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Provenzano F, Torazza C, Bonifacino T, Bonanno G, Milanese M. The Key Role of Astrocytes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Their Commitment to Glutamate Excitotoxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15430. [PMID: 37895110 PMCID: PMC10607805 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last two decades, there has been increasing evidence supporting non-neuronal cells as active contributors to neurodegenerative disorders. Among glial cells, astrocytes play a pivotal role in driving amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression, leading the scientific community to focus on the "astrocytic signature" in ALS. Here, we summarized the main pathological mechanisms characterizing astrocyte contribution to MN damage and ALS progression, such as neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, energy metabolism impairment, miRNAs and extracellular vesicles contribution, autophagy dysfunction, protein misfolding, and altered neurotrophic factor release. Since glutamate excitotoxicity is one of the most relevant ALS features, we focused on the specific contribution of ALS astrocytes in this aspect, highlighting the known or potential molecular mechanisms by which astrocytes participate in increasing the extracellular glutamate level in ALS and, conversely, undergo the toxic effect of the excessive glutamate. In this scenario, astrocytes can behave as "producers" and "targets" of the high extracellular glutamate levels, going through changes that can affect themselves and, in turn, the neuronal and non-neuronal surrounding cells, thus actively impacting the ALS course. Moreover, this review aims to point out knowledge gaps that deserve further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Provenzano
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Carola Torazza
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Tiziana Bonifacino
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Marco Milanese
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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2
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Xie M, Pallegar PN, Parusel S, Nguyen AT, Wu LJ. Regulation of cortical hyperexcitability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: focusing on glial mechanisms. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:75. [PMID: 37858176 PMCID: PMC10585818 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00665-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of both upper and lower motor neurons, resulting in muscle weakness, atrophy, paralysis, and eventually death. Motor cortical hyperexcitability is a common phenomenon observed at the presymptomatic stage of ALS. Both cell-autonomous (the intrinsic properties of motor neurons) and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms (cells other than motor neurons) are believed to contribute to cortical hyperexcitability. Decoding the pathological relevance of these dynamic changes in motor neurons and glial cells has remained a major challenge. This review summarizes the evidence of cortical hyperexcitability from both clinical and preclinical research, as well as the underlying mechanisms. We discuss the potential role of glial cells, particularly microglia, in regulating abnormal neuronal activity during the disease progression. Identifying early changes such as neuronal hyperexcitability in the motor system may provide new insights for earlier diagnosis of ALS and reveal novel targets to halt the disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manling Xie
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Praveen N Pallegar
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Sebastian Parusel
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Aivi T Nguyen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Long-Jun Wu
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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3
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Torazza C, Provenzano F, Gallia E, Cerminara M, Balbi M, Bonifacino T, Tessitore S, Ravera S, Usai C, Musante I, Puliti A, Van Den Bosch L, Jafar-nejad P, Rigo F, Milanese M, Bonanno G. Genetic Downregulation of the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Type 5 Dampens the Reactive and Neurotoxic Phenotype of Adult ALS Astrocytes. Cells 2023; 12:1952. [PMID: 37566031 PMCID: PMC10416852 DOI: 10.3390/cells12151952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons (MNs). Astrocytes display a toxic phenotype in ALS, which results in MN damage. Glutamate (Glu)-mediated excitotoxicity and group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) play a pathological role in the disease progression. We previously demonstrated that in vivo genetic ablation or pharmacological modulation of mGluR5 reduced astrocyte activation and MN death, prolonged survival and ameliorated the clinical progression in the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS. This study aimed to investigate in vitro the effects of mGluR5 downregulation on the reactive spinal cord astrocytes cultured from adult late symptomatic SOD1G93A mice. We observed that mGluR5 downregulation in SOD1G93A astrocytes diminished the cytosolic Ca2+ overload under resting conditions and after mGluR5 simulation and reduced the expression of the reactive glial markers GFAP, S100β and vimentin. In vitro exposure to an anti-mGluR5 antisense oligonucleotide or to the negative allosteric modulator CTEP also ameliorated the altered reactive astrocyte phenotype. Downregulating mGluR5 in SOD1G93A mice reduced the synthesis and release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and ameliorated the cellular bioenergetic profile by improving the diminished oxygen consumption and ATP synthesis and by lowering the excessive lactate dehydrogenase activity. Most relevantly, mGluR5 downregulation hampered the neurotoxicity of SOD1G93A astrocytes co-cultured with spinal cord MNs. We conclude that selective reduction in mGluR5 expression in SOD1G93A astrocytes positively modulates the astrocyte reactive phenotype and neurotoxicity towards MNs, further supporting mGluR5 as a promising therapeutic target in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Torazza
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
| | - Francesca Provenzano
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
| | - Elena Gallia
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
| | - Maria Cerminara
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (M.C.); (A.P.)
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Matilde Balbi
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
| | - Tiziana Bonifacino
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Tessitore
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
| | - Silvia Ravera
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Via Alberti L.B. 2, 16132 Genova, Italy;
| | - Cesare Usai
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR), Via De Marini 6, 16149 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Ilaria Musante
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Aldamaria Puliti
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (M.C.); (A.P.)
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- VIB-Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA; (P.J.-n.); (F.R.)
| | - Marco Milanese
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
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4
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Valori CF, Sulmona C, Brambilla L, Rossi D. Astrocytes: Dissecting Their Diverse Roles in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Cells 2023; 12:1450. [PMID: 37296571 PMCID: PMC10252425 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are fatal neurodegenerative disorders often co-occurring in the same patient, a feature that suggests a common origin of the two diseases. Consistently, pathological inclusions of the same proteins as well as mutations in the same genes can be identified in both ALS/FTD. Although many studies have described several disrupted pathways within neurons, glial cells are also regarded as crucial pathogenetic contributors in ALS/FTD. Here, we focus our attention on astrocytes, a heterogenous population of glial cells that perform several functions for optimal central nervous system homeostasis. Firstly, we discuss how post-mortem material from ALS/FTD patients supports astrocyte dysfunction around three pillars: neuroinflammation, abnormal protein aggregation, and atrophy/degeneration. Furthermore, we summarize current attempts at monitoring astrocyte functions in living patients using either novel imaging strategies or soluble biomarkers. We then address how astrocyte pathology is recapitulated in animal and cellular models of ALS/FTD and how we used these models both to understand the molecular mechanisms driving glial dysfunction and as platforms for pre-clinical testing of therapeutics. Finally, we present the current clinical trials for ALS/FTD, restricting our discussion to treatments that modulate astrocyte functions, directly or indirectly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara F. Valori
- Molecular Neuropathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72072 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Sulmona
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Liliana Brambilla
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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5
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Balbi M, Bonanno G, Bonifacino T, Milanese M. The Physio-Pathological Role of Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Expressed by Microglia in Health and Disease with a Focus on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:5240. [PMID: 36982315 PMCID: PMC10048889 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia cells are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system. They act as the first-line immune guardians of nervous tissue and central drivers of neuroinflammation. Any homeostatic alteration that can compromise neuron and tissue integrity could activate microglia. Once activated, microglia exhibit highly diverse phenotypes and functions related to either beneficial or harmful consequences. Microglia activation is associated with the release of protective or deleterious cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors that can in turn determine defensive or pathological outcomes. This scenario is complicated by the pathology-related specific phenotypes that microglia can assume, thus leading to the so-called disease-associated microglia phenotypes. Microglia express several receptors that regulate the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory features, sometimes exerting opposite actions on microglial functions according to specific conditions. In this context, group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are molecular structures that may contribute to the modulation of the reactive phenotype of microglia cells, and this is worthy of exploration. Here, we summarize the role of group I mGluRs in shaping microglia cells' phenotype in specific physio-pathological conditions, including some neurodegenerative disorders. A significant section of the review is specifically focused on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) since it represents an entirely unexplored topic of research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Balbi
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy (M.M.)
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Tiziana Bonifacino
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy (M.M.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Milanese
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy
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6
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Brandebura AN, Paumier A, Onur TS, Allen NJ. Astrocyte contribution to dysfunction, risk and progression in neurodegenerative disorders. Nat Rev Neurosci 2023; 24:23-39. [PMID: 36316501 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-022-00641-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 126.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing appreciation that non-neuronal cells contribute to the initiation, progression and pathology of diverse neurodegenerative disorders. This Review focuses on the role of astrocytes in disorders including Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, Huntington disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The important roles astrocytes have in supporting neuronal function in the healthy brain are considered, along with studies that have demonstrated how the physiological properties of astrocytes are altered in neurodegenerative disorders and may explain their contribution to neurodegeneration. Further, the question of whether in neurodegenerative disorders with specific genetic mutations these mutations directly impact on astrocyte function, and may suggest a driving role for astrocytes in disease initiation, is discussed. A summary of how astrocyte transcriptomic and proteomic signatures are altered during the progression of neurodegenerative disorders and may relate to functional changes is provided. Given the central role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative disorders, potential strategies to target these cells for future therapeutic avenues are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Brandebura
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Adrien Paumier
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tarik S Onur
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nicola J Allen
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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7
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Oxidative Stress as a Potential Mechanism Underlying Membrane Hyperexcitability in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11081511. [PMID: 36009230 PMCID: PMC9405356 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11081511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by gradually progressive, selective loss of anatomically or physiologically related neuronal systems that produce brain damage from which there is no recovery. Despite the differences in clinical manifestations and neuronal vulnerability, the pathological processes appear to be similar, suggesting common neurodegenerative pathways. It is well known that oxidative stress and the production of reactive oxygen radicals plays a key role in neuronal cell damage. It has been proposed that this stress, among other mechanisms, could contribute to neuronal degeneration and might be one of the factors triggering the development of these pathologies. Another common feature in most neurodegenerative diseases is neuron hyperexcitability, an aberrant electrical activity. This review, focusing mainly on primary motor cortex pyramidal neurons, critically evaluates the idea that oxidative stress and inflammation may be involved in neurodegeneration via their capacity to increase membrane excitability.
