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Catlin JP, Schaner Tooley CE. Exploring potential developmental origins of common neurodegenerative disorders. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1035-1044. [PMID: 38661189 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230422] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
In the United States, it is now estimated that 6.7 million people over the age of 65 are afflicted by Alzheimer's disease (AD), over 1 million people are living with Parkinson's disease (PD), and over 200 000 have or are at risk for developing Huntington's disease (HD). All three of these neurodegenerative diseases result in the ultimate death of distinct neuronal subtypes, and it is widely thought that age-related damage is the single biggest contributing factor to this neuronal death. However, recent studies are now suggesting that developmental defects during early neurogenesis could also play a role in the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. Loss or overexpression of proteins associated with HD, PD, and AD also result in embryonic phenotypes but whether these developmental defects slowly unmask over time and contribute to age-related neurodegeneration remains highly debated. Here, we discuss known links between embryonic neurogenesis and neurodegenerative disorders (including common signaling pathways), potential compensatory mechanisms that could delay presentation of neurodegenerative disorders, and the types of model systems that could be used to study these links in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Catlin
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, U.S.A
| | - Christine E Schaner Tooley
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, U.S.A
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Bedolla A, Wegman E, Weed M, Stevens MK, Ware K, Paranjpe A, Alkhimovitch A, Ifergan I, Taranov A, Peter JD, Gonzalez RMS, Robinson JE, McClain L, Roskin KM, Greig NH, Luo Y. Adult microglial TGFβ1 is required for microglia homeostasis via an autocrine mechanism to maintain cognitive function in mice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5306. [PMID: 38906887 PMCID: PMC11192737 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49596-0] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
While TGF-β signaling is essential for microglial function, the cellular source of TGF-β1 ligand and its spatial regulation remains unclear in the adult CNS. Our data supports that microglia but not astrocytes or neurons are the primary producers of TGF-β1 ligands needed for microglial homeostasis. Microglia-Tgfb1 KO leads to the activation of microglia featuring a dyshomeostatic transcriptome that resembles disease-associated, injury-associated, and aged microglia, suggesting microglial self-produced TGF-β1 ligands are important in the adult CNS. Astrocytes in MG-Tgfb1 inducible (i)KO mice show a transcriptome profile that is closely aligned with an LPS-associated astrocyte profile. Additionally, using sparse mosaic single-cell microglia KO of TGF-β1 ligand we established an autocrine mechanism for signaling. Here we show that MG-Tgfb1 iKO mice present cognitive deficits, supporting that precise spatial regulation of TGF-β1 ligand derived from microglia is required for the maintenance of brain homeostasis and normal cognitive function in the adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Bedolla
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Elliot Wegman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Max Weed
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - Kierra Ware
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Aditi Paranjpe
- Information Services for Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, USA
| | - Anastasia Alkhimovitch
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Igal Ifergan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Aleksandr Taranov
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Joshua D Peter
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Rosa Maria Salazar Gonzalez
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, US
| | - J Elliott Robinson
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, US
| | - Lucas McClain
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Krishna M Roskin
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, US
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, USA
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yu Luo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Soltani Khaboushan A, Moeinafshar A, Ersi MH, Teixeira AL, Majidi Zolbin M, Kajbafzadeh AM. Circulating levels of inflammatory biomarkers in Huntington's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neuroimmunol 2023; 385:578243. [PMID: 37984118 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2023.578243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by an abnormally high number of CAG repeats at the huntingtin-encoding gene, HTT. This genetic alteration results in the expression of a mutant form of the protein (mHTT) and the formation of intracellular aggregates, inducing an inflammatory state within the affected areas. This dysfunction of inflammatory response leads to elevated levels of related inflammatory markers in both CNS tissue samples and body fluids. This study aims to investigate peripheral/blood concentrations of inflammatory molecules in HD. METHODS A search was conducted in MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases until March 30th, 2023. Random-effect meta-analysis was used for exploring concentrations of inflammatory molecules in HD. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were used to assess heterogeneity among the included studies. The study protocol has been registered in PROSPERO with the ID number CRD42022296078. RESULTS Ten studies were included in the meta-analysis. Plasma levels of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-10 were higher in HD compared to controls. Other biomarkers, namely, complement component C-reactive protein (CRP), C3, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-1, IL-2, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), did not show any significant differences between the two groups. In addition, the subgroup analysis results established no significant differences in levels of these biomarkers in body fluids among premanifest and manifest HD patients. CONCLUSION The results of this study provide evidence for the presence of higher plasma levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in HD patients in comparison with healthy controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Soltani Khaboushan
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Gene, Cell and Tissue Research Institute, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran; Students' Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aysan Moeinafshar
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Gene, Cell and Tissue Research Institute, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hamed Ersi
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Gene, Cell and Tissue Research Institute, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran; Evidence Based Medicine Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Antonio L Teixeira
- Neuropsychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Masoumeh Majidi Zolbin
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Gene, Cell and Tissue Research Institute, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdol-Mohammad Kajbafzadeh
- Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Gene, Cell and Tissue Research Institute, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
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Raposo M, Hübener-Schmid J, Ferreira AF, Vieira Melo AR, Vasconcelos J, Pires P, Kay T, Garcia-Moreno H, Giunti P, Santana MM, Pereira de Almeida L, Infante J, van de Warrenburg BP, de Vries JJ, Faber J, Klockgether T, Casadei N, Admard J, Schöls L, Riess O, Lima M. Blood transcriptome sequencing identifies biomarkers able to track disease stages in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Brain 2023; 146:4132-4143. [PMID: 37071051 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad128] [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: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional dysregulation has been described in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD), an autosomal dominant ataxia caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the ataxin-3 protein. As ataxin-3 is ubiquitously expressed, transcriptional alterations in blood may reflect early changes that start before clinical onset and might serve as peripheral biomarkers in clinical and research settings. Our goal was to describe enriched pathways and report dysregulated genes, which can track disease onset, severity or progression in carriers of the ATXN3 mutation (pre-ataxic subjects and patients). Global dysregulation patterns were identified by RNA sequencing of blood samples from 40 carriers of ATXN3 mutation and 20 controls and further compared with transcriptomic data from post-mortem cerebellum samples of MJD patients and controls. Ten genes-ABCA1, CEP72, PTGDS, SAFB2, SFSWAP, CCDC88C, SH2B1, LTBP4, MEG3 and TSPOAP1-whose expression in blood was altered in the pre-ataxic stage and simultaneously, correlated with ataxia severity in the overt disease stage, were analysed by quantitative real-time PCR in blood samples from an independent set of 170 SCA3/MJD subjects and 57 controls. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated the Gαi signalling and the oestrogen receptor signalling to be similarly affected in blood and cerebellum. SAFB2, SFSWAP and LTBP4 were consistently dysregulated in pre-ataxic subjects compared to controls, displaying a combined discriminatory ability of 79%. In patients, ataxia severity was associated with higher levels of MEG3 and TSPOAP1. We propose expression levels of SAFB2, SFSWAP and LTBP4 as well as MEG3 and TSPOAP1 as stratification markers of SCA3/MJD progression, deserving further validation in longitudinal studies and in independent cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mafalda Raposo
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Jeannette Hübener-Schmid
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, 72072 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ana F Ferreira
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Ana Rosa Vieira Melo
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - João Vasconcelos
- Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo, 9500-370 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Paula Pires
- Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital do Santo Espírito da Ilha Terceira, 9700-049 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Teresa Kay
- Serviço de Genética Clínica, Hospital D. Estefânia, 1169-045 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Hector Garcia-Moreno
- Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Neurogenetics, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Paola Giunti
- Ataxia Centre, Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- Department of Neurogenetics, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Magda M Santana
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3000-075, Portugal
| | - Luis Pereira de Almeida
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3000-075, Portugal
| | - Jon Infante
- Neurology Service, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla-IDIVAL, Universidad de Cantabria, Centro de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Bart P van de Warrenburg
- Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Neurology, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen J de Vries
- Department of Neurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jennifer Faber
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Thomas Klockgether
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Nicolas Casadei
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- NGS Competence Center Tübingen, 72016 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jakob Admard
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- NGS Competence Center Tübingen, 72016 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ludger Schöls
- Department for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center for Neurology, University of Tübingen, 72016 Tübingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72016 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Olaf Riess
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, 72072 Tübingen, Germany
- NGS Competence Center Tübingen, 72016 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Manuela Lima
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
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Eide S, Misztal M, Feng ZP. Interleukin-6 as a marker of Huntington's disease progression: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain Behav Immun Health 2023; 30:100635. [PMID: 37215308 PMCID: PMC10196779 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2023.100635] [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: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare, inherited disorder with a broad spectrum of manifestations that vary with disease severity and progression. Although genetic testing can readily confirm the initial diagnosis of HD, markers sensitive to HD progression are needed to aid the development of individual treatment plans. The current analysis aims to identify plasma Interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a marker of disease progression in HD patients. A systematic search of PubMed and Medline from conception through October 2021 was conducted. Studies reporting plasma IL-6 levels of mutation-positive HD patients and healthy controls that met inclusion criteria were selected. The search strategy collected 303 studies, 9 of which met analysis inclusion criteria. From included studies, plasma IL-6 levels of 469 individuals with the HD mutation and 206 healthy controls were collected. Plasma IL-6 levels were meta-analytically compared between healthy controls and individuals with the confirmed HD mutation at all stages of disease and correlated to performance on standardized measures of total cognitive and motor function. Plasma IL-6 was significantly increased in HD groups compared to controls (g = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.31,1.16, P < 0.01) and increased significantly throughout most stages of disease progression, notably between pre-manifest and manifest (g = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.04,0.59, P < 0.05) and early and moderate HD stages (g = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.18,0.86, P < 0.01). Significant correlations between plasma IL-6 levels and HD symptomatic progression were identified, with increased cytokine levels associated with more severe motor impairments (r = 0.179, 95% CI = 0.0479,0.304, P = 0.008) and more extreme disabilities in activities of daily living and/or work tasks (r = -0.229, 95% CI = -0.334, -0.119, P < 0.001). Conclusively, plasma IL-6 levels correlate with disease and motor symptom progression and may act as a viable marker for clinical use. Analysis is limited by small study numbers and highlights the need for future work to identify definitive ranges or rates of change of plasma IL-6 levels that correlate to progressive HD disease states.
