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D'Egidio F, Castelli V, Lombardozzi G, Ammannito F, Cimini A, d'Angelo M. Therapeutic advances in neural regeneration for Huntington's disease. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1991-1997. [PMID: 38227527 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.390969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion mutation of a cytosine-adenine-guanine triplet in the exon 1 of the HTT gene which is responsible for the production of the huntingtin (Htt) protein. In physiological conditions, Htt is involved in many cellular processes such as cell signaling, transcriptional regulation, energy metabolism regulation, DNA maintenance, axonal trafficking, and antiapoptotic activity. When the genetic alteration is present, the production of a mutant version of Htt (mHtt) occurs, which is characterized by a plethora of pathogenic activities that, finally, lead to cell death. Among all the cells in which mHtt exerts its dangerous activity, the GABAergic Medium Spiny Neurons seem to be the most affected by the mHtt-induced excitotoxicity both in the cortex and in the striatum. However, as the neurodegeneration proceeds ahead the neuronal loss grows also in other brain areas such as the cerebellum, hypothalamus, thalamus, subthalamic nucleus, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra, determining the variety of symptoms that characterize Huntington's disease. From a clinical point of view, Huntington's disease is characterized by a wide spectrum of symptoms spanning from motor impairment to cognitive disorders and dementia. Huntington's disease shows a prevalence of around 3.92 cases every 100,000 worldwide and an incidence of 0.48 new cases every 100,000/year. To date, there is no available cure for Huntington's disease. Several treatments have been developed so far, aiming to reduce the severity of one or more symptoms to slow down the inexorable decline caused by the disease. In this context, the search for reliable strategies to target the different aspects of Huntington's disease become of the utmost interest. In recent years, a variety of studies demonstrated the detrimental role of neuronal loss in Huntington's disease condition highlighting how the replacement of lost cells would be a reasonable strategy to overcome the neurodegeneration. In this view, numerous have been the attempts in several preclinical models of Huntington's disease to evaluate the feasibility of invasive and non-invasive approaches. Thus, the aim of this review is to offer an overview of the most appealing approaches spanning from stem cell-based cell therapy to extracellular vesicles such as exosomes in light of promoting neurogenesis, discussing the results obtained so far, their limits and the future perspectives regarding the neural regeneration in the context of Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco D'Egidio
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
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Vassal M, Martins F, Monteiro B, Tambaro S, Martinez-Murillo R, Rebelo S. Emerging Pro-neurogenic Therapeutic Strategies for Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review of Pre-clinical and Clinical Research. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04246-w. [PMID: 38816676 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04246-w] [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: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The neuroscience community has largely accepted the notion that functional neurons can be generated from neural stem cells in the adult brain, especially in two brain regions: the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. However, impaired neurogenesis has been observed in some neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, and also in Lewy Body dementia. Therefore, restoration of neurogenic function in neurodegenerative diseases emerges as a potential therapeutic strategy to counteract, or at least delay, disease progression. Considering this, the present study summarizes the different neuronal niches, provides a collection of the therapeutic potential of different pro-neurogenic strategies in pre-clinical and clinical research, providing details about their possible modes of action, to guide future research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Vassal
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Filipa Martins
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Bruno Monteiro
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Simone Tambaro
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ricardo Martinez-Murillo
- Neurovascular Research Group, Department of Translational Neurobiology, Cajal Institute (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Rebelo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
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Valcárcel-Hernández V, Mayerl S, Guadaño-Ferraz A, Remaud S. Thyroid hormone action in adult neurogliogenic niches: the known and unknown. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1347802. [PMID: 38516412 PMCID: PMC10954857 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1347802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last decades, thyroid hormones (THs) signaling has been established as a key signaling cue for the proper maintenance of brain functions in adult mammals, including humans. One of the most fascinating roles of THs in the mature mammalian brain is their ability to regulate adult neurogliogenic processes. In this respect, THs control the generation of new neuronal and glial progenitors from neural stem cells (NSCs) as well as their final differentiation and maturation programs. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the cellular organization of adult rodent neurogliogenic niches encompassing well-established niches in the subventricular zone (SVZ) lining the lateral ventricles, the hippocampal subgranular zone (SGZ), and the hypothalamus, but also less characterized niches in the striatum and the cerebral cortex. We then discuss critical questions regarding how THs availability is regulated in the respective niches in rodents and larger mammals as well as how modulating THs availability in those niches interferes with lineage decision and progression at the molecular, cellular, and functional levels. Based on those alterations, we explore the novel therapeutic avenues aiming at harnessing THs regulatory influences on neurogliogenic output to stimulate repair processes by influencing the generation of either new neurons (i.e. Alzheimer's, Parkinson's diseases), oligodendrocytes (multiple sclerosis) or both (stroke). Finally, we point out future challenges, which will shape research in this exciting field in the upcoming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Valcárcel-Hernández
- Laboratory Molecular Physiology and Adaptation, CNRS UMR 7221, Department Adaptations of Life, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Steffen Mayerl
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ana Guadaño-Ferraz
- Department of Neurological Diseases and Aging, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sylvie Remaud
- Laboratory Molecular Physiology and Adaptation, CNRS UMR 7221, Department Adaptations of Life, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
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Speidell A, Bin Abid N, Yano H. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Dysregulation as an Essential Pathological Feature in Huntington's Disease: Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutics. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2275. [PMID: 37626771 PMCID: PMC10452871 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a major neurotrophin whose loss or interruption is well established to have numerous intersections with the pathogenesis of progressive neurological disorders. There is perhaps no greater example of disease pathogenesis resulting from the dysregulation of BDNF signaling than Huntington's disease (HD)-an inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, psychiatric, and cognitive impairments associated with basal ganglia dysfunction and the ultimate death of striatal projection neurons. Investigation of the collection of mechanisms leading to BDNF loss in HD highlights this neurotrophin's importance to neuronal viability and calls attention to opportunities for therapeutic interventions. Using electronic database searches of existing and forthcoming research, we constructed a literature review with the overarching goal of exploring the diverse set of molecular events that trigger BDNF dysregulation within HD. We highlighted research that investigated these major mechanisms in preclinical models of HD and connected these studies to those evaluating similar endpoints in human HD subjects. We also included a special focus on the growing body of literature detailing key transcriptomic and epigenetic alterations that affect BDNF abundance in HD. Finally, we offer critical evaluation of proposed neurotrophin-directed therapies and assessed clinical trials seeking to correct BDNF expression in HD individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Speidell
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; (A.S.); (N.B.A.)
| | - Noman Bin Abid
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; (A.S.); (N.B.A.)
| | - Hiroko Yano
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; (A.S.); (N.B.A.)
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Liao GY, Xu H, Shumate J, Scampavia L, Spicer T, Xu B. High throughput assay for compounds that boost BDNF expression in neurons. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2023; 28:88-94. [PMID: 36842668 PMCID: PMC10759152 DOI: 10.1016/j.slasd.2023.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Deficiencies in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been linked to several brain disorders, making compounds that can boost neuronal BDNF synthesis attractive as potential therapeutics. However, a sensitive and quantitative BDNF assay for high-throughput screening (HTS) is still missing. Here we report the generation of a new mouse Bdnf allele, BdnfNLuc, in which the sequence encoding nano luciferase (NLuc) is inserted into the Bdnf locus immediately before the stop codon so that the allele will produce a BDNF-NLuc fusion protein. BDNF-NLuc protein appears to function like BDNF as BdnfNLuc/NLuc homozygous mice grew and behaved almost normally. We were able to establish and optimize cultures of cortical and hippocampal BdnfNLuc/+ neurons isolated from mouse embryos in 384-well plates. We used the cultures as a phenotypic assay to detect the ability of 10 mM KCl to stimulate BDNF synthesis and achieved a reproducible Z' factor > 0.50 for the assay, a measure considered suitable for HTS. We successfully scaled up the assay to screen the 1280-compound LOPAC library (Library of Pharmacologically Active Compounds). The screen identified several BDNF-boosting compounds, one of which is Bay K8644, a L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (L-VGCC) agonist, which was previously shown to stimulate BDNF synthesis. These results indicate that our phenotypic neuronal assay is ready for HTS to identify novel BDNF-boosting compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guey-Ying Liao
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, University of Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Haifei Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, University of Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Justin Shumate
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, University of Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Louis Scampavia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, University of Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Timothy Spicer
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, University of Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Baoji Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology, University of Florida, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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Therapeutic Strategies in Huntington’s Disease: From Genetic Defect to Gene Therapy. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081895. [PMID: 36009443 PMCID: PMC9405755 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the identification of an expanded CAG repeat on exon 1 of the huntingtin gene located on chromosome 1 as the genetic defect causing Huntington’s disease almost 30 years ago, currently approved therapies provide only limited symptomatic relief and do not influence the age of onset or disease progression rate. Research has identified various intricate pathogenic cascades which lead to neuronal degeneration, but therapies interfering with these mechanisms have been marked by many failures and remain to be validated. Exciting new opportunities are opened by the emerging techniques which target the mutant protein DNA and RNA, allowing for “gene editing”. Although some issues relating to “off-target” effects or immune-mediated side effects need to be solved, these strategies, combined with stem cell therapies and more traditional approaches targeting specific pathogenic cascades, such as excitotoxicity and bioavailability of neurotrophic factors, could lead to significant improvement of the outcomes of treated Huntington’s disease patients.
