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Wang M, Liu K. Molecular dynamics simulations to explore the binding mode between the amyloid-β protein precursor (APP) and adaptor protein Mint2. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7975. [PMID: 38575686 PMCID: PMC10995209 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58584-9] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) presents a significant challenge in neurodegenerative disease management, with limited therapeutic options available for its prevention and treatment. At the heart of AD pathogenesis is the amyloid-β (Aβ) protein precursor (APP), with the interaction between APP and the adaptor protein Mint2 being crucial. Despite previous explorations into the APP-Mint2 interaction, the dynamic regulatory mechanisms by which Mint2 modulates APP binding remain poorly understood. This study undertakes molecular dynamics simulations across four distinct systems-free Mint2, Mint2 bound to APP, a mutant form of Mint2, and the mutant form bound to APP-over an extensive 400 ns timeframe. Our findings reveal that the mutant Mint2 experiences significant secondary structural transformations, notably the formation of an α-helix in residues S55-K65 upon APP binding, within the 400 ns simulation period. Additionally, we observed a reduction in the active pocket size of the mutant Mint2 compared to its wild-type counterpart, enhancing its APP binding affinity. These insights hold promise for guiding the development of novel inhibitors targeting the Mints family, potentially paving the way for new therapeutic strategies in AD prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wang
- International Research Centre for Nano Handling and Manufacturing of China, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, 130022, China.
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Cross-Scale Micro and Nano Manufacturing, Changchun University of Science and Technology, Changchun, 130022, China.
| | - Kaifeng Liu
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
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Torgerson C, Ahmadi H, Choupan J, Fan CC, Blosnich JR, Herting MM. Sex, gender diversity, and brain structure in early adolescence. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26671. [PMID: 38590252 PMCID: PMC11002534 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26671] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
There remains little consensus about the relationship between sex and brain structure, particularly in early adolescence. Moreover, few pediatric neuroimaging studies have analyzed both sex and gender as variables of interest-many of which included small sample sizes and relied on binary definitions of gender. The current study examined gender diversity with a continuous felt-gender score and categorized sex based on X and Y allele frequency in a large sample of children ages 9-11 years old (N = 7195). Then, a statistical model-building approach was employed to determine whether gender diversity and sex independently or jointly relate to brain morphology, including subcortical volume, cortical thickness, gyrification, and white matter microstructure. Additional sensitivity analyses found that male versus female differences in gyrification and white matter were largely accounted for by total brain volume, rather than sex per se. The model with sex, but not gender diversity, was the best-fitting model in 60.1% of gray matter regions and 61.9% of white matter regions after adjusting for brain volume. The proportion of variance accounted for by sex was negligible to small in all cases. While models including felt-gender explained a greater amount of variance in a few regions, the felt-gender score alone was not a significant predictor on its own for any white or gray matter regions examined. Overall, these findings demonstrate that at ages 9-11 years old, sex accounts for a small proportion of variance in brain structure, while gender diversity is not directly associated with neurostructural diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carinna Torgerson
- Department of Population and Public Health SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
- Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics InstituteUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hedyeh Ahmadi
- Department of Population and Public Health SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jeiran Choupan
- Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics InstituteUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Chun Chieh Fan
- Center for Population Neuroscience and GeneticsLaureate Institute for Brain ResearchTulsaOklahomaUSA
- Department of Radiology, School of MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - John R. Blosnich
- Suzanne Dworak‐Peck School of Social WorkUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Megan M. Herting
- Department of Population and Public Health SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
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Feng Y, Huang Z, Ma X, Zong X, Wu CY, Lee RH, Lin HW, Hamblin MR, Zhang Q. Activation of testosterone-androgen receptor mediates cerebrovascular protection by photobiomodulation treatment in photothrombosis-induced stroke rats. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14574. [PMID: 38421088 PMCID: PMC10851319 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14574] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Numerous epidemiological studies have reported a link between low testosterone levels and an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease in men. However, there is ongoing controversy surrounding testosterone replacement therapy due to potential side effects. PBMT has been demonstrated to improve cerebrovascular function and promote testosterone synthesis in peripheral tissues. Despite this, the molecular mechanisms that could connect PBMT with testosterone and vascular function in the brain of photothrombosis (PT)-induced stroke rats remain largely unknown. METHODS We measured behavioral performance, cerebral blood flow (CBF), vascular permeability, and the expression of vascular-associated and apoptotic proteins in PT-induced stroke rats treated with flutamide and seven consecutive days of PBM treatment (350 mW, 808 