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Horvath S, Lacunza E, Mallat MC, Portiansky EL, Gallardo MD, Brooke RT, Chiavellini P, Pasquini DC, Girard M, Lehmann M, Yan Q, Lu AT, Haghani A, Gordevicius J, Abba M, Goya RG. Cognitive rejuvenation in old rats by hippocampal OSKM gene therapy. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-024-01269-y. [PMID: 39037528 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01269-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Several studies have indicated that interrupted epigenetic reprogramming using Yamanaka transcription factors (OSKM) can rejuvenate cells from old laboratory animals and humans. However, the potential of OSKM-induced rejuvenation in brain tissue has been less explored. Here, we aimed to restore cognitive performance in 25.3-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats using OSKM gene therapy for 39 days. Their progress was then compared with the cognitive performance of untreated 3.5-month-old rats as well as old control rats treated with a placebo adenovector. The Barnes maze test, used to assess cognitive performance, demonstrated enhanced cognitive abilities in old rats treated with OSKM compared to old control animals. In the treated old rats, there was a noticeable trend towards improved spatial memory relative to the old controls. Further, OSKM gene expression did not lead to any pathological alterations within the 39 days. Analysis of DNA methylation following OSKM treatment yielded three insights. First, epigenetic clocks for rats suggested a marginally significant epigenetic rejuvenation. Second, chromatin state analysis revealed that OSKM treatment rejuvenated the methylome of the hippocampus. Third, an epigenome-wide association analysis indicated that OSKM expression in the hippocampus of old rats partially reversed the age-related increase in methylation. In summary, the administration of Yamanaka genes via viral vectors rejuvenates the functional capabilities and the epigenetic landscape of the rat hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Horvath
- Altos Labs, San Diego, USA.
- Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Epigenetic Clock Development Foundation, Torrance, CA, USA.
| | | | - Martina Canatelli Mallat
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Enrique L Portiansky
- Image Analysis Lab (LAI), School of Veterinary Sciences, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Maria D Gallardo
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | | | - Priscila Chiavellini
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Diana C Pasquini
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Mauricio Girard
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Marianne Lehmann
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Qi Yan
- Altos Labs, San Diego, USA
| | | | | | | | - Martin Abba
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Rodolfo G Goya
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP) - Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
- Vitality in Aging Research Group (VIA), Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
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Zoller JA, Parasyraki E, Lu AT, Haghani A, Niehrs C, Horvath S. DNA methylation clocks for clawed frogs reveal evolutionary conservation of epigenetic aging. GeroScience 2024; 46:945-960. [PMID: 37270437 PMCID: PMC10828168 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00840-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
To address how conserved DNA methylation-based epigenetic aging is in diverse branches of the tree of life, we generated DNA methylation data from African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) and Western clawed frogs (Xenopus tropicalis) and built multiple epigenetic clocks. Dual species clocks were developed that apply to both humans and frogs (human-clawed frog clocks), supporting that epigenetic aging processes are evolutionary conserved outside mammals. Highly conserved positively age-related CpGs are located in neural-developmental genes such as uncx, tfap2d as well as nr4a2 implicated in age-associated disease. We conclude that signatures of epigenetic aging are evolutionary conserved between frogs and mammals and that the associated genes relate to neural processes, altogether opening opportunities to employ Xenopus as a model organism to study aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Zoller
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Ake T Lu
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Altos Labs, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Amin Haghani
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Altos Labs, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Christof Niehrs
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany.
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Altos Labs, San Diego, CA, USA.
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3
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Mei H, Simino J, Li L, Jiang F, Bis JC, Davies G, Hill WD, Xia C, Gudnason V, Yang Q, Lahti J, Smith JA, Kirin M, De Jager P, Armstrong NJ, Ghanbari M, Kolcic I, Moran C, Teumer A, Sargurupremraj M, Mahmud S, Fornage M, Zhao W, Satizabal CL, Polasek O, Räikkönen K, Liewald DC, Homuth G, Callisaya M, Mather KA, Windham BG, Zemunik T, Palotie A, Pattie A, van der Auwera S, Thalamuthu A, Knopman DS, Rudan I, Starr JM, Wittfeld K, Kochan NA, Griswold ME, Vitart V, Brodaty H, Gottesman R, Cox SR, Psaty BM, Boerwinkle E, Chasman DI, Grodstein F, Sachdev PS, Srikanth V, Hayward C, Wilson JF, Eriksson JG, Kardia SLR, Grabe HJ, Bennett DA, Ikram MA, Deary IJ, van Duijn CM, Launer L, Fitzpatrick AL, Seshadri S, Bressler J, Debette S, Mosley TH. Multi-omics and pathway analyses of genome-wide associations implicate regulation and immunity in verbal declarative memory performance. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:14. [PMID: 38245754 PMCID: PMC10799499 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01376-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uncovering the functional relevance underlying verbal declarative memory (VDM) genome-wide association study (GWAS) results may facilitate the development of interventions to reduce age-related memory decline and dementia. METHODS We performed multi-omics and pathway enrichment analyses of paragraph (PAR-dr) and word list (WL-dr) delayed recall GWAS from 29,076 older non-demented individuals of European descent. We assessed the relationship between single-variant associations and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) in 44 tissues and methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTLs) in the hippocampus. We determined the relationship between gene associations and transcript levels in 53 tissues, annotation as immune genes, and regulation by transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs. To identify significant pathways, gene set enrichment was tested in each cohort and meta-analyzed across cohorts. Analyses of differential expression in brain tissues were conducted for pathway component genes. RESULTS The single-variant associations of VDM showed significant linkage disequilibrium (LD) with eQTLs across all tissues and meQTLs within the hippocampus. Stronger WL-dr gene associations correlated with reduced expression in four brain tissues, including the hippocampus. More robust PAR-dr and/or WL-dr gene associations were intricately linked with immunity and were influenced by 31 TFs and 2 microRNAs. Six pathways, including type I diabetes, exhibited significant associations with both PAR-dr and WL-dr. These pathways included fifteen MHC genes intricately linked to VDM performance, showing diverse expression patterns based on cognitive status in brain tissues. CONCLUSIONS VDM genetic associations influence expression regulation via eQTLs and meQTLs. The involvement of TFs, microRNAs, MHC genes, and immune-related pathways contributes to VDM performance in older individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Mei
- Department of Data Science, John D. Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
- Gertrude C. Ford Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia (MIND) Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
| | - Jeannette Simino
- Department of Data Science, John D. Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
- Gertrude C. Ford Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia (MIND) Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA.
| | - Lianna Li
- Department of Biology, Tougaloo College, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Fan Jiang
- Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Joshua C Bis
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Gail Davies
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - W David Hill
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Charley Xia
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Vilmundur Gudnason
- Icelandic Heart Association, Kopavogur, Iceland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Qiong Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA
| | - Jari Lahti
- Turku Institute for Advanced Research, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jennifer A Smith
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mirna Kirin
- Work completed while at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Philip De Jager
- Taub Institute for Research On Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia Irving University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuro-Immunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Mohsen Ghanbari
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ivana Kolcic
- School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia
| | - Christopher Moran
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Frankston Hospital, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Australia
- Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alexander Teumer
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Murali Sargurupremraj
- Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Team VINTAGE, UMR 1219, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Shamsed Mahmud
- Department of Data Science, John D. Bower School of Population Health, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Myriam Fornage
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Wei Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Claudia L Satizabal
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ozren Polasek
- School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia
- Algebra University College, Ilica 242, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Katri Räikkönen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - David C Liewald
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Georg Homuth
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michele Callisaya
- Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Karen A Mather
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - B Gwen Windham
- Gertrude C. Ford Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia (MIND) Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | | | - Aarno Palotie
- Department of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Department of Psychiatry, Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- The Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research and Program in Medical and Population Genetics, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alison Pattie
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Sandra van der Auwera
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anbupalam Thalamuthu
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Igor Rudan
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - John M Starr
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
- Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Katharina Wittfeld
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/ Greifswald, Rostock, Germany
| | - Nicole A Kochan
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michael E Griswold
- Gertrude C. Ford Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia (MIND) Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Veronique Vitart
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Henry Brodaty
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rebecca Gottesman
- Stroke, Cognition, and Neuroepidemiology (SCAN) Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Simon R Cox
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Bruce M Psaty
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eric Boerwinkle
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Daniel I Chasman
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Francine Grodstein
- Department of Medicine, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Perminder S Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Velandai Srikanth
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Frankston Hospital, Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Australia
- Peninsula Clinical School, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Caroline Hayward
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - James F Wilson
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Johan G Eriksson
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Public Health Solutions, Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
- Folkhälsan Research Centre, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sharon L R Kardia
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hans J Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/ Greifswald, Rostock, Germany
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - M Arfan Ikram
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ian J Deary
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts Group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Cornelia M van Duijn
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lenore Launer
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute On Aging, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Annette L Fitzpatrick
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sudha Seshadri
- The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jan Bressler
- Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stephanie Debette
- Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Team VINTAGE, UMR 1219, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Thomas H Mosley
- Gertrude C. Ford Memory Impairment and Neurodegenerative Dementia (MIND) Center, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
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Stepanichev M, Aniol V, Lazareva N, Gulyaeva N. Decreased Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Aged Male Wistar Rats Is Not Associated with Memory Acquisition in a Water Maze. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13276. [PMID: 37686083 PMCID: PMC10487931 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713276] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain aging is associated with a progressive decrease in learning abilities, memory, attention, decision making, and sensory perception. Age-related cognitive disturbances may be related to a decrease in the functional capacities of the hippocampus. This brain region is essential for learning and memory, and the lifelong neurogenesis occurring in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus may be a key event mediating the mnemonic functions of the hippocampus. In the present study, we investigated whether age-related changes in hippocampal neurogenesis are associated with learning and memory disturbances. Four- and 24-month-old rats were trained to find a hidden platform in a water maze. Though the older group showed higher latency to search the platform as compared to the younger group, both groups learned the task. However, the density of proliferating (PCNA-positive), differentiating (Dcx-positive), and new neurons (pre-labeled BrdU-positive) was significantly lower in the hippocampus of aged rats as compared to young ones. This inhibition of neurogenesis could be related to increased local production of nitric oxide since the density of neurons expressing neuronal NO-synthase was higher in the aged hippocampus. Thus, we can suggest that an age-related decrease in neurogenesis is not directly associated with place learning in aged rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Stepanichev
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Butlerova Str., 5a, Moscow 117485, Russia; (V.A.); (N.L.); (N.G.)
