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Cannon AE, Zürrer WE, Zejlon C, Kulcsar Z, Lewandowski S, Piehl F, Granberg T, Ineichen BV. Neuroimaging findings in preclinical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis models-How well do they mimic the clinical phenotype? A systematic review. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1135282. [PMID: 37205225 PMCID: PMC10185801 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1135282] [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: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives Animal models for motor neuron diseases (MND) such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are commonly used in preclinical research. However, it is insufficiently understood how much findings from these model systems can be translated to humans. Thus, we aimed at systematically assessing the translational value of MND animal models to probe their external validity with regards to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features. Methods In a comprehensive literature search in PubMed and Embase, we retrieved 201 unique publications of which 34 were deemed eligible for qualitative synthesis including risk of bias assessment. Results ALS animal models can indeed present with human ALS neuroimaging features: Similar to the human paradigm, (regional) brain and spinal cord atrophy as well as signal changes in motor systems are commonly observed in ALS animal models. Blood-brain barrier breakdown seems to be more specific to ALS models, at least in the imaging domain. It is noteworthy that the G93A-SOD1 model, mimicking a rare clinical genotype, was the most frequently used ALS proxy. Conclusions Our systematic review provides high-grade evidence that preclinical ALS models indeed show imaging features highly reminiscent of human ALS assigning them a high external validity in this domain. This opposes the high attrition of drugs during bench-to-bedside translation and thus raises concerns that phenotypic reproducibility does not necessarily render an animal model appropriate for drug development. These findings emphasize a careful application of these model systems for ALS therapy development thereby benefiting refinement of animal experiments. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42022373146.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Charlotte Zejlon
- Department of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zsolt Kulcsar
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Fredrik Piehl
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center of Neurology, Academic Specialist Center, Stockholm Health Services, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tobias Granberg
- Department of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Benjamin Victor Ineichen
- Center for Reproducible Science, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neuroradiology, Clinical Neuroscience Center, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Benjamin Victor Ineichen
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2
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Plesia M, Stevens OA, Lloyd GR, Kendall CA, Coldicott I, Kennerley AJ, Miller G, Shaw PJ, Mead RJ, Day JCC, Alix JJP. In Vivo Fiber Optic Raman Spectroscopy of Muscle in Preclinical Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:1768-1776. [PMID: 33950665 PMCID: PMC8154326 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00794] [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: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular diseases result in muscle weakness, disability, and, in many instances, death. Preclinical models form the bedrock of research into these disorders, and the development of in vivo and potentially translational biomarkers for the accurate identification of disease is crucial. Spontaneous Raman spectroscopy can provide a rapid, label-free, and highly specific molecular fingerprint of tissue, making it an attractive potential biomarker. In this study, we have developed and tested an in vivo intramuscular fiber optic Raman technique in two mouse models of devastating human neuromuscular diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (SOD1G93A and mdx, respectively). The method identified diseased and healthy muscle with high classification accuracies (area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC): 0.76-0.92). In addition, changes in diseased muscle over time were also identified (AUROCs 0.89-0.97). Key spectral changes related to proteins and the loss of α-helix protein structure. Importantly, in vivo recording did not cause functional motor impairment and only a limited, resolving tissue injury was seen on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. Lastly, we demonstrate that ex vivo muscle from human patients with these conditions produced similar spectra to those observed in mice. We conclude that spontaneous Raman spectroscopy of muscle shows promise as a translational research tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Plesia
- Sheffield
Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Oliver A. Stevens
- Interface
Analysis Centre, School of Physics, University
of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TL, UK
| | - Gavin R. Lloyd
- Phenome
Centre Birmingham, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Biophotonics
Research Unit, Gloucestershire Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucester GL1 3NN, UK
| | - Catherine A. Kendall
- Biophotonics
Research Unit, Gloucestershire Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucester GL1 3NN, UK
| | - Ian Coldicott
- Sheffield
Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | | | - Gaynor Miller
- Department
of Oncology and Metabolism, University of
Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Pamela J. Shaw
- Sheffield
Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
- Cross-Faculty
Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Richard J. Mead
- Sheffield
Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
- Cross-Faculty
Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - John C. C. Day
- Interface
Analysis Centre, School of Physics, University
of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TL, UK
| | - James J. P. Alix
- Sheffield
Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
- Cross-Faculty
Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
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3
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Gao J, Jiang M, Magin RL, Gatto RG, Morfini G, Larson AC, Li W. Multicomponent diffusion analysis reveals microstructural alterations in spinal cord of a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ex vivo. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0231598. [PMID: 32310954 PMCID: PMC7170503 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The microstructure changes associated with degeneration of spinal axons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be reflected in altered water diffusion properties, potentially detectable with diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI. Prior work revealed the classical mono-exponential model fails to precisely depict decay in DW signal at high b-values. In this study, we aim to investigate signal decay behaviors at ultra-high b-values for non-invasive assessment of spinal cord alterations in the transgenic SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS. A multiexponential diffusion analysis using regularized non-negative least squares (rNNLS) algorithm was applied to a series of thirty DW MR images with b-values ranging from 0 to 858,022 s/mm2 on ex vivo spinal cords of transgenic SOD1G93A and age-matched control mice. We compared the distributions of measured diffusion coefficient fractions between the groups. The measured diffusion weighted signals in log-scale showed non-linear decay behaviors with increased b-values. Faster signal decays were observed with diffusion gradients applied parallel to the long axis of the spinal cord compared to when oriented in the transverse direction. Multiexponential analysis at the lumbar level in the spinal cord identified ten subintervals. A significant decrease of diffusion coefficient fractions was found in the ranges of [1.63×10−8,3.70×10−6] mm2/s (P = 0.0002) and of [6.01×10−6,4.20×10−5] mm2/s (P = 0.0388) in SOD1G93A mice. Anisotropic diffusion signals persisted at ultra-high b-value DWIs of the mouse spinal cord and multiexponential diffusion analysis offers the potential to evaluate microstructural alterations of ALS-affected spinal cord non-invasively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Gao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Research Resource Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Mingchen Jiang
