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Baker CE, Marta AG, Zimmerman ND, Korade Z, Mathy NW, Wilton D, Simeone T, Kochvar A, Kramer KL, Stessman HAF, Shibata A. CPT2 Deficiency Modeled in Zebrafish: Abnormal Neural Development, Electrical Activity, Behavior, and Schizophrenia-Related Gene Expression. Biomolecules 2024; 14:914. [PMID: 39199302 PMCID: PMC11353230 DOI: 10.3390/biom14080914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPT2) is an inner mitochondrial membrane protein of the carnitine shuttle and is involved in the beta-oxidation of long chain fatty acids. Beta-oxidation provides an alternative pathway of energy production during early development and starvation. CPT2 deficiency is a genetic disorder that we recently showed can be associated with schizophrenia. We hypothesize that CPT2 deficiency during early brain development causes transcriptional, structural, and functional abnormalities that may contribute to a CNS environment that is susceptible to the emergence of schizophrenia. To investigate the effect of CPT2 deficiency on early vertebrate development and brain function, CPT2 was knocked down in a zebrafish model system. CPT2 knockdown resulted in abnormal lipid utilization and deposition, reduction in body size, and abnormal brain development. Axonal projections, neurotransmitter synthesis, electrical hyperactivity, and swimming behavior were disrupted in CPT2 knockdown zebrafish. RT-qPCR analyses showed significant increases in the expression of schizophrenia-associated genes in CPT2 knockdown compared to control zebrafish. Taken together, these data demonstrate that zebrafish are a useful model for studying the importance of beta-oxidation for early vertebrate development and brain function. This study also presents novel findings linking CPT2 deficiency to the regulation of schizophrenia and neurodegenerative disease-associated genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly E. Baker
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (C.E.B.); (K.L.K.)
| | - Aaron G. Marta
- Department of Biology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.G.M.); (N.D.Z.); (N.W.M.); (D.W.); (A.K.)
| | - Nathan D. Zimmerman
- Department of Biology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.G.M.); (N.D.Z.); (N.W.M.); (D.W.); (A.K.)
| | - Zeljka Korade
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68178, USA;
| | - Nicholas W. Mathy
- Department of Biology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.G.M.); (N.D.Z.); (N.W.M.); (D.W.); (A.K.)
| | - Delaney Wilton
- Department of Biology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.G.M.); (N.D.Z.); (N.W.M.); (D.W.); (A.K.)
| | - Timothy Simeone
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (T.S.); (H.A.F.S.)
| | - Andrew Kochvar
- Department of Biology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.G.M.); (N.D.Z.); (N.W.M.); (D.W.); (A.K.)
| | - Kenneth L. Kramer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (C.E.B.); (K.L.K.)
| | - Holly A. F. Stessman
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (T.S.); (H.A.F.S.)
| | - Annemarie Shibata
- Department of Biology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA; (A.G.M.); (N.D.Z.); (N.W.M.); (D.W.); (A.K.)
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2
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Reyes-Nava NG, Paz D, Pinales BE, Perez I, Gil CB, Gonzales AV, Grajeda BI, Estevao IL, Ellis CC, Castro VL, Quintana AM. Characterization of the zebrafish gabra1 sa43718/sa43718 germline loss of function allele confirms a function for Gabra1 in motility and nervous system development. Differentiation 2024; 138:100790. [PMID: 38908344 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2024.100790] [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: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Mutation of the GABRA1 gene is associated with neurodevelopmental defects and epilepsy. GABRA1 encodes for the α1 subunit of the γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR), which regulates the fast inhibitory impulses of the nervous system. Multiple model systems have been developed to understand the function of GABRA1, but these models have produced complex and, at times, incongruent data. Thus, additional model systems are required to validate and substantiate previous results. We sought to provide initial phenotypic analysis of a novel germline mutant allele. Our analysis provides a solid foundation for the future use of this allele to characterize gabra1 functionally and pharmacologically using zebrafish. We investigated the behavioral swim patterns associated with a nonsense mutation of the zebrafish gabra1 (sa43718 allele) gene. The sa43718 allele causes a decrease in gabra1 mRNA expression, which is associated with light induced hypermotility, one phenotype previously associated with seizure like behavior in zebrafish. Mutation of gabra1 was accompanied by decreased mRNA expression of gabra2, gabra3, and gabra5, indicating a reduction in the expression of additional α sub-units of the GABAAR. Although multiple sub-units were decreased, larvae continued to respond to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), indicating that a residual GABAAR exists in the sa43718 allele. Proteomics analysis demonstrated that mutation of gabra1 is associated with abnormal expression of proteins that regulate synaptic vesicle fusion, vesicle transport, synapse development, and mitochondrial protein complexes. These data support previous studies performed in a zebrafish nonsense allele created by CRISPR/Cas9 and validate that loss of function mutations in the gabra1 gene result in seizure-like phenotypes with abnormal development of the GABA synapse. Our results add to the existing body of knowledge as to the function of GABRA1 during development and validate that zebrafish can be used to provide complete functional characterization of the gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayeli G Reyes-Nava
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - David Paz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Briana E Pinales
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Isaiah Perez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Claudia B Gil
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Annalise V Gonzales
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Brian I Grajeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Igor L Estevao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Cameron C Ellis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Victoria L Castro
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Anita M Quintana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA.
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D’Gama PP, Jeong I, Nygård AM, Trinh AT, Yaksi E, Jurisch-Yaksi N. Ciliogenesis defects after neurulation impact brain development and neuronal activity in larval zebrafish. iScience 2024; 27:110078. [PMID: 38868197 PMCID: PMC11167523 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110078] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cilia are slender, hair-like structures extending from cell surfaces and playing essential roles in diverse physiological processes. Within the nervous system, primary cilia contribute to signaling and sensory perception, while motile cilia facilitate cerebrospinal fluid flow. Here, we investigated the impact of ciliary loss on neural circuit development using a zebrafish line displaying ciliogenesis defects. We found that cilia defects after neurulation affect neurogenesis and brain morphology, especially in the cerebellum, and lead to altered gene expression profiles. Using whole brain calcium imaging, we measured reduced light-evoked and spontaneous neuronal activity in all brain regions. By shedding light on the intricate role of cilia in neural circuit formation and function in the zebrafish, our work highlights their evolutionary conserved role in the brain and sets the stage for future analysis of ciliopathy models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Percival P. D’Gama
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Erling Skalgssons gate 1, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Inyoung Jeong
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Erling Skalgssons gate 1, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Andreas Moe Nygård
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Erling Skalgssons gate 1, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Anh-Tuan Trinh
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Algorithms in the Cortex, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Olav Kyrres Gate 9, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Emre Yaksi
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Algorithms in the Cortex, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Olav Kyrres Gate 9, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine, Koç University School of Medicine, Davutpaşa Caddesi, No:4, Topkapı 34010, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nathalie Jurisch-Yaksi
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Erling Skalgssons gate 1, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Algorithms in the Cortex, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Olav Kyrres Gate 9, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