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Ma W, Xu D, Zhao L, Yuan M, Cui YL, Li Y. Therapeutic role of curcumin in adult neurogenesis for management of psychiatric and neurological disorders: a scientometric study to an in-depth review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 63:9379-9391. [PMID: 35482938 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2067827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant neurogenesis is a major factor in psychiatric and neurological disorders that have significantly attracted the attention of neuroscientists. Curcumin is a primary constituent of curcuminoid that exerts several positive pharmacological effects on aberrant neurogenesis. First, it is important to understand the different processes of neurogenesis, and whether their dysfunction promotes etiology as well as the development of many psychiatric and neurological disorders; then investigate mechanisms by which curcumin affects neurogenesis as an active participant in pathophysiological events. Based on scientometric studies and additional extensive research, we explore the mechanisms by which curcumin regulates adult neurogenesis and in turn affects psychiatric diseases, i.e., depression and neurological disorders among them traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Gulf War Illness (GWI) and Fragile X syndrome (FXS). This review aims to elucidate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of curcumin on adult neurogenesis in various psychiatric and neurological disorders. Specifically, we discuss the regulatory role of curcumin in different activities of neural stem cells (NSCs), including proliferation, differentiation, and migration of NSCs. This is geared toward providing novel application prospects of curcumin in treating psychiatric and neurological disorders by regulating adult neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulae, Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Dong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulae, Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Lucy Zhao
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mengmeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulae, Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuan-Lu Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulae, Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yue Li
- State Key Laboratory of Component-Based Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formulae, Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
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Abdel-Aal RA, Hussein OA, Elsaady RG, Abdelzaher LA. Naproxen as a potential candidate for promoting rivastigmine anti-Alzheimer activity against aluminum chloride-prompted Alzheimer's-like disease in rats; neurogenesis and apoptosis modulation as a possible underlying mechanism. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 915:174695. [PMID: 34914971 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174695] [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: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the leading causes of dependence and disability among the elderly worldwide. The traditional anti-Alzheimer medication, rivastigmine, one of the cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs), fails to achieve a definitive cure. We tested the hypothesis that naproxen administration to the rivastigmine-treated aluminum chloride (AlCl3) Alzheimer's rat model could provide an additive neuroprotective effect compared to rivastigmine alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS The studied groups were control (Cont), AlCl3 treated (Al), rivastigmine treated (RIVA), naproxen treated (Napro), and combined rivastigmine and naproxen treated (RIVA + Napro). Rats' memory, spatial learning, and cognitive behavior were assessed followed by evaluation of hippocampal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Hippocampal and cerebellar histopathology were thoroughly examined. Activated caspase-3 and the neuroepithelial stem cells marker; nestin expressions were immunohistochemically assayed. RESULTS AD rats displayed significantly impaired memory and cognitive function, augmented hippocampal AChE activity; massive neurodegeneration associated with enhanced astrogliosis, apoptosis, and impaired neurogenesis. Except for the enhancement of neurogenesis and suppression of apoptosis, the combination therapy had no additional neuroprotective benefit over rivastigmine-only therapy. CONCLUSION Naproxen's efficacy was established by its ability to function at the cellular level, improved neurogenesis, and decreased, apoptosis without having an additional mitigating impact on cognitive impairment in rivastigmine-treated AD rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raafat A Abdel-Aal
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Ola A Hussein
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Reham G Elsaady
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Lobna A Abdelzaher
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
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Gatto RG, Weissmann C. Preliminary examination of early neuroconnectivity features in the R6/1 mouse model of Huntington's disease by ultra-high field diffusion MRI. Neural Regen Res 2021; 17:983-986. [PMID: 34558512 PMCID: PMC8552860 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.324831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last decades, advances in the understanding of genetic, cellular, and microstructural alterations associated to Huntington's disease (HD) have improved the understanding of this progressive and fatal illness. However, events related to early neuropathological events, neuroinflammation, deterioration of neuronal connectivity and compensatory mechanisms still remain vastly unknown. Ultra-high field diffusion MRI (UHFD-MRI) techniques can contribute to a more comprehensive analysis of the early microstructural changes observed in HD. In addition, it is possible to evaluate if early imaging microstructural parameters might be linked to histological biomarkers. Moreover, qualitative studies analyzing histological complexity in brain areas susceptible to neurodegeneration could provide information on inflammatory events, compensatory increase of neuroconnectivity and mechanisms of brain repair and regeneration. The application of ultra-high field diffusion-MRI technology in animal models, particularly the R6/1 mice (a common preclinical mammalian model of HD), provide the opportunity to analyze alterations in a physiologically intact model of the disease. Although some disparities in volumetric changes across different brain structures between preclinical and clinical models has been documented, further application of different diffusion MRI techniques used in combination like diffusion tensor imaging, and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging have proved effective in characterizing early parameters associated to alteration in water diffusion exchange within intracellular and extracellular compartments in brain white and grey matter. Thus, the combination of diffusion MRI imaging techniques and more complex neuropathological analysis could accelerate the discovery of new imaging biomarkers and the early diagnosis and neuromonitoring of patients affected with HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo G Gatto
- Department of Bioengineering, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Carina Weissmann
- Instituto de Fisiología Biología Molecular y Neurociencias-IFIBYNE-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Kim A, Lalonde K, Truesdell A, Gomes Welter P, Brocardo PS, Rosenstock TR, Gil-Mohapel J. New Avenues for the Treatment of Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168363. [PMID: 34445070 PMCID: PMC8394361 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG expansion in the HD gene. The disease is characterized by neurodegeneration, particularly in the striatum and cortex. The first symptoms usually appear in mid-life and include cognitive deficits and motor disturbances that progress over time. Despite being a genetic disorder with a known cause, several mechanisms are thought to contribute to neurodegeneration in HD, and numerous pre-clinical and clinical studies have been conducted and are currently underway to test the efficacy of therapeutic approaches targeting some of these mechanisms with varying degrees of success. Although current clinical trials may lead to the identification or refinement of treatments that are likely to improve the quality of life of those living with HD, major efforts continue to be invested at the pre-clinical level, with numerous studies testing novel approaches that show promise as disease-modifying strategies. This review offers a detailed overview of the currently approved treatment options for HD and the clinical trials for this neurodegenerative disorder that are underway and concludes by discussing potential disease-modifying treatments that have shown promise in pre-clinical studies, including increasing neurotropic support, modulating autophagy, epigenetic and genetic manipulations, and the use of nanocarriers and stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Kim
- Island Medical Program and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (A.K.); (K.L.)
| | - Kathryn Lalonde
- Island Medical Program and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (A.K.); (K.L.)
| | - Aaron Truesdell
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada;
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Priscilla Gomes Welter
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil; (P.G.W.); (P.S.B.)
| | - Patricia S. Brocardo
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil; (P.G.W.); (P.S.B.)
| | - Tatiana R. Rosenstock
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
- Department of Pharmacology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Joana Gil-Mohapel
- Island Medical Program and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (A.K.); (K.L.)
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-250-472-4597; Fax: +1-250-472-5505
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De Marchi F, Munitic I, Amedei A, Berry JD, Feldman EL, Aronica E, Nardo G, Van Weehaeghe D, Niccolai E, Prtenjaca N, Sakowski SA, Bendotti C, Mazzini L. Interplay between immunity and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Clinical impact. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 127:958-978. [PMID: 34153344 PMCID: PMC8428677 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating and rapidly fatal neurodegenerative disease. Despite decades of research and many new insights into disease biology over the 150 years since the disease was first described, causative pathogenic mechanisms in ALS remain poorly understood, especially in sporadic cases. Our understanding of the role of the immune system in ALS pathophysiology, however, is rapidly expanding. The aim of this manuscript is to summarize the recent advances regarding the immune system involvement in ALS, with particular attention to clinical translation. We focus on the potential pathophysiologic mechanism of the immune system in ALS, discussing local and systemic factors (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and microbiota) that influence ALS onset and progression in animal models and people. We also explore the potential of Positron Emission Tomography to detect neuroinflammation in vivo, and discuss ongoing clinical trials of therapies targeting the immune system. With validation in human patients, new evidence in this emerging field will serve to identify novel therapeutic targets and provide realistic hope for personalized treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola De Marchi
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, Novara, 28100, Italy
| | - Ivana Munitic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - James D Berry
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge Street, Suite 600, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Eva L Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Giovanni Nardo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, Milanm, 20156, Italy
| | - Donatienne Van Weehaeghe
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Imaging and Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elena Niccolai
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Nikolina Prtenjaca
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Stacey A Sakowski
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Caterina Bendotti
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, Milanm, 20156, Italy
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, Novara, 28100, Italy.