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Richard L. Magin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Rodolfo G. Gatto
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Gerardo Morfini
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Andrew C. Larson
- Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Weiguo Li
- Research Resource Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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4
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Müller HP, Brenner D, Roselli F, Wiesner D, Abaei A, Gorges M, Danzer KM, Ludolph AC, Tsao W, Wong PC, Rasche V, Weishaupt JH, Kassubek J. Longitudinal diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging analysis at the cohort level reveals disturbed cortical and callosal microstructure with spared corticospinal tract in the TDP-43 G298S ALS mouse model. Transl Neurodegener 2019; 8:27. [PMID: 31485326 PMCID: PMC6716821 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-019-0163-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the mouse brain was used to identify TDP-43 associated alterations in a mouse model for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods Ten mice with TDP-43 G298S overexpression under control of the Thy1.2 promoter and 10 wild type (wt) underwent longitudinal DTI scans at 11.7 T, including one baseline and one follow-up scan with an interval of about 5 months. Whole brain-based spatial statistics (WBSS) of DTI-based parameter maps was used to identify longitudinal alterations of TDP-43 G298S mice compared to wt at the cohort level. Results were supplemented by tractwise fractional anisotropy statistics (TFAS) and histological evaluation of motor cortex for signs of neuronal loss. Results Alterations at the cohort level in TDP-43 G298S mice were observed cross-sectionally and longitudinally in motor areas M1/M2 and in transcallosal fibers but not in the corticospinal tract. Neuronal loss in layer V of motor cortex was detected in TDP-43 G298S at the later (but not at the earlier) timepoint compared to wt. Conclusion DTI mapping of TDP-43 G298S mice demonstrated progression in motor areas M1/M2. WBSS and TFAS are useful techniques to localize TDP-43 G298S associated alterations over time in this ALS mouse model, as a biological marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Peter Müller
- 1Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, RKU, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - David Brenner
- 1Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, RKU, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Francesco Roselli
- 1Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, RKU, D-89081 Ulm, Germany.,2German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Diana Wiesner
- 1Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, RKU, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Alireza Abaei
- 3Core Facility Small Animal MRI, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Martin Gorges
- 1Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, RKU, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Karin M Danzer
- 1Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, RKU, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- 1Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, RKU, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - William Tsao
- 4Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Philip C Wong
- 4Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Volker Rasche
- 3Core Facility Small Animal MRI, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jochen H Weishaupt
- 1Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, RKU, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Jan Kassubek
- 1Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Oberer Eselsberg 45, RKU, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
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5
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Majchrzak M, Drela K, Andrzejewska A, Rogujski P, Figurska S, Fiedorowicz M, Walczak P, Janowski M, Lukomska B, Stanaszek L. SOD1/Rag2 Mice with Low Copy Number of SOD1 Gene as a New Long-Living Immunodeficient Model of ALS. Sci Rep 2019; 9:799. [PMID: 30692571 PMCID: PMC6349855 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37235-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The most recent research concerning amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) emphasizes the role of glia in disease development. Thus, one can suspect that the effective therapeutic strategy in treatment of ALS would be replacement of defective glia. One of the basic problems with human glial progenitors (hGRPs) replacement strategies is the time needed for the cells to become fully functional in vivo. The lifespan of most popular high copy number SOD1 mutant mice might be too short to acknowledge benefits of transplanted cells. We focused on developing immunodeficient rag2-/- model of ALS with lower number of transgene copies and longer lifespan. The obtained hSOD1/rag2 double mutant mice have been characterized. QPCR analysis revealed that copy number of hSOD1 transgene varied in our colony (4-8 copies). The difference in transgene copy number may be translated to significant impact on the lifespan. The death of long- and short-living hSOD1/rag2 mice is preceded by muscular weakness as early as one month before death. Importantly, based on magnetic resonance imaging we identified that mutant mice demonstrated abnormalities within the medullar motor nuclei. To conclude, we developed long-living double mutant hSOD1/rag2 mice, which could be a promising model for testing therapeutic utility of human stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Majchrzak
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - K Drela
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - A Andrzejewska
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - P Rogujski
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - S Figurska
- Laboratory for Genetically Modified Animals, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - M Fiedorowicz
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology and Small Animal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Laboratory, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - P Walczak
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Institute for Cell Engineering, Division of MR Research, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, 10-719, Poland
| | - M Janowski
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Institute for Cell Engineering, Division of MR Research, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - B Lukomska
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - L Stanaszek
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
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6
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Steinacker P, Barschke P, Otto M. Biomarkers for diseases with TDP-43 pathology. Mol Cell Neurosci 2018; 97:43-59. [PMID: 30399416 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery that aggregated transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) is the major component of pathological ubiquitinated inclusions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) caused seminal progress in the unveiling of the genetic bases and molecular characteristics of these now so-called TDP-43 proteinopathies. Substantial increase in the knowledge of clinic-pathological coherencies, especially for FTLD variants, could be made in the last decade, but also revealed a considerable complexity of TDP-43 pathology and often a poor correlation of clinical and molecular disease characteristics. To date, an underlying TDP-43 pathology can be predicted only for patients with mutations in the genes C9orf72 and GRN, but is dependent on neuropathological verification in patients without family history, which represent the majority of cases. As etiology-specific therapies for neurodegenerative proteinopathies are emerging, methods to forecast TDP-43 pathology at patients' lifetime are highly required. Here, we review the current status of research pursued to identify specific indicators to predict or exclude TDP-43 pathology in the ALS-FTLD spectrum disorders and findings on candidates for prognosis and monitoring of disease progression in TDP-43 proteinopathies with a focus on TDP-43 with its pathological forms, neurochemical and imaging biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peggy Barschke
