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Bolívar S, Sanz E, Ovelleiro D, Zochodne DW, Udina E. Neuron-specific RNA-sequencing reveals different responses in peripheral neurons after nerve injury. eLife 2024; 12:RP91316. [PMID: 38742628 PMCID: PMC11093584 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Peripheral neurons are heterogeneous and functionally diverse, but all share the capability to switch to a pro-regenerative state after nerve injury. Despite the assumption that the injury response is similar among neuronal subtypes, functional recovery may differ. Understanding the distinct intrinsic regenerative properties between neurons may help to improve the quality of regeneration, prioritizing the growth of axon subpopulations to their targets. Here, we present a comparative analysis of regeneration across four key peripheral neuron populations: motoneurons, proprioceptors, cutaneous mechanoreceptors, and nociceptors. Using Cre/Ai9 mice that allow fluorescent labeling of neuronal subtypes, we found that nociceptors showed the greater regeneration after a sciatic crush, followed by motoneurons, mechanoreceptors, and, finally, proprioceptors. By breeding these Cre mice with Ribotag mice, we isolated specific translatomes and defined the regenerative response of these neuronal subtypes after axotomy. Only 20% of the regulated genes were common, revealing a diverse response to injury among neurons, which was also supported by the differential influence of neurotrophins among neuron subtypes. Among differentially regulated genes, we proposed MED12 as a specific regulator of the regeneration of proprioceptors. Altogether, we demonstrate that the intrinsic regenerative capacity differs between peripheral neuron subtypes, opening the door to selectively modulate these responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bolívar
- Institute of Neurosciences, and Department Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBellaterraSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadridSpain
| | - Elisenda Sanz
- Institute of Neurosciences, and Department Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBellaterraSpain
| | - David Ovelleiro
- Peripheral Nervous System, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d'Hebron Hospital Universitari, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital CampusBarcelonaSpain
| | - Douglas W Zochodne
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and the Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of AlbertaEdmontonCanada
| | - Esther Udina
- Institute of Neurosciences, and Department Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaBellaterraSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIMadridSpain
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Manuel MTA, Tayo LL. Navigating the Gene Co-Expression Network and Drug Repurposing Opportunities for Brain Disorders Associated with Neurocognitive Impairment. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1564. [PMID: 38002524 PMCID: PMC10669457 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13111564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurocognitive impairment refers to a spectrum of disorders characterized by a decline in cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving, which are often linked to structural or functional abnormalities in the brain. While its exact etiology remains elusive, genetic factors play a pivotal role in disease onset and progression. This study aimed to identify highly correlated gene clusters (modules) and key hub genes shared across neurocognition-impairing diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD), HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), and glioma. Herein, the microarray datasets AD (GSE5281), HAND (GSE35864), glioma (GSE15824), and PD (GSE7621) were used to perform Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to identify highly preserved modules across the studied brain diseases. Through gene set enrichment analysis, the shared modules were found to point towards processes including neuronal transcriptional dysregulation, neuroinflammation, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial dysfunction, hallmarks of many neurocognitive disorders. These modules were used in constructing protein-protein interaction networks to identify hub genes shared across the diseases of interest. These hub genes were found to play pivotal roles in processes including protein homeostasis, cell cycle regulation, energy metabolism, and signaling, all associated with brain and CNS diseases, and were explored for their drug repurposing experiments. Drug repurposing based on gene signatures highlighted drugs including Dorzolamide and Oxybuprocaine, which were found to modulate the expression of the hub genes in play and may have therapeutic implications in neurocognitive disorders. While both drugs have traditionally been used for other medical purposes, our study underscores the potential of a combined WGCNA and drug repurposing strategy for searching for new avenues in the simultaneous treatment of different diseases that have similarities in gene co-expression networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathew Timothy Artuz Manuel
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering and Sciences, Mapúa University, Manila City 1002, Philippines;
- School of Graduate Studies, Mapúa University, Manila City 1002, Philippines
| | - Lemmuel L. Tayo
- School of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering and Sciences, Mapúa University, Manila City 1002, Philippines;
- School of Graduate Studies, Mapúa University, Manila City 1002, Philippines
- Department of Biology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mapúa University, Makati City 1200, Philippines
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Dahlin LB. The Dynamics of Nerve Degeneration and Regeneration in a Healthy Milieu and in Diabetes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15241. [PMID: 37894921 PMCID: PMC10607341 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Appropriate animal models, mimicking conditions of both health and disease, are needed to understand not only the biology and the physiology of neurons and other cells under normal conditions but also under stress conditions, like nerve injuries and neuropathy. In such conditions, understanding how genes and different factors are activated through the well-orchestrated programs in neurons and other related cells is crucial. Knowledge about key players associated with nerve regeneration intended for axonal outgrowth, migration of Schwann cells with respect to suitable substrates, invasion of macrophages, appropriate conditioning of extracellular matrix, activation of fibroblasts, formation of endothelial cells and blood vessels, and activation of other players in healthy and diabetic conditions is relevant. Appropriate physical and chemical attractions and repulsions are needed for an optimal and directed regeneration and are investigated in various nerve injury and repair/reconstruction models using healthy and diabetic rat models with relevant blood glucose levels. Understanding dynamic processes constantly occurring in neuropathies, like diabetic neuropathy, with concomitant degeneration and regeneration, requires advanced technology and bioinformatics for an integrated view of the behavior of different cell types based on genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and imaging at different visualization levels. Single-cell-transcriptional profile analysis of different cells may reveal any heterogeneity among key players in peripheral nerves in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars B. Dahlin
