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Liao X, Zhu W, Liao X, Liu W, Hou Y, Wan J. Expression of Toll-like receptors in the cerebellum during pathogenesis of prion disease. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 18:1341901. [PMID: 38698886 PMCID: PMC11063360 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1341901] [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: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases, such as scrapie, entail the accumulation of disease-specific prion protein (PrPSc) within the brain. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are crucial components of the pattern recognition system. They recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and play a central role in orchestrating host innate immune responses. The expression levels of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the central nervous system (CNS) were not well-defined. To establish a model of prion diseases in BALB/C mice, the 22L strain was employed. The features of the 22L strain were analyzed, and the cerebellum exhibited severe pathological changes. TLR1-13 levels in the cerebellum were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) at time points of 60, 90, 120, and the final end point (145 days post-infection). During the pathogenesis, the expression levels of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 increased in a time-dependent manner. This trend mirrored the expression patterns of PrPSc (the pathological isoform of the prion protein) and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Notably, at the end point, TLR1-13 levels were significantly elevated. Protein level of TLR7 and TLR9 showed increasing at the end point of the 22L-infected mice. A deeper understanding of the increased Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in prion diseases could shed light on their role in initiating immune responses at various stages during pathogenesis. This insight is particularly relevant when considering TLRs as potential therapeutic targets for prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Liao
- Department of Oncology, Yichang Central People's Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Wufei Zhu
- Department of Endocrinology, Yichang Central People's Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Xingyu Liao
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wensen Liu
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
| | - Yiwei Hou
- Department of Endocrinology, Yichang Central People's Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Jiayu Wan
- Changchun Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, China
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2
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Cha S, Kim MY. The role of cellular prion protein in immune system. BMB Rep 2023; 56:645-650. [PMID: 37817440 PMCID: PMC10761747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have investigated the cellular prion protein (PrPC) since its discovery. These investigations have explained that its structure is predominantly composed of alpha helices and short beta sheet segments, and when its abnormal scrapie isoform (PrPSc) is infected, PrPSc transforms the PrPC, leading to prion diseases, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle. Given its ubiquitous distribution across a variety of cellular types, the PrPC manifests a diverse range of biological functions, including cell-cell adhesion, neuroprotection, signalings, and oxidative stress response. PrPC is also expressed in immune tissues, and its functions in these tissues include the activation of immune cells and the formation of secondary lymphoid tissues, such as the spleen and lymph nodes. Moreover, high expression of PrPC in immune cells plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. In addition, it affects inflammation and the development and progression of cancer via various mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the studies on the role of PrPC from various immunological perspectives. [BMB Reports 2023; 56(12): 645-650].
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Affiliation(s)
- Seunghwa Cha
- Department of Bioinformatics and Life Science, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Korea
| | - Mi-Yeon Kim
- Department of Bioinformatics and Life Science, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Korea
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Muhsin SA, Abdullah A, kobashigawa E, Al-Amidie M, Russell S, Zhang MZ, Zhang S, Almasri M. A microfluidic biosensor for the diagnosis of chronic wasting disease. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2023; 9:104. [PMID: 37609007 PMCID: PMC10440343 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-023-00569-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Cervids are affected by a neurologic disease that is always fatal to individuals and has population effects. This disease is called chronic wasting disease (CWD) and is caused by a misfolded prion protein. The disease is transmitted via contact with contaminated body fluids and tissue or exposure to the environment, such as drinking water or food. Current CWD diagnosis depends on ELISA screening of cervid lymph nodes and subsequent immunohistochemistry (IHC) confirmation of ELISA-positive results. The disease has proven to be difficult to control in part because of sensitivity and specificity issues with the current test regimen. We have investigated an accurate, rapid, and low-cost microfluidic microelectromechanical system (MEMS) biosensing device for the detection of CWD pathologic prions in retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLNs), which is the current standard type of CWD diagnostic sample. The device consists of three novel regions for concentrating, trapping, and detecting the prion. The detection region includes an array of electrodes coated with a monoclonal antibody against pathologic prions. The experimental conditions were optimized using an engineered prion control antigen. Testing could be completed in less than 1 hour with high sensitivity and selectivity. The biosensor detected the engineered prion antigen at a 1:24 dilution, while ELISA detected the same antigen at a 1:8 dilution. The relative limit of detection (rLOD) of the biosensor was a 1:1000 dilution of a known strong positive RLN sample, whereas ELISA showed a rLOD of 1:100 dilution. Thus, the biosensor was 10 times more sensitive than ELISA, which is the currently approved CWD diagnostic test. The biosensor's specificity and selectivity were confirmed using known negative RPLN samples, a negative control antibody (monoclonal antibody against bovine coronavirus BCV), and two negative control antigens (bluetongue virus and Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus). The biosensor's ability to detect pathogenic prions was verified by testing proteinase-digested positive RLN samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sura A. Muhsin
- University of Missouri–Columbia, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Amjed Abdullah
- University of Missouri–Columbia, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Estela kobashigawa
- University of Missouri–Columbia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Muthana Al-Amidie
- University of Missouri–Columbia, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Columbia, MO USA
| | | | - Michael Z. Zhang
- University of Missouri–Columbia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Shuping Zhang
- University of Missouri–Columbia, College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, Columbia, MO USA
| | - Mahmoud Almasri
- University of Missouri–Columbia, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Columbia, MO USA
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Silva De Castro I, Granato A, Mariante RM, Lima MA, Leite ACC, Espindola ODM, Pise-Masison CA, Franchini G, Linden R, Echevarria-Lima J. HTLV-1 p12 modulates the levels of prion protein (PrP C) in CD4 + T cells. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1175679. [PMID: 37637115 PMCID: PMC10449582 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1175679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Infection with human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is endemic in Brazil and is linked with pro-inflammatory conditions including HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), a chronic neuroinflammatory incapacitating disease that culminates in loss of motor functions. The mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of HAM/TSP are incompletely understood. Previous studies have demonstrated that inflammation and infectious agents can affect the expression of cellular prion protein (PrPC) in immune cells. Methods Here, we investigated whether HTLV-1 infection affected PrPC content in cell lines and primary CD4+cells in vitro using flow cytometry and western blot assays. Results We found that HTLV-1 infection decreased the expression levels of PrPC and HTLV-1 Orf I encoded p12, an endoplasmic reticulum resident protein also known to affect post-transcriptionally cellular proteins such as MHC-class I and the IL-2 receptor. In addition, we observed a reduced percentage of CD4+ T cells from infected individuals expressing PrPC, which was reflected by IFN type II but not IL-17 expression. Discussion These results suggested that PrPC downregulation, linked to both HTLV-1 p12 and IFN-γ expression in CD4+ cells, may play a role in the neuropathogenesis of HTLV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela Silva De Castro
- Laboratório de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccines Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Alessandra Granato
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rafael Meyer Mariante
- Laboratório de Neurogenesis, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marco Antonio Lima
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas (INI), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Claudia Celestino Leite
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas (INI), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otávio de Melo Espindola
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas (INI), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cynthia A. Pise-Masison
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccines Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Genoveffa Franchini
- Animal Models and Retroviral Vaccines Section, Vaccine Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Rafael Linden
- Laboratório de Neurogenesis, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Juliana Echevarria-Lima