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Tai W, Wu W, Wang LL, Ni H, Chen C, Yang J, Zang T, Zou Y, Xu XM, Zhang CL. In vivo reprogramming of NG2 glia enables adult neurogenesis and functional recovery following spinal cord injury. Cell Stem Cell 2021; 28:923-937.e4. [PMID: 33675690 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis plays critical roles in maintaining brain homeostasis and responding to neurogenic insults. However, the adult mammalian spinal cord lacks an intrinsic capacity for neurogenesis. Here we show that spinal cord injury (SCI) unveils a latent neurogenic potential of NG2+ glial cells, which can be exploited to produce new neurons and promote functional recovery after SCI. Although endogenous SOX2 is required for SCI-induced transient reprogramming, ectopic SOX2 expression is necessary and sufficient to unleash the full neurogenic potential of NG2 glia. Ectopic SOX2-induced neurogenesis proceeds through an expandable ASCL1+ progenitor stage and generates excitatory and inhibitory propriospinal neurons, which make synaptic connections with ascending and descending spinal pathways. Importantly, SOX2-mediated reprogramming of NG2 glia reduces glial scarring and promotes functional recovery after SCI. These results reveal a latent neurogenic potential of somatic glial cells, which can be leveraged for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Tai
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Lei-Lei Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
| | - Haoqi Ni
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Chunhai Chen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jianjing Yang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Tong Zang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Yuhua Zou
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Xiao-Ming Xu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
| | - Chun-Li Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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13
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Jurkowski MP, Bettio L, K. Woo E, Patten A, Yau SY, Gil-Mohapel J. Beyond the Hippocampus and the SVZ: Adult Neurogenesis Throughout the Brain. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:576444. [PMID: 33132848 PMCID: PMC7550688 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.576444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Convincing evidence has repeatedly shown that new neurons are produced in the mammalian brain into adulthood. Adult neurogenesis has been best described in the hippocampus and the subventricular zone (SVZ), in which a series of distinct stages of neuronal development has been well characterized. However, more recently, new neurons have also been found in other brain regions of the adult mammalian brain, including the hypothalamus, striatum, substantia nigra, cortex, and amygdala. While some studies have suggested that these new neurons originate from endogenous stem cell pools located within these brain regions, others have shown the migration of neurons from the SVZ to these regions. Notably, it has been shown that the generation of new neurons in these brain regions is impacted by neurologic processes such as stroke/ischemia and neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, numerous factors such as neurotrophic support, pharmacologic interventions, environmental exposures, and stem cell therapy can modulate this endogenous process. While the presence and significance of adult neurogenesis in the human brain (and particularly outside of the classical neurogenic regions) is still an area of debate, this intrinsic neurogenic potential and its possible regulation through therapeutic measures present an exciting alternative for the treatment of several neurologic conditions. This review summarizes evidence in support of the classic and novel neurogenic zones present within the mammalian brain and discusses the functional significance of these new neurons as well as the factors that regulate their production. Finally, it also discusses the potential clinical applications of promoting neurogenesis outside of the classical neurogenic niches, particularly in the hypothalamus, cortex, striatum, substantia nigra, and amygdala.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal P. Jurkowski
- Island Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Luis Bettio
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Emma K. Woo
- Island Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Anna Patten
- Centre for Interprofessional Clinical Simulation Learning (CICSL), Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Suk-Yu Yau
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| | - Joana Gil-Mohapel
- Island Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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14
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Cheng CS, Liu TP, Chien FC, Mou CY, Wu SH, Chen YP. Codelivery of Plasmid and Curcumin with Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Promoting Neurite Outgrowth. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:15322-15331. [PMID: 30986029 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b02797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress leads to neuron damage and is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Researchers, therefore, are looking for antiinflammatory drugs and gene therapy approaches to slow down or even prevent neurological disorders. Combining therapeutics has shown a synergistic effect in the treatment of human diseases. Many nanocarriers could be designed for the simultaneous codelivery of drugs with genes to fight diseases. However, only a few researches have been performed in NDs. In this study, we developed a mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN)-based approach for neurodegenerative therapy. This MSN-based platform involved multiple designs in the targeted codelivery of (1) curcumin, a natural antioxidant product, to protect ROS-induced cell damage and (2) plasmid RhoG-DsRed, which is associated with the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia for promoting neurite outgrowth. At the same time, TAT peptide was introduced to the plasmid RhoG-DsRed via electrostatic interaction to elevate the efficiency of nonendocytic pathways and the nuclear plasmid delivery of RhoG-DsRed in cells for enhanced gene expression. Besides, such a plasmid RhoG-DsRed/TAT complex could work as a noncovalent gatekeeper. The release of curcumin inside the channel of the MSN could be triggered when the complex was dissociated from the MSN surface. Taken together, this MSN-based platform combining genetic and pharmacological manipulations of an actin cytoskeleton as well as oxidative stress provides an attractive way for ND therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Shun Cheng
- Department of Chemistry , National Taiwan University , Taipei 106 , Taiwan
| | - Tsang-Pai Liu
- Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management , Taipei 112 , Taiwan
- Department of Surgery , Mackay Memorial Hospital , Taipei 104 , Taiwan
| | - Fan-Ching Chien
- Department of Optics and Photonics , National Central University , Chung-Li 320 , Taiwan
| | - Chung-Yuan Mou
- Department of Chemistry , National Taiwan University , Taipei 106 , Taiwan
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15
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Rangel-Barajas C, Rebec GV. Overview of Huntington's Disease Models: Neuropathological, Molecular, and Behavioral Differences. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 83:e47. [PMID: 30040221 DOI: 10.1002/cpns.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic mouse models of Huntington's disease (HD), a neurodegenerative condition caused by a single gene mutation, have been transformative in their ability to reveal the molecular processes and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the HD behavioral phenotype. Three model categories have been generated depending on the genetic context in which the mutation is expressed: truncated, full-length, and knock-in. No single model, however, broadly replicates the behavioral symptoms and massive neuronal loss that occur in human patients. The disparity between model and patient requires careful consideration of what each model has to offer when testing potential treatments. Although the translation of animal data to the clinic has been limited, each model can make unique contributions toward an improved understanding of the neurobehavioral underpinnings of HD. Thus, conclusions based on data obtained from more than one model are likely to have the most success in the search for new treatment targets. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Rangel-Barajas
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
| | - George V Rebec
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
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16
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Aguareles J, Paraíso-Luna J, Palomares B, Bajo-Grañeras R, Navarrete C, Ruiz-Calvo A, García-Rincón D, García-Taboada E, Guzmán M, Muñoz E, Galve-Roperh I. Oral administration of the cannabigerol derivative VCE-003.2 promotes subventricular zone neurogenesis and protects against mutant huntingtin-induced neurodegeneration. Transl Neurodegener 2019; 8:9. [PMID: 30899454 PMCID: PMC6407204 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-019-0148-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The administration of certain cannabinoids provides neuroprotection in models of neurodegenerative diseases by acting through various cellular and molecular mechanisms. Many cannabinoid actions in the nervous system are mediated by CB1 receptors, which can elicit psychotropic effects, but other targets devoid of psychotropic activity, including CB2 and nuclear PPARγ receptors, can also be the target of specific cannabinoids. METHODS We investigated the pro-neurogenic potential of the synthetic cannabigerol derivative, VCE-003.2, in striatal neurodegeneration by using adeno-associated viral expression of mutant huntingtin in vivo and mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation in vitro. RESULTS Oral administration of VCE-003.2 protected striatal medium spiny neurons from mutant huntingtin-induced damage, attenuated neuroinflammation and improved motor performance. VCE-003.2 bioavailability was characterized and the potential undesired side effects were evaluated by analyzing hepatotoxicity after chronic treatment. VCE-003.2 promoted subventricular zone progenitor mobilization, increased doublecortin-positive migrating neuroblasts towards the injured area, and enhanced effective neurogenesis. Moreover, we demonstrated the proneurogenic activity of VCE-003.2 in embryonic stem cells. VCE-003.2 was able to increase neuroblast formation and striatal-like CTIP2-mediated neurogenesis. CONCLUSIONS The cannabigerol derivative VCE-003.2 improves subventricular zone-derived neurogenesis in response to mutant huntingtin-induced neurodegeneration, and is neuroprotective by oral administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Aguareles
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, km, 9100 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Paraíso-Luna
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, km, 9100 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Belén Palomares
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Fisiología e Inmunología, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Raquel Bajo-Grañeras
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, km, 9100 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Andrea Ruiz-Calvo
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, km, 9100 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel García-Rincón
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, km, 9100 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena García-Taboada
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, km, 9100 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Guzmán
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, km, 9100 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Muñoz
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Fisiología e Inmunología, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Ismael Galve-Roperh
- Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Ctra. Colmenar Viejo, km, 9100 Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular and Instituto Universitario de Investigación Neuroquímica, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
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17
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Sassone J, Papadimitriou E, Thomaidou D. Regenerative Approaches in Huntington's Disease: From Mechanistic Insights to Therapeutic Protocols. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:800. [PMID: 30450032 PMCID: PMC6224350 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG expansion in the exon-1 of the IT15 gene encoding the protein Huntingtin. Expression of mutated Huntingtin in humans leads to dysfunction and ultimately degeneration of selected neuronal populations of the striatum and cerebral cortex. Current available HD therapy relies on drugs to treat chorea and control psychiatric symptoms, however, no therapy has been proven to slow down disease progression or prevent disease onset. Thus, although 24 years have passed since HD gene identification, HD remains a relentless progressive disease characterized by cognitive dysfunction and motor disability that leads to death of the majority of patients, on average 10–20 years after its onset. Up to now several molecular pathways have been implicated in the process of neurodegeneration involved in HD and have provided potential therapeutic targets. Based on these data, approaches currently under investigation for HD therapy aim on the one hand at getting insight into the mechanisms of disease progression in a human-based context and on the other hand at silencing mHTT expression by using antisense oligonucleotides. An innovative and still poorly investigated approach is to identify new factors that increase neurogenesis and/or induce reprogramming of endogenous neuroblasts and parenchymal astrocytes to generate new healthy neurons to replace lost ones and/or enforce neuroprotection of pre-existent striatal and cortical neurons. Here, we review studies that use human disease-in-a-dish models to recapitulate HD pathogenesis or are focused on promoting in vivo neurogenesis of endogenous striatal neuroblasts and direct neuronal reprogramming of parenchymal astrocytes, which combined with neuroprotective protocols bear the potential to re-establish brain homeostasis lost in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Sassone