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Yan N, Wang S, Gao H, Chen J, Cao J, Wei P, Li X, Yu Y, Wang Y, Niu Y, Wang Y, Liu S, Jin G. Neuroprotective effect of aloe emodin against Huntington's disease-like symptoms in R6/1 transgenic mice. Food Funct 2023. [PMID: 37191091 DOI: 10.1039/d3fo00156c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Aloe emodin is a natural anthraquinone derived from aloe or rhubarb, showing anti-renal fibrosis, anti-atherosclerosis and anti-cancer effects. Aloe emodin also shows neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke rats. Naturally, anthraquinone derivatives generally have the effect of inhibiting the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) pathway. There is an increase in the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and TGF-β1 levels in both Huntington's disease (HD) patients' brains and HD transgenic mice. Thus, we hypothesized that aloe emodin may inhibit the phosphorylation of CaMKII (p-CaMKII) and TGF-β1/sma- and mad-related protein (Smad) signaling in the brain, further preventing motor and cognitive dysfunction. Aloe emodin was orally administered to 10- to 20-week-old HD R6/1 transgenic mice. Aloe emodin improved the motor coordination of R6/1 transgenic mice in the rotarod test and attenuated visual recognition impairment in the novel object recognition test. Aloe emodin downregulated levels of the mutant huntingtin protein, p-CaMKII and TGF-β1, but not the TGF-β2 or TGF-β3 levels, in the brains of R6/1 mice. Aloe emodin could also inhibit neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus of R6/1 mice. Altogether, these results indicated that aloe emodin prevents several HD-like symptoms through the inhibition of CaMKII/Smad and TGF-β1/Smad signaling in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Yan
- School of Medical Applied Technology, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China
| | - Shuai Wang
- Basic Medical School, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China
| | - Haotian Gao
- Basic Medical School, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China
| | - Jiaqi Chen
- Basic Medical School, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China
| | - Jiahui Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China.
| | - Pengsheng Wei
- Basic Medical School, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China
| | - Xue Li
- Basic Medical School, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China
| | - Ying Yu
- Liaoning Medical Device Test Institute, Shenyang, 110171, P.R. China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China
| | - Yalin Niu
- Basic Medical School, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China
| | - Yijie Wang
- Basic Medical School, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China
| | - Shuyuan Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China
| | - Ge Jin
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China.
- Key Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, P.R. China
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Jin B, Fei G, Sang S, Zhong C. Identification of biomarkers differentiating Alzheimer's disease from other neurodegenerative diseases by integrated bioinformatic analysis and machine-learning strategies. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1152279. [PMID: 37234685 PMCID: PMC10205980 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1152279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, imposing huge mental and economic burdens on patients and society. The specific molecular pathway(s) and biomarker(s) that distinguish AD from other neurodegenerative diseases and reflect the disease progression are still not well studied. Methods Four frontal cortical datasets of AD were integrated to conduct differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and functional gene enrichment analyses. The transcriptional changes after the integrated frontal cortical datasets subtracting the cerebellar dataset of AD were further compared with frontal cortical datasets of frontotemporal dementia and Huntingdon's disease to identify AD-frontal-associated gene expression. Integrated bioinformatic analysis and machine-learning strategies were applied for screening and determining diagnostic biomarkers, which were further validated in another two frontal cortical datasets of AD by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results Six hundred and twenty-six DEGs were identified as AD frontal associated, including 580 downregulated genes and 46 upregulated genes. The functional enrichment analysis revealed that immune response and oxidative stress were enriched in AD patients. Decorin (DCN) and regulator of G protein signaling 1 (RGS1) were screened as diagnostic biomarkers in distinguishing AD from frontotemporal dementia and Huntingdon's disease of AD. The diagnostic effects of DCN and RGS1 for AD were further validated in another two datasets of AD: the areas under the curve (AUCs) reached 0.8148 and 0.8262 in GSE33000, and 0.8595 and 0.8675 in GSE44770. There was a better value for AD diagnosis when combining performances of DCN and RGS1 with the AUCs of 0.863 and 0.869. Further, DCN mRNA level was correlated to CDR (Clinical Dementia Rating scale) score (r = 0.5066, p = 0.0058) and Braak staging (r = 0.3348, p = 0.0549). Conclusion DCN and RGS1 associated with the immune response may be useful biomarkers for diagnosing AD and distinguishing the disease from frontotemporal dementia and Huntingdon's disease. DCN mRNA level reflects the development of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boru Jin
- Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoqiang Fei
- Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shaoming Sang
- Shanghai Raising Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Chunjiu Zhong
- Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Zhang S, Cheng Y, Shang H. The updated development of blood-based biomarkers for Huntington's disease. J Neurol 2023; 270:2483-2503. [PMID: 36692635 PMCID: PMC9873222 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11572-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by mutation of the huntingtin (HTT) gene. The identification of mutation carriers before symptom onset provides an opportunity to intervene in the early stage of the disease course. Optimal biomarkers are of great value to reflect neuropathological and clinical progression and are sensitive to potential disease-modifying treatments. Blood-based biomarkers have the merits of minimal invasiveness, low cost, easy accessibility and safety. In this review, we summarized the updated development of blood-based biomarkers for HD from six aspects, including neuronal injuries, oxidative stress, endocrine functions, immune reactions, metabolism and differentially expressed miRNAs. The blood-based biomarkers presented and discussed in this review were close to clinical applicability and might facilitate clinical design as surrogate endpoints. Exploration and validation of robust blood-based biomarkers require further standard and systemic study design in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirui Zhang
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Neurology, Rare Disease Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 Sichuan China ,grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China ,grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Yangfan Cheng
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Neurology, Rare Disease Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 Sichuan China ,grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China
| | - Huifang Shang
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Neurology, Rare Disease Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 Sichuan China ,grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China
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Protective effect of 3-n-butylphthalide against intrastriatal injection of malonic acid-induced neurotoxicity and biochemical alteration in rats. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 155:113664. [PMID: 36095961 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113664] [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: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial abnormalities and a defective expression of neurotrophic factors contribute to neuronal damage in Huntington's disease (HD). HD patients showed a reduction in transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels in the peripheral blood and in cortical neurons. 3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) is first isolated from the seeds of celery, treats ischemic stroke in China. NBP could attenuate cognitive and motor impairments in the experimental models of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, reduce mitochondrial oxidative stress and increase the expression of TGF-β1 in rats with focal cerebral ischemia. To our knowledge, the effect of NBP on Huntington's disease has not been reported. We proposed the hypothesis that whether NBP could protect mitochondria and regulate TGF-β1 and its downstream signaling in a HD animal model, further prevents motor dysfunction. Malonic acid is a reversible inhibitor of mitochondrial enzyme complex-II, induces energy crisis and free radical generation. In this study, we used intrastriatal injections of malonic acid in rats to mimic mitochondrial abnormalities and the other HD like symptoms. We found that treatment with NBP significantly attenuated malonic acid-induced motor and cognitive dysfunction in locomotor behaviour test, rotarod test, novel object recognition test and morris water maze test, prevented neurotoxicity and mitochondrial damage, activated TGF-β1/Akt/Wnt/β-Catenin pathway in striatum, but didn't regulate mitochondrial fusion and fission. The above effect was partly reversed by a PI3K/Akt inhibitor. Our data support NBP as a potential candidate for the treatment of HD.
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10
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TGF-β as a Key Modulator of Astrocyte Reactivity: Disease Relevance and Therapeutic Implications. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051206. [PMID: 35625943 PMCID: PMC9138510 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are essential for normal brain development and functioning. They respond to brain injury and disease through a process referred to as reactive astrogliosis, where the reactivity is highly heterogenous and context-dependent. Reactive astrocytes are active contributors to brain pathology and can exert beneficial, detrimental, or mixed effects following brain insults. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has been identified as one of the key factors regulating astrocyte reactivity. The genetic and pharmacological manipulation of the TGF-β signaling pathway in animal models of central nervous system (CNS) injury and disease alters pathological and functional outcomes. This review aims to provide recent understanding regarding astrocyte reactivity and TGF-β signaling in brain injury, aging, and neurodegeneration. Further, it explores how TGF-β signaling modulates astrocyte reactivity and function in the context of CNS disease and injury.
