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Adebowale A, Oyaluna Z, Falobi AA, Abolaji AO, Olaiya CO, Ojo OO. Magainin-AM2 inhibits sucrose-induced hyperglycaemia, oxidative stress, and cognitive dysfunction in Drosophila melanogaster. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 222:414-423. [PMID: 38964592 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.06.028] [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: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress plays significant roles in the development of type 2 diabetes and its complications. This study investigates effects of magainin-AM2 on high-sucrose diet induced redox imbalance and cognitive impairment in Drosophila melanogaster. Effects of various concentrations of sucrose, magainin-AM2 or a combination of both agents on mortality, eclosion rate, generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, activities of antioxidant enzymes, thiol system, and markers of cognitive functions in control and treated flies were examined. Results showed that the exposure of flies to high sucrose (30 %-60 % w/w) diet increased mortality rate (38-67 %, P < 0.001) and levels of glucose (1.8-1.9-fold, P < 0.001), hydrogen peroxide (1.4-1.5-fold, P < 0.01) and nitrite/nitrate (1.2-fold, P < 0.01). Decreased levels of total thiol (53-59 %, P < 0.01), non-protein thiols (59-63 %, P < 0.01), catalase activities (39-47 %, P < 0.01-0.05) and glutathione-s-transferase activities (31-43 %, P < 0.01-0.05) were also observed. Magainin-AM2 (0-10 μM/kg diet) did not affect fly mortality rate, levels of hydrogen peroxide and nitrite/nitrate, and activities of catalase and glutathione-s-transferase. However, the peptide produced a dose-dependent increase in total thiol 1.2-1.6-fold, P < 0.001-0.01)and increases non-protein thiol levels at 10 μM/kg diet (2.0-fold, P < 0.01). Magainin-AM2 inhibited sucrose-induced elevation of glucose (55-70 %, P < 0.001), hydrogen peroxide (11-12 %, P < 0.01) and nitrite/nitrate (20-34 %, P < 0.01-0.05). The peptide prevented sucrose-induced reduction in total and non-protein thiols (1.9-2.0-fold, P < 0.05) levels and activities of catalase (2.3-3.1-fold, P < 0.001) and glutathione-s-transferase (1.8-2.8-fold, P < 0.001-0.05). Magainin-AM2 inhibited sucrose-induced reduction in acetylcholinesterase activities (3.6-4.0-fold, P < 0.001), eclosion rate (18 %, P < 0.001) and negative geotaxis (1.3-14-fold, P < 0.001). These results indicate that beneficial actions of magainin-AM2 may also involve the prevention of hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative damage and encourage its further development as an anti-diabetic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeola Adebowale
- Nutritional and Industrial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Zeniat Oyaluna
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Ayodele A Falobi
- Diabetes Research Laboratory, Research Institute in Healthcare Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, WV1 1LY, United Kingdom
| | - Amos O Abolaji
- Nutritional and Industrial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Drosophila Research and Training Centre, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Charles O Olaiya
- Nutritional and Industrial Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
| | - Opeolu O Ojo
- Diabetes Research Laboratory, Research Institute in Healthcare Sciences, University of Wolverhampton, WV1 1LY, United Kingdom; Bioscience Research Education and Advisory Centre, Ibadan, Nigeria; IRID Biosciences, Stoke-On-Trent, United Kingdom.
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2
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Tsintzas E, Niccoli T. Using Drosophila amyloid toxicity models to study Alzheimer's disease. Ann Hum Genet 2024; 88:349-363. [PMID: 38517001 DOI: 10.1111/ahg.12554] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia and is characterised by a progressive loss of neurons, which manifests as gradual memory decline, followed by cognitive loss. Despite the significant progress in identifying novel biomarkers and understanding the prodromal pathology and symptomatology, AD remains a significant unmet clinical need. Lecanemab and aducanumab, the only Food and Drug Administration approved drugs to exhibit some disease-modifying clinical efficacy, target Aβ amyloid, underscoring the importance of this protein in disease aetiology. Nevertheless, in the absence of a definitive cure, the utilisation of preclinical models remains imperative for the identification of novel therapeutic targets and the evaluation of potential therapeutic agents. Drosophila melanogaster is a model system that can be used as a research tool to investigate neurodegeneration and therapeutic interventions. The short lifespan, low price and ease of husbandry/rearing make Drosophila an advantageous model organism from a practical perspective. However, it is the highly conserved genome and similarity of Drosophila and human neurobiology which make flies a powerful tool to investigate neurodegenerative mechanisms. In addition, the ease of transgenic modifications allows for early proof of principle studies for future therapeutic approaches in neurodegenerative research. This mini review will specifically focus on utilising Drosophila as an in vivo model of amyloid toxicity in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elli Tsintzas
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London, UK
| | - Teresa Niccoli
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, London, UK
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Hendricks EL, Linskey N, Smith IR, Liebl FLW. Kismet/CHD7/CHD8 and Amyloid Precursor Protein-like Regulate Synaptic Levels of Rab11 at the Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8429. [PMID: 39125997 PMCID: PMC11313043 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The transmembrane protein β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) is central to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The β-amyloid hypothesis posits that aberrant processing of APP forms neurotoxic β-amyloid aggregates, which lead to the cognitive impairments observed in AD. Although numerous additional factors contribute to AD, there is a need to better understand the synaptic function of APP. We have found that Drosophila APP-like (APPL) has both shared and non-shared roles at the synapse with Kismet (Kis), a chromatin helicase binding domain (CHD) protein. Kis is the homolog of CHD7 and CHD8, both of which are implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders including CHARGE Syndrome and autism spectrum disorders, respectively. Loss of function mutations in kis and animals expressing human APP and BACE in their central nervous system show reductions in the glutamate receptor subunit, GluRIIC, the GTPase Rab11, and the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), pMad, at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Similarly, processes like endocytosis, larval locomotion, and neurotransmission are deficient in these animals. Our pharmacological and epistasis experiments indicate that there is a functional relationship between Kis and APPL, but Kis does not regulate appl expression at the larval NMJ. Instead, Kis likely influences the synaptic localization of APPL, possibly by promoting rab11 transcription. These data identify a potential mechanistic connection between chromatin remodeling proteins and aberrant synaptic function in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Faith L. W. Liebl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL 62026, USA
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4
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Bongiorni S, Catalani E, Arisi I, Lazzarini F, Del Quondam S, Brunetti K, Cervia D, Prantera G. Pathological Defects in a Drosophila Model of Alzheimer's Disease and Beneficial Effects of the Natural Product Lisosan G. Biomolecules 2024; 14:855. [PMID: 39062569 PMCID: PMC11274821 DOI: 10.3390/biom14070855] [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: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains are histologically marked by the presence of intracellular and extracellular amyloid deposits, which characterize the onset of the disease pathogenesis. Increasing evidence suggests that certain nutrients exert a direct or indirect effect on amyloid β (Aβ)-peptide production and accumulation and, consequently, on AD pathogenesis. We exploited the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster model of AD to evaluate in vivo the beneficial properties of Lisosan G, a fermented powder obtained from organic whole grains, on the intracellular Aβ-42 peptide accumulation and related pathological phenotypes of AD. Our data showed that the Lisosan G-enriched diet attenuates the production of neurotoxic Aβ peptides in fly brains and reduces neuronal apoptosis. Notably, Lisosan G exerted anti-oxidant effects, lowering brain levels of reactive oxygen species and enhancing mitochondrial activity. These aspects paralleled the increase in autophagy turnover and the inhibition of nucleolar stress. Our results give support to the use of the Drosophila model not only to investigate the molecular genetic bases of neurodegenerative disease but also to rapidly and reliably test the efficiency of potential therapeutic agents and diet regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Bongiorni
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (S.B.); (F.L.); (G.P.)
| | - Elisabetta Catalani
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (S.D.Q.); (K.B.)
| | - Ivan Arisi
- Bioinformatics Facility, European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) “Rita Levi-Montalcini”, 00161 Rome, Italy;
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Lazzarini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (S.B.); (F.L.); (G.P.)
| | - Simona Del Quondam
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (S.D.Q.); (K.B.)
| | - Kashi Brunetti
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (S.D.Q.); (K.B.)
| | - Davide Cervia
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems (DIBAF), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (E.C.); (S.D.Q.); (K.B.)
| | - Giorgio Prantera
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (S.B.); (F.L.); (G.P.)
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5
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Islam A, Shaukat Z, Hussain R, Ricos MG, Dibbens LM, Gregory SL. Aneuploidy is Linked to Neurological Phenotypes Through Oxidative Stress. J Mol Neurosci 2024; 74:50. [PMID: 38693434 PMCID: PMC11062972 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-024-02227-1] [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: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Aneuploidy, having an aberrant genome, is gaining increasing attention in neurodegenerative diseases. It gives rise to proteotoxic stress as well as a stereotypical oxidative shift which makes these cells sensitive to internal and environmental stresses. A growing body of research from numerous laboratories suggests that many neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia, are characterised by neuronal aneuploidy and the ensuing apoptosis, which may contribute to neuronal loss. Using Drosophila as a model, we investigated the effect of induced aneuploidy in GABAergic neurons. We found an increased proportion of aneuploidy due to Mad2 depletion in the third-instar larval brain and increased cell death. Depletion of Mad2 in GABAergic neurons also gave a defective climbing and seizure phenotype. Feeding animals an antioxidant rescued the climbing and seizure phenotype. These findings suggest that increased aneuploidy leads to higher oxidative stress in GABAergic neurons which causes cell death, climbing defects, and seizure phenotype. Antioxidant feeding represents a potential therapy to reduce the aneuploidy-driven neurological phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anowarul Islam
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, 5042, Australia
- Epilepsy Research Group, Australian Centre for Precision Health, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Zeeshan Shaukat
- Epilepsy Research Group, Australian Centre for Precision Health, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Rashid Hussain
- Epilepsy Research Group, Australian Centre for Precision Health, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Michael G Ricos
- Epilepsy Research Group, Australian Centre for Precision Health, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Leanne M Dibbens
- Epilepsy Research Group, Australian Centre for Precision Health, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Stephen L Gregory
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, 5042, Australia.