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Bertoncello KT, Rodrigues G, Bonan CD. Berberine and hesperidin prevent the memory consolidation impairment induced by pentylenetetrazole in zebrafish. Behav Brain Res 2024; 466:114981. [PMID: 38580198 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114981] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
This study verified the effects of the natural compounds berberine and hesperidin on seizure development and cognitive impairment triggered by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in zebrafish. Adult animals were submitted to a training session in the inhibitory avoidance test and, after 10 minutes, they received an intraperitoneal injection of 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg berberine or 100 or 200 mg/kg hesperidin. After 30 minutes, the animals were exposed to 7.5 mM PTZ for 10 minutes. Animals were submitted to the test session 24 h after the training session to verify their cognitive performance. Zebrafish larvae were exposed to 100 µM or 500 µM berberine or 10 µM or 50 µM hesperidin for 30 minutes. After, larvae were exposed to PTZ and had the seizure development evaluated by latency to reach the seizure stages I, II, and III. Adult zebrafish pretreated with 50 mg/kg berberine showed a longer latency to reach stage III. Zebrafish larvae pretreated with 500 µM berberine showed a longer latency to reach stages II and III. Hesperidin did not show any effect on seizure development both in larvae and adult zebrafish. Berberine and hesperidin pretreatments prevented the memory consolidation impairment provoked by PTZ-induced seizures. There were no changes in the distance traveled in adult zebrafish pretreated with berberine or hesperidin. In larval stage, berberine caused no changes in the distance traveled; however, hesperidin increased the locomotion. Our results reinforce the need for investigating new therapeutic alternatives for epilepsy and its comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanandra Taisa Bertoncello
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Rodrigues
- Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Carla Denise Bonan
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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5
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Paz D, Reyes-Nava NG, Pinales BE, Perez I, Gil CB, Gonzales AV, Grajeda B, Estevao IL, Ellis CC, Castro VL, Quintana AM. Characterization of the zebrafish gabra1sa43718/sa43718 germline loss of function allele confirms a function for Gabra1 in motility and nervous system development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.27.525860. [PMID: 36747751 PMCID: PMC9900897 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.27.525860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Mutation of the GABRA1 gene is associated with neurodevelopmental defects and epilepsy. GABRA1 encodes for the α1 subunit of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR), which regulates the fast inhibitory impulses of the nervous system. Multiple model systems have previously been developed to understand the function of GABRA1 during development, but these models have produced complex and at times incongruent data. Thus, additional model systems are required to validate and substantiate previously published results. We investigated the behavioral swim patterns associated with a nonsense mutation of the zebrafish gabra1 (sa43718 allele) gene. The sa43718 allele causes a decrease in gabra1 mRNA expression, which is associated with light induced hypermotility, one phenotype associated with seizure like behavior in zebrafish. Mutation of gabra1 was accompanied by decreased mRNA expression of gabra2, gabra3, and gabra5, indicating a reduction in the expression of additional alpha sub-units of the GABAAR. Although multiple sub-units were decreased in total expression, larvae continued to respond to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) indicating that a residual GABAAR exists in the sa43718 allele. Proteomics analysis demonstrated that nonsense mutation of gabra1 is associated with abnormal expression of proteins that regulate proton transport, ion homeostasis, vesicle transport, and mitochondrial protein complexes. These data support previous studies performed in a zebrafish nonsense allele created by CRISPR/Cas9 and validate that loss of function mutations in the gabra1 gene result in seizure like phenotypes with abnormal function of inhibitory synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Paz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nayeli G Reyes-Nava
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Briana E Pinales
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Isaiah Perez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Claudia B Gil
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Annalise V Gonzales
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Brian Grajeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Igor L Estevao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Cameron C Ellis
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Victoria L Castro
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
| | - Anita M Quintana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States of America
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Miguel Sanz C, Martinez Navarro M, Caballero Diaz D, Sanchez-Elexpuru G, Di Donato V. Toward the use of novel alternative methods in epilepsy modeling and drug discovery. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1213969. [PMID: 37719765 PMCID: PMC10501616 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1213969] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease and, considering the amount of people affected of all ages worldwide, one of the most common neurological disorders. Over 20 novel antiseizure medications (ASMs) have been released since 1993, yet despite substantial advancements in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind epileptogenesis, over one-third of patients continue to be resistant to available therapies. This is partially explained by the fact that the majority of existing medicines only address seizure suppression rather than underlying processes. Understanding the origin of this neurological illness requires conducting human neurological and genetic studies. However, the limitation of sample sizes, ethical concerns, and the requirement for appropriate controls (many patients have already had anti-epileptic medication exposure) in human clinical trials underscore the requirement for supplemental models. So far, mammalian models of epilepsy have helped to shed light on the underlying causes of the condition, but the high costs related to breeding of the animals, low throughput, and regulatory restrictions on their research limit their usefulness in drug screening. Here, we present an overview of the state of art in epilepsy modeling describing gold standard animal models used up to date and review the possible alternatives for this research field. Our focus will be mainly on ex vivo, in vitro, and in vivo larval zebrafish models contributing to the 3R in epilepsy modeling and drug screening. We provide a description of pharmacological and genetic methods currently available but also on the possibilities offered by the continued development in gene editing methodologies, especially CRISPR/Cas9-based, for high-throughput disease modeling and anti-epileptic drugs testing.
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Knap B, Nieoczym D, Kundap U, Kusio-Targonska K, Kukula-Koch W, Turski WA, Gawel K. Zebrafish as a robust preclinical platform for screening plant-derived drugs with anticonvulsant properties-a review. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1221665. [PMID: 37701853 PMCID: PMC10493295 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1221665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, selected plant sources have been explored for medicines to treat convulsions. This continues today, especially in countries with low-income rates and poor medical systems. However, in the low-income countries, plant extracts and isolated drugs are in high demand due to their good safety profiles. Preclinical studies on animal models of seizures/epilepsy have revealed the anticonvulsant and/or antiepileptogenic properties of, at least some, herb preparations or plant metabolites. Still, there is a significant number of plants known in traditional medicine that exert anticonvulsant activity but have not been evaluated on animal models. Zebrafish is recognized as a suitable in vivo model of epilepsy research and is increasingly used as a screening platform. In this review, the results of selected preclinical studies are summarized to provide credible information for the future development of effective screening methods for plant-derived antiseizure/antiepileptic therapeutics using zebrafish models. We compared zebrafish vs. rodent data to show the translational value of the former in epilepsy research. We also surveyed caveats in methodology. Finally, we proposed a pipeline for screening new anticonvulsant plant-derived drugs in zebrafish ("from tank to bedside and back again").