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11
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Saba J, Couselo FL, Bruno J, Carniglia L, Durand D, Lasaga M, Caruso C. Neuroinflammation in Huntington's Disease: A Starring Role for Astrocyte and Microglia. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:1116-1143. [PMID: 34852742 PMCID: PMC9886821 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666211201094608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene. HD causes motor, cognitive, and behavioral dysfunction. Since no existing treatment affects the course of this disease, new treatments are needed. Inflammation is frequently observed in HD patients before symptom onset. Neuroinflammation, characterized by the presence of reactive microglia, astrocytes and inflammatory factors within the brain, is also detected early. However, in comparison to other neurodegenerative diseases, the role of neuroinflammation in HD is much less known. Work has been dedicated to altered microglial and astrocytic functions in the context of HD, but less attention has been given to glial participation in neuroinflammation. This review describes evidence of inflammation in HD patients and animal models. It also discusses recent knowledge on neuroinflammation in HD, highlighting astrocyte and microglia involvement in the disease and considering anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Saba
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Federico López Couselo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Julieta Bruno
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lila Carniglia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela Durand
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mercedes Lasaga
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla Caruso
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina,Address correspondence to this author at the Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155 Piso 10, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tel: +54 11 5285 3380; E-mail:
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12
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Dick K, Pattang A, Hooker J, Nissan N, Sadowski M, Barnes B, Tan LH, Burnside D, Phanse S, Aoki H, Babu M, Dehne F, Golshani A, Cober ER, Green JR, Samanfar B. Human-Soybean Allergies: Elucidation of the Seed Proteome and Comprehensive Protein-Protein Interaction Prediction. J Proteome Res 2021; 20:4925-4947. [PMID: 34582199 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The soybean crop, Glycine max (L.) Merr., is consumed by humans, Homo sapiens, worldwide. While the respective bodies of literature and -omics data for each of these organisms are extensive, comparatively few studies investigate the molecular biological processes occurring between the two. We are interested in elucidating the network of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) involved in human-soybean allergies. To this end, we leverage state-of-the-art sequence-based PPI predictors amenable to predicting the enormous comprehensive interactome between human and soybean. A network-based analytical approach is proposed, leveraging similar interaction profiles to identify candidate allergens and proteins involved in the allergy response. Interestingly, the predicted interactome can be explored from two complementary perspectives: which soybean proteins are predicted to interact with specific human proteins and which human proteins are predicted to interact with specific soybean proteins. A total of eight proteins (six specific to the human proteome and two to the soy proteome) have been identified and supported by the literature to be involved in human health, specifically related to immunological and neurological pathways. This study, beyond generating the most comprehensive human-soybean interactome to date, elucidated a soybean seed interactome and identified several proteins putatively consequential to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Dick
- Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Arezo Pattang
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Julia Hooker
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Nour Nissan
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Michael Sadowski
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Bradley Barnes
- Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Le Hoa Tan
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Daniel Burnside
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Sadhna Phanse
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada S4S 0A2
| | - Hiroyuki Aoki
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada S4S 0A2
| | - Mohan Babu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada S4S 0A2
| | - Frank Dehne
- School of Computer Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Ashkan Golshani
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Elroy R Cober
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
| | - James R Green
- Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
| | - Bahram Samanfar
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, and Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6
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13
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Plinta K, Plewka A, Wójcik-Pędziwiatr M, Zmarzły N, Rudziński M, Rudzińska-Bar M. Is TGF-β1 a Biomarker of Huntington's Disease Progression? J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10133001. [PMID: 34279486 PMCID: PMC8269288 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10133001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant genetic disease that can be divided into preclinical and symptomatic stages. Due to the diverse HD phenotype, there is an urgent need to identify markers that would independently assess its severity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of plasma levels of TGF-β1 in the assessment of HD severity. One hundred HD patients and 40 healthy volunteers were included in the study. All HD patients underwent neurological and cognitive function assessment. TGF-β1 levels were determined in the plasma of all patients. The correlations between TGF-β1 levels and clinical profile and HD severity were also investigated. In symptomatic patients, cognitive decline was demonstrated, while in preclinical patients, no symptoms were found. Plasma levels of TGF-β1 in HD patients did not differ significantly from the control group and did not change with the progression of the disease. In addition, TGF-β1 levels also did not correlate with the severity of motor dysfunction. Positive correlations between plasma TGF-β1 concentration and intensity of cognitive impairment were found, but only in the early disease stage. There was no clear benefit in assessing plasma TGF-β1 levels in HD patients as a marker of disease severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaudia Plinta
- Neurology and Stroke Department, Regional Hospital of Saint Hedwig, 45-221 Opole, Poland;
| | - Andrzej Plewka
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of Opole, 45-040 Opole, Poland;
| | - Magdalena Wójcik-Pędziwiatr
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, 30-705 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Nikola Zmarzły
- Department of Histology, Cytophysiology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Technology in Katowice, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland;
| | - Marcin Rudziński
- Department of Laryngology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-688 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Monika Rudzińska-Bar
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, 30-705 Krakow, Poland;
- Correspondence:
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Grasso M, Caruso G, Godos J, Bonaccorso A, Carbone C, Castellano S, Currenti W, Grosso G, Musumeci T, Caraci F. Improving Cognition with Nutraceuticals Targeting TGF-β1 Signaling. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10071075. [PMID: 34356309 PMCID: PMC8301008 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10071075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rescue of cognitive function represents an unmet need in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Nutraceuticals deliver a concentrated form of a presumed bioactive(s) agent(s) that can improve cognitive function alone or in combination with current approved drugs for the treatment of cognitive disorders. Nutraceuticals include different natural compounds such as flavonoids and their subclasses (flavan-3-ols, catechins, anthocyanins, and flavonols), omega-3, and carnosine that can improve synaptic plasticity and rescue cognitive deficits through multiple molecular mechanisms. A deficit of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) pathway is an early event in the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in different neuropsychiatric disorders, from depression to AD. In the present review, we provide evidence that different nutraceuticals, such as Hypericum perforatum (hypericin and hyperforin), flavonoids such as hesperidin, omega-3, and carnosine, can target TGF-β1 signaling and increase TGF-β1 production in the central nervous system as well as cognitive function. The bioavailability of these nutraceuticals, in particular carnosine, can be significantly improved with novel formulations (nanoparticulate systems, nanoliposomes) that increase the efficacy and stability of this peptide. Overall, these studies suggest that the synergism between nutraceuticals targeting the TGF-β1 pathway and current approved drugs might represent a novel pharmacological approach for reverting cognitive deficits in AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Grasso
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (M.G.); (G.C.); (A.B.); (C.C.); (T.M.); (F.C.)
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Caruso
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (M.G.); (G.C.); (A.B.); (C.C.); (T.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Justyna Godos
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (J.G.); (W.C.)
| | - Angela Bonaccorso
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (M.G.); (G.C.); (A.B.); (C.C.); (T.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Claudia Carbone
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (M.G.); (G.C.); (A.B.); (C.C.); (T.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Sabrina Castellano
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy;
| | - Walter Currenti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (J.G.); (W.C.)
| | - Giuseppe Grosso
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy; (J.G.); (W.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-09-5478-1187
| | - Teresa Musumeci
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (M.G.); (G.C.); (A.B.); (C.C.); (T.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Filippo Caraci
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy; (M.G.); (G.C.); (A.B.); (C.C.); (T.M.); (F.C.)
- Oasi Research Institute—IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy
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Park HJ, Jeon J, Choi J, Kim JY, Kim HS, Huh JY, Goldman SA, Song J. Human iPSC-derived neural precursor cells differentiate into multiple cell types to delay disease progression following transplantation into YAC128 Huntington's disease mouse model. Cell Prolif 2021; 54:e13082. [PMID: 34152047 PMCID: PMC8349664 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate whether human HLA-homozygous induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural precursor cells (iPSC-NPCs) can provide functional benefits in Huntington's disease (HD), we transplanted them into the YAC128 transgenic HD mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS CHAi001-A, an HLA-homozygous iPSC line (A*33:03-B*44:03-DRB1*13:02), was differentiated into neural precursor cells, and then, they were transplanted into 6 months-old YAC128 mice. Various behavioural and histological analyses were performed for five months after transplantation. RESULTS Motor and cognitive functions were significantly improved in transplanted animals. Cells transplanted in the striatum showed multipotential differentiation. Five months after transplantation, the donor cells had differentiated into neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Transplantation restored DARPP-32 expression, synaptophysin density, myelin basic protein expression in the corpus callosum and astrocyte function. CONCLUSION Altogether, these results strongly suggest that iPSC-NPCs transplantation induces neuroprotection and functional recovery in a mouse model of HD and should be taken forward for clinical trials in HD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Jung Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA Stem Cell Institute, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea
| | - Juhyun Jeon
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA Stem Cell Institute, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea
| | - Jiwoo Choi
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA Stem Cell Institute, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea
| | - Ji Yeon Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA Stem Cell Institute, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea
| | - Hyun Sook Kim
- Department of Neurology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea
| | - Ji Young Huh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea
| | - Steven A Goldman
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.,Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Science, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Jihwan Song
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA Stem Cell Institute, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea.,iPS Bio, Inc., 3F, 16 Daewangpangyo-ro 712 Beon-gil, Seongnam-si, Korea
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16
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Saba J, López Couselo F, Turati J, Carniglia L, Durand D, de Laurentiis A, Lasaga M, Caruso C. Astrocytes from cortex and striatum show differential responses to mitochondrial toxin and BDNF: implications for protection of striatal neurons expressing mutant huntingtin. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:290. [PMID: 33023623 PMCID: PMC7542133 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-01965-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Evidence shows significant heterogeneity in astrocyte gene expression and function. We previously demonstrated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) exerts protective effects on whole brain primary cultured rat astrocytes treated with 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP), a mitochondrial toxin widely used as an in vitro model of Huntington’s disease (HD). Therefore, we now investigated 3NP and BDNF effects on astrocytes from two areas involved in HD: the striatum and the entire cortex, and their involvement in neuron survival. Methods We prepared primary cultured rat cortical or striatal astrocytes and treated them with BDNF and/or 3NP for 24 h. In these cells, we assessed expression of astrocyte markers, BDNF receptor, and glutamate transporters, and cytokine release. We prepared astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM) from cortical and striatal astrocytes and tested its effect on a cellular model of HD. Results BDNF protected astrocytes from 3NP-induced death, increased expression of its own receptor, and activation of ERK in both cortical and striatal astrocytes. However, BDNF modulated glutamate transporter expression differently by increasing GLT1 and GLAST expression in cortical astrocytes but only GLT1 expression in striatal astrocytes. Striatal astrocytes released higher amounts of tumor necrosis factor-α than cortical astrocytes in response to 3NP but BDNF decreased this effect in both populations. 3NP decreased transforming growth factor-β release only in cortical astrocytes, whereas BDNF treatment increased its release only in striatal astrocytes. Finally, we evaluated ACM effect on a cellular model of HD: the rat striatal neuron cell line ST14A expressing mutant human huntingtin (Q120) or in ST14A cells expressing normal human huntingtin (Q15). Neither striatal nor cortical ACM modified the viability of Q15 cells. Only ACM from striatal astrocytes treated with BDNF and ACM from 3NP + BDNF-treated striatal astrocytes protected Q120 cells, whereas ACM from cortical astrocytes did not. Conclusions Data suggest that cortical and striatal astrocytes respond differently to mitochondrial toxin 3NP and BDNF. Moreover, striatal astrocytes secrete soluble neuroprotective factors in response to BDNF that selectively protect neurons expressing mutant huntingtin implicating that BDNF modulation of striatal astrocyte function has therapeutic potential against neurodegeneration. Graphical abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Saba
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Federico López Couselo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan Turati
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lila Carniglia
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Daniela Durand
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrea de Laurentiis
- Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO). UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mercedes Lasaga
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla Caruso
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), UBA-CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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17
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Advani D, Gupta R, Tripathi R, Sharma S, Ambasta RK, Kumar P. Protective role of anticancer drugs in neurodegenerative disorders: A drug repurposing approach. Neurochem Int 2020; 140:104841. [PMID: 32853752 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The disease heterogeneity and little therapeutic progress in neurodegenerative diseases justify the need for novel and effective drug discovery approaches. Drug repurposing is an emerging approach that reinvigorates the classical drug discovery method by divulging new therapeutic uses of existing drugs. The common biological background and inverse tuning between cancer and neurodegeneration give weight to the conceptualization of repurposing of anticancer drugs as novel therapeutics. Many studies are available in the literature, which highlights the success story of anticancer drugs as repurposed therapeutics. Among them, kinase inhibitors, developed for various oncology indications evinced notable neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we shed light on the salient role of multiple protein kinases in neurodegenerative disorders. We also proposed a feasible explanation of the action of kinase inhibitors in neurodegenerative disorders with more attention towards neurodegenerative disorders. The problem of neurotoxicity associated with some anticancer drugs is also highlighted. Our review encourages further research to better encode the hidden potential of anticancer drugs with the aim of developing prospective repurposed drugs with no toxicity for neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dia Advani
- Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Room# FW4TF3, Mechanical Engineering Building, Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Rohan Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Room# FW4TF3, Mechanical Engineering Building, Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Rahul Tripathi
- Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Room# FW4TF3, Mechanical Engineering Building, Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Sudhanshu Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Room# FW4TF3, Mechanical Engineering Building, Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Rashmi K Ambasta
- Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Room# FW4TF3, Mechanical Engineering Building, Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi, 110042, India
| | - Pravir Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Neuroscience and Functional Genomics Laboratory, Room# FW4TF3, Mechanical Engineering Building, Shahbad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi, 110042, India.
