unit, Center of Excellence on Aging (Ce.S.I.), University “G. d'Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, University “G. d'Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Valerio Frazzini
- Molecular Neurology Unit, Center of Excellence on Aging (Ce.S.I.), University “G. d'Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, University “G. d'Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Elena Silvestri
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Sannio, Benevento, Italy
| | - Rossano Lattanzio
- Department of Oncology and Neuroscience, University “G. d'Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Rossana La Sorda
- Department of Oncology and Neuroscience, University “G. d'Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Mauro Piantelli
- Department of Oncology and Neuroscience, University “G. d'Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | | | - Domenico Ciavardelli
- Molecular Neurology Unit, Center of Excellence on Aging (Ce.S.I.), University “G. d'Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | | | - Stefano L. Sensi
- Molecular Neurology Unit, Center of Excellence on Aging (Ce.S.I.), University “G. d'Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, University “G. d'Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
- Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Klinger M, Sacks S, Cervero F. A role for extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 in the maintenance of persistent mechanical hyperalgesia in ovariectomized mice. Neuroscience 2011; 172:483-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2010.10.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2010] [Revised: 10/14/2010] [Accepted: 10/15/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Corona C, Masciopinto F, Silvestri E, Viscovo AD, Lattanzio R, Sorda RL, Ciavardelli D, Goglia F, Piantelli M, Canzoniero LMT, Sensi SL. Dietary zinc supplementation of 3xTg-AD mice increases BDNF levels and prevents cognitive deficits as well as mitochondrial dysfunction. Cell Death Dis 2010; 1:e91. [PMID: 21368864 PMCID: PMC3035902 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2010.73] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The overall effect of brain zinc (Zn2+) in the progression and development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still not completely understood. Although an excess of Zn2+ can exacerbate the pathological features of AD, a deficit of Zn2+ intake has also been shown to increase the volume of amyloid plaques in AD transgenic mice. In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary Zn2+ supplementation (30 p.p.m.) in a transgenic mouse model of AD, the 3xTg-AD, that expresses both β amyloid (Aβ)- and tau-dependent pathology. We found that Zn2+ supplementation greatly delays hippocampal-dependent memory deficits and strongly reduces both Aβ and tau pathology in the hippocampus. We also evaluated signs of mitochondrial dysfunction and found that Zn2+ supplementation prevents the age-dependent respiratory deficits we observed in untreated 3xTg-AD mice. Finally, we found that Zn2+ supplementation greatly increases the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) of treated 3xTg-AD mice. In summary, our data support the idea that controlling the brain Zn2+ homeostasis may be beneficial in the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Corona
- Molecular Neurology Unit-Center of Excellence on Aging, University 'G. d'Annunzio', Chieti-Pescara, Italy
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Lee JY, Cho E, Kim TY, Kim DK, Palmiter RD, Volitakis I, Kim JS, Bush AI, Koh JY. Apolipoprotein E ablation decreases synaptic vesicular zinc in the brain. Biometals 2010; 23:1085-95. [PMID: 20556483 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-010-9354-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2010] [Accepted: 06/01/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Both apolipoprotein E (apoE) and zinc are involved in amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation and deposition, in the hallmark neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies have suggested that interaction of apoE with metal ions may accelerate amyloidogenesis in the brain. Here we examined the impact of apoE deficiency on the histochemically reactive zinc pool in the brains of apoE knockout mice. While there was no change in total contents of metals (zinc, copper, and iron), the level of histochemically reactive zinc (principally synaptic zinc) was significantly reduced in the apoE-deficient brain compared to wild-type. This reduction was accompanied by reduced expressions of the presynaptic zinc transporter, ZnT3, as well as of the δ-subunit of the adaptor protein complex-3 (AP3δ), which is responsible for post-translational stability and activity of ZnT3. In addition, the level of histochemically reactive zinc was also decreased in the cerebrovascular micro-vessels of apoE-deficient mice, the site of cerebral amyloid angiopathy in AD. These results suggest that apoE may affect the cerebral free zinc pool that contributes to AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Yong Lee
- Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 138-736, Republic of Korea
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Philipson O, Lord A, Gumucio A, O'Callaghan P, Lannfelt L, Nilsson LNG. Animal models of amyloid-beta-related pathologies in Alzheimer's disease. FEBS J 2010; 277:1389-409. [PMID: 20136653 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2010.07564.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In the early 1990s, breakthrough discoveries on the genetics of Alzheimer's disease led to the identification of missense mutations in the amyloid-beta precursor protein gene. Research findings quickly followed, giving insights into molecular pathogenesis and possibilities for the development of new types of animal models. The complete toolbox of transgenic techniques, including pronuclear oocyte injection and homologous recombination, has been applied in the Alzheimer's disease field, to produce overexpressors, knockouts, knockins and regulatable transgenics. Transgenic models have dramatically advanced our understanding of pathogenic mechanisms and allowed therapeutic approaches to be tested. Following a brief introduction to Alzheimer's disease, various nontransgenic and transgenic animal models are described in terms of their values and limitations with respect to pathogenic, therapeutic and functional understandings of the human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ola Philipson
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences/Molecular Geriatrics, Uppsala University, Sweden
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Beyer N, Coulson DT, Heggarty S, Ravid R, Irvine GB, Hellemans J, Johnston JA. ZnT3 mRNA levels are reduced in Alzheimer's disease post-mortem brain. Mol Neurodegener 2009; 4:53. [PMID: 20030848 PMCID: PMC2806356 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1326-4-53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2009] [Accepted: 12/23/2009] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background ZnT3 is a membrane Zn2+ transporter that is responsible for concentrating Zn2+ into neuronal presynaptic vesicles. Zn2+ homeostasis in the brain is relevant to Alzheimer's disease (AD) because Zn2+ released during neurotransmission may bind to Aβ peptides, accelerating the assembly of Aβ into oligomers which have been shown to impair synaptic function. Results We quantified ZnT3 mRNA levels in Braak-staged human post mortem (pm) brain tissue from medial temporal gyrus, superior occipital gyrus, superior parietal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus and cerebellum from individuals with AD (n = 28), and matched controls (n = 5) using quantitative real-time PCR. ZnT3 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in all four cortical regions examined in the AD patients, to 45-60% of control levels. This reduction was already apparent at Braak stage 4 in most cortical regions examined. Quantification of neuronal and glial-specific markers in the same samples (neuron-specific enolase, NSE; and glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP) indicated that loss of cortical ZnT3 expression was more pronounced, and occurred prior to, significant loss of NSE expression in the tissue. Significant increases in cortical GFAP expression were apparent as the disease progressed. No gene expression changes were observed in the cerebellum, which is relatively spared of AD neuropathology. Conclusions This first study to quantify ZnT3 mRNA levels in human pm brain tissue from individuals with AD and controls has revealed a significant loss of ZnT3 expression in cortical regions, suggesting that neuronal cells in particular show reduced expression of ZnT3 mRNA in the disease. This suggests that altered neuronal Zn2+ handling may be an early event in AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Beyer
- Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland
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Sensi SL, Paoletti P, Bush AI, Sekler I. Zinc in the physiology and pathology of the CNS. Nat Rev Neurosci 2009; 10:780-91. [PMID: 19826435 DOI: 10.1038/nrn2734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 541] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The past few years have witnessed dramatic progress on all frontiers of zinc neurobiology. The recent development of powerful tools, including zinc-sensitive fluorescent probes, selective chelators and genetically modified animal models, has brought a deeper understanding of the roles of this cation as a crucial intra- and intercellular signalling ion of the CNS, and hence of the neurophysiological importance of zinc-dependent pathways and the injurious effects of zinc dyshomeostasis. The development of some innovative therapeutic strategies is aimed at controlling and preventing the damaging effects of this cation in neurological conditions such as stroke and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano L Sensi
- Department of Basic and Applied Medical Science, Molecular Neurology Unit, CeSI-Center for Excellence on Aging, University G. dAnnunzio, Chieti, 66013, Italy.