nM, 2 min/day). To gain further insights into the mechanism of PBM on testosterone synthesis, we used testosterone synthesis inhibitors to study their effects on bEND.3 cells. RESULTS We showed that PT stroke caused a decrease in cerebrovascular testosterone concentration, which was significantly increased by 7-day PBMT (808 nm, 350 mW/cm2 , 42 J/cm2 ). Furthermore, PBMT significantly increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the expression of vascular-associated proteins, while inhibiting vascular permeability and reducing endothelial cell apoptosis. This ultimately mitigated behavioral deficits in PT stroke rats. Notably, treatment with the androgen receptor antagonist flutamide reversed the beneficial effects of PBMT. Cellular experiments confirmed that PBMT inhibited cell apoptosis and increased vascular-associated protein expression in brain endothelial cell line (bEnd.3) subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). However, these effects were inhibited by flutamide. Moreover, mechanistic studies revealed that PBMT-induced testosterone synthesis in bEnd.3 cells was partly mediated by 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 5 (17β-HSD5). CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence that PBMT attenuates cerebrovascular injury and behavioral deficits associated with testosterone/AR following ischemic stroke. Our findings suggest that PBMT may be a promising alternative approach for managing cerebrovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Feng
- Department of NeurologyLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterShreveportLouisianaUSA
| | - Zhihai Huang
- Department of NeurologyLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterShreveportLouisianaUSA
| | - Xiaohui Ma
- Department of NeurologyLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterShreveportLouisianaUSA
| | - Xuemei Zong
- Department of NeurologyLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterShreveportLouisianaUSA
| | - Celeste Yin‐Chieh Wu
- Department of NeurologyLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterShreveportLouisianaUSA
| | - Reggie Hui‐Chao Lee
- Department of NeurologyLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterShreveportLouisianaUSA
| | - Hung Wen Lin
- Department of NeurologyLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterShreveportLouisianaUSA
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Wellman Center for PhotomedicineMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Quanguang Zhang
- Department of NeurologyLouisiana State University Health Sciences CenterShreveportLouisianaUSA
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Collignon A, Dion-Albert L, Ménard C, Coelho-Santos V. Sex, hormones and cerebrovascular function: from development to disorder. Fluids Barriers CNS 2024; 21:2. [PMID: 38178239 PMCID: PMC10768274 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-023-00496-3] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Proper cerebrovascular development and neurogliovascular unit assembly are essential for brain growth and function throughout life, ensuring the continuous supply of nutrients and oxygen. This involves crucial events during pre- and postnatal stages through key pathways, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Wnt signaling. These pathways are pivotal for brain vascular growth, expansion, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) maturation. Interestingly, during fetal and neonatal life, cerebrovascular formation coincides with the early peak activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, supporting the idea of sex hormonal influence on cerebrovascular development and barriergenesis.Sex hormonal dysregulation in early development has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders with highly sexually dimorphic features, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Both disorders show higher prevalence in men, with varying symptoms between sexes, with boys exhibiting more externalizing behaviors, such as aggressivity or hyperactivity, and girls displaying higher internalizing behaviors, including anxiety, depression, or attention disorders. Indeed, ASD and ADHD are linked to high prenatal testosterone exposure and reduced aromatase expression, potentially explaining sex differences in prevalence and symptomatology. In line with this, high estrogen levels seem to attenuate ADHD symptoms. At the cerebrovascular level, sex- and region-specific variations of cerebral blood flow perfusion have been reported in both conditions, indicating an impact of gonadal hormones on the brain vascular system, disrupting its ability to respond to neuronal demands.This review aims to provide an overview of the existing knowledge concerning the impact of sex hormones on cerebrovascular formation and maturation, as well as the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we explore the concept of gonadal hormone interactions with brain vascular and BBB development to function, with a particular focus on the modulation of VEGF and Wnt signaling. We outline how these pathways may be involved in the underpinnings of ASD and ADHD. Outstanding questions and potential avenues for future research are highlighted, as uncovering sex-specific physiological and pathological aspects of brain vascular development might lead to innovative therapeutic approaches in the context of ASD, ADHD and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeline Collignon
- Department of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and CERVO Brain Research Center, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Laurence Dion-Albert
- Department of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and CERVO Brain Research Center, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Caroline Ménard
- Department of Psychiatry & Neuroscience and CERVO Brain Research Center, Universite Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Vanessa Coelho-Santos
- Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Coimbra, Portugal.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Institute of Physiology, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Torgerson C, Ahmadi H, Choupan J, Fan CC, Blosnich JR, Herting MM. Sex, gender diversity, and brain structure in children ages 9 to 11 years old. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.28.551036. [PMID: 37546960 PMCID: PMC10402171 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.28.551036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