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8
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Gomes C, Sequeira C, Likhite S, Dennys CN, Kolb SJ, Shaw PJ, Vaz AR, Kaspar BK, Meyer K, Brites D. Neurotoxic Astrocytes Directly Converted from Sporadic and Familial ALS Patient Fibroblasts Reveal Signature Diversities and miR-146a Theragnostic Potential in Specific Subtypes. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071186. [PMID: 35406750 PMCID: PMC8997588 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A lack of stratification methods in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is likely implicated in therapeutic failures. Regional diversities and pathophysiological abnormalities in astrocytes from mice with SOD1 mutations (mSOD1-ALS) can now be explored in human patients using somatic cell reprogramming. Here, fibroblasts from four sporadic (sALS) and three mSOD1-ALS patients were transdifferentiated into induced astrocytes (iAstrocytes). ALS iAstrocytes were neurotoxic toward HB9-GFP mouse motor neurons (MNs) and exhibited subtype stratification through GFAP, CX43, Ki-67, miR-155 and miR-146a expression levels. Up- (two cases) and down-regulated (three cases) miR-146a values in iAstrocytes were recapitulated in their secretome, either free or as cargo in small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). We previously showed that the neuroprotective phenotype of depleted miR-146 mSOD1 cortical astrocytes was reverted by its mimic. Thus, we tested such modulation in the most miR-146a-depleted patient-iAstrocytes (one sALS and one mSOD1-ALS). The miR-146a mimic in ALS iAstrocytes counteracted their reactive/inflammatory profile and restored miR-146a levels in sEVs. A reduction in lysosomal activity and enhanced synaptic/axonal transport-related genes in NSC-34 MNs occurred after co-culture with miR-146a-modulated iAstrocytes. In summary, the regulation of miR-146a in depleted ALS astrocytes may be key in reestablishing their normal function and in restoring MN lysosomal/synaptic dynamic plasticity in disease sub-groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cátia Gomes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; (C.G.); (C.S.); (A.R.V.)
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; (S.L.); (C.N.D.); (B.K.K.); (K.M.)
| | - Catarina Sequeira
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; (C.G.); (C.S.); (A.R.V.)
| | - Shibi Likhite
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; (S.L.); (C.N.D.); (B.K.K.); (K.M.)
| | - Cassandra N. Dennys
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; (S.L.); (C.N.D.); (B.K.K.); (K.M.)
| | - Stephen J. Kolb
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43214, USA;
| | - Pamela J. Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK;
| | - Ana R. Vaz
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; (C.G.); (C.S.); (A.R.V.)
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Brian K. Kaspar
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; (S.L.); (C.N.D.); (B.K.K.); (K.M.)
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Kathrin Meyer
- The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA; (S.L.); (C.N.D.); (B.K.K.); (K.M.)
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Dora Brites
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; (C.G.); (C.S.); (A.R.V.)
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medicines, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-217946450
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9
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Peggion C, Scalcon V, Massimino ML, Nies K, Lopreiato R, Rigobello MP, Bertoli A. SOD1 in ALS: Taking Stock in Pathogenic Mechanisms and the Role of Glial and Muscle Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:614. [PMID: 35453299 PMCID: PMC9032988 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11040614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. While the exact causes of ALS are still unclear, the discovery that familial cases of ALS are related to mutations in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), a key antioxidant enzyme protecting cells from the deleterious effects of superoxide radicals, suggested that alterations in SOD1 functionality and/or aberrant SOD1 aggregation strongly contribute to ALS pathogenesis. A new scenario was opened in which, thanks to the generation of SOD1 related models, different mechanisms crucial for ALS progression were identified. These include excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunctions, and non-cell autonomous toxicity, also implicating altered Ca2+ metabolism. While most of the literature considers motor neurons as primary target of SOD1-mediated effects, here we mainly discuss the effects of SOD1 mutations in non-neuronal cells, such as glial and skeletal muscle cells, in ALS. Attention is given to the altered redox balance and Ca2+ homeostasis, two processes that are strictly related with each other. We also provide original data obtained in primary myocytes derived from hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mice, showing perturbed expression of Ca2+ transporters that may be responsible for altered mitochondrial Ca2+ fluxes. ALS-related SOD1 mutants are also responsible for early alterations of fundamental biological processes in skeletal myocytes that may impinge on skeletal muscle functions and the cross-talk between muscle cells and motor neurons during disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Peggion
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.P.); (V.S.); (K.N.); (R.L.)
| | - Valeria Scalcon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.P.); (V.S.); (K.N.); (R.L.)
| | | | - Kelly Nies
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.P.); (V.S.); (K.N.); (R.L.)
- Department of Radiology, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Raffaele Lopreiato
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.P.); (V.S.); (K.N.); (R.L.)
| | - Maria Pia Rigobello
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.P.); (V.S.); (K.N.); (R.L.)
| | - Alessandro Bertoli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.P.); (V.S.); (K.N.); (R.L.)
- CNR—Neuroscience Institute, 35131 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
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10
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Wang XL, Jiang RW. Therapeutic Potential of Superoxide Dismutase Fused with Cell-Penetrating Peptides in Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases. Mini Rev Med Chem 2022; 22:2287-2298. [PMID: 35227183 DOI: 10.2174/1389557522666220228150127] [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: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a well-known cellular antioxidant enzyme. However, exogenous SOD cannot be used to protect tissues from oxidative damage due to the low permeability of the cell membrane. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are a class of short peptides that can cross the cell membrane. Recombinant fusion protein that fuses SOD protein with CPP (CPP-SOD) can cross various tissues and organs as well as the blood-brain barrier. CPP-SODs can relieve severe oxidative damage in various tissues caused by radiation, ischemia, inflammation, and chemotherapy by clearing the reactive oxygen species, reducing the expression of inflammatory factors, and inhibiting NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways. Therefore, the clinical application of CPP-SODs provide new therapeutic strategies for a variety of oxidative stress-related disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, obesity, cardiac fibrosis, and premature aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Lu Wang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, and International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Ren-Wang Jiang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, and International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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11
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Lalo U, Koh W, Lee CJ, Pankratov Y. The tripartite glutamatergic synapse. Neuropharmacology 2021; 199:108758. [PMID: 34433089 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Astroglial cells were long considered as structural and metabolic supporting cells are which do not directly participate in information processing in the brain. Discoveries of responsiveness of astrocytes to synaptically-released glutamate and their capability to release agonists of glutamate receptors awakened extensive studies of glia-neuron communications and led to the revolutionary changes in our understanding of brain cellular networks. Nowadays, astrocytes are widely acknowledged as inseparable element of glutamatergic synapses and role for glutamatergic astrocyte-neuron interactions in the brain computation is emerging. Astroglial glutamate receptors, in particular of NMDA, mGluR3 and mGluR5 types, can activate a variety of molecular cascades leading astroglial-driven modulation of extracellular levels of glutamate and activity of neuronal glutamate receptors. Their preferential location to the astroglial perisynaptic processes facilitates interaction of astrocytes with individual excitatory synapses. Bi-directional glutamatergic communication between astrocytes and neurons underpins a complex, spatially-distributed modulation of synaptic signalling thus contributing to the enrichment of information processing by the neuronal networks. Still, further research is needed to bridge the substantial gaps in our understanding of mechanisms and physiological relevance of astrocyte-neuron glutamatergic interactions, in particular ability of astrocytes directly activate neuronal glutamate receptors by releasing glutamate and, arguably, d-Serine. An emerging roles for aberrant changes in glutamatergic astroglial signalling, both neuroprotective and pathogenic, in neurological and neurodegenerative diseases also require further investigation. This article is part of the special Issue on 'Glutamate Receptors - The Glutamatergic Synapse'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulyana Lalo
- School of Life Sciences, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Kaliningrad, Russia
| | - Wuhyun Koh
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34126, South Korea
| | - C Justin Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34126, South Korea
| | - Yuriy Pankratov
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.
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12
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Van Den Herrewegen Y, Sanderson TM, Sahu S, De Bundel D, Bortolotto ZA, Smolders I. Side-by-side comparison of the effects of Gq- and Gi-DREADD-mediated astrocyte modulation on intracellular calcium dynamics and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal CA1. Mol Brain 2021; 14:144. [PMID: 34544455 PMCID: PMC8451082 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-021-00856-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes express a plethora of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are crucial for shaping synaptic activity. Upon GPCR activation, astrocytes can respond with transient variations in intracellular Ca2+. In addition, Ca2+-dependent and/or Ca2+-independent release of gliotransmitters can occur, allowing them to engage in bidirectional neuron-astrocyte communication. The development of designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) has facilitated many new discoveries on the roles of astrocytes in both physiological and pathological conditions. They are an excellent tool, as they can target endogenous GPCR-mediated intracellular signal transduction pathways specifically in astrocytes. With increasing interest and accumulating research on this topic, several discrepancies on astrocytic Ca2+ signalling and astrocyte-mediated effects on synaptic plasticity have emerged, preventing a clear-cut consensus about the downstream effects of DREADDs in astrocytes. In the present study, we performed a side-by-side evaluation of the effects of bath application of the DREADD agonist, clozapine-N-oxide (10 µM), on Gq- and Gi-DREADD activation in mouse CA1 hippocampal astrocytes. In doing so, we aimed to avoid confounding factors, such as differences in experimental procedures, and to directly compare the actions of both DREADDs on astrocytic intracellular Ca2+ dynamics and synaptic plasticity in acute hippocampal slices. We used an adeno-associated viral vector approach to transduce dorsal hippocampi of male, 8-week-old C57BL6/J mice, to drive expression of either the Gq-DREADD or Gi-DREADD in CA1 astrocytes. A viral vector lacking the DREADD construct was used to generate controls. Here, we show that agonism of Gq-DREADDs, but not Gi-DREADDs, induced consistent increases in spontaneous astrocytic Ca2+ events. Moreover, we demonstrate that both Gq-DREADD as well as Gi-DREADD-mediated activation of CA1 astrocytes induces long-lasting synaptic potentiation in the hippocampal CA1 Schaffer collateral pathway in the absence of a high frequency stimulus. Moreover, we report for the first time that astrocytic Gi-DREADD activation is sufficient to elicit de novo potentiation. Our data demonstrate that activation of either Gq or Gi pathways drives synaptic potentiation through Ca2+-dependent and Ca2+-independent mechanisms, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Van Den Herrewegen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Research Group Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thomas M Sanderson
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Tankard's Cl, University Walk, BS8 1TD, Bristol, UK
| | - Surajit Sahu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Research Group Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dimitri De Bundel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Research Group Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Zuner A Bortolotto
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Tankard's Cl, University Walk, BS8 1TD, Bristol, UK
| | - Ilse Smolders
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Research Group Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium.