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
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7
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Weerasekera A, Sima DM, Dresselaers T, Van Huffel S, Van Damme P, Himmelreich U. Non-invasive assessment of disease progression and neuroprotective effects of dietary coconut oil supplementation in the ALS SOD1 G93A mouse model: A 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopic study. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 20:1092-1105. [PMID: 30368196 PMCID: PMC6202692 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease primarily characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the motor cortex, brainstem and spinal cord. Due to relatively fast progression of ALS, early diagnosis is essential for possible therapeutic intervention and disease management. To identify potential diagnostic markers, we investigated age-dependent effects of disease onset and progression on regional neurochemistry in the SOD1G93A ALS mouse model using localized in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). We focused mainly on the brainstem region since brainstem motor nuclei are the primarily affected regions in SOD1G93A mice and ALS patients. In addition, metabolite profiles of the motor cortex were also assessed. In the brainstem, a gradual decrease in creatine levels were detected starting from the pre-symptomatic age of 70 days postpartum. During the early symptomatic phase (day 90), a significant increase in the levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ- aminobutyric acid (GABA) was measured. At later time points, alterations in the form of decreased NAA, glutamate, glutamine and increased myo-inositol were observed. Also, decreased glutamate, NAA and increased taurine levels were seen at late stages in the motor cortex. A proof-of-concept (PoC) study was conducted to assess the effects of coconut oil supplementation in SODG93A mice. The PoC revealed that the coconut oil supplementation together with the regular diet delayed disease symptoms, enhanced motor performance, and prolonged survival in the SOD1G93A mouse model. Furthermore, MRS data showed stable metabolic profile at day 120 in the coconut oil diet group compared to the group receiving a standard diet without coconut oil supplementation. In addition, a positive correlation between survival and the neuronal marker NAA was found. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that reports metabolic changes in the brainstem using in vivo MRS and effects of coconut oil supplementation as a prophylactic treatment in SOD1G93A mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Weerasekera
- Biomedical MRI Unit/MoSAIC, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - D M Sima
- Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), STADIUS Center for Dynamical Systems, Signal Processing and Data Analytics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; icometrix, R&D department, Leuven, Belgium
| | - T Dresselaers
- Radiology, Department of Imaging and Pathology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S Van Huffel
- Department of Electrical Engineering (ESAT), STADIUS Center for Dynamical Systems, Signal Processing and Data Analytics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - P Van Damme
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Center for Brain & Disease Research, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - U Himmelreich
- Biomedical MRI Unit/MoSAIC, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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8
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Gatto RG, Amin MY, Deyoung D, Hey M, Mareci TH, Magin RL. Ultra-High Field Diffusion MRI Reveals Early Axonal Pathology in Spinal Cord of ALS mice. Transl Neurodegener 2018; 7:20. [PMID: 30128146 PMCID: PMC6097419 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-018-0122-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease characterized by a progressive degeneration of motor neurons leading to paralysis. Our previous MRI diffusion tensor imaging studies detected early white matter changes in the spinal cords of mice carrying the G93A-SOD1 mutation. Here, we extend those studies using ultra-high field MRI (17.6 T) and fluorescent microscopy to investigate the appearance of early structural and connectivity changes in the spinal cords of ALS mice. Methods The spinal cords from presymptomatic and symptomatic mice (80 to 120 days of age) were scanned (ex-vivo) using diffusion-weighted MRI. The fractional anisotropy (FA), axial (AD) and radial (RD) diffusivities were calculated for axial slices from the thoracic, cervical and lumbar regions of the spinal cords. The diffusion parameters were compared with fluorescence microscopy and membrane cellular markers from the same tissue regions. Results At early stages of the disease (day 80) in the lumbar region, we found, a 19% decrease in FA, a 9% decrease in AD and a 35% increase in RD. Similar changes were observed in cervical and thoracic spinal cord regions. Differences between control and ALS mice groups at the symptomatic stages (day 120) were larger. Quantitative fluorescence microscopy at 80 days, demonstrated a 22% reduction in axonal area and a 22% increase in axonal density. Tractography and quantitative connectome analyses measured by edge weights showed a 52% decrease in the lumbar regions of the spinal cords of this ALS mice group. A significant increase in ADC (23.3%) in the ALS mice group was related to an increase in aquaporin markers. Conclusions These findings suggest that the combination of ultra-high field diffusion MRI with fluorescent ALS mice reporters is a useful approach to detect and characterize presymptomatic white matter micro-ultrastructural changes and axonal connectivity anomalies in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo G Gatto
- 1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 808 S. Wood St. Rm 578 M/C 512, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Manish Y Amin
- 2Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Daniel Deyoung
- 2Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Matthew Hey
- 3Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Thomas H Mareci
- 4Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Richard L Magin
- 5Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
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9
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Gatto RG, Li W, Gao J, Magin RL. In vivo diffusion MRI detects early spinal cord axonal pathology in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2018; 31:e3954. [PMID: 30117615 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.3954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exhibits contrast that identifies macro- and microstructural changes in neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies have shown that MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can observe changes in spinal cord white matter in animals and humans affected with symptomatic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The goal of this preclinical work was to investigate the sensitivity of DTI for the detection of signs of tissue damage before symptoms appear. High-field MRI data were acquired using a 9.4-T animal scanner to examine the spinal cord of an ALS mouse model at pre- and post-symptomatic stages (days 80 and 120, respectively). The MRI results were validated using yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) via optical microscopy of spinal cord tissue slices collected from the YFP,G93A-SOD1 mouse strain. DTI maps of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) signal intensity, mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) were computed for axial slices of the lumbar region of the spinal cord. Significant changes were observed in FA (6.7% decrease, p < 0.01), AD (19.5% decrease, p < 0.01) and RD (16.1% increase, p < 0.001) at postnatal day 80 (P80). These differences were correlated with changes in axonal fluorescence intensity and membrane cellular markers. This study demonstrates the value of DTI as a potential tool to detect the underlying pathological progression associated with ALS, and may accelerate the discovery of therapeutic strategies for patients with this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo G Gatto