- Department of Translational Medicine—Hand Surgery, Lund University, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden; ; Tel.: +46-40-33-17-24
- Department of Hand Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
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Boato F, Guan X, Zhu Y, Ryu Y, Voutounou M, Rynne C, Freschlin CR, Zumbo P, Betel D, Matho K, Makarov SN, Wu Z, Son YJ, Nummenmaa A, Huang JZ, Edwards DJ, Zhong J. Activation of MAP2K signaling by genetic engineering or HF-rTMS promotes corticospinal axon sprouting and functional regeneration. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eabq6885. [PMID: 36599003 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq6885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Facilitating axon regeneration in the injured central nervous system remains a challenging task. RAF-MAP2K signaling plays a key role in axon elongation during nervous system development. Here, we show that conditional expression of a constitutively kinase-activated BRAF in mature corticospinal neurons elicited the expression of a set of transcription factors previously implicated in the regeneration of zebrafish retinal ganglion cell axons and promoted regeneration and sprouting of corticospinal tract (CST) axons after spinal cord injury in mice. Newly sprouting axon collaterals formed synaptic connections with spinal interneurons, resulting in improved recovery of motor function. Noninvasive suprathreshold high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) activated the BRAF canonical downstream effectors MAP2K1/2 and modulated the expression of a set of regeneration-related transcription factors in a pattern consistent with that induced by BRAF activation. HF-rTMS enabled CST axon regeneration and sprouting, which was abolished in MAP2K1/2 conditional null mice. These data collectively demonstrate a central role of MAP2K signaling in augmenting the growth capacity of mature corticospinal neurons and suggest that HF-rTMS might have potential for treating spinal cord injury by modulating MAP2K signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Boato
- Molecular Regeneration and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Xiaofei Guan
- Molecular Regeneration and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yanjie Zhu
- Molecular Regeneration and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Youngjae Ryu
- Molecular Regeneration and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mariel Voutounou
- Molecular Regeneration and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Christopher Rynne
- Molecular Regeneration and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Chase R Freschlin
- Molecular Regeneration and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Paul Zumbo
- Applied Bioinformatics Core, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Doron Betel
- Applied Bioinformatics Core, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Katie Matho
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Sergey N Makarov
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA
| | - Zhuhao Wu
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Young-Jin Son
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Aapo Nummenmaa
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Josh Z Huang
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.,Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Dylan J Edwards
- Molecular Regeneration and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.,Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Elkins Park, PA 19027, USA.,Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19108, USA.,Exercise Medicine Research Institute, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup 6027, Australia
| | - Jian Zhong
- Molecular Regeneration and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Poitras T, Zochodne DW. Unleashing Intrinsic Growth Pathways in Regenerating Peripheral Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13566. [PMID: 36362354 PMCID: PMC9654452 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Common mechanisms of peripheral axon regeneration are recruited following diverse forms of damage to peripheral nerve axons. Whether the injury is traumatic or disease related neuropathy, reconnection of axons to their targets is required to restore function. Supporting peripheral axon regrowth, while not yet available in clinics, might be accomplished from several directions focusing on one or more of the complex stages of regrowth. Direct axon support, with follow on participation of supporting Schwann cells is one approach, emphasized in this review. However alternative approaches might include direct support of Schwann cells that instruct axons to regrow, manipulation of the inflammatory milieu to prevent ongoing bystander axon damage, or use of inflammatory cytokines as growth factors. Axons may be supported by a growing list of growth factors, extending well beyond the classical neurotrophin family. The understanding of growth factor roles continues to expand but their impact experimentally and in humans has faced serious limitations. The downstream signaling pathways that impact neuron growth have been exploited less frequently in regeneration models and rarely in human work, despite their promise and potency. Here we review the major regenerative signaling cascades that are known to influence adult peripheral axon regeneration. Within these pathways there are major checkpoints or roadblocks that normally check unwanted growth, but are an impediment to robust growth after injury. Several molecular roadblocks, overlapping with tumour suppressor systems in oncology, operate at the level of the perikarya. They have impacts on overall neuron plasticity and growth. A second approach targets proteins that largely operate at growth cones. Addressing both sites might offer synergistic benefits to regrowing neurons. This review emphasizes intrinsic aspects of adult peripheral axon regeneration, emphasizing several molecular barriers to regrowth that have been studied in our laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Douglas W. Zochodne
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G3, Canada
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