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Alavi MS, Fanoudi S, Hosseini A, Jalili-Nik M, Bagheri A, Sadeghnia HR. Everolimus attenuates glutamate-induced PC12 cells death. Int J Neurosci 2023; 133:457-466. [PMID: 33998365 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2021.1929210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glutamate-induced neuronal cell death plays a key role in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Some recent studies reported the potential immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties of inhibitors of serine-threonine kinase, mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin). However, no study was conducted about the neuroprotective potential of everolimus (EVR), a selective and potent mTOR inhibitor. Therefore, this study was planned to investigate whether EVR has protective effects against glutamate-induced toxicity in PC12 cells, which are used as model for neurons injury, and to elucidate the underlying mechanism. METHODS PC12 cells were concurrently treated with glutamate (8 mM) and EVR (0-40 nM) for 24 h. Then, the cells viability, apoptosis rate, and apoptosis-related proteins (caspase-3, bax and bcl-2) were measured using MTT, annexin V/PI and immunoblotting assays. RESULTS Analyzing the protective effect of different concentrations of EVR (0-40 nM) against glutamate-induced cytotoxicity revealed a significant increase in cell viability in co-treatment regimen (p < 0.01). Also, EVR (40 nM) significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited glutamate-induced apoptosis through depressing the elevation of bax/bcl-2 ratio and expression of cleaved caspase-3, concentration depend. CONCLUSION The results demonstrated, for the first time, that EVR could protect against glutamate-mediated PC12 cell death via inhibiting apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohaddeseh Sadat Alavi
- Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Sahar Fanoudi
- Division of Neurocognitive Sciences, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Azar Hosseini
- Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Jalili-Nik
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amirbehzad Bagheri
- Division of Neurocognitive Sciences, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hamid R Sadeghnia
- Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Division of Neurocognitive Sciences, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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2
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FDA-Approved Kinase Inhibitors in Preclinical and Clinical Trials for Neurological Disorders. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15121546. [PMID: 36558997 PMCID: PMC9784968 DOI: 10.3390/ph15121546] [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: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancers and neurological disorders are two major types of diseases. We previously developed a new concept termed "Aberrant Cell Cycle Diseases" (ACCD), revealing that these two diseases share a common mechanism of aberrant cell cycle re-entry. The aberrant cell cycle re-entry is manifested as kinase/oncogene activation and tumor suppressor inactivation, which are hallmarks of both tumor growth in cancers and neuronal death in neurological disorders. Therefore, some cancer therapies (e.g., kinase inhibition, tumor suppressor elevation) can be leveraged for neurological treatments. The United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has so far approved 74 kinase inhibitors, with numerous other kinase inhibitors in clinical trials, mostly for the treatment of cancers. In contrast, there are dire unmet needs of FDA-approved drugs for neurological treatments, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), ischemic stroke (IS), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and others. In this review, we list these 74 FDA-approved kinase-targeted drugs and identify those that have been reported in preclinical and/or clinical trials for neurological disorders, with a purpose of discussing the feasibility and applicability of leveraging these cancer drugs (FDA-approved kinase inhibitors) for neurological treatments.
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3
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Tumor necrosis factor-α and matrix metalloproteinase-9 cooperatively exacerbate neurovascular degeneration in the neonatal rat retina. Cell Tissue Res 2022; 390:173-187. [PMID: 35895162 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03670-5] [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: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α contribute to the pathogenesis of several ocular diseases. Previous studies have shown that MMP-9 activation plays an important role in capillary degeneration in injured retinas. In this study, we aimed to determine the roles of TNF-α in capillary degeneration and MMP-9 activation in the injured retina. In rats, retinal injury was induced by intravitreal injection of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA, 200 nmol) at postnatal day 7. We examined (1) the effects of blocking MMP-9 and TNF-α signaling pathway on capillary degeneration, (2) changes in protein levels and distribution of MMP-9 and TNF-α, and (3) the interaction between MMP-9 and TNF-α in regulating the expression level of each protein in retinas of NMDA-injected eyes. Intravitreal injection of GM6001, an MMP inhibitor, or TNF-α neutralizing antibody (anti-TNF-α Ab) attenuated capillary degeneration in retinas of NMDA-injected eyes. Protein levels of TNF-α increased 2 h after NMDA injection, whereas those of MMP-9 increased 4 h after the injection. Anti-TNF-α Ab suppressed activation of MMP-9 in retinas of NMDA-injected eyes, whereas GM6001 diminished the TNF-α protein expression. Incubation of recombinant TNF-α with supernatants of homogenized retina increased protein levels and activity of MMP-9. These results suggest that TNF-α and MMP-9 collaboratively increase their expression levels in the retina following neurodegeneration, thus leading to retinal capillary degeneration. The cooperative interaction between MMP-9 and TNF-α could be involved in the exacerbation of retinal neurovascular degeneration.