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Weiguo Li
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Bioengineering, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jin Gao
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Bioengineering, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Richard L Magin
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Bioengineering, Chicago, IL, USA
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10
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Micro-computed tomography for non-invasive evaluation of muscle atrophy in mouse models of disease. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198089. [PMID: 29813127 PMCID: PMC5973599 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscle wasting occurs during various chronic diseases and precedes death in humans as in mice. The evaluation of the degree of muscle atrophy in diseased mouse models is often overlooked since it requires the sacrifice of the animals for muscle examination or expensive instrumentation and highly qualified personnel, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Very often behavioral tests for muscle strength evaluation are used as an outcome measurement in preclinical therapeutic trials. However, these tests are easy to perform serially, but not enough sensitive to detect early muscle changes during disease progression. Monitoring muscle loss in living animals could allow to perform more informative preclinical trials with a better evaluation of therapeutic benefit with respect to muscle wasting. We developed a non-invasive procedure based on micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) without contrast agents to monitor hind limb muscle wasting in mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and cancer cachexia: the transgenic SOD1G93A mouse and the colon adenocarcinoma C26-bearing mouse, respectively. We established the scanning procedure and the parameters to consider in the reconstructed images to calculate the Index of Muscle Mass (IMM). The coefficient of variance for the whole procedure was 2.2%. We performed longitudinally micro-CT scan of hind limbs in SOD1G93A mice at presymptomatic and symptomatic stages of the disease and calculated the IMM. We found that IMM in SOD1G93A mice was lower than age-matched controls even before symptom onset. We also detected a further decrease in IMM as disease progresses, most markedly just before disease onset. We performed the same analyses in the C26-based mouse model losing quickly body and muscle mass because of cancer cachexia. Overall, we found that the reduced muscle content detected by micro-CT mirrored the reduced muscle weight in both disease models. We developed a fast, precise and easy-to-conduct imaging procedure to monitor hind limb muscle mass, useful in therapeutic preclinical trials but also in proof-of-principle studies to identify the onset of muscle wasting. This method could be widely applied to other disease models characterized by muscle wasting, to assist drug development and search for early biomarkers of muscle atrophy. Moreover, reducing the number of mice needed for the experiments and being less distressing are in line with the 3R principle embodied in national and international directives for animal research.
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Ferraro PM, Jester C, Olm CA, Placek K, Agosta F, Elman L, McCluskey L, Irwin DJ, Detre JA, Filippi M, Grossman M, McMillan CT. Perfusion alterations converge with patterns of pathological spread in transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 proteinopathies. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 68:85-92. [PMID: 29751289 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) commonly share the presence of transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) inclusions. Structural magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated evidence for TDP-43 pathology spread, but while structural imaging usually reveals overt neuronal loss, perfusion imaging may detect more subtle neural activity alterations. We evaluated perfusion as an early marker for incipient pathology-associated brain alterations in TDP-43 proteinopathies. Cortical thickness (CT) and perfusion measurements were obtained in ALS (N = 18), pathologically and/or genetically confirmed bvFTD-TDP (N = 12), and healthy controls (N = 33). bvFTD showed reduced frontotemporal CT, hypoperfusion encompassing orbitofrontal and temporal cortices, and hyperperfusion in motor and occipital regions. ALS did not show reduced CT, but exhibited hypoperfusion in motor and temporal regions, and hyperperfusion in frontal and occipital cortices. Frontotemporal hypoperfusion and reduced CT correlated with cognitive and behavioral impairments as investigated using Mini-Mental State Examination and Philadelphia Brief Assessment of Cognition in bvFTD, and hypoperfusion in motor regions correlated with motor disability as measured by the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised in ALS. Hypoperfusion marked early pathologically involved regions, while hyperperfusion characterized regions of late pathological involvement. Distinct perfusion patterns may provide early markers of pathology distribution in TDP-43 proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar M Ferraro
- Department of Neurology, Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Charles Jester
- Department of Neurology, Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Christopher A Olm
- Department of Neurology, Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Radiology, Penn Image Computing and Science Laboratory, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Katerina Placek
- Department of Neurology, Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Federica Agosta
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Lauren Elman
- Penn Comprehensive ALS Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Leo McCluskey
- Penn Comprehensive ALS Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David J Irwin
- Department of Neurology, Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John A Detre
- Department of Neurology, Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Radiology, Penn Image Computing and Science Laboratory, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Murray Grossman
- Department of Neurology, Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Corey T McMillan
- Department of Neurology, Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Vallarola A, Sironi F, Tortarolo M, Gatto N, De Gioia R, Pasetto L, De Paola M, Mariani A, Ghosh S, Watson R, Kalmes A, Bonetto V, Bendotti C. RNS60 exerts therapeutic effects in the SOD1 ALS mouse model through protective glia and peripheral nerve rescue. J Neuroinflammation 2018; 15:65. [PMID: 29495962 PMCID: PMC5833072 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-018-1101-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the motor neuromuscular system leading to complete paralysis and premature death. The multifactorial nature of ALS that involves both cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous processes contributes to the lack of effective therapies, usually targeted to a single pathogenic mechanism. RNS60, an experimental drug containing oxygenated nanobubbles generated by modified Taylor-Couette-Poiseuille flow with elevated oxygen pressure, has shown anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties in different experimental paradigms. Since RNS60 interferes with multiple cellular mechanisms known to be involved in ALS pathology, we evaluated its effect in in vitro and in vivo models of ALS. METHODS Co-cultures of primary microglia/spinal neurons exposed to LPS and astrocytes/spinal neurons from SOD1G93A mice were used to examine the effect of RNS60 or normal saline (NS) on the selective motor neuron degeneration. Transgenic SOD1G93A mice were treated with RNS60 or NS (300 μl/mouse intraperitoneally every other day) starting at the disease onset and examined for disease progression as well as pathological and biochemical