Gangliosides. Their role in clinical neurology

Neuroprotection by cattle encephalon glycoside and ignotin beyond the time window of thrombolysis in ischemic stroke

Cattle encephalon glycoside and ignotin (CEGI) injection is known as a multi-target neuroprotective drug that contains numerous liposoluble molecules, such as polypeptides, monosialotetrahexosyl ganglioside (GM-1), free amino acids, hypoxanthine and carnosine. CEGI has been approved by the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration and widely used in the treatments of various diseases, such as stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. However, the neuroprotective effects of CEGI beyond the time window of thrombolysis (within 4.5 hours) on acute ischemic stroke remain unclear. This study constructed a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model by suture-occluded method to simulate ischemic stroke. The first daily dose was intraperitoneally injected at 8 hours post-surgery and the CEGI treatments continued for 14 days. Results of the modified five-point Bederson scale, beam balance test and rotameric test showed the neurological function of ischemic stroke rats treated with 4 mL/kg/d CEGI improved significantly, but the mortality within 14 days did not change significantly. Brain MRI and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining confirmed that the infarct size in the 4 mL/kg/d CEGI-treated rats was significantly reduced compared with ischemic insult only. The results of transmission electron microscopy and double immunofluorescence staining showed that the hippocampal neuronal necrosis in the ischemic penumbra decreased whereas the immunopositivity of new neuronal-specific protein doublecortin and the percentage of Ki67/doublecortin positive cells increased in CEGI-treated rats compared with untreated rats. Our results suggest that CEGI has an effective neuroprotective effect on ischemic stroke when administered after the time window of thrombolysis. The study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of The Third Military Medical University, China.

Role of sphingolipid metabolism in neurodegeneration

Sphingolipids are a class of lipids highly enriched in the central nervous system (CNS), which shows great diversity and complexity, and has been implicated in CNS development and function. Alterations in sphingolipid metabolism have been described in multiple diseases, including those affecting the central nervous system (CNS). In this review, we discuss the role of sphingolipid metabolism in neurodegeneration, evaluating its direct roles in neuron development and health, and also in the induction of neurotoxic activities in CNS-resident astrocytes and microglia in the context of neurologic diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Finally, we focus on the metabolism of gangliosides and sphingosine-1-phosphate, its contribution to the pathogenesis of neurologic diseases, and its potential as a candidate target for the therapeutic modulation of neurodegeneration.

Biomolecule-Functionalized Smart Polydiacetylene for Biomedical and Environmental Sensing

Polydiacetylene (PDA) has attracted interest for use as a sensing platform in biomedical, environmental, and chemical engineering applications owing to its capacity for colorimetric and fluorescent transition in response to external stimuli. Many researchers have attempted to develop a tailor-made PDA sensor via conjugation of chemical or biological substances to PDA. Here, we review smart bio-conjugates of PDA with various biomolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. In addition, materialization and signal amplification strategies to improve handling and sensitivity are described.

Review: Molecular mimicry of host structures by lipopolysaccharides of Campylobacter and Helicobacter spp.: implications in pathogenesis

Molecular mimicry of host structures by the saccharide portion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contributes to the virulence of certain strains of mucosal pathogens. Mimicry by the low molecular weight (low-Mr) LPSs of Neisseria and Haemophilus spp. have been the most extensively studied. However, studies within the last decade have revealed other types of mimicry within the saccharide moieties of LPSs of the enteric pathogen Campylobacter jejuni and the gastroduodenal pathogen Helicobacter pylori. The core oligosaccharides of low-Mr LPSs of C. jejuni serotypes which are associated with the development of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a neurological disorder, exhibit mimicry of gangliosides. Cross-reactive antibodies between LPSs and gangliosides which are induced during antecedent C. jejuni infection are considered to play an important role in GBS pathogenesis. The O-polysaccharide chains of high-Mr LPSs of a number of H. pylori strains mimic Lewisx and/or Lewisy blood group antigens. This mimicry may camouflage the bacterium in the gastric mucosa upon initial infection. With the progression of infection, the mimicry may play a role in immune response regulation and the induction of autoantibodies against the gastric proton pump, a glycoprotein that also expresses Lewis antigens.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Ganglioside Hp-s1 Analogues Varying at Glucosyl Moiety