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6
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Stahl A, Tomchik SM. Modeling neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders in the Drosophila mushroom body. Learn Mem 2024; 31:a053816. [PMID: 38876485 PMCID: PMC11199955 DOI: 10.1101/lm.053816.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
The common fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster provides a powerful platform to investigate the genetic, molecular, cellular, and neural circuit mechanisms of behavior. Research in this model system has shed light on multiple aspects of brain physiology and behavior, from fundamental neuronal function to complex behaviors. A major anatomical region that modulates complex behaviors is the mushroom body (MB). The MB integrates multimodal sensory information and is involved in behaviors ranging from sensory processing/responses to learning and memory. Many genes that underlie brain disorders are conserved, from flies to humans, and studies in Drosophila have contributed significantly to our understanding of the mechanisms of brain disorders. Genetic mutations that mimic human diseases-such as Fragile X syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease-affect MB structure and function, altering behavior. Studies dissecting the effects of disease-causing mutations in the MB have identified key pathological mechanisms, and the development of a complete connectome promises to add a comprehensive anatomical framework for disease modeling. Here, we review Drosophila models of human neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders via the effects of their underlying mutations on MB structure, function, and the resulting behavioral alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Stahl
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
| | - Seth M Tomchik
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
- Hawk-IDDRC, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
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7
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Nixon LJ, Douglas M, Ibrahim A, Jones S, Piñero JC, Leskey TC. Effects of nonnutritive sugar inclusion in laboratory diets and attracticidal spheres on survivorship and mobility of 2 Dipteran species, Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae). JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 117:595-600. [PMID: 38266274 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toae003] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Native apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella, and invasive spotted-wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, are key pests of apple and small fruit, respectively, in the United States. Both species are typically managed with standard insecticide applications. However, interest in alternative strategies that result in insecticide reductions has led to evaluations of nonnutritive sugars as toxicants for Drosophila species and development of attracticidal spheres for both species. Here, we evaluated the survivorship of R. pomonella and D. suzukii when provided with standard diets that substituted saccharin, sucralose, aspartame, erythritol, dextrose, or mannitol for the sucrose component and compared them with standard diets and water-only controls for up to 15 days. Presence of erythritol and mannitol significantly decreased survivorship of R. pomonella and erythritol significantly decreased the survivorship of D. suzukii. However, mobility trials following a 2 h exposure to aqueous solutions of each sugar treatment resulted in no strong impact on either species. Survivorship after 30 min exposure to erythritol or mannitol alone, or in combination with varying concentrations of sucrose (serving as a phagostimulant) at 30 min and 24 h were evaluated for both species. Only D. suzukii survivorship was affected with decreased survivorship on erythritol:sucrose solutions of 20:0% and 15:5% for 24 h. Based on all results, erythritol appeared most promising, and was integrated into attracticidal spheres as a toxicant but even at the highest concentration, survivorship remained unaffected for either species, thus making this nonnutritive sugar impractical and ineffective as a toxicant substitute in attracticidal spheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Nixon
- U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agriculture Research Services, USDA-ARS, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV, USA
| | - Morgan Douglas
- U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agriculture Research Services, USDA-ARS, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV, USA
| | - Aya Ibrahim
- Department of Sustainable Agroecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Sharon Jones
- U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agriculture Research Services, USDA-ARS, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV, USA
| | - Jaime C Piñero
- Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Stockbridge School of Agriculture, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Tracy C Leskey
- U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agriculture Research Services, USDA-ARS, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV, USA
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8
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Dos Santos NCL, Malta SM, Franco RR, Silva HCG, Silva MH, Rodrigues TS, de Oliveira RM, Araújo TN, Augusto SC, Espindola FS, Ueira-Vieira C. Antioxidant and anti-Alzheimer's potential of Tetragonisca angustula (Jataí) stingless bee pollen. Sci Rep 2024; 14:308. [PMID: 38172290 PMCID: PMC10764861 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-51091-3] [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: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is considered the leading cause of dementia in the elderly worldwide. It results in progressive memory loss and impairment of cognitive and motor skills, leading to a high degree of disability and dependence. The development of AD is associated with the accumulation of senile plaques in the brain, caused by the amyloidogenic pathway of the disease. Several genetic and biochemical events are linked to AD development, with oxidative stress being one of them. Due to the scarcity of drugs aimed at treating AD, antioxidant compounds are increasingly studied as therapeutic targets for the disease. In this study, we investigate the antioxidant and anti-Alzheimer potential of the Tetragonisca angustula (Jataí) pollen extract in a Drosophila melanogaster Alzheimer's model. For this purpose, we utilized a D. melanogaster AD-like model, which expresses genes related to the amyloidogenic pathway of Alzheimer's disease. We explored the floral origin of the collected pollen, conducted phytochemical prospecting, and evaluated its antioxidant capacity in vitro. In vivo experiments involved assessing the survival and climbing ability of the D. melanogaster AD-like model with various concentrations of the pollen extract. Our findings revealed that the pollen extract of Tetragonisca angustula exhibits a significant antioxidant response and high concentrations of important phytochemicals, such as flavonoids and polyphenols. Furthermore, it enhanced the survival rate of D. melanogaster, and across all concentrations tested, it improved the climbing ability of the flies after 15 days of treatment with methanolic pollen extract. Additionally, the pollen extract reduced the neurodegeneration index in histopathological analysis. Thus, our study demonstrates the potential of Tetragonisca angustula pollen as an important subject for further investigation, aiming to isolate molecules that could potentially serve as therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Carine Lima Dos Santos
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Genética, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Rua Acre, Bloco 2E, Sala 226, Uberlândia, MG, 38408-144, Brazil.
| | - Serena Mares Malta
- Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Thayane Nogueira Araújo
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | | | - Carlos Ueira-Vieira
- Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Genética, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Rua Acre, Bloco 2E, Sala 226, Uberlândia, MG, 38408-144, Brazil.
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9
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Tower J. Markers and mechanisms of death in Drosophila. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2023; 4:1292040. [PMID: 38149028 PMCID: PMC10749947 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2023.1292040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Parameters correlated with age and mortality in Drosophila melanogaster include decreased negative geotaxis and centrophobism behaviors, decreased climbing and walking speed, and darkened pigments in oenocytes and eye. Cessation of egg laying predicts death within approximately 5 days. Endogenous green fluorescence in eye and body increases hours prior to death. Many flies exhibit erratic movement hours before death, often leading to falls. Loss of intestinal barrier integrity (IBI) is assayed by feeding blue dye ("Smurf" phenotype), and Smurf flies typically die within 0-48 h. Some studies report most flies exhibit Smurf, whereas multiple groups report most flies die without exhibiting Smurf. Transgenic reporters containing heat shock gene promoters and innate immune response gene promoters progressively increase expression with age, and partly predict remaining life span. Innate immune reporters increase with age in every fly, prior to any Smurf phenotype, in presence or absence of antibiotics. Many flies die on their side or supine (on their back) position. The data suggest three mechanisms for death of Drosophila. One is loss of IBI, as revealed by Smurf assay. The second is nervous system malfunction, leading to erratic behavior, locomotor malfunction, and falls. The aged fly is often unable to right itself after a fall to a side-ways or supine position, leading to inability to access the food and subsequent dehydration/starvation. Finally, some flies die upright without Smurf phenotype, suggesting a possible third mechanism. The frequency of these mechanisms varies between strains and culture conditions, which may affect efficacy of life span interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Tower
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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10
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Godfrey RK, Alsop E, Bjork RT, Chauhan BS, Ruvalcaba HC, Antone J, Gittings LM, Michael AF, Williams C, Hala'ufia G, Blythe AD, Hall M, Sattler R, Van Keuren-Jensen K, Zarnescu DC. Modelling TDP-43 proteinopathy in Drosophila uncovers shared and neuron-specific targets across ALS and FTD relevant circuits. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:168. [PMID: 37864255 PMCID: PMC10588218 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01656-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) comprise a spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases linked to TDP-43 proteinopathy, which at the cellular level, is characterized by loss of nuclear TDP-43 and accumulation of cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions that ultimately cause RNA processing defects including dysregulation of splicing, mRNA transport and translation. Complementing our previous work in motor neurons, here we report a novel model of TDP-43 proteinopathy based on overexpression of TDP-43 in a subset of Drosophila Kenyon cells of the mushroom body (MB), a circuit with structural characteristics reminiscent of vertebrate cortical networks. This model recapitulates several aspects of dementia-relevant pathological features including age-dependent neuronal loss, nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP-43, and behavioral deficits in working memory and sleep that occur prior to axonal degeneration. RNA immunoprecipitations identify several candidate mRNA targets of TDP-43 in MBs, some of which are unique to the MB circuit and others that are shared with motor neurons. Among the latter is the glypican Dally-like-protein (Dlp), which exhibits significant TDP-43 associated reduction in expression during aging. Using genetic interactions we show that overexpression of Dlp in MBs mitigates TDP-43 dependent working memory deficits, conistent with Dlp acting as a mediator of TDP-43 toxicity. Substantiating our findings in the fly model, we find that the expression of GPC6 mRNA, a human ortholog of dlp, is specifically altered in neurons exhibiting the molecular signature of TDP-43 pathology in FTD patient brains. These findings suggest that circuit-specific Drosophila models provide a platform for uncovering shared or disease-specific molecular mechanisms and vulnerabilities across the spectrum of TDP-43 proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Keating Godfrey
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
- McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, 3215 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
| | - Eric Alsop
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, 445 N 5th St., Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Reed T Bjork
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Brijesh S Chauhan
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive Crescent Building C4605, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA
| | - Hillary C Ruvalcaba
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jerry Antone
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, 445 N 5th St., Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Lauren M Gittings
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Allison F Michael
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Christi Williams
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Grace Hala'ufia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Alexander D Blythe
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Megan Hall
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, 445 N 5th St., Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Rita Sattler
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | | | - Daniela C Zarnescu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Life Sciences South, University of Arizona, 1007 E. Lowell St., Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA.