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Knap
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Dorota Nieoczym
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Lublin, Poland
| | - Uday Kundap
- Canada East Spine Center, Saint John Regional Hospital, Horizon Health Center, Saint John, NB, Canada
| | - Kamila Kusio-Targonska
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Wirginia Kukula-Koch
- Department of Pharmacognosy with Medicinal Plants Garden, Medical University, Lublin, Poland
| | - Waldemar A. Turski
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Kinga Gawel
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
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Hamilton N, Allen C, Reynolds S. Longitudinal MRI brain studies in live adult zebrafish. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2023; 36:e4891. [PMID: 36504415 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been successfully used for decades in developmental studies and disease modelling. The remarkable uptake of zebrafish as a model system is partly due to its transparency during the early weeks of its development, allowing in vivo imaging of cellular and molecular processes. However, this key advantage wears off when tissues become opaque as the animal reaches juvenile and adult stages, rendering access to tissues for live imaging and longitudinal studies difficult. Here we provide a novel approach to image and assess tissue integrity of adult zebrafish using MRI on live zebrafish suitable for longitudinal studies. We built a 3D-printed life support chamber and designed a protocol-directed sedation regime to recover adult zebrafish after scanning in a 9.4 T MRI scanner. Our life support chamber is cheap and easy to create using 3D printing, allowing other groups to copy our template for quick setup. Additionally, we optimized the delivery of contrast agent to enhance brain signals in order to refine current delivery, usually delivered intravenously in rodents. We show here that immersion in gadolinium was a viable alternative to intraperitoneal injection to reduce T1 relaxation times. This resulted in protocol refinement as per the 3Rs guidelines and improved image contrast in adult zebrafish disease models. In conclusion, we provide here a detailed methodology to allow longitudinal studies of brain tissue integrity of adult zebrafish, combining safe and efficient delivery of contrast agent and live MRI. This technique can be used to bridge the gap between in vivo studies and longitudinal brain analysis in adult zebrafish, and can be applied to the ever-growing number of adult zebrafish models of ageing and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Hamilton
- The Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Claire Allen
- The Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Steven Reynolds
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Lachowicz J, Szopa A, Ignatiuk K, Świąder K, Serefko A. Zebrafish as an Animal Model in Cannabinoid Research. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10455. [PMID: 37445631 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310455] [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: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoids are active substances present in plants of the Cannabis genus. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) have approved several medicinal products containing natural cannabinoids or their synthetic derivatives for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy, nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, anorexia in AIDS patients, and the alleviation of symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis. In fact, cannabinoids constitute a broad group of molecules with a possible therapeutic potential that could be used in the management of much more diseases than mentioned above; therefore, multiple preclinical and clinical studies on cannabinoids have been carried out in recent years. Danio rerio (zebrafish) is an animal model that has gained more attention lately due to its numerous advantages, including easy and fast reproduction, the significant similarity of the zebrafish genome to the human one, simplicity of genetic modifications, and body transparency during the early stages of development. A number of studies have confirmed the usefulness of this model in toxicological research, experiments related to the impact of early life exposure to xenobiotics, modeling various diseases, and screening tests to detect active substances with promising biological activity. The present paper focuses on the current knowledge of the endocannabinoid system in the zebrafish model, and it summarizes the results and observations from studies investigating the pharmacological effects of natural and synthetic cannabinoids that were carried out in Danio rerio. The presented data support the notion that the zebrafish model is a suitable animal model for use in cannabinoid research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Lachowicz
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Care, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Szopa
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Care, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Ignatiuk
- Scientific Circle, Department of Clincal Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Care, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Świąder
- Chair and Department of Applied and Social Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Serefko
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Care, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
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Turrini L, Roschi L, de Vito G, Pavone FS, Vanzi F. Imaging Approaches to Investigate Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Brain Disease in Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9833. [PMID: 37372981 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish has become an essential model organism in modern biomedical research. Owing to its distinctive features and high grade of genomic homology with humans, it is increasingly employed to model diverse neurological disorders, both through genetic and pharmacological intervention. The use of this vertebrate model has recently enhanced research efforts, both in the optical technology and in the bioengineering fields, aiming at developing novel tools for high spatiotemporal resolution imaging. Indeed, the ever-increasing use of imaging methods, often combined with fluorescent reporters or tags, enable a unique chance for translational neuroscience research at different levels, ranging from behavior (whole-organism) to functional aspects (whole-brain) and down to structural features (cellular and subcellular). In this work, we present a review of the imaging approaches employed to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms underlying functional, structural, and behavioral alterations of human neurological diseases modeled in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lapo Turrini
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Roschi
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe de Vito
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
- Interdepartmental Centre for the Study of Complex Dynamics, University of Florence, Via Giovanni Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Francesco Saverio Pavone
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Via Giovanni Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- National Institute of Optics, National Research Council, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Francesco Vanzi
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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Sun S, Wang H. Clocking Epilepsies: A Chronomodulated Strategy-Based Therapy for Rhythmic Seizures. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044223. [PMID: 36835631 PMCID: PMC9962262 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by hypersynchronous recurrent neuronal activities and seizures, as well as loss of muscular control and sometimes awareness. Clinically, seizures have been reported to display daily variations. Conversely, circadian misalignment and circadian clock gene variants contribute to epileptic pathogenesis. Elucidation of the genetic bases of epilepsy is of great importance because the genetic variability of the patients affects the efficacies of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). For this narrative review, we compiled 661 epilepsy-related genes from the PHGKB and OMIM databases and classified them into 3 groups: driver genes, passenger genes, and undetermined genes. We discuss the potential roles of some epilepsy driver genes based on GO and KEGG analyses, the circadian rhythmicity of human and animal epilepsies, and the mutual effects between epilepsy and sleep. We review the advantages and challenges of rodents and zebrafish as animal models for epileptic studies. Finally, we posit chronomodulated strategy-based chronotherapy for rhythmic epilepsies, integrating several lines of investigation for unraveling circadian mechanisms underpinning epileptogenesis, chronopharmacokinetic and chronopharmacodynamic examinations of AEDs, as well as mathematical/computational modeling to help develop time-of-day-specific AED dosing schedules for rhythmic epilepsy patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Sun
- Center for Circadian Clocks, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Han Wang
- Center for Circadian Clocks, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +86-186-0512-8971
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12
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Bertoncello KT, Bonan CD. The Effect of Adenosine Signaling on Memory Impairment Induced by Pentylenetetrazole in Zebrafish. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:1889-1899. [PMID: 36729312 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-023-03867-2] [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: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy is characterized by the manifestation of spontaneous and recurrent seizures. The high prevalence of comorbidities associated with epilepsy, such as cognitive dysfunction, affects the patients quality of life. Adenosine signaling modulation might be an effective alternative to control seizures and epilepsy-associated comorbidities. This study aimed to verify the role of adenosine modulation on the seizure development and cognitive impairment induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in zebrafish. At first, animals were submitted to a training session in the inhibitory avoidance test and, after 10 min, they received an intraperitoneal injection of valproate, adenosine A1 receptor agonist cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), adenosine A1 receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), adenosine A2A receptor antagonist ZM 241385, adenosine deaminase inhibitor erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nony1)-adenine hydrochloride (EHNA) or the nucleoside transporter inhibitor dipyridamole. Thirty min after the intraperitoneal injection, the animals were exposed to 7.5 mM PTZ for 10 min, where they were evaluated for latency to reach the seizure stages (I, II, and III). Finally, 24 h after the training session, the animals were submitted to the inhibitory avoidance test to verify their cognitive performance during the test session. Valproate, CPA, and EHNA showed antiseizure effects and prevented the memory impairment induced by PTZ exposure. DPCPX, ZM 241385, and dipyridamole pretreatments caused no changes in seizure development; however, these drugs prevented memory impairment without altering locomotion. Our results reinforce the antiseizure effects of adenosine signaling and support the idea that the involvement of adenosine in memory processes may be a target for preventive strategies against cognitive impairment associated with epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanandra Taisa Bertoncello
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Carla Denise Bonan
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. .,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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13
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Sivarajan D, Ramachandran B. Antibiotics modulate frequency and early generation of epileptic seizures in zebrafish. Exp Brain Res 2023; 241:571-583. [PMID: 36625966 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-023-06546-4] [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: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics have been used for decades to treat various bacterial infections. Apart from bactericidal activities, their potential side effects have not been much studied or evaluated. Neurotoxicity is a major concern in the case of β-lactam and fluoroquinolone families, which can result in convulsions or seizures. Here, we proposed a hypothesis to check whether antibiotic treatment can conclusively enhance anxiety-like behaviours and how seizure behavioural profile gets modulated in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-treated zebrafish. Zebrafish were treated with selected antibiotics such as 25 mg/L Penicillin G (PG) and Ciprofloxacin (CPFX), for 7 days and thereafter exposed to PTZ (7.5 mM) for 20 min. The data indicate that PG and CPFX-treated groups exhibited anxiety-like or stressed behavioural phenotypes in the novel tank test (6 min), and also, they were found to promote hyperactivity. Early onset of PTZ-induced seizure-like behavioural scores, the heightened intensity of seizure and reduced latency in different scores were found in PG and CPFX-administered groups. This study substantiates that PG and CPFX as potential seizure modulators in zebrafish. The zebrafish is a well-established and still expanding model organism in many fields. Here, we again reinforce zebrafish as a prominent model to investigate seizure-like neuro-behavioural entities and confirm that chronic antibiotic use has negative consequences that can exacerbate the circumstances of vertebrate species exhibiting seizure-related reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhanusha Sivarajan
- Department of Zoology, Christ College (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, Kerala, 680125, India
| | - Binu Ramachandran
- Neuronal Plasticity Group, Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Thenhipalam, Malappuram, Kerala, 673635, India.