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13
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Protective Effect of Penetratin Analogue-Tagged SOD1 on Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity through Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and JNK/p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:5526053. [PMID: 34471466 PMCID: PMC8405295 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5526053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) can clear cisplatin- (CP-) induced excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), but exogenous SOD1 cannot enter cells because of its low biomembrane permeability. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) can rapidly cross plasma membranes. This study is aimed at identifying an efficient and stable CPP-SOD1 and investigating its effects on CP-induced nephrotoxicity. We recombined SOD1 with 14 different CPPs and purified them using an NTA-Ni2+ column. In in vitro experiments, CPPs-SOD1 cell membrane penetration ability and JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway were evaluated using Western blotting. ROS production, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and cell apoptosis were determined using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining in VERO and HK-2 cells. For in vivo experiments, mice were administered PSF-SOD1 for 2 h before cotreatment with a single CP injection for an additional 4 days. Blood and kidney samples were collected for renal function assessment (creatinine, urea nitrogen, histopathology, TUNEL assay, and JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway). Compared with TAT-SOD1, we found that PSF-SOD1 is more efficient at crossing the cell membrane and is stable after transduction into cells. Pretreatment with PSF-SOD1 inhibited CP-induced apoptosis, ROS generation, and JNK/p38 MAPK activation and restored CP-induced MMP loss in VERO and HK-2 kidney cells. Treatment of mice with PSF-SOD1 inhibited CP-induced serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen elevation, and JNK/p38 MAPK activation. H&E staining and TUNEL assay indicated that kidney tissue damage was alleviated following PSF-SOD1 pretreatment. Overall, PSF-SOD1 ameliorated CP-induced renal damage by partially reducing oxidative stress and cell apoptosis by regulating JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway and might be a better cytoprotective agent than TAT-SOD1.
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14
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Valori CF, Possenti A, Brambilla L, Rossi D. Challenges and Opportunities of Targeting Astrocytes to Halt Neurodegenerative Disorders. Cells 2021; 10:cells10082019. [PMID: 34440788 PMCID: PMC8395029 DOI: 10.3390/cells10082019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders whose incidence is likely to duplicate in the next 30 years along with the progressive aging of the western population. Non-cell-specific therapeutics or therapeutics designed to tackle aberrant pathways within neurons failed to slow down or halt neurodegeneration. Yet, in the last few years, our knowledge of the importance of glial cells to maintain the central nervous system homeostasis in health conditions has increased exponentially, along with our awareness of their fundamental and multifaced role in pathological conditions. Among glial cells, astrocytes emerge as promising therapeutic targets in various neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we present the latest evidence showing the astonishing level of specialization that astrocytes display to fulfill the demands of their neuronal partners as well as their plasticity upon injury. Then, we discuss the controversies that fuel the current debate on these cells. We tackle evidence of a potential beneficial effect of cell therapy, achieved by transplanting astrocytes or their precursors. Afterwards, we introduce the different strategies proposed to modulate astrocyte functions in neurodegeneration, ranging from lifestyle changes to environmental cues. Finally, we discuss the challenges and the recent advancements to develop astrocyte-specific delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara F. Valori
- Molecular Neuropathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Correspondence: (C.F.V.); (D.R.); Tel.: +49-7071-9254-122 (C.F.V.); +39-0382-592064 (D.R.)
| | - Agostino Possenti
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Liliana Brambilla
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.P.); (L.B.)
- Correspondence: (C.F.V.); (D.R.); Tel.: +49-7071-9254-122 (C.F.V.); +39-0382-592064 (D.R.)
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15
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Moulson AJ, Squair JW, Franklin RJM, Tetzlaff W, Assinck P. Diversity of Reactive Astrogliosis in CNS Pathology: Heterogeneity or Plasticity? Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:703810. [PMID: 34381334 PMCID: PMC8349991 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.703810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are essential for the development and homeostatic maintenance of the central nervous system (CNS). They are also critical players in the CNS injury response during which they undergo a process referred to as "reactive astrogliosis." Diversity in astrocyte morphology and gene expression, as revealed by transcriptional analysis, is well-recognized and has been reported in several CNS pathologies, including ischemic stroke, CNS demyelination, and traumatic injury. This diversity appears unique to the specific pathology, with significant variance across temporal, topographical, age, and sex-specific variables. Despite this, there is limited functional data corroborating this diversity. Furthermore, as reactive astrocytes display significant environmental-dependent plasticity and fate-mapping data on astrocyte subsets in the adult CNS is limited, it remains unclear whether this diversity represents heterogeneity or plasticity. As astrocytes are important for neuronal survival and CNS function post-injury, establishing to what extent this diversity reflects distinct established heterogeneous astrocyte subpopulations vs. environmentally dependent plasticity within established astrocyte subsets will be critical for guiding therapeutic development. To that end, we review the current state of knowledge on astrocyte diversity in the context of three representative CNS pathologies: ischemic stroke, demyelination, and traumatic injury, with the goal of identifying key limitations in our current knowledge and suggesting future areas of research needed to address them. We suggest that the majority of identified astrocyte diversity in CNS pathologies to date represents plasticity in response to dynamically changing post-injury environments as opposed to heterogeneity, an important consideration for the understanding of disease pathogenesis and the development of therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J. Moulson
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jordan W. Squair
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), NeuroRestore, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Robin J. M. Franklin
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Wolfram Tetzlaff
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Peggy Assinck
- Wellcome Trust - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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16
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Stella R, Bonadio RS, Cagnin S, Massimino ML, Bertoli A, Peggion C. Perturbations of the Proteome and of Secreted Metabolites in Primary Astrocytes from the hSOD1(G93A) ALS Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22137028. [PMID: 34209958 PMCID: PMC8268687 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease whose pathophysiology is largely unknown. Despite the fact that motor neuron (MN) death is recognized as the key event in ALS, astrocytes dysfunctionalities and neuroinflammation were demonstrated to accompany and probably even drive MN loss. Nevertheless, the mechanisms priming astrocyte failure and hyperactivation are still obscure. In this work, altered pathways and molecules in ALS astrocytes were unveiled by investigating the proteomic profile and the secreted metabolome of primary spinal cord astrocytes derived from transgenic ALS mouse model overexpressing the human (h)SOD1(G93A) protein in comparison with the transgenic counterpart expressing hSOD1(WT) protein. Here we show that ALS primary astrocytes are depleted of proteins-and of secreted metabolites-involved in glutathione metabolism and signaling. The observed increased activation of Nf-kB, Ebf1, and Plag1 transcription factors may account for the augmented expression of proteins involved in the proteolytic routes mediated by proteasome or endosome-lysosome systems. Moreover, hSOD1(G93A) primary astrocytes also display altered lipid metabolism. Our results provide novel insights into the altered molecular pathways that may underlie astrocyte dysfunctionalities and altered astrocyte-MN crosstalk in ALS, representing potential therapeutic targets to abrogate or slow down MN demise in disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Stella
- Department of Chemistry, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Italy;
| | - Raphael Severino Bonadio
- Department of Biology and CRIBI Biotechnology Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (R.S.B.); (S.C.)
| | - Stefano Cagnin
- Department of Biology and CRIBI Biotechnology Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (R.S.B.); (S.C.)
- CIR-Myo Myology Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Bertoli
- CNR—Neuroscience Institute, 35131 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.B.); (C.P.)
| | - Caterina Peggion
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.B.); (C.P.)