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4
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Hasan N, Chawla R, Shaikh N, Kandasamy S, Azad SV, Sundar MD. A comprehensive review of intravitreal immunosuppressants and biologicals used in ophthalmology. Ther Adv Ophthalmol 2022; 14:25158414221097418. [PMID: 35602659 PMCID: PMC9121505 DOI: 10.1177/25158414221097418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic immunosuppressants and biologicals have been a valuable tool in the
treatment of inflammatory diseases and malignancies. The safety profile of these
drugs has been debatable, especially in localized systems, such as the eye. This
has led to the search for fairly local approaches, such as intravitreal,
subconjunctival, and topical route of administration. Immunosuppressants have
been used as a second-line drug in patients intolerable to corticosteroids or
those who develop multiple recurrences on weaning corticosteroids. Similarly,
biologicals have also been used as the next line of therapy, when adequate
control of inflammation could not be attained or immunosuppressants were
contraindicated to patients. Intravitreal immunosuppressants, such as
methotrexate and sirolimus, have been extensively studied in noninfectious
posterior uveitis, whereas limited studies have established the efficacy of
intravitreal biologicals, such as infliximab and adalimumab. Most of these drugs
have shown good safety profile and tolerability in animal studies alone and have
not been studied further in human subjects. However, most of the studies in
literature are single-case reports or case series which limits the level of
evidence. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the mechanism of action,
pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, indications, efficacy, and side effects of
different intravitreal immunosuppressants and biologicals that have been studied
in literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasiq Hasan
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Rohan Chawla
- Associate Professor, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Nawazish Shaikh
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | | | | | - M. Dheepak Sundar
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, New Delhi, India
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5
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Siddiqui AM, Oswald D, Papamichalopoulos S, Kelly D, Summer P, Polzin M, Hakim J, Schmeichel AM, Chen B, Yaszemski MJ, Windebank AJ, Madigan NN. Defining Spatial Relationships Between Spinal Cord Axons and Blood Vessels in Hydrogel Scaffolds. Tissue Eng Part A 2021; 27:648-664. [PMID: 33764164 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2020.0316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Positively charged oligo(poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate) (OPF+) hydrogel scaffolds, implanted into a complete transection spinal cord injury (SCI), facilitate a permissive regenerative environment and provide a platform for controlled observation of repair mechanisms. Axonal regeneration after SCI is critically dependent upon nutrients and oxygen from a newly formed blood supply. Our objective was to investigate fundamental characteristics of revascularization in association with the ingrowth of axons into hydrogel scaffolds, thereby defining spatial relationships between axons and the neovasculature. A novel combination of stereologic estimates and precision image analysis techniques quantitate neurovascular regeneration in rats. Multichannel hydrogel scaffolds containing Matrigel-only (MG), Schwann cells (SCs), or SCs with rapamycin-eluting poly(lactic co-glycolic acid) microspheres (RAPA) were implanted for 6 weeks following complete spinal cord transection. Image analysis of 72 scaffold channels identified a total of 2494 myelinated and 4173 unmyelinated axons at 10 μm circumferential intervals centered around 708 individual blood vessel profiles. Blood vessel number, density, volume, diameter, intervessel distances, total vessel surface and cross-sectional areas, and radial diffusion distances were compared. Axon number and density, blood vessel surface area, and vessel cross-sectional areas in the SC group exceeded that in the MG and RAPA groups. Individual axons were concentrated within a concentric radius of 200-250 μm from blood vessel walls, in Gaussian distributions, which identified a peak axonal number (Mean Peak Amplitude) corresponding to defined distances (Mean Peak Distance) from each vessel, the highest concentrations of axons were relatively excluded from a 25-30 μm zone immediately adjacent to the vessel, and from vessel distances >150 μm. Higher axonal densities correlated with smaller vessel cross-sectional areas. A statistical spatial algorithm was used to generate cumulative distribution F- and G-functions of axonal distribution in the reference channel space. Axons located around blood vessels were definitively organized as clusters and were