- Laboratório de Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Verma A, Shteinfer-Kuzmine A, Kamenetsky N, Pittala S, Paul A, Nahon Crystal E, Ouro A, Chalifa-Caspi V, Pandey SK, Monsengo A, Vardi N, Knafo S, Shoshan-Barmatz V. Targeting the overexpressed mitochondrial protein VDAC1 in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease protects against mitochondrial dysfunction and mitigates brain pathology. Transl Neurodegener 2022; 11:58. [PMID: 36578022 PMCID: PMC9795455 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00329-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibits mitochondrial dysfunctions associated with dysregulated metabolism, brain inflammation, synaptic loss, and neuronal cell death. As a key protein serving as the mitochondrial gatekeeper, the voltage-dependent anion channel-1 (VDAC1) that controls metabolism and Ca2+ homeostasis is positioned at a convergence point for various cell survival and death signals. Here, we targeted VDAC1 with VBIT-4, a newly developed inhibitor of VDAC1 that prevents its pro-apoptotic activity, and mitochondria dysfunction. METHODS To address the multiple pathways involved in AD, neuronal cultures and a 5 × FAD mouse model of AD were treated with VBIT-4. We addressed multiple topics related to the disease and its molecular mechanisms using immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, q-RT-PCR, 3-D structural analysis and several behavioral tests. RESULTS In neuronal cultures, amyloid-beta (Aβ)-induced VDAC1 and p53 overexpression and apoptotic cell death were prevented by VBIT-4. Using an AD-like 5 × FAD mouse model, we showed that VDAC1 was overexpressed in neurons surrounding Aβ plaques, but not in astrocytes and microglia, and this was associated with neuronal cell death. VBIT-4 prevented the associated pathophysiological changes including neuronal cell death, neuroinflammation, and neuro-metabolic dysfunctions. VBIT-4 also switched astrocytes and microglia from being pro-inflammatory/neurotoxic to neuroprotective phenotype. Moreover, VBIT-4 prevented cognitive decline in the 5 × FAD mice as evaluated using several behavioral assessments of cognitive function. Interestingly, VBIT-4 protected against AD pathology, with no significant change in phosphorylated Tau and only a slight decrease in Aβ-plaque load. CONCLUSIONS The study suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction with its gatekeeper VDAC1 is a promising target for AD therapeutic intervention, and VBIT-4 is a promising drug candidate for AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Verma
- grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel ,grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Anna Shteinfer-Kuzmine
- grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Nikita Kamenetsky
- grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel ,grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Srinivas Pittala
- grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel ,grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Avijit Paul
- grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel ,grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Edna Nahon Crystal
- grid.443007.40000 0004 0604 7694Achva Academic College, 79804 Shikmim, Israel
| | - Alberto Ouro
- grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel ,grid.488911.d0000 0004 0408 4897Present Address: NeuroAging Group (NEURAL), Clinical Neurosciences Research Laboratory (LINC), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Vered Chalifa-Caspi
- grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Swaroop Kumar Pandey
- grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Alon Monsengo
- grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Noga Vardi
- grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Shira Knafo
- grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel ,grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Varda Shoshan-Barmatz
- grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel ,grid.7489.20000 0004 1937 0511National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
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Cellular Prion Protein Expression in the Brain Tissue from Brucella ceti-Infected Striped Dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12101304. [PMID: 35625150 PMCID: PMC9137499 DOI: 10.3390/ani12101304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Brucella ceti, a zoonotic bacterial pathogen, is known to exhibit a strong neurotropism and neuropathogenicity for striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), often leading to their stranding and death. Given the lack of information on B. ceti infection’s neuropathogenesis, we investigated, for the first time, cellular prion protein (PrPc) expression in the brain tissue from B. ceti-infected, neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins. Our study was inspired by previous work, reporting PrPc as the host cell receptor for B. abortus on the surface of murine macrophages. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot (WB) analyses were carried out on brain tissues from 12 striped dolphins found stranded along the coasts of Italy (11 specimens) and the Canary Islands (one individual), five of which served as negative controls. While PrPc IHC yielded inconclusive results, WB analyses showed a clear-cut PrPc expression, albeit of different intensity, in the brain tissue of all the herein investigated, B. ceti-infected and neurobrucellosis-affected individuals. In this respect, the aforementioned PrPc expression patterns could be influenced by a number of intrinsic host-related factors, as well as by several extrinsic factors including simultaneously occurring neuropathies and/or coinfections by other neurotropic pathogens. Additionally, an upregulation of PrPc mRNA in the brain tissue of striped dolphins could be also hypothesized during the different stages of B. ceti infection, in a similar fashion to what is already shown in murine bone marrow cells challenged with Escherichia coli. In conclusion, much more work is needed in order to properly assess the role of PrPc, if any, as a host cell receptor for B. ceti in striped dolphins. Abstract Brucella ceti, a zoonotic pathogen of major concern to cetacean health and conservation, is responsible for severe meningo-encephalitic/myelitic lesions in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), often leading to their stranding and death. This study investigated, for the first time, the cellular prion protein (PrPc) expression in the brain tissue from B. ceti-infected, neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins. Seven B. ceti-infected, neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins, found stranded along the Italian coastline (6) and in the Canary Islands (1), were investigated, along with five B. ceti-uninfected striped dolphins from the coast of Italy, carrying no brain lesions, which served as negative controls. Western Blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) with an anti-PrP murine monoclonal antibody were carried out on the brain parenchyma of these dolphins. While PrPc IHC yielded inconclusive results, a clear-cut PrPc expression of different intensity was found by means of WB analyses in the brain tissue of all the seven herein investigated, B. ceti-infected and neurobrucellosis-affected cetacean specimens, with two dolphins stranded along the Italian coastline and one dolphin beached in Canary Islands also exhibiting a statistically significant increase in cerebral PrPc expression as compared to the five Brucella spp.-negative control specimens. The significantly increased PrPc expression found in three out of seven B. ceti-infected, neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins does not allow us to draw any firm conclusion(s) about the putative role of PrPc as a host cell receptor for B. ceti. Should this be the case, an upregulation of PrPc mRNA in the brain tissue of neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins could be hypothesized during the different stages of B. ceti infection, as previously shown in murine bone marrow cells challenged with Escherichia coli. Noteworthy, the inflammatory infiltrates seen in the brain and in the cervico-thoracic spinal cord segments from the herein investigated, B. ceti-infected and neurobrucellosis-affected striped dolphins were densely populated by macrophage/histiocyte cells, often harboring Brucella spp. antigen in their cytoplasm, similarly to what was reported in macrophages from mice experimentally challenged with B. abortus. Notwithstanding the above, much more work is needed in order to properly assess the role of PrPc, if any, as a host cell receptor for B. ceti in striped dolphins.
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Wang L, Zhou SQ, Zhou Y, Lu JX. A Two-eRNA-Based Signature Can Impact the Immune Status and Predict the Prognosis and Drug Sensitivity of Lung Adenocarcinoma. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:8069858. [PMID: 35600050 PMCID: PMC9115606 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8069858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) are intergenic long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participating in the development of malignant cancers via targeting cancer-associated genes and immune checkpoints. Immune infiltration of the tumor microenvironment was positively associated with overall survival (OS) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In this study, we aimed to explore the clinical significance of PCBP1-AS1 in LUAD and developed a novel prognostic signature based on two eRNAs. Our team discovered that the expression of PCBP1-AS1 was distinctly downregulated in LUAD specimens compared with nontumor specimens. Lower PCBP1-AS1 expression was related to advanced clinical stages and poor prognosis. KEGG analysis unveiled that the coexpression genes of PCBP1-AS1 were involved in the regulation of several tumor-related pathways. In addition, remarkable associations were observed between the expression of PCBP1-AS1 and the levels of several immune cells. Then, we used PCBP1-AS1 and TBX5-AS1 to develop a prognostic model. Survival assays unveiled that patients with higher risk scores exhibited a shorter OS in contrast to patients with lower risk scores. In addition, multivariable Cox regressive analysis indicated that the risk score was an independent prediction factor in LUAD sufferers. The anticancer drug sensitivity analysis indicated that risk score had a positive relationship with several anticancer drugs. Taken together, our findings indicated PCBP1-AS1 as a function modulator in LUAD development. In addition, we constructed a robust immune-related eRNA signature which might be a clinical prognosis factor for LUAD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- Department of Oncology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Shao-quan Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, Chongqing Fuling People's Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Jia-xi Lu