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14
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Developing Novel Experimental Models of m-TORopathic Epilepsy and Related Neuropathologies: Translational Insights from Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021530. [PMID: 36675042 PMCID: PMC9866103 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021530] [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: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an important molecular regulator of cell growth and proliferation. Brain mTOR activity plays a crucial role in synaptic plasticity, cell development, migration and proliferation, as well as memory storage, protein synthesis, autophagy, ion channel expression and axonal regeneration. Aberrant mTOR signaling causes a diverse group of neurological disorders, termed 'mTORopathies'. Typically arising from mutations within the mTOR signaling pathway, these disorders are characterized by cortical malformations and other neuromorphological abnormalities that usually co-occur with severe, often treatment-resistant, epilepsy. Here, we discuss recent advances and current challenges in developing experimental models of mTOR-dependent epilepsy and other related mTORopathies, including using zebrafish models for studying these disorders, as well as outline future directions of research in this field.
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15
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Myren‐Svelstad S, Jamali A, Ophus SS, D'gama PP, Ostenrath AM, Mutlu AK, Hoffshagen HH, Hotz AL, Neuhauss SCF, Jurisch‐Yaksi N, Yaksi E. Elevated photic response is followed by a rapid decay and depressed state in ictogenic networks. Epilepsia 2022; 63:2543-2560. [PMID: 36222083 PMCID: PMC9804334 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The switch between nonseizure and seizure states involves profound alterations in network excitability and synchrony. In this study, we aimed to identify and compare features of neural excitability and dynamics across multiple zebrafish seizure and epilepsy models. METHODS Inspired by video-electroencephalographic recordings in patients, we developed a framework to study spontaneous and photically evoked neural and locomotor activity in zebrafish larvae, by combining high-throughput behavioral tracking and whole-brain in vivo two-photon calcium imaging. RESULTS Our setup allowed us to dissect behavioral and physiological features that are divergent or convergent across multiple models. We observed that spontaneous locomotor and neural activity exhibit great diversity across models. Nonetheless, during photic stimulation, hyperexcitability and rapid response dynamics were well conserved across multiple models, highlighting the reliability of photically evoked activity for high-throughput assays. Intriguingly, in several models, we observed that the initial elevated photic response is often followed by rapid decay of neural activity and a prominent depressed state. Elevated photic response and following depressed state in seizure-prone networks are significantly reduced by the antiseizure medication valproic acid. Finally, rapid decay and depression of neural activity following photic stimulation temporally overlap with slow recruitment of astroglial calcium signals that are enhanced in seizure-prone networks. SIGNIFICANCE We argue that fast decay of neural activity and depressed states following photic response are likely due to homeostatic mechanisms triggered by excessive neural activity. An improved understanding of the interplay between elevated and depressed excitability states might suggest tailored epilepsy therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sverre Myren‐Svelstad
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway,Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway,Department of Neurology and Clinical NeurophysiologySt Olav's University HospitalTrondheimNorway
| | - Ahmed Jamali
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway,Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway,Department of Neurology and Clinical NeurophysiologySt Olav's University HospitalTrondheimNorway
| | - Sunniva S. Ophus
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
| | - Percival P. D'gama
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway,Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
| | - Anna M. Ostenrath
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
| | - Aytac Kadir Mutlu
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
| | - Helene Homme Hoffshagen
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
| | - Adriana L. Hotz
- Department of Molecular Life SciencesUniversity of ZürichZürichSwitzerland
| | | | - Nathalie Jurisch‐Yaksi
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway,Department of Neurology and Clinical NeurophysiologySt Olav's University HospitalTrondheimNorway,Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
| | - Emre Yaksi
- Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience and Centre for Neural Computation, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway,Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine, Department of NeurologyKoç University School of MedicineIstanbulTurkey
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16
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Özsoy Ç, Hotz AL, Rieser NN, Chen Z, Deán-Ben XL, Neuhauss SCF, Razansky D. Volumetric optoacoustic neurobehavioral tracking of epileptic seizures in freely-swimming zebrafish larvae. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1004518. [PMID: 36176960 PMCID: PMC9514119 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1004518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Fast three-dimensional imaging of freely-swimming zebrafish is essential to understand the link between neuronal activity and behavioral changes during epileptic seizures. Studying the complex spatiotemporal patterns of neuronal activity at the whole-brain or -body level typically requires physical restraint, thus hindering the observation of unperturbed behavior. Here we report on real-time volumetric optoacoustic imaging of aberrant circular swimming activity and calcium transients in freely behaving zebrafish larvae, continuously covering their motion across an entire three-dimensional region. The high spatiotemporal resolution of the technique enables capturing ictal-like epileptic seizure events and quantifying their propagation speed, independently validated with simultaneous widefield fluorescence recordings. The work sets the stage for discerning functional interconnections between zebrafish behavior and neuronal activity for studying fundamental mechanisms of epilepsy and in vivo validation of treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Çağla Özsoy
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriana L. Hotz
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas N. Rieser
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zhenyue Chen
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Xosé Luís Deán-Ben
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Daniel Razansky
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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17
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Abram M, Jakubiec M, Reeb K, Cheng MH, Gedschold R, Rapacz A, Mogilski S, Socała K, Nieoczym D, Szafarz M, Latacz G, Szulczyk B, Kalinowska-Tłuścik J, Gawel K, Esguerra CV, Wyska E, Müller CE, Bahar I, Fontana ACK, Wlaź P, Kamiński RM, Kamiński K. Discovery of ( R)- N-Benzyl-2-(2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl)propanamide [ (R)-AS-1], a Novel Orally Bioavailable EAAT2 Modulator with Drug-like Properties and Potent Antiseizure Activity In Vivo. J Med Chem 2022; 65:11703-11725. [PMID: 35984707 PMCID: PMC9469208 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
(R)-7 [(R)-AS-1] showed broad-spectrum antiseizure activity across in vivo mouse seizure models: maximal electroshock (MES), 6 Hz (32/44 mA), acute pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), and PTZ-kindling. A remarkable separation between antiseizure activity and CNS-related adverse effects was also observed. In vitro studies with primary glia cultures and COS-7 cells expressing the glutamate transporter EAAT2 showed enhancement of glutamate uptake, revealing a stereoselective positive allosteric modulator (PAM) effect, further supported by molecular docking simulations. (R)-7 [(R)-AS-1] was not active in EAAT1 and EAAT3 assays and did not show significant off-target activity, including interactions with targets reported for marketed antiseizure drugs, indicative of a novel and unprecedented mechanism of action. Both in vivo pharmacokinetic and in vitro absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity (ADME-Tox) profiles confirmed the favorable drug-like potential of the compound. Thus, (R)-7 [(R)-AS-1] may be considered as the first-in-class small-molecule PAM of EAAT2 with potential for further preclinical and clinical development in epilepsy and possibly other CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Abram
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Marcin Jakubiec
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Katelyn Reeb
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania19102, United States
| | - Mary Hongying Cheng
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15213, United States
| | - Robin Gedschold
- PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, D-53121Bonn, Germany
| | - Anna Rapacz
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Szczepan Mogilski
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Socała
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033Lublin, Poland
| | - Dorota Nieoczym
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033Lublin, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Szafarz
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Gniewomir Latacz
- Department of Technology and Biotechnology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Bartłomiej Szulczyk
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1B, 02-097Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Kalinowska-Tłuścik
- Department of Crystal Chemistry and Crystal Physics, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387Krakow, Poland
| | - Kinga Gawel