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17
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Lotun A, Gessler DJ, Gao G. Canavan Disease as a Model for Gene Therapy-Mediated Myelin Repair. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:661928. [PMID: 33967698 PMCID: PMC8102781 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.661928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the scientific and therapeutic fields for rare, genetic central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as leukodystrophies, or white matter disorders, have expanded significantly in part due to technological advancements in cellular and clinical screenings as well as remedial therapies using novel techniques such as gene therapy. However, treatments aimed at normalizing the pathological changes associated with leukodystrophies have especially been complicated due to the innate and variable effects of glial abnormalities, which can cause large-scale functional deficits in developmental myelination and thus lead to downstream neuronal impairment. Emerging research in the past two decades have depicted glial cells, particularly oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, as key, regulatory modulators in constructing and maintaining myelin function and neuronal viability. Given the significance of myelin formation in the developing brain, myelin repair in a time-dependent fashion is critical in restoring homeostatic functionality to the CNS of patients diagnosed with white matter disorders. Using Canavan Disease (CD) as a leukodystrophy model, here we review the hypothetical roles of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), one of the brain's most abundant amino acid derivatives, in Canavan disease's CNS myelinating pathology, as well as discuss the possible functions astrocytes serve in both CD and other leukodystrophies' time-sensitive disease correction. Through this analysis, we also highlight the potential remyelinating benefits of gene therapy for other leukodystrophies in which alternative CNS cell targeting for white matter disorders may be an applicable path for reparative treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anoushka Lotun
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Dominic J Gessler
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.,Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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18
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Lim D, Semyanov A, Genazzani A, Verkhratsky A. Calcium signaling in neuroglia. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 362:1-53. [PMID: 34253292 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Glial cells exploit calcium (Ca2+) signals to perceive the information about the activity of the nervous tissue and the tissue environment to translate this information into an array of homeostatic, signaling and defensive reactions. Astrocytes, the best studied glial cells, use several Ca2+ signaling generation pathways that include Ca2+ entry through plasma membrane, release from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and from mitochondria. Activation of metabotropic receptors on the plasma membrane of glial cells is coupled to an enzymatic cascade in which a second messenger, InsP3 is generated thus activating intracellular Ca2+ release channels in the ER endomembrane. Astrocytes also possess store-operated Ca2+ entry and express several ligand-gated Ca2+ channels. In vivo astrocytes generate heterogeneous Ca2+ signals, which are short and frequent in distal processes, but large and relatively rare in soma. In response to neuronal activity intracellular and inter-cellular astrocytic Ca2+ waves can be produced. Astrocytic Ca2+ signals are involved in secretion, they regulate ion transport across cell membranes, and are contributing to cell morphological plasticity. Therefore, astrocytic Ca2+ signals are linked to fundamental functions of the central nervous system ranging from synaptic transmission to behavior. In oligodendrocytes, Ca2+ signals are generated by plasmalemmal Ca2+ influx, or by release from intracellular stores, or by combination of both. Microglial cells exploit Ca2+ permeable ionotropic purinergic receptors and transient receptor potential channels as well as ER Ca2+ release. In this contribution, basic morphology of glial cells, glial Ca2+ signaling toolkit, intracellular Ca2+ signals and Ca2+-regulated functions are discussed with focus on astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Lim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
| | - Alexey Semyanov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia; Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Armando Genazzani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia; Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; Achucarro Centre for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
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19
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Zhang Z, Zhou H, Zhou J. Neuritin inhibits astrogliosis to ameliorate diabetic cognitive dysfunction. J Mol Endocrinol 2021; 66:259-272. [PMID: 33729996 PMCID: PMC8111324 DOI: 10.1530/jme-20-0321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Earlier, it was shown that reversing the downregulation of neuritin expression in the brain improves central neuropathy in diabetic rats. We investigated the protective mechanism of neuritin in diabetic cognitive dysfunction via astrocytes. Further, the impact of the overexpression of neuritin in the cortex and the hippocampus on diabetic cognitive dysfunction and astrogliosis in type 2 diabetic (db/db) mice was assessed. Antagonists were used to inhibit the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in U-118MG, an astrocyte cell line. Immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and real-time PCR were performed. Neuritin overexpression in the hippocampus of db/db mice significantly ameliorated cognitive dysfunction, hippocampal neuronal impairment, and synaptic plasticity deterioration, and inhibited astrogliosis and the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in the hippocampus. Neuritin suppressed the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway to inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced gliosis in U-118MG cells. It was observed that neuritin regulates the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in astrocytes to inhibit astrogliosis and improve diabetic cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuo Zhang
- National Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongli Zhou
- National Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiyin Zhou
- National Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Second Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Correspondence should be addressed to J Zhou:
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20
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Tedeschi V, Petrozziello T, Secondo A. Ca 2+ dysregulation in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 363:21-47. [PMID: 34392931 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2021.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease without appropriate cure. One of the main reasons for the lack of a proper pharmacotherapy in ALS is the narrow knowledge on the molecular causes of the disease. In this respect, the identification of dysfunctional pathways in ALS is now considered a critical medical need. Among the causative factors involved in ALS, Ca2+ dysregulation is one of the most important pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease. Of note, Ca2+ dysfunction may induce, directly or indirectly, motor neuron degeneration and loss. Interestingly, both familial (fALS) and sporadic ALS (sALS) share the progressive dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis as a common noxious mechanism. Mechanicistically, Ca2+ dysfunction involves both plasma membrane and intracellular mechanisms, including AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated excitotoxicity, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) and Ca2+ transporter dysregulation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ deregulation, mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs) dysfunction, lysosomal Ca2+ leak, etc. Here, a comprehensive analysis of the main pathways involved in the dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis has been reported with the aim to focus the attention on new putative druggable targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Tedeschi
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Tiziana Petrozziello
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Agnese Secondo
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
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21
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Involvement of Bcl-xL in Neuronal Function and Development. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063202. [PMID: 33801158 PMCID: PMC8004157 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The B-cell lymphoma (Bcl-2) family of proteins are mainly known for their role in the regulation of apoptosis by preventing pore formation at the mitochondrial outer membrane and subsequent caspase activation. However, Bcl-2 proteins also have non-canonical functions, independent of apoptosis. Indeed, the cell death machinery, including Bcl-2 homologs, was reported to be essential for the central nervous system (CNS), notably with respect to synaptic transmission and axon pruning. Here we focused on Bcl-xL, a close Bcl-2 homolog, which plays a major role in neuronal development, as bclx knock out mice prematurely die at embryonic day 13.5, showing massive apoptosis in the CNS. In addition, we present evidence that Bcl-xL fosters ATP generation by the mitochondria to fuel high energy needs by neurons, and its contribution to synaptic transmission. We discuss how Bcl-xL might control local and transient activation of caspases in neurons without causing cell death. Consistently, Bcl-xL may contribute to morphological changes, such as sprouting and retractation of axon branches, in the context of CNS plasticity. Regarding degenerative diseases and aging, a better understanding of the numerous roles of the cell death machinery in neurons may have future clinical implications.
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22
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Guidotti G, Scarlata C, Brambilla L, Rossi D. Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Friend or Foe? Cells 2021; 10:cells10030518. [PMID: 33804386 PMCID: PMC8000008 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by a massive neuroinflammatory reaction, which plays a key role in the progression of the disease. One of the major mediators of the inflammatory response is the pleiotropic cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), mainly released within the central nervous system (CNS) by reactive astrocytes and microglia. Increased levels of TNFα and its receptors (TNFR1 and TNFR2) have been described in plasma, serum, cerebrospinal fluid and CNS tissue from both ALS patients and transgenic animal models of disease. However, the precise role exerted by TNFα in the context of ALS is still highly controversial, since both protective and detrimental functions have been reported. These opposing actions depend on multiple factors, among which includes the type of TNFα receptor activated. In fact, TNFR2 seems to mediate a harmful role being involved in motor neuron cell death, whereas TNFR1 signaling mediates neuroprotective effects, promoting the expression and secretion of trophic factors. This suggests that a better understanding of the cytokine impact on ALS progression may enable the development of effective therapies aimed at strengthening the protective roles of TNFα and at suppressing the detrimental ones.
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Crabé R, Aimond F, Gosset P, Scamps F, Raoul C. How Degeneration of Cells Surrounding Motoneurons Contributes to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2020; 9:cells9122550. [PMID: 33260927 PMCID: PMC7760029 DOI: 10.3390/cells9122550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of upper and lower motoneurons. Despite motoneuron death being recognized as the cardinal event of the disease, the loss of glial cells and interneurons in the brain and spinal cord accompanies and even precedes motoneuron elimination. In this review, we provide striking evidence that the degeneration of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, in addition to inhibitory and modulatory interneurons, disrupt the functionally coherent environment of motoneurons. We discuss the extent to which the degeneration of glial cells and interneurons also contributes to the decline of the motor system. This pathogenic cellular network therefore represents a novel strategic field of therapeutic investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxane Crabé
- The Neuroscience Institute of Montpellier, INSERM, UMR1051, University of Montpellier, 34091 Montpellier, France; (R.C.); (F.A.); (P.G.); (F.S.)
| | - Franck Aimond
- The Neuroscience Institute of Montpellier, INSERM, UMR1051, University of Montpellier, 34091 Montpellier, France; (R.C.); (F.A.); (P.G.); (F.S.)
| | - Philippe Gosset
- The Neuroscience Institute of Montpellier, INSERM, UMR1051, University of Montpellier, 34091 Montpellier, France; (R.C.); (F.A.); (P.G.); (F.S.)
| | - Frédérique Scamps
- The Neuroscience Institute of Montpellier, INSERM, UMR1051, University of Montpellier, 34091 Montpellier, France; (R.C.); (F.A.); (P.G.); (F.S.)
| | - Cédric Raoul
- The Neuroscience Institute of Montpellier, INSERM, UMR1051, University of Montpellier, 34091 Montpellier, France; (R.C.); (F.A.); (P.G.); (F.S.)