- Vita-Salute University and San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Dimitra Thomaidou
- Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
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18
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Pircs K, Petri R, Jakobsson J. Crosstalk between MicroRNAs and Autophagy in Adult Neurogenesis: Implications for Neurodegenerative Disorders. Brain Plast 2018; 3:195-203. [PMID: 30151343 PMCID: PMC6091039 DOI: 10.3233/bpl-180066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis in the mammalian brain, including in humans, occurs throughout life in distinct brain regions. Alterations in adult neurogenesis is a common phenomenon in several different neurodegenerative disorders, which is likely to contribute to the pathophysiology of these disorders. This review summarizes novel concepts related to the interplay between autophagy and microRNAs in control of adult neurogenesis, with a specific focus on its relevance to neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Pircs
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Rebecca Petri
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Johan Jakobsson
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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19
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Simmons DA. Modulating Neurotrophin Receptor Signaling as a Therapeutic Strategy for Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2018; 6:303-325. [PMID: 29254102 PMCID: PMC5757655 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-170275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG repeat expansions in the IT15 gene which encodes the huntingtin (HTT) protein. Currently, no treatments capable of preventing or slowing disease progression exist. Disease modifying therapeutics for HD would be expected to target a comprehensive set of degenerative processes given the diverse mechanisms contributing to HD pathogenesis including neuroinflammation, excitotoxicity, and transcription dysregulation. A major contributor to HD-related degeneration is mutant HTT-induced loss of neurotrophic support. Thus, neurotrophin (NT) receptors have emerged as therapeutic targets in HD. The considerable overlap between NT signaling networks and those dysregulated by mutant HTT provides strong theoretical support for this approach. This review will focus on the contributions of disrupted NT signaling in HD-related neurodegeneration and how targeting NT receptors to augment pro-survival signaling and/or to inhibit degenerative signaling may combat HD pathologies. Therapeutic strategies involving NT delivery, peptidomimetics, and the targeting of specific NT receptors (e.g., Trks or p75NTR), particularly with small molecule ligands, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle A Simmons
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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20
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21
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Guo J, Cui Y, Liu Q, Yang Y, Li Y, Weng L, Tang B, Jin P, Li XJ, Yang S, Li S. Piperine ameliorates SCA17 neuropathology by reducing ER stress. Mol Neurodegener 2018; 13:4. [PMID: 29378605 PMCID: PMC5789626 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-018-0236-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spinocerebellar ataxia 17 (SCA17) belongs to the family of neurodegenerative diseases caused by polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion. In SCA17, polyQ expansion occurs in the TATA box binding protein (TBP) and leads to the misfolding of TBP and the preferential degeneration in the cerebellar Purkinje neurons. Currently there is no effective treatment for SCA17. Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a recently identified neurotrophic factor, and increasing MANF expression ameliorated SCA17 neuropathology in TBP-105Q knock-in (KI) mouse model, indicating that MANF could be a therapeutic target for treating SCA17. Methods In this study, we screened a collection of 2000 FDA-approved chemicals using a stable cell line expressing luciferase reporter, which is driven by MANF promoter. We identified several potential candidates that can induce the expression of MANF. Of these inducers, piperine is an agent that potently induces the luciferase expression or MANF expression. Results Addition of piperine in both cellular and mouse models of SCA17 alleviated toxicity caused by mutant TBP. Although mutant TBP is primarily localized in the nuclei, the polyQ expansion in TBP is able to induce ER stress, suggesting that nuclear misfolded proteins can also elicit ER stress as cytoplasmic misfolded proteins do. Moreover, piperine plays its protective role by reducing toxicity caused by the ER stress. Conclusion Our study established piperine as a MANF-based therapeutic agent for ER stress-related neuropathology in SCA17.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jifeng Guo
- Department of Neurology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorder, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Yiting Cui
- Department of Neurology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorder, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Qiong Liu
- Department of Neurology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorder, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Neurology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorder, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Yujing Li
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Ling Weng
- Department of Neurology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorder, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorder, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Peng Jin
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.,GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Su Yang
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Shihua Li
- Department of Neurology and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorder, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China. .,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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22
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García-Díaz Barriga G, Giralt A, Anglada-Huguet M, Gaja-Capdevila N, Orlandi JG, Soriano J, Canals JM, Alberch J. 7,8-dihydroxyflavone ameliorates cognitive and motor deficits in a Huntington's disease mouse model through specific activation of the PLCγ1 pathway. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 26:3144-3160. [PMID: 28541476 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with motor, cognitive and psychiatric impairment. Dysfunctions in HD models have been related to reduced levels of striatal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and imbalance between its receptors TrkB and p75(NTR). Thus, molecules with activity on the BDNF/TrkB/p75 system can have therapeutic potential. 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) was described as a TrkB agonist in several models of neuro-degenerative diseases, however, its TrkB activation profile needs further investigation due to its pleiotropic properties and divergence from BDNF effect. To investigate this, we used in vitro and in vivo models of HD to dissect TrkB activation upon 7,8-DHF treatment. 7,8-DHF treatment in primary cultures showed phosphorylation of TrkBY816 but not TrkBY515 with activation of the PLCγ1 pathway leading to morphological and functional improvements. Chronic administration of 7,8-DHF delayed motor deficits in R6/1 mice and reversed deficits on the Novel Object Recognition Test (NORT) at 17 weeks. Morphological and biochemical analyses revealed improved striatal levels of enkephalin, and prevention of striatal volume loss. We found a TrkBY816 but not TrkBY515 phosphorylation recovery in striatum concordant with in vitro results. Additionally, 7,8-DHF normalized striatal levels of induced and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (iNOS and nNOS, respectively) and ameliorated the imbalance of p75/TrkB. Our results provide new insights into the mechanism of action of 7,8-DHF suggesting that its effect through the TrkB receptor in striatum is via selective phosphorylation of its Y816 residue and activation of PLCγ1 pathway, but pleiotropic effects of the drug also contribute to its therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo García-Díaz Barriga
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Albert Giralt
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Anglada-Huguet
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Gaja-Capdevila
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier G Orlandi
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Soriano
- Departament de Física de la Matèria Condensada, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep-Maria Canals
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Alberch
- Departament de Biomedicina, Facultat de Medicina, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
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23
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Connor B. Concise Review: The Use of Stem Cells for Understanding and Treating Huntington's Disease. Stem Cells 2017; 36:146-160. [PMID: 29178352 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Two decades ago, researchers identified that a CAG expansion mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) gene was involved in the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease (HD). However, since the identification of the HTT gene, there has been no advance in the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent or reduce the progression of HD. With the recent advances in stem cell biology and human cell reprogramming technologies, several novel and exciting pathways have emerged allowing researchers to enhance their understanding of the pathogenesis of HD, to identify and screen potential drug targets, and to explore alternative donor cell sources for cell replacement therapy. This review will discuss the role of compensatory neurogenesis in the HD brain, the use of stem cell-based therapies for HD to replace or prevent cell loss, and the recent advance of cell reprogramming to model and/or treat HD. These new technologies, coupled with advances in genome editing herald a promising new era for HD research with the potential to identify a therapeutic strategy to alleviate this debilitating disorder. Stem Cells 2018;36:146-160.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronwen Connor
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Centre for Brain Research, School of Medical Science, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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24
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Suzuki JI, Dezawa M, Kitada M. Prolonged but non-permanent expression of a transgene in ependymal cells of adult rats using an adenovirus-mediated transposon gene transfer system. Brain Res 2017; 1675:20-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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25
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Pino A, Fumagalli G, Bifari F, Decimo I. New neurons in adult brain: distribution, molecular mechanisms and therapies. Biochem Pharmacol 2017; 141:4-22. [PMID: 28690140 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2017.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
"Are new neurons added in the adult mammalian brain?" "Do neural stem cells activate following CNS diseases?" "How can we modulate their activation to promote recovery?" Recent findings in the field provide novel insights for addressing these questions from a new perspective. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge about adult neurogenesis and neural stem cell niches in healthy and pathological conditions. We will first overview the milestones that have led to the discovery of the classical ventricular and hippocampal neural stem cell niches. In adult brain, new neurons originate from proliferating neural precursors located in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles and in the subgranular zone of the hippocampus. However, recent findings suggest that new neuronal cells can be added to the adult brain by direct differentiation (e.g., without cell proliferation) from either quiescent neural precursors or non-neuronal cells undergoing conversion or reprogramming to neuronal fate. Accordingly, in this review we will also address critical aspects of the newly described mechanisms of quiescence and direct conversion as well as the more canonical activation of the neurogenic niches and neuroblast reservoirs in pathological conditions. Finally, we will outline the critical elements involved in neural progenitor proliferation, neuroblast migration and differentiation and discuss their potential as targets for the development of novel therapeutic drugs for neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annachiara Pino
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy
| | - Guido Fumagalli
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy
| | - Francesco Bifari
- Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Decimo
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy.
