1
|
Sokolowski I, Kucharska-Lusina A, Miller E, Majsterek I. Exploring the mRNA and Plasma Protein Levels of BDNF, NT4, SIRT1, HSP27, and HSP70 in Multiple Sclerosis Patients and Healthy Controls. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16176. [PMID: 38003363 PMCID: PMC10671202 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune neurodegenerative disease affecting the central nervous system. It is a major cause of non-traumatic neurological disability among young adults in North America and Europe. This study focuses on neuroprotective genes (BDNF, NT4/5, SIRT1, HSP70, and HSP27). Gene expression and protein levels of these markers were compared between MS patients and healthy controls. Blood samples were collected from 42 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 48 control subjects without MS. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to measure the expression of specific genes. The samples were analyzed in duplicate, and the abundance of mRNA was quantified using the 2-ΔCt method. ELISA assay was used to measure the concentration of specific proteins in the plasma samples. The results show that a 3.5-fold decrease in the gene expression of BDNF corresponds to a 1.5-fold downregulation in the associated plasma protein concentration (p < 0.001). Similar trends were observed with NT-4 (five-fold decrease, slight elevation in protein), SIRT1 (two-fold decrease, two-fold protein decrease), HSP70 (four-fold increase, nearly two-fold protein increase), and HSP27 (four-fold increase, two-fold protein increase) (p < 0.001). This study reveals strong correlations between gene expression and protein concentration in MS patients, emphasizing the relevance of these neuroprotective markers in the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Igor Sokolowski
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 5, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (I.S.); (A.K.-L.)
| | - Aleksandra Kucharska-Lusina
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 5, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (I.S.); (A.K.-L.)
| | - Elzbieta Miller
- Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lodz, Milionowa 14, 93-113 Lodz, Poland;
| | - Ireneusz Majsterek
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 5, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (I.S.); (A.K.-L.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nociti V, Romozzi M. The Role of BDNF in Multiple Sclerosis Neuroinflammation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098447. [PMID: 37176155 PMCID: PMC10178984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098447] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, and degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Inflammation is observed in all stages of MS, both within and around the lesions, and can have beneficial and detrimental effects on MS pathogenesis. A possible mechanism for the neuroprotective effect in MS involves the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) by immune cells in peripheral blood and inflammatory lesions, as well as by microglia and astrocytes within the CNS. BDNF is a neurotrophic factor that plays a key role in neuroplasticity and neuronal survival. This review aims to analyze the current understanding of the role that inflammation plays in MS, including the factors that contribute to both beneficial and detrimental effects. Additionally, it explores the potential role of BDNF in MS, as it may modulate neuroinflammation and provide neuroprotection. By obtaining a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between inflammation and BDNF, new therapeutic strategies for MS may be developed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Nociti
- Institute of Neurology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Centro Sclerosi Multipla, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Romozzi
- Institute of Neurology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sochal M, Ditmer M, Gabryelska A, Białasiewicz P. The Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Immune-Related Diseases: A Narrative Review. J Clin Med 2022; 11:6023. [PMID: 36294343 PMCID: PMC9604720 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11206023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin regulating synaptic plasticity, neuronal excitability, and nociception. It seems to be one of the key molecules in interactions between the central nervous system and immune-related diseases, i.e., diseases with an inflammatory background of unknown etiology, such as inflammatory bowel diseases or rheumatoid arthritis. Studies show that BDNF levels might change in the tissues and serum of patients during the course of these conditions, e.g., affecting cell survival and modulating pain severity and signaling pathways involving different neurotransmitters. Immune-related conditions often feature psychiatric comorbidities, such as sleep disorders (e.g., insomnia) and symptoms of depression/anxiety; BDNF may be related as well to them as it seems to exert an influence on sleep structure; studies also show that patients with psychiatric disorders have decreased BDNF levels, which increase after treatment. BDNF also has a vital role in nociception, particularly in chronic pain, hyperalgesia, and allodynia, participating in the formation of central hypersensitization. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on BDNF's function in immune-related diseases, sleep, and pain. We also discuss how BDNF is affected by treatment and what consequences these changes might have beyond the nervous system.