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18
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Kim A, García-García E, Straccia M, Comella-Bolla A, Miguez A, Masana M, Alberch J, Canals JM, Rodríguez MJ. Reduced Fractalkine Levels Lead to Striatal Synaptic Plasticity Deficits in Huntington's Disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:163. [PMID: 32625064 PMCID: PMC7314984 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder in which the striatum is the most affected brain region. Although a chronic inflammatory microglial reaction that amplifies disease progression has been described in HD patients, some murine models develop symptoms without inflammatory microglial activation. Thus, dysfunction of non-inflammatory microglial activity could also contribute to the early HD pathological process. Here, we show the involvement of microglia and particularly fractalkine signaling in the striatal synaptic dysfunction of R6/1 mice. We found reduced fractalkine gene expression and protein concentration in R6/1 striata from 8 to 20 weeks of age. Consistently, we also observed a down-regulation of fractalkine levels in the putamen of HD patients and in HD patient hiPSC-derived neurons. Automated cell morphology analysis showed a non-inflammatory ramified microglia in the striatum of R6/1 mice. However, we found increased PSD-95-positive puncta inside microglia, indicative of synaptic pruning, before HD motor symptoms start to manifest. Indeed, microglia appeared to be essential for striatal synaptic function, as the inhibition of microglial activity with minocycline impaired the induction of corticostriatal long-term depression (LTD) in wild-type mice. Notably, fractalkine administration restored impaired corticostriatal LTD in R6/1 mice. Our results unveil a role for fractalkine-dependent neuron-microglia interactions in the early striatal synaptic dysfunction characteristic of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anya Kim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esther García-García
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marco Straccia
- Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Barcelona, Spain.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Production and Validation Center of Advanced Therapies (Creatio), Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Comella-Bolla
- Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Barcelona, Spain.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Production and Validation Center of Advanced Therapies (Creatio), Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrés Miguez
- Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Barcelona, Spain.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Production and Validation Center of Advanced Therapies (Creatio), Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercè Masana
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Alberch
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Barcelona, Spain.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep M Canals
- Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Barcelona, Spain.,Laboratory of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Production and Validation Center of Advanced Therapies (Creatio), Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel J Rodríguez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Barcelona, Spain
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19
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Abstract
Our understanding of astrocytes and their role in neurological diseases has increased considerably over the past two decades as the diverse roles of these cells have become recognized. Our evolving understanding of these cells suggests that they are more than support cells for neurons and that they play important roles in CNS homeostasis under normal conditions, in neuroprotection and in disease exacerbation. These multiple functions make them excellent candidates for targeted therapies to treat neurological disorders. New technological advances, including in vivo imaging, optogenetics and chemogenetics, have allowed us to examine astrocytic functions in ways that have uncovered new insights into the dynamic roles of these cells. Furthermore, the use of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived astrocytes from patients with a host of neurological disorders can help to tease out the contributions of astrocytes to human disease. In this Review, we explore some of the technological advances developed over the past decade that have aided our understanding of astrocyte function. We also highlight neurological disorders in which astrocyte function or dysfunction is believed to have a role in disease pathogenesis or propagation and discuss how the technological advances have been and could be used to study each of these diseases.
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20
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Kakouri AC, Christodoulou CC, Zachariou M, Oulas A, Minadakis G, Demetriou CA, Votsi C, Zamba-Papanicolaou E, Christodoulou K, Spyrou GM. Revealing Clusters of Connected Pathways Through Multisource Data Integration in Huntington's Disease and Spastic Ataxia. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2018; 23:26-37. [PMID: 30176611 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2018.2865569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The advancement of scientific and medical research over the past years has generated a wealth of experimental data from multiple technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and other forms of -omics data, which are available for a number of diseases. The integration of such multisource data is a key component toward the success of precision medicine. In this paper, we are investigating a multisource data integration method developed by our group, regarding its ability to drive to clusters of connected pathways under two different approaches: first, a disease-centric approach, where we integrate data around a disease, and second, a gene-centric approach, where we integrate data around a gene. We have used as a paradigm for the first approach Huntington's disease (HD), a disease with a plethora of available data, whereas for the second approach the GBA2, a gene that is related to spastic ataxia (SA), a phenotype with sparse availability of data. Our paper shows that valuable information at the level of disease-related pathway clusters can be obtained for both HD and SA. New pathways that classical pathway analysis methods were unable to reveal, emerged as necessary "connectors" to build connected pathway stories formed as pathway clusters. The capability to integrate multisource molecular data, concluding to something more than the sum of the existing information, empowers precision and personalized medicine approaches.
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21
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Ament SA, Pearl JR, Cantle JP, Bragg RM, Skene PJ, Coffey SR, Bergey DE, Wheeler VC, MacDonald ME, Baliga NS, Rosinski J, Hood LE, Carroll JB, Price ND. Transcriptional regulatory networks underlying gene expression changes in Huntington's disease. Mol Syst Biol 2018; 14:e7435. [PMID: 29581148 PMCID: PMC5868199 DOI: 10.15252/msb.20167435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional changes occur presymptomatically and throughout Huntington's disease (HD), motivating the study of transcriptional regulatory networks (TRNs) in HD We reconstructed a genome-scale model for the target genes of 718 transcription factors (TFs) in the mouse striatum by integrating a model of genomic binding sites with transcriptome profiling of striatal tissue from HD mouse models. We identified 48 differentially expressed TF-target gene modules associated with age- and CAG repeat length-dependent gene expression changes in Htt CAG knock-in mouse striatum and replicated many of these associations in independent transcriptomic and proteomic datasets. Thirteen of 48 of these predicted TF-target gene modules were also differentially expressed in striatal tissue from human disease. We experimentally validated a specific model prediction that SMAD3 regulates HD-related gene expression changes using chromatin immunoprecipitation and deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) of mouse striatum. We found CAG repeat length-dependent changes in the genomic occupancy of SMAD3 and confirmed our model's prediction that many SMAD3 target genes are downregulated early in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth A Ament
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jocelynn R Pearl
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA
- Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Altius Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Cantle
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Robert M Bragg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Peter J Skene
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sydney R Coffey
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | | | - Vanessa C Wheeler
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marcy E MacDonald
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Jim Rosinski
- CHDI Management, CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey B Carroll
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
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22
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Naphade S, Embusch A, Madushani KL, Ring KL, Ellerby LM. Altered Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Endogenous Inhibitors in a Human Isogenic Stem Cell Model of Huntington's Disease. Front Neurosci 2018; 11:736. [PMID: 29459817 PMCID: PMC5807396 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive movement disorder, psychiatric symptoms, and cognitive impairments. HD is caused by a CAG repeat expansion encoding a stretch of polyglutamine residues in the N-terminus of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein. Proteolytic processing of mHTT yields toxic fragments, which cause neurotoxicity and massive neuronal cell death predominantly in the striatum and cortex. Inhibition of mHTT cleavage reduces neuronal toxicity suggesting mHTT proteolysis contributes to HD pathogenesis. A previously conducted unbiased siRNA screen in our lab for known human proteases identified matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as modifiers of mHTT proteolysis and toxicity. To further study MMP activation in HD, isogenic HD, and control corrected (C116) neural stem cells (NSCs) prepared from HD patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells were used to examine the role of MMPs and their endogenous inhibitors in this highly relevant model system. We found altered expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 (gelatinases), MMP-3/10, and MMP-14, activity in HD-NSCs when compared to control C116-NSCs. Dysregulation in MMP activity was accompanied with concomitant changes in levels of endogenous inhibitors of MMPs, called tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Specifically, we observed decreased levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in HD-NSCs, suggesting part of the altered expression and activity of MMPs is due to lower abundance of these endogenous inhibitors. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed increased MMP/TIMP localization in the nucleus or aggregates of HD-NSCs, suggesting potential interaction with mHTT. TIMP-1 was found to associate with mHTT aggregates in discrete punctate structures in HD-NSCs. These events collectively contribute to increased neurotoxicity in HD. Previous characterization of these NSCs revealed transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) pathway as the top dysregulated pathway in HD. TGF-β was significantly upregulated in HD-NSCs and addition of TGF-β to HD-NSCs was found to be neuroprotective. To determine if TGF-β regulated MMP and TIMP activity, C116- and HD-NSCs were exogenously treated with recombinant TGF-β. TIMP-1 levels were found to be elevated in response to TGF-β treatment, representing a potential mechanism through which elevated TGF-β levels confer neuroprotection in HD. Studying the mechanism of action of MMPs and TIMPs, and their interactions with mHTT in human isogenic patient-derived NSCs elucidates new mechanisms of HD neurotoxicity and will likely provide novel therapeutics for treatment of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Naphade
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Karen L Ring
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, United States.,California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Lisa M Ellerby
- The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, United States
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23
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Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative condition where new markers of disease progression are needed. So far no disease-modifying interventions have been found, and few interventions have been proven to alleviate symptoms. This may be partially explained by the lack of reliable indicators of disease severity, progression, and phenotype.Biofluid biomarkers may bring advantages in addition to clinical measures, such as reliability, reproducibility, price, accuracy, and direct quantification of pathobiological processes at the molecular level; and in addition to empowering clinical trials, they have the potential to generate useful hypotheses for new drug development.In this chapter we review biofluid biomarker reports in HD, emphasizing those we feel are likely to be closest to clinical applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe B Rodrigues
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lauren M Byrne
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Edward J Wild
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
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24
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Kashima R, Hata A. The role of TGF-β superfamily signaling in neurological disorders. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2018; 50:106-120. [PMID: 29190314 PMCID: PMC5846707 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmx124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The TGF-β superfamily signaling is involved in a variety of biological processes during embryogenesis and in adult tissue homeostasis. Faulty regulation of the signaling pathway that transduces the TGF-β superfamily signals accordingly leads to a number of ailments, such as cancer and cardiovascular, metabolic, urinary, intestinal, skeletal, and immune diseases. In recent years, a number of studies have elucidated the essential roles of TGF-βs and BMPs during neuronal development in the maintenance of appropriate innervation and neuronal activity. The new advancement implicates significant roles of the aberrant TGF-β superfamily signaling in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. In this review, we compile a number of reports implicating the deregulation of TGF-β/BMP signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of cognitive and neurodegenerative disorders in animal models and patients. We apologize in advance that the review falls short of providing details of the role of TGF-β/BMP signaling or mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. The goal of this article is to reveal a gap in our knowledge regarding the association between TGF-β/BMP signaling pathways and neuronal tissue homeostasis and development and facilitate the research with a potential to develop new therapies for neurological ailments by modulating the pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Risa Kashima
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Akiko Hata
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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25
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Li M, Rosser AE. Pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons for transplantation in Huntington's disease. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2017; 230:263-281. [PMID: 28552232 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2017.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells present a potentially unlimited source of cells for regenerative medicine, providing that they can be efficiently and accurately differentiated to the target cell type. The principle target cell for Huntington's disease is the striatal medium spiny neuron. In this chapter, we review strategies for directing medium spiny neuron differentiation, based on known developmental principles, and we discuss the remaining hurdles on the road to engineering such cells for therapeutic application in Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Li
- Cardiff University Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom; Cardiff University School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
| | - Anne E Rosser
- Cardiff University Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff, United Kingdom; Cardiff University School of Biosciences, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
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26
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Bowles KR, Stone T, Holmans P, Allen ND, Dunnett SB, Jones L. SMAD transcription factors are altered in cell models of HD and regulate HTT expression. Cell Signal 2017; 31:1-14. [PMID: 27988204 PMCID: PMC5310119 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2016.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional dysregulation is observable in multiple animal and cell models of Huntington's disease, as well as in human blood and post-mortem caudate. This contributes to HD pathogenesis, although the exact mechanism by which this occurs is unknown. We therefore utilised a dynamic model in order to determine the differential effect of growth factor stimulation on gene expression, to highlight potential alterations in kinase signalling pathways that may be in part responsible for the transcriptional dysregulation observed in HD, and which may reveal new therapeutic targets. We demonstrate that cells expressing mutant huntingtin have a dysregulated transcriptional response to epidermal growth factor stimulation, and identify the transforming growth factor-beta pathway as a novel signalling pathway of interest that may regulate the expression of the Huntingtin (HTT) gene itself. The dysregulation of HTT expression may contribute to the altered transcriptional phenotype observed in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- K R Bowles
- The MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK.