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive Crescent Building C4605, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA.
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11
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Whittaker DS, Akhmetova L, Carlin D, Romero H, Welsh DK, Colwell CS, Desplats P. Circadian modulation by time-restricted feeding rescues brain pathology and improves memory in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease. Cell Metab 2023; 35:1704-1721.e6. [PMID: 37607543 PMCID: PMC10591997 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Circadian disruptions impact nearly all people with Alzheimer's disease (AD), emphasizing both their potential role in pathology and the critical need to investigate the therapeutic potential of circadian-modulating interventions. Here, we show that time-restricted feeding (TRF) without caloric restriction improved key disease components including behavioral timing, disease pathology, hippocampal transcription, and memory in two transgenic (TG) mouse models of AD. We found that TRF had the remarkable capability of simultaneously reducing amyloid deposition, increasing Aβ42 clearance, improving sleep and memory, and normalizing daily transcription patterns of multiple genes, including those associated with AD and neuroinflammation. Thus, our study unveils for the first time the pleiotropic nature of timed feeding on AD, which has far-reaching effects beyond metabolism, ameliorating neurodegeneration and the misalignment of circadian rhythmicity. Since TRF can substantially modify disease trajectory, this intervention has immediate translational potential, addressing the urgent demand for accessible approaches to reduce or halt AD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S Whittaker
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Laila Akhmetova
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Carlin
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Haylie Romero
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David K Welsh
- Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Christopher S Colwell
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Paula Desplats
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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12
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Siddique YH, Naz F, Rahul, Varshney H, I M, Shahid M. Effect of donepezil hydrochloride on the transgenic Drosophila expressing human Aβ-42. Int J Neurosci 2023:1-39. [PMID: 37733478 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2023.2262109] [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: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
CONCLUSION The results suggest that donepezil hydrochloride is potent enough to reduce the AD symptoms being mimicked in transgenic flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasir Hasan Siddique
- Drosophila Transgenic Laboratory, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Falaq Naz
- Drosophila Transgenic Laboratory, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rahul
- Drosophila Transgenic Laboratory, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Himanshi Varshney
- Drosophila Transgenic Laboratory, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mantasha I
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
| | - M Shahid
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
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13
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Wu M, Li Y, Miao Y, Qiao H, Wang Y. Exploring the efficient natural products for Alzheimer's disease therapy via Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) models. J Drug Target 2023; 31:817-831. [PMID: 37545435 DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2023.2245582] [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: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a grievous neurodegenerative disorder and a major form of senile dementia, which is partially caused by abnormal amyloid-beta peptide deposition and Tau protein phosphorylation. But until now, the exact pathogenesis of AD and its treatment strategy still need to investigate. Fortunately, natural products have shown potential as therapeutic agents for treating symptoms of AD due to their neuroprotective activity. To identify the excellent lead compounds for AD control from natural products of herbal medicines, as well as, detect their modes of action, suitable animal models are required. Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) is an important model for studying genetic and cellular biological pathways in complex biological processes. Various Drosophila AD models were broadly used for AD research, especially for the discovery of neuroprotective natural products. This review focused on the research progress of natural products in AD disease based on the fruit fly AD model, which provides a reference for using the invertebrate model in developing novel anti-AD drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengdi Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ying Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yaodong Miao
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Huanhuan Qiao
- Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yiwen Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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14
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Adedayo BC, Akinniyi ST, Ogunsuyi OB, Oboh G. In the quest for the ideal sweetener: Aspartame exacerbates selected biomarkers in the fruit fly ( Drosophila melanogaster) model of Alzheimer's disease more than sucrose. AGING BRAIN 2023; 4:100090. [PMID: 37559954 PMCID: PMC10407236 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbas.2023.100090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of dietary inclusions of aspartame and sucrose on some selected behavioral and biochemical indices linked with Alzheimer's disease in a transgenic fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) model expressing human amyloid precursor protein and secretase. Flies were raised on a diet supplemented with sucrose and aspartame for 14 days. Thereafter, the flies were assessed for their survival rate, learning and memory, as well as locomotor performance, 14 days post-treatment. This was followed by homogenising the fly heads, and the homogenates were assayed for acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase activities, as well as levels of lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species, and total thiol. The results showed aspartame at all levels of dietary intake and a high proportion of sucrose significantly aggravated the mortality rate, locomotor deficiency, and impaired biomarkers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status in the transgenic flies, while no significant effect was found on acetylcholinesterase activity or memory function. These findings therefore suggest that while low dietary inclusions of sucrose are tolerable under AD-like phenotypes in the flies, high inclusions of sucrose and all proportions of aspartame tested aggravated mortality rate, locomotion and oxidative stress in the flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bukola Christiana Adedayo
- Biochemistry Department, The Federal University of Technology, Akure P.M.B. 704, Nigeria
- Drosophila Research Lab, Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit, The Federal University of Technology, Akure P.M.B. 704, Nigeria
| | - Stephanie Tolulope Akinniyi
- Biochemistry Department, The Federal University of Technology, Akure P.M.B. 704, Nigeria
- Drosophila Research Lab, Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit, The Federal University of Technology, Akure P.M.B. 704, Nigeria
| | - Opeyemi Babatunde Ogunsuyi
- Drosophila Research Lab, Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit, The Federal University of Technology, Akure P.M.B. 704, Nigeria
- Department of Biomedical Technology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure P.M.B. 704, Nigeria
| | - Ganiyu Oboh
- Biochemistry Department, The Federal University of Technology, Akure P.M.B. 704, Nigeria
- Drosophila Research Lab, Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit, The Federal University of Technology, Akure P.M.B. 704, Nigeria
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15
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Marquand K, Roselli C, Cervantes-Sandoval I, Boto T. Sleep benefits different stages of memory in Drosophila. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1087025. [PMID: 36744027 PMCID: PMC9892949 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1087025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the physiological mechanisms that modulate memory acquisition and consolidation remains among the most ambitious questions in neuroscience. Massive efforts have been dedicated to deciphering how experience affects behavior, and how different physiological and sensory phenomena modulate memory. Our ability to encode, consolidate and retrieve memories depends on internal drives, and sleep stands out among the physiological processes that affect memory: one of the most relatable benefits of sleep is the aiding of memory that occurs in order to both prepare the brain to learn new information, and after a learning task, to consolidate those new memories. Drosophila lends itself to the study of the interactions between memory and sleep. The fruit fly provides incomparable genetic resources, a mapped connectome, and an existing framework of knowledge on the molecular, cellular, and circuit mechanisms of memory and sleep, making the fruit fly a remarkable model to decipher the sophisticated regulation of learning and memory by the quantity and quality of sleep. Research in Drosophila has stablished not only that sleep facilitates learning in wild-type and memory-impaired animals, but that sleep deprivation interferes with the acquisition of new memories. In addition, it is well-accepted that sleep is paramount in memory consolidation processes. Finally, studies in Drosophila have shown that that learning itself can promote sleep drive. Nevertheless, the molecular and network mechanisms underlying this intertwined relationship are still evasive. Recent remarkable work has shed light on the neural substrates that mediate sleep-dependent memory consolidation. In a similar way, the mechanistic insights of the neural switch control between sleep-dependent and sleep-independent consolidation strategies were recently described. This review will discuss the regulation of memory by sleep in Drosophila, focusing on the most recent advances in the field and pointing out questions awaiting to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Marquand
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Camilla Roselli
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics and School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Isaac Cervantes-Sandoval
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
- Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Tamara Boto
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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16
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Mhatre SD, Iyer J, Petereit J, Dolling-Boreham RM, Tyryshkina A, Paul AM, Gilbert R, Jensen M, Woolsey RJ, Anand S, Sowa MB, Quilici DR, Costes SV, Girirajan S, Bhattacharya S. Artificial gravity partially protects space-induced neurological deficits in Drosophila melanogaster. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111279. [PMID: 36070701 PMCID: PMC10503492 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Spaceflight poses risks to the central nervous system (CNS), and understanding neurological responses is important for future missions. We report CNS changes in Drosophila aboard the International Space Station in response to spaceflight microgravity (SFμg) and artificially simulated Earth gravity (SF1g) via inflight centrifugation as a countermeasure. While inflight behavioral analyses of SFμg exhibit increased activity, postflight analysis displays significant climbing defects, highlighting the sensitivity of behavior to altered gravity. Multi-omics analysis shows alterations in metabolic, oxidative stress and synaptic transmission pathways in both SFμg and SF1g; however, neurological changes immediately postflight, including neuronal loss, glial cell count alterations, oxidative damage, and apoptosis, are seen only in SFμg. Additionally, progressive neuronal loss and a glial phenotype in SF1g and SFμg brains, with pronounced phenotypes in SFμg, are seen upon acclimation to Earth conditions. Overall, our results indicate that artificial gravity partially protects the CNS from the adverse effects of spaceflight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddhita D Mhatre
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; KBR, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; COSMIAC Research Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Janani Iyer
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; KBR, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; Universities Space Research Association, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
| | - Juli Petereit
- Nevada Bioinformatics Center, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Roberta M Dolling-Boreham
- Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA 94035, USA
| | - Anastasia Tyryshkina
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Amber M Paul
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; Universities Space Research Association, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA 94035, USA; NASA Postdoctoral Program, Universities Space Research Association, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Department of Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, USA
| | - Rachel Gilbert
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; NASA Postdoctoral Program, Universities Space Research Association, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Matthew Jensen
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | | | - Sulekha Anand
- Department of Biological Sciences, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA 95192, USA
| | - Marianne B Sowa
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - David R Quilici
- Nevada Proteomics Center, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
| | - Sylvain V Costes
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
| | - Santhosh Girirajan
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Sharmila Bhattacharya
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA; Biological and Physical Sciences Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington DC 20024, USA.