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5
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Bac B, Hicheri C, Weiss C, Buell A, Vilcek N, Spaeni C, Geula C, Savas JN, Disterhoft JF. The TgF344-AD rat: behavioral and proteomic changes associated with aging and protein expression in a transgenic rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 123:98-110. [PMID: 36657371 PMCID: PMC10118906 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Animal models of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are attractive tools for preclinical, prodromal drug testing. The TgF344-AD (Tg) rat exhibits cognitive deficits and 5 major hallmarks of AD. Here we show that spatial water maze (WMZ) memory deficits and proteomic differences in dorsal CA1 were present in young Tg rats. Aged learning-unimpaired (AU) and aged learning-impaired (AI) proteome associated changes were identified and differed by sex. Levels of phosphorylated tau, reactive astrocytes and microglia were significantly increased in aged Tg rats and correlated with the WMZ learning index (LI); in contrast, no significant correlation was present between amyloid plaques or insoluble Aβ levels and LI. Neuroinflammatory markers were also significantly correlated with LI and increased in female Tg rats. The anti-inflammatory marker, triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2), was significantly reduced in aged impaired Tg rats and correlated with LI. Identifying and understanding mechanisms that allow for healthy aging by overcoming genetic drivers for AD, and/or promoting drivers for successful aging, are important for developing successful therapeutics against AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birsu Bac
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Cheima Hicheri
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Craig Weiss
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Amelia Buell
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Natalia Vilcek
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Claudia Spaeni
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Changiz Geula
- Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jeffrey N Savas
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - John F Disterhoft
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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6
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Lin Q, Hu DW, Hao XH, Zhang G, Lin L. Effect of Hypoxia-Ischemia on the Expression of Iron-Related Proteins in Neonatal Rat Brains. Neural Plast 2023; 2023:4226139. [PMID: 37124874 PMCID: PMC10139812 DOI: 10.1155/2023/4226139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxic-ischemic white matter injury (WMI) pathogenesis in preterm infants is not well established, and iron-related proteins in the brain may play an important role in imbalanced iron metabolism. We aimed to investigate the iron-related protein changes in neonatal rats after hypoxia-ischemia (HI), clarify the role of iron-related proteins in hypoxic-ischemic WMI, and potentially provide a new target for the clinical treatment of hypoxic-ischemic WMI in preterm infants. We adopted a WMI animal model of bilateral common carotid artery electrocoagulation combined with hypoxia in neonatal 3-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats. We observed basic myelin protein (MBP) and iron-related protein expression in the brain (ferritin, transferrin receptor [TfR], and membrane iron transporter 1 [FPN1]) via Western blot and double immunofluorescence staining. The expression of MBP in the WMI group was significantly downregulated on postoperative days (PODs) 14, 28, and 56. Ferritin levels were significantly increased on PODs 3, 7, 14, and 28 and were most significant on POD 28, returning to the sham group level on POD 56. FPN1 levels were significantly increased on PODs 7, 28, and 56 and were still higher than those in the sham group on POD 56. TfR expression was significantly upregulated on PODs 1, 7, and 28 and returned to the sham group level on POD 56. Immunofluorescence staining showed that ferritin, TfR, and FPN1 were expressed in neurons, blood vessels, and oligodendrocytes in the cortex and corpus callosum on POD 28. Compared with the sham group, the immune-positive markers of three proteins in the WMI group were significantly increased. The expression of iron-related proteins in the brain (ferritin, FPN1, and TfR) showed spatiotemporal dynamic changes and may play an important role in hypoxic-ischemic WMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Lin
- Laboratory of Clinical Applied Anatomy, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases of Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Ding-Wang Hu
- Laboratory of Clinical Applied Anatomy, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases of Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Xin-Hui Hao
- Laboratory of Clinical Applied Anatomy, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases of Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Geng Zhang
- Laboratory of Clinical Applied Anatomy, Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases of Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Ling Lin
- Public Technology Service Center, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
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7
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Chiavellini P, Lehmann M, Canatelli Mallat M, Zoller JA, Herenu CB, Morel GR, Horvath S, Goya RG. Hippocampal DNA Methylation, Epigenetic Age, and Spatial Memory Performance in Young and Old Rats. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2022; 77:2387-2394. [PMID: 35917578 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glac153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans and rats, aging is associated with a progressive deterioration of spatial learning and memory. These functional alterations are correlated with morphological and molecular changes in the hippocampus. Here, we assessed age-related changes in DNA methylation (DNAm) landscape in the rat hippocampus and the correlation of spatial memory with hippocampal DNAm age in 2.6- and 26.6-month-old rats. Spatial memory performance was assessed with the Barnes maze test. To evaluate learning ability and spatial memory retention, we assessed the time spent by animals in goal sector 1 (GS1) and 3 (GS3) when the escape box was removed. The rat pan-tissue clock was applied to DNAm data from hippocampal tissue. An enrichment pathway analysis revealed that neuron fate commitment, brain development, and central nervous system development were processes whose underlying genes were enriched in hypermethylated CpGs in the old rats. In the old rat hippocampi, the methylation levels of CpG proximal to transcription factors associated with genes Pax5, Lbx1, Nr2f2, Hnf1b, Zic1, Zic4, Hoxd9; Hoxd10, Gli3, Gsx1 and Lmx1b, and Nipbl showed a significant regression with spatial memory performance. Regression analysis of different memory performance indices with hippocampal DNAm age was significant. These results suggest that age-related hypermethylation of transcription factors related to certain gene families, such as Zic and Gli, may play a causal role in the decline in spatial memory in old rats. Hippocampal DNAm age seems to be a reliable index of spatial memory performance in young and old rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscila Chiavellini
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP)-Histology B and Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Marianne Lehmann
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP)-Histology B and Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Martina Canatelli Mallat
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP)-Histology B and Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Joseph A Zoller
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Claudia B Herenu
- Institute for Experimental Pharmacology (IFEC), School of Chemical Sciences, National University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina
| | - Gustavo R Morel
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP)-Histology B and Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Steve Horvath
- Department of Biostatistics, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rodolfo G Goya
- Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP)-Histology B and Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
- Critical Care Research (CCR), Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA
- Vitality in Aging Research Group (VIA), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
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8
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Bui TA, Jickling GC, Winship IR. Neutrophil dynamics and inflammaging in acute ischemic stroke: A transcriptomic review. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1041333. [PMID: 36620775 PMCID: PMC9813499 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1041333] [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: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke is among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Restoring blood flow through recanalization is currently the only acute treatment for cerebral ischemia. Unfortunately, many patients that achieve a complete recanalization fail to regain functional independence. Recent studies indicate that activation of peripheral immune cells, particularly neutrophils, may contribute to microcirculatory failure and futile recanalization. Stroke primarily affects the elderly population, and mortality after endovascular therapies is associated with advanced age. Previous analyses of differential gene expression across injury status and age identify ischemic stroke as a complex age-related disease. It also suggests robust interactions between stroke injury, aging, and inflammation on a cellular and molecular level. Understanding such interactions is crucial in developing effective protective treatments. The global stroke burden will continue to increase with a rapidly aging human population. Unfortunately, the mechanisms of age-dependent vulnerability are poorly defined. In this review, we will discuss how neutrophil-specific gene expression patterns may contribute to poor treatment responses in stroke patients. We will also discuss age-related transcriptional changes that may contribute to poor clinical outcomes and greater susceptibility to cerebrovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Truong An Bui
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Glen C. Jickling
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Ian R. Winship
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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9
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Restoring Age-Related Cognitive Decline through Environmental Enrichment: A Transcriptomic Approach. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233864. [PMID: 36497123 PMCID: PMC9736066 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive decline is one of the greatest health threats of old age and the maintenance of optimal brain function across a lifespan remains a big challenge. The hippocampus is considered particularly vulnerable but there is cross-species consensus that its functional integrity benefits from the early and continuous exercise of demanding physical, social and mental activities, also referred to as environmental enrichment (EE). Here, we investigated the extent to which late-onset EE can improve the already-impaired cognitive abilities of lifelong deprived C57BL/6 mice and how it affects gene expression in the hippocampus. To this end, 5- and 24-month-old mice housed in standard cages (5mSC and 24mSC) and 24-month-old mice exposed to EE in the last 2 months of their life (24mEE) were subjected to a Barnes maze task followed by next-generation RNA sequencing of the hippocampal tissue. Our analyses showed that late-onset EE was able to restore deficits in spatial learning and short-term memory in 24-month-old mice. These positive cognitive effects were reflected by specific changes in the hippocampal transcriptome, where late-onset EE affected transcription much more than age (24mSC vs. 24mEE: 1311 DEGs, 24mSC vs. 5mSC: 860 DEGs). Remarkably, a small intersection of 72 age-related DEGs was counter-regulated by late-onset EE. Of these, Bcl3, Cttnbp2, Diexf, Esr2, Grb10, Il4ra, Inhba, Rras2, Rps6ka1 and Socs3 appear to be particularly relevant as key regulators involved in dendritic spine plasticity and in age-relevant molecular signaling cascades mediating senescence, insulin resistance, apoptosis and tissue regeneration. In summary, our observations suggest that the brains of aged mice in standard cage housing preserve a considerable degree of plasticity. Switching them to EE proved to be a promising and non-pharmacological intervention against cognitive decline.