There remains little consensus about the relationship between sex and brain structure, particularly in childhood. Moreover, few pediatric neuroimaging studies have analyzed both sex and gender as variables of interest - many of which included small sample sizes and relied on binary definitions of gender. The current study examined gender diversity with a continuous felt-gender score and categorized sex based on X and Y allele frequency in a large sample of children ages 9-11 years-old (N=7693). Then, a statistical model-building approach was employed to determine whether gender diversity and sex independently or jointly relate to brain morphology, including subcortical volume, cortical thickness, gyrification, and white matter microstructure. The model with sex, but not gender diversity, was the best-fitting model in 75% of gray matter regions and 79% of white matter regions examined. The addition of gender to the sex model explained significantly more variance than sex alone with regard to bilateral cerebellum volume, left precentral cortical thickness, as well as gyrification in the right superior frontal gyrus, right parahippocampal gyrus, and several regions in the left parietal lobe. For mean diffusivity in the left uncinate fasciculus, the model with sex, gender, and their interaction captured the most variance. Nonetheless, the magnitude of variance accounted for by sex was small in all cases and felt-gender score was not a significant predictor on its own for any white or gray matter regions examined. Overall, these findings demonstrate that at ages 9-11 years-old, sex accounts for a small proportion of variance in brain structure, while gender diversity is not directly associated with neurostructural diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carinna Torgerson
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hedyeh Ahmadi
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jeiran Choupan
- Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chun Chieh Fan
- Center for Population Neuroscience and Genetics, Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK, USA
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
| | - John R. Blosnich
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Megan M. Herting
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Dion-Albert L, Bandeira Binder L, Daigle B, Hong-Minh A, Lebel M, Menard C. Sex differences in the blood-brain barrier: Implications for mental health. Front Neuroendocrinol 2022; 65:100989. [PMID: 35271863 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2022.100989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Prevalence of mental disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ) are increasing at alarming rates in our societies. Growing evidence points toward major sex differences in these conditions, and high rates of treatment resistance support the need to consider novel biological mechanisms outside of neuronal function to gain mechanistic insights that could lead to innovative therapies. Blood-brain barrier alterations have been reported in MDD, BD and SZ. Here, we provide an overview of sex-specific immune, endocrine, vascular and transcriptional-mediated changes that could affect neurovascular integrity and possibly contribute to the pathogenesis of mental disorders. We also identify pitfalls in current literature and highlight promising vascular biomarkers. Better understanding of how these adaptations can contribute to mental health status is essential not only in the context of MDD, BD and SZ but also cardiovascular diseases and stroke which are associated with higher prevalence of these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Dion-Albert
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Luisa Bandeira Binder
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Beatrice Daigle
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Amandine Hong-Minh
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Lincoln Place Gate, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Manon Lebel
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Caroline Menard
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and CERVO Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada.
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7
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Tang T, Hu L, Liu Y, Fu X, Li J, Yan F, Cao S, Chen G. Sex-Associated Differences in Neurovascular Dysfunction During Ischemic Stroke. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:860959. [PMID: 35431804 PMCID: PMC9012443 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.860959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurovascular units (NVUs) are basic functional units in the central nervous system and include neurons, astrocytes and vascular compartments. Ischemic stroke triggers not only neuronal damage, but also dissonance of intercellular crosstalk within the NVU. Stroke is sexually dimorphic, but the sex-associated differences involved in stroke-induced neurovascular dysfunction are studied in a limited extend. Preclinical studies have found that in rodent models of stroke, females have less neuronal loss, stronger repairing potential of astrocytes and more stable vascular conjunction; these properties are highly related to the cerebroprotective effects of female hormones. However, in humans, these research findings may be applicable only to premenopausal stroke patients. Women who have had a stroke usually have poorer outcomes compared to men, and because stoke is age-related, hormone replacement therapy for postmenopausal women may exacerbate stroke symptoms, which contradicts the findings of most preclinical studies. This stark contrast between clinical and laboratory findings suggests that understanding of neurovascular differences between the sexes is limited. Actually, apart from gonadal hormones, differences in neuroinflammation as well as genetics and epigenetics promote the sexual dimorphism of NVU functions. In this review, we summarize the confirmed sex-associated differences in NVUs during ischemic stroke and the possible contributing mechanisms. We also describe the gap between clinical and preclinical studies in terms of sexual dimorphism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianchi Tang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Libin Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Ultrasonography, Shanghai General Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiongjie Fu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianru Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shenglong Cao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Shenglong Cao,