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Estrogen-dependent changes in visceral afferent sensitivity. Auton Neurosci 2009; 153:84-9. [PMID: 19631592 DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2009.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2009] [Revised: 07/02/2009] [Accepted: 07/03/2009] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Many forms of chronic pain are more prevalent in women and this is interpreted as the consequence of a direct role of estrogens in the modulation of pain perception. Some functional pain states, i.e. those without a clear and demonstrable pathology, are also more prevalent in women and the pain in these conditions is also modulated by hormonal variations during the menstrual cycle. Increased pain sensitivity is commonly interpreted as the consequence of peripheral or central hyperexcitability of nociceptive pathways. Therefore a role has been suggested for estrogen in the modulation of the excitability of nociceptive afferents and central neurons. The literature on the sign of this modulation is not uniform, with reports pointing to estrogen as either pro- or anti-nociceptive. In our hands, a permanent reduction in the levels of estrogen, such as that induced by surgical ovariectomy (OVX) generates a hyperalgesic state of slow onset and long duration that can be prevented or reversed by exogenous administration of estrogen. The hyperalgesia is characterized by mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia in the abdominal and pelvic regions as well as by visceral hypersensitivity. The possible role of estrogen in the prevention of chronic painful states is discussed.
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Smidt K, Jessen N, Petersen AB, Larsen A, Magnusson N, Jeppesen JB, Stoltenberg M, Culvenor JG, Tsatsanis A, Brock B, Schmitz O, Wogensen L, Bush AI, Rungby J. SLC30A3 responds to glucose- and zinc variations in beta-cells and is critical for insulin production and in vivo glucose-metabolism during beta-cell stress. PLoS One 2009; 4:e5684. [PMID: 19492079 PMCID: PMC2683566 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0005684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2008] [Accepted: 04/08/2009] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ion transporters of the Slc30A- (ZnT-) family regulate zinc fluxes into sub-cellular compartments. beta-cells depend on zinc for both insulin crystallization and regulation of cell mass. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS This study examined: the effect of glucose and zinc chelation on ZnT gene and protein levels and apoptosis in beta-cells and pancreatic islets, the effects of ZnT-3 knock-down on insulin secretion in a beta-cell line and ZnT-3 knock-out on glucose metabolism in mice during streptozotocin-induced beta-cell stress. In INS-1E cells 2 mM glucose down-regulated ZnT-3 and up-regulated ZnT-5 expression relative to 5 mM. 16 mM glucose increased ZnT-3 and decreased ZnT-8 expression. Zinc chelation by DEDTC lowered INS-1E insulin content and insulin expression. Furthermore, zinc depletion increased ZnT-3- and decreased ZnT-8 gene expression whereas the amount of ZnT-3 protein in the cells was decreased. Zinc depletion and high glucose induced apoptosis and necrosis in INS-1E cells. The most responsive zinc transporter, ZnT-3, was investigated further; by immunohistochemistry and western blotting ZnT-3 was demonstrated in INS-1E cells. 44% knock-down of ZnT-3 by siRNA transfection in INS-1E cells decreased insulin expression and secretion. Streptozotocin-treated mice had higher glucose levels after ZnT-3 knock-out, particularly in overt diabetic animals. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE Zinc transporting proteins in beta-cells respond to variations in glucose and zinc levels. ZnT-3, which is pivotal in the development of cellular changes as also seen in type 2 diabetes (e.g. amyloidosis in Alzheimer's disease) but not previously described in beta-cells, is present in this cell type, up-regulated by glucose in a concentration dependent manner and up-regulated by zinc depletion which by contrast decreased ZnT-3 protein levels. Knock-down of the ZnT-3 gene lowers insulin secretion in vitro and affects in vivo glucose metabolism after streptozotocin treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamille Smidt
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Aarhus, Århus, Denmark
| | - Niels Jessen
- Department of Endocrinology M, Aarhus University Hospital, Århus, Denmark
| | | | - Agnete Larsen
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, Århus, Denmark
| | - Nils Magnusson