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10
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Myrum C, Moreno-Castilla P, Rapp PR. 'Arc'-hitecture of normal cognitive aging. Ageing Res Rev 2022; 80:101678. [PMID: 35781092 PMCID: PMC9378697 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Arc is an effector immediate-early gene that is critical for forming long-term memories. Since its discovery 25 years ago, it has repeatedly surprised us with a number of intriguing properties, including the transport of its mRNA to recently-activated synapses, its master role in bidirectionally regulating synaptic strength, its evolutionary retroviral origins, its ability to mediate intercellular transfer between neurons via extracellular vesicles (EVs), and its exceptional regulation-both temporally and spatially. The current review discusses how Arc has been used as a tool to identify the neural networks involved in cognitive aging and how Arc itself may contribute to cognitive outcome in aging. In addition, we raise several outstanding questions, including whether Arc-containing EVs in peripheral blood might provide a noninvasive biomarker for memory-related synaptic failure in aging, and whether rectifying Arc dysregulation is likely to be an effective strategy for bending the arc of aging toward successful cognitive outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Myrum
- Neurocognitive Aging Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - Perla Moreno-Castilla
- Neurocognitive Aging Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
| | - Peter R Rapp
- Neurocognitive Aging Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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11
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Fu X, Wei S, Wang T, Fan H, Zhang Y, Costa CD, Brandner S, Yang G, Pan Y, He Y, Li N. Research Status of the Orphan G Protein Coupled Receptor 158 and Future Perspectives. Cells 2022; 11:cells11081334. [PMID: 35456013 PMCID: PMC9027133 DOI: 10.3390/cells11081334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) remain one of the most successful targets for therapeutic drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Many novel orphan GPCRs have been identified by human genome sequencing and considered as putative targets for refractory diseases. Of note, a series of studies have been carried out involving GPCR 158 (or GPR158) since its identification in 2005, predominantly focusing on the characterization of its roles in the progression of cancer and mental illness. However, advances towards an in-depth understanding of the biological mechanism(s) involved for clinical application of GPR158 are lacking. In this paper, we clarify the origin of the GPR158 evolution in different species and summarize the relationship between GPR158 and different diseases towards potential drug target identification, through an analysis of the sequences and substructures of GPR158. Further, we discuss how recent studies set about unraveling the fundamental features and principles, followed by future perspectives and thoughts, which may lead to prospective therapies involving GPR158.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianan Fu
- Tomas Lindhal Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), No.628, Zhenyuan Rd., Guangming Dist., Shenzhen 518107, China; (X.F.); (S.W.); (T.W.); (H.F.); (Y.Z.); (Y.P.)
| | - Shoupeng Wei
- Tomas Lindhal Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), No.628, Zhenyuan Rd., Guangming Dist., Shenzhen 518107, China; (X.F.); (S.W.); (T.W.); (H.F.); (Y.Z.); (Y.P.)
| | - Tao Wang
- Tomas Lindhal Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), No.628, Zhenyuan Rd., Guangming Dist., Shenzhen 518107, China; (X.F.); (S.W.); (T.W.); (H.F.); (Y.Z.); (Y.P.)
| | - Hengxin Fan
- Tomas Lindhal Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), No.628, Zhenyuan Rd., Guangming Dist., Shenzhen 518107, China; (X.F.); (S.W.); (T.W.); (H.F.); (Y.Z.); (Y.P.)
| | - Ying Zhang
- Tomas Lindhal Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), No.628, Zhenyuan Rd., Guangming Dist., Shenzhen 518107, China; (X.F.); (S.W.); (T.W.); (H.F.); (Y.Z.); (Y.P.)
| | - Clive Da Costa
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK;
| | - Sebastian Brandner
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK;
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Health Science Center, Shenzhen 518039, China;
| | - Yihang Pan
- Tomas Lindhal Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), No.628, Zhenyuan Rd., Guangming Dist., Shenzhen 518107, China; (X.F.); (S.W.); (T.W.); (H.F.); (Y.Z.); (Y.P.)
| | - Yulong He
- Tomas Lindhal Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), No.628, Zhenyuan Rd., Guangming Dist., Shenzhen 518107, China; (X.F.); (S.W.); (T.W.); (H.F.); (Y.Z.); (Y.P.)
- Center for Digestive Disease, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), No.628, Zhenyuan Rd., Guangming Dist., Shenzhen 518107, China
- Correspondence: (Y.H.); (N.L.)
| | - Ningning Li
- Tomas Lindhal Nobel Laureate Laboratory, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), No.628, Zhenyuan Rd., Guangming Dist., Shenzhen 518107, China; (X.F.); (S.W.); (T.W.); (H.F.); (Y.Z.); (Y.P.)
- China-UK Institute for Frontier Science, Shenzhen 518107, China
- Correspondence: (Y.H.); (N.L.)
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12
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Yegla B, Foster TC. Operationally defining cognitive reserve genes. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 110:96-105. [PMID: 34565615 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Variability in cognitive decline is related to the environment, lifestyle factors, and individual differences in biological aging, including cognitive reserve, plastic properties of the brain, which account for better-than-expected cognition for a given level of brain aging or pathology. Cognitive reserve has not been thoroughly investigated in aged rodents. To address this gap, cognitive reserve was examined using Gene Expression Omnibus data for the CA1 region of the hippocampus of young and aged behaviorally characterized male rats. Statistical filtering identified brain aging and potential cognitive reserve genes, and multiple regression was employed to confirm cognitive reserve genes as genes that predicted better-than-expected cognition for a given level of brain aging. In general, cognitive reserve genes, in which increased expression was associated with better cognition, were not different with age or directly correlated with measures of cognition and appear to act as negative regulators of aging processes, including neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. The results suggest that, for some animals, resilience mechanisms are activated to counteract aging stressors that impair cognition. In contrast, cognitive reserve genes, in which decreased expression was associated with better cognition, were linked to nervous system development and cation transport, suggesting adaptive changes in the circuit to preserve cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittney Yegla
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Thomas C Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Genetics and Genomics Program University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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13
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Ebersole J, Rose G, Eid T, Behar K, Patrylo P. Altered hippocampal astroglial metabolism is associated with aging and preserved spatial learning and memory. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 102:188-199. [PMID: 33774381 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
An age-related decrease in hippocampal metabolism correlates with cognitive decline. Hippocampus-dependent learning and memory requires glutamatergic neurotransmission supported by glutamate-glutamine (GLU-GLN) cycling between neurons and astrocytes. We examined whether GLU-GLN cycling in hippocampal subregions (dentate gyrus and CA1) in Fischer 344 rats was altered with age and cognitive status. Hippocampal slices from young adult, aged cognitively-unimpaired (AU) and aged cognitively-impaired (AI) rats were incubated in artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) containing 1-13C-glucose to assess neural metabolism. Incorporation of 13C-glucose into glutamate and glutamine, measured by mass spectroscopy/liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy, did not significantly differ between groups. However, when 13C-acetate, a preferential astrocytic metabolite, was used, a significant increase in 13C-labeled glutamate was observed in slices from AU rats. Taken together, the data suggest that resting state neural metabolism and GLU-GLN cycling may be preserved during aging when sufficient extracellular glucose is available, but that enhanced astroglial metabolism can occur under resting state conditions. This may be an aging-related compensatory change to maintain hippocampus-dependent cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Ebersole
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL, USA
| | - Gregory Rose
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL, USA; Department of Anatomy, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL, USA; Center for Integrated Research in the Cognitive and Neural Sciences, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL, USA
| | - Tore Eid
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kevin Behar
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; MRRC Neurometabolism Research Laboratory, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Peter Patrylo
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL, USA; Department of Anatomy, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL, USA; Center for Integrated Research in the Cognitive and Neural Sciences, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, IL, USA.
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14
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Plagenhoef MR, Callahan PM, Beck WD, Blake DT, Terry AV. Aged rhesus monkeys: Cognitive performance categorizations and preclinical drug testing. Neuropharmacology 2021; 187:108489. [PMID: 33561449 PMCID: PMC8286428 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Rodent models have facilitated major discoveries in neurobiology, however, the low success rate of novel medications in clinical trials have led to questions about their translational value in neuropsychiatric drug development research. For age-related disorders of cognition such as Alzheimer' disease (AD) there is interest in moving beyond transgenic amyloid-β and/or tau-expressing rodent models and focusing more on natural aging and dissociating "healthy" from "pathological" aging to identify new therapeutic targets and treatments. In complex disorders such as AD, it can also be argued that animals with closer neurobiology to humans (e.g., nonhuman primates) should be employed more often particularly in the later phases of drug development. The purpose of the work described here was to evaluate the cognitive capabilities of rhesus monkeys across a wide range of ages in different delayed response tasks, a computerized delayed match to sample (DMTS) task and a manual delayed match to position (DMTP) task. Based on specific performance criteria and comparisons to younger subjects, the older subjects were generally less proficient, however, some performed as well as young subjects, while other aged subjects were markedly impaired. Accordingly, the older subjects could be categorized as aged "cognitively-unimpaired" or aged "cognitively-impaired" with a third group (aged-other) falling in between. Finally, as a proof of principle, we demonstrated using the DMTP task that aged cognitively-impaired monkeys are sensitive to the pro-cognitive effects of a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonist, encenicline, suggesting that nAChR ligands remain viable as potential treatments for age-related disorders of cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc R Plagenhoef
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia
| | - Patrick M Callahan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia
| | - Wayne D Beck
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia
| | - David T Blake
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia
| | - Alvin V Terry
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, 30912, Georgia.
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15
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Emanetci E, Çakır T. Network-Based Analysis of Cognitive Impairment and Memory Deficits from Transcriptome Data. J Mol Neurosci 2021; 71:2415-2428. [PMID: 33713319 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-021-01807-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aging is an inevitable process that negatively affects all living organisms and their vital functions. The brain is one of the most important organs in living beings and is primarily impacted by aging. The molecular mechanisms of learning, memory and cognition are altered over time, and the impairment in these mechanisms can lead to neurodegenerative diseases. Transcriptomics can be used to study these impairments to acquire more detailed information on the affected molecular mechanisms. Here we analyzed learning- and memory-related transcriptome data by mapping it on the organism-specific protein-protein interactome network. Subnetwork discovery algorithms were applied to discover highly dysregulated subnetworks, which were complemented with co-expression-based interactions. The functional analysis shows that the identified subnetworks are enriched with genes having roles in synaptic plasticity, gliogenesis, neurogenesis and cognition, which are reported to be related to memory and learning. With a detailed analysis, we show that the results from different subnetwork discovery algorithms or from different transcriptomic datasets can be successfully reconciled, leading to a memory-learning network that sheds light on the molecular mechanisms behind aging and memory-related impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Emanetci
- Department of Bioengineering, Gebze Technical University, 41400, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Tunahan Çakır
- Department of Bioengineering, Gebze Technical University, 41400, Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey.