| | - T Stone
- The MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK.
| | - P Holmans
- The MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK.
| | - N D Allen
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK.
| | - S B Dunnett
- The Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK.
| | - L Jones
- The MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK.
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27
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Ring KL, An MC, Zhang N, O'Brien RN, Ramos EM, Gao F, Atwood R, Bailus BJ, Melov S, Mooney SD, Coppola G, Ellerby LM. Genomic Analysis Reveals Disruption of Striatal Neuronal Development and Therapeutic Targets in Human Huntington's Disease Neural Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2016; 5:1023-1038. [PMID: 26651603 PMCID: PMC4682390 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2015.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Revised: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We utilized induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from Huntington's disease (HD) patients as a human model of HD and determined that the disease phenotypes only manifest in the differentiated neural stem cell (NSC) stage, not in iPSCs. To understand the molecular basis for the CAG repeat expansion-dependent disease phenotypes in NSCs, we performed transcriptomic analysis of HD iPSCs and HD NSCs compared to isogenic controls. Differential gene expression and pathway analysis pointed to transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and netrin-1 as the top dysregulated pathways. Using data-driven gene coexpression network analysis, we identified seven distinct coexpression modules and focused on two that were correlated with changes in gene expression due to the CAG expansion. Our HD NSC model revealed the dysregulation of genes involved in neuronal development and the formation of the dorsal striatum. The striatal and neuronal networks disrupted could be modulated to correct HD phenotypes and provide therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Ring
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Mahru C An
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Ningzhe Zhang
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | | | - Eliana Marisa Ramos
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Fuying Gao
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Robert Atwood
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | | | - Simon Melov
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Sean D Mooney
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Lisa M Ellerby
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA.
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28
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Fjodorova M, Noakes Z, Li M. How to make striatal projection neurons. NEUROGENESIS 2015; 2:e1100227. [PMID: 27606330 PMCID: PMC4973609 DOI: 10.1080/23262133.2015.1100227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Medium spiny neurons (MSNs) are the main projection neurons of the striatum and are preferentially lost in Huntington's disease (HD). With no current cure for this neurodegenerative disorder, the specificity of neuronal loss in the striatum makes cell transplantation therapy an attractive avenue for its treatment. Also, given that MSNs are particularly vulnerable in HD, it is necessary to understand why these neurons degenerate in order to develop new therapeutic options. Both approaches require access to human MSN progenitors and their mature neuronal derivatives. Human embryonic stem cells and HD patient induced pluripotent stem cells (together referred to as hPSCs) may serve as an unlimited source of such tissue if they can be directed toward authentic striatal neuronal lineage. Understanding the MSN differentiation pathway in the brain is therefore of paramount importance for the generation of accurate protocols to obtain striatal cells in vitro. The focus of this mini review will be on striatal development and current methods to generate MSNs from hPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Fjodorova
- Stem Cell Neurogenesis Group; Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute; School of Medicine and School of Bioscience; Cardiff University ; Cardiff, UK
| | - Zoe Noakes
- Stem Cell Neurogenesis Group; Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute; School of Medicine and School of Bioscience; Cardiff University ; Cardiff, UK
| | - Meng Li
- Stem Cell Neurogenesis Group; Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute; School of Medicine and School of Bioscience; Cardiff University ; Cardiff, UK
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29
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Szeliga M, Różycka A, Jędrak P, Barańska S, Janik P, Jamrozik Z, Albrecht J. Expression of RNAs Coding for Metal Transporters in Blood of Patients with Huntington's Disease. Neurochem Res 2015; 41:101-6. [PMID: 26471164 PMCID: PMC4773475 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-015-1737-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Revised: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated elevated levels of iron (Fe) in brains of patients with Huntington's disease (HD). Striatal cells carrying mutated Huntingtin presented increased sensitivity to cadmium (Cd) toxicity, decreased sensitivity to manganese (Mn) toxicity and deficits in Mn uptake. The hypothesis arose that the observed alterations result from the altered expression and/or activity of proteins engaged in the transport of these metals, that is: transferrin (TF), transferrin receptor (TFR), divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) and ZIP8 protein. Here we examined the expression levels of genes encoding these proteins in blood of HD patients and control subjects. A decreasing tendency in the level of TF transcript and increasing tendency of SLC11A2 mRNA encoding DMT1 was observed in the blood of HD patients compared to the control subjects, but neither attained statistical significance. No changes were found in the levels of TFRC coding for TFR and SLC39A8 coding for ZIP8 between HD patients and controls. The results indicate that HD-associated changes in metal homeostasis occur are not related to mechanisms other than the expression level of the here analyzed metal transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Szeliga
- Department of Neurotoxicology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, 5 Pawińskiego Str., 02-106, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Aleksandra Różycka
- Faculty of Horticulture, Biotechnology and Landscape Architecture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 166 Nowoursynowska Str., 02-787, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paulina Jędrak
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza Str., 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Sylwia Barańska
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, 59 Wita Stwosza Str., 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Piotr Janik
- Department of Neurology, The Wolski Hospital im Dr Anny Gostyńskiej, 17 Kasprzaka Str., 01-211, Warsaw, Poland.,Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, 1 Banacha Str., 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zygmunt Jamrozik
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Warsaw, 1 Banacha Str., 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Albrecht
- Department of Neurotoxicology, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, 5 Pawińskiego Str., 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
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30
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Mao F, Li Z, Zhao B, Lin P, Liu P, Zhai M, Liu Q, Shao C, Sun W, Gong Y. Identification and functional analysis of a SLC33A1: c.339T>G (p.Ser113Arg) variant in the original SPG42 family. Hum Mutat 2015; 36:240-9. [PMID: 25402622 DOI: 10.1002/humu.22732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Using whole-exome sequencing, we surveyed all the potential pathogenic variants in an SPG42 family and found five SNPs and four indels that are shared by two patients and lie in the mapped region. Two variants, SLC33A1 p.Ser113Arg and VEPH1 p.Gln433His, cosegregated with the disease. However, VEPH1 p.Gln433His was predicted to be tolerated, thus leaving SLC33A1 p.Ser113Arg as the most plausible causal variant in this family. We found that the phosphorylated SMAD1/5/8 (P-SMAD1/5/8) and BMP receptor type 1A (BMPR1A) were substantially upregulated in fibroblasts derived from an SPG42 individual. Slc33a1 knockdown zebrafish, which exhibited defects in morphology and axon outgrowth, also showed a significant elevation in the level of P-smad1/5/8. While the phenotypes in slc33a1 knockdown zebrafish could be rescued by human wild-type SLC33A1 mRNA, this rescuing effect was diminished by coinjected mutant mRNA encoding p.Ser113Arg, indicating that p.Ser113Arg variant acts in a dominant-negative manner. Importantly, pharmacological blockade of BMPR1 activity by dorsomorphin could efficiently rescue the phenotypic defects in slc33a1 knockdown zebrafish. These results indicate that SLC33A1 can negatively regulate BMP signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Mao
- The Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education and Department of Genetics, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China
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Phatnani H, Maniatis T. Astrocytes in neurodegenerative disease. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2015; 7:cshperspect.a020628. [PMID: 25877220 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a020628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 261] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes contribute to the maintenance of the health and function of the central nervous system (CNS). Thus, it is not surprising that these multifunctional cells have been implicated in the onset and progression of several neurodegenerative diseases. The involvement of astrocytes in the neuropathology of these diseases is likely a consequence of both the loss of normal homeostatic functions and gain of toxic functions. Intracellular aggregates in astrocytes are a common feature of various neurodegenerative diseases, and these aggregates perturb normal astrocytic functions in ways that can be harmful to neuronal viability. Here, we review the role of astrocytes in neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on their dysfunction in Huntington's disease (HD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemali Phatnani
- Columbia University Medical Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, New York, New York 10032
| | - Tom Maniatis
- Columbia University Medical Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, New York, New York 10032
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Chang KH, Wu YR, Chen YC, Chen CM. Plasma inflammatory biomarkers for Huntington's disease patients and mouse model. Brain Behav Immun 2015; 44:121-7. [PMID: 25266150 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Revised: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD), caused by expanded CAG repeats encoding a polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin (HTT) protein, presents with a predominant degeneration of neurons in the striatum and cortex. Lines of evidence have observed neuroinflammation, particularly microglial activation, is involved in the pathogenesis of HD. Given that HTT is also expressed in peripheral inflammatory cells, it is possible that inflammatory changes detected in peripheral plasma may be biologically relevant and parallel the neuroinflammatory process of HD patients. By examining the expression levels of 13 microglia-derived inflammatory markers in the plasma of 5 PreHD carriers, 15 HD patients and 16 healthy controls, we found plasma levels of IL-6, MMP-9, VEGF and TGF-β1 were significantly increased in HD patients when compared with the controls, while plasma level of IL-18 were significantly reduced in HD patients compared with controls. Plasma level of IL-6 was reversely correlated with the UHDRS independence scale and functional capacity. To understand the temporal correlation between these inflammatory markers and HD progression, their levels were further tested in plasma from R6/2 mouse HD model at different ages. In rotarod test, R6/2 HD mice started to manifest HD phenotype at 7.5 weeks of age. Higher plasma VEGF levels of R6/2 mice than those of age-matched wild-type (WT) littermates were noted from 7 (presymptomatic stage) to 13 weeks of age (late symptomatic stage). The plasma IL-6 levels of R6/2 mice were higher than those of the WT littermates from 9 (early symptomatic stage) to 13 weeks of age. R6/2 mice demonstrated higher MMP-9 and TGF-β1 levels than their WT littermates from 11 (middle symptomatic stage) to 13 weeks of age. In contrast, the plasma IL-18 level was lower than those in WT littermates since 11 weeks of age. These altered expressions of inflammatory markers may serve as the potential biomarkers for HD onset and progression. Specific inhibition/activation of these inflammatory markers may be the targets of HD drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yih-Ru Wu
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Chen
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Mei Chen
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