not randomly distributed. A scoring system stratifies 5 direct measurements and 12 derivative parameters influencing regeneration outcomes. By providing methods to quantify the axonal-vessel relationships, these results may refine spinal cord tissue engineering strategies to optimize the regeneration of complete neurovascular bundles in their relevant spatial relationships after SCI. Impact statement Vascular disruption and impaired neovascularization contribute critically to the poor regenerative capacity of the spinal cord after injury. In this study, hydrogel scaffolds provide a detailed model system to investigate the regeneration of spinal cord axons as they directly associate with individual blood vessels, using novel methods to define their spatial relationships and the physiologic implications of that organization. These results refine future tissue engineering strategies for spinal cord repair to optimize the re-development of complete neurovascular bundles in their relevant spatial architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahad M Siddiqui
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - David Oswald
- Program in Human Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | | | - Domnhall Kelly
- Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Priska Summer
- Program in Human Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Michael Polzin
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Jeffrey Hakim
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Ann M Schmeichel
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Bingkun Chen
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Michael J Yaszemski
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, Unites States
| | | | - Nicolas N Madigan
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
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6
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Watanabe K, Asano D, Ushikubo H, Morita A, Mori A, Sakamoto K, Ishii K, Nakahara T. Metformin Protects against NMDA-Induced Retinal Injury through the MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway in Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094439. [PMID: 33922757 PMCID: PMC8123037 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin, an anti-hyperglycemic drug of the biguanide class, exerts positive effects in several non-diabetes-related diseases. In this study, we aimed to examine the protective effects of metformin against N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-induced excitotoxic retinal damage in rats and determine the mechanisms of its protective effects. Male Sprague–Dawley rats (7 to 9 weeks old) were used in this study. Following intravitreal injection of NMDA (200 nmol/eye), the number of neuronal cells in the ganglion cell layer and parvalbumin-positive amacrine cells decreased, whereas the number of CD45-positive leukocytes and Iba1-positive microglia increased. Metformin attenuated these NMDA-induced responses. The neuroprotective effect of metformin was abolished by compound C, an inhibitor of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The AMPK activator, AICAR, exerted a neuroprotective effect in NMDA-induced retinal injury. The MEK1/2 inhibitor, U0126, reduced the neuroprotective effect of metformin. These results suggest that metformin protects against NMDA-induced retinal neurotoxicity through activation of the AMPK and MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathways. This neuroprotective effect could be partially attributable to the inhibitory effects on inflammatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koki Watanabe
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (K.W.); (D.A.); (H.U.); (A.M.); (A.M.); (K.S.); (K.I.)
| | - Daiki Asano
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (K.W.); (D.A.); (H.U.); (A.M.); (A.M.); (K.S.); (K.I.)
| | - Hiroko Ushikubo
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (K.W.); (D.A.); (H.U.); (A.M.); (A.M.); (K.S.); (K.I.)
- Center for Pharmaceutical Education, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, Kanagawa 245-0066, Japan
| | - Akane Morita
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (K.W.); (D.A.); (H.U.); (A.M.); (A.M.); (K.S.); (K.I.)
| | - Asami Mori
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (K.W.); (D.A.); (H.U.); (A.M.); (A.M.); (K.S.); (K.I.)
- Laboratory of Medical Pharmacology, Department of Clinical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharma-Sciences, Teikyo University, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Kenji Sakamoto
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (K.W.); (D.A.); (H.U.); (A.M.); (A.M.); (K.S.); (K.I.)
- Laboratory of Medical Pharmacology, Department of Clinical & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharma-Sciences, Teikyo University, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Kunio Ishii
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (K.W.); (D.A.); (H.U.); (A.M.); (A.M.); (K.S.); (K.I.)
