1
|
Comaposada-Baró R, Benito-Martínez A, Escribano-Saiz JJ, Franco ML, Ceccarelli L, Calatayud-Baselga I, Mira H, Vilar M. Cholinergic neurodegeneration and cholesterol metabolism dysregulation by constitutive p75 NTR signaling in the p75 exonIII-KO mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1237458. [PMID: 37900943 PMCID: PMC10611523 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1237458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, few mouse models of AD recapitulate the neurodegeneration of the cholinergic system. The p75 neurotrophin receptor, p75NTR, has been associated with the degeneration of BFCNs in AD. The senescence-accelerated mouse prone number 8 (SAMP8) is a well-accepted model of accelerated and pathological aging. To gain a better understanding of the role of p75NTR in the basal forebrain during aging, we generated a new mouse line, the SAMP8-p75exonIII-/-. Deletion of p75NTR in the SAMP8 background induces an increase in the number of BFCNs at birth, followed by a rapid decline during aging compared to the C57/BL6 background. This decrease in the number of BFCNs correlates with a worsening in the Y-maze memory test at 6 months in the SAMP8-p75exonIII-/-. We found that SAMP8-p75exonIII-/- and C57/BL6-p75exonIII-/- mice expressed constitutively a short isoform of p75NTR that correlates with an upregulation of the protein levels of SREBP2 and its targets, HMGCR and LDLR, in the BF of both SAMP8-p75exonIII-/- and C57/BL6-p75exonIII-/- mice. As the neurodegeneration of the cholinergic system and the dysregulation of cholesterol metabolism are implicated in AD, we postulate that the generated SAMP8-p75exonIII-/- mouse strain might constitute a good model to study long-term cholinergic neurodegeneration in the CNS. In addition, our results support the role of p75NTR signaling in cholesterol biosynthesis regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Comaposada-Baró
- Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration Unit of the Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Andrea Benito-Martínez
- Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration Unit of the Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan Julian Escribano-Saiz
- Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration Unit of the Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - María Luisa Franco
- Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration Unit of the Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Lorenzo Ceccarelli
- Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration Unit of the Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Helena Mira
- Stem Cells and Aging Units of the Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marçal Vilar
- Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration Unit of the Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
De Vincentiis S, Baggiani M, Merighi F, Cappello V, Lopane J, Di Caprio M, Costa M, Mainardi M, Onorati M, Raffa V. Low Forces Push the Maturation of Neural Precursors into Neurons. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2205871. [PMID: 37058009 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202205871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Mechanical stimulation modulates neural development and neuronal activity. In a previous study, magnetic "nano-pulling" is proposed as a tool to generate active forces. By loading neural cells with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), a precise force vector is remotely generated through static magnetic fields. In the present study, human neural stem cells (NSCs) are subjected to a standard differentiation protocol, in the presence or absence of nano-pulling. Under mechanical stimulation, an increase in the length of the neural processes which showed an enrichment in microtubules, endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria is found. A stimulation lasting up to 82 days induces a strong remodeling at the level of synapse density and a re-organization of the neuronal network, halving the time required for the maturation of neural precursors into neurons. The MNP-loaded NSCs are then transplanted into mouse spinal cord organotypic slices, demonstrating that nano-pulling stimulates the elongation of the NSC processes and modulates their orientation even in an ex vivo model. Thus, it is shown that active mechanical stimuli can guide the outgrowth of NSCs transplanted into the spinal cord tissue. The findings suggest that mechanical forces play an important role in neuronal maturation which could be applied in regenerative medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Matteo Baggiani
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Cappello
- Center for Materials Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pontedera, 56025, Italy
| | - Jakub Lopane
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Di Caprio
- Laboratory of Biology "Bio@SNS", Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, Pisa, 56126, Italy
| | - Mario Costa
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council, via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Marco Mainardi
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council, via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, Pisa, 56124, Italy
| | - Marco Onorati
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Vittoria Raffa
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pacifico P, Testa G, Amodeo R, Mainardi M, Tiberi A, Convertino D, Arevalo JC, Marchetti L, Costa M, Cattaneo A, Capsoni S. Human TrkAR649W mutation impairs nociception, sweating and cognitive abilities: a mouse model of HSAN IV. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:1380-1400. [PMID: 36537577 PMCID: PMC10077510 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac295] [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: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A functional nerve growth factor NGF-Tropomyosin Receptor kinase A (TrkA) system is an essential requisite for the generation and maintenance of long-lasting thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia in adult mammals. Indeed, mutations in the gene encoding for TrkA are responsible for a rare condition, named Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy type IV (HSAN IV), characterized by the loss of response to noxious stimuli, anhidrosis and cognitive impairment. However, to date, there is no available mouse model to properly understand how the NGF-TrkA system can lead to pathological phenotypes that are distinctive of HSAN IV. Here, we report the generation of a knock-in mouse line carrying the HSAN IV TrkAR649W mutation. First, by in vitro biochemical and biophysical analyses, we show that the pathological R649W mutation leads to kinase-inactive TrkA also affecting its membrane dynamics and trafficking. In agreement with the HSAN IV human phenotype, TrkAR649W/m mice display a lower response to thermal and chemical noxious stimuli, correlating with reduced skin innervation, in addition to decreased sweating in comparison to TrkAh/m controls. Moreover, the R649W mutation decreases anxiety-like behavior and compromises cognitive abilities, by impairing spatial-working and social memory. Our results further uncover unexplored roles of TrkA in thermoregulation and sociability. In addition to accurately recapitulating the clinical manifestations of HSAN IV patients, our findings contribute to clarifying the involvement of the NGF-TrkA system in pain sensation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Pacifico
- Bio@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Giovanna Testa
- Bio@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Rosy Amodeo
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pisa 56127, Italy
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Marco Mainardi
- Bio@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56124, Italy
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (IN-CNR), Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Alexia Tiberi
- Bio@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Domenica Convertino
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pisa 56127, Italy
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Juan Carlos Arevalo
- Departmento de Biología Celular y Patología, Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León, University of Salamanca, Salamanca 37007, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca, Salamanca 37007, Spain
| | - Laura Marchetti
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pisa 56127, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Mario Costa
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (IN-CNR), Pisa 56124, Italy
- Pisa Center for Research and Clinical Implementation Flash Radiotherapy (CPFR@CISUP), Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Bio@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56124, Italy
- Rita Levi-Montalcini European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Simona Capsoni
- Bio@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa 56124, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Physiology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara 44121, Italy
| |
Collapse
|