- Department of Oncology, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China
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Crestini A, Santilli F, Martellucci S, Carbone E, Sorice M, Piscopo P, Mattei V. Prions and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Focus on Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 85:503-518. [PMID: 34864675 DOI: 10.3233/jad-215171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Specific protein misfolding and aggregation are mechanisms underlying various neurodegenerative diseases such as prion disease and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The misfolded proteins are involved in prions, amyloid-β (Aβ), tau, and α-synuclein disorders; they share common structural, biological, and biochemical characteristics, as well as similar mechanisms of aggregation and self-propagation. Pathological features of AD include the appearance of plaques consisting of deposition of protein Aβ and neurofibrillary tangles formed by the hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Although it is not clear how protein aggregation leads to AD, we are learning that the cellular prion protein (PrPC) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. Herein, we first examined the pathogenesis of prion and AD with a focus on the contribution of PrPC to the development of AD. We analyzed the mechanisms that lead to the formation of a high affinity bond between Aβ oligomers (AβOs) and PrPC. Also, we studied the role of PrPC as an AβO receptor that initiates an AβO-induced signal cascade involving mGluR5, Fyn, Pyk2, and eEF2K linking Aβ and tau pathologies, resulting in the death of neurons in the central nervous system. Finally, we have described how the PrPC-AβOs interaction can be used as a new potential therapeutic target for the treatment of PrPC-dependent AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Crestini
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Santilli
- Biomedicine and Advanced Technologies Rieti Center, "Sabina Universitas", Rieti, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Martellucci
- Biomedicine and Advanced Technologies Rieti Center, "Sabina Universitas", Rieti, Italy
| | - Elena Carbone
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Sorice
- Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Piscopo
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Mattei
- Biomedicine and Advanced Technologies Rieti Center, "Sabina Universitas", Rieti, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy
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Adhikari UK, Tayebi M. Epitope-specific anti-PrP antibody toxicity: a comparative in-silico study of human and mouse prion proteins. Prion 2021; 15:155-176. [PMID: 34632945 PMCID: PMC8900626 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2021.1964326] [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] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite having therapeutic potential, anti-PrP antibodies caused a major controversy due to their neurotoxic effects. For instance, treating mice with ICSM antibodies delayed prion disease onset, but both were found to be either toxic or innocuous to neurons by researchers following cross-linking PrPC. In order to elucidate and understand the reasons that led to these contradictory outcomes, we conducted a comprehensive in silico study to assess the antibody-specific toxicity. Since most therapeutic anti-PrP antibodies were generated against human truncated recombinant PrP91-231 or full-length mouse PrP23-231, we reasoned that host specificity (human vs murine) of PrPC might influence the nature of the specific epitopes recognized by these antibodies at the structural level possibly explaining the 'toxicity' discrepancies reported previously. Initially, molecular dynamics simulation and pro-motif analysis of full-length human (hu)PrP and mouse (mo)PrP 3D structure displayed conspicuous structural differences between huPrP and moPrP. We identified 10 huPrP and 6 moPrP linear B-cell epitopes from the prion protein 3D structure where 5 out of 10 huPrP and 3 out of 6 moPrP B-cell epitopes were predicted to be potentially toxic in immunoinformatics approaches. Herein, we demonstrate that some of the predicted potentially 'toxic' epitopes identified by the in silico analysis were similar to the epitopes recognized by the toxic antibodies such as ICSM18 (146-159), POM1 (138-147), D18 (133-157), ICSM35 (91-110), D13 (95-103) and POM3 (95-100). This in silico study reveals the role of host specificity of PrPC in epitope-specific anti-PrP antibody toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mourad Tayebi
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
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10