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17
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Malta SM, Batista LL, Silva HCG, Franco RR, Silva MH, Rodrigues TS, Correia LIV, Martins MM, Venturini G, Espindola FS, da Silva MV, Ueira-Vieira C. Identification of bioactive peptides from a Brazilian kefir sample, and their anti-Alzheimer potential in Drosophila melanogaster. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11065. [PMID: 35773306 PMCID: PMC9246878 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15297-1] [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: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly, affecting cognitive, intellectual, and motor functions. Different hypotheses explain AD’s mechanism, such as the amyloidogenic hypothesis. Moreover, this disease is multifactorial, and several studies have shown that gut dysbiosis and oxidative stress influence its pathogenesis. Knowing that kefir is a probiotic used in therapies to restore dysbiosis and that the bioactive peptides present in it have antioxidant properties, we explored its biotechnological potential as a source of molecules capable of modulating the amyloidogenic pathway and reducing oxidative stress, contributing to the treatment of AD. For that, we used Drosophila melanogaster model for AD (AD-like flies). Identification of bioactive peptides in the kefir sample was made by proteomic and peptidomic analyses, followed by in vitro evaluation of antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition potential. Flies were treated and their motor performance, brain morphology, and oxidative stress evaluated. Finally, we performed molecular docking between the peptides found and the main pathology-related proteins in the flies. The results showed that the fraction with the higher peptide concentration was positive for the parameters evaluated. In conclusion, these results revealed these kefir peptide-rich fractions have therapeutic potential for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Mares Malta
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil. .,Laboratory of Genetics, Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Acre Street, 2E building, room 230, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-319, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mário Machado Martins
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Venturini
- Laboratório de Genética e Cardiologia Molecular-LIM-13, Instituto do Coração (InCor), Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Murilo Vieira da Silva
- Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ueira-Vieira
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil. .,Laboratory of Genetics, Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Acre Street, 2E building, room 230, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-319, Brazil.
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18
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Ulian-Benitez S, Hjelmstad AS, Barbosa GO, Haghighi P. Eosin whole-brain mount staining to analyze neurodegeneration in a fly model of Alzheimer's disease. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101377. [PMID: 35634356 PMCID: PMC9136343 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
In the fly brain, neurodegeneration is detected by the presence of vacuoles using conventional hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) or phalloidin staining, which are lengthy and expensive processes. Here, we present a faster and cost-effective 2-day protocol to visualize vacuoles in a fly model of Alzheimer disease. We describe eosin staining in the whole-brain mount, followed by confocal microscopy and image analysis with an open source Fiji plugin. This protocol can be applied to visualize different modules in the fly brain.
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19
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Chocron ES, Munkácsy E, Kim HS, Karpowicz P, Jiang N, Van Skike CE, DeRosa N, Banh AQ, Palavicini JP, Wityk P, Kalinowski L, Galvan V, Osmulski PA, Jankowska E, Gaczynska M, Pickering AM. Genetic and pharmacologic proteasome augmentation ameliorates Alzheimer's-like pathology in mouse and fly APP overexpression models. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabk2252. [PMID: 35675410 PMCID: PMC9177073 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk2252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The proteasome has key roles in neuronal proteostasis, including the removal of misfolded and oxidized proteins, presynaptic protein turnover, and synaptic efficacy and plasticity. Proteasome dysfunction is a prominent feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We show that prevention of proteasome dysfunction by genetic manipulation delays mortality, cell death, and cognitive deficits in fly and cell culture AD models. We developed a transgenic mouse with neuronal-specific proteasome overexpression that, when crossed with an AD mouse model, showed reduced mortality and cognitive deficits. To establish translational relevance, we developed a set of TAT-based proteasome-activating peptidomimetics that stably penetrated the blood-brain barrier and enhanced 20S/26S proteasome activity. These agonists protected against cell death, cognitive decline, and mortality in cell culture, fly, and mouse AD models. The protective effects of proteasome overexpression appear to be driven, at least in part, by the proteasome's increased turnover of the amyloid precursor protein along with the prevention of overall proteostatic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Sandra Chocron
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Erin Munkácsy
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Harper S. Kim
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics (CNET), Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Przemyslaw Karpowicz
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Nisi Jiang
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Candice E. Van Skike
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Nicholas DeRosa
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Andy Q. Banh
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Juan P. Palavicini
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Paweł Wityk
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
- Department of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics–Fahrenheit Biobank BBMRI.pl, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
- BioTechMed Centre/Department of Mechanics of Materials and Structures, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Leszek Kalinowski
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
- Department of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics–Fahrenheit Biobank BBMRI.pl, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
- BioTechMed Centre/Department of Mechanics of Materials and Structures, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Veronica Galvan
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- College of Medicine, Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- Center for Geroscience and Healthy Brain Aging, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
- South Texas VA Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Pawel A. Osmulski
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Elzbieta Jankowska
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Maria Gaczynska
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Andrew M. Pickering
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics (CNET), Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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20
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Ogunsuyi O, Olasehinde T, Oboh G. Neuroprotective properties of Solanum leaves in Transgenic Drosophila melanogaster model of Alzheimer's disease. Biomarkers 2022; 27:587-598. [PMID: 35546534 DOI: 10.1080/1354750x.2022.2077446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We investigated the effect of African eggplant (AE) (Solanum macrocarpon L) and Black nightshade (BN) (Solanum nigrum L) leaves; two tropical vegetables consumed by humans on behavioral, biochemical and histological indices in Drosophila melanogaster model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). MATERIALS AND METHOD Transgenic flies expressing human Amyloid Precursor Protein (hAPP) and β-secretase (hBACE 1) were exposed to the pulverized leaf samples (0.1 and 1.0%) in their diets for fourteen days. Thereafter, the flies were assessed for their behavioral indices and routine histology of brain cells. Furthermore, fly head homogenates were assayed for β-amyloid level, activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and β-secretase (BACE-1), as well as oxidative stress markers. RESULTS Result showed that the significantly lower (p < 0.05) behavioral parameters (survival, locomotor performance and memory index), higher AChE and BACE-1 activities, β-amyloid, ROS and lipid peroxidation levels, as well as reduced antioxidant indices observed in the AD flies, were significantly ameliorated (p < 0.05) in AD flies treated with the leaf samples. DISCUSSION This study has showed that leaves of AE and BN ameliorated behavioral and biochemical indices in AD flies via neural enzyme modulatory, and antioxidant mechanisms. CONCLUSION Hence, this study further justifies the neuroprotective properties of both AE and BN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Opeyemi Ogunsuyi
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria.,Department of Biomedical Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria
| | - Tosin Olasehinde
- Nutrition and Toxicology Division, Food Technology Department, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Lagos, Nigeria.,Discipline of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Westville, Durban, Kwazulu-Natal Province, South Africa
| | - Ganiyu Oboh
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria
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21
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Chakrabarty R, Yousuf S, Singh MP. Contributive Role of Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia Towards the Development of Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:4274-4291. [PMID: 35503159 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02846-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the causes of dementia that results from several infections/biological conditions leading to either cell disruption or loss of neuronal communication. Studies have documented the accumulation of two proteins, beta-amyloid (Aβ), which accumulates on the exteriors of neurons, and tau (Tau), which assembles at the interiors of brain cells and is chiefly liable for the progression of the disease. Several molecular and cellular pathways account for the accumulation of amyloid-β and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, which are phosphorylated variants of Tau protein. Moreover, research has revealed a potential connection between AD and diabetes. It has also been demonstrated that both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia have a significant role in the development of AD. In addition, SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier protein) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD. SUMOylation is the process by which modification of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Tau takes place. Furthermore, Drosophila melanogaster has proven to be an efficient model organism in studies to establish the relationship between AD and variations in blood glucose levels. In addition, the review successfully identifies the common pathway that links the effects of fluctuations in glucose levels on AD pathogenesis and advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riya Chakrabarty
- School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar-Ludhiana National Highway, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
| | - Sumaira Yousuf
- School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar-Ludhiana National Highway, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
| | - Mahendra P Singh
- School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar-Ludhiana National Highway, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India.