alterations. RESULTS RNS60 protected motor neurons in in vitro paradigms and slowed the disease progression of C57BL/6-SOD1G93A mice through a significant protection of spinal motor neurons and neuromuscular junctions. This was mediated by the (i) activation of an antioxidant response and generation of an anti-inflammatory environment in the spinal cord; (ii) activation of the PI3K-Akt pro-survival pathway in the spinal cord and sciatic nerves; (iii) reduced demyelination of the sciatic nerves; and (iv) elevation of peripheral CD4+/Foxp3+ T regulatory cell numbers. RNS60 did not show the same effects in 129Sv-SOD1G93A mice, which are unable to activate a protective immune response. CONCLUSION RNS60 demonstrated significant therapeutic efficacy in C57BL/6-SOD1G93A mice by virtue of its effects on multiple disease mechanisms in motor neurons, glial cells, and peripheral immune cells. These findings, together with the excellent clinical safety profile, make RNS60 a promising candidate for ALS therapy and support further studies to unravel its molecular mechanism of action. In addition, the differences in efficacy of RNS60 in SOD1G93A mice of different strains may be relevant for identifying potential markers to predict efficacy in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Vallarola
- Molecular Neurobiology Lab, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Mario Negri Institute, Via La Masa, 19, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Sironi
- Molecular Neurobiology Lab, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Mario Negri Institute, Via La Masa, 19, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Tortarolo
- Molecular Neurobiology Lab, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Mario Negri Institute, Via La Masa, 19, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Noemi Gatto
- Molecular Neurobiology Lab, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Mario Negri Institute, Via La Masa, 19, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta De Gioia
- Molecular Neurobiology Lab, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Mario Negri Institute, Via La Masa, 19, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Pasetto
- Translational Biomarkers Lab, Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS - Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimiliano De Paola
- Analytical Biochemistry Lab, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, IRCCS- Mario Negri Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Mariani
- Analytical Biochemistry Lab, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, IRCCS- Mario Negri Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Valentina Bonetto
- Translational Biomarkers Lab, Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS - Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Caterina Bendotti
- Molecular Neurobiology Lab, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Mario Negri Institute, Via La Masa, 19, 20156, Milan, Italy.
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Gatto RG. Diffusion tensor imaging as a tool to detect presymptomatic axonal degeneration in a preclinical spinal cord model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neural Regen Res 2018; 13:425-426. [PMID: 29623925 PMCID: PMC5900503 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.228723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo Gabriel Gatto
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Gatto RG, Li W, Magin RL. Diffusion tensor imaging identifies presymptomatic axonal degeneration in the spinal cord of ALS mice. Brain Res 2017; 1679:45-52. [PMID: 29175489 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Extensive pathological evidence indicates that axonal degeneration represents an early and critical event in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Unfortunately, few MRI studies have focused in the early detection of white matter (WM) alterations in the spinal cord region. To unveil these WM changes, we performed high resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and correlated the results with histological analysis of adjacent slices taken from the spinal cords of presymptomatic mice. The DTI studies demonstrated a significant reduction in fractional anisotropy (FA) as well as axial diffusivities (AD) and an increase in radial diffusivity (RD), predominantly at lower segments of the spinal cord. Increases in FA and a reduction in AD and RD were observed in spinal cord (SC) gray matter (GM). Diffusion changes are associated with early and progressive alterations in axonal connectivity following a distal to proximal progression. Histological data tagging neuronal, axonal and glial cell markers demonstrated presymptomatic alterations in spinal cord WM and GM. This study demonstrates that DTI methods are optimal preclinical imaging tools to detect structural anomalies in WM and GM spinal cord during early stages of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo G Gatto
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
| | - Weiguo Li
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Engineering, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Richard L Magin
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Engineering, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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Sironi F, Vallarola A, Violatto MB, Talamini L, Freschi M, De Gioia R, Capelli C, Agostini A, Moscatelli D, Tortarolo M, Bigini P, Introna M, Bendotti C. Multiple intracerebroventricular injections of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells delay motor neurons loss but not disease progression of SOD1G93A mice. Stem Cell Res 2017; 25:166-178. [PMID: 29154076 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2017.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapy is considered a promising approach in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seem to be the most effective in ALS animal models. The umbilical cord (UC) is a source of highly proliferating fetal MSCs, more easily collectable than other MSCs. Recently we demonstrated that human (h) UC-MSCs, double labeled with fluorescent nanoparticles and Hoechst-33258 and transplanted intracerebroventricularly (ICV) into SOD1G93A transgenic mice, partially migrated into the spinal cord after a single injection. This prompted us to assess the effect of repeated ICV injections of hUC-MSCs on disease progression in SOD1G93A mice. Although no transplanted cells migrated to the spinal cord, a partial but significant protection of motor neurons (MNs) was found in the lumbar spinal cord of hUC-MSCs-treated SOD1G93A mice, accompanied by a shift from a pro-inflammatory (IL-6, IL-1β) to anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-10) and neuroprotective (IGF-1) environment in the lumbar spinal cord, probably linked to the activation of p-Akt survival pathway in both motor neurons and reactive astrocytes. However, this treatment neither prevented the muscle denervation nor delayed the disease progression of mice, emphasizing the growing evidence that protecting the motor neuron perikarya is not sufficient to delay the ALS progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Sironi
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milano, Italy
| | - Antonio Vallarola
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milano, Italy
| | - Martina Bruna Violatto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milano, Italy
| | - Laura Talamini
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milano, Italy
| | - Mattia Freschi
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milano, Italy
| | - Roberta De Gioia
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milano, Italy
| | - Chiara Capelli
- USS Center of Cellular Therapy"G. Lanzani", ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Azzurra Agostini
- Department of Chemistry, Material and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Davide Moscatelli
- Department of Chemistry, Material and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Massimo Tortarolo
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milano, Italy
| | - Paolo Bigini
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milano, Italy
| | - Martino Introna
- USS Center of Cellular Therapy"G. Lanzani", ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Caterina Bendotti
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", Milano, Italy.