- Center for Pharmaceutical Education, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yokohama University of Pharmacy, Kanagawa 245-0066, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Nakahara
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan; (K.W.); (D.A.); (H.U.); (A.M.); (A.M.); (K.S.); (K.I.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +81-3-3444-6205
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7
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Guo X, Fereydooni A, Isaji T, Gorecka J, Liu S, Hu H, Ono S, Alozie M, Lee SR, Taniguchi R, Yatsula B, Nassiri N, Zhang L, Dardik A. Inhibition of the Akt1-mTORC1 Axis Alters Venous Remodeling to Improve Arteriovenous Fistula Patency. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11046. [PMID: 31363142 PMCID: PMC6667481 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47542-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) are the most common access created for hemodialysis, but up to 60% do not sustain dialysis within a year, suggesting a need to improve AVF maturation and patency. In a mouse AVF model, Akt1 regulates fistula wall thickness and diameter. We hypothesized that inhibition of the Akt1-mTORC1 axis alters venous remodeling to improve AVF patency. Daily intraperitoneal injections of rapamycin reduced AVF wall thickness with no change in diameter. Rapamycin decreased smooth muscle cell (SMC) and macrophage proliferation; rapamycin also reduced both M1 and M2 type macrophages. AVF in mice treated with rapamycin had reduced Akt1 and mTORC1 but not mTORC2 phosphorylation. Depletion of macrophages with clodronate-containing liposomes was also associated with reduced AVF wall thickness and both M1- and M2-type macrophages; however, AVF patency was reduced. Rapamycin was associated with improved long-term patency, enhanced early AVF remodeling and sustained reduction of SMC proliferation. These results suggest that rapamycin improves AVF patency by reducing early inflammation and wall thickening while attenuating the Akt1-mTORC1 signaling pathway in SMC and macrophages. Macrophages are associated with AVF wall thickening and M2-type macrophages may play a mechanistic role in AVF maturation. Rapamycin is a potential translational strategy to improve AVF patency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangjiang Guo
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Vascular Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Arash Fereydooni
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Toshihiko Isaji
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jolanta Gorecka
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shirley Liu
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Haidi Hu
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shun Ono
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michelle Alozie
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shin Rong Lee
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ryosuke Taniguchi
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Bogdan Yatsula
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Naiem Nassiri
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lan Zhang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Alan Dardik
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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8
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Tsoka P, Barbisan PR, Kataoka K, Chen XN, Tian B, Bouzika P, Miller JW, Paschalis EI, Vavvas DG. NLRP3 inflammasome in NMDA-induced retinal excitotoxicity. Exp Eye Res 2019; 181:136-144. [PMID: 30707890 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2019.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced excitotoxicity is an acute form of experimental retinal injury as a result of overactivation of glutamate receptors. NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-repeat containing family, pyrin domain containing-3) inflammasome, one of the most studied sensors of innate immunity, has been reported to play a critical role in retinal neurodegeneration with controversial implications regarding neuroprotection and cell death. Thus far, it has not been elucidated whether NMDA-mediated excitotoxicity can trigger NLRP3 inflammasome in vivo. Moreover, it is unknown if NLRP3 is beneficial or detrimental to NMDA-mediated retinal cell death. Here, we employed a murine model of NMDA-induced retinal excitotoxicity by administering 100 nmoles of NMDA intravitreally, which resulted in massive TUNEL+ (TdT-dUTP terminal nick-end labelling) cell death in all retinal layers and especially in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) 24 h post injection. NMDA insult in the retina potentiates macrophage/microglia cell infiltration, primes the NLRP3 inflammasome in a transcription-dependent manner and induces the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β). However, despite NLRP3 inflammasome upregulation, systemic deletion of Nlrp3 or Casp1 (caspase-1) did not significantly alter the NMDA-induced, excitotoxicity-mediated TUNEL+ retinal cell death at 24 h (acute phase). Similarly, the deletion of the two aforementioned genes did not alter the survival of the Brn3a+ (brain-specific homeobox/POU domain protein 3A) RGCs in a significant way at 3- or 7-days post injection (long-term phase). Our results indicate that NMDA-mediated retinal excitotoxicity induces immune cell recruitment and NLRP3 inflammasome activity even though inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation is not a leading contributing factor to cell death in this type of retinal injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlina Tsoka
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paulo R Barbisan
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Keiko Kataoka
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiaohong Nancy Chen
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bo Tian
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peggy Bouzika
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joan W Miller
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eleftherios I Paschalis
- Boston Keratoprosthesis Laboratory, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Demetrios G Vavvas
- Angiogenesis Laboratory, Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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9