Ganglioside Hp-s1 is isolated from the ovary of sea urchin Diadema setosum. It exhibited better neuritogenic activity than GM1 in pheochromocytoma 12 cells. To explore the roles of glucosyl moiety of Hp-s1 in contributing to the neurogenic activity, we developed feasible procedures for synthesis of Hp-s1 analogues (2a-2f). The glucosyl moiety of Hp-s1 was replaced with α-glucose, α-galactose, β-galactose, α-mannose, and β-mannose, and their biological activities on SH-SY5Y cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells were evaluated. We found that the orientation of C-2 hydroxyl group at glucosyl moiety of Hp-s1 plays an important role to induce neurite outgrowth of SH-SY5Y cells. Surprisingly, compound 2d could activate NKT cells to produce interleukin 2, although it did not show great activity on neurite outgrowth of SH-SY5Y cells. In general, the Hp-s1 might be considered as a lead compound for the development of novel drugs aimed at modulating the activity of neuronal cells.

Isolation and purification of monosialotetrahexosylgangliosides from pig brain by extraction and liquid chromatography

Monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1), one of glycosphingolipids containing sialic acid, plays particularly important role in fighting against paralysis, dementia and other diseases caused by brain and nerve damage. In this work, a simple and highly efficient method with high yield was developed for isolation and purification of GM1 from pig brain. The method consisted of an extraction by chloroform-methanol-water and a two-step chromatographic separation by DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow anion-exchange medium and Sephacryl S-100 HR size-exclusion medium. The purified GM1 was proved to be homogeneous and had a purity of >98.0% by high-performance anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. The molecular weight was 30.0 kDa by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography and 1546.9 Da by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The chromogenic reaction by resorcinol-hydrochloric acid solution indicated that the purified GM1 showed a specific chromogenic reaction of sialic acid. Through this isolation and purification program, ~1.0 mg of pure GM1 could be captured from 500 g wet pig brain tissue and the yield of GM1 was around 0.022%, which was higher than the yields by other methods. The method may provide an alternative for isolation and purification of GM1 in other biological tissues.

Efficient biotransformation of polysialogangliosides for preparation of GM1 by Cellulosimicrobium sp. 21

A new ganglioside transformed strain isolated from soil was identified as Cellulosimicrobium sp. 21. It produced a sialidase which transformed polysialo-gangliosides GD1 and GT1 into a monosialoterahexosylganglioside, i.e., ganglioside GM1. The sialidase had both NeuAc-α-2,3- and NeuAc-α-2,8-sialidase activity without producing asiolo-GM1. The optimum conditions were evaluated and it was found that the transformation was optimally performed at 30 °C and pH 7.0. The substrate should be added at the beginning of the reaction and the concentration of substrate was 3% (w/v). Under these optimum conditions, Cellulosimicrobium sp. 21 converted GD1 and GT1 into GM1 in inorganic medium in a 5 L bioreactor with the recovery rate of 69.3%. The product contained 50.3% GM1 and was purified on silica to give the product with 95% of GM1 with a recovery rate of 30.5%. Therefore, Cellulosimicrobium sp. 21 has potential to be applied in the production of GM1 in the pharmaceutical industry.

Pathogenic role of ganglioside metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases

Ganglioside metabolism is altered in several neurodegenerative diseases, and this may participate in several events related to the pathogenesis of these diseases. Most changes occur in specific areas of the brain and their distinct membrane microdomains or lipid rafts. Antiganglioside antibodies may be involved in dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier and disease progression in these diseases. In lipid rafts, interactions of glycosphingolipids, including ganglioside, with proteins may be responsible for the misfolding events that cause the fibril and/or aggregate processing of disease-specific proteins, such as α-synuclein, in Parkinson's disease, huntingtin protein in Huntington's disease, and copper-zinc superoxide dismutase in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Targeting ganglioside metabolism may represent an underexploited opportunity to design novel therapeutic strategies for neurodegeneration in these diseases.

Siglec receptors and hiding plaques in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. One hallmark of this disease is the continuous increase in the numbers and size of aggregating amyloid plaques. The accumulation of extracellular plaques is an immunologically interesting phenomenon since microglial cells, brain-specific macrophages, should be able to cleanse the aggregating material from the human brain. Immunotherapy targeting beta-amyloid peptides in plaques with antibodies represents a promising therapy in AD. Recent progress in pattern recognition receptors of monocytes and macrophages has revealed that the sialic acid-binding, immunoglobulin-like lectin (Siglec) family of receptors is an important recognition receptor for sialylated glycoproteins and glycolipids. Interestingly, recent studies have revealed that microglial cells contain only one type of Siglec receptors, Siglec-11, which mediates immunosuppressive signals and thus inhibits the function of other microglial pattern recognition receptors, such as TLRs, NLRs, and RAGE receptors. We will review here the recent literature which clearly indicates that aggregating amyloid plaques are masked in AD by sialylated glycoproteins and gangliosides. Sialylation and glycosylation of plaques, mimicking the cell surface glycocalyx, can activate the immunosuppressive Siglec-11 receptors, as well as hiding the neuritic plaques, allowing them to evade the immune surveillance of microglial cells. This kind of immune evasion can prevent the microglial cleansing process of aggregating amyloid plaques in AD.