| | - Gao Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Gao Chen,
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Rudge JD. A New Hypothesis for Alzheimer’s Disease: The Lipid Invasion Model. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2022; 6:129-161. [PMID: 35530118 PMCID: PMC9028744 DOI: 10.3233/adr-210299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper proposes a new hypothesis for Alzheimer’s disease (AD)—the lipid invasion model. It argues that AD results from external influx of free fatty acids (FFAs) and lipid-rich lipoproteins into the brain, following disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The lipid invasion model explains how the influx of albumin-bound FFAs via a disrupted BBB induces bioenergetic changes and oxidative stress, stimulates microglia-driven neuroinflammation, and causes anterograde amnesia. It also explains how the influx of external lipoproteins, which are much larger and more lipid-rich, especially more cholesterol-rich, than those normally present in the brain, causes endosomal-lysosomal abnormalities and overproduction of the peptide amyloid-β (Aβ). This leads to the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the most well-known hallmarks of AD. The lipid invasion model argues that a key role of the BBB is protecting the brain from external lipid access. It shows how the BBB can be damaged by excess Aβ, as well as by most other known risk factors for AD, including aging, apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4), and lifestyle factors such as hypertension, smoking, obesity, diabetes, chronic sleep deprivation, stress, and head injury. The lipid invasion model gives a new rationale for what we already know about AD, explaining its many associated risk factors and neuropathologies, including some that are less well-accounted for in other explanations of AD. It offers new insights and suggests new ways to prevent, detect, and treat this destructive disease and potentially other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D’Arcy Rudge
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
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Ahmadpour D, Mhaouty-Kodja S, Grange-Messent V. [Phthalates: A risk factor for cerebrovascular function in adult male mice]. Med Sci (Paris) 2022; 38:141-144. [PMID: 35179467 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2021256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Delnia Ahmadpour
- CNRS UMR 8246, Inserm U1130, Institut de biologie Paris-Seine, Sorbonne Université, 7 quai Saint-Bernard, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Sakina Mhaouty-Kodja
- CNRS UMR 8246, Inserm U1130, Institut de biologie Paris-Seine, Sorbonne Université, 7 quai Saint-Bernard, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Valérie Grange-Messent
- CNRS UMR 8246, Inserm U1130, Institut de biologie Paris-Seine, Sorbonne Université, 7 quai Saint-Bernard, 75005 Paris, France
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10
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Ahmadpour D, Mhaouty-Kodja S, Grange-Messent V. Disruption of the blood-brain barrier and its close environment following adult exposure to low doses of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate alone or in an environmental phthalate mixture in male mice. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 282:131013. [PMID: 34090004 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
We have previously shown that adult male mice exposure to low doses of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) alters neural function and behaviour. Whether such exposure also affects the integrity and function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remained to be explored. The impact of adult exposure to low doses of DEHP alone or in an environmental phthalate mixture on the BBB integrity and surrounding parenchyma was studied in male mice. Two-month-old C57BL/6J males were orally exposed for 6 weeks to DEHP alone (5, and 50 μg/kg/day) or to DEHP (5 μg/kg/day) in an environmental phthalate mixture. BBB permeability, glial activation and neuroinflammation were investigated in the hypothalamic medial preoptic area (mPOA) and hippocampus involved, respectively on the reproductive and cognitive functions. Exposure to DEHP alone or in a phthalate mixture increased BBB permeability and affected the endothelial accessory tight junction protein zona occludens-1 and caveolae protein Cav-1 in the mPOA and the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas. This was associated with an inflammatory profile including astrocyte activation accompanied by enhanced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the mPOA, and a microglial activation in the mPOA and the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas. The protein levels of the inflammatory molecule cyclooxygenase-2 were increased in activated microglial cells of the exposed mPOA. None of the major effects induced by DEHP alone or in a mixture was detected in the hippocampal dendate gyrus. The data highlight that environmental exposure to endocrine disruptors such as phthalates, could represent a risk factor for the cerebrovascular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delnia Ahmadpour
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Neuroscience Paris-Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Sakina Mhaouty-Kodja
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Neuroscience Paris-Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Valérie Grange-Messent
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Neuroscience Paris-Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, 75005 Paris, France.
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