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16
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McQuail JA, Dunn AR, Stern Y, Barnes CA, Kempermann G, Rapp PR, Kaczorowski CC, Foster TC. Cognitive Reserve in Model Systems for Mechanistic Discovery: The Importance of Longitudinal Studies. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 12:607685. [PMID: 33551788 PMCID: PMC7859530 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.607685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of this review article is to provide a resource for longitudinal studies, using animal models, directed at understanding and modifying the relationship between cognition and brain structure and function throughout life. We propose that forthcoming longitudinal studies will build upon a wealth of knowledge gleaned from prior cross-sectional designs to identify early predictors of variability in cognitive function during aging, and characterize fundamental neurobiological mechanisms that underlie the vulnerability to, and the trajectory of, cognitive decline. Finally, we present examples of biological measures that may differentiate mechanisms of the cognitive reserve at the molecular, cellular, and network level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A. McQuail
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Amy R. Dunn
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States
| | - Yaakov Stern
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Carol A. Barnes
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Gerd Kempermann
- CRTD—Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers (HZ), Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter R. Rapp
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Neurocognitive Aging Section, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | - Thomas C. Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Genetics and Genomics Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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17
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Linial M, Stern A, Weinstock M. Effect of ladostigil treatment of aging rats on gene expression in four brain areas associated with regulation of memory. Neuropharmacology 2020; 177:108229. [PMID: 32738309 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Episodic and spatial memory decline in aging and are controlled by the hippocampus, perirhinal, frontal and parietal cortices and the connections between them. Ladostigil, a drug with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, was shown to prevent the loss of episodic and spatial memory in aging rats. To better understand the molecular effects of aging and ladostigil on these brain regions we characterized the changes in gene expression using RNA-sequencing technology in rats aged 6 and 22 months. We found that the changes induced by aging and chronic ladostigil treatment were brain region specific. In the hippocampus, frontal and perirhinal cortex, ladostigil decreased the overexpression of genes regulating calcium homeostasis, ion channels and those adversely affecting synaptic function. In the parietal cortex, ladostigil increased the expression of several genes that provide neurotrophic support, while reducing that of pro-apoptotic genes and those encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines and their receptors. Ladostigil also decreased the expression of axonal growth inhibitors and those impairing mitochondrial function. Together, these actions could explain the protection by ladostigil against age-related memory decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Linial
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Life Science Institute, Israel; The Rachel and Selim Benin School of Computer Science and Engineering, Israel
| | - Amos Stern
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Life Science Institute, Israel
| | - Marta Weinstock
- Institute of Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
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18
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Creighton SD, Stefanelli G, Reda A, Zovkic IB. Epigenetic Mechanisms of Learning and Memory: Implications for Aging. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6918. [PMID: 32967185 PMCID: PMC7554829 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuronal epigenome is highly sensitive to external events and its function is vital for producing stable behavioral outcomes, such as the formation of long-lasting memories. The importance of epigenetic regulation in memory is now well established and growing evidence points to altered epigenome function in the aging brain as a contributing factor to age-related memory decline. In this review, we first summarize the typical role of epigenetic factors in memory processing in a healthy young brain, then discuss the aspects of this system that are altered with aging. There is general agreement that many epigenetic marks are modified with aging, but there are still substantial inconsistencies in the precise nature of these changes and their link with memory decline. Here, we discuss the potential source of age-related changes in the epigenome and their implications for therapeutic intervention in age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha D. Creighton
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada; (S.D.C.); (G.S.)
| | - Gilda Stefanelli
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada; (S.D.C.); (G.S.)
| | - Anas Reda
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S, Canada;
| | - Iva B. Zovkic
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada; (S.D.C.); (G.S.)
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S, Canada;
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Dahan L, Rampon C, Florian C. Age-related memory decline, dysfunction of the hippocampus and therapeutic opportunities. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2020; 102:109943. [PMID: 32298784 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.109943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
While the aging of the population is a sign of progress for societies, it also carries its load of negative aspects. Among them, cognitive decline and in particular memory loss is a common feature of non-pathological aging. Autobiographical memories, which rely on the hippocampus, are a primary target of age-related cognitive decline. Here, focusing on the neurobiological mechanisms of memory formation and storage, we describe how hippocampal functions are altered across time in non-pathological mammalian brains. Several hallmarks of aging have been well described over the last decades; among them, we consider altered synaptic communication and plasticity, reduction of adult neurogenesis and epigenetic alterations. Building on the neurobiological processes of cognitive aging that have been identified to date, we review some of the strategies based on lifestyle manupulation allowing to address age-related cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Dahan
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse; CNRS, UPS, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Claire Rampon
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse; CNRS, UPS, Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Cédrick Florian
- Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse; CNRS, UPS, Toulouse Cedex 9, France.
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20
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Hippocampal Subregion Transcriptomic Profiles Reflect Strategy Selection during Cognitive Aging. J Neurosci 2020; 40:4888-4899. [PMID: 32376783 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2944-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related cognitive impairments are associated with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) linked to defined neural systems; however, studies examining multiple regions of the hippocampus fail to find links between behavior and transcription in the dentate gyrus (DG). We hypothesized that use of a task requiring intact DG function would emphasize molecular signals in the DG associated with a decline in performance. We used a water maze beacon discrimination task to characterize young and middle-age male F344 rats, followed by a spatial reference memory probe trial test. Middle-age rats showed increased variability in discriminating two identical beacons. Use of an allocentric strategy and formation of a spatial reference memory were not different between age groups; however, older animals compensated for impaired beacon discrimination through greater reliance on spatial reference memory. mRNA sequencing of hippocampal subregions indicated DEGs in the DG of middle-age rats, linked to synaptic function and neurogenesis, correlated with beacon discrimination performance, suggesting that senescence of the DG underlies the impairment. Few genes correlated with spatial memory across age groups, with a greater number in region CA1. Age-related CA1 DEGs, correlated with spatial memory, were linked to regulation of neural activity. These results indicate that the beacon task is sensitive to impairment in middle age, and distinct gene profiles are observed in neural circuits that underlie beacon discrimination performance and allocentric memory. The use of different strategies in older animals and associated transcriptional profiles could provide an animal model for examining cognitive reserve and neural compensation of aging.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Hippocampal subregions are thought to differentially contribute to memory. We took advantage of age-related variability in performance on a water maze beacon task and next-generation sequencing to test the hypothesis that aging of the dentate gyrus is linked to impaired beacon discrimination and compensatory use of allocentric memory. The dentate gyrus expressed synaptic function and neurogenesis genes correlated with beacon discrimination in middle-age animals. Spatial reference memory was associated with CA1 transcriptional correlates linked to regulation of neural activity and use of an allocentric strategy. This is the first study examining transcriptomes of multiple hippocampal subregions to link age-related impairments associated with discrimination of feature overlap and alternate response strategies to gene expression in specific hippocampal subregions.
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21
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Amirazodi F, Mehrabi A, Amirazodi M, Parsania S, Rajizadeh MA, Esmaeilpour K. The Combination Effects of Resveratrol and Swimming HIIT Exercise on Novel Object Recognition and Open-field Tasks in Aged Rats. Exp Aging Res 2020; 46:336-358. [PMID: 32324489 DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2020.1754015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol abundant in grapes and red wine, has been reported to exert numerous beneficial health effects in the body. High-Intensity Interval Exercise (HIIT) is a form of interval training that provides improved athletic capacity and has a protective effect on health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interactive effects of swimming HIIT and Resveratrol supplementation on behavioral function in Novel object recognition and open-field tests in aged rats. METHODS A total of 45 aged male Wistar rats with an age of 20 months were randomly assigned into five groups of control (C), swimming HIIT (SW-HIIT), swimming HIIT with Resveratrol supplementation (SW-HIIT-R), Resveratrol supplementation (R), and solvent of Resveratrol supplementation (SR). There was also another group that included young animals (2-month-old) and was used to compare with older animals. Swimming HIIT and Resveratrol supplementation groups performed the exercise and received Resveratrol (10 mg/kg/day, gavage) for six weeks. Novel object recognition and open-field tests were used for evaluating the behavioral functions in animals. RESULTS The results showed that HIIT and Resveratrol significantly improved recognition memory compared to old animals. Moreover, it seems that HIIT and Resveratrol partly could modulate anxiety-like behaviors compared to old animals in the open-field test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Amirazodi
- Department of Education, Department of Foundations of Education, International Division, Shiraz University , Shiraz, Iran.,Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman, Iran
| | - Amin Mehrabi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman, Iran.,Department of Exercise Physiology, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran , Kish, Iran
| | - Maryam Amirazodi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman, Iran.,Shiraz University International Division, Shiraz University , Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shahrnaz Parsania
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Rajizadeh
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman, Iran.,Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Kerman Medical University of Sciences , Kerman, Iran
| | - Khadijeh Esmaeilpour
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman, Iran.,Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Kerman Medical University of Sciences , Kerman, Iran
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22
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Kandlur A, Satyamoorthy K, Gangadharan G. Oxidative Stress in Cognitive and Epigenetic Aging: A Retrospective Glance. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:41. [PMID: 32256315 PMCID: PMC7093495 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain aging is the critical and common factor among several neurodegenerative disorders and dementia. Cellular, biochemical and molecular studies have shown intimate links between oxidative stress and cognitive dysfunction during aging and age-associated neuronal diseases. Brain aging is accompanied by oxidative damage of nuclear as well as mitochondrial DNA, and diminished repair. Recent studies have reported epigenetic alterations during aging of the brain which involves reactive oxygen species (ROS) that regulates various systems through distinct mechanisms. However, there are studies which depict differing roles of reactive oxidant species as a major factor during aging. In this review, we describe the evidence to show how oxidative stress is intricately linked to age-associated cognitive decline. The review will primarily focus on implications of age-associated oxidative damage on learning and memory, and the cellular events, with special emphasis on associated epigenetic machinery. A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms may provide a perspective on the development of potential therapeutic targets within the oxidative system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gireesh Gangadharan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
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23
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Kushwaha A, Thakur MK. Increase in hippocampal histone H3K9me3 is negatively correlated with memory in old male mice. Biogerontology 2019; 21:175-189. [DOI: 10.1007/s10522-019-09850-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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24
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Khan S. IGFBP-2 Signaling in the Brain: From Brain Development to Higher Order Brain Functions. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:822. [PMID: 31824433 PMCID: PMC6883226 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) is a pleiotropic polypeptide that functions as autocrine and/or paracrine growth factors. IGFBP-2 is the most abundant of the IGFBPs in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and developing brain showed the highest expression of IGFBP-2. IGFBP-2 expressed in the hippocampus, cortex, olfactory lobes, cerebellum, and amygdala. IGFBP-2 mRNA expression is seen in meninges, blood vessels, and in small cell-body neurons (interneurons) and astrocytes. The expression pattern of IGFBP-2 is often developmentally regulated and cell-specific. Biological activities of IGFBP-2 which are independent of their abilities to bind to insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are mediated by the heparin binding domain (HBD). To execute IGF-independent functions, some IGFBPs have shown to bind with their putative receptors or to translocate inside the cells. Thus, IGFBP-2 functions can be mediated both via insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 (IGF-IR) and independent of IGF-Rs. In this review, I suggest that IGFBP-2 is not only involved in the growth, development of the brain but also with the regulation of neuronal plasticity to modulate high-level cognitive operations such as spatial learning and memory and information processing. Hence, IGFBP-2 serves as a neurotrophic factor which acts via metaplastic signaling from embryonic to adult stages.