Collapse
|
4
|
Azman KF, Zakaria R. Recent Advances on the Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126827. [PMID: 35743271 PMCID: PMC9224343 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurotrophins, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), are essential for neuronal survival and growth. The signaling cascades initiated by BDNF and its receptor are the key regulators of synaptic plasticity, which plays important role in learning and memory formation. Changes in BDNF levels and signaling pathways have been identified in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease, and have been linked with the symptoms and course of these diseases. This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of BDNF in several neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the underlying molecular mechanism. The therapeutic potential of BDNF treatment is also discussed, in the hope of discovering new avenues for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
|
5
|
Karimi N, Ashourizadeh H, Akbarzadeh Pasha B, Haghshomar M, Jouzdani T, Shobeiri P, Teixeira AL, Rezaei N. Blood levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS): A systematic review and meta-analysis. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2022; 65:103984. [PMID: 35749959 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune demyelinating disease marked by the involvement of multiple pathophysiological pathways, including BDNF. BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) is one of the main neurotrophic factors in the adult brain. The amount of BDNF in the blood can be utilized as a surrogate for the central expression of this marker. Given contradicting reports, we set out to answer the question, "How do blood levels of BDNF differ in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) compared to controls?" METHODS We performed a thorough search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases, resulting in 13 eligible investigations. Eleven studies compared BDNF in serum of PwMS versus healthy controls (HC), and two studies provided BDNF levels in the plasma of PwMs. R version 4.0.4 was used for meta-analysis and visualizations. Mean difference (MD) was used for the measurement of effect size. RESULTS The final analysis included thirteen studies with 689 patients with MS and 583 controls. The preliminary results indicated that MS patients had statistically significant lower levels of BDNF than controls: SMD -5.1992 (95% CI [-8.4488; -1.9496], p-value < 0.0001. Additionally, subgroup analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in serum and plasma levels (p-value=0.01). Performing univariate meta-regression, disease duration and the proportion of males had, respectively, a significant negative and positive correlation with BDNF levels. CONCLUSION Circulating levels of BDNF are decreased in MS. Future studies should investigate the role of BDNF as a biomarker of disease severity and/or progression for a personalized approach to MS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nastaran Karimi
- School of Medicine, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
| | - Helia Ashourizadeh
- Functional Neurosurgery Research Center, Shohada Tajrish Neurosurgical Center of Excellence, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Boshra Akbarzadeh Pasha
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Children's Medical Center Hospital, Dr. Qarib St., Keshavarz Blvd, Tehran 14194, Iran
| | - Maryam Haghshomar
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Children's Medical Center Hospital, Dr. Qarib St., Keshavarz Blvd, Tehran 14194, Iran; Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahmineh Jouzdani
- School of Medicine, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
| | - Parnian Shobeiri
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Children's Medical Center Hospital, Dr. Qarib St., Keshavarz Blvd, Tehran 14194, Iran; Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran; Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Antônio L Teixeira
- Neuropsychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Nima Rezaei
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Children's Medical Center Hospital, Dr. Qarib St., Keshavarz Blvd, Tehran 14194, Iran; Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Melatonin and multiple sclerosis: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulator mechanism of action. Inflammopharmacology 2022; 30:1569-1596. [PMID: 35665873 PMCID: PMC9167428 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-022-01011-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melatonin is an indole hormone secreted primarily by the pineal gland that showing anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic capacity. It can play an important role in the pathophysiological mechanisms of various diseases. In this regard, different studies have shown that there is a relationship between Melatonin and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the Central Nervous System. AIM The objective of this review was to evaluate the mechanisms of action of melatonin on oxidative stress, inflammation and intestinal dysbiosis caused by MS, as well as its interaction with different hormones and factors that can influence the pathophysiology of the disease. RESULTS Melatonin causes a significant increase in the levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione and can counteract and inhibit the effects of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which would also be beneficial during SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, melatonin increases antimicrobial peptides, especially Reg3β, which could be useful in controlling the microbiota. CONCLUSION Melatonin could exert a beneficial effect in people suffering from MS, running as a promising candidate for the treatment of this disease. However, more research in human is needed to help understand the possible interaction between melatonin and certain sex hormones, such as estrogens, to know the potential therapeutic efficacy in both men and women.
Collapse
|
7
|
Mirabelli E, Elkabes S. Neuropathic Pain in Multiple Sclerosis and Its Animal Models: Focus on Mechanisms, Knowledge Gaps and Future Directions. Front Neurol 2022; 12:793745. [PMID: 34975739 PMCID: PMC8716468 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.793745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a multifaceted, complex and chronic neurological disease that leads to motor, sensory and cognitive deficits. MS symptoms are unpredictable and exceedingly variable. Pain is a frequent symptom of MS and manifests as nociceptive or neuropathic pain, even at early disease stages. Neuropathic pain is one of the most debilitating symptoms that reduces quality of life and interferes with daily activities, particularly because conventional pharmacotherapies do not adequately alleviate neuropathic pain. Despite advances, the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain in MS remain elusive. The majority of the studies investigating the pathophysiology of MS-associated neuropathic pain have been performed in animal models that replicate some of the clinical and neuropathological features of MS. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is one of the best-characterized and most commonly used animal models of MS. As in the case of individuals with MS, rodents affected by EAE manifest increased sensitivity to pain which can be assessed by well-established assays. Investigations on EAE provided valuable insights into the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain. Nevertheless, additional investigations are warranted to better understand the events that lead to the onset and maintenance of neuropathic pain in order to identify targets that can facilitate the development of more effective therapeutic interventions. The goal of the present review is to provide an overview of several mechanisms implicated in neuropathic pain in EAE by summarizing published reports. We discuss current knowledge gaps and future research directions, especially based on information obtained by use of other animal models of neuropathic pain such as nerve injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ersilia Mirabelli
- Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States.,Department of Biology and Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, United States
| | - Stella Elkabes
- Reynolds Family Spine Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, United States
| |
Collapse
|