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Shi M, Li C, Tian X, Chu F, Zhu J. Can Control Infections Slow Down the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease? Talking About the Role of Infections in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:685863. [PMID: 34366826 PMCID: PMC8339924 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.685863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease as the most common age-related dementia affects more than 40 million people in the world, representing a global public health priority. However, the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is complex, and it remains unclear. Over the past decades, all efforts made in the treatments of AD, with targeting the pathogenic amyloid β (Aβ), neurofibrillary tangles, and misfolded tau protein, were failed. Recently, many studies have hinted that infection, and chronic inflammation that caused by infection are crucial risk factors for AD development and progress. In the review, we analyzed the role of infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens in the pathogenesis of AD and its animal models, and explored the therapeutic possibility with anti-infections for AD. However, based on the published data, it is still difficult to determine their causal relationship between infection and AD due to contradictory results. We think that the role of infection in the pathogenesis of AD should not be ignored, even though infection does not necessarily cause AD, it may act as an accelerator in AD at least. It is essential to conduct the longitudinal studies and randomized controlled trials in humans, which can determine the role of infection in AD and clarify the links between infection and the pathological features of AD. Finding targeting infection drugs and identifying the time window for applying antibacterial or antiviral intervention may be more promising for future clinical therapeutic strategies in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingchao Shi
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Division of Neurogeriatrcs, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Chunrong Li
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoping Tian
- Cognitive Impairment Ward of Neurology Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fengna Chu
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Division of Neurogeriatrcs, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.,Division of Neurogeriatrcs, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
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Marques CMS, Pedron T, Batista BL, Cerchiaro G. Cellular prion protein activates Caspase 3 for apoptotic defense mechanism in astrocytes. Mol Cell Biochem 2021; 476:2149-2158. [PMID: 33547547 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-021-04078-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is anchored in the plasma membrane of cells, and it is highly present in cells of brain tissue, exerting numerous cellular and cognitive functions. The present study proves the importance of PrPC in the cellular defense mechanism and metal homeostasis in astrocytes cells. Through experimental studies using cell lines of immortalized mice astrocytes (wild type and knockout for PrPC), we showed that PrPc is involved in the apoptosis cell death process by the activation of Caspase 3, downregulation of p53, and cell cycle maintenance. Metal homeostasis was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique, indicating the crucial role of PrPC to lower intracellular calcium. The lowered calcium concentration and the Caspase 3 downregulation in the PrPC-null astrocytes resulted in a faster growth rate in cells, comparing with PrPC wild-type one. The presence of PrPC shows to be essential to cell death and healthy growth. In conclusion, our results show for the first time that astrocyte knockout cells for the cellular prion protein could modulate apoptosis-dependent cell death pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M S Marques
- Center for Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Avenida dos Estados, 5001, Bl.B, Santo André, SP, 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Pedron
- Center for Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Avenida dos Estados, 5001, Bl.B, Santo André, SP, 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Bruno L Batista
- Center for Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Avenida dos Estados, 5001, Bl.B, Santo André, SP, 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Giselle Cerchiaro
- Center for Natural Sciences and Humanities, Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Avenida dos Estados, 5001, Bl.B, Santo André, SP, 09210-580, Brazil.
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Prion Protein in Stem Cells: A Lipid Raft Component Involved in the Cellular Differentiation Process. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21114168. [PMID: 32545192 PMCID: PMC7312503 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The prion protein (PrP) is an enigmatic molecule with a pleiotropic effect on different cell types; it is localized stably in lipid raft microdomains and it is able to recruit downstream signal transduction pathways by its interaction with various biochemical partners. Since its discovery, this lipid raft component has been involved in several functions, although most of the publications focused on the pathological role of the protein. Recent studies report a key role of cellular prion protein (PrPC) in physiological processes, including cellular differentiation. Indeed, the PrPC, whose expression is modulated according to the cell differentiation degree, appears to be part of the multimolecular signaling pathways of the neuronal differentiation process. In this review, we aim to summarize the main findings that report the link between PrPC and stem cells.
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