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25
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Kosmidis S, Polyzos A, Harvey L, Youssef M, Denny CA, Dranovsky A, Kandel ER. RbAp48 Protein Is a Critical Component of GPR158/OCN Signaling and Ameliorates Age-Related Memory Loss. Cell Rep 2019; 25:959-973.e6. [PMID: 30355501 PMCID: PMC7725275 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.09.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Precisely deciphering the molecular mechanisms of age-related memory loss is crucial to create appropriate therapeutic interventions. We have previously shown that the histone-binding protein RbAp48/Rbbp4 is a molecular determinant of Age-Related Memory Loss. By exploring how this protein regulates the genomic landscape of the hippocampal circuit, we find that RbAp48 controls the expression of BDNF and GPR158 proteins, both critical components of osteocalcin (OCN) signaling in the mouse hippocampus. We show that inhibition of RbAp48 in the hippocampal formation inhibits OCN's beneficial functions in cognition and causes deficits in discrimination memory. In turn, disruption of OCN/GPR158 signaling leads to the downregulation of RbAp48 protein, mimicking the discrimination memory deficits observed in the aged hippocampus. We also show that activation of the OCN/GPR158 pathway increases the expression of RbAp48 in the aged dentate gyrus and rescues age-related memory loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stylianos Kosmidis
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA; Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Alexandros Polyzos
- Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Lucas Harvey
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA; Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Mary Youssef
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Christine A Denny
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Division of Systems Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI)/Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. (RFMH), New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Alex Dranovsky
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Eric R Kandel
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA; Kavli Institute for Brain Science, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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26
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Nunes PT, Kipp BT, Reitz NL, Savage LM. Aging with alcohol-related brain damage: Critical brain circuits associated with cognitive dysfunction. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2019; 148:101-168. [PMID: 31733663 PMCID: PMC7372724 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2019.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alcoholism is associated with brain damage and impaired cognitive functioning. The relative contributions of different etiological factors, such as alcohol, thiamine deficiency and age vulnerability, to the development of alcohol-related neuropathology and cognitive impairment are still poorly understood. One reason for this quandary is that both alcohol toxicity and thiamine deficiency produce brain damage and cognitive problems that can be modulated by age at exposure, aging following alcohol toxicity or thiamine deficiency, and aging during chronic alcohol exposure. Pre-clinical models of alcohol-related brain damage (ARBD) have elucidated some of the contributions of ethanol toxicity and thiamine deficiency to neuroinflammation, neuronal loss and functional deficits. However, the critical variable of age at the time of exposure or long-term aging with ARBD has been relatively ignored. Acute thiamine deficiency created a massive increase in neuroimmune genes and proteins within the thalamus and significant increases within the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Chronic ethanol treatment throughout adulthood produced very minor fluctuations in neuroimmune genes, regardless of brain region. Intermittent "binge-type" ethanol during the adolescent period established an intermediate neuroinflammatory response in the hippocampus and frontal cortex, that can persist into adulthood. Chronic excessive drinking throughout adulthood, adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure, and thiamine deficiency all led to a loss of the cholinergic neuronal phenotype within the basal forebrain, reduced hippocampal neurogenesis, and alterations in the frontal cortex. Only thiamine deficiency results in gross pathological lesions of the thalamus. The behavioral impairment following these types of treatments is hierarchical: Thiamine deficiency produces the greatest impairment of hippocampal- and prefrontal-dependent behaviors, chronic ethanol drinking ensues mild impairments on both types of tasks and adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure leads to impairments on frontocortical tasks, with sparing on most hippocampal-dependent tasks. However, our preliminary data suggest that as rodents age following adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure, hippocampal functional deficits began to emerge. A necessary requirement for the advancement of understanding the neural consequences of alcoholism is a more comprehensive assessment and understanding of how excessive alcohol drinking at different development periods (adolescence, early adulthood, middle-aged and aged) influences the trajectory of the aging process, including pathological aging and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polliana Toledo Nunes
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Brian T Kipp
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Nicole L Reitz
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Lisa M Savage
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York, Binghamton, NY, United States.
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27
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Chatterjee S, Walsh EN, Yan AL, Giese KP, Safe S, Abel T. Pharmacological activation of Nr4a rescues age-associated memory decline. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 85:140-144. [PMID: 31732218 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Age-associated cognitive impairments affect an individual's quality of life and are a growing problem in society. Therefore, therapeutic strategies to treat age-related cognitive decline are needed to enhance the quality of life among the elderly. Activation of the Nr4a family of transcription factors has been closely linked to memory formation and dysregulation of these transcription factors is thought to be associated with age-related cognitive decline. Previously, we have shown that Nr4a transcription can be activated by synthetic bisindole-derived compounds (C-DIM). C-DIM compounds enhance synaptic plasticity and long-term contextual fear memory in young healthy mice. In this study, we show that activation of Nr4a2 by 1,1-bis(3'-Indolyl)-1-(p-chlorophenyl) methane (C-DIM12), enhances long-term spatial memory in young mice and rescues memory deficits in aged mice. These findings suggest that C-DIM activators of Nr4a transcription may be suitable to prevent memory deficits associated with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snehajyoti Chatterjee
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Emily N Walsh
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Amy L Yan
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - K Peter Giese
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen Safe
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Iowa Neuroscience Institute Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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28
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Austad SN, Wood MA, Villeda SA, Voss JL, Sahay A, Albert M. Innovative approaches in cognitive aging. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 83:150-154. [PMID: 31277894 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Novel approaches to address cognitive aging and to delay or prevent cognitive decline in older individuals will require a better understanding of the biological and environmental factors that contribute to it. Studies in animal models-in particular, animals whose cognitive trajectory across their life span closely tracks that of humans-can provide important insights into the factors that contribute to the accumulation of reserve and ways in which it is preserved or depleted. A better understanding of the molecular processes that underlie these elements would enhance and guide not only research but also treatment approaches to these issues. These treatment approaches may include noninvasive brain stimulation and drug treatments to promote youthfulness or combat the aging process. It is important to realize, however, that these processes occur in the context of the human experience, and studies of them must consider the complexity and individuality of each person's life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven N Austad
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Marcelo A Wood
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Saul A Villeda
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joel L Voss
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Amar Sahay
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, BROAD Institute of MIT and Harvard, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marilyn Albert
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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29
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Bubier JA, Sutphin GL, Reynolds TJ, Korstanje R, Fuksman-Kumpa A, Baker EJ, Langston MA, Chesler EJ. Integration of heterogeneous functional genomics data in gerontology research to find genes and pathway underlying aging across species. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214523. [PMID: 30978202 PMCID: PMC6461221 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the biological mechanisms behind aging, lifespan and healthspan is becoming increasingly important as the proportion of the world's population over the age of 65 grows, along with the cost and complexity of their care. BigData oriented approaches and analysis methods enable current and future bio-gerontologists to synthesize, distill and interpret vast, heterogeneous data from functional genomics studies of aging. GeneWeaver is an analysis system for integration of data that allows investigators to store, search, and analyze immense amounts of data including user-submitted experimental data, data from primary publications, and data in other databases. Aging related genome-wide gene sets from primary publications were curated into this system in concert with data from other model-organism and aging-specific databases, and applied to several questions in genrontology using. For example, we identified Cd63 as a frequently represented gene among aging-related genome-wide results. To evaluate the role of Cd63 in aging, we performed RNAi knockdown of the C. elegans ortholog, tsp-7, demonstrating that this manipulation is capable of extending lifespan. The tools in GeneWeaver enable aging researchers to make new discoveries into the associations between the genes, normal biological processes, and diseases that affect aging, healthspan, and lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason A. Bubier
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor ME, United States of America
| | - George L. Sutphin
- The University of Arizona, Molecular and Cellular Biology, United States of America
| | | | - Ron Korstanje
- The Jackson Laboratory Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Elissa J. Chesler
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor ME, United States of America
- The Jackson Laboratory Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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30
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Zamzow DR, Elias V, Acosta VA, Escobedo E, Magnusson KR. Higher Levels of Protein Palmitoylation in the Frontal Cortex across Aging Were Associated with Reference Memory and Executive Function Declines. eNeuro 2019; 6:ENEURO.0310-18.2019. [PMID: 30740518 PMCID: PMC6366935 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0310-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive decline with aging is often due to altered levels of protein expression. The NMDA receptor (NMDAR) and the complex of proteins surrounding the receptor are susceptible to age-related changes in expression. In the frontal cortex of aged mice, there is a significant loss of expression of the GluN2B subunit of the NMDAR, an increase in Fyn expression, and no change in PSD-95. Studies have also found that, in the frontal cortex, phosphorylation of GluN2B subunits and palmitoylation of GluN2 subunits and NMDAR complex proteins are affected by age. In this study, we examined some of the factors that may lead to the differences in the palmitoylation levels of NMDAR complex proteins in the frontal cortex of aged animals. The Morris water maze was used to test spatial learning in 3- and 24-month-old mice. The acyl-biotinyl exchange method was used to precipitate palmitoylated proteins from the frontal cortices and hippocampi of the mice. Additionally, brain lysates from old and young mice were probed for the expression of fatty acid transporter proteins. An age-related increase of palmitoylated GluN2A, GluN2B, Fyn, PSD-95, and APT1 (acyl protein thioesterase 1) in the frontal cortex was associated with poorer reference memory and/or executive functions. These data suggest that there may be a perturbation in the palmitoylation cycle in the frontal cortex of aged mice that contributes to age-related cognitive declines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valerie Elias
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Varinia A. Acosta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Emily Escobedo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Kathy R. Magnusson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
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31
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In Vitro Neuroprotection of Rat Hippocampal Neurons by Manninotriose and Astragaloside IV Against Corticosterone-Induced Toxicity. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23123339. [PMID: 30562980 PMCID: PMC6321307 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23123339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A chronically elevated glucocorticoid level impairs memory and cognition. Manninotriose is the main oligosaccharide of Prepared Radix Rehmanniae, and Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is the primary ingredient of Astragali Radix; they have been reported to possess neuroprotective effects. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of Manninotriose and AS-IV on corticosterone (CORT) induced neurotoxicity and the underlying mechanisms. Primary cultured hippocampal neurons from newborn Sprague Dawley rats were treated with CORT in the absence or presence of Manninotriose and AS-IV. Cell Counting Kit-8 experiments and fluorescein diacetate (FDA)/propidium iodide (PI) double staining were conducted to assess the activity and survival rate of neurons. Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot analysis were performed to detect the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), zinc finger protein (Zif268) and synapsin 1 (SYN1). DNA methylation of the gene promoter was assessed by bisulfite sequencing (BSP) analysis. The results demonstrated that pre-treatment with Manninotriose and AS-IV significantly improved cell viability and survival rate, and ameliorated the downregulation of GR, Zif268 and SYN1 genes in CORT injured neurons. BSP analysis revealed that CORT was able to improve the CpG island methylation rate of SYN1. AS-IV was observed to decrease the hypermethylation of the SYN1 gene induced by CORT. The results of the present study indicated that Manninotriose and AS-IV may have a protective effect against CORT-induced damage and the downregulation of learning and memory associated genes in hippocampal neurons. Regulation of DNA methylation may be important in the pharmaceutical activities of AS-IV. Thus, Manninotriose and AS-IV may be effective agents against learning and memory impairment.