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8B, 20-090Lublin, Poland
| | - Camila V Esguerra
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, Forskningsparken, 0349Oslo, Norway
| | - Elżbieta Wyska
- Department of Pharmacokinetics and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Christa E Müller
- PharmaCenter Bonn, Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, D-53121Bonn, Germany
| | - Ivet Bahar
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15213, United States
| | - Andréia C K Fontana
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania19102, United States
| | - Piotr Wlaź
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19, 20-033Lublin, Poland
| | - Rafał M Kamiński
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Kamiński
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688Krakow, Poland
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18
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Fasano G, Compagnucci C, Dallapiccola B, Tartaglia M, Lauri A. Teleost Fish and Organoids: Alternative Windows Into the Development of Healthy and Diseased Brains. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:855786. [PMID: 36034498 PMCID: PMC9403253 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.855786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The variety in the display of animals’ cognition, emotions, and behaviors, typical of humans, has its roots within the anterior-most part of the brain: the forebrain, giving rise to the neocortex in mammals. Our understanding of cellular and molecular events instructing the development of this domain and its multiple adaptations within the vertebrate lineage has progressed in the last decade. Expanding and detailing the available knowledge on regionalization, progenitors’ behavior and functional sophistication of the forebrain derivatives is also key to generating informative models to improve our characterization of heterogeneous and mechanistically unexplored cortical malformations. Classical and emerging mammalian models are irreplaceable to accurately elucidate mechanisms of stem cells expansion and impairments of cortex development. Nevertheless, alternative systems, allowing a considerable reduction of the burden associated with animal experimentation, are gaining popularity to dissect basic strategies of neural stem cells biology and morphogenesis in health and disease and to speed up preclinical drug testing. Teleost vertebrates such as zebrafish, showing conserved core programs of forebrain development, together with patients-derived in vitro 2D and 3D models, recapitulating more accurately human neurogenesis, are now accepted within translational workflows spanning from genetic analysis to functional investigation. Here, we review the current knowledge of common and divergent mechanisms shaping the forebrain in vertebrates, and causing cortical malformations in humans. We next address the utility, benefits and limitations of whole-brain/organism-based fish models or neuronal ensembles in vitro for translational research to unravel key genes and pathological mechanisms involved in neurodevelopmental diseases.
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19
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Hosseini P, Mirsadeghi S, Rahmani S, Izadi A, Rezaei M, Ghodsi Z, Rahimi-Movaghar V, Kiani S. Dopamine Receptors Gene Expression Pattern and Locomotor Improvement Differ Between Female and Male Zebrafish During Spinal Cord Auto Repair. Zebrafish 2022; 19:137-147. [PMID: 35905303 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2021.0081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The dopaminergic system, a spinal cord (SC) motor circuit regulator, is administrated by sexual hormones and evolutionary conserved in all vertebrates. Accordingly, we hypothesized that the dopamine receptor (DAR) expression pattern may be dissimilar in female and male zebrafish SC auto repair. We implemented an uncomplicated method to induce spinal cord injury (SCI) on fully reproductive adult zebrafish, in both genders. SCI was induced using a 28-gauge needle at 9th-10th vertebra without skin incision. Thereupon, lesioned SC was harvested for DAR gene expression analysis; zebrafish were tracked routinely for any improvement in swim distance, speed, and their roaming capabilities/preference. Our findings revealed discrepancies between drd2a, drd2b, drd3, drd4a, and drd4b expression patterns at 1, 7, and 14 days postinjury (DPI) between female and male zebrafish. The receptors were mostly upregulated at 7 DPI in both genders, whereas drd2a and drd2b were mostly maximized in females. Surprisingly, drd3 was measured greater even in intact SC in males. In addition, female zebrafish were able to swim farther distances more accelerated, in multiple directions, by engaging more caudal muscles compared with males, of course with no statistical significance. Indeed, females were able to generate whole-body rotation and move forward using the muscles downstream to the lesion site, whereas the coordinated movement in males was accomplished by rostral muscles. In conclusion, there are differences in DAR gene expression pattern throughout SC autonomous recovery between adult female and male zebrafish, and also, female locomotion seems to ameliorate more rapidly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parastoo Hosseini
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, ROYAN Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, ROYAN Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sara Mirsadeghi
- Department of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, ROYAN Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, ROYAN Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Rahmani
- Department of Computer Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Izadi
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, ROYAN Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rezaei
- Department of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, ROYAN Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Ghodsi
- Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar
- Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Neurosurgery, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.,Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.,Spine Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sahar Kiani
- Department of Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, ROYAN Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, ROYAN Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
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20
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Crilly S, McMahon E, Kasher PR. Zebrafish for modeling stroke and their applicability for drug discovery and development. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:559-568. [PMID: 35587689 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2072828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The global health burden of stroke is significant and few therapeutic treatment options currently exist for patients. Pre-clinical research relies heavily on rodent stroke models but the limitations associated with using these systems alone has meant translation of drug compounds to the clinic has not been greatly successful to date. Zebrafish disease modeling offers a potentially complementary platform for pre-clinical compound screening to aid the drug discovery process for translational stroke research. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors introduce stroke and describe the issues associated with the current pre-clinical drug development pipeline and the advantages that zebrafish disease modeling can offer. Existing zebrafish models of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke are reviewed. Examples of how zebrafish models have been utilized for drug discovery in other disease disciplines are also discussed. EXPERT OPINION Zebrafish disease modeling holds the capacity and potential to significantly enhance the stroke drug development pipeline. However, for this system to be more widely accepted and incorporated into translational stroke research, continued improvement of the existing zebrafish stroke models, as well as focussed collaboration between zebrafish and stroke researchers, is essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siobhan Crilly
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance & University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Emily McMahon
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance & University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Paul R Kasher
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance & University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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21
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Zhang Y, Heylen L, Partoens M, Mills JD, Kaminski RM, Godard P, Gillard M, de Witte PAM, Siekierska A. Connectivity Mapping Using a Novel sv2a Loss-of-Function Zebrafish Epilepsy Model as a Powerful Strategy for Anti-epileptic Drug Discovery. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:881933. [PMID: 35686059 PMCID: PMC9172968 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.881933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) regulates action potential-dependent neurotransmitter release and is commonly known as the primary binding site of an approved anti-epileptic drug, levetiracetam. Although several rodent knockout models have demonstrated the importance of SV2A for functional neurotransmission, its precise physiological function and role in epilepsy pathophysiology remains to be elucidated. Here, we present a novel sv2a knockout model in zebrafish, a vertebrate with complementary advantages to rodents. We demonstrated that 6 days post fertilization homozygous sv2a–/– mutant zebrafish larvae, but not sv2a+/– and sv2a+/+ larvae, displayed locomotor hyperactivity and spontaneous epileptiform discharges, however, no major brain malformations could be observed. A partial rescue of this epileptiform brain activity could be observed after treatment with two commonly used anti-epileptic drugs, valproic acid and, surprisingly, levetiracetam. This observation indicated that additional targets, besides Sv2a, maybe are involved in the protective effects of levetiracetam against epileptic seizures. Furthermore, a transcriptome analysis provided insights into the neuropathological processes underlying the observed epileptic phenotype. While gene expression profiling revealed only one differentially expressed gene (DEG) between wildtype and sv2a+/– larvae, there were 4386 and 3535 DEGs between wildtype and sv2a–/–, and sv2a+/– and sv2a–/– larvae, respectively. Pathway and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis between wildtype and sv2a–/– larvae revealed several pathways and GO terms enriched amongst up- and down-regulated genes, including MAPK signaling, synaptic vesicle cycle, and extracellular matrix organization, all known to be involved in epileptogenesis and epilepsy. Importantly, we used the Connectivity map database to identify compounds with opposing gene signatures compared to the one observed in sv2a–/– larvae, to finally rescue the epileptic phenotype. Two out of three selected compounds rescued electrographic discharges in sv2a–/– larvae, while negative controls did not. Taken together, our results demonstrate that sv2a deficiency leads to increased seizure vulnerability and provide valuable insight into the functional importance of sv2a in the brain in general. Furthermore, we provided evidence that the concept of connectivity mapping represents an attractive and powerful approach in the discovery of novel compounds against epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Zhang