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22
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Blanchette CR, Scalera AL, Harris KP, Zhao Z, Dresselhaus EC, Koles K, Yeh A, Apiki JK, Stewart BA, Rodal AA. Local regulation of extracellular vesicle traffic by the synaptic endocytic machinery. J Cell Biol 2022; 221:e202112094. [PMID: 35320349 PMCID: PMC8952828 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202112094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal extracellular vesicles (EVs) are locally released from presynaptic terminals, carrying cargoes critical for intercellular signaling and disease. EVs are derived from endosomes, but it is unknown how these cargoes are directed to the EV pathway rather than for conventional endolysosomal degradation. Here, we find that endocytic machinery plays an unexpected role in maintaining a release-competent pool of EV cargoes at synapses. Endocytic mutants, including nervous wreck (nwk), shibire/dynamin, and AP-2, unexpectedly exhibit local presynaptic depletion specifically of EV cargoes. Accordingly, nwk mutants phenocopy synaptic plasticity defects associated with loss of the EV cargo synaptotagmin-4 (Syt4) and suppress lethality upon overexpression of the EV cargo amyloid precursor protein (APP). These EV defects are genetically separable from canonical endocytic functions in synaptic vesicle recycling and synaptic growth. Endocytic machinery opposes the endosomal retromer complex to regulate EV cargo levels and acts upstream of synaptic cargo removal by retrograde axonal transport. Our data suggest a novel molecular mechanism that locally promotes cargo loading into synaptic EVs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kathryn P. Harris
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Zechuan Zhao
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
| | | | - Kate Koles
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
| | - Anna Yeh
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
| | | | - Bryan A. Stewart
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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23
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Tello JA, Williams HE, Eppler RM, Steinhilb ML, Khanna M. Animal Models of Neurodegenerative Disease: Recent Advances in Fly Highlight Innovative Approaches to Drug Discovery. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:883358. [PMID: 35514431 PMCID: PMC9063566 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.883358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases represent a formidable challenge to global health. As advances in other areas of medicine grant healthy living into later decades of life, aging diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders can diminish the quality of these additional years, owed largely to the lack of efficacious treatments and the absence of durable cures. Alzheimer's disease prevalence is predicted to more than double in the next 30 years, affecting nearly 15 million Americans, with AD-associated costs exceeding $1 billion by 2050. Delaying onset of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases is critical to improving the quality of life for patients and reducing the burden of disease on caregivers and healthcare systems. Significant progress has been made to model disease pathogenesis and identify points of therapeutic intervention. While some researchers have contributed to our understanding of the proteins and pathways that drive biological dysfunction in disease using in vitro and in vivo models, others have provided mathematical, biophysical, and computational technologies to identify potential therapeutic compounds using in silico modeling. The most exciting phase of the drug discovery process is now: by applying a target-directed approach that leverages the strengths of multiple techniques and validates lead hits using Drosophila as an animal model of disease, we are on the fast-track to identifying novel therapeutics to restore health to those impacted by neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith A. Tello
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Center of Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Haley E. Williams
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Center of Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Robert M. Eppler
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Michelle L. Steinhilb
- Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - May Khanna
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Center of Innovation in Brain Science, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
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Neuroprotective Effects of PARP Inhibitors in Drosophila Models of Alzheimer’s Disease. Cells 2022; 11:cells11081284. [PMID: 35455964 PMCID: PMC9027574 DOI: 10.3390/cells11081284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible age-related neurodegenerative disorder clinically characterized by severe memory impairment, language deficits and cognitive decline. The major neuropathological hallmarks of AD include extracellular deposits of the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides and cytoplasmic neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. The accumulation of plaques and tangles in the brain triggers a cascade of molecular events that culminate in neuronal damage and cell death. Despite extensive research, our understanding of the molecular basis of AD pathogenesis remains incomplete and a cure for this devastating disease is still not available. A growing body of evidence in different experimental models suggests that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) overactivation might be a crucial component of the molecular network of interactions responsible for AD pathogenesis. In this work, we combined genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches to investigate the effects of two different PARP-1 inhibitors (olaparib and MC2050) in Drosophila models of Alzheimer’s disease by exploring their neuroprotective and therapeutic potential in vivo. We found that both pharmacological inhibition and genetic inactivation of PARP-1 significantly extend lifespan and improve the climbing ability of transgenic AD flies. Consistently, PARP-1 inhibitors lead to a significant decrease of Aβ42 aggregates and partially rescue the epigenetic alterations associated with AD in the brain. Interestingly, olaparib and MC2050 also suppress the AD-associated aberrant activation of transposable elements in neuronal tissues of AD flies.
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Zhang C, Inamdar SM, Swaminathan S, Marenda DR, Saunders AJ. Association of the Protein-Quality-Control Protein Ubiquilin-1 With Alzheimer’s Disease Both in vitro and in vivo. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:821059. [PMID: 35401099 PMCID: PMC8992708 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.821059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) belongs to a class of diseases characterized by progressive accumulation and aggregation of pathogenic proteins, particularly Aβ proteins. Genetic analysis has identified UBQLN1 as an AD candidate gene. Ubiquilin-1 levels reduce with AD progression, suggesting a potential loss-of-function mechanism. The ubiquilin-1 protein is involved in protein quality control (PQC), which plays essential roles in cellular growth and normal cell function. Ubiquilin-1 regulates γ-secretase by increasing endoproteolysis of PS1, a key γ-secretase component. Presently, the effects of ubiquilin-1 on cellular physiology as well as Aβ-related events require further investigation. Here, we investigated the effects of ubiquilin-1 on cellular growth and viability in association with APP (amyloid-β protein precursor), APP processing-related β-secretase (BACE1, BACE) and γ-secretase using cell and animal-based models. We showed that loss-of-function in Drosophila ubqn suppresses human APP and human BACE phenotypes in wing veins and altered cell number and tissue compartment size in the wing. Additionally, we performed cell-based studies and showed that silencing UBQLN1 reduced cell viability and increased caspase-3 activity. Overexpression of UBQLN1 significantly reduced Aβ levels. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of γ-secretase increased ubiquilin-1 protein levels, suggesting a mechanism that regulates ubiquilin-1 levels which may associate with reduced Aβ reduction by inhibiting γ-secretase. Collectively, our results support not only a loss-of-function mechanism of ubiquilin-1 in association with AD, but also support the significance of targeting ubiquilin-1-mediated PQC as a potential therapeutic strategy for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Zhang
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Swathi Swaminathan
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Daniel R. Marenda
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Division of Biological Infrastructure, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA, United States
| | - Aleister J. Saunders
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Aleister J. Saunders,
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Differential gene expression by RNA-seq during Alzheimer’s disease-like progression in the Drosophila melanogaster model. Neurosci Res 2022; 180:1-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Smith C, Smith H, Roberts L, Coward L, Gorman G, Verma A, Li Q, Buford TW, Carter CS, Jumbo-Lucioni P. Probiotic Releasing Angiotensin (1-7) in a Drosophila Model of Alzheimer's Disease Produces Sex-Specific Effects on Cognitive Function. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 85:1205-1217. [PMID: 34924372 PMCID: PMC9549527 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While extensive research on the brain has failed to identify effective therapies, using probiotics to target the gut microbiome has shown therapeutic potential in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Genetically modified probiotics (GMP) are a promising strategy to deliver key therapeutic peptides with high efficacy and tissue specificity. Angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) levels inversely correlate to AD severity, but its administration is challenging. Our group has successfully established a GMP-based method of Ang-(1-7) delivery. OBJECTIVE Since Drosophila represents an excellent model to study the effect of probiotics on complex disorders in a high throughput manner, we tested whether oral supplementation with Lactobacillus paracasei releasing Ang-(1-7) (LP-A) delays memory loss in a Drosophila AD model. METHODS Flies overexpressing the human amyloid-β protein precursor and its β-site cleaving enzyme in neurons were randomized to receive four 24-h doses of Lactobacillus paracasei alone (LP), LP-A or sucrose over 14 days. Memory was assessed via an aversive phototaxic suppression assay. RESULTS Optimal dilution,1:2, was determined based on palatability. LP-A improved memory in trained AD males but worsened cognition in AD females. LP-supplementation experiments confirmed that Ang-(1-7) conferred additional cognitive benefits in males and was responsible for the deleterious cognitive effects in females. Sex-specific differences in the levels of angiotensin peptides and differential activation of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism in response to supplementation may underlie this male-only therapeutic response. CONCLUSION In summary, LP-A ameliorated the memory deficits of a Drosophila AD model, but effects were sex-specific. Dosage optimization may be required to address this differential response.