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Epigenetic regulation of the circadian gene Per1 contributes to age-related changes in hippocampal memory. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3323. [PMID: 30127461 PMCID: PMC6102273 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05868-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is accompanied by impairments in both circadian rhythmicity and long-term memory. Although it is clear that memory performance is affected by circadian cycling, it is unknown whether age-related disruption of the circadian clock causes impaired hippocampal memory. Here, we show that the repressive histone deacetylase HDAC3 restricts long-term memory, synaptic plasticity, and experience-induced expression of the circadian gene Per1 in the aging hippocampus without affecting rhythmic circadian activity patterns. We also demonstrate that hippocampal Per1 is critical for long-term memory formation. Together, our data challenge the traditional idea that alterations in the core circadian clock drive circadian-related changes in memory formation and instead argue for a more autonomous role for circadian clock gene function in hippocampal cells to gate the likelihood of long-term memory formation. Circadian rhythms are known to modulate memory, but it’s not known whether clock genes in the hippocampus are required for memory consolidation. Here, the authors show that epigenetic regulation of clock gene Period1 in the hippocampus regulates memory and contributes to age-related memory decline, independent of circadian rhythms.
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Zhong JY, Magnusson KR, Swarts ME, Clendinen CA, Reynolds NC, Moffat SD. The application of a rodent-based Morris water maze (MWM) protocol to an investigation of age-related differences in human spatial learning. Behav Neurosci 2018; 131:470-482. [PMID: 29189018 DOI: 10.1037/bne0000219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The current study applied a rodent-based Morris water maze (MWM) protocol to an investigation of search performance differences between young and older adult humans. To investigate whether similar age-related decline in search performance could be seen in humans based on the rodent-based protocol, we implemented a virtual MWM (vMWM) that has characteristics similar to those of the MWM used in previous studies of spatial learning in mice. Through the use of a proximity to platform measure, robust differences were found between healthy young and older adults in search performance. After dividing older adults into good and poor performers based on a median split of their corrected cumulative proximity values, the age effects in place learning were found to be largely related to search performance differences between the young and poor-performing older adults. When compared with the young, poor-performing older adults exhibited significantly higher proximity values in 83% of 24 place trials and overall in the probe trials that assessed spatial learning in the absence of the hidden platform. In contrast, good-performing older adults exhibited patterns of search performance that were comparable with that of the younger adults in most place and probe trials. Taken together, our findings suggest that the low search accuracy in poor-performing older adults stemmed from potential differences in strategy selection, differences in assumptions or expectations of task demands, as well as possible underlying functional and/or structural changes in the brain regions involved in vMWM search performance. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy Y Zhong
- School of Psychology, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology
| | - Kathy R Magnusson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University
| | - Matthew E Swarts
- School of Architecture, College of Design, Georgia Institute of Technology
| | | | - Nadjalisse C Reynolds
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University
| | - Scott D Moffat
- School of Psychology, College of Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology
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Lopez JR, Uryash A, Kolster J, Estève E, Zhang R, Adams JA. Enhancing Endogenous Nitric Oxide by Whole Body Periodic Acceleration Elicits Neuroprotective Effects in Dystrophic Neurons. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:8680-8694. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1018-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Altered function of neuronal L-type calcium channels in ageing and neuroinflammation: Implications in age-related synaptic dysfunction and cognitive decline. Ageing Res Rev 2018; 42:86-99. [PMID: 29339150 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2018.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The rapid developments in science have led to an increase in human life expectancy and thus, ageing and age-related disorders/diseases have become one of the greatest concerns in the 21st century. Cognitive abilities tend to decline as we get older. This age-related cognitive decline is mainly attributed to aberrant changes in synaptic plasticity and neuronal connections. Recent studies show that alterations in Ca2+ homeostasis underlie the increased vulnerability of neurons to age-related processes like cognitive decline and synaptic dysfunctions. Dysregulation of Ca2+ can lead to dramatic changes in neuronal functions. We discuss in this review, the recent advances on the potential role of dysregulated Ca2+ homeostasis through altered function of L-type voltage gated Ca2+ channels (LTCC) in ageing, with an emphasis on cognitive decline. This review therefore focuses on age-related changes mainly in the hippocampus, and with mention of other brain areas, that are important for learning and memory. This review also highlights age-related memory deficits via synaptic alterations and neuroinflammation. An understanding of these mechanisms will help us formulate strategies to reverse or ameliorate age-related disorders like cognitive decline.
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FK506-Binding Protein 12.6/1b, a Negative Regulator of [Ca 2+], Rescues Memory and Restores Genomic Regulation in the Hippocampus of Aging Rats. J Neurosci 2017; 38:1030-1041. [PMID: 29255009 PMCID: PMC5783960 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2234-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hippocampal overexpression of FK506-binding protein 12.6/1b (FKBP1b), a negative regulator of ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release, reverses aging-induced memory impairment and neuronal Ca2+ dysregulation. Here, we tested the hypothesis that FKBP1b also can protect downstream transcriptional networks from aging-induced dysregulation. We gave hippocampal microinjections of FKBP1b-expressing viral vector to male rats at either 13 months of age (long-term, LT) or 19 months of age (short-term, ST) and tested memory performance in the Morris water maze at 21 months of age. Aged rats treated ST or LT with FKBP1b substantially outperformed age-matched vector controls and performed similarly to each other and young controls (YCs). Transcriptional profiling in the same animals identified 2342 genes with hippocampal expression that was upregulated/downregulated in aged controls (ACs) compared with YCs (the aging effect). Of these aging-dependent genes, 876 (37%) also showed altered expression in aged FKBP1b-treated rats compared with ACs, with FKBP1b restoring expression of essentially all such genes (872/876, 99.5%) in the direction opposite the aging effect and closer to levels in YCs. This inverse relationship between the aging and FKBP1b effects suggests that the aging effects arise from FKBP1b deficiency. Functional category analysis revealed that genes downregulated with aging and restored by FKBP1b were associated predominantly with diverse brain structure categories, including cytoskeleton, membrane channels, and extracellular region. Conversely, genes upregulated with aging but not restored by FKBP1b associated primarily with glial–neuroinflammatory, ribosomal, and lysosomal categories. Immunohistochemistry confirmed aging-induced rarefaction and FKBP1b-mediated restoration of neuronal microtubular structure. Therefore, a previously unrecognized genomic network modulating diverse brain structural processes is dysregulated by aging and restored by FKBP1b overexpression. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Previously, we found that hippocampal overexpression of FK506-binding protein 12.6/1b (FKBP1b), a negative regulator of intracellular Ca2+ responses, reverses both aging-related Ca2+ dysregulation and cognitive impairment. Here, we tested whether hippocampal FKBP1b overexpression also counteracts aging changes in gene transcriptional networks. In addition to reducing memory deficits in aged rats, FKBP1b selectively counteracted aging-induced expression changes in 37% of aging-dependent genes, with cytoskeletal and extracellular structure categories highly associated with the FKBP1b-rescued genes. Our results indicate that, in parallel with cognitive processes, a novel transcriptional network coordinating brain structural organization is dysregulated with aging and restored by FKBP1b.