- Laboratory for Molecular Biodiscovery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lise Heylen
- Laboratory for Molecular Biodiscovery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michèle Partoens
- Laboratory for Molecular Biodiscovery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - James D. Mills
- Department of Neuropathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
- Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter, United Kingdom
| | - Rafal M. Kaminski
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
- UCB Pharma, Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium
| | | | | | - Peter A. M. de Witte
- Laboratory for Molecular Biodiscovery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Peter A. M. de Witte,
| | - Aleksandra Siekierska
- Laboratory for Molecular Biodiscovery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Aleksandra Siekierska,
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22
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Chen H, Siu SWI, Wong CTT, Qiu J, Cheung AKK, Lee SMY. Anti-epileptic Kunitz-like peptides discovered in the branching coral Acropora digitifera through transcriptomic analysis. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:2589-2608. [PMID: 35604417 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03311-4] [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: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 50 million people are suffering from epilepsy worldwide. Corals have been used for treating epilepsy in traditional Chinese medicine, but the mechanism of this treatment is unknown. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome of the branching coral Acropora digitifera and obtained its Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), EuKaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG) and Gene Ontology (GO) annotation. Combined with multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis, we discovered three polypeptides, we named them AdKuz1, AdKuz2 and AdKuz3, from A. digitifera that showed a close relationship to Kunitz-type peptides. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation indicated that AdKuz1 to 3 could interact with GABAA receptor but AdKuz2-GABAA remained more stable than others. The biological experiments showed that AdKuz1 and AdKuz2 exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect by decreasing the aberrant level of nitric oxide (NO), IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β induced by LPS in BV-2 cells. In addition, the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced epileptic effect on zebrafish was remarkably suppressed by AdKuz1 and AdKuz2. AdKuz2 particularly showed superior anti-epileptic effects compared to the other two peptides. Furthermore, AdKuz2 significantly decreased the expression of c-fos and npas4a, which were up-regulated by PTZ treatment. In addition, AdKuz2 reduced the synthesis of glutamate and enhanced the biosynthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In conclusion, the results indicated that AdKuz2 may affect the synthesis of glutamate and GABA and enhance the activity of the GABAA receptor to inhibit the symptoms of epilepsy. We believe, AdKuz2 could be a promising anti-epileptic agent and its mechanism of action should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanbin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.,Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shirley Weng In Siu
- Institute of Science and Environment, University of Saint Joseph, Macao, China
| | - Clarence Tsun Ting Wong
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jianwen Qiu
- Department of Biology and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Alex Kwok-Kuen Cheung
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Simon Ming Yuen Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China. .,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
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23
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Lee VLL, Norazit A, Noor SM, Shaikh MF. Channa Striatus Protects Against PTZ-Induced Seizures in LPS Pre-conditioned Zebrafish Model. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:821618. [PMID: 35444543 PMCID: PMC9014177 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.821618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. Mounting evidence suggests the link between epileptogenesis and neuroinflammation. We hypothesize that eliminating neuroinflammation can alleviate seizure severity and prolong seizure onset. Channa striatus (CS) is a snakehead murrel commonly consumed by locals in Malaysia, believed to promote wound healing and mitigate inflammation. This study aims to unravel the anticonvulsive potential of CS extract on neuroinflammation-induced seizures using an adult zebrafish model. Neuroinflammation was induced via cerebroventricular microinjection of lipopolysaccharides from E. coli and later challenged with a second-hit pentylenetetrazol at a subconvulsive dose of 80 mg/kg. Zebrafish behaviour and swimming pattern analysis, as well as gene expression analysis, were done to study the pharmacological property of CS. CS extract pre-treatment in all doses significantly reduced seizure score, prolonged seizure onset time and slightly improved the locomotor swimming pattern of the zebrafish. CS extract pre-treatment at all doses significantly reduced the expression of NFKB gene in the brain, and CS extract at 25 mg/L significantly reduced the IL-1 gene expression suggesting anti-neuroinflammatory properties. However, there were no significant changes in the TNFα. Besides, CS extract at 50 mg/L also elevated the expression of the CREB gene, which exerts neuroprotective effects on the neurons and the NPY gene, which plays a role in modulating the inhibition of the excitatory neurotransmission. To sum up, CS extract demonstrated some anticonvulsive and anti-inflammatory activity on neuroinflammation-induced seizures. Still, more studies need to be done to elucidate the mechanism of action of CS extract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Lin Lin Lee
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Anwar Norazit
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Suzita Mohd Noor
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Farooq Shaikh
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
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24
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Turrini L, Sorelli M, de Vito G, Credi C, Tiso N, Vanzi F, Pavone FS. Multimodal Characterization of Seizures in Zebrafish Larvae. Biomedicines 2022; 10:951. [PMID: 35625689 PMCID: PMC9139036 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10050951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy accounts for a significant proportion of the world's disease burden. Indeed, many research efforts are produced both to investigate the basic mechanism ruling its genesis and to find more effective therapies. In this framework, the use of zebrafish larvae, owing to their peculiar features, offers a great opportunity. Here, we employ transgenic zebrafish larvae expressing GCaMP6s in all neurons to characterize functional alterations occurring during seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole. Using a custom two-photon light-sheet microscope, we perform fast volumetric functional imaging of the entire larval brain, investigating how different brain regions contribute to seizure onset and propagation. Moreover, employing a custom behavioral tracking system, we outline the progressive alteration of larval swim kinematics, resulting from different grades of seizures. Collectively, our results show that the epileptic larval brain undergoes transitions between diverse neuronal activity regimes. Moreover, we observe that different brain regions are progressively recruited into the generation of seizures of diverse severity. We demonstrate that midbrain regions exhibit highest susceptibility to the convulsant effects and that, during periods preceding abrupt hypersynchronous paroxysmal activity, they show a consistent increase in functional connectivity. These aspects, coupled with the hub-like role that these regions exert, represent important cues in their identification as epileptogenic hubs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lapo Turrini
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Via G. Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (G.d.V.); (C.C.); (F.V.)
| | - Michele Sorelli
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Via G. Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (G.d.V.); (C.C.); (F.V.)
| | - Giuseppe de Vito
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (G.d.V.); (C.C.); (F.V.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Caterina Credi
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (G.d.V.); (C.C.); (F.V.)