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
- Correspondence:
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Izrael M, Slutsky SG, Revel M. Rising Stars: Astrocytes as a Therapeutic Target for ALS Disease. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:824. [PMID: 32848579 PMCID: PMC7399224 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multifactorial disease, characterized by a progressive loss of motor neurons that eventually leads to paralysis and death. The current ALS-approved drugs modestly change the clinical course of the disease. The mechanism by which motor neurons progressively degenerate remains unclear but entails a non-cell autonomous process. Astrocytes impaired biological functionality were implicated in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Alzheimer disease (AD). In ALS disease patients, A1 reactive astrocytes were found to play a key role in the pathology of ALS disease and death of motor neurons, via loss or gain of function or acquired toxicity. The contribution of astrocytes to the maintenance of motor neurons by diverse mechanisms makes them a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of ALS. Therapeutic approaches targeting at modulating the function of endogenous astrocytes or replacing lost functionality by transplantation of healthy astrocytes, may contribute to the development of therapies which might slow down or even halt the progression ALS diseases. The proposed mechanisms by which astrocytes can potentially ameliorate ALS progression and the status of ALS clinical studies involving astrocytes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Izrael
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd., Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Shalom Guy Slutsky
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd., Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Michel Revel
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd., Nes-Ziona, Israel.,Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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Paudel YN, Angelopoulou E, Piperi C, Othman I, Shaikh MF. Implication of HMGB1 signaling pathways in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): From molecular mechanisms to pre-clinical results. Pharmacol Res 2020; 156:104792. [PMID: 32278047 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating and rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disorder with no effective disease-modifying treatment up to date. The underlying molecular mechanisms of ALS are not yet completely understood. However, the critical role of the innate immune system and neuroinflammation in ALS pathogenesis has gained increased attention. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a typical damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecule, acting as a pro-inflammatory cytokine mainly through activation of its principal receptors, the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) which are crucial components of the innate immune system. HMGB1 is an endogenous ligand for both RAGE and TLR4 that mediate its biological effects. Herein, on the ground of pre-clinical findings we unravel the underlying mechanisms behind the plausible contribution of HMGB1 and its receptors (RAGE and TLR4) in the ALS pathogenesis. Furthermore, we provide an account of the therapeutic outcomes associated with inhibition/blocking of HMGB1 receptor signalling in preventing motor neuron's death and delaying disease progression in ALS experimental models. There is strong evidence that HMGB1, RAGE and TLR4 signaling axes might present potential targets against ALS, opening a novel headway in ALS research that could plausibly bridge the current treatment gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yam Nath Paudel
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Efthalia Angelopoulou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Piperi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Iekhsan Othman
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Farooq Shaikh
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Norante RP, Peggion C, Rossi D, Martorana F, De Mario A, Lia A, Massimino ML, Bertoli A. ALS-Associated SOD1(G93A) Decreases SERCA Pump Levels and Increases Store-Operated Ca 2+ Entry in Primary Spinal Cord Astrocytes from a Transgenic Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E5151. [PMID: 31627428 PMCID: PMC6829245 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20205151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective death of motor neurons (MNs), probably by a combination of cell- and non-cell-autonomous processes. The past decades have brought many important insights into the role of astrocytes in nervous system function and disease, including the implication in ALS pathogenesis possibly through the impairment of Ca2+-dependent astrocyte-MN cross-talk. In this respect, it has been recently proposed that altered astrocytic store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) may underlie aberrant gliotransmitter release and astrocyte-mediated neurotoxicity in ALS. These observations prompted us to a thorough investigation of SOCE in primary astrocytes from the spinal cord of the SOD1(G93A) ALS mouse model in comparison with the SOD1(WT)-expressing controls. To this purpose, we employed, for the first time in the field, genetically-encoded Ca2+ indicators, allowing the direct assessment of Ca2+ fluctuations in different cell domains. We found increased SOCE, associated with decreased expression of the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase and lower ER resting Ca2+ concentration in SOD1(G93A) astrocytes compared to control cells. Such findings add novel insights into the involvement of astrocytes in ALS MN damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Pia Norante
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Caterina Peggion
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA SB-IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
| | - Francesca Martorana
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA SB-IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
| | - Agnese De Mario
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | - Annamaria Lia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
| | | | - Alessandro Bertoli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
- CNR-Neuroscience Institute, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.
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Kardani K, Milani A, H Shabani S, Bolhassani A. Cell penetrating peptides: the potent multi-cargo intracellular carriers. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2019; 16:1227-1258. [PMID: 31583914 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2019.1676720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) known as protein translocation domains (PTD), membrane translocating sequences (MTS), or Trojan peptides (TP) are able to cross biological membranes without clear toxicity using different mechanisms, and facilitate the intracellular delivery of a variety of bioactive cargos. CPPs could overcome some limitations of drug delivery and combat resistant strains against a broad range of diseases. Despite delivery of different therapeutic molecules by CPPs, they lack cell specificity and have a short duration of action. These limitations led to design of combined cargo delivery systems and subsequently improvement of their clinical applications. Areas covered: This review covers all our studies and other researchers in different aspects of CPPs such as classification, uptake mechanisms, and biomedical applications. Expert opinion: Due to low cytotoxicity of CPPs as compared to other carriers and final degradation to amino acids, they are suitable for preclinical and clinical studies. Generally, the efficiency of CPPs was suitable to penetrate the cell membrane and deliver different cargos to specific intracellular sites. However, no CPP-based therapeutic approach has approved by FDA, yet; because there are some disadvantages for CPPs including short half-life in blood, and nonspecific CPP-mediated delivery to normal tissue. Thus, some methods were used to develop the functions of CPPs in vitro and in vivo including the augmentation of cell specificity by activatable CPPs, specific transport into cell organelles by insertion of corresponding localization sequences, incorporation of CPPs into multifunctional dendrimeric or liposomal nanocarriers to improve selectivity and efficiency especially in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimia Kardani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran , Iran
| | - Alireza Milani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran , Iran
| | - Samaneh H Shabani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran , Iran
| | - Azam Bolhassani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran , Tehran , Iran
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28
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Abstract
Motor neuron disorders are highly debilitating and mostly fatal conditions for which only limited therapeutic options are available. To overcome this limitation and develop more effective therapeutic strategies, it is critical to discover the pathogenic mechanisms that trigger and sustain motor neuron degeneration with the greatest accuracy and detail. In the case of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), several genes have been associated with familial forms of the disease, whilst the vast majority of cases develop sporadically and no defined cause can be held responsible. On the contrary, the huge majority of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) occurrences are caused by loss-of-function mutations in a single gene, SMN1. Although the typical hallmark of both diseases is the loss of motor neurons, there is increasing awareness that pathological lesions are also present in the neighbouring glia, whose dysfunction clearly contributes to generating a toxic environment in the central nervous system. Here, ALS and SMA are sequentially presented, each disease section having a brief introduction, followed by a focussed discussion on the role of the astrocytes in the disease pathogenesis. Such a dissertation is substantiated by the findings that built awareness on the glial involvement and how the glial-neuronal interplay is perturbed, along with the appraisal of this new cellular site for possible therapeutic intervention.
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Bonifacino T, Rebosio C, Provenzano F, Torazza C, Balbi M, Milanese M, Raiteri L, Usai C, Fedele E, Bonanno G. Enhanced Function and Overexpression of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors 1 and 5 in the Spinal Cord of the SOD1 G93A Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis during Disease Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20184552. [PMID: 31540330 PMCID: PMC6774337 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20184552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate (Glu)-mediated excitotoxicity is a major cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and our previous work highlighted that abnormal Glu release may represent a leading mechanism for excessive synaptic Glu. We demonstrated that group I metabotropic Glu receptors (mGluR1, mGluR5) produced abnormal Glu release in SOD1G93A mouse spinal cord at a late disease stage (120 days). Here, we studied this phenomenon in pre-symptomatic (30 and 60 days) and early-symptomatic (90 days) SOD1G93A mice. The mGluR1/5 agonist (S)-3,5-Dihydroxyphenylglycine (3,5-DHPG) concentration dependently stimulated the release of [3H]d-Aspartate ([3H]d-Asp), which was comparable in 30- and 60-day-old wild type mice and SOD1G93A mice. At variance, [3H]d-Asp release was significantly augmented in 90-day-old SOD1G93A mice and both mGluR1 and mGluR5 were involved. The 3,5-DHPG-induced [3H]d-Asp release was exocytotic, being of vesicular origin and mediated by intra-terminal Ca2+ release. mGluR1 and mGluR5 expression was increased in Glu spinal cord axon terminals of 90-day-old SOD1G93A mice, but not in the whole axon terminal population. Interestingly, mGluR1 and mGluR5 were significantly augmented in total spinal cord tissue already at 60 days. Thus, function and expression of group I mGluRs are enhanced in the early-symptomatic SOD1G93A mouse spinal cord, possibly participating in excessive Glu transmission and supporting their implication in ALS. Please define all abbreviations the first time they appear in the abstract, the main text, and the first figure or table caption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Bonifacino
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy.
| | - Claudia Rebosio
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy.
| | - Francesca Provenzano
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy.
| | - Carola Torazza
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy.
| | - Matilde Balbi
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy.
| | - Marco Milanese
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy.
| | - Luca Raiteri
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy.
| | - Cesare Usai
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR), 16149 Genova, Italy.
| | - Ernesto Fedele
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy.
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy.
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy.
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy.
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Astrocytes: Emerging Therapeutic Targets in Neurological Disorders. Trends Mol Med 2019; 25:750-759. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Bonifacino T, Provenzano F, Gallia E, Ravera S, Torazza C, Bossi S, Ferrando S, Puliti A, Van Den Bosch L, Bonanno G, Milanese M. In-vivo genetic ablation of metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 slows down disease progression in the SOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 129:79-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Oksanen M, Lehtonen S, Jaronen M, Goldsteins G, Hämäläinen RH, Koistinaho J. Astrocyte alterations in neurodegenerative pathologies and their modeling in human induced pluripotent stem cell platforms. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:2739-2760. [PMID: 31016348 PMCID: PMC6588647 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03111-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Revised: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes are the most abundant cell type in the brain. They were long considered only as passive support for neuronal cells. However, recent data have revealed many active roles for these cells both in maintenance of the normal physiological homeostasis in the brain as well as in neurodegeneration and disease. Moreover, human astrocytes have been found to be much more complex than their rodent counterparts, and to date, astrocytes are known to actively participate in a multitude of processes such as neurotransmitter uptake and recycling, gliotransmitter release, neuroenergetics, inflammation, modulation of synaptic activity, ionic balance, maintenance of the blood-brain barrier, and many other crucial functions of the brain. This review focuses on the role of astrocytes in human neurodegenerative disease and the potential of the novel stem cell-based platforms in modeling astrocytic functions in health and in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Oksanen
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70210, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sarka Lehtonen
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70210, Kuopio, Finland
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, PO. Box 63, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Merja Jaronen
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70210, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Gundars Goldsteins
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70210, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Riikka H Hämäläinen
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70210, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Koistinaho
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70210, Kuopio, Finland.
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, PO. Box 63, 00290, Helsinki, Finland.