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Scheuing L, Chiu CT, Liao HM, Linares GR, Chuang DM. Preclinical and clinical investigations of mood stabilizers for Huntington's disease: what have we learned? Int J Biol Sci 2014; 10:1024-38. [PMID: 25285035 PMCID: PMC4183923 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.9898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a lethal, autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG repeat expansions at exon 1 of the huntingtin (Htt) gene, which encodes for a mutant huntingtin protein (mHtt). Prominent symptoms of HD include motor dysfunction, characterized by chorea; psychiatric disturbances such as mood and personality changes; and cognitive decline that may lead to dementia. Pathologically multiple complex processes and pathways are involved in the development of HD, including selective loss of neurons in the striatum and cortex, dysregulation of cellular autophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction, decreased neurotrophic and growth factor levels, and aberrant regulation of gene expression and epigenetic patterns. No cure for HD presently exists, nor are there drugs that can halt the progression of this devastating disease. Therefore, the need to discover neuroprotective modalities to combat HD is critical. In basic and preclinical studies using cellular and animal HD models, the mood stabilizers lithium and valproic acid (VPA) have shown multiple beneficial effects, including behavioral and motor improvement, enhanced neuroprotection, and lifespan extension. Recent studies in transgenic HD mice support the notion that combined lithium/VPA treatment is more effective than treatment with either drug alone. In humans, several clinical studies of HD patients found that lithium treatment improved mood, and that VPA treatment both stabilized mood and moderately reduced chorea. In contrast, other studies observed that the hallmark features of HD were unaffected by treatment with either lithium or VPA. The current review discusses preclinical and clinical investigations of the beneficial effects of lithium and VPA on HD pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Scheuing
- Molecular Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive MSC 1363, Bethesda, MD 20892-1363, USA
| | - Chi-Tso Chiu
- Molecular Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive MSC 1363, Bethesda, MD 20892-1363, USA
| | - Hsiao-Mei Liao
- Molecular Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive MSC 1363, Bethesda, MD 20892-1363, USA
| | - Gabriel R Linares
- Molecular Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive MSC 1363, Bethesda, MD 20892-1363, USA
| | - De-Maw Chuang
- Molecular Neurobiology Section, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive MSC 1363, Bethesda, MD 20892-1363, USA
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Martínez-Canabal A. Potential neuroprotective role of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) in the brain. Int J Neurosci 2014; 125:1-9. [PMID: 24628581 DOI: 10.3109/00207454.2014.903947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
TGFβ1 is a growth factor that is known to be expressed in most neurodegenerative diseases and after vascular accidents in the brain. TGFβ1 downregulates the activity of activated microglia and promotes astrogliosis. It also prevents cell death by a known mechanism dependant on astrocytes and the secretion of the plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1). This mechanism can provide light on what is the mechanism of action of TGFβ1 as a protective factor and it can provide the pharmacological principles in which this pathway could be used with therapeutic purposes. TGFβ1 is upregulated in most neurodegenerative diseases, however, its expression appears dramatically blocked in Huntington's disease, the fastest of those diseases in progress after the onset. This fact suggests that TGFβ1 slows down the neurodegenerative process, preventing tissue damage and neural apoptotic death. However, the exact details of TGFβ1 action are still unknown and the physiological roles on the diseases are still mysterious. Interestingly, all the data regarding the roles of TGFβ1 in health and disease have been also confirmed with the use of transgenic knockouts and TGFβ1 overexpressing mice. What possibly came as a surprise from the study of TGFβ1 overexpressing models is that combining its neuroprotective and antiproliferative effects, this cytokine generates a significant disruption in the hippocampal circuitry with its consequent learning and memory deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alonso Martínez-Canabal
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Cell Physiology Institute (IFC), Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Ciudad Universitaria, Circuito exterior S/N, Coyoacan, 04510 Mexico D.F. Mexico
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Ross CA, Aylward EH, Wild EJ, Langbehn DR, Long JD, Warner JH, Scahill RI, Leavitt BR, Stout JC, Paulsen JS, Reilmann R, Unschuld PG, Wexler A, Margolis RL, Tabrizi SJ. Huntington disease: natural history, biomarkers and prospects for therapeutics. Nat Rev Neurol 2014; 10:204-16. [PMID: 24614516 DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2014.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 668] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) can be seen as a model neurodegenerative disorder, in that it is caused by a single genetic mutation and is amenable to predictive genetic testing, with estimation of years to predicted onset, enabling the entire range of disease natural history to be studied. Structural neuroimaging biomarkers show that progressive regional brain atrophy begins many years before the emergence of diagnosable signs and symptoms of HD, and continues steadily during the symptomatic or 'manifest' period. The continued development of functional, neurochemical and other biomarkers raises hopes that these biomarkers might be useful for future trials of disease-modifying therapeutics to delay the onset and slow the progression of HD. Such advances could herald a new era of personalized preventive therapeutics. We describe the natural history of HD, including the timing of emergence of motor, cognitive and emotional impairments, and the techniques that are used to assess these features. Building on this information, we review recent progress in the development of biomarkers for HD, and potential future roles of these biomarkers in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Ross
- Division of Neurobiology, Johns Hopkins University, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Russell L Margolis
- Division of Neurobiology, Johns Hopkins University, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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Yu CY, Gui W, He HY, Wang XS, Zuo J, Huang L, Zhou N, Wang K, Wang Y. Neuronal and astroglial TGFβ-Smad3 signaling pathways differentially regulate dendrite growth and synaptogenesis. Neuromolecular Med 2014; 16:457-72. [PMID: 24519742 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-014-8293-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
To address the role of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)-Smad3 signaling pathway in dendrite growth and associated synaptogenesis, we used small inhibitory RNA to knockdown the Smad3 gene in either cultured neurons and or primary astrocytes. We found that TGFβ1 treatment of primary neurons increased dendrite extensions and the number of synapsin-1-positive synapses. When Smad3 was knockdown in primary neurons, dendrite growth was inhibited and the number of synapsin-1-positive synapses reduced even with TGFβ1 treatment. When astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM), collected from TGFβ1-treated astrocytes (TGFβ1-stimulated ACM), was added to cultured neurons, dendritic growth was inhibited and the number of synapsin-1-positive puncta reduced. When TGFβ1-stimulated ACM was collected from astrocytes with Smad3 knocked down, this conditioned media promoted the growth of dendrites and the number of synapsin-1-positive puncta in cultured neurons. We further found that TGFβ1 signaling through Smad3 increased the expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, neurocan, and phosphacan in ACM. Application of chondroitinase ABC to the TGFβ1-stimulated ACM reversed its inhibitory effects on the dendrite growth and the number of synapsin-1-positive puncta. On the other hand, we found that TGFβ1 treatment caused a facilitation of Smad3 phosphorylation and translocation to the nucleus induced by status epilepticus (SE) in wild-type (Smad3(+/+)) mice, and this treatment also caused a promotion of γ-aminobutyric acid-ergic synaptogenesis impaired by SE in Smad3(+/+) as well as in Smad3(-/-) mice, but more dramatic promotion in Smad3(+/+) mice. Thus, we provide evidence for the first time that TGFβ-Smad3 signaling pathways within neuron and astrocyte differentially regulate dendrite growth and synaptogenesis, and this pathway may be involved in the pathogenesis of some central nervous system diseases, such as epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan-Yong Yu
- Epilepsy and Headache Group, Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Jixi Road 218, Hefei, 230022, China
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Hargus G, Ehrlich M, Hallmann AL, Kuhlmann T. Human stem cell models of neurodegeneration: a novel approach to study mechanisms of disease development. Acta Neuropathol 2014; 127:151-73. [PMID: 24306942 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-013-1222-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2013] [Revised: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 11/21/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The number of patients with neurodegenerative diseases is increasing significantly worldwide. Thus, intense research is being pursued to uncover mechanisms of disease development in an effort to identify molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Analysis of postmortem tissue from patients has yielded important histological and biochemical markers of disease progression. However, this approach is inherently limited because it is not possible to study patient neurons prior to degeneration. As such, transgenic and knockout models of neurodegenerative diseases are commonly employed. While these animal models have yielded important insights into some molecular mechanisms of disease development, they do not provide the opportunity to study mechanisms of neurodegeneration in human neurons at risk and thus, it is often difficult or even impossible to replicate human pathogenesis with this approach. The generation of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells offers a unique opportunity to overcome these obstacles. By expanding and differentiating iPS cells, it is possible to generate large numbers of functional neurons in vitro, which can then be used to study the disease of the donating patient. Here, we provide an overview of human stem cell models of neurodegeneration using iPS cells from patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington's disease, spinal muscular atrophy and other neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, we describe how further refinements of reprogramming technology resulted in the generation of patient-specific induced neurons, which have also been used to model neurodegenerative changes in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunnar Hargus
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Münster, Pottkamp 2, 48149, Münster, Germany,
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Di Pardo A, Alberti S, Maglione V, Amico E, Cortes EP, Elifani F, Battaglia G, Busceti CL, Nicoletti F, Vonsattel JPG, Squitieri F. Changes of peripheral TGF-β1 depend on monocytes-derived macrophages in Huntington disease. Mol Brain 2013; 6:55. [PMID: 24330808 PMCID: PMC4029620 DOI: 10.1186/1756-6606-6-55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 12/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder resulting from the expansion of polyglutamine stretch in the huntingtin protein (Htt). Mutant HTT (mHtt) leads to progressive impairment of several molecular pathways that have been linked to disease pathogenesis. Defects in the production of a number of neurotrophic factors have been described as important determinants contributing to the development of HD. We have previously demonstrated that production of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is also deregulated in HD. Peripheral levels of TGF-β1 were markedly reduced early in the disease and returned to normal levels with disease severity. However, the cause and the biochemical origin of such abnormalities are still unclear. RESULTS We report here that the abnormal production of peripheral TGF-β1 depends on the changes in the percentage of TGF-β1-producing macrophages along disease course. Variation in the number of TGF-β1-producing macrophages resulted from differential activation state of the same cells, which displayed phenotypic and functional heterogeneity throughout the clinical course of HD. We further demonstrated that, similar to the periphery, the number of TGF-β1-immunoreactive cells in human post-mortem brain with HD, varied with neuropathological changes. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that reduced bioavailability of TGF-β1 in the serum of HD subjects is attributable to the variation of the number of TGF-β1-producing macrophages. Macrophages display a differential ability to produce TGF-β1, which reflects diversity in cells polarization throughout the disease course. Besides elucidating the biochemical origin of TGF-β1 fluctuations in HD, our study highlights an interesting parallelism between periphery and central compartment and underlines the potential of TGF-β1 as a possible indicator suitable for prediction of disease onset in HD.
