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Zhang Q, Li T, Xu M, Islam B, Wang J. Application of Optogenetics in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2024; 44:57. [PMID: 39060759 PMCID: PMC11281982 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-024-01486-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Optogenetics, a revolutionary technique integrating optical and genetic methodologies, offers unparalleled precision in spatial targeting and temporal resolution for cellular control. This approach enables the selective manipulation of specific neuronal populations, inducing subtle electrical changes that significantly impact complex neural circuitry. As optogenetics precisely targets and modulates neuronal activity, it holds the potential for significant breakthroughs in understanding and potentially altering the course of neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by selective neuronal loss leading to functional deficits within the nervous system. The integration of optogenetics into neurodegenerative disease research has significantly advanced in the field, offering new insights and paving the way for innovative treatment strategies. Its application in clinical settings, although still in the nascent stages, suggests a promising future for addressing some of the most challenging aspects of neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of these research undertakings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianjiao Li
- Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengying Xu
- Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Binish Islam
- Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianwu Wang
- Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
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Illouz T, Ascher LAB, Madar R, Okun E. Unbiased analysis of spatial learning strategies in a modified Barnes maze using convolutional neural networks. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15944. [PMID: 38987437 PMCID: PMC11237060 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66855-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Assessment of spatial learning abilities is central to behavioral neuroscience and a useful tool for animal model validation and drug development. However, biases introduced by the apparatus, environment, or experimentalist represent a critical challenge to the test validity. We have recently developed the Modified Barnes Maze (MBM) task, a spatial learning paradigm that overcomes inherent behavioral biases of animals in the classical Barnes maze. The specific combination of spatial strategies employed by mice is often considered representative of the level of cognitive resources used. Herein, we have developed a convolutional neural network-based classifier of exploration strategies in the MBM that can effectively provide researchers with enhanced insights into cognitive traits in mice. Following validation, we compared the learning performance of female and male C57BL/6J mice, as well as that of Ts65Dn mice, a model of Down syndrome, and 5xFAD mice, a model of Alzheimer's disease. Male mice exhibited more effective navigation abilities than female mice, reflected in higher utilization of effective spatial search strategies. Compared to wildtype controls, Ts65Dn mice exhibited delayed usage of spatial strategies despite similar success rates in completing this spatial task. 5xFAD mice showed increased usage of non-spatial strategies such as Circling that corresponded to higher latency to reach the target and lower success rate. These data exemplify the need for deeper strategy classification tools in dissecting complex cognitive traits. In sum, we provide a machine-learning-based strategy classifier that extends our understanding of mice's spatial learning capabilities while enabling a more accurate cognitive assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomer Illouz
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat Gan, Israel
- The Paul Feder Laboratory on Alzheimer's Disease Research, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Lyn Alice Becker Ascher
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat Gan, Israel
- The Paul Feder Laboratory on Alzheimer's Disease Research, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ravit Madar
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat Gan, Israel
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat Gan, Israel
- The Paul Feder Laboratory on Alzheimer's Disease Research, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Eitan Okun
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat Gan, Israel.
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat Gan, Israel.
- The Paul Feder Laboratory on Alzheimer's Disease Research, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat Gan, Israel.
- The Leslie and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Building 901, Room 312, 5290002, Ramat Gan, Israel.