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Li K, Li J, Zheng J, Qin S. Reactive Astrocytes in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Aging Dis 2019; 10:664-675. [PMID: 31165009 PMCID: PMC6538217 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2018.0720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 234] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes, the largest and most numerous glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS), play a variety of important roles in regulating homeostasis, increasing synaptic plasticity and providing neuroprotection, thus helping to maintain normal brain function. At the same time, astrocytes can participate in the inflammatory response and play a key role in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Reactive astrocytes are strongly induced by numerous pathological conditions in the CNS. Astrocyte reactivity is initially characterized by hypertrophy of soma and processes, triggered by different molecules. Recent studies have demonstrated that neuroinflammation and ischemia can elicit two different types of reactive astrocytes, termed A1s and A2s. However, in the case of astrocyte reactivity in different neurodegenerative diseases, the recently published research issues remain a high level of conflict and controversy. So far, we still know very little about whether and how the function or reactivity of astrocytes changes in the progression of different neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we aimed to briefly discuss recent studies highlighting the complex contribution of astrocytes in the process of various neurodegenerative diseases, which may provide us with new prospects for the development of an excellent therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunyu Li
- 1Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiatong Li
- 1Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jialin Zheng
- 2Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Song Qin
- 1Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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Kerkhofs M, Bultynck G, Vervliet T, Monaco G. Therapeutic implications of novel peptides targeting ER-mitochondria Ca 2+-flux systems. Drug Discov Today 2019; 24:1092-1103. [PMID: 30910738 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular Ca2+-flux systems located at the ER-mitochondrial axis govern mitochondrial Ca2+ balance and cell fate. Multiple yet incurable pathologies are characterized by insufficient or excessive Ca2+ fluxes toward the mitochondria, in turn leading to aberrant cell life or death dynamics. The discovery and ongoing molecular characterization of the main interorganellar Ca2+ gateways have resulted in a novel class of peptide tools able to regulate relevant protein-protein interactions (PPIs) underlying this signaling scenario. Here, we review peptides, molecularly derived from Ca2+-flux systems or their accessory proteins. We discuss how they alter Ca2+-signaling protein complexes and modulate cell survival in light of their forthcoming therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn Kerkhofs
- KU Leuven, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Leuven Kanker Instituut, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Signaling, Campus Gasthuisberg O/N-I bus 802, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Geert Bultynck
- KU Leuven, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Leuven Kanker Instituut, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Signaling, Campus Gasthuisberg O/N-I bus 802, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Tim Vervliet
- KU Leuven, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Leuven Kanker Instituut, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Signaling, Campus Gasthuisberg O/N-I bus 802, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Giovanni Monaco
- KU Leuven, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Leuven Kanker Instituut, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Signaling, Campus Gasthuisberg O/N-I bus 802, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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35
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Brambilla L, Martorana F, Guidotti G, Rossi D. Dysregulation of Astrocytic HMGB1 Signaling in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:622. [PMID: 30210286 PMCID: PMC6123379 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes have emerged as critical elements for the maintenance and function of the central nervous system. The expression on their cell membrane of RAGE and TLR4 receptors makes astrocytes susceptible to High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a nuclear protein typically released in the extracellular milieu by living cells experiencing physiological stress conditions or by damaged cells. Here, we show that the interaction of HMGB1 with normal spinal cord astrocytes induces the astrocytic production of neurotrophic factors, particularly brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Multiple investigations suggest a role for HMGB1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Yet, no mechanistic information on the implication of HMGB1 signaling in this disorder is currently available. We demonstrate that non-transgenic and transgenic SOD1WT spinal motor neurons exhibit only a basal nucleus-to-cytoplasm shuttling of the HMGB1 protein. Conversely, in SOD1G93A ALS mouse spinal cords, HMGB1 significantly translocates from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of motor neurons, thereby suggesting that it may be eventually released in the extracellular environment during the progression of the disease. We postulate that extracellular HMGB1 can paracrinally interact with the neighboring astrocytes in an attempt to counteract the neurodegenerative process. Yet, at variance with normal cells, SOD1G93A-expressing astrocytes show impaired capacity to raise BDNF and GDNF levels upon HMGB1 stimulation. Our data suggest that HMGB1 have a potential to promote neuroprotective actions by healthy astrocytes. However, this neurotrophic response is disrupted in ALS astrocytes. This indicates that diseased astroglial cells may exacerbate motor neuron degeneration in ALS because of the loss of their neurosupportive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Brambilla
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, IRCCS Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri (ICS Maugeri), Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Martorana
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, IRCCS Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri (ICS Maugeri), Pavia, Italy
| | - Giulia Guidotti
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, IRCCS Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri (ICS Maugeri), Pavia, Italy
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, IRCCS Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri (ICS Maugeri), Pavia, Italy
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36
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Vervliet T, Gerasimenko JV, Ferdek PE, Jakubowska MA, Petersen OH, Gerasimenko OV, Bultynck G. BH4 domain peptides derived from Bcl-2/Bcl-XL as novel tools against acute pancreatitis. Cell Death Discov 2018; 4:58. [PMID: 29760956 PMCID: PMC5945673 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-018-0054-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Biliary acute pancreatitis (AP) is a serious condition, which currently has no specific treatment. Taurolithocholic acid 3-sulfate (TLC-S) is one of the most potent bile acids causing cytosolic Ca2+ overload in pancreatic acinar cells (PACs), which results in premature activation of digestive enzymes and necrosis, hallmarks of AP. The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) and the ryanodine receptor (RyR) play major roles in intracellular Ca2+ signaling. Inhibition of these endoplasmic reticulum-located channels suppresses TLC-S-induced Ca2+ release and necrosis, decreasing the severity of AP. Anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2-family members, such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL, have emerged as important modulators of IP3Rs and RyRs. These proteins contain four Bcl-2 homology (BH) domains of which the N-terminal BH4 domain exerts critical roles in regulating intracellular Ca2+ release channels. The BH4 domain of Bcl-2, but not of Bcl-XL, binds to and inhibits IP3Rs, whereas both BH4 domains inhibit RyRs. Although clear cytoprotective effects have been reported for these BH4 domains, it remains unclear whether they are capable of inhibiting pathological Ca2+-overload, associated with AP. Here we demonstrate in PACs that the BH4 domains of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL inhibit RyR activity in response to the physiological agonist cholecystokinin. In addition, these BH4 domains inhibit pathophysiological TLC-S-induced Ca2+ overload in PACs via RyR inhibition, which in turn protects these cells from TLC-S-induced necrosis. This study shows for the first time the therapeutic potential of BH4 domain function by inhibiting pathological RyR-mediated Ca2+ release and necrosis, events that trigger AP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Vervliet
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Signaling, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000 Belgium
| | - Julia V. Gerasimenko
- Medical Research Council Group, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX UK
| | - Pawel E. Ferdek
- Medical Research Council Group, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX UK
| | - Monika A. Jakubowska
- Medical Research Council Group, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX UK
| | - Ole H. Petersen
- Medical Research Council Group, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX UK
| | - Oleg V. Gerasimenko
- Medical Research Council Group, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX UK
| | - Geert Bultynck
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Signaling, KU Leuven, Leuven, 3000 Belgium
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37
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Vergouts M, Doyen PJ, Peeters M, Opsomer R, Hermans E. Constitutive downregulation protein kinase C epsilon in hSOD1 G93A astrocytes influences mGluR5 signaling and the regulation of glutamate uptake. Glia 2017; 66:749-761. [PMID: 29266405 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Revised: 11/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a non-cell-autonomous process and that impaired glutamate clearance by astrocytes, leading to excitotoxicity, could participate in progression of the disease. In astrocytes derived from an animal model of ALS (hSOD1G93A rats), activation of type 5 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR5) fails to increase glutamate uptake, impeding a putative dynamic neuroprotective mechanism involving astrocytes. Using astrocyte cultures from hSOD1G93A rats, we have demonstrated that the typical Ca2+ oscillations associated with mGluR5 activation were reduced, and that the majority of cells responded with a sustained elevation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Since the expression of protein kinase C epsilon isoform (PKCɛ) has been found to be considerably reduced in astrocytes from hSOD1G93A rats, the consequences of manipulating its activity and expression on mGluR5 signaling and on the regulation of glutamate uptake have been examined. Increasing PKCɛ expression was found to restore Ca2+ oscillations induced by mGluR5 activation in hSOD1G93A -expressing astrocytes. This was also associated with an increase in glutamate uptake capacity in response to mGluR5 activation. Conversely, reducing PKCɛ expression in astrocytes from wild-type animals with specific PKCɛ-shRNAs was found to alter the mGluR5 associated oscillatory signaling profile, and consistently reduced the regulation of the glutamate uptake-mediated by mGluR5 activation. These results suggest that PKCɛ is required to generate Ca2+ oscillations following mGluR5 activation, which support the regulation of astrocytic glutamate uptake. Reduced expression of astrocytic PKCɛ could impair this neuroprotective process and participate in the progression of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Vergouts
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate B1.54.10, Brussels, 1200, Belgium
| | - Pierre J Doyen
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate B1.54.10, Brussels, 1200, Belgium
| | - Michael Peeters
- De Duve Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate VIRO B1.74.07, Brussels, 1200, Belgium
| | - Remi Opsomer
- Alzheimer Dementia Group, Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Mounier B1.53.02, Brussels, 1200, Belgium
| | - Emmanuel Hermans
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate B1.54.10, Brussels, 1200, Belgium
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38
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Gabellini C, Trisciuoglio D, Del Bufalo D. Non-canonical roles of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins: relevance of BH4 domain. Carcinogenesis 2017; 38:579-587. [PMID: 28203756 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgx016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bcl-2 protein family is constituted by multidomain members originally identified as modulators of programmed cell death and whose expression is frequently misbalanced in cancer cells. The lead member Bcl-2 and its homologue Bcl-xL proteins are characterized by the presence of all four conserved BH domain and exert their antiapoptotic role mainly through the involvement of BH1, BH2 and BH3 homology domains, that mediate the interaction with the proapoptotic members of the same Bcl-2 family. The N-terminal BH4 domain of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL is responsible for the interaction with other proteins that do not belong to Bcl-2 protein family. Beyond a classical role in inhibiting apoptosis, BH4 domain has been characterized as a crucial regulator of other important cellular functions attributed to Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, including proliferation, autophagy, differentiation, DNA repair, cell migration, tumor progression and angiogenesis. During the last two decades a strong effort has been made to dissect the molecular pathways involved the capability of BH4 domain to regulate the canonical antiapoptotic and the non-canonical activities of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, creating the basis for the development of novel anticancer agents targeting this domain. Indeed, recent evidences obtained on in vitro and in vivo model of different cancer histotypes are confirming the promising therapeutic potential of BH4 domain inhibitors supporting their future employment as a novel anticancer strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Gabellini