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Villapol S, Wang Y, Adams M, Symes AJ. Smad3 deficiency increases cortical and hippocampal neuronal loss following traumatic brain injury. Exp Neurol 2013; 250:353-65. [PMID: 24120438 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2013] [Revised: 09/11/2013] [Accepted: 10/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is involved in pathological processes following brain injury. TGF-β signaling through Smad3 contributes significantly to the immune response and glial scar formation after brain injury. However, TGF-β is also neuroprotective, suggesting that Smad3 signaling may also be involved in neuroprotection after injury. We found expression of the TGF-β type II receptor (TβRII) and Smad3 protein to be strongly and rapidly induced in neurons in the ipsilateral cortex and CA1 region of the hippocampus after stab wound injury. In contrast, astrocytic expression of TβRII and Smad3 was induced more slowly. Comparison of the response of wild-type and Smad3 null mice to cortical stab wound injury showed a more pronounced loss of neuronal viability in Smad3 null mice. Neuronal density was more strongly reduced in Smad3 null mice than in wild-type mice at 1 and 3days post lesion in both the ipsilateral cortex and hippocampal CA1 region. Fluoro-Jade B, TUNEL staining, and cleaved caspase-3 staining also demonstrated increased neuronal degeneration at early time points after injury in the ipsilateral hemisphere in Smad3 null mice. Taken together, our results suggest that TGF-β cytokine family signaling through Smad3 protects neurons in the damaged cortex and hippocampus at early time points after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Villapol
- Department of Pharmacology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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Clabough EBD. Huntington's disease: the past, present, and future search for disease modifiers. THE YALE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2013; 86:217-33. [PMID: 23766742 PMCID: PMC3670441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that specifically causes neurodegeneration of striatal neurons, resulting in a triad of symptoms that includes emotional, cognitive, and motor disturbances. The HD mutation causes a polyglutamine repeat expansion within the N-terminal of the huntingtin (Htt) protein. This expansion causes aggregate formation within the cytosol and nucleus due to the presence of misfolded mutant Htt, as well as altered interactions with Htt's multiple binding partners, and changes in post-translational Htt modifications. The present review charts efforts toward a therapy that delays age of onset or slows symptom progression in patients affected by HD, as there is currently no effective treatment. Although silencing Htt expression appears promising as a disease modifying treatment, it should be attempted with caution in light of Htt's essential roles in neural maintenance and development. Other therapeutic targets include those that boost aggregate dissolution, target excitotoxicity and metabolic issues, and supplement growth factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin B D Clabough
- Randolph-Macon College, Department of Biology, Ashland, Virginia 23005, USA.
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Liu B, Sun X, Suyeoka G, Garcia JGN, Leiderman YI. TGFβ signaling induces expression of Gadd45b in retinal ganglion cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2013; 54:1061-9. [PMID: 23329662 PMCID: PMC3565994 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.12-10142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Revised: 12/19/2012] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Growth arrest and DNA damage protein 45b (Gadd45b) functions as an intrinsic neuroprotective molecule protecting retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from injury. This study was performed to elucidate further the induction pathway of Gadd45b expression in RGCs. METHODS The induction of Gadd45b expression in response to TGFβNFκB signaling was investigated in RGC5 cultures in vitro and murine retina in vivo. Gadd45b mRNA and protein expression were detected by quantitative real-time RT-PCR, immunoblot assay, immunohistochemistry, and immunocytochemistry. Activation of NFκB and TGFβ/Gadd45b signaling were assessed by measuring phosphorylation of NFκB and using specific inhibitors. Gadd45b siRNA was transfected into RGC5 to silence Gadd45b mRNA expression. RESULTS Expression of TGFβ receptors I and II was detected in RGC5 in vitro and RGCs in vivo. TGFβ induced abundant Gadd45b mRNA and protein expression, exhibiting a dose-dependent response in vitro. Exogenous TGFβ1 induced upregulation of Gadd45b expression in RGCs in murine retina in vivo. TGFβ stimulated phosphorylation of NFκB, and inhibition of NFκB phosphorylation blocked induction of Gadd45b by TGFβ in RGC5 cells. Induction of Gadd45b by TGFβ increased the resistance of RGC5 cells against TNFα cytotoxicity and paraquat oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS TGFβ signaling induced Gadd45b expression in RGCs. Modulation of the TGFβ/NFκB/Gadd45b signaling pathway may provide a means to enhance the neuroprotective effect of Gadd45b in RGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois Hospitals and Health Sciences System, 1855 West Taylor Street, MC 648, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
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Ransome MI, Hannan AJ. Impaired basal and running-induced hippocampal neurogenesis coincides with reduced Akt signaling in adult R6/1 HD mice. Mol Cell Neurosci 2013; 54:93-107. [PMID: 23384443 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2013.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2012] [Revised: 01/24/2013] [Accepted: 01/25/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder affecting a range of cellular and molecular functions in the brain. Deficits in adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) have been documented in the R6/1 mouse model of HD. Here we examined basal and running-induced neuronal precursor proliferation in adult female and male R6/1 HD mice. We further tested whether sequential delivery of voluntary running followed by environmental enrichment could synergistically enhance functional AHN in female R6/1 HD mice. R6/1 HD mice engaged in significantly reduced levels of voluntary running, with males showing a more severe deficit. Basal neural precursor proliferation in the hippocampal sub-granular zone remained unchanged between female and male R6/1 HD mice and neither sex significantly responded to running-induced proliferation. While discrete provision of running wheels and enriched environments doubled AHN in adult female R6/1 HD mice it did not reflect the significant 3-fold increase in female wildtypes. Nevertheless, triple-label c-Fos/BrdU/NeuN immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy provided evidence that the doubling of AHN in female R6/1 HD mice was functional. Intrinsic cellular dysfunction mediated by protein aggregates containing mutant huntingtin (mHtt) did not appear to coincide with AHN deficits. In the hippocampus of female R6/1 HD mice, proliferating precursors and 6 week old adult-generated neurons were devoid of mHtt immuno-reactive aggregates, as were endothelial, microglial and astroglial cells populating the neurogenic niche. Serum transforming growth factor-β concentrations remained unaltered in female R6/1 HD mice as did the hippocampal levels of proliferating microglia and glial fibrillarly acidic protein expression. Examining the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor 1 (GH/IGF-1) axis showed no change in base-line serum GH between genotypes. However, despite a reduced distance, acute running increases serum GH in both female wildtype and R6/1 HD mice. Serum IGF-1 levels were increased in female R6/1 HD mice compared to wildtypes during daytime inactive period, while hippocampal levels of the IGF-1 receptor remained unchanged. Running induced Akt phosphorylation in the hippocampus of female wildtype mice, which was not reflected in R6/1 HD mice. Total Akt levels were decreased in the hippocampus of both control and running R6/1 HD mice. Our results show adult-generated hippocampal neurons in female R6/1 HD mice express c-Fos and that running and Akt signaling deficits may mediate reduced basal and running-induced AHN levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark I Ransome
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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Pál G, Vincze C, Renner É, Wappler EA, Nagy Z, Lovas G, Dobolyi A. Time course, distribution and cell types of induction of transforming growth factor betas following middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat brain. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46731. [PMID: 23056426 PMCID: PMC3466286 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2012] [Accepted: 09/03/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-βs (TGF-β1–3) are cytokines that regulate the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of various cell types. The present study describes the induction of TGF-β1–3 in the rat after focal ischemia at 3 h, 24 h, 72 h and 1 month after transient (1 h) or permanent (24 h) middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) using in situ hybridization histochemistry and quantitative analysis. Double labeling with different markers was used to identify the localization of TGF-β mRNA relative to the penumbra and glial scar, and the types of cells expressing TGF-βs. TGF-β1 expression increased 3 h after MCAO in the penumbra and was further elevated 24 h after MCAO. TGF-β1 was present mostly in microglial cells but also in some astrocytes. By 72 h and 1 month after the occlusion, TGF-β1 mRNA-expressing cells also appeared in microglia within the ischemic core and in the glial scar. In contrast, TGF-β2 mRNA level was increased in neurons but not in astrocytes or microglial cells in layers II, III, and V of the ipsilateral cerebral cortex 24 h after MCAO. TGF-β3 was not induced in cells around the penumbra. Its expression increased in only a few cells in layer II of the cerebral cortex 24 h after MCAO. The levels of TGF-β2 and -β3 decreased at subsequent time points. Permanent MCAO further elevated the levels of all 3 subtypes of TGF-βs suggesting that reperfusion is not a major factor in their induction. TGF-β1 did not co-localize with either Fos or ATF-3, while the co-localization of TGF-β2 with Fos but not with ATF-3 suggests that cortical spreading depolarization, but not damage to neural processes, might be the mechanism of induction for TGF-β2. The results imply that endogenous TGF-βs are induced by different mechanisms following an ischemic attack in the brain suggesting that they are involved in distinct spatially and temporally regulated inflammatory and neuroprotective processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Pál
- Neuromorphological and Neuroendocrine Research Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Csilla Vincze
- Neuromorphological and Neuroendocrine Research Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Neurology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Éva Renner
- Neuromorphological and Neuroendocrine Research Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edina A. Wappler
- Cardiovascular Center, Department Section of Vascular Neurology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Nagy
- Cardiovascular Center, Department Section of Vascular Neurology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Lovas
- Department of Neurology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Neurology, Jahn Ferenc Teaching Hospital, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Arpád Dobolyi