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26
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Tyebji S, Hannan AJ. Synaptopathic mechanisms of neurodegeneration and dementia: Insights from Huntington's disease. Prog Neurobiol 2017; 153:18-45. [PMID: 28377290 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2017.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Revised: 03/19/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Dementia encapsulates a set of symptoms that include loss of mental abilities such as memory, problem solving or language, and reduces a person's ability to perform daily activities. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, however dementia can also occur in other neurological disorders such as Huntington's disease (HD). Many studies have demonstrated that loss of neuronal cell function manifests pre-symptomatically and thus is a relevant therapeutic target to alleviate symptoms. Synaptopathy, the physiological dysfunction of synapses, is now being approached as the target for many neurological and psychiatric disorders, including HD. HD is an autosomal dominant and progressive degenerative disorder, with clinical manifestations that encompass movement, cognition, mood and behaviour. HD is one of the most common tandem repeat disorders and is caused by a trinucleotide (CAG) repeat expansion, encoding an extended polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin protein. Animal models as well as human studies have provided detailed, although not exhaustive, evidence of synaptic dysfunction in HD. In this review, we discuss the neuropathology of HD and how the changes in synaptic signalling in the diseased brain lead to its symptoms, which include dementia. Here, we review and discuss the mechanisms by which the 'molecular orchestras' and their 'synaptic symphonies' are disrupted in neurodegeneration and dementia, focusing on HD as a model disease. We also explore the therapeutic strategies currently in pre-clinical and clinical testing that are targeted towards improving synaptic function in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiraz Tyebji
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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27
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Goldman SA. Stem and Progenitor Cell-Based Therapy of the Central Nervous System: Hopes, Hype, and Wishful Thinking. Cell Stem Cell 2016; 18:174-88. [PMID: 26849304 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2016.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A variety of neurological disorders are attractive targets for stem and progenitor cell-based therapy. Yet many conditions are not, whether by virtue of an inhospitable disease environment, poorly understood pathophysiology, or poor alignment of donor cell capabilities with patient needs. Moreover, some disorders may be medically feasible targets but are not practicable, in light of already available treatments, poor risk-benefit and cost-benefit profiles, or resource limitations. This Perspective seeks to define those neurological conditions most appropriate for cell replacement therapy by considering its potential efficacy and clinical feasibility in those disorders, as well as potential impediments to its application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven A Goldman
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine and the Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Center for Basic and Translational Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen 2200, Denmark.
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28
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In Situ Pluripotency Factor Expression Promotes Functional Recovery From Cerebral Ischemia. Mol Ther 2016; 24:1538-49. [PMID: 27455881 PMCID: PMC5113101 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2016.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Recovery from ischemic tissue injury can be promoted by cell proliferation and neovascularization. Transient expression of four pluripotency factors (Pou5f1, Sox2, Myc, and Klf4) has been used to convert cell types but never been tested as a means to promote functional recovery from ischemic injury. Here we aimed to determine whether transient in situ pluripotency factor expression can improve neurobehavioral function. Cerebral ischemia was induced by transient bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, after which the four pluripotency factors were expressed through either doxycycline administration into the lateral ventricle in transgenic mice in which the four factors are expressed in a doxycycline-inducible manner. Histologic evaluation showed that this transient expression induced the proliferative generation of astrocytes and/or neural progenitors, but not neurons or glial scar, and increased neovascularization with upregulation of angiogenic factors. Furthermore, in vivo pluripotency factor expression caused neuroprotective effects such as increased numbers of mature neurons and levels of synaptic markers in the striatum. Dysplasia or tumor development was not observed. Importantly, neurobehavioral evaluations such as rotarod and ladder walking tests showed that the expression of the four factors dramatically promoted functional restoration from ischemic injury. These results provide a basis for novel therapeutic modality development for cerebral ischemia.
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29
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Human glia can both induce and rescue aspects of disease phenotype in Huntington disease. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11758. [PMID: 27273432 PMCID: PMC4899632 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The causal contribution of glial pathology to Huntington disease (HD) has not been heavily explored. To define the contribution of glia to HD, we established human HD glial chimeras by neonatally engrafting immunodeficient mice with mutant huntingtin (mHTT)-expressing human glial progenitor cells (hGPCs), derived from either human embryonic stem cells or mHTT-transduced fetal hGPCs. Here we show that mHTT glia can impart disease phenotype to normal mice, since mice engrafted intrastriatally with mHTT hGPCs exhibit worse motor performance than controls, and striatal neurons in mHTT glial chimeras are hyperexcitable. Conversely, normal glia can ameliorate disease phenotype in transgenic HD mice, as striatal transplantation of normal glia rescues aspects of electrophysiological and behavioural phenotype, restores interstitial potassium homeostasis, slows disease progression and extends survival in R6/2 HD mice. These observations suggest a causal role for glia in HD, and further suggest a cell-based strategy for disease amelioration in this disorder. The contribution of glia to Huntington's disease is unclear. The authors show that human glial progenitor cells (GPCs) expressing mutant huntingtin impair motor performance when engrafted into wild type mice, and wild type human GPCs ameliorate disease phenotypes when engrafted into an HD mouse model.
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30
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Wagner L, Björkqvist M, Lundh SH, Wolf R, Börgel A, Schlenzig D, Ludwig HH, Rahfeld JU, Leavitt B, Demuth HU, Petersén Å, von Hörsten S. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with Huntington's Disease: increased NPY levels and differential degradation of the NPY1-30
fragment. J Neurochem 2016; 137:820-37. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leona Wagner
- Deutschsprachige Selbsthilfegruppe für Alkaptonurie (DSAKU) e.V.; Stuttgart Germany
- Probiodrug AG; Halle (Saale) Germany
- Department of Experimental Therapy; Franz-Penzoldt-Center; Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg; Erlangen Germany
| | - Maria Björkqvist
- Brain Disease Biomarker Unit; Department of Experimental Medical Science; Wallenberg Neuroscience Centre; Lund University; Lund Sweden
| | - Sofia Hult Lundh
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research Unit; Lund University; Lund Sweden
| | - Raik Wolf
- Probiodrug AG; Halle (Saale) Germany
- Center for Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Transfusion; Klinikum St. Georg GmbH; Leipzig Germany
| | - Arne Börgel
- Probiodrug AG; Halle (Saale) Germany
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB); Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz; Mainz Germany
| | - Dagmar Schlenzig
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation; Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology; Halle (Saale) Germany
| | | | - Jens-Ulrich Rahfeld
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation; Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology; Halle (Saale) Germany
| | - Blair Leavitt
- The Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics Child and Family Research Institute; BC Children's Hospital; The University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia
| | - Hans-Ulrich Demuth
- Department of Drug Design and Target Validation; Fraunhofer-Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology; Halle (Saale) Germany
| | - Åsa Petersén
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research Unit; Lund University; Lund Sweden
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- Department of Experimental Therapy; Franz-Penzoldt-Center; Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg; Erlangen Germany
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31
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Smail S, Bahga D, McDole B, Guthrie K. Increased Olfactory Bulb BDNF Expression Does Not Rescue Deficits in Olfactory Neurogenesis in the Huntington's Disease R6/2 Mouse. Chem Senses 2016; 41:221-32. [PMID: 26783111 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjv076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the huntingtin gene. Mutant huntingtin protein (mhtt) interferes with the actions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and BDNF signaling is reduced in the diseased striatum. Loss of this trophic support is thought to contribute to loss of striatal medium spiny neurons in HD. Increasing BDNF in the adult striatum or ventricular ependyma slows disease progression in HD mouse models, and diverts subventricular zone (SVZ)-derived neuroblasts from their normal destination, the olfactory bulb, to the striatum, where some survive and develop features of mature neurons. Most neuroblasts that migrate to the olfactory bulb differentiate as granule cells, with approximately half surviving whereas others undergo apoptosis. In the R6/2 HD mouse model, survival of adult-born granule cells is reduced. Newly maturing cells express the BDNF receptor TrkB, suggesting that mhtt may interfere with normal BDNF trophic activity, increasing their loss. To determine if augmenting BDNF counteracts this, we examined granule cell survival in R6/2 mice that overexpress BDNF in olfactory bulb. Although we detected a decline in apoptosis, increased BDNF was not sufficient to normalize granule cell survival within their normal target in R6/2 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shamayra Smail
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Dalbir Bahga
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Brittnee McDole
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Kathleen Guthrie
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
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32
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Yu JH, Seo JH, Lee JY, Lee MY, Cho SR. Induction of Neurorestoration From Endogenous Stem Cells. Cell Transplant 2016; 25:863-82. [PMID: 26787093 DOI: 10.3727/096368916x690511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) persist in the subventricular zone lining the ventricles of the adult brain. The resident stem/progenitor cells can be stimulated in vivo by neurotrophic factors, hematopoietic growth factors, magnetic stimulation, and/or physical exercise. In both animals and humans, the differentiation and survival of neurons arising from the subventricular zone may also be regulated by the trophic factors. Since stem/progenitor cells present in the adult brain and the production of new neurons occurs at specific sites, there is a possibility for the treatment of incurable neurological diseases. It might be feasible to induce neurogenesis, which would be particularly efficacious in the treatment of striatal neurodegenerative conditions such as Huntington's disease, as well as cerebrovascular diseases such as ischemic stroke and cerebral palsy, conditions that are widely seen in the clinics. Understanding of the molecular control of endogenous NSC activation and progenitor cell mobilization will likely provide many new opportunities as therapeutic strategies. In this review, we focus on endogenous stem/progenitor cell activation that occurs in response to exogenous factors including neurotrophic factors, hematopoietic growth factors, magnetic stimulation, and an enriched environment. Taken together, these findings suggest the possibility that functional brain repair through induced neurorestoration from endogenous stem cells may soon be a clinical reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Hea Yu