Protective role of endogenous gangliosides for lysosomal pathology in a cellular model of synucleinopathies

Gangliosides may be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and related disorders, although the precise mechanisms governing this involvement remain unknown. In this study, we determined whether changes in endogenous ganglioside levels affect lysosomal pathology in a cellular model of synucleinopathy. For this purpose, dementia with Lewy body-linked P123H beta-synuclein (beta-syn) neuroblastoma cells transfected with alpha-synuclein were used as a model system because these cells were characterized as having extensive formation of lysosomal inclusions bodies. Treatment of these cells with D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP), an inhibitor of glycosyl ceramide synthase, resulted in various features of lysosomal pathology, including compromised lysosomal activity, enhanced lysosomal membrane permeabilization, and increased cytotoxicity. Consistent with these findings, expression levels of lysosomal membrane proteins, ATP13A2 and LAMP-2, were significantly decreased, and electron microscopy demonstrated alterations in the lysosomal membrane structures. Furthermore, the accumulation of both P123H beta-syn and alpha-synuclein proteins was significant in PDMP-treated cells because of the suppressive effect of PDMP on the autophagy pathway. Finally, the detrimental effects of PDMP on lysosomal pathology were significantly ameliorated by the addition of gangliosides to the cultured cells. These data suggest that endogenous gangliosides may play protective roles against the lysosomal pathology of synucleinopathies.

Neuritogenic Activity of Gangliosides from Echinoderms and Their Structure-Activity Relationship

The effects of the gangliosides isolated from echinoderms on the neuritogenesis of a rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC-12 cells) in the presence of nerve growth factor were investigated. The results show that they displayed neuritogenic activity. Based on the observed results, a structure-activity relationship has been established.

Drug Insight: new drugs in development for Parkinson's disease

For many years, levodopa has given most patients with Parkinson's disease excellent symptomatic benefit. This agent does not slow down the progression of the disease, however, and it can induce motor fluctuations and dyskinesias in the long term. The other available antiparkinsonian agents also have drawbacks, and as a consequence research into antiparkinsonian drugs is expected to take new and different directions in the coming years. The most promising approaches include the development of 'neuroprotective' drugs that are capable of blocking or at least slowing down the degenerative process that is responsible for cellular death; 'restorative' strategies intended to restore normal brain function; more-effective agents for replacing dopamine loss; and symptomatic and antidyskinetic drugs that act on neurotransmitters other than dopamine or target brain areas other than the striatum. In this Review, we discuss the numerous drugs in development that target the primary motor disorder in Parkinson's disease.

[Prehospital management of spinal cord injuries]

In both the United States and Europe about 10,000 patients suffer from spinal cord injury (SCI) each year and 20% die before being admitted to hospital. Prehospital management of SCI is very important since 25% of SCI damage may occur after the initial event. Emergency treatment includes examination of the patient, spinal immobilization, careful airway management, cardiovascular stabilization (maintenance of mean arterial blood pressure above 90 mmHg) and glucose levels within the normal range. From an evidence-based point of view, it is still not known whether additional specific therapy is useful and studies have not convincingly demonstrated that methylprednisolone (MPS) or other substances have clinically important benefits. Recently published statements from the US do not support the therapeutic use of MPS in patients suffering from SCI in the prehospital setting. Moreover, it is not known whether hypothermia or any other pharmacological interventions have beneficial effects. Networks for clinical studies in SCI patients should be established as a basic requirement for further improvement in outcome in these patients.