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Cammalleri M, Locri F, Catalani E, Filippi L, Cervia D, Dal Monte M, Bagnoli P. The Beta Adrenergic Receptor Blocker Propranolol Counteracts Retinal Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Oxygen Induced Retinopathy: Restoring the Balance between Apoptosis and Autophagy. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:395. [PMID: 29375312 PMCID: PMC5770647 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In a mouse model of oxygen induced retinopathy (OIR), beta adrenergic receptor (BAR) blockade has been shown to recover hypoxia-associated retinal damages. Although the adrenergic signaling is an important regulator of apoptotic and autophagic processes, the role of BARs in retinal cell death remains to be elucidated. The present study was aimed at investigating whether ameliorative effects of BAR blockers may occur through their coordinated action on apoptosis and autophagy. To this aim, retinas from control and OIR mice untreated or treated with propranolol, a non-selective BAR1/2 blocker, were characterized in terms of expression and localization of apoptosis and autophagy markers. The effects of propranolol on autophagy signaling were also evaluated and specific autophagy modulators were used to get functional information on the autophagic effects of BAR antagonism. Finally, propranolol effects on neurodegenerative processes were associated to an electrophysiological investigation of retinal function by recording electroretinogram (ERG). We found that retinas of OIR mice are characterized by increased apoptosis and decreased autophagy, while propranolol reduces apoptosis and stimulates autophagy. In particular, propranolol triggers autophagosome formation in bipolar, amacrine and ganglion cells that are committed to die by apoptosis in response to hypoxia. Also our data argue that propranolol, through the inhibition of the Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, activates autophagy which decreases retinal cell death. At the functional level, propranolol recovers dysfunctional ERG by recovering the amplitude of a- and b-waves, and oscillatory potentials, thus indicating an efficient restoring of retinal transduction. Overall, our results demonstrate that BAR1/2 are key regulators of retinal apoptosis/autophagy, and that BAR1/2 blockade leads to autophagy-mediated neuroprotection. Reinstating the balance between apoptotic and autophagic machines may therefore be viewed as a future goal in the treatment of retinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Filippo Locri
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Catalani
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Luca Filippi
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Medical Surgical Fetal-Neonatal Department, Meyer University Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Davide Cervia
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | | | - Paola Bagnoli
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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10
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Saliba SW, Vieira ELM, Santos RPDM, Candelario-Jalil E, Fiebich BL, Vieira LB, Teixeira AL, de Oliveira ACP. Neuroprotective effects of intrastriatal injection of rapamycin in a mouse model of excitotoxicity induced by quinolinic acid. J Neuroinflammation 2017; 14:25. [PMID: 28143498 PMCID: PMC5282622 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-017-0793-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a kinase involved in a variety of physiological and pathological functions. However, the exact role of mTOR in excitotoxicity is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of mTOR inhibition with rapamycin against neurodegeneration, and motor impairment, as well as inflammatory profile caused by an excitotoxic stimulus. Methods A single and unilateral striatal injection of quinolinic acid (QA) was used to induce excitotoxicity in mice. Rapamycin (250 nL of 0.2, 2, or 20 μM; intrastriatal route) was administered 15 min before QA injection. Forty-eight hours after QA administration, rotarod test was performed to evaluate motor coordination and balance. Fluoro-Jade C, Iba-1, and GFAP staining were used to evaluate neuronal cell death, microglia morphology, and astrocytes density, respectively, at this time point. Levels of cytokines and neurotrophic factors were measured by ELISA and Cytometric Bead Array 8 h after QA injection. Striatal synaptosomes were used to evaluate the release of glutamate. Results We first demonstrated that rapamycin prevented the motor impairment induced by QA. Moreover, mTOR inhibition also reduced the neurodegeneration and the production of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α induced by excitotoxic stimulus. The lowest dose of rapamycin also increased the production of IL-10 and prevented the reduction of astrocyte density induced by QA. By using an in vitro approach, we demonstrated that rapamycin differently alters the release of glutamate from striatal synaptosomes induced by QA, reducing or enhancing the release of this neurotransmitter at low or high concentrations, respectively. Conclusion Taken together, these data demonstrated a protective effect of rapamycin against an excitotoxic stimulus. Therefore, this study provides new evidence of the detrimental role of mTOR in neurodegeneration, which might represent an important target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-017-0793-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraya Wilke Saliba
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antonio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Freiburg Medical School, Hauptstr. 5, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Rebeca Priscila de Melo Santos
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antonio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | | | - Bernd L Fiebich
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Freiburg Medical School, Hauptstr. 5, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Luciene Bruno Vieira
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antonio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Antonio Lucio Teixeira
- Department of Internal Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Neuroprotective Strategy in Retinal Degeneration: Suppressing ER Stress-Induced Cell Death via Inhibition of the mTOR Signal. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18010201. [PMID: 28106827 PMCID: PMC5297831 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18010201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The retina is a specialized sensory organ, which is essential for light detection and visual formation in the human eye. Inherited retinal degenerations are a heterogeneous group of eye diseases that can eventually cause permanent vision loss. UPR (unfolded protein response) and ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress plays an important role in the pathological mechanism of retinal degenerative diseases. mTOR (the mammalian target of rapamycin) kinase, as a signaling hub, controls many cellular processes, covering protein synthesis, RNA translation, ER stress, and apoptosis. Here, the hypothesis that inhibition of mTOR signaling suppresses ER stress-induced cell death in retinal degenerative disorders is discussed. This review surveys knowledge of the influence of mTOR signaling on ER stress arising from misfolded proteins and genetic mutations in retinal degenerative diseases and highlights potential neuroprotective strategies for treatment and therapeutic implications.