- Department and Research Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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33
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Feliciano DM, Bordey A, Bonfanti L. Noncanonical Sites of Adult Neurogenesis in the Mammalian Brain. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2015; 7:a018846. [PMID: 26384869 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a018846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Two decades after the discovery that neural stem cells (NSCs) populate some regions of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), deep knowledge has been accumulated on their capacity to generate new neurons in the adult brain. This constitutive adult neurogenesis occurs throughout life primarily within remnants of the embryonic germinal layers known as "neurogenic sites." Nevertheless, some processes of neurogliogenesis also occur in the CNS parenchyma commonly considered as "nonneurogenic." This "noncanonical" cell genesis has been the object of many claims, some of which turned out to be not true. Indeed, it is often an "incomplete" process as to its final outcome, heterogeneous by several measures, including regional location, progenitor identity, and fate of the progeny. These aspects also strictly depend on the animal species, suggesting that persistent neurogenic processes have uniquely adapted to the brain anatomy of different mammals. Whereas some examples of noncanonical neurogenesis are strictly parenchymal, others also show stem cell niche-like features and a strong link with the ventricular cavities. This work will review results obtained in a research field that expanded from classic neurogenesis studies involving a variety of areas of the CNS outside of the subventricular zone (SVZ) and subgranular zone (SGZ). It will be highlighted how knowledge concerning noncanonical neurogenic areas is still incomplete owing to its regional and species-specific heterogeneity, and to objective difficulties still hampering its full identification and characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Feliciano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634
| | - Angélique Bordey
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510 Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510
| | - Luca Bonfanti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin 10095, Italy Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri-Ottolenghi (NICO), University of Turin 10043, Italy
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34
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Xie W, Wang JQ, Wang QC, Wang Y, Yao S, Tang TS. Adult neural progenitor cells from Huntington's disease mouse brain exhibit increased proliferation and migration due to enhanced calcium and ROS signals. Cell Prolif 2015; 48:517-31. [PMID: 26269226 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited human neurodegenerative disorder characterized by uncontrollable movement, psychiatric disturbance and cognitive decline. Impaired proliferative/differentiational potentials of adult neural progenitor cells (ANPCs) have been thought to be a pathogenic mechanism involved in it. In this study, we aimed to elucidate intrinsic properties of ANPCs subjected to neurodegenerative condition in YAC128 HD mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS ANPCs were isolated from the SVZ regions of 4-month-old WT and YAC128 mice. Cell proliferation, migration and neuronal differentiation in vitro were compared between these two genotypes with/without Ca(2+) inhibitors or ROS scavenger treatments. Differences in ANPC proliferation and differentiation capabilities in vivo between the two genotypes were evaluated using Ki-67 and Doublecortin (DCX) immunofluorescence respectively. RESULTS Compared to WT ANPCs, YAC128 ANPCs had significantly enhanced cell proliferation, migration and neuronal differentiation in vitro, accompanied by increased Ca(2+) and ROS signals. Raised proliferation and migration in YAC128 ANPCs were abolished by Ca(2+) signalling antagonists and ROS scavenging. However, in vivo, HD ANPCs failed to show any elevated proliferation or differentiation. CONCLUSIONS Increased Ca(2+) signalling and higher level of ROS conferred HD ANPC enhancement of proliferation and migration potentials. However, the in vivo micro-environment did not support endogenous ANPCs to respond appropriately to neuronal loss in these YAC128 mouse brains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jiu-Qiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qiao-Chu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Sheng Yao
- Department of Neurology, Navy General Hospital, Beijing, 100048, China
| | - Tie-Shan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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35
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Rosser A, Svendsen CN. Stem cells for cell replacement therapy: a therapeutic strategy for HD? Mov Disord 2015; 29:1446-54. [PMID: 25216372 DOI: 10.1002/mds.26026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Much interest has been expressed over the last couple of decades in the potential application of stem cells to medicine, both for research and diagnostic tools and as a source of donor cells for therapeutic purposes. Potential therapeutic applications include replacement of cells in many body organs where the capacity for intrinsic repair is limited, including the pancreas, heart, and brain. A key challenge is to generate the relevant donor cell types, and this is particularly challenging in the brain where the number of different neuronal subtypes is so great. Although dopamine neuron replacement in Parkinson's disease has been the focus of most clinical studies, great interest has been shown in this approach for other disorders, including Huntington's disease. Replacing complete neural circuits in the adult brain is clearly challenging, and there are many other complexities with regard to both donor cells and host. This article presents the pros and cons of taking a cell therapy approach in Huntington's disease. It considers the implantation both of cells that are already of the same neural subtype as those lost in the disease process (ie, primary fetal cells derived from the developing striatum) and those derived from stem cells, which require "directing" toward that phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Rosser
- Cardiff Brain Repair Group, Schools of Medicine and Biosciences, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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36
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Abstract
Adult neurogenesis is limited to specific brain regions in the mammalian brain, such as the hippocampal dentate gyrus and the subventricular zone/olfactory bulb system. Alterations in adult neurogenesis appear to be a common hallmark in different neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Huntington's disease (HD). This is remarkable, because the distinct pathological proteins responsible for the different diseases induce the loss of different neural populations. Impaired adult neurogenesis was shown in numerous animal models of neurodegenerative diseases; however, only few postmortem studies have been performed. We will review concepts related to the interplay between cellular plasticity in regions of adult neurogenesis with a specific focus on cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous factors. Furthermore, various strategies aimed to stimulate neuronal plasticity will be discussed within the context of a potential translation into therapeutic approaches for neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with PD, HD, and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate Winner
- IZKF Junior Research Group III, Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research, Nikolaus-Fiebiger Center for Molecular Medicine, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Winkler
- Department of Molecular Neurology, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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37
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Cameron SH, Alwakeel AJ, Goddard L, Hobbs CE, Gowing EK, Barnett ER, Kohe SE, Sizemore RJ, Oorschot DE. Delayed post-treatment with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells is neurorestorative of striatal medium-spiny projection neurons and improves motor function after neonatal rat hypoxia-ischemia. Mol Cell Neurosci 2015; 68:56-72. [PMID: 25828540 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2015.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Revised: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Perinatal hypoxia-ischemia is a major cause of striatal injury and may lead to cerebral palsy. This study investigated whether delayed administration of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), at one week after neonatal rat hypoxia-ischemia, was neurorestorative of striatal medium-spiny projection neurons and improved motor function. The effect of a subcutaneous injection of a high-dose, or a low-dose, of MSCs was investigated in stereological studies. Postnatal day (PN) 7 pups were subjected to hypoxia-ischemia. At PN14, pups received treatment with either MSCs or diluent. A subset of high-dose pups, and their diluent control pups, were also injected intraperitoneally with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), every 24h, on PN15, PN16 and PN17. This permitted tracking of the migration and survival of neuroblasts originating from the subventricular zone into the adjacent injured striatum. Pups were euthanized on PN21 and the absolute number of striatal medium-spiny projection neurons was measured after immunostaining for DARPP-32 (dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein-32), double immunostaining for BrdU and DARPP-32, and after cresyl violet staining alone. The absolute number of striatal immunostained calretinin interneurons was also measured. There was a statistically significant increase in the absolute number of DARPP-32-positive, BrdU/DARPP-32-positive, and cresyl violet-stained striatal medium-spiny projection neurons, and fewer striatal calretinin interneurons, in the high-dose mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) group compared to their diluent counterparts. A high-dose of MSCs restored the absolute number of these neurons to normal uninjured levels, when compared with previous stereological data on the absolute number of cresyl violet-stained striatal medium-spiny projection neurons in the normal uninjured brain. For the low-dose experiment, in which cresyl violet-stained striatal medium-spiny neurons alone were measured, there was a lower statistically significant increase in their absolute number in the MSC group compared to their diluent controls. Investigation of behavior in another cohort of animals showed that delayed administration of a high-dose of bone marrow-derived MSCs, at one week after neonatal rat hypoxia-ischemia, improved motor function on the cylinder test. Thus, delayed therapy with a high- or low-dose of adult MSCs, at one week after injury, is effective in restoring the loss of striatal medium-spiny projection neurons after neonatal rat hypoxia-ischemia and a high-dose of MSCs improved motor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella H Cameron
- Department of Anatomy, Otago School of Medical Sciences, and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Amr J Alwakeel
- Department of Anatomy, Otago School of Medical Sciences, and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Liping Goddard
- Department of Anatomy, Otago School of Medical Sciences, and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Catherine E Hobbs
- Department of Anatomy, Otago School of Medical Sciences, and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Emma K Gowing
- Department of Anatomy, Otago School of Medical Sciences, and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Elizabeth R Barnett
- Department of Anatomy, Otago School of Medical Sciences, and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sarah E Kohe