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Affiliation(s)
- C.Aaron Smith
- McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL
| | - Haddon Smith
- McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL
| | - Lisa Roberts
- Department of Medicine; Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Lori Coward
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Institute, Samford University, Birmingham, AL
| | - Gregory Gorman
- McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL,Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Institute, Samford University, Birmingham, AL
| | - Amrisha Verma
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Florida Gainesville, FL
| | - Qiuhong Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Florida Gainesville, FL
| | - Thomas W. Buford
- Department of Medicine; Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL,Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL,Corresponding authors: Thomas W. Buford, Phone: (205) 975-9042; ; Patricia Jumbo-Lucioni, Phone: (205) 726-4170;
| | - Christy S. Carter
- Department of Medicine; Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Patricia Jumbo-Lucioni
- McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL,Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.,Corresponding authors: Thomas W. Buford, Phone: (205) 975-9042; ; Patricia Jumbo-Lucioni, Phone: (205) 726-4170;
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28
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Kunkeaw T, Suttisansanee U, Trachootham D, Karinchai J, Chantong B, Potikanond S, Inthachat W, Pitchakarn P, Temviriyanukul P. Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. reduces BACE-1 activities and amyloid peptides accumulation in Drosophila models of Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23796. [PMID: 34893659 PMCID: PMC8664832 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03142-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), one type of dementia, is a complex disease affecting people globally with limited drug treatment. Thus, natural products are currently of interest as promising candidates because of their cost-effectiveness and multi-target abilities. Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw., an edible fern, inhibited acetylcholinesterase in vitro, inferring that it might be a promising candidate for AD treatment by supporting cholinergic neurons. However, evidence demonstrating anti-AD properties of this edible plant via inhibiting of neurotoxic peptides production, amyloid beta (Aβ), both in vitro and in vivo is lacking. Thus, the anti-AD properties of D. esculentum extract both in vitro and in Drosophila models of Aβ-mediated toxicity were elucidated. Findings showed that an ethanolic extract exhibited high phenolics and flavonoids, contributing to antioxidant and inhibitory activities against AD-related enzymes. Notably, the extract acted as a BACE-1 blocker and reduced amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42) peptides in Drosophila models, resulting in improved locomotor behaviors. Information gained from this study suggested that D. esculentum showed potential for AD amelioration and prevention. Further investigations in vertebrates or humans are required to determine the effective doses of D. esculentum against AD, particularly via amyloidogenic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanit Kunkeaw
- Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Uthaiwan Suttisansanee
- Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Dunyaporn Trachootham
- Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Jirarat Karinchai
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Meung, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Boonrat Chantong
- Department of Preclinical Science and Applied Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Saranyapin Potikanond
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Meung, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Woorawee Inthachat
- Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Pornsiri Pitchakarn
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Meung, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Piya Temviriyanukul
- Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phuttamonthon, 73170, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
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Sharpe JL, Harper NS, Garner DR, West RJH. Modeling C9orf72-Related Frontotemporal Dementia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Drosophila. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:770937. [PMID: 34744635 PMCID: PMC8566814 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.770937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
An intronic hexanucleotide (GGGGCC) expansion in the C9orf72 gene is the most common genetic cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the decade following its discovery, much progress has been made in enhancing our understanding of how it precipitates disease. Both loss of function caused by reduced C9orf72 transcript levels, and gain of function mechanisms, triggered by the production of repetitive sense and antisense RNA and dipeptide repeat proteins, are thought to contribute to the toxicity. Drosophila models, with their unrivaled genetic tractability and short lifespan, have played a key role in developing our understanding of C9orf72-related FTD/ALS. There is no C9orf72 homolog in fly, and although this precludes investigations into loss of function toxicity, it is useful for elucidating mechanisms underpinning gain of function toxicity. To date there are a range of Drosophila C9orf72 models, encompassing different aspects of gain of function toxicity. In addition to pure repeat transgenes, which produce both repeat RNA and dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), RNA only models and DPR models have been generated to unpick the individual contributions of RNA and each dipeptide repeat protein to C9orf72 toxicity. In this review, we discuss how Drosophila models have shaped our understanding of C9orf72 gain of function toxicity, and address opportunities to utilize these models for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne L. Sharpe
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nikki S. Harper
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan R. Garner
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Neuroscience Institute, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan J. H. West
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Neuroscience Institute, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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30
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Elovsson G, Bergkvist L, Brorsson AC. Exploring Aβ Proteotoxicity and Therapeutic Candidates Using Drosophila melanogaster. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910448. [PMID: 34638786 PMCID: PMC8508956 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease is a widespread and devastating neurological disorder associated with proteotoxic events caused by the misfolding and aggregation of the amyloid-β peptide. To find therapeutic strategies to combat this disease, Drosophila melanogaster has proved to be an excellent model organism that is able to uncover anti-proteotoxic candidates due to its outstanding genetic toolbox and resemblance to human disease genes. In this review, we highlight the use of Drosophila melanogaster to both study the proteotoxicity of the amyloid-β peptide and to screen for drug candidates. Expanding the knowledge of how the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease is related to proteotoxicity and how drugs can be used to block disease progression will hopefully shed further light on the field in the search for disease-modifying treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Elovsson
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden;
| | - Liza Bergkvist
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, 17164 Solna, Sweden;
| | - Ann-Christin Brorsson
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden;
- Correspondence:
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Vignon A, Salvador-Prince L, Lehmann S, Perrier V, Torrent J. Deconstructing Alzheimer's Disease: How to Bridge the Gap between Experimental Models and the Human Pathology? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8769. [PMID: 34445475 PMCID: PMC8395727 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Discovered more than a century ago, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not only still present in our societies but has also become the most common dementia, with 50 million people worldwide affected by the disease. This number is expected to double in the next generation, and no cure is currently available to slow down or stop the disease progression. Recently, some advances were made due to the approval of the aducanumab treatment by the American Food and Drug Administration. The etiology of this human-specific disease remains poorly understood, and the mechanisms of its development have not been completely clarified. Several hypotheses concerning the molecular mechanisms of AD have been proposed, but the existing studies focus primarily on the two main markers of the disease: the amyloid β peptides, whose aggregation in the brain generates amyloid plaques, and the abnormally phosphorylated tau proteins, which are responsible for neurofibrillary tangles. These protein aggregates induce neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, which, in turn, lead to cognitive and behavioral deficits. The challenge is, therefore, to create models that best reproduce this pathology. This review aims at gathering the different existing AD models developed in vitro, in cellulo, and in vivo. Many models have already been set up, but it is necessary to identify the most relevant ones for our investigations. The purpose of the review is to help researchers to identify the most pertinent disease models, from the most often used to the most recently generated and from simple to complex, explaining their specificities and giving concrete examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Vignon
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (A.V.); (L.S.-P.)
| | - Lucie Salvador-Prince
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (A.V.); (L.S.-P.)
| | - Sylvain Lehmann
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CHU Montpellier, 34095 Montpellier, France;
| | - Véronique Perrier
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, CNRS, 34095 Montpellier, France
| | - Joan Torrent
- INM, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34095 Montpellier, France; (A.V.); (L.S.-P.)
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Uras G, Manca A, Zhang P, Markus Z, Mack N, Allen S, Bo M, Xu S, Xu J, Georgiou M, Zhu Z. In vivo Evaluation of a Newly Synthesized Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor in a Transgenic Drosophila Model of Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:691222. [PMID: 34276297 PMCID: PMC8278008 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.691222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by disrupted memory, learning functions, reduced life expectancy, and locomotor dysfunction, as a result of the accumulation and aggregation of amyloid peptides that cause neuronal damage in neuronal circuits. In the current study, we exploited a transgenic Drosophila melanogaster line, expressing amyloid-β peptides to investigate the efficacy of a newly synthesized acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, named XJP-1, as a potential AD therapy. Behavioral assays and confocal microscopy were used to characterize the drug effect on AD symptomatology and amyloid peptide deposition. The symptomatology induced in this particular transgenic model recapitulates the scenario observed in human AD patients, showing a shortened lifespan and reduced locomotor functions, along with a significant accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain. XJP-1 treatment resulted in a significant improvement of AD symptoms and a reduction of amyloid plaques by diminishing the amyloid aggregation rate. In comparison with clinically effective AD drugs, our results demonstrated that XJP-1 has similar effects on AD symptomatology, but at 10 times lower drug concentration than donepezil. It also showed an earlier beneficial effect on the reduction of amyloid plaques at 10 days after drug treatment, as observed for donepezil at 20 days, while the other drugs tested have no such effect. As a novel and potent AChE inhibitor, our study demonstrates that inhibition of the enzyme AChE by XJP-1 treatment improves the amyloid-induced symptomatology in Drosophila, by reducing the number of amyloid plaques within the fruit fly CNS. Thus, compound XJP-1 has the therapeutic potential to be further investigated for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Uras
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Alessia Manca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zsuzsa Markus
- Queens Medical Centre, School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Natalie Mack
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie Allen
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Bo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Shengtao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinyi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Marios Georgiou
- Queens Medical Centre, School of Life Sciences, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Zheying Zhu
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics and Formulation, School of Pharmacy, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Thomas J, Smith H, Smith CA, Coward L, Gorman G, De Luca M, Jumbo-Lucioni P. The Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Lisinopril Mitigates Memory and Motor Deficits in a Drosophila Model of Alzheimer's Disease. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2021; 28:307-319. [PMID: 35366264 PMCID: PMC8830455 DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology28020020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) has been reported to reduce symptoms of cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Yet, the protective role of ACEis against AD symptoms is still controversial. Here, we aimed at determining whether oral treatment with the ACEi lisinopril has beneficial effects on cognitive and physical functions in a Drosophila melanogaster model of AD that overexpresses the human amyloid precursor protein and the human β-site APP-cleaving enzyme in neurons. We found a significant impairment in learning and memory as well as in climbing ability in young AD flies compared to control flies. After evaluation of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism, we also found that AD flies displayed a >30-fold increase in the levels of the neurotoxic 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) in their heads. Furthermore, compared to control flies, AD flies had significantly higher levels of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) hydrogen peroxide in their muscle-enriched thoraces. Lisinopril significantly improved deficits in learning and memory and climbing ability in AD flies. The positive impact of lisinopril on physical function might be, in part, explained by a significant reduction in ROS levels in the thoraces of the lisinopril-fed AD flies. However, lisinopril did not affect the levels of 3-HK. In conclusion, our findings provide novel and relevant insights into the therapeutic potential of ACEis in a preclinical AD model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimiece Thomas
- McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA; (J.T.); (H.S.); (C.A.S.)
| | - Haddon Smith
- McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA; (J.T.); (H.S.); (C.A.S.)
| | - C. Aaron Smith
- McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA; (J.T.); (H.S.); (C.A.S.)
| | - Lori Coward
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Institute, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA; (L.C.); (G.G.)
| | - Gregory Gorman
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Institute, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA; (L.C.); (G.G.)
- Pharmaceutical, Social, and Administrative Sciences, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Professions, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA;
| | - Patricia Jumbo-Lucioni
- Pharmaceutical, Social, and Administrative Sciences, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
- Correspondence:
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Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster males reduce courtship behaviour after mating failure. In the lab, such conditioned courtship suppression, aka 'courtship conditioning', serves as a complex learning and memory assay. Interestingly, variations in the courtship conditioning assay can establish different types of memory. Here, we review research investigating the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms that allow male flies to form memories of previous mating failures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Raun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Spencer Jones
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Jamie M Kramer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers Rescue Memory Defects in Drosophila-Expressing Alzheimer's Disease-Related Transgenes Independently of the Canonical Renin Angiotensin System. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0235-20.2020. [PMID: 33060184 PMCID: PMC7768280 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0235-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative disorder that causes progressive memory and cognitive decline. Recently, studies have reported that inhibitors of the mammalian renin angiotensin system (RAS) result in a significant reduction in the incidence and progression of AD by unknown mechanisms. Here, we used a genetic and pharmacological approach to evaluate the beneficial effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in Drosophila expressing AD-related transgenes. Importantly, while ACE orthologs have been identified in Drosophila, other RAS components are not conserved. We show that captopril, an ACE-I, and losartan, an ARB, can suppress a rough eye phenotype and brain cell death in flies expressing a mutant human C99 transgene. Captopril also significantly rescues memory defects in these flies. Similarly, both drugs reduce cell death in Drosophila expressing human Aβ42 and losartan significantly rescues memory deficits. However, neither drug affects production, accumulation or clearance of Aβ42 Importantly, neither drug rescued brain cell death in Drosophila expressing human Tau, suggesting that RAS inhibitors specifically target the amyloid pathway. Of note, we also observed reduced cell death and a complete rescue of memory deficits when we crossed a null mutation in Drosophila Acer into each transgenic line demonstrating that the target of captopril in Drosophila is Acer. Together, these studies demonstrate that captopril and losartan are able to modulate AD related phenotypes in the absence of the canonical RAS pathway and suggest that both drugs have additional targets that can be identified in Drosophila.