- Neuromorphological and Neuroendocrine Research Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Low concentrations of circulating testosterone have been associated with dementia manifesting with advancing age and in neurodegenerative conditions. Huntington's disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease with an invariably fatal outcome. Severe motor symptoms, psychosis and dementia are symptomatic hallmarks of the progression of HD that result from the dysfunction and death of neocortical and basal ganglia neurones. Treatments are directed toward manifest symptoms, although they are largely ineffectual in slowing or preventing disease progression. Emerging data have identified hypothamic pathologies in HD that result in endocrine disturbances. Clinically defined primary or secondary hypogonadism elicit low circulating testosterone concentrations and have been linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease in men. Examining similar neuroendocrine dysfunction in HD including the nature of manifest hypogonadism in male patients could allow an elucidation of the complex pathophysiology of HD and provide an impetus for hitherto untested testosterone replacement therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M I Ransome
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, Melbourne Brain Centre, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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Li LY, Li JL, Zhang HM, Yang WM, Wang K, Fang Y, Wang Y. TGFβ1 treatment reduces hippocampal damage, spontaneous recurrent seizures, and learning memory deficits in pilocarpine-treated rats. J Mol Neurosci 2012; 50:109-23. [PMID: 22936246 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-012-9879-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2012] [Accepted: 08/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective activity of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFβ1), protecting neurons against different kinds of insults. However, the role of exogenous TGFβ1 in the neuronal damage following status epilepticus (SE) and the related spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) is unknown. The present study aimed to determine the effect of intranasal TGFβ1 administration on SRS and cognitive function following lithium-pilocarpine-induced SE and associated hippocampal damage. We found that intranasal TGFβ1 significantly attenuated the hippocampal insults marked by hematoxylin and eosin, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling, and Fluoro-Jade B staining by 24, 48, and 72 h after SE was induced. The expression of the apoptosis-suppressing protein, Bcl-2, was elevated, whereas the expression of the apoptosis-promoting proteins, Bax and Caspase-3, was suppressed in TGFβ1-treated rats compared to rats without TGFβ1 treatment by 24, 48, and 72 h following induction of SE. The seizure number, severity, and duration of SRS over a 1-month period of monitoring starting 15 days after SE induction as well as the cognitive deficits detected 45 days after SE induction were significantly reduced in TGFβ1-treated rats compared to those without TGFβ1 treatment. Our results indicate that intranasal delivery of TGFβ1 immediately after SE induction not only protected against SRS but also improved cognitive function. The anti-epileptogenic properties of TGFβ1 may be related to its effect of neuroprotection or to its effect of apoptosis pathway changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang-Yong Li
- Epilepsy and Headache Group, Department of Neurology, the First Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Jixi Road 218, Hefei 230022, China
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Reiner A, Wang HB, Del Mar N, Sakata K, Yoo W, Deng YP. BDNF may play a differential role in the protective effect of the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 on striatal projection neurons in R6/2 Huntington's disease mice. Brain Res 2012; 1473:161-72. [PMID: 22820300 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2012] [Revised: 07/04/2012] [Accepted: 07/12/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
We have found that daily subcutaneous injection with a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 (20mg/kg) beginning at 4 weeks dramatically improves the phenotype in R6/2 mice. For example, we observed normalization of motor function in distance traveled, speed, the infrequency of pauses, and the ability to locomote in a straight line, and a rescue of a 15-20% striatal neuron loss at 10 weeks. As acute LY379268 treatment is known to increase cortical BDNF production, and BDNF is known to be beneficial for striatal neurons, we investigated if the benefit of daily LY379268 in R6/2 mice for striatal projection neurons was associated with increases in corticostriatal BDNF, with assessments done at 10 weeks of age after daily MTD treatment since the fourth week of life. We found that LY379268 increased BDNF expression in layer 5 neurons in motor cortex, which project to striatum, partly rescued a preferential loss of enkephalinergic striatal neurons, and enhanced substance P (SP) expression by SP striatal projection neurons. The enhanced survival of enkephalinergic striatal neurons was correlated with the cortical BDNF increase, but the enhanced SP expression by SP striatal neurons was not. Thus, LY379268 may protect the two main striatal projection neuron types by different mechanisms, enkephalinergic neurons by the trophic benefit of BDNF, and SP neurons by a mechanism not involving BDNF. The SP neuron benefit may perhaps instead involve the anti-excitotoxic action of mGluR2/3 receptor agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Reiner
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 855 Monroe Ave, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
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The neuroprotective functions of transforming growth factor beta proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2012; 13:8219-8258. [PMID: 22942700 PMCID: PMC3430231 DOI: 10.3390/ijms13078219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2012] [Revised: 05/24/2012] [Accepted: 06/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) proteins are multifunctional cytokines whose neural functions are increasingly recognized. The machinery of TGF-β signaling, including the serine kinase type transmembrane receptors, is present in the central nervous system. However, the 3 mammalian TGF-β subtypes have distinct distributions in the brain suggesting different neural functions. Evidence of their involvement in the development and plasticity of the nervous system as well as their functions in peripheral organs suggested that they also exhibit neuroprotective functions. Indeed, TGF-β expression is induced following a variety of types of brain tissue injury. The neuroprotective function of TGF-βs is most established following brain ischemia. Damage in experimental animal models of global and focal ischemia was shown to be attenuated by TGF-βs. In addition, support for their neuroprotective actions following trauma, sclerosis multiplex, neurodegenerative diseases, infections, and brain tumors is also accumulating. The review will also describe the potential mechanisms of neuroprotection exerted by TGF-βs including anti-inflammatory, -apoptotic, -excitotoxic actions as well as the promotion of scar formation, angiogenesis, and neuroregeneration. The participation of these mechanisms in the neuroprotective effects of TGF-βs during different brain lesions will also be discussed.
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Genetic correction of Huntington's disease phenotypes in induced pluripotent stem cells. Cell Stem Cell 2012; 11:253-63. [PMID: 22748967 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2012.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 261] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2011] [Revised: 12/10/2011] [Accepted: 04/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by a CAG expansion in the huntingtin gene. Expansion of the polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin protein results in massive cell death in the striatum of HD patients. We report that human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from HD patient fibroblasts can be corrected by the replacement of the expanded CAG repeat with a normal repeat using homologous recombination, and that the correction persists in iPSC differentiation into DARPP-32-positive neurons in vitro and in vivo. Further, correction of the HD-iPSCs normalized pathogenic HD signaling pathways (cadherin, TGF-β, BDNF, and caspase activation) and reversed disease phenotypes such as susceptibility to cell death and altered mitochondrial bioenergetics in neural stem cells. The ability to make patient-specific, genetically corrected iPSCs from HD patients will provide relevant disease models in identical genetic backgrounds and is a critical step for the eventual use of these cells in cell replacement therapy.
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18F-FDG PET uptake in the pre-Huntington disease caudate affects the time-to-onset independently of CAG expansion size. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2012; 39:1030-6. [PMID: 22526956 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-012-2114-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2011] [Accepted: 03/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To test in a longitudinal follow-up study whether basal glucose metabolism in subjects with a genetic risk of Huntington disease (HD) may influence the onset of manifest symptoms. METHODS The study group comprised 43 presymptomatic (preHD) subjects carrying the HD mutation. They underwent a (18)F-FDG PET scan and were prospectively followed-up for at least 5 years using the unified HD rating scale to detect clinical changes. Multiple regression analysis included subject's age, CAG mutation size and glucose uptake as variables in a model to predict age at onset. RESULTS Of the 43 preHD subjects who manifested motor symptoms, suggestive of HD, after 5 years from the PET scan, 26 showed a mean brain glucose uptake below the cut-off of 1.0493 in the caudate, significantly lower than the 17 preHD subjects who remained symptom-free (P < 0.0001). This difference was independent of mutation size. Measurement of brain glucose uptake improved the CAG repeat number and age-based model for predicting age at onset by 37 %. CONCLUSION A reduced level of glucose metabolism in the brain caudate may represent a predisposing factor that contributes to the age at onset of HD in preHD subjects, in addition to the mutation size.
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Reiner A, Lafferty DC, Wang HB, Del Mar N, Deng YP. The group 2 metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist LY379268 rescues neuronal, neurochemical and motor abnormalities in R6/2 Huntington's disease mice. Neurobiol Dis 2012; 47:75-91. [PMID: 22472187 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2012.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Revised: 03/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Excitotoxic injury to striatum by dysfunctional cortical input or aberrant glutamate uptake may contribute to Huntington's disease (HD) pathogenesis. Since corticostriatal terminals possess mGluR2/3 autoreceptors, whose activation dampens glutamate release, we tested the ability of the mGluR2/3 agonist LY379268 to improve the phenotype in R6/2 HD mice with 120-125 CAG repeats. Daily subcutaneous injection of a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of LY379268 (20mg/kg) had no evident adverse effects in WT mice, and diverse benefits in R6/2 mice, both in a cohort of mice tested behaviorally until the end of R6/2 lifespan and in a cohort sacrificed at 10weeks of age for blinded histological analysis. MTD LY379268 yielded a significant 11% increase in R6/2 survival, an improvement on rotarod, normalization and/or improvement in locomotor parameters measured in open field (activity, speed, acceleration, endurance, and gait), a rescue of a 15-20% cortical and striatal neuron loss, normalization of SP striatal neuron neurochemistry, and to a lesser extent enkephalinergic striatal neuron neurochemistry. Deficits were greater in male than female R6/2 mice, and drug benefit tended to be greater in males. The improvements in SP striatal neurons, which facilitate movement, are consistent with the improved movement in LY379268-treated R6/2 mice. Our data indicate that mGluR2/3 agonists may be particularly useful for ameliorating the morphological, neurochemical and motor defects observed in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Reiner
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
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