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Aarhus, Århus, Denmark
| | | | - Meredin Stoltenberg
- Department of Neurobiology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, Århus, Denmark
| | - Janetta G. Culvenor
- Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew Tsatsanis
- Oxidation Biology Laboratory, Mental Health Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Birgitte Brock
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Aarhus, Århus, Denmark
| | - Ole Schmitz
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Aarhus, Århus, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology M, Aarhus University Hospital, Århus, Denmark
| | - Lise Wogensen
- Research Laboratory for Biochemical Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital, Århus, Denmark
| | - Ashley I. Bush
- Department of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Oxidation Biology Laboratory, Mental Health Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jørgen Rungby
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Aarhus, Århus, Denmark
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism C, Aarhus University Hospital, Århus, Denmark
- * E-mail:
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Fallah S, Sani FV, Firoozrai M. Effect of contraceptive pill on the selenium and zinc status of healthy subjects. Contraception 2009; 80:40-3. [PMID: 19501214 DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2009.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2008] [Revised: 11/05/2008] [Accepted: 01/22/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study was conducted to ascertain the influence of oral contraceptive pill (OCP) uptake on serum zinc and selenium in contraceptive pill users. STUDY DESIGN The concentration of zinc and selenium was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer in 50 healthy women with normal menstrual cycles as a control group and 50 women taking low-dose OCP. RESULTS The control reference values were 81.61+/-9.44 and 70.35+/-25.57 mcg/dL, which were obtained for zinc and selenium, respectively. Use of OCP resulted in a significant decrease in serum zinc levels (p</=.009, t=-3.666) and alteration of selenium levels but not significantly (p=.08, t=0.935). The duration of use beyond 3 months had no effect on the magnitude of the decrease in serum zinc levels. CONCLUSIONS These findings may be important because selenium is currently believed to offer protective benefits against carcinogenesis. It has been thought that the decrease in serum zinc could be reflected in a reduction of tissue zinc status due to changes in zinc absorption, excretion or tissue turnover. If these changes occur, the dietary zinc requirement would be greater in women using OCP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soudabeh Fallah
- Biochemistry Department of Medicine Faculty, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Estradiol facilitates the release of neuropeptide Y to suppress hippocampus-dependent seizures. J Neurosci 2009; 29:1457-68. [PMID: 19193892 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4688-08.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
About one-third of women with epilepsy have a catamenial seizure pattern, in which seizures fluctuate with the menstrual cycle. Catamenial seizures occur more frequently when the ratio of circulating estradiol to progesterone is high, suggesting that estradiol is proconvulsant. We used adult female rats to test how estradiol-induced suppression of GABAergic inhibition in the hippocampus affects behavioral seizures induced by kainic acid. As expected, estradiol decreased the latency to initiate seizures, indicating increased seizure susceptibility. At the same time, however, estradiol also shortened the duration of late-stage seizures, indicating decreased seizure severity. Additional analyses showed that the decrease in seizure severity was attributable to greater release of the anticonvulsant neuropeptide, neuropeptide Y (NPY). First, blocking hippocampal NPY during seizures eliminated the estradiol-induced decrease in seizure duration. Second, light and electron microscopic studies indicated that estradiol increases the potentially releasable pool of NPY in inhibitory presynaptic boutons and facilitates the release of NPY from inhibitory boutons during seizures. Finally, the presence of estrogen receptor-alpha on large dense-core vesicles (LDCVs) in the hippocampus suggests that estradiol could facilitate neuropeptide release by acting directly on LDCVs themselves. Understanding how estradiol regulates NPY-containing LDCVs could point to molecular targets for novel anticonvulsant therapies.