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Bontempi P, Busato A, Bonafede R, Schiaffino L, Scambi I, Sbarbati A, Mariotti R, Marzola P. MRI reveals therapeutical efficacy of stem cells: An experimental study on the SOD1(G93A) animal model. Magn Reson Med 2017; 79:459-469. [PMID: 28370153 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.26685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Revised: 02/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The first part of the experiment identifies and validates MRI biomarkers distinctive of the disease progression in the transgenic superoxide dismutase gene (SOD1(G93A)) animal model. The second part assesses the efficacy of a mesenchymal stem cell-based therapy through the MRI biomarkers previously defined. METHODS The first part identifies MRI differences between SOD1(G93A) and healthy mice. The second part of the experiment follows the disease evolution of stem cell-treated and non-stem-cell treated SOD1(G93A) mice. The analysis focused on voxel-based morphometry and T2 mapping on the brain tissues, and T2-weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) on the hind limbs. RESULTS Comparing diseased mice to healthy control revealed gray matter alterations in the brainstem area, accompanied by increased T2 relaxation time. Differences in muscle volume, muscle signal intensity, fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity were measured in the hind limbs. In the comparison between stem cell-treated mice and nontreated ones, differences in muscle volume, muscle signal intensity, and DTI-derived maps were found. CONCLUSION MRI-derived biomarkers can be used to identify differences between stem cell-treated and nontreated SOD1(G93A) mice. Magn Reson Med 79:459-469, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Bontempi
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Alice Busato
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Roberta Bonafede
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Schiaffino
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ilaria Scambi
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea Sbarbati
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Raffaella Mariotti
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Pasquina Marzola
- Department of Computer Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Cohen Y, Anaby D, Morozov D. Diffusion MRI of the spinal cord: from structural studies to pathology. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2017; 30:e3592. [PMID: 27598689 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.3592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Diffusion MRI is extensively used to study brain microarchitecture and pathologies, and water diffusion appears highly anisotropic in the white matter (WM) of the spinal cord (SC). Despite these facts, the use of diffusion MRI to study the SC, which has increased in recent years, is much less common than that in the brain. In the present review, after a brief outline of early studies of diffusion MRI (DWI) and diffusion tensor MRI (DTI) of the SC, we provide a short survey on DTI and on diffusion MRI methods beyond the tensor that have been used to study SC microstructure and pathologies. After introducing the porous view of WM and describing the q-space approach and q-space diffusion MRI (QSI), we describe other methodologies that can be applied to study the SC. Selected applications of the use of DTI, QSI, and other more advanced diffusion MRI methods to study SC microstructure and pathologies are presented, with some emphasis on the use of less conventional diffusion methodologies. Because of length constraints, we concentrate on structural studies and on a few selected pathologies. Examples of the use of diffusion MRI to study dysmyelination, demyelination as in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and traumatic SC injury are presented. We conclude with a brief summary and a discussion of challenges and future directions for diffusion MRI of the SC. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoram Cohen
- The Sackler School of Chemistry, The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Debbie Anaby
- The Sackler School of Chemistry, The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Darya Morozov
- The Sackler School of Chemistry, The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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18
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Nardo G, Trolese MC, de Vito G, Cecchi R, Riva N, Dina G, Heath PR, Quattrini A, Shaw PJ, Piazza V, Bendotti C. Immune response in peripheral axons delays disease progression in SOD1 G93A mice. J Neuroinflammation 2016; 13:261. [PMID: 27717377 PMCID: PMC5055725 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-016-0732-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Increasing evidence suggests that the immune system has a beneficial role in the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) although the mechanism remains unclear. Recently, we demonstrated that motor neurons (MNs) of C57SOD1G93A mice with slow disease progression activate molecules classically involved in the cross-talk with the immune system. This happens a lot less in 129SvSOD1G93A mice which, while expressing the same amount of transgene, had faster disease progression and earlier axonal damage. The present study investigated whether and how the immune response is involved in the preservation of motor axons in the mouse model of familial ALS with a more benign disease course. Methods First, the extent of axonal damage, Schwann cell proliferation, and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) denervation were compared between the two ALS mouse models at the disease onset. Then, we compared the expression levels of different immune molecules, the morphology of myelin sheaths, and the presence of blood-derived immune cell infiltrates in the sciatic nerve of the two SOD1G93A mouse strains using immunohistochemical, immunoblot, quantitative reverse transcription PCR, and rotating-polarization Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering techniques. Results Muscle denervation, axonal dysregulation, and myelin disruption together with reduced Schwann cell proliferation are prominent in 129SvSOD1G93A compared to C57SOD1G93A mice at the disease onset, and this correlates with a faster disease progression in the first strain. On the contrary, a striking increase of immune molecules such as CCL2, MHCI, and C3 was seen in sciatic nerves of slow progressor C57SOD1G93A mice and this was accompanied by heavy infiltration of CD8+ T lymphocytes and macrophages. These phenomena were not detectable in the peripheral nervous system of fast-progressing mice. Conclusions These data show for the first time that damaged MNs in SOD1-related ALS actively recruit immune cells in the peripheral nervous system to delay muscle denervation and prolong the lifespan. On the contrary, the lack of this response has a negative impact on the disease course. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-016-0732-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Nardo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via La Masa 19, 20156, Milan, Italy.
| | - Maria Chiara Trolese
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via La Masa 19, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe de Vito
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, I-56127, Pisa, Italy.,Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza San Silvestro 12, I-56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberta Cecchi
- NEST, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, I-56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Nilo Riva
- Neuropathology Unit, Department of Neurology, INSPE, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Dibit II, Via Olgettina 48, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgia Dina
- Neuropathology Unit, Department of Neurology, INSPE, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Dibit II, Via Olgettina 48, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Paul R Heath
- Department of Neuroscience, Academic Neurology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385 Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Angelo Quattrini
- Neuropathology Unit, Department of Neurology, INSPE, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Dibit II, Via Olgettina 48, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Pamela J Shaw
- Department of Neuroscience, Academic Neurology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385 Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Vincenzo Piazza
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation @NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza San Silvestro 12, I-56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Caterina Bendotti
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via La Masa 19, 20156, Milan, Italy.