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Ianov L, De Both M, Chawla MK, Rani A, Kennedy AJ, Piras I, Day JJ, Siniard A, Kumar A, Sweatt JD, Barnes CA, Huentelman MJ, Foster TC. Hippocampal Transcriptomic Profiles: Subfield Vulnerability to Age and Cognitive Impairment. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:383. [PMID: 29276487 PMCID: PMC5727020 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study employed next-generation RNA sequencing to examine gene expression differences related to brain aging, cognitive decline, and hippocampal subfields. Young and aged rats were trained on a spatial episodic memory task. Hippocampal regions CA1, CA3, and the dentate gyrus were isolated. Poly-A mRNA was examined using two different sequencing platforms, Illumina, and Ion Proton. The Illumina platform was used to generate seed lists of genes that were statistically differentially expressed across regions, ages, or in association with cognitive function. The gene lists were then retested using the data from the Ion Proton platform. The results indicate hippocampal subfield differences in gene expression and point to regional differences in vulnerability to aging. Aging was associated with increased expression of immune response-related genes, particularly in the dentate gyrus. For the memory task, impaired performance of aged animals was linked to the regulation of Ca2+ and synaptic function in region CA1. Finally, we provide a transcriptomic characterization of the three subfields regardless of age or cognitive status, highlighting and confirming a correspondence between cytoarchitectural boundaries and molecular profiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Ianov
- Departments of Neuroscience and Genetics and Genomics Program, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Matt De Both
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Monica K Chawla
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Asha Rani
- Departments of Neuroscience and Genetics and Genomics Program, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Andrew J Kennedy
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Ignazio Piras
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Jeremy J Day
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Ashley Siniard
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Departments of Neuroscience and Genetics and Genomics Program, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - J David Sweatt
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Carol A Barnes
- Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Departments of Psychology, Neurology and Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Matthew J Huentelman
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States.,Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Thomas C Foster
- Departments of Neuroscience and Genetics and Genomics Program, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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Uddin R, Singh SM. Gene Network Construction from Microarray Data Identifies a Key Network Module and Several Candidate Hub Genes in Age-Associated Spatial Learning Impairment. Front Syst Neurosci 2017; 11:75. [PMID: 29066959 PMCID: PMC5641338 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2017.00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As humans age many suffer from a decrease in normal brain functions including spatial learning impairments. This study aimed to better understand the molecular mechanisms in age-associated spatial learning impairment (ASLI). We used a mathematical modeling approach implemented in Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to create and compare gene network models of young (learning unimpaired) and aged (predominantly learning impaired) brains from a set of exploratory datasets in rats in the context of ASLI. The major goal was to overcome some of the limitations previously observed in the traditional meta- and pathway analysis using these data, and identify novel ASLI related genes and their networks based on co-expression relationship of genes. This analysis identified a set of network modules in the young, each of which is highly enriched with genes functioning in broad but distinct GO functional categories or biological pathways. Interestingly, the analysis pointed to a single module that was highly enriched with genes functioning in “learning and memory” related functions and pathways. Subsequent differential network analysis of this “learning and memory” module in the aged (predominantly learning impaired) rats compared to the young learning unimpaired rats allowed us to identify a set of novel ASLI candidate hub genes. Some of these genes show significant repeatability in networks generated from independent young and aged validation datasets. These hub genes are highly co-expressed with other genes in the network, which not only show differential expression but also differential co-expression and differential connectivity across age and learning impairment. The known function of these hub genes indicate that they play key roles in critical pathways, including kinase and phosphatase signaling, in functions related to various ion channels, and in maintaining neuronal integrity relating to synaptic plasticity and memory formation. Taken together, they provide a new insight and generate new hypotheses into the molecular mechanisms responsible for age associated learning impairment, including spatial learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raihan Uddin
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Shiva M Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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39
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Ianov L, Riva A, Kumar A, Foster TC. DNA Methylation of Synaptic Genes in the Prefrontal Cortex Is Associated with Aging and Age-Related Cognitive Impairment. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:249. [PMID: 28824413 PMCID: PMC5539085 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The current study investigates DNA methylation as a possible epigenetic regulator of transcription associated with aging and cognitive function. Young and aged male Fischer 344 rats were behaviorally characterized on a set shifting task, and whole genome bisulfite sequencing was employed to profile the DNA methylome of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). DNA methylation was also compared to RNA expression in the mPFC from the same animals. Variability in methylation was mainly observed for CpG sites as opposed to CHG and CHH sites. Gene bodies, specifically introns, contain the highest levels of methylation. During aging, hypermethylation was observed for genes linked to synaptic function and GTPase activity. Furthermore, impaired cognitive flexibility during aging was associated with hypermethylation of genes linked to postsynaptic density, dendrites, the axon terminus, and Ca2+ channels. Finally, comparison with RNA expression confirmed that hypermethylation was correlated with decreased expression of synaptic genes. The results indicate that DNA methylation over the lifespan contributes to synaptic modification observed in brain aging and age-related cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Ianov
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL, United States.,Genetics and Genomics Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL, United States
| | - Alberto Riva
- Bioinformatics Core, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL, United States
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL, United States
| | - Thomas C Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL, United States.,Genetics and Genomics Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida, GainesvilleFL, United States
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40
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Pardo J, Abba MC, Lacunza E, Ogundele OM, Paiva I, Morel GR, Outeiro TF, Goya RG. IGF-I Gene Therapy in Aging Rats Modulates Hippocampal Genes Relevant to Memory Function. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glx125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joaquín Pardo
- INIBIOLP-Histology B-Pathology B, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Martin C Abba
- CINIBA, School of Medicine, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Ezequiel Lacunza
- CINIBA, School of Medicine, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Olalekan M Ogundele
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
| | - Isabel Paiva
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gustavo R Morel
- INIBIOLP-Histology B-Pathology B, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Tiago F Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rodolfo G Goya
- INIBIOLP-Histology B-Pathology B, University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
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Age and Alzheimer's disease gene expression profiles reversed by the glutamate modulator riluzole. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:296-305. [PMID: 27021815 PMCID: PMC5042881 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related cognitive decline represent a growing health burden and involve the hippocampus, a vulnerable brain region implicated in learning and memory. To understand the molecular effects of aging on the hippocampus, this study characterized the gene expression changes associated with aging in rodents using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). The glutamate modulator, riluzole, which was recently shown to improve memory performance in aged rats, prevented many of the hippocampal age-related gene expression changes. A comparison of the effects of riluzole in rats against human AD data sets revealed that many of the gene changes in AD are reversed by riluzole. Expression changes identified by RNA-Seq were validated by qRT-PCR open arrays. Riluzole is known to increase the glutamate transporter EAAT2's ability to scavenge excess glutamate, regulating synaptic transmission. RNA-seq and immunohistochemistry confirmed an increase in EAAT2 expression in hippocampus, identifying a possible mechanism underlying the improved memory function after riluzole treatment.
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42
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Pardo J, Abba MC, Lacunza E, Francelle L, Morel GR, Outeiro TF, Goya RG. Identification of a conserved gene signature associated with an exacerbated inflammatory environment in the hippocampus of aging rats. Hippocampus 2017; 27:435-449. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joaquín Pardo
- INIBIOLP, Histology B–Pathology B, School of Medicine, UNLPLa Plata Argentina
| | | | | | - Laetitia Francelle
- Department of Neurodegeneration and Restorative ResearchUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingen Germany
| | - Gustavo R. Morel
- INIBIOLP, Histology B–Pathology B, School of Medicine, UNLPLa Plata Argentina
| | - Tiago F. Outeiro
- Department of Neurodegeneration and Restorative ResearchUniversity Medical Center GöttingenGöttingen Germany
| | - Rodolfo G. Goya
- INIBIOLP, Histology B–Pathology B, School of Medicine, UNLPLa Plata Argentina
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43
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Tabassum H, Ashafaq M, Parvez S, Raisuddin S. Role of melatonin in mitigating nonylphenol-induced toxicity in frontal cortex and hippocampus of rat brain. Neurochem Int 2016; 104:11-26. [PMID: 28012845 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2016.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2016] [Revised: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Nonylphenol (NP), an environmental endocrine disruptor mimics estrogen and is a potential toxicant both under in vitro and in vivo conditions. In this study, the effect of melatonin on NP- induced neurotoxicity and cognitive alteration was investigated in adult male Wistar rats. Melatonin supplementation has been known to protect cells from neurotoxic injury. The animals were divided into three groups namely, control (vehicle) which received olive oil orally and treated rats received NP (25 mg/kg, per os) thrice a week for 45 days while the third group i.e., NP + melatonin, animals were co-administered melatonin (10 mg/kg, i.p.) along with NP. On the 46th day, rats were assessed for anxiety, motor co-ordination, grip strength and cognitive performance using Morris water maze test and then sacrificed for biochemical and histopathological assays in brain tissues. Melatonin improved the behavioral performance in NP exposed group. The results showed that NP significantly decreased the activity of acetylcholine esterase (AchE), monoamine oxidase (MAO) and Na+/K+-ATPase, in rat brain tissue along with other enzymes of antioxidant milieu. The outcome of the study shows that NP, like other persistent endocrine disrupting pollutants, creates a potential risk of cognitive, neurochemical and histopathological perturbations as a result of environmental exposure. Taken together, our study demonstrates that melatonin is protective against NP-induced neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heena Tabassum
- Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi 110 062, India
| | - Mohammad Ashafaq
- Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi 110 062, India
| | - Suhel Parvez
- Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi 110 062, India
| | - Sheikh Raisuddin
- Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi 110 062, India.