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Naeem A, Prakash R, Kumari N, Ali Khan M, Quaiyoom Khan A, Uddin S, Verma S, Ab Robertson A, Boltze J, Shadab Raza S. MCC950 reduces autophagy and improves cognitive function by inhibiting NLRP3-dependent neuroinflammation in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 116:70-84. [PMID: 38040385 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the seventh most common cause of mortality and one of the major causes of disability and vulnerability in the elderly. AD is characterized by gradual cognitive deterioration, the buildup of misfolded amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide, and the generation of neurofibrillary tangles. Despite enormous scientific progress, there is no effective cure for AD. Thus, exploring new treatment options to stop AD or at least slow down its progress is important. In this study, we investigated the potential therapeutic effects of MCC950 on NLRP3-mediated inflammasome-driven inflammation and autophagy in AD. Rats treated with streptozotocin (STZ) exhibited simultaneous activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and autophagy, as confirmed by Western blot, immunofluorescence, and co-immunoprecipitation analyses. MCC950, a specific NLRP3 inhibitor, was intraperitoneally administered (50 mg/kg body weight) to rats with AD-like symptoms induced by intracerebroventricular STZ injections (3 mg/kg body weight). MCC950 effectively suppressed STZ-induced cognitive impairment and anxiety by inhibiting NLRP3-dependent neuroinflammation. Moreover, our findings indicate that MCC950 exerts neuroprotective effects by attenuating autophagy in neuronal cells. The inhibiting effects of MCC950 on inflammasome activation and autophagy were reproduced in vitro, provding further mechansistic insights into MCC950 therapeutic action. Our findings suggest that MCC950 impedes the progression of AD and may also improve cognitive function through the mitigation of autophagy and NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Naeem
- Laboratory for Stem Cell & Restorative Neurology, Department of Biotechnology, Era's Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Lucknow 226003, India
| | - Ravi Prakash
- Laboratory for Stem Cell & Restorative Neurology, Department of Biotechnology, Era's Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Lucknow 226003, India
| | - Neha Kumari
- Laboratory for Stem Cell & Restorative Neurology, Department of Biotechnology, Era's Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Lucknow 226003, India
| | | | - Abdul Quaiyoom Khan
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sandeep Verma
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, UP 208016, India
| | - Avril Ab Robertson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Johannes Boltze
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Syed Shadab Raza
- Laboratory for Stem Cell & Restorative Neurology, Department of Biotechnology, Era's Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Lucknow 226003, India; Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Era's Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Lucknow 226003, India.
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Milham LT, Morris GP, Konen LM, Rentsch P, Avgan N, Vissel B. Quantification of AMPA receptor subunits and RNA editing-related proteins in the J20 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease by capillary western blotting. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 16:1338065. [PMID: 38299128 PMCID: PMC10828003 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1338065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Accurate modelling of molecular changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia is crucial for understanding the mechanisms driving neuronal pathology and for developing treatments. Synaptic dysfunction has long been implicated as a mechanism underpinning memory dysfunction in AD and may result in part from changes in adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) mediated RNA editing of the GluA2 subunit of AMPA receptors and changes in AMPA receptor function at the post synaptic cleft. However, few studies have investigated changes in proteins which influence RNA editing and notably, AD studies that focus on studying changes in protein expression, rather than changes in mRNA, often use traditional western blotting. Methods Here, we demonstrate the value of automated capillary western blotting to investigate the protein expression of AMPA receptor subunits (GluA1-4), the ADAR RNA editing proteins (ADAR1-3), and proteins known to regulate RNA editing (PIN1, WWP2, FXR1P, and CREB1), in the J20 AD mouse model. We describe extensive optimisation and validation of the automated capillary western blotting method, demonstrating the use of total protein to normalise protein load, in addition to characterising the optimal protein/antibody concentrations to ensure accurate protein quantification. Following this, we assessed changes in proteins of interest in the hippocampus of 44-week-old J20 AD mice. Results We observed an increase in the expression of ADAR1 p110 and GluA3 and a decrease in ADAR2 in the hippocampus of 44-week-old J20 mice. These changes signify a shift in the balance of proteins that play a critical role at the synapse. Regression analysis revealed unique J20-specific correlations between changes in AMPA receptor subunits, ADAR enzymes, and proteins that regulate ADAR stability in J20 mice, highlighting potential mechanisms mediating RNA-editing changes found in AD. Discussion Our findings in J20 mice generally reflect changes seen in the human AD brain. This study underlines the importance of novel techniques, like automated capillary western blotting, to assess protein expression in AD. It also provides further evidence to support the hypothesis that a dysregulation in RNA editing-related proteins may play a role in the initiation and/or progression of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke T. Milham
- Centre for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- St Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gary P. Morris
- Centre for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Lyndsey M. Konen
- Centre for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peggy Rentsch
- Centre for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- St Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nesli Avgan
- Centre for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bryce Vissel
- Centre for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, St Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- St Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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