- National Institute of Optics, National Research Council, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Natascia Tiso
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Francesco Vanzi
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (G.d.V.); (C.C.); (F.V.)
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Francesco Saverio Pavone
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, Via G. Sansone 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (G.d.V.); (C.C.); (F.V.)
- National Institute of Optics, National Research Council, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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25
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Zhou J, Peng C, Li Q, Yan X, Yang L, Li M, Cao X, Xie X, Chen D, Rao C, Huang S, Peng F, Pan X. Dopamine Homeostasis Imbalance and Dopamine Receptors-Mediated AC/cAMP/PKA Pathway Activation are Involved in Aconitine-Induced Neurological Impairment in Zebrafish and SH-SY5Y Cells. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:837810. [PMID: 35370746 PMCID: PMC8971779 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.837810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Aconitine is one of the main bioactive and toxic ingredients of Aconitum species. Increasingly, aconitine has been reported to induce neurotoxicity. However, whether aconitine has effects on the dopaminergic nervous system remains unclear. In this study, zebrafish embryos at 6-days postfertilization were exposed to aconitine at doses of 0.5, 1, and 2 μM for 24 h, and SH-SY5Y cells were treated with 50, 100, and 200 μM of aconitine for 24 h. Results demonstrated that aconitine treatment induced deformities and enhanced the swimming behavior of zebrafish larvaes. Aconitine exposure suppressed cell proliferation and increased the number of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis in zebrafish larvaes and SH-SY5Y cells. Aconitine altered the levels of dopamine and its metabolites by regulating the expression of genes and proteins related to dopamine synthesis, storage, degradation, and reuptake in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, aconitine activated the AC/cAMP/PKA pathway by activating the dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) and inhibiting the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) to disturb intracellular calcium homeostasis, eventually leading to the damage of nerve cells. Furthermore, the D1R antagonist SCH23390 and D2R agonist sumanirole pretreatment effectively attenuated the excitatory state of larvaes. Sumanirole and PKA antagonist H-89 pretreatment effectively decreased intracellular Ca2+ accumulation induced by aconitine in vivo. SCH23390 and sumanirole also reduced aconitine-induced cytotoxicity by inhibiting the AC/cAMP/PKA pathway in vitro. These results suggested that dopamine homeostasis imbalance and dopamine receptors (DRs)-mediated AC/cAMP/PKA pathway activation might be vital mechanisms underlying aconitine-induced neurological injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiuju Li
- Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoyu Yan
- Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Liang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengting Li
- Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoyu Cao
- Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaofang Xie
- Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Dayi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Chaolong Rao
- Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Sizhou Huang
- Development and Regeneration Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Fu Peng
- West China School of Pharmacy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Fu Peng, ; Xiaoqi Pan,
| | - Xiaoqi Pan
- Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy and School of Public Health, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Fu Peng, ; Xiaoqi Pan,
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26
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Niemeyer JE, Gadamsetty P, Chun C, Sylvester S, Lucas JP, Ma H, Schwartz TH, Aksay ERF. Seizures initiate in zones of relative hyperexcitation in a zebrafish epilepsy model. Brain 2022; 145:2347-2360. [PMID: 35196385 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Seizures are thought to arise from an imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory neuronal activity. While most classical studies suggest excessive excitatory neural activity plays a generative role, some recent findings challenge this view and instead argue that excessive activity in inhibitory neurons initiates seizures. We investigated this question of imbalance in a zebrafish seizure model with two-photon imaging of excitatory and inhibitory neuronal activity throughout the brain using a nuclear-localized calcium sensor. We found that seizures consistently initiated in circumscribed zones of the midbrain before propagating to other brain regions. Excitatory neurons were both more prevalent and more likely to be recruited than inhibitory neurons in initiation as compared with propagation zones. These findings support a mechanistic picture whereby seizures initiate in a region of hyper-excitation, then propagate more broadly once inhibitory restraint in the surround is overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Niemeyer
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Poornima Gadamsetty
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Chanwoo Chun
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine and the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sherika Sylvester
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine and the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jacob P Lucas
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Hongtao Ma
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Theodore H Schwartz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Emre R F Aksay
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine and the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
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27
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Crouzier L, Richard EM, Sourbron J, Lagae L, Maurice T, Delprat B. Use of Zebrafish Models to Boost Research in Rare Genetic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13356. [PMID: 34948153 PMCID: PMC8706563 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rare genetic diseases are a group of pathologies with often unmet clinical needs. Even if rare by a single genetic disease (from 1/2000 to 1/more than 1,000,000), the total number of patients concerned account for approximatively 400 million peoples worldwide. Finding treatments remains challenging due to the complexity of these diseases, the small number of patients and the challenge in conducting clinical trials. Therefore, innovative preclinical research strategies are required. The zebrafish has emerged as a powerful animal model for investigating rare diseases. Zebrafish combines conserved vertebrate characteristics with high rate of breeding, limited housing requirements and low costs. More than 84% of human genes responsible for diseases present an orthologue, suggesting that the majority of genetic diseases could be modelized in zebrafish. In this review, we emphasize the unique advantages of zebrafish models over other in vivo models, particularly underlining the high throughput phenotypic capacity for therapeutic screening. We briefly introduce how the generation of zebrafish transgenic lines by gene-modulating technologies can be used to model rare genetic diseases. Then, we describe how zebrafish could be phenotyped using state-of-the-art technologies. Two prototypic examples of rare diseases illustrate how zebrafish models could play a critical role in deciphering the underlying mechanisms of rare genetic diseases and their use to identify innovative therapeutic solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Crouzier
- MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (L.C.); (E.M.R.); (T.M.)
| | - Elodie M. Richard
- MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (L.C.); (E.M.R.); (T.M.)
| | - Jo Sourbron
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Section Pediatric Neurology, University Hospital KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.S.); (L.L.)
| | - Lieven Lagae
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Section Pediatric Neurology, University Hospital KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (J.S.); (L.L.)
| | - Tangui Maurice
- MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (L.C.); (E.M.R.); (T.M.)
| | - Benjamin Delprat
- MMDN, University of Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (L.C.); (E.M.R.); (T.M.)