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Hayashi I, Aoki Y, Asano D, Ushikubo H, Mori A, Sakamoto K, Nakahara T, Ishii K. Protective Effects of Everolimus against N-Methyl-D-aspartic Acid-Induced Retinal Damage in Rats. Biol Pharm Bull 2016; 38:1765-71. [PMID: 26521828 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b15-00464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that rapamycin, an inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), protects against N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-induced retinal neurotoxicity, but the mechanism underlying this protection is not fully understood. The present study aimed to examine the effects of everolimus, another inhibitor of mTOR, on neuronal cell loss and inflammation in a rat model of NMDA-induced retinal neurotoxicity, and to determine whether the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway contributes to the protective effect of everolimus. Intravitreal injection of NMDA (200 nmol) resulted in (1) cell loss in the ganglion cell layer, (2) increase in the numbers of CD45-positive leukocytes and Iba1-positive microglia, and (3) phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 (pS6), a downstream indicator of mTOR activity. Simultaneous injection of everolimus with NMDA significantly attenuated these NMDA-induced responses. The neuroprotective effect of everolimus was almost completely prevented by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK kinase inhibitor U0126 (1 nmol). NMDA increased the level of phosphorylated ERK (pERK) in Müller cells, and increase in pERK levels was also observed after co-injection of NMDA and everolimus. These results suggest that everolimus has a neuroprotective effect against NMDA-induced retinal neurotoxicity, an effect that seems to be mediated partly by activation of the ERK pathway in Müller cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikumi Hayashi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Hayashi I, Aoki Y, Ushikubo H, Asano D, Mori A, Sakamoto K, Nakahara T, Ishii K. Protective effects of PF-4708671 against N-methyl-d-aspartic acid-induced retinal damage in rats. Fundam Clin Pharmacol 2016; 30:529-536. [PMID: 27371338 DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12216] [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] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that rapamycin, an inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), protects against N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA)-induced retinal damage in rats. Rapamycin inhibits mTOR activity, thereby preventing the phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6, which is a downstream target of S6 kinase. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether PF-4708671, an inhibitor of S6 kinase, protects against NMDA-induced retinal injury. Intravitreal injection of NMDA (200 nmol/eye) caused cell loss in the ganglion cell layer and neuroinflammatory responses, such as an increase in the number of CD45-positive leukocytes and Iba1-positive microglia. Surprisingly, simultaneous injection of PF-4708671 (50 nmol/eye) with NMDA significantly attenuated these responses without affecting phosphorylated S6 levels. These results suggest that PF-4708671 and rapamycin likely protect against NMDA-induced retinal damage via distinct pathways. The neuroprotective effect of PF-4708671 is unlikely to be associated with inhibition of the S6 kinase, even though PF-4708671 is reported to be a S6 kinase inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikumi Hayashi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan
| | - Yuto Aoki
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan
| | - Hiroko Ushikubo
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan
| | - Daiki Asano
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan
| | - Asami Mori
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan
| | - Kenji Sakamoto
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Nakahara
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan
| | - Kunio Ishii
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8641, Japan
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