- Unit of Cell and Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniela Trisciuoglio
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, 00185 Rome, Italy and.,Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
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Ferrer I. Diversity of astroglial responses across human neurodegenerative disorders and brain aging. Brain Pathol 2017; 27:645-674. [PMID: 28804999 PMCID: PMC8029391 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrogliopathy refers to alterations of astrocytes occurring in diseases of the nervous system, and it implies the involvement of astrocytes as key elements in the pathogenesis and pathology of diseases and injuries of the central nervous system. Reactive astrocytosis refers to the response of astrocytes to different insults to the nervous system, whereas astrocytopathy indicates hypertrophy, atrophy/degeneration and loss of function and pathological remodeling occurring as a primary cause of a disease or as a factor contributing to the development and progression of a particular disease. Reactive astrocytosis secondary to neuron loss and astrocytopathy due to intrinsic alterations of astrocytes occur in neurodegenerative diseases, overlap each other, and, together with astrocyte senescence, contribute to disease-specific astrogliopathy in aging and neurodegenerative diseases with abnormal protein aggregates in old age. In addition to the well-known increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein and other proteins in reactive astrocytes, astrocytopathy is evidenced by deposition of abnormal proteins such as β-amyloid, hyper-phosphorylated tau, abnormal α-synuclein, mutated huntingtin, phosphorylated TDP-43 and mutated SOD1, and PrPres , in Alzheimer's disease, tauopathies, Lewy body diseases, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, respectively. Astrocytopathy in these diseases can also be manifested by impaired glutamate transport; abnormal metabolism and release of neurotransmitters; altered potassium, calcium and water channels resulting in abnormal ion and water homeostasis; abnormal glucose metabolism; abnormal lipid and, particularly, cholesterol metabolism; increased oxidative damage and altered oxidative stress responses; increased production of cytokines and mediators of the inflammatory response; altered expression of connexins with deterioration of cell-to-cell networks and transfer of gliotransmitters; and worsening function of the blood brain barrier, among others. Increased knowledge of these aspects will permit a better understanding of brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases in old age as complex disorders in which neurons are not the only players.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidro Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental TherapeuticsUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Institute of NeuropathologyPathologic Anatomy Service, Bellvitge University Hospital, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de LlobregatBarcelonaSpain
- Institute of NeurosciencesUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Biomedical Network Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Institute Carlos IIIMadridSpain
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Norante RP, Massimino ML, Lorenzon P, De Mario A, Peggion C, Vicario M, Albiero M, Sorgato MC, Lopreiato R, Bertoli A. Generation and validation of novel adeno-associated viral vectors for the analysis of Ca 2+ homeostasis in motor neurons. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6521. [PMID: 28747684 PMCID: PMC5529510 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06919-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A finely tuned Ca2+ homeostasis in restricted cell domains is of fundamental importance for neurons, where transient Ca2+ oscillations direct the proper coordination of electro-chemical signals and overall neuronal metabolism. Once such a precise regulation is unbalanced, however, neuronal functions and viability are severely compromised. Accordingly, disturbed Ca2+ metabolism has often been claimed as a major contributor to different neurodegenerative disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that is characterised by selective motor neuron (MN) damage. This notion highlights the need for probes for the specific and precise analysis of local Ca2+ dynamics in MNs. Here, we generated and functionally validated adeno-associated viral vectors for the expression of gene-encoded fluorescent Ca2+ indicators targeted to different cell domains, under the transcriptional control of a MN-specific promoter. We demonstrated that the probes are specifically expressed, and allow reliable local Ca2+ measurements, in MNs from murine primary spinal cord cultures, and can also be expressed in spinal cord MNs in vivo, upon systemic administration to newborn mice. Preliminary analyses using these novel vectors have shown larger cytosolic Ca2+ responses following stimulation of AMPA receptors in the cytosol of primary cultured MNs from a murine genetic model of ALS compared to the healthy counterpart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Pia Norante
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Lorenzon
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Department of Integrative Medical Biology (IMB), Umeå Universitet, 901 87, Umeå, SE, Sweden
| | - Agnese De Mario
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Caterina Peggion
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mattia Vicario
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mattia Albiero
- Department of Medicine, and Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Catia Sorgato
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,CNR Neuroscience Institute, Padova, Italy
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41
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Oxidative stress induced by cumene hydroperoxide produces synaptic depression and transient hyperexcitability in rat primary motor cortex neurons. Mol Cell Neurosci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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42
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Bonifacino T, Cattaneo L, Gallia E, Puliti A, Melone M, Provenzano F, Bossi S, Musante I, Usai C, Conti F, Bonanno G, Milanese M. In-vivo effects of knocking-down metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 in the SOD1 G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuropharmacology 2017. [PMID: 28645622 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder due to loss of upper and lower motor neurons (MNs). The mechanisms of neuronal death are largely unknown, thus prejudicing the successful pharmacological treatment. One major cause for MN degeneration in ALS is represented by glutamate(Glu)-mediated excitotoxicity. We have previously reported that activation of Group I metabotropic Glu receptors (mGluR1 and mGluR5) at glutamatergic spinal cord nerve terminals produces abnormal Glu release in the widely studied SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS. We also demonstrated that halving mGluR1 expression in the SOD1G93A mouse had a positive impact on survival, disease onset, disease progression, and on a number of cellular and biochemical readouts of ALS. We generated here SOD1G93A mice with reduced expression of mGluR5 (SOD1G93AGrm5-/+) by crossing the SOD1G93A mutant mouse with the mGluR5 heterozigous Grm5-/+ mouse. SOD1G93AGrm5-/+ mice showed prolonged survival probability and delayed pathology onset. These effects were associated to enhanced number of preserved MNs, decreased astrocyte and microglia activation, reduced cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration, and regularization of abnormal Glu release in the spinal cord of SOD1G93AGrm5-/+ mice. Unexpectedly, only male SOD1G93AGrm5-/+ mice showed improved motor skills during disease progression vs. SOD1G93A mice, while SOD1G93AGrm5-/+ females did not. These results demonstrate that a lower constitutive level of mGluR5 has a significant positive impact in mice with ALS and support the idea that blocking Group I mGluRs may represent a potentially effective pharmacological approach to the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Bonifacino
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Cattaneo
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elena Gallia
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy
| | - Aldamaria Puliti
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy; Medical Genetics Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini, 5 - 16147, Genoa, Italy; Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 9 - 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marcello Melone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/a - 60126, Torrette di Ancona, Ancona, Italy; Centre for Neurobiology of Aging, INRCA IRCCS, Via S.Margherita, 5 - 60124, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesca Provenzano
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simone Bossi
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, L.go P. Daneo, 3 - 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ilaria Musante
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, L.go P. Daneo, 3 - 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Cesare Usai
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR), Via Darini, 6 - Torre di Francia, 16149, Genoa, Italy
| | - Fiorenzo Conti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/a - 60126, Torrette di Ancona, Ancona, Italy; Centre for Neurobiology of Aging, INRCA IRCCS, Via S.Margherita, 5 - 60124, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy; Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 9 - 16132, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Marco Milanese
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy; Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 9 - 16132, Genoa, Italy
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43
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Kim SK, Nabekura J, Koizumi S. Astrocyte-mediated synapse remodeling in the pathological brain. Glia 2017; 65:1719-1727. [PMID: 28569048 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes, a major type of glia, reciprocally influence synaptic transmission and connectivity, forming the "tripartite synapses". Astrocytic metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)-mediated Ca2+ waves and release of gliotransmitters or synaptogenic molecules mediate this neuron-glia interaction in the developing brain, but this signaling has been challenged for adult brain. However, cumulative evidence has suggested that mature astrocytes exhibit re-awakening of such immature phenotype in the pathological adult brain. This phenotypic change in astrocytes in response to injury may induce neural circuit and synapse plasticity. In this review article, we summarize astrocyte-mediated synapse remodeling during physiological development, discuss re-emergence of immature astrocytic signaling in adult pathological brain, and finally highlight its contribution to significant modification of synaptic connections correlating with functional progress of brain pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Kwang Kim
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Korea
| | - Junichi Nabekura
- Division of Homeostatic Development, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, 444-8585, Japan.,Department of Physiological Sciences, The Graduate School for Advanced Study, Hayama, Kanagawa, 240-0193, Japan.,Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan
| | - Schuichi Koizumi
- Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo, 102-0076, Japan.,Department of Neuropharmacology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, 409-3898, Japan
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44
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Buscemi L, Ginet V, Lopatar J, Montana V, Pucci L, Spagnuolo P, Zehnder T, Grubišić V, Truttman A, Sala C, Hirt L, Parpura V, Puyal J, Bezzi P. Homer1 Scaffold Proteins Govern Ca2+ Dynamics in Normal and Reactive Astrocytes. Cereb Cortex 2017; 27:2365-2384. [PMID: 27075036 PMCID: PMC5963825 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In astrocytes, the intracellular calcium (Ca2+) signaling mediated by activation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5) is crucially involved in the modulation of many aspects of brain physiology, including gliotransmission. Here, we find that the mGlu5-mediated Ca2+ signaling leading to release of glutamate is governed by mGlu5 interaction with Homer1 scaffolding proteins. We show that the long splice variants Homer1b/c are expressed in astrocytic processes, where they cluster with mGlu5 at sites displaying intense local Ca2+ activity. We show that the structural and functional significance of the Homer1b/c-mGlu5 interaction is to relocate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the proximity of the plasma membrane and to optimize Ca2+ signaling and glutamate release. We also show that in reactive astrocytes the short dominant-negative splice variant Homer1a is upregulated. Homer1a, by precluding the mGlu5-ER interaction decreases the intensity of Ca2+ signaling thus limiting the intensity and the duration of glutamate release by astrocytes. Hindering upregulation of Homer1a with a local injection of short interfering RNA in vivo restores mGlu5-mediated Ca2+ signaling and glutamate release and sensitizes astrocytes to apoptosis. We propose that Homer1a may represent one of the cellular mechanisms by which inflammatory astrocytic reactions are beneficial for limiting brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Buscemi
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, CH1005Lausanne, Switzerland
- Stroke Laboratory, Neurology Service, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital Centre and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vanessa Ginet