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Picher-Martel V, Valdmanis PN, Gould PV, Julien JP, Dupré N. From animal models to human disease: a genetic approach for personalized medicine in ALS. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2016; 4:70. [PMID: 27400686 PMCID: PMC4940869 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-016-0340-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is the most frequent motor neuron disease in adults. Classical ALS is characterized by the death of upper and lower motor neurons leading to progressive paralysis. Approximately 10 % of ALS patients have familial form of the disease. Numerous different gene mutations have been found in familial cases of ALS, such as mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), fused in sarcoma (FUS), C9ORF72, ubiquilin-2 (UBQLN2), optineurin (OPTN) and others. Multiple animal models were generated to mimic the disease and to test future treatments. However, no animal model fully replicates the spectrum of phenotypes in the human disease and it is difficult to assess how a therapeutic effect in disease models can predict efficacy in humans. Importantly, the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of ALS leads to a variety of responses to similar treatment regimens. From this has emerged the concept of personalized medicine (PM), which is a medical scheme that combines study of genetic, environmental and clinical diagnostic testing, including biomarkers, to individualized patient care. In this perspective, we used subgroups of specific ALS-linked gene mutations to go through existing animal models and to provide a comprehensive profile of the differences and similarities between animal models of disease and human disease. Finally, we reviewed application of biomarkers and gene therapies relevant in personalized medicine approach. For instance, this includes viral delivering of antisense oligonucleotide and small interfering RNA in SOD1, TDP-43 and C9orf72 mice models. Promising gene therapies raised possibilities for treating differently the major mutations in familial ALS cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Picher-Martel
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Research Centre of Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec, Laval University, 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada.
| | - Paul N Valdmanis
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, Stanford University, 269 Campus Drive, CCSR 2110, Stanford, CA, 94305-5164, USA
| | - Peter V Gould
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Neuropathology, Department of Medical Biology, CHU de Québec, Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus, 1401, 18th street, Québec, QC, Canada, G1J 1Z4
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Research Centre of Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec, Laval University, 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Nicolas Dupré
- Axe Neurosciences & The Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, CHU de Québec, Laval University, 1401, 18th street, Québec, QC, G1J 1Z4, Canada.
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Nardo G, Trolese MC, Bendotti C. Major Histocompatibility Complex I Expression by Motor Neurons and Its Implication in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Neurol 2016; 7:89. [PMID: 27379008 PMCID: PMC4904147 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2016.00089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal expression of major histocompatibility complex I (MHCI)-related molecules in adults and during CNS diseases is involved in the synaptic plasticity and axonal regeneration with mechanisms either dependent or independent of their immune functions. Motor neurons are highly responsive in triggering the expression of MHCI molecules during normal aging or following insults and diseases, and this has implications in the synaptic controls, axonal regeneration, and neuromuscular junction stability of these neurons. We recently reported that MHCI and immunoproteasome are strongly activated in spinal motor neurons and their peripheral motor axon in a mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) during the course of the disease. This response was prominent in ALS mice with slower disease progression in which the axonal structure and function was better preserved than in fast-progressing mice. This review summarizes and discusses our observations in the light of knowledge about the possible role of MHCI in motor neurons providing additional insight into the pathophysiology of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Nardo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS , Milan , Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Trolese
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS , Milan , Italy
| | - Caterina Bendotti
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS , Milan , Italy
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21
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Nardo G, Trolese MC, Tortarolo M, Vallarola A, Freschi M, Pasetto L, Bonetto V, Bendotti C. New Insights on the Mechanisms of Disease Course Variability in ALS from Mutant SOD1 Mouse Models. Brain Pathol 2016; 26:237-47. [PMID: 26780365 PMCID: PMC8029191 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a heterogeneous disease in terms of progression rate and survival. This is probably one of the reasons for the failure of many clinical trials and the lack of effective therapies. Similar variability is also seen in SOD1(G93A) mouse models based on their genetic background. For example, when the SOD1(G93A) transgene is expressed in C57BL6 background the phenotype is mild with slower disease progression than in the 129Sv mice expressing the same amount of transgene but showing faster progression and shorter lifespan. This review summarizes and discusses data obtained from the analysis of these two mouse models under different aspects such as the motor phenotype, neuropathological alterations in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the motor neuron autonomous and non-cell autonomous mechanisms with the aim of finding elements to explain the different rates of disease progression. We also discuss the identification of promising prognostic biomarkers by comparative analysis of the two ALS mouse models. This analysis might possibly suggest new strategies for effective therapeutic intervention in ALS to slow significantly or even block the course of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Nardo
- Department of NeuroscienceLaboratory Molecular Neurobiology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”MilanoItaly
| | - Maria Chiara Trolese
- Department of NeuroscienceLaboratory Molecular Neurobiology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”MilanoItaly
| | - Massimo Tortarolo
- Department of NeuroscienceLaboratory Molecular Neurobiology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”MilanoItaly
| | - Antonio Vallarola
- Department of NeuroscienceLaboratory Molecular Neurobiology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”MilanoItaly
| | - Mattia Freschi
- Department of NeuroscienceLaboratory Molecular Neurobiology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”MilanoItaly
- Animal Facility, AriSLA, Fondazione Italiana di ricerca per la Sclerosi Laterale Amiotrofica
| | - Laura Pasetto
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Laboratory of Translational ProteomicsIRCCS‐Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”MilanoItaly
| | - Valentina Bonetto