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Panchal K, Tiwari AK. Miro, a Rho GTPase genetically interacts with Alzheimer's disease-associated genes ( Tau, Aβ42 and Appl) in Drosophila melanogaster. Biol Open 2020; 9:bio049569. [PMID: 32747449 PMCID: PMC7489762 DOI: 10.1242/bio.049569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Miro (mitochondrial Rho GTPases), a mitochondrial outer membrane protein, facilitates mitochondrial axonal transport along the microtubules to facilitate neuronal function. It plays an important role in regulating mitochondrial dynamics (fusion and fission) and cellular energy generation. Thus, Miro might be associated with the key pathologies of several neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present manuscript, we have demonstrated the possible genetic interaction between Miro and AD-related genes such as Tau, Aβ42 and Appl in Drosophila melanogaster Ectopic expression of Tau, Aβ42 and Appl induced a rough eye phenotype, defects in phototaxis and climbing activity, and shortened lifespan in the flies. In our study, we have observed that overexpression of Miro improves the rough eye phenotype, behavioral activities (climbing and phototaxis) and ATP level in AD model flies. Further, the improvement examined in AD-related phenotypes was correlated with decreased oxidative stress, cell death and neurodegeneration in Miro overexpressing AD model flies. Thus, the obtained results suggested that Miro genetically interacts with AD-related genes in Drosophila and has the potential to be used as a therapeutic target for the design of therapeutic strategies for NDs.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komal Panchal
- Genetics and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Advanced Research (IAR), Koba, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382426, India
| | - Anand Krishna Tiwari
- Genetics and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Institute of Advanced Research (IAR), Koba, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382426, India
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Which Zebrafish Strains Are More Suitable to Perform Behavioral Studies? A Comprehensive Comparison by Phenomic Approach. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9080200. [PMID: 32752218 PMCID: PMC7465594 DOI: 10.3390/biology9080200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Wild-type (WT) zebrafish are commonly used in behavioral tests, however, the term WT corresponds to many different strains, such as AB, Tübingen long fin (TL), and Wild Indian Karyotype (WIK). Since these strains are widely used, there has to be at least one study to demonstrate the behavioral differences between them. In our study, six zebrafish strains were used, which are AB, absolute, TL, golden, pet store-purchased (PET), and WIK zebrafishes. The behavior of these fishes was tested in a set of behavioral tests, including novel tank, mirror-biting, predator avoidance, social interaction, and shoaling tests. From the results, the differences were observed for all behavioral tests, and each strain displayed particular behavior depending on the tests. In addition, from the heatmap and PCA (principal component analysis) results, two major clusters were displayed, separating the AB and TL zebrafishes with other strains in another cluster. Furthermore, after the coefficient of variation of each strain in every behavioral test was calculated, the AB and TL zebrafishes were found to possess a low percentage of the coefficient of variation, highlighting the strong reproducibility and the robustness of the behaviors tested in both fishes. Each zebrafish strain tested in this experiment showed specifically different behaviors from each other, thus, strain-specific zebrafish behavior should be considered when designing experiments using zebrafish behavior.
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Pharmacological Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: Insights from Drosophila melanogaster. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21134621. [PMID: 32610577 PMCID: PMC7370071 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is an ineluctable law of life. During the process of aging, the occurrence of neurodegenerative disorders is prevalent in the elderly population and the predominant type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The clinical symptoms of AD include progressive memory loss and impairment of cognitive functions that interfere with daily life activities. The predominant neuropathological features in AD are extracellular β-amyloid (Aβ) plaque deposition and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of hyperphosphorylated Tau. Because of its complex pathobiology, some tangible treatment can only ameliorate the symptoms, but not prevent the disease altogether. Numerous drugs during pre-clinical or clinical studies have shown no positive effect on the disease outcome. Therefore, understanding the basic pathophysiological mechanism of AD is imperative for the rational design of drugs that can be used to prevent this disease. Drosophilamelanogaster has emerged as a highly efficient model system to explore the pathogenesis and treatment of AD. In this review we have summarized recent advancements in the pharmacological research on AD using Drosophila as a model species, discussed feasible treatment strategies and provided further reference for the mechanistic study and treatment of age-related AD.
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Wilton DK, Stevens B. The contribution of glial cells to Huntington's disease pathogenesis. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 143:104963. [PMID: 32593752 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cells play critical roles in the normal development and function of neural circuits, but in many neurodegenerative diseases, they become dysregulated and may contribute to the development of brain pathology. In Huntington's disease (HD), glial cells both lose normal functions and gain neuropathic phenotypes. In addition, cell-autonomous dysfunction elicited by mutant huntingtin (mHTT) expression in specific glial cell types is sufficient to induce both pathology and Huntington's disease-related impairments in motor and cognitive performance, suggesting that these cells may drive the development of certain aspects of Huntington's disease pathogenesis. In support of this imaging studies in pre-symptomatic HD patients and work on mouse models have suggested that glial cell dysfunction occurs at a very early stage of the disease, prior to the onset of motor and cognitive deficits. Furthermore, selectively ablating mHTT from specific glial cells or correcting for HD-induced changes in their transcriptional profile rescues some HD-related phenotypes, demonstrating the potential of targeting these cells for therapeutic intervention. Here we review emerging research focused on understanding the involvement of different glial cell types in specific aspects of HD pathogenesis. This work is providing new insight into how HD impacts biological functions of glial cells in the healthy brain as well as how HD induced dysfunction in these cells might change the way they integrate into biological circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel K Wilton
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Beth Stevens
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Stanley Center, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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40
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Biophysical studies of protein misfolding and aggregation in in vivo models of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Q Rev Biophys 2020; 49:e22. [PMID: 32493529 DOI: 10.1017/s0033583520000025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's diseases (PD), are characterised by the formation of aberrant assemblies of misfolded proteins. The discovery of disease-modifying drugs for these disorders is challenging, in part because we still have a limited understanding of their molecular origins. In this review, we discuss how biophysical approaches can help explain the formation of the aberrant conformational states of proteins whose neurotoxic effects underlie these diseases. We discuss in particular models based on the transgenic expression of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau in AD, and α-synuclein in PD. Because biophysical methods have enabled an accurate quantification and a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying protein misfolding and aggregation in vitro, we expect that the further development of these methods to probe directly the corresponding mechanisms in vivo will open effective routes for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
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41
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Dissel S. Drosophila as a Model to Study the Relationship Between Sleep, Plasticity, and Memory. Front Physiol 2020; 11:533. [PMID: 32547415 PMCID: PMC7270326 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans spend nearly a third of their life sleeping, yet, despite decades of research the function of sleep still remains a mystery. Sleep has been linked with various biological systems and functions, including metabolism, immunity, the cardiovascular system, and cognitive functions. Importantly, sleep appears to be present throughout the animal kingdom suggesting that it must provide an evolutionary advantage. Among the many possible functions of sleep, the relationship between sleep, and cognition has received a lot of support. We have all experienced the negative cognitive effects associated with a night of sleep deprivation. These can include increased emotional reactivity, poor judgment, deficit in attention, impairment in learning and memory, and obviously increase in daytime sleepiness. Furthermore, many neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease often have a sleep disorder component. In some cases, the sleep disorder can exacerbate the progression of the neurological disease. Thus, it is clear that sleep plays an important role for many brain functions. In particular, sleep has been shown to play a positive role in the consolidation of long-term memory while sleep deprivation negatively impacts learning and memory. Importantly, sleep is a behavior that is adapted to an individual’s need and influenced by many external and internal stimuli. In addition to being an adaptive behavior, sleep can also modulate plasticity in the brain at the level of synaptic connections between neurons and neuronal plasticity influences sleep. Understanding how sleep is modulated by internal and external stimuli and how sleep can modulate memory and plasticity is a key question in neuroscience. In order to address this question, several animal models have been developed. Among them, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster with its unparalleled genetics has proved to be extremely valuable. In addition to sleep, Drosophila has been shown to be an excellent model to study many complex behaviors, including learning, and memory. This review describes our current knowledge of the relationship between sleep, plasticity, and memory using the fly model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephane Dissel
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, United States
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42
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Bolus H, Crocker K, Boekhoff-Falk G, Chtarbanova S. Modeling Neurodegenerative Disorders in Drosophila melanogaster. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E3055. [PMID: 32357532 PMCID: PMC7246467 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster provides a powerful genetic model system in which to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss recent progress in Drosophila modeling Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's Disease, Ataxia Telangiectasia, and neurodegeneration related to mitochondrial dysfunction or traumatic brain injury. We close by discussing recent progress using Drosophila models of neural regeneration and how these are likely to provide critical insights into future treatments for neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harris Bolus
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA;
| | - Kassi Crocker
- Genetics Graduate Training Program, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA;
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Grace Boekhoff-Falk
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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Overexpression of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter disrupts cognitive performance and causes age-dependent locomotion decline in Drosophila. Mol Cell Neurosci 2020; 105:103483. [PMID: 32217162 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2020.103483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Acetylcholinergic (ACh) neurotransmission is essential for key organismal functions such as locomotion and cognition. However, the mechanism through which ACh is regulated in the central nervous system is not fully understood. The vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) mediates the packaging and transport of ACh for exocytotic release and is a critical component of the ACh release machinery. Yet its precise role in the maintenance of cholinergic tone remains a subject of active investigation. Here we use the overexpression of VAChT as a tool to investigate the role of changes in ACh exocytosis on the regulation of synaptic activity and its downstream consequences. We measured the effect of an increase in VAChT expression on locomotion and cognitive performance as well as on organismal survival across the lifespan. We report the surprising finding that increased VAChT expression results in a significantly shorter lifespan in comparison to control flies. Moreover, constructs overexpressing VAChT demonstrate an age-dependent decrease in locomotion performance. Importantly, we report clear deficits in learning and memory which we measured through a courtship conditioning assay. Together, these data provide evidence for the adverse effects of overexpression of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter in the maintenance of normal behavioral abilities in Drosophila and demonstrates for the first time a role for ACh in the regulation of organismal survival.