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, CH1005Lausanne, Switzerland
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital Centre and University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jan Lopatar
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, CH1005Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vedrana Montana
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Glial Biology in Medicine, Civitan International Research Center, Atomic Force Microscopy and Nanotechnology Laboratories, and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Luca Pucci
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, CH1005Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paola Spagnuolo
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, CH1005Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | - Tamara Zehnder
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, CH1005Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vladimir Grubišić
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Glial Biology in Medicine, Civitan International Research Center, Atomic Force Microscopy and Nanotechnology Laboratories, and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Anita Truttman
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital Centre and University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carlo Sala
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience and Department of Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenz Hirt
- Stroke Laboratory, Neurology Service, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital Centre and University of Lausanne, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vladimir Parpura
- Department of Neurobiology, Center for Glial Biology in Medicine, Civitan International Research Center, Atomic Force Microscopy and Nanotechnology Laboratories, and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Julien Puyal
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, CH1005Lausanne, Switzerland
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics and Paediatric Surgery, University Hospital Centre and University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paola Bezzi
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, CH1005Lausanne, Switzerland
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45
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Guidotti G, Brambilla L, Rossi D. Cell-Penetrating Peptides: From Basic Research to Clinics. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2017; 38:406-424. [PMID: 28209404 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 747] [Impact Index Per Article: 106.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The presence of cell and tissue barriers together with the low biomembrane permeability of various therapeutics often hampers systemic drug distribution; thus, most of the available molecules are of limited therapeutic value. Opportunities to increase medicament concentrations in areas that are difficult to access now exist with the advent of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), which can transport into the cell a wide variety of biologically active conjugates (cargoes). Numerous preclinical evaluations with CPP-derived therapeutics have provided promising results in various disease models that, in some cases, prompted clinical trials. The outcome of these investigations has thus opened new perspectives for CPP application in the development of unprecedented human therapies that are well tolerated and directed to intracellular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Guidotti
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, IRCCS Maugeri Clinical and Scientific Institutes SpA SB, Via Maugeri 10, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Liliana Brambilla
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, IRCCS Maugeri Clinical and Scientific Institutes SpA SB, Via Maugeri 10, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, IRCCS Maugeri Clinical and Scientific Institutes SpA SB, Via Maugeri 10, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
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46
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Bcl-xL dependency coincides with the onset of neurogenesis in the developing mammalian spinal cord. Mol Cell Neurosci 2016; 77:34-46. [PMID: 27665712 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2016.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Revised: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The bcl-2 family of survival and death promoting proteins play a key role in regulating cell numbers during nervous system development. Bcl-xL, an anti-apoptotic bcl-2 family member is highly expressed in the developing nervous system. However; the early embryonic lethality of the bcl-x germline null mouse precluded an investigation into its role in nervous system development. To identify the role of bcl-x in spinal cord neurogenesis, we generated a central nervous system-specific bcl-x conditional knockout (BKO) mouse. Apoptotic cell death in the BKO embryo was initially detected at embryonic day 11 (E11) in the ventrolateral aspect of the spinal cord corresponding to the location of motor neurons. Apoptosis reached its peak at E13 having spread across the ventral and into the dorsal spinal cord. By E18, the wave of apoptosis had passed and only a few apoptotic cells were observed. The duration and direction of spread of apoptosis across the spinal cord is consistent with the spatial and temporal sequence of neuronal differentiation. Motor neurons, the first neurons to become post mitotic in the spinal cord, were also the first apoptotic cells. As neurogenesis spread across the spinal cord, later born neuronal populations such as Lim2+ interneurons were also affected. The onset of apoptosis occurred in cells that had exited the cell cycle within the previous 24h and initiated neural differentiation as demonstrated by BrdU birthdating and βIII tubulin immunohistochemistry. This data demonstrates that spinal cord neurons become Bcl-xL dependent at an early post mitotic stage in developmental neurogenesis.
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Skatchkov SN, Antonov SM, Eaton MJ. Glia and glial polyamines. Role in brain function in health and disease. BIOCHEMISTRY MOSCOW SUPPLEMENT SERIES A-MEMBRANE AND CELL BIOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s1990747816010116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Brambilla L, Guidotti G, Martorana F, Iyer AM, Aronica E, Valori CF, Rossi D. Disruption of the astrocytic TNFR1-GDNF axis accelerates motor neuron degeneration and disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:3080-3095. [PMID: 27288458 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Revised: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Considerable evidence indicates that neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can be conditioned by a deleterious interplay between motor neurons and astrocytes. Astrocytes are the major glial component in the central nervous system (CNS) and fulfill several activities that are essential to preserve CNS homeostasis. In physiological and pathological conditions, astrocytes secrete a wide range of factors by which they exert multimodal influences on their cellular neighbours. Among others, astrocytes can secrete glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), one of the most potent protective agents for motor neurons. This suggests that the modulation of the endogenous mechanisms that control the production of astrocytic GDNF may have therapeutic implications in motor neuron diseases, particularly ALS. In this study, we identified TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) signalling as a major promoter of GDNF synthesis/release from human and mouse spinal cord astrocytes in vitro and in vivo To determine whether endogenously produced TNFα can also trigger the synthesis of GDNF in the nervous system, we then focused on SOD1G93A ALS transgenic mice, whose affected tissues spontaneously exhibit high levels of TNFα and its receptor 1 at the onset and symptomatic stage of the disease. In SOD1G93A spinal cords, we verified a strict correlation in the expression of the TNFα, TNFR1 and GDNF triad at different stages of disease progression. Yet, ablation of TNFR1 completely abolished GDNF rises in both SOD1G93A astrocytes and spinal cords, a condition that accelerated motor neuron degeneration and disease progression. Our data suggest that the astrocytic TNFR1-GDNF axis represents a novel target for therapeutic intervention in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Brambilla
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, IRCCS Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Giulia Guidotti
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, IRCCS Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesca Martorana
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, IRCCS Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Anand M Iyer
- Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Chiara F Valori
- Department of Neuropathology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, IRCCS Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri, 27100 Pavia, Italy,
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Dallérac G, Rouach N. Astrocytes as new targets to improve cognitive functions. Prog Neurobiol 2016; 144:48-67. [PMID: 26969413 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are now viewed as key elements of brain wiring as well as neuronal communication. Indeed, they not only bridge the gap between metabolic supplies by blood vessels and neurons, but also allow fine control of neurotransmission by providing appropriate signaling molecules and insulation through a tight enwrapping of synapses. Recognition that astroglia is essential to neuronal communication is nevertheless fairly recent and the large body of evidence dissecting such role has focused on the synaptic level by identifying neuro- and gliotransmitters uptaken and released at synaptic or extrasynaptic sites. Yet, more integrated research deciphering the impact of astroglial functions on neuronal network activity have led to the reasonable assumption that the role of astrocytes in supervising synaptic activity translates in influencing neuronal processing and cognitive functions. Several investigations using recent genetic tools now support this notion by showing that inactivating or boosting astroglial function directly affects cognitive abilities. Accordingly, brain diseases resulting in impaired cognitive functions have seen their physiopathological mechanisms revisited in light of this primary protagonist of brain processing. We here provide a review of the current knowledge on the role of astrocytes in cognition and in several brain diseases including neurodegenerative disorders, psychiatric illnesses, as well as other conditions such as epilepsy. Potential astroglial therapeutic targets are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenn Dallérac
- Neuroglial Interactions in Cerebral Physiopathology, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7241, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1050, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France.
| | - Nathalie Rouach
- Neuroglial Interactions in Cerebral Physiopathology, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7241, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1050, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France.
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50
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Baker DJ, Blackburn DJ, Keatinge M, Sokhi D, Viskaitis P, Heath PR, Ferraiuolo L, Kirby J, Shaw PJ. Lysosomal and phagocytic activity is increased in astrocytes during disease progression in the SOD1 (G93A) mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:410. [PMID: 26528138 PMCID: PMC4606544 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are key players in the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Previously, gene expression profiling of astrocytes from the pre-symptomatic stage of the SOD1G93A model of ALS has revealed reduced lactate metabolism and altered trophic support. Here, we have performed microarray analysis of symptomatic and late-stage disease astrocytes isolated by laser capture microdissection (LCM) from the lumbar spinal cord of the SOD1G93A mouse to complete the picture of astrocyte behavior throughout the disease course. Astrocytes at symptomatic and late-stage disease show a distinct up-regulation of transcripts defining a reactive phenotype, such as those involved in the lysosome and phagocytic pathways. Functional analysis of hexosaminidase B enzyme activity in the spinal cord and of astrocyte phagocytic ability has demonstrated a significant increase in lysosomal enzyme activity and phagocytic activity in SOD1G93A vs. littermate controls, validating the findings of the microarray study. In addition to the increased reactivity seen at both stages, astrocytes from late-stage disease showed decreased expression of many transcripts involved in cholesterol homeostasis. Staining for the master regulator of cholesterol synthesis, SREBP2, has revealed an increased localization to the cytoplasm of astrocytes and motor neurons in late-stage SOD1G93A spinal cord, indicating that down-regulation of transcripts may be due to an excess of cholesterol in the CNS during late-stage disease possibly due to phagocytosis of neuronal debris. Our data reveal that SOD1G93A astrocytes are characterized more by a loss of supportive function than a toxic phenotype during ALS disease progression and future studies should focus upon restorative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Baker
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK
| | - Daniel J Blackburn
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK
| | - Marcus Keatinge
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK
| | - Dilraj Sokhi
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK
| | - Paulius Viskaitis
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK
| | - Paul R Heath
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK
| | - Laura Ferraiuolo
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK
| | - Janine Kirby
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK
| | - Pamela J Shaw
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield Sheffield, UK
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