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Lopez JR, Kolster J, Uryash A, Estève E, Altamirano F, Adams JA. Dysregulation of Intracellular Ca 2+ in Dystrophic Cortical and Hippocampal Neurons. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 55:603-618. [PMID: 27975174 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-0311-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an inherited X-linked disorder characterized by skeletal muscle wasting, cardiomyopathy, as well as cognitive impairment. Lack of dystrophin in striated muscle produces dyshomeostasis of resting intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), Na+ ([Na+]i), and oxidative stress. Here, we test the hypothesis that similar to striated muscle cells, an absence of dystrophin in neurons from mdx mice (a mouse model for DMD) is also associated with dysfunction of [Ca2+]i homeostasis and oxidative stress. [Ca2+]i and [Na+]i in pyramidal cortical and hippocampal neurons from 3 and 6 months mdx mice were elevated compared to WT in an age-dependent manner. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ reduced [Ca2+]i in both WT and mdx neurons, but the decrease was greater and age-dependent in the latter. GsMTx-4 (a blocker of stretch-activated cation channels) significantly decreased [Ca2+]i and [Na+]i in an age-dependent manner in all mdx neurons. Blockade of ryanodine receptors (RyR) or inositol triphosphate receptors (IP3R) reduced [Ca2+]i in mdx. Mdx neurons showed elevated and age-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and an increase in neuronal damage. In addition, mdx mice showed a spatial learning deficit compared to WT. GsMTx-4 intraperitoneal injection reduced neural [Ca2+]i and improved learning deficit in mdx mice. In summary, mdx neurons show an age-dependent dysregulation in [Ca2+]i and [Na+]i which is mediated by plasmalemmal cation influx and by intracellular Ca2+ release through the RyR and IP3R. Also, mdx neurons have elevated ROS production and more extensive cell damage. Finally, a reduction of [Ca2+]i improved cognitive function in mdx mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- José R Lopez
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Juan Kolster
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Mexico, México
| | - Arkady Uryash
- Division of Neonatology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami, FL, 33140, USA
| | - Eric Estève
- HP2 INSERM 1042 Institut Jean Roget, Université Grenoble Alpes, BP170, 38042, Grenoble Cedex, France
| | - Francisco Altamirano
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine - Cardiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75235, USA
| | - José A Adams
- Division of Neonatology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami, FL, 33140, USA
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45
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Deibel SH, Zelinski EL, Keeley RJ, Kovalchuk O, McDonald RJ. Epigenetic alterations in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and hippocampus contribute to age-related cognitive decline. Oncotarget 2016; 6:23181-203. [PMID: 26252151 PMCID: PMC4695111 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/1969] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Circadian rhythm dysfunction and cognitive decline, specifically memory loss, frequently accompany natural aging. Circadian rhythms and memory are intertwined, as circadian rhythms influence memory formation and recall in young and old rodents. Although, the precise relationship between circadian rhythms and memory is still largely unknown, it is hypothesized that circadian rhythm disruption, which occurs during aging, contributes to age-associated cognitive decline, specifically memory loss. While there are a variety of mechanisms that could mediate this effect, changes in the epigenome that occur during aging has been proposed as a potential candidate. Interestingly, epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and sirtuin1 (SIRT1) are necessary for both circadian rhythms and memory. During aging, similar alterations of epigenetic mechanisms occur in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and hippocampus, which are necessary for circadian rhythm generation and memory, respectively. Recently, circadian rhythms have been linked to epigenetic function in the hippocampus, as some of these epigenetic mechanisms oscillate in the hippocampus and are disrupted by clock gene deletion. The current paper will review how circadian rhythms and memory change with age, and will suggest how epigenetic changes in these processes might contribute to age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott H Deibel
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Erin L Zelinski
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Robin J Keeley
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Olga Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Robert J McDonald
- Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
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46
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Krueger JN, Moore SJ, Parent R, McKinney BC, Lee A, Murphy GG. A novel mouse model of the aged brain: Over-expression of the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel Ca V1.3. Behav Brain Res 2016; 322:241-249. [PMID: 27368417 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.06.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Revised: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The aged population is growing rapidly, which has sparked tremendous interest in elucidating mechanisms of aging in both the body and the brain. Animal models have become an indispensable tool in biomedical science, but because of the cost and extended timeframe associated with aging animals to appropriate time points, studies that rely on using aged animals are often not feasible. Somewhat surprisingly, there are relatively few animal models that have been specifically engineered to mimic physiological changes known to occur during "normal" aging. Developing transgenic animal models that faithfully mimic key aspects of aging would likely be of great utility in studying both age-related deficits in the absence of overt pathology as well as an adjunct for transgenic models of diseases where aging is a primary risk factor. In particular, there are several alterations in the aged brain that are amenable to being modeled genetically. We have focused on one key aspect that has been repeatedly demonstrated in aged animals - an increase in the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel CaV1.3. Here we present a novel transgenic mouse line in which expression of CaV1.3 is increased by approximately 50% in the forebrain of young mice. These mice do not display any overt physical or non-cognitive deficits, exhibiting normal exploratory behavior, motor function, and affective-like responses, suggesting that these mice can be successfully deployed to assess the impact of an "aged brain" in a variety of conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie N Krueger
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Shannon J Moore
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
| | - Rachel Parent
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Brandon C McKinney
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - Amy Lee
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States
| | - Geoffrey G Murphy
- Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Department of Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
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47
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Zamzow DR, Elias V, Acosta VA, Escobedo E, Magnusson KR. Higher levels of phosphorylated Y1472 on GluN2B subunits in the frontal cortex of aged mice are associated with good spatial reference memory, but not cognitive flexibility. AGE (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2016; 38:50. [PMID: 27094400 PMCID: PMC5005925 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-016-9913-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) is particularly vulnerable to aging. The GluN2B subunit of the NMDAr, compared to other NMDAr subunits, suffers the greatest losses of expression in the aging brain, especially in the frontal cortex. While expression levels of GluN2B mRNA and protein in the aged brain are well documented, there has been little investigation into age-related posttranslational modifications of the subunit. In this study, we explored some of the mechanisms that may promote differences in the NMDAr complex in the frontal cortex of aged animals. Two ages of mice, 3 and 24 months, were behaviorally tested in the Morris water maze. The frontal cortex and hippocampus from each mouse were subjected to differential centrifugation followed by solubilization in Triton X-100. Proteins from Triton-insoluble membranes, Triton-soluble membranes, and intracellular membranes/cytosol were examined by Western blot. Higher levels of GluN2B tyrosine 1472 phosphorylation in frontal cortex synaptic fractions of old mice were associated with better reference learning but poorer cognitive flexibility. Levels of GluN2B phosphotyrosine 1336 remained steady, but there were greater levels of the calpain-induced 115 kDa GluN2B cleavage product on extrasynaptic membranes in these old good learners. There was an age-related increase in calpain activity, but it was not associated with better learning. These data highlight a unique aging change for aged mice with good spatial learning that might be detrimental to cognitive flexibility. This study also suggests that higher levels of truncated GluN2B on extrasynaptic membranes are not deleterious to spatial memory in aged mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Val Elias
- Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
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48
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Ianov L, Rani A, Beas BS, Kumar A, Foster TC. Transcription Profile of Aging and Cognition-Related Genes in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:113. [PMID: 27242522 PMCID: PMC4868850 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive function depends on transcription; however, there is little information linking altered gene expression to impaired prefrontal cortex function during aging. Young and aged F344 rats were characterized on attentional set shift and spatial memory tasks. Transcriptional differences associated with age and cognition were examined using RNA sequencing to construct transcriptomic profiles for the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), white matter, and region CA1 of the hippocampus. The results indicate regional differences in vulnerability to aging. Age-related gene expression in the mPFC was similar to, though less robust than, changes in the dorsolateral PFC of aging humans suggesting that aging processes may be similar. Importantly, the pattern of transcription associated with aging did not predict cognitive decline. Rather, increased mPFC expression of genes involved in regulation of transcription, including transcription factors that regulate the strength of excitatory and inhibitory inputs, and neural activity-related immediate-early genes was observed in aged animals that exhibit delayed set shift behavior. The specificity of impairment on a mPFC-dependent task, associated with a particular mPFC transcriptional profile indicates that impaired executive function involves altered transcriptional regulation and neural activity/plasticity processes that are distinct from that described for impaired hippocampal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Ianov
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, USA
- Genetics and Genomics Program, Genetics Institute, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, USA
| | - Asha Rani
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, USA
| | - Blanca S. Beas
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, USA
| | - Thomas C. Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, USA
- Genetics and Genomics Program, Genetics Institute, University of FloridaGainesville, FL, USA
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49
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Gong H, Qian H, Ertl R, Astle CM, Wang GG, Harrison DE, Xu X. Histone modifications change with age, dietary restriction and rapamycin treatment in mouse brain. Oncotarget 2016; 6:15882-90. [PMID: 26021816 PMCID: PMC4599244 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.4137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) increases dramatically with age. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of brain aging is crucial for developing preventative and/or therapeutic approaches for age-associated neurological diseases. Recently, it has been suggested that epigenetic factors, such as histone modifications, maybe be involved in brain aging and age-related neurodegenerations. In this study, we investigated 14 histone modifications in brains of a cohort of young (3 months), old (22 months), and old age-matched dietary restricted (DR) and rapamycin treated BALB/c mice. Results showed that 7 out of all measured histone markers were changed drastically with age. Intriguingly, histone methylations in brain tissues, including H3K27me3, H3R2me2, H3K79me3 and H4K20me2 tend to disappear with age but can be partially restored by both DR and rapamycin treatment. However, both DR and rapamycin treatment also have a significant impact on several other histone modifications such as H3K27ac, H4K16ac, H4R3me2, and H3K56ac, which do not change as animal ages. This study provides the first evidence that a broad spectrum of histone modifications may be involved in brain aging. Besides, this study suggests that both DR and rapamycin may slow aging process in mouse brain via these underlying epigenetic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Gong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, Ministry of Health, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Qian
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Robin Ertl
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA.,Center for Natural and Health Sciences, Marywood University, Scranton, PA, USA
| | | | - Gang G Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Xiangru Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
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50
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Hargis KE, Blalock EM. Transcriptional signatures of brain aging and Alzheimer's disease: What are our rodent models telling us? Behav Brain Res 2016; 322:311-328. [PMID: 27155503 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2016] [Revised: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Aging is the biggest risk factor for idiopathic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, the National Institutes of Health released AD research recommendations that include: appreciating normal brain aging, expanding data-driven research, using open-access resources, and evaluating experimental reproducibility. Transcriptome data sets for aging and AD in humans and animal models are available in NIH-curated, publically accessible databases. However, little work has been done to test for concordance among those molecular signatures. Here, we test the hypothesis that brain transcriptional profiles from animal models recapitulate those observed in the human condition. Raw transcriptional profile data from twenty-nine studies were analyzed to produce p-values and fold changes for young vs. aged or control vs. AD conditions. Concordance across profiles was assessed at three levels: (1) # of significant genes observed vs. # expected by chance; (2) proportion of significant genes showing directional agreement; (3) correlation among studies for magnitude of effect among significant genes. The highest concordance was found within subjects across brain regions. Normal brain aging was concordant across studies, brain regions, and species, despite profound differences in chronological aging among humans, rats and mice. Human studies of idiopathic AD were concordant across brain structures and studies, but were not concordant with the transcriptional profiles of transgenic AD mouse models. Further, the five transgenic AD mouse models that were assessed were not concordant with one another. These results suggest that normal brain aging is similar in humans and research animals, and that different transgenic AD model mice may reflect selected aspects of AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendra E Hargis
- University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Science, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Eric M Blalock
- University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Science, Lexington, KY, United States.
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