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Miguel L, Frebourg T, Campion D, Lecourtois M. Moderate Overexpression of Tau in Drosophila Exacerbates Amyloid-β-Induced Neuronal Phenotypes and Correlates with Tau Oligomerization. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 74:637-647. [PMID: 32065789 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is neuropathologically defined by two key hallmarks: extracellular senile plaques composed primarily of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles, containing abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau protein. The tau protein is encoded by the MAPT gene. Recently, the H1 and H2 haplotypes of the MAPT gene were associated with AD risk. The minor MAPT H2 haplotype has been linked with a decreased risk of developing late-onset AD (LOAD). MAPT haplotypes show different levels of MAPT/Tau expression with H1 being ∼1.5-fold more expressed than H2, suggesting that MAPT expression level could be related to LOAD risk. In this study, we investigated whether this moderate difference in MAPT/Tau expression could influence Aβ-induced toxicity in vivo. We show that modest overexpression of tau protein in Drosophila exacerbates neuronal phenotypes in AβPP/BACE1 flies. The exacerbation of neuronal defects correlates with the accumulation of insoluble dTau oligomers, suggesting that the moderate difference in level of tau expression observed between H1 and H2 haplotypes could influence Aβ toxicity through the production of oligomeric tau insoluble species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Miguel
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245 and Rouen University Hospital, Department of Genetics and CNR-MAJ, Normandy Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen, France
| | - Thierry Frebourg
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245 and Rouen University Hospital, Department of Genetics and CNR-MAJ, Normandy Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen, France
| | - Dominique Campion
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245 and Rouen University Hospital, Department of Genetics and CNR-MAJ, Normandy Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen, France.,Centre Hospitalier du Rouvray, Sotteville-Lès-Rouen, France
| | - Magalie Lecourtois
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, Inserm U1245 and Rouen University Hospital, Department of Genetics and CNR-MAJ, Normandy Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Rouen, France
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45
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Genetic Dissection of Alzheimer's Disease Using Drosophila Models. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21030884. [PMID: 32019113 PMCID: PMC7037931 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a main cause of dementia, is the most common neurodegenerative disease that is related to abnormal accumulation of the amyloid β (Aβ) protein. Despite decades of intensive research, the mechanisms underlying AD remain elusive, and the only available treatment remains symptomatic. Molecular understanding of the pathogenesis and progression of AD is necessary to develop disease-modifying treatment. Drosophila, as the most advanced genetic model, has been used to explore the molecular mechanisms of AD in the last few decades. Here, we introduce Drosophila AD models based on human Aβ and summarize the results of their genetic dissection. We also discuss the utility of functional genomics using the Drosophila system in the search for AD-associated molecular mechanisms in the post-genomic era.
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46
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Bergkvist L, Du Z, Elovsson G, Appelqvist H, Itzhaki LS, Kumita JR, Kågedal K, Brorsson AC. Mapping pathogenic processes contributing to neurodegeneration in Drosophila models of Alzheimer's disease. FEBS Open Bio 2020; 10:338-350. [PMID: 31823504 PMCID: PMC7050262 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, affecting millions of people and currently lacking available disease‐modifying treatments. Appropriate disease models are necessary to investigate disease mechanisms and potential treatments. Drosophila melanogaster models of AD include the Aβ fly model and the AβPP‐BACE1 fly model. In the Aβ fly model, the Aβ peptide is fused to a secretion sequence and directly overexpressed. In the AβPP‐BACE1 model, human AβPP and human BACE1 are expressed in the fly, resulting in in vivo production of Aβ peptides and other AβPP cleavage products. Although these two models have been used for almost two decades, the underlying mechanisms resulting in neurodegeneration are not yet clearly understood. In this study, we have characterized toxic mechanisms in these two AD fly models. We detected neuronal cell death and increased protein carbonylation (indicative of oxidative stress) in both AD fly models. In the Aβ fly model, this correlates with high Aβ1–42 levels and down‐regulation of the levels of mRNA encoding lysosomal‐associated membrane protein 1, lamp1 (a lysosomal marker), while in the AβPP‐BACE1 fly model, neuronal cell death correlates with low Aβ1–42 levels, up‐regulation of lamp1 mRNA levels and increased levels of C‐terminal fragments. In addition, a significant amount of AβPP/Aβ antibody (4G8)‐positive species, located close to the endosomal marker rab5, was detected in the AβPP‐BACE1 model. Taken together, this study highlights the similarities and differences in the toxic mechanisms which result in neuronal death in two different AD fly models. Such information is important to consider when utilizing these models to study AD pathogenesis or screening for potential treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liza Bergkvist
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Zhen Du
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, UK.,Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Greta Elovsson
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Hanna Appelqvist
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden
| | | | - Janet R Kumita
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Misfolding Diseases, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Katarina Kågedal
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Ann-Christin Brorsson
- Division of Molecular Biotechnology, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
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47
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Barrett M, Fiocca K, Waddell EA, McNair C, O'Donnell S, Marenda DR. Larval mannitol diets increase mortality, prolong development and decrease adult body sizes in fruit flies ( Drosophila melanogaster). Biol Open 2020; 8:bio.047084. [PMID: 31822472 PMCID: PMC6955208 DOI: 10.1242/bio.047084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of polyols to disrupt holometabolous insect development has not been studied and identifying compounds in food that affect insect development can further our understanding of the pathways that connect growth rate, developmental timing and body size in insects. High-sugar diets prolong development and generate smaller adult body sizes in Drosophila melanogaster We tested for concentration-dependent effects on development when D. melanogaster larvae are fed mannitol, a polyalcohol sweetener. We also tested for amelioration of developmental effects if introduction to mannitol media is delayed past the third instar, as expected if there is a developmental sensitive-period for mannitol effects. Both male and female larvae had prolonged development and smaller adult body sizes when fed increasing concentrations of mannitol. Mannitol-induced increases in mortality were concentration dependent in 0 M to 0.8 M treatments with mortality effects beginning as early as 48 h post-hatching. Larval survival, pupariation and eclosion times were unaffected in 0.4 M mannitol treatments when larvae were first introduced to mannitol 72 h post-hatching (the beginning of the third instar); 72 h delay of 0.8 M mannitol introduction reduced the adverse mannitol effects. The developmental effects of a larval mannitol diet closely resemble those of high-sugar larval diets.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Barrett
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Katherine Fiocca
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Edward A Waddell
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Cheyenne McNair
- Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Sean O'Donnell
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104.,Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104
| | - Daniel R Marenda
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA 19104 .,Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 19104
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Collins LT. The case for emulating insect brains using anatomical "wiring diagrams" equipped with biophysical models of neuronal activity. BIOLOGICAL CYBERNETICS 2019; 113:465-474. [PMID: 31696303 DOI: 10.1007/s00422-019-00810-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Developing whole-brain emulation (WBE) technology would provide immense benefits across neuroscience, biomedicine, artificial intelligence, and robotics. At this time, constructing a simulated human brain lacks feasibility due to limited experimental data and limited computational resources. However, I suggest that progress toward this goal might be accelerated by working toward an intermediate objective, namely insect brain emulation (IBE). More specifically, this would entail creating biologically realistic simulations of entire insect nervous systems along with more approximate simulations of non-neuronal insect physiology to make "virtual insects." I argue that this could be realistically achievable within the next 20 years. I propose that developing emulations of insect brains will galvanize the global community of scientists, businesspeople, and policymakers toward pursuing the loftier goal of emulating the human brain. By demonstrating that WBE is possible via IBE, simulating mammalian brains and eventually the human brain may no longer be viewed as too radically ambitious to deserve substantial funding and resources. Furthermore, IBE will facilitate dramatic advances in cognitive neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and robotics through studies performed using virtual insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan T Collins
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2860 Wilderness Place, Boulder, CO, 80301, USA.
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Waddell EA, Viveiros JM, Robinson EL, Sharoni MA, Latcheva NK, Marenda DR. Extramacrochaetae promotes branch and bouton number via the sequestration of daughterless in the cytoplasm of neurons. Dev Neurobiol 2019; 79:805-818. [PMID: 31581354 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22720] [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: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The Class I basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins are highly conserved transcription factors that are ubiquitously expressed. A wealth of literature on Class I bHLH proteins has shown that these proteins must homodimerize or heterodimerize with tissue-specific HLH proteins in order to bind DNA at E-box consensus sequences to control tissue-specific transcription. Due to its ubiquitous expression, Class I bHLH proteins are also extensively regulated posttranslationally, mostly through dimerization. Previously, we reported that in addition to its role in promoting neurogenesis, the Class I bHLH protein daughterless also functions in mature neurons to restrict axon branching and synapse number. Here, we show that part of the molecular logic that specifies how daughterless functions in neurogenesis is also conserved in neurons. We show that the Type V HLH protein extramacrochaetae (Emc) binds to and represses daughterless function by sequestering daughterless to the cytoplasm. This work provides initial insights into the mechanisms underlying the function of daughterless and Emc in neurons while providing a novel understanding of how Emc functions to restrict daughterless activity within the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward A Waddell
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Erin L Robinson
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Michal A Sharoni
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Nina K Latcheva
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Daniel R Marenda
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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50
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Gallic acid protects against neurochemical alterations in transgenic Drosophila model of Alzheimer’s disease. ADVANCES IN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13596-019-00393-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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