GM1 ganglioside induces phosphorylation and activation of Trk and Erk in brain

We investigated the ability of GM1 to induce phosphorylation of the tyrosine kinase receptor for neurotrophins, Trk, in rat brain, and activation of possible down-stream signaling cascades. GM1 increased phosphorylated Trk (pTrk) in slices of striatum, hippocampus and frontal cortex in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and enhanced the activity of Trk kinase resulting in receptor autophosphorylation. The ability of GM1 to induce pTrk was shared by other gangliosides, and was blocked by the selective Trk kinase inhibitors K252a and AG879. GM1 induced phosphorylation of TrkA > TrkC > TrkB in a region-specific distribution. Adding GM1 to brain slices activated extracellular-regulated protein kinases (Erks) in all three brain regions studied. In striatum, GM1 elicited activation of Erk2 > Erk1 in a time-and concentration-dependent manner. The GM1 effect on Erk2 was mimicked by other gangliosides, and was blocked by the Trk kinase inhibitors K252a and AG879. Pertussis toxin, as well as Src protein tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C inhibitors, did not prevent the GM1-induced activation of Erk2, apparently excluding the participation of Gi and Gq/11 protein-coupled receptors. Intracerebroventricular administration of GM1 induced a transient phosphorylation of TrkA and Erk1/2 in the striatum and hippocampus complementing the in situ studies. These observations support a role for GM1 in modulating Trk and Erk phosphorylation and activity in brain.

Managing neural tissue injury in combined vertebral column-spinal cord injury

Orthopaedic, neurosurgical, and trauma nurses all care for patients who have sustained a spinal cord injury (SCI) and are challenged to address care issues related to spinal stability as well as neurologic function. Advances in the understanding of the pathobiology of SCI have given rise to a three-tiered, time-sensitive approach to intervention designed to optimize functional recovery. Immediately after injury, pharmacologic strategies dominate. They are generally intended to limit progression of the initial injury, preserve existing neurologic function, and create the nidus for future regeneration. This article reviews the current standard of care with respect to hyperacute neuroprotection after blunt SCI in adults. After a synopsis of selected concepts in the pathophysiology of injury and pharmacology, clinical trial results will be presented, followed by a discussion of the nursing implications associated with the use of high-dose methylprednisolone neuroprotective therapy.

Neurotoxicity associated with neuroleptic-induced oral dyskinesias in rats. Implications for tardive dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia is a serious motor side effect of long-term treatment with neuroleptics, with an unknown pathophysiologic basis. Brain damage and aging are prominent risk-factors, and together with the persistent character of the disorder, it is likely that long-lasting neuronal changes are involved in the pathogenesis. It has been hypothesized that striatal neurodegeneration caused by excitotoxic mechanisms and oxidative stress may play an important role in the development of the disorder, and the scope of the present work is to review the evidence supporting this hypothesis. The rat model of tardive dyskinesia has been used extensively in the field, and the usefulness of this model will be discussed. Neuroleptics are able to induce oxidative stress in vitro and increase striatal glutamatergic activity in rats, which may lead to toxic effects in the striatum. Drugs that block excitotoxicity inhibit the development of persistent oral dyskinesia in the rat model, and impaired energy metabolism leads to increased frequency of oral dyskinesia. There are also signs of altered striatal histology in rats with high frequency of oral dyskinesia. Furthermore, markers of increased oxidative stress and glutamatergic neurotransmission have been found in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tardive dyskinesia. In conclusion, several lines of evidence implicate neurotoxic events in the development of neuroleptic induced tardive dyskinesia.

GM1 enhances the association of neuron-specific MAP2 with actin in MAP2-transfected 3T3 cells

The ganglioside GM1 is a glycosphingolipid which enhances process formation of several neuronal lines and potentiates some growth factor-mediated responses. Previously we have shown that 24 h exposure of Neuro 2a cells to GM1 mobilized the neuron-specific microtubule-associated protein, MAP2, away from microtubule-rich areas to areas of neurite sprouting where MAP2 was more closely associated with the subcortical actin network. To examine the role of GM1 in fostering the shift of the association of MAP2 from tubulin to actin, NIH 3T3 cells were co-transfected with pHook-1, which expresses a surface antigen, and a construct expressing MAP2. Transfected cells were selected with magnetic beads coated with a hapten that binds to the expressed surface antigen and treated with 150 microg/ml GM1 for 18-24 h. Actin and MAP2 or tubulin and MAP2 were immunolocalized and examined with confocal microscopy. MAP2 was found throughout the cytoplasm as well as associated with actin filaments. As observed previously with Neuro 2a, GM1 treatment of transfected fibroblasts redistributed the MAP2 away from direct association with microtubules to peripheral areas where the association of MAP2 with actin was enhanced. GM1 did not induce neurite-like processes in MAP2-transfected cells. Treatment with cytochalasin B, which is reported to result in process formation, also did not induce neurite-like processes. These studies suggest that GM1's ability to mobilize MAP2 and promote its association with actin is not restricted to neurons.