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Laboratory of Translational ProteomicsIRCCS‐Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”MilanoItaly
| | - Caterina Bendotti
- Department of NeuroscienceLaboratory Molecular Neurobiology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”MilanoItaly
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22
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Sassone J, Taiana M, Lombardi R, Porretta-Serapiglia C, Freschi M, Bonanno S, Marcuzzo S, Caravello F, Bendotti C, Lauria G. ALS mouse model SOD1G93A displays early pathology of sensory small fibers associated to accumulation of a neurotoxic splice variant of peripherin. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:1588-99. [PMID: 26908600 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects motor neurons and, though less evidently, other neuronal systems. About 75% of sporadic and familial ALS patients show a subclinical degeneration of small-diameter fibers, as measured by loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENFs), but the underlying biological causes are unknown. Small-diameter fibers are derived from small-diameter sensory neurons, located in dorsal root ganglia (DRG), whose biochemical hallmark is the expression of type III intermediate filament peripherin. We tested here the hypothesis that small-diameter DRG neurons of ALS mouse model SOD1(G93A)suffer from axonal stress and investigated the underlying molecular mechanism. We found that SOD1(G93A)mice display small fiber pathology, as measured by IENF loss, which precedes the onset of the disease. In vitro small-diameter DRG neurons of SOD1(G93A)mice show axonal stress features and accumulation of a peripherin splice variant, named peripherin56, which causes axonal stress through disassembling light and medium neurofilament subunits (NFL and NFM, respectively). Our findings first demonstrate that small-diameter DRG neurons of the ALS mouse model SOD1(G93A)display axonal stress in vitro and in vivo, thus sustaining the hypothesis that the effects of ALS disease spread beyond motor neurons. These results suggest a molecular mechanism for the small fiber pathology found in ALS patients. Finally, our data agree with previous findings, suggesting a key role of peripherin in the ALS pathogenesis, thus highlighting that DRG neurons mirror some dysfunctions found in motor neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Mattia Freschi
- Neuroscience Department, Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Animal Facility Fondazione italiana per la ricerca sulla SLA (AriSLA), Milan, Italy and
| | - Silvia Bonanno
- 4th Neurology Unit, IRCCS Foundation 'Carlo Besta' Neurological Institute, via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy, PhD Program in Neuroscience, University of Milan, Bicocca, Italy
| | - Stefania Marcuzzo
- 4th Neurology Unit, IRCCS Foundation 'Carlo Besta' Neurological Institute, via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Caterina Bendotti
- Neuroscience Department, Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri'
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23
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Gargiulo S, Anzilotti S, Coda ARD, Gramanzini M, Greco A, Panico M, Vinciguerra A, Zannetti A, Vicidomini C, Dollé F, Pignataro G, Quarantelli M, Annunziato L, Brunetti A, Salvatore M, Pappatà S. Imaging of brain TSPO expression in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with (18)F-DPA-714 and micro-PET/CT. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2016; 43:1348-59. [PMID: 26816193 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-016-3311-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the feasibility and sensitivity of (18)F-DPA-714 for the study of microglial activation in the brain and spinal cord of transgenic SOD1(G93A) mice using high-resolution PET/CT and to evaluate the Iba1 and TSPO expression with immunohistochemistry. METHODS Nine symptomatic SOD1(G93A) mice (aged 117 ± 12.7 days, clinical score range 1 - 4) and five WT SOD1 control mice (aged 108 ± 28.5 days) underwent (18)F-DPA-714 PET/CT. SUV ratios were calculated by normalizing the cerebellar (rCRB), brainstem (rBS), motor cortex (rMCX) and cervical spinal cord (rCSC) activities to that of the frontal association cortex. Two WT SOD1 and six symptomatic SOD1(G93A) mice were studied by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS In the symptomatic SOD1(G93A) mice, rCRB, rBS and rCSC were increased as compared to the values in WT SOD1 mice, with a statistically significantly difference in rBS (2.340 ± 0.784 vs 1.576 ± 0.287, p = 0.014). Immunofluorescence studies showed that TSPO expression was increased in the trigeminal, facial, ambiguus and hypoglossal nuclei, as well as in the spinal cord, of symptomatic SOD1(G93A) mice and was colocalized with increased Iba1 staining. CONCLUSION Increased (18)F-DPA-714 uptake can be detected with high-resolution PET/CT in the brainstem of transgenic SOD1(G93A) mice, a region known to be a site of degeneration and increased microglial activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in agreement with increased TSPO expression in the brainstem nuclei shown by immunostaining. Therefore, (18)F-DPA-714 PET/CT might be a suitable tool to evaluate microglial activation in the SOD1(G93A) mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Gargiulo
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via T. De Amicis 95, 80145, Naples, Italy.,Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate s. c. a r. l., Via G. Salvatore 486, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - S Anzilotti
- IRCCS SDN, Via E. Gianturco 113, 80143, Naples, Italy
| | - A R D Coda
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via T. De Amicis 95, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - M Gramanzini
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via T. De Amicis 95, 80145, Naples, Italy.,Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate s. c. a r. l., Via G. Salvatore 486, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - A Greco
- Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate s. c. a r. l., Via G. Salvatore 486, 80145, Naples, Italy.,Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - M Panico
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via T. De Amicis 95, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - A Vinciguerra
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - A Zannetti
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via T. De Amicis 95, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - C Vicidomini
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via T. De Amicis 95, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - F Dollé
- CEA, Institute for Biomedical Imaging, 4 Place du Général Leclerc, 91401, Orsay, France
| | - G Pignataro
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - M Quarantelli
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via T. De Amicis 95, 80145, Naples, Italy
| | - L Annunziato
- IRCCS SDN, Via E. Gianturco 113, 80143, Naples, Italy.,Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - A Brunetti
- Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate s. c. a r. l., Via G. Salvatore 486, 80145, Naples, Italy.,Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University "Federico II", Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - M Salvatore
- IRCCS SDN, Via E. Gianturco 113, 80143, Naples, Italy
| | - S Pappatà
- Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Via T. De Amicis 95, 80145, Naples, Italy.
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