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28
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Zhou J, Liang W, Wang J, Chen J, Liu D, Wang X, Wu Y, Zhang Q, Shen D. An epileptic encephalopathy associated GABRG2 missense mutation leads to pre- and postsynaptic defects in zebrafish. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 31:3216-3230. [PMID: 34957497 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor γ2 subunit gene, GABRG2, have been associated with a variety of epilepsy syndromes. A de novo mutation (c.T1027C, p.F343L) in GABRG2 was identified in a patient with early onset epileptic encephalopathy. Zebrafish overexpressing mutant human GABRG2 (F343L) subunits displayed spontaneous seizure activity and convulsive behaviors. In this study, we demonstrated that Tg (hGABRG2F343L) zebrafish displayed hyperactivity during light phase with normal circadian rhythm, as well as increased drug-induced locomotor activity. Real-time quantitative PCR, whole mount in situ hybridization and western blotting showed that Tg(hGABRG2F343L) zebrafish had altered expression of GABAA receptor subunits. Furthermore, investigation of synaptic protein expression and synapse ultrastructure uncovered a robust synaptic phenotype that is causally linked to GABRG2(F343L) mutation. Strikingly, Tg(hGABRG2F343L) zebrafish not only had postsynaptic defects, but also displayed an unanticipated deficit at the presynaptic level. Overall, our Tg(hGABRG2F343L) overexpression zebrafish model has expanded the GABAergic paradigm in epileptic encephalopathy from channelopathy to synaptopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Wenpeng Liang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Dong Liu
- School of Life Science, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Youjia Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Dingding Shen
- Department of Neurology & Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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29
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Heylen L, Pham DH, De Meulemeester AS, Samarut É, Skiba A, Copmans D, Kazwiny Y, Vanden Berghe P, de Witte PAM, Siekierska A. Pericardial Injection of Kainic Acid Induces a Chronic Epileptic State in Larval Zebrafish. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:753936. [PMID: 34720874 PMCID: PMC8551382 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.753936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a common disorder of the brain characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures, which develop gradually during a process called epileptogenesis. The mechanistic processes underlying the changes of brain tissue and networks toward increased seizure susceptibility are not fully understood. In rodents, injection of kainic acid (KA) ultimately leads to the development of spontaneous epileptic seizures, reflecting similar neuropathological characteristics as seen in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Although this model has significantly contributed to increased knowledge of epileptogenesis, it is technically demanding, costly to operate and hence not suitable for high-throughput screening of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Zebrafish, a vertebrate with complementary advantages to rodents, is an established animal model for epilepsy research. Here, we generated a novel KA-induced epilepsy model in zebrafish larvae that we functionally and pharmacologically validated. KA was administered by pericardial injection at an early zebrafish larval stage. The epileptic phenotype induced was examined by quantification of seizure-like behavior using automated video recording, and of epileptiform brain activity measured via local field potential (LFP) recordings. We also assessed GFP-labeled GABAergic and RFP-labeled glutamatergic neurons in double transgenic KA-injected zebrafish larvae, and examined the GABA and glutamate levels in the larval heads by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS/MS). Finally, KA-injected larvae were exposed to five commonly used AEDs by immersion for pharmacological characterization of the model. Shortly after injection, KA induced a massive damage and inflammation in the zebrafish brain and seizure-like locomotor behavior. An abnormal reorganization of brain circuits was observed, a decrease in both GABAergic and glutamatergic neuronal population and their associated neurotransmitters. Importantly, these changes were accompanied by spontaneous and continuous epileptiform brain discharges starting after a short latency period, as seen in KA rodent models and reminiscent of human pathology. Three out of five AEDs tested rescued LFP abnormalities but did not affect the seizure-like behavior. Taken together, for the first time we describe a chemically-induced larval zebrafish epilepsy model offering unique insights into studying epileptogenic processes in vivo and suitable for high-throughput AED screening purposes and rapid genetic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise Heylen
- Laboratory for Molecular Biodiscovery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Duc-Hung Pham
- Laboratory for Molecular Biodiscovery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Éric Samarut
- Department of Neurosciences, Research Center of the University of Montreal Hospital Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Modelis Inc., Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Adrianna Skiba
- Laboratory for Molecular Biodiscovery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Daniëlle Copmans
- Laboratory for Molecular Biodiscovery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Youcef Kazwiny
- Laboratory for Enteric Neuroscience, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter Vanden Berghe
- Laboratory for Enteric Neuroscience, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Gawel K, Kukula-Koch W, Banono NS, Nieoczym D, Targowska-Duda KM, Czernicka L, Parada-Turska J, Esguerra CV. 6-Gingerol, a Major Constituent of Zingiber officinale Rhizoma, Exerts Anticonvulsant Activity in the Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizure Model in Larval Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7745. [PMID: 34299361 PMCID: PMC8305044 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Zingiber officinale is one of the most frequently used medicinal herbs in Asia. Using rodent seizure models, it was previously shown that Zingiber officinale hydroethanolic extract exerts antiseizure activity, but the active constituents responsible for this effect have not been determined. In this paper, we demonstrated that Zingiber officinale methanolic extract exerts anticonvulsant activity in the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced hyperlocomotion assay in larval zebrafish. Next, we isolated 6-gingerol (6-GIN)-a major constituent of Zingiber officinale rhizoma. We observed that 6-GIN exerted potent dose-dependent anticonvulsant activity in the PTZ-induced hyperlocomotion seizure assay in zebrafish, which was confirmed electroencephalographically. To obtain further insight into the molecular mechanisms of 6-GIN antiseizure activity, we assessed the concentration of two neurotransmitters in zebrafish, i.e., inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and excitatory glutamic acid (GLU), and their ratio after exposure to acute PTZ dose. Here, 6-GIN decreased GLU level and reduced the GLU/GABA ratio in PTZ-treated fish compared with only PTZ-bathed fish. This activity was associated with the decrease in grin2b, but not gabra1a, grin1a, gria1a, gria2a, and gria3b expression in PTZ-treated fish. Molecular docking to the human NR2B-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor suggests that 6-GIN might act as an inhibitor and interact with the amino terminal domain, the glutamate-binding site, as well as within the ion channel of the NR2B-containing NMDA receptor. In summary, our study reveals, for the first time, the anticonvulsant activity of 6-GIN. We suggest that this effect might at least be partially mediated by restoring the balance between GABA and GLU in the epileptic brain; however, more studies are needed to prove our hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Gawel
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway; (N.S.B.); (C.V.E.)
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego Str. 8b, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Wirginia Kukula-Koch
- Chair and Department of Pharmacognosy, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki Str. 1, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Nancy Saana Banono
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway; (N.S.B.); (C.V.E.)
| | - Dorota Nieoczym
- Department of Animal Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Marie Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka Str. 19, 20-033 Lublin, Poland;
| | | | - Lidia Czernicka
- Chair and Department of Food and Nutrition, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki Str. 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Jolanta Parada-Turska
- Department of Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Camila V. Esguerra
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway; (N.S.B.); (C.V.E.)
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31
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Tsuji K, Satsuka A, Kanda Y. [Current challenges and future perspectives of pharmacological testing using new approach methodologies]. Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi 2021; 156:208-213. [PMID: 34193697 DOI: 10.1254/fpj.21020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The mission of regulatory science is to promote human longevity by providing safer and more effective drugs and ensuring human health. At present, various in vitro and in vivo evaluation methods are used for drug development, and no major problems have been observed. However, there is still room for improvement in terms of risk prediction in humans. Thus, new approaches and methodologies (NAMs) have recently been developed to predict adverse events in humans more accurately. Based on the animal alternative methods and the current COVID-19 pandemic, in vitro methods, such as human iPS cells, and computational approach are accelerated to improve the efficiency of drug development, ensure the patients' safety and speed up the review process. In this review, we would like to summarize the current status and future perspectives of pharmacological assay system using NAM in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayoko Tsuji
- Division of Pharmacology, National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS)
| | - Ayano Satsuka
- Division of Pharmacology, National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS)
| | - Yasunari Kanda
- Division of Pharmacology, National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS)
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Shcheglovitov A, Peterson RT. Screening Platforms for Genetic Epilepsies-Zebrafish, iPSC-Derived Neurons, and Organoids. Neurotherapeutics 2021; 18:1478-1489. [PMID: 34595731 PMCID: PMC8608971 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-021-01115-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in molecular and cellular engineering, such as human cell reprogramming, genome editing, and patient-specific organoids, have provided unprecedented opportunities for investigating human disorders in both animals and human-based models at an improved pace and precision. This progress will inevitably lead to the development of innovative drug-screening platforms and new patient-specific therapeutics. In this review, we discuss recent advances that have been made using zebrafish and human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons and organoids for modeling genetic epilepsies. We also provide our prospective on how these models can potentially be combined to build new screening platforms for antiseizure and antiepileptogenic drug discovery that harness the robustness and tractability of zebrafish models as well as the patient-specific genetics and biology of iPSC-derived neurons and organoids.
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