Gangliosides for acute ischaemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Gangliosides may have a protective effect on the central and peripheral nervous systems.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this review was to assess the effect of exogenous gangliosides in acute ischaemic stroke.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group trials register (last searched: March 1999) and contacted drug companies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised trials of gangliosides compared with placebo or standard treatment in people with definite or presumed ischaemic stroke. Trials were included if people were randomised within 15 days of symptom onset and if mortality data were available.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

One reviewer applied the inclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently extracted the data. Trial quality was assessed.

MAIN RESULTS

Eleven trials involving 2257 people were included. All the trials tested purified monosialoganglioside GM1. Only three trials described the randomisation procedure. Follow-up was between 15 to 180 days. Death at the end of follow-up showed no significant difference (odds ratio 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.73 to 1.14). There was no difference shown between early (within 48 hours) and delayed treatment. For disability, two trials showed an improved Barthel index score with gangliosides (weighted mean difference 8.6, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 16.0). In two trials, eight patients experienced adverse effects that led to discontinuation of ganglioside treatment, seven had skin reactions and one developed Guillain-Barré syndrome.

REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS

There is not enough evidence to conclude that gangliosides are beneficial in acute stroke. Caution is warranted because of reports of sporadic cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome after ganglioside therapy.

Clinical trials with neuroprotective drugs in acute ischaemic stroke: are we doing the right thing?

Ischaemic stroke is a leading cause of death and long-lasting disability. Several neuroprotective drugs have been developed that have the potential to limit ischaemic brain damage and improve outcome for patients. While promising results with these drugs have been achieved in animal stroke models, all Phase III trials conducted so far indicate that these drugs have failed to live up to their promise. Despite the limits of animal models, which cannot mimic the clinical situation, the disappointing results of neuroprotective trials might largely be due to methodological problems. Future trials with neuroprotective drugs should be performed in stroke (care) units, after sufficient information regarding therapeutic time window, dosage, duration of therapy and safety has been gathered from pilot studies, and a better selection of target patients has been made. Much of this information can now be obtained by techniques that visualize the penumbra, such as combined diffusion-weighted and perfusion MRI. Consideration should also be given to clinical trials with well-designed combinations of treatments.

Structures of novel acidic galactooligosaccharides synthesized by Bacillus circulans beta-galactosidase

The structures of acidic oligosaccharides synthesized by a transglycosylation reaction by Bacillus circulans beta-galactosidase, using lactose as the galactosyl donor, and N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) and glucuronic acid (GlcUA) as the acceptors were investigated. Acidic oligosaccharides thus synthesized were purified by anion exchange chromatography and charcoal chromatography. The MS and NMR studies indicated that the acidic oligosaccharides from NeuAc were Gal beta-(1-->8)-NeuAc, Gal beta-(1-->9)-NeuAc, and Gal beta-(1-->3)-Gal beta-(1-->8)-NeuAc, and those from GlcUA were Gal beta-(1-->3)-GlcUA and Gal beta-(1-->4)-Gal beta-(1-->3)-GlcUA. These are novel acidic galactooligosaccharides.

Ganglioside GM1 alters neuronal morphology by modulating the association of MAP2 with microtubules and actin filaments

In previous studies, we demonstrated that the exogenous ganglioside GM1 increased the complexity of the microtubular network and level of tubulin, selectively changed the distribution of microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP2) immunoreactivity from the perikarya to distal neuritic processes and increased immunogold label of MAP2 in the subplasmalemmal cytoplasm, neuritic filopodia and growth cones of Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells. Since these areas are rich in actin filaments, our data suggested that MAP2 may be associated with microfilaments in the early stages of ganglioside-induced neuritogenesis. To determine if GM1 alters neuronal morphology by facilitating the interaction of actin and MAP2, we examined the immunolocalization of these two proteins with confocal and electron microscopy. We found that along with the redistribution of MAP2 from perikaryal to neuritic regions, there was parallel redistribution of actin. The uniform subplasmalemmal actin meshwork was disrupted in areas of processes and filopodia with a redistribution of actin to these areas in close association with MAP2. Our present results suggest that gangliosides enhance neuritogenesis by redistributing actin as well as MAP2 to processes and filopodia thereby facilitating their interaction. The association of MAP2 with actin filaments is likely to be an early step in ganglioside-mediated filopodia formation.