- Department of Anatomy, Otago School of Medical Sciences, and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Rachel J Sizemore
- Department of Anatomy, Otago School of Medical Sciences, and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Dorothy E Oorschot
- Department of Anatomy, Otago School of Medical Sciences, and the Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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Mattis VB, Tom C, Akimov S, Saeedian J, Østergaard ME, Southwell AL, Doty CN, Ornelas L, Sahabian A, Lenaeus L, Mandefro B, Sareen D, Arjomand J, Hayden MR, Ross CA, Svendsen CN. HD iPSC-derived neural progenitors accumulate in culture and are susceptible to BDNF withdrawal due to glutamate toxicity. Hum Mol Genet 2015; 24:3257-71. [PMID: 25740845 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease, caused by expansion of polyglutamine repeats in the Huntingtin gene, with longer expansions leading to earlier ages of onset. The HD iPSC Consortium has recently reported a new in vitro model of HD based on the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from HD patients and controls. The current study has furthered the disease in a dish model of HD by generating new non-integrating HD and control iPSC lines. Both HD and control iPSC lines can be efficiently differentiated into neurons/glia; however, the HD-derived cells maintained a significantly greater number of nestin-expressing neural progenitor cells compared with control cells. This cell population showed enhanced vulnerability to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) withdrawal in the juvenile-onset HD (JHD) lines, which appeared to be CAG repeat-dependent and mediated by the loss of signaling from the TrkB receptor. It was postulated that this increased death following BDNF withdrawal may be due to glutamate toxicity, as the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit NR2B was up-regulated in the cultures. Indeed, blocking glutamate signaling, not just through the NMDA but also mGlu and AMPA/Kainate receptors, completely reversed the cell death phenotype. This study suggests that the pathogenesis of JHD may involve in part a population of 'persistent' neural progenitors that are selectively vulnerable to BDNF withdrawal. Similar results were seen in adult hippocampal-derived neural progenitors isolated from the BACHD model mouse. Together, these results provide important insight into HD mechanisms at early developmental time points, which may suggest novel approaches to HD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia B Mattis
- The Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, 8400 AHSP, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Colton Tom
- The Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, 8400 AHSP, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Sergey Akimov
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jasmine Saeedian
- The Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, 8400 AHSP, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | | | - Amber L Southwell
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and
| | - Crystal N Doty
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and
| | - Loren Ornelas
- The Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, 8400 AHSP, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Anais Sahabian
- The Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, 8400 AHSP, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Lindsay Lenaeus
- The Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, 8400 AHSP, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Berhan Mandefro
- The Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, 8400 AHSP, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Dhruv Sareen
- The Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, 8400 AHSP, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | | | - Michael R Hayden
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and
| | - Christopher A Ross
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- The Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, 8400 AHSP, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
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39
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Benraiss A, Toner MJ, Xu Q, Bruel-Jungerman E, Rogers EH, Wang F, Economides AN, Davidson BL, Kageyama R, Nedergaard M, Goldman SA. Sustained mobilization of endogenous neural progenitors delays disease progression in a transgenic model of Huntington's disease. Cell Stem Cell 2014; 12:787-99. [PMID: 23746982 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2013.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2012] [Revised: 02/23/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized in part by the loss of striatopallidal medium spiny projection neurons (MSNs). Expression of BDNF and noggin via intracerebroventricular (ICV) delivery in an adenoviral vector triggers the addition of new neurons to the neostriatum. In this study, we found that a single ICV injection of the adeno-associated viruses AAV4-BDNF and AAV4-noggin triggered the sustained recruitment of new MSNs in both wild-type and R6/2 mice, a model of HD. Mice treated with AAV4-BDNF/noggin or with BDNF and noggin proteins actively recruited subependymal progenitor cells to form new MSNs that matured and achieved circuit integration. Importantly, the AAV4-BDNF/noggin-treated R6/2 mice showed delayed deterioration of motor function and substantially increased survival. In addition, squirrel monkeys given ICV injections of adenoviral BDNF/noggin showed similar addition of striatal neurons. Induced neuronal addition may therefore represent a promising avenue for disease amelioration in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdellatif Benraiss
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
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40
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Cong WN, Chadwick W, Wang R, Daimon CM, Cai H, Amma J, Wood WH, Becker KG, Martin B, Maudsley S. Amitriptyline improves motor function via enhanced neurotrophin signaling and mitochondrial functions in the murine N171-82Q Huntington disease model. J Biol Chem 2014; 290:2728-43. [PMID: 25505248 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.588608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive motor impairment and cognitive alterations. Hereditary HD is primarily caused by the expansion of a CAG trinucleotide repeat in the huntingtin (Htt) gene, which results in the production of mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) with an expanded amino-terminal polyglutamine (poly(Q)) stretch. Besides pathological mHTT aggregation, reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, impaired neurotrophin signaling, and compromised mitochondrial functions also contribute to the deleterious progressive etiology of HD. As a well tolerated Food and Drug Administration-approved antidepressant, amitriptyline (AMI) has shown efficacy in treating neurodegenerative murine models via potentiation of BDNF levels and amelioration of alterations in neurotrophin signaling pathways. In this study, we observed profound improvements in the motor coordination of AMI-treated N171-82Q HD model mice. The beneficial effects of AMI treatment were associated with its ability to reduce mHTT aggregation, potentiation of the BDNF-TrkB signaling system, and support of mitochondrial integrity and functionality. Our study not only provides preclinical evidence for the therapeutic potency of AMI in treating HD, but it also represents an important example of the usefulness of additional pharmacogenomic profiling of pre-existing drugs for novel therapeutic effects with often intractable pathological scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - William H Wood
- Gene Expression and Genomics Unit, NIA, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224 and
| | - Kevin G Becker
- Gene Expression and Genomics Unit, NIA, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21224 and
| | | | - Stuart Maudsley
- Receptor Pharmacology Unit, the VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute Born-Bunge Laboratory of Neurogenetics, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
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41
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Katsuno M, Watanabe H, Yamamoto M, Sobue G. Potential therapeutic targets in polyglutamine-mediated diseases. Expert Rev Neurother 2014; 14:1215-28. [PMID: 25190502 DOI: 10.1586/14737175.2014.956727] [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: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine diseases are a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders that are caused by an abnormal expansion of a trinucleotide CAG repeat, which encodes a polyglutamine tract in the protein-coding region of the respective disease genes. To date, nine polyglutamine diseases are known, including Huntington's disease, spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy and six forms of spinocerebellar ataxia. These diseases share a salient molecular pathophysiology including the aggregation of the mutant protein followed by the disruption of cellular functions such as transcriptional regulation and axonal transport. The intraneuronal accumulation of mutant protein and resulting cellular dysfunction are the essential targets for the development of disease-modifying therapies, some of which have shown beneficial effects in animal models. In this review, the current status of and perspectives on therapy development for polyglutamine diseases will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
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42
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Baydyuk M, Xu B. BDNF signaling and survival of striatal neurons. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:254. [PMID: 25221473 PMCID: PMC4147651 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The striatum, a major component of the basal ganglia, performs multiple functions including control of movement, reward, and addiction. Dysfunction and death of striatal neurons are the main causes for the motor disorders associated with Huntington’s disease (HD). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family, is among factors that promote survival and proper function of this neuronal population. Here, we review recent studies showing that BDNF determines the size of the striatum by supporting survival of the immature striatal neurons at their origin, promotes maturation of striatal neurons, and facilitates establishment of striatal connections during brain development. We also examine the role of BDNF in maintaining proper function of the striatum during adulthood, summarize the mechanisms that lead to a deficiency in BDNF signaling and subsequently striatal degeneration in HD, and highlight a potential role of BDNF as a therapeutic target for HD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryna Baydyuk
- National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Baoji Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute Florida Jupiter, FL, USA
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43
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Mochizuki H, Choong CJ, Yasuda T. The promises of stem cells: stem cell therapy for movement disorders. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2014; 20 Suppl 1:S128-31. [PMID: 24262163 DOI: 10.1016/s1353-8020(13)70031-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Despite the multitude of intensive research, the exact pathophysiological mechanisms underlying movement disorders including Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy and Huntington's disease remain more or less elusive. Treatments to halt these disease progressions are currently unavailable. With the recent induced pluripotent stem cells breakthrough and accomplishment, stem cell research, as the vast majority of scientists agree, holds great promise for relieving and treating debilitating movement disorders. As stem cells are the precursors of all cells in the human body, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern how they develop and work would provide us many fundamental insights into human biology of health and disease. Moreover, stem-cell-derived neurons may be a renewable source of replacement cells for damaged neurons in movement disorders. While stem cells show potential for regenerative medicine, their use as tools for research and drug testing is thought to have more immediate impact. The use of stem-cell-based drug screening technology could be a big boost in drug discovery for these movement disorders. Particular attention should also be given to the involvement of neural stem cells in adult neurogenesis so as to encourage its development as a therapeutic option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideki Mochizuki
- Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
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44
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Sarchielli E, Marini M, Ambrosini S, Peri A, Mazzanti B, Pinzani P, Barletta E, Ballerini L, Paternostro F, Paganini M, Porfirio B, Morelli A, Gallina P, Vannelli GB. Multifaceted roles of BDNF and FGF2 in human striatal primordium development. An in vitro study. Exp Neurol 2014; 257:130-47. [PMID: 24792640 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2014.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Revised: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Grafting fetal striatal cells into the brain of Huntington's disease (HD) patients has raised certain expectations in the past decade as an effective cell-based-therapy for this devastating condition. We argue that the first requirement for successful transplantation is defining the window of plasticity for the striatum during development when the progenitor cells, isolated from their environment, are able to maintain regional-specific-identity and to respond appropriately to cues. The primary cell culture from human fetal striatal primordium described here consists of a mixed population of neural stem cells, neuronal-restricted progenitors and striatal neurons. These cells express trophic factors, such as BDNF and FGF2. We show that these neurotrophins maintain cell plasticity, inducing the expression of neuronal precursor markers and cell adhesion molecules, as well as promoting neurogenesis, migration and survival. We propose that BDNF and FGF2 play an important autocrine-paracrine role during early striatum development in vivo and that their release by fetal striatal grafts may be relevant in the setting of HD cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Sarchielli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Mirca Marini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Ambrosini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Peri
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Science "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Mazzanti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Pamela Pinzani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Science "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Emanuela Barletta
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Science "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lara Ballerini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Paternostro
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Paganini
- Department of Neuroscience and NEUROFARBA, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Berardino Porfirio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Science "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Annamaria Morelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Pasquale Gallina
- Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gabriella B Vannelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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45
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Use of Genetically Altered Stem Cells for the Treatment of Huntington's Disease. Brain Sci 2014; 4:202-19. [PMID: 24961705 PMCID: PMC4066244 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci4010202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2013] [Revised: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Transplantation of stem cells for the treatment of Huntington’s disease (HD) garnered much attention prior to the turn of the century. Several studies using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have indicated that these cells have enormous therapeutic potential in HD and other disorders. Advantages of using MSCs for cell therapies include their ease of isolation, rapid propagation in culture, and favorable immunomodulatory profiles. However, the lack of consistent neuronal differentiation of transplanted MSCs has limited their therapeutic efficacy to slowing the progression of HD-like symptoms in animal models of HD. The use of MSCs which have been genetically altered to overexpress brain derived neurotrophic factor to enhance support of surviving cells in a rodent model of HD provides proof-of-principle that these cells may provide such prophylactic benefits. New techniques that may prove useful for cell replacement therapies in HD include the use of genetically altering fate-restricted cells to produce induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These iPSCs appear to have certain advantages over the use of embryonic stem cells, including being readily available, easy to obtain, less evidence of tumor formation, and a reduced immune response following their transplantation. Recently, transplants of iPSCs have shown to differentiate into region-specific neurons in an animal model of HD. The overall successes of using genetically altered stem cells for reducing neuropathological and behavioral deficits in rodent models of HD suggest that these approaches have considerable potential for clinical use. However, the choice of what type of genetically altered stem cell to use for transplantation is dependent on the stage of HD and whether the end-goal is preserving endogenous neurons in early-stage HD, or replacing the lost neurons in late-stage HD. This review will discuss the current state of stem cell technology for treating the different stages of HD and possible future directions for stem-cell therapy in HD.
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46
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Tiwari SK, Agarwal S, Seth B, Yadav A, Nair S, Bhatnagar P, Karmakar M, Kumari M, Chauhan LKS, Patel DK, Srivastava V, Singh D, Gupta SK, Tripathi A, Chaturvedi RK, Gupta KC. Curcumin-loaded nanoparticles potently induce adult neurogenesis and reverse cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease model via canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. ACS NANO 2014; 8:76-103. [PMID: 24467380 DOI: 10.1021/nn405077y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 362] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Neurogenesis, a process of generation of new neurons, is reported to be reduced in several neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Induction of neurogenesis by targeting endogenous neural stem cells (NSC) could be a promising therapeutic approach to such diseases by influencing the brain self-regenerative capacity. Curcumin, a neuroprotective agent, has poor brain bioavailability. Herein, we report that curcumin-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles (Cur-PLGA-NPs) potently induce NSC proliferation and neuronal differentiation in vitro and in the hippocampus and subventricular zone of adult rats, as compared to uncoated bulk curcumin. Cur-PLGA-NPs induce neurogenesis by internalization into the hippocampal NSC. Cur-PLGA-NPs significantly increase expression of genes involved in cell proliferation (reelin, nestin, and Pax6) and neuronal differentiation (neurogenin, neuroD1, neuregulin, neuroligin, and Stat3). Curcumin nanoparticles increase neuronal differentiation by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, involved in regulation of neurogenesis. These nanoparticles caused enhanced nuclear translocation of β-catenin, decreased GSK-3β levels, and increased promoter activity of the TCF/LEF and cyclin-D1. Pharmacological and siRNA-mediated genetic inhibition of the Wnt pathway blocked neurogenesis-stimulating effects of curcumin. These nanoparticles reverse learning and memory impairments in an amyloid beta induced rat model of AD-like phenotypes, by inducing neurogenesis. In silico molecular docking studies suggest that curcumin interacts with Wif-1, Dkk, and GSK-3β. These results suggest that curcumin nanoparticles induce adult neurogenesis through activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway and may offer a therapeutic approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases such as AD, by enhancing a brain self-repair mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashi Kant Tiwari
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), 80 MG Marg, Lucknow 226001, India
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47
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Abstract
Changes in the level and activity of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been described in a number of neurodegenerative disorders since early 1990s. However, only in Huntington disease (HD) gain- and loss-of-function experiments have mechanistically linked these abnormalities with the genetic defect.In this chapter we will describe how huntingtin protein, whose mutation causes HD, is involved in the physiological control of BDNF synthesis and transport in neurons and how both processes are simultaneously disrupted in HD. We will describe the underlying molecular mechanisms and discuss pre-clinical data concerning the impact of the experimental manipulation of BDNF levels on HD progression. These studies have revealed that a major loss of BDNF protein in the brain of HD patients may contribute to the clinical manifestations of the disease. The experimental strategies under investigation to increase brain BDNF levels in animal models of HD will also be described, with a view to ultimately improving the clinical treatment of this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Zuccato
- Department of Biosciences and Centre for Stem cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Viotti 3/5, 20133, Milan, Italy,
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48
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Exercise attenuates neuropathology and has greater benefit on cognitive than motor deficits in the R6/1 Huntington's disease mouse model. Exp Neurol 2013; 248:457-69. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Revised: 07/16/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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49
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In vivo reprogramming of astrocytes to neuroblasts in the adult brain. Nat Cell Biol 2013; 15:1164-75. [PMID: 24056302 DOI: 10.1038/ncb2843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 344] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2013] [Accepted: 08/15/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Adult differentiated cells can be reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells or lineage-restricted proliferating precursors in culture; however, this has not been demonstrated in vivo. Here, we show that the single transcription factor SOX2 is sufficient to reprogram resident astrocytes into proliferative neuroblasts in the adult mouse brain. These induced adult neuroblasts (iANBs) persist for months and can be generated even in aged brains. When supplied with BDNF and noggin or when the mice are treated with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, iANBs develop into electrophysiologically mature neurons, which functionally integrate into the local neural network. Our results demonstrate that adult astrocytes exhibit remarkable plasticity in vivo, a feature that might have important implications in regeneration of the central nervous system using endogenous patient-specific glial cells.
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50
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van Wijngaarden P, Franklin RJM. Ageing stem and progenitor cells: implications for rejuvenation of the central nervous system. Development 2013; 140:2562-75. [PMID: 23715549 DOI: 10.1242/dev.092262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The growing burden of the rapidly ageing global population has reinvigorated interest in the science of ageing and rejuvenation. Among organ systems, rejuvenation of the central nervous system (CNS) is arguably the most complex and challenging of tasks owing, among other things, to its startling structural and functional complexity and its restricted capacity for repair. Thus, the prospect of meaningful rejuvenation of the CNS has seemed an impossible goal; however, advances in stem cell science are beginning to challenge this assumption. This Review outlines these advances with a focus on ageing and rejuvenation of key endogenous stem and progenitor cell compartments in the CNS. Insights gleaned from studies of model organisms, chiefly rodents, will be considered in parallel with human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter van Wijngaarden
- Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.
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