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Metals in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2008; 12:222-8. [PMID: 18342639 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2008.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 534] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2008] [Revised: 02/04/2008] [Accepted: 02/17/2008] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
There has been steadily growing interest in the participation of metal ions (especially, zinc, copper, and iron) in neurobiological processes, such as the regulation of synaptic transmission. Recent descriptions of the release of zinc and copper in the cortical glutamatergic synapse, and influencing the response of the NMDA receptor underscore the relevance of understanding the inorganic milieu of the synapse to neuroscience. Additionally, major neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, are characterized by elevated tissue iron, and miscompartmentalization of copper and zinc (e.g. accumulation in amyloid). Increasingly sophisticated medicinal chemistry approaches, which correct these metal abnormalities without causing systemic disturbance of these essential minerals, are being tested. These small molecules show promise of being disease-modifying.
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Nakashima AS, Oddo S, Laferla FM, Dyck RH. Experience-dependent regulation of vesicular zinc in male and female 3xTg-AD mice. Neurobiol Aging 2008; 31:605-13. [PMID: 18603329 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2008.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2008] [Revised: 05/08/2008] [Accepted: 05/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In the mammalian cerebral cortex, zinc is an important modulator of synaptic transmission and conversely, plasticity. Zinc is also involved, in a sex-dependent manner, in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), where substantial declines in plasticity may occur. To examine this relationship further, the regulation of vesicular zinc was examined after the induction of cortical plasticity through vibrissae plucking in male and female C57Bl/6 and 3xTg-AD mice at various age points. Female C57Bl/6 mice were found to have an elevated response compared to male C57Bl/6 mice through mid-adult ages, a sex-difference likely mediated by the differential regulation of vesicular zinc by the sex hormones. Male 3xTg-AD mice had a significantly greater zincergic response compared to C57Bl/6 mice, which is likely indicative of a compensatory mechanism utilized by the male 3xTg-AD mice to combat the decline in plasticity associated with the AD state. These results exemplify how the regulation of vesicular zinc may be a significant component in the progression of AD, especially regarding the sex-dependent element.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy S Nakashima
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
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Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in the elderly, and it is characterized by elevated brain iron levels and accumulation of copper and zinc in cerebral beta-amyloid deposits (e.g., senile plaques). Both ionic zinc and copper are able to accelerate the aggregation of Abeta, the principle component of beta-amyloid deposits. Copper (and iron) can also promote the neurotoxic redox activity of Abeta and induce oxidative cross-linking of the peptide into stable oligomers. Recent reports have documented the release of Abeta together with ionic zinc and copper in cortical glutamatergic synapses after excitation. This, in turn, leads to the formation of Abeta oligomers, which, in turn, modulates long-term potentiation by controlling synaptic levels of the NMDA receptor. The excessive accumulation of Abeta oligomers in the synaptic cleft would then be predicted to adversely affect synaptic neurotransmission. Based on these findings, we have proposed the "Metal Hypothesis of Alzheimer's Disease," which stipulates that the neuropathogenic effects of Abeta in Alzheimer's disease are promoted by (and possibly even dependent on) Abeta-metal interactions. Increasingly sophisticated pharmaceutical approaches are now being implemented to attenuate abnormal Abeta-metal interactions without causing systemic disturbance of essential metals. Small molecules targeting Abeta-metal interactions (e.g., PBT2) are currently advancing through clinical trials and show increasing promise as disease-modifying agents for Alzheimer's disease based on the "metal hypothesis."
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley I. Bush
- grid.415325.40000000115123749The Mental Health Research Institute, 155 Oak Street, 3052 Parkville, Victoria Australia
- grid.1008.9000000012179088XDepartment of Pathology, University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, 3010 Parkville, Victoria Australia
| | - Rudolph E. Tanzi
- grid.32224.350000000403869924Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 02129 Charlestown, Massachusetts
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