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Fabris F, Megighian A, Rossetto O, Simonato M, Schiavo G, Pirazzini M, Montecucco C. Local Tetanus Begins with a Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein Cleavage-Associated Neuromuscular Junction Paralysis around the Site of Tetanus Neurotoxin Release. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024:S0002-9440(24)00208-6. [PMID: 38885925 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2024.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Local tetanus develops when limited amounts of tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) are released by Clostridium tetani generated from spores inside a necrotic wound. Within days, a spastic paralysis restricted to the muscles of the affected anatomical area develops. This paralysis follows the retrograde transport of TeNT inside the axons of spinal cord motoneurons and its uptake by inhibitory interneurons with cleavage of a vesicle-associated membrane protein required for neurotransmitter release. Consequently, incontrollable excitation of motoneurons causes contractures of innervated muscles and leads to local spastic paralysis. Here, the initial events occurring close to the site of TeNT release were investigated in a mouse model of local tetanus. A peripheral flaccid paralysis was found to occur, before or overlapping, the spastic paralysis. At variance from the confined TeNT proteolytic activity at the periphery, central vesicle-associated membrane protein cleavage can be detected within inhibitory interneurons controlling motor neuron efferents innervating muscle groups distant from the site of TeNT release. These results indicate that TeNT does have peripheral activity in tetanus and explains why the spastic paralysis observed in local tetanus, although confined to single limbs, generally affects multiple muscles. The initial TeNT neuroparalytic activity can be detected by measuring the compound muscle action potential, providing a very early diagnosis and therapy, and thus preventing the ensuing life-threatening generalized tetanus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Fabris
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Aram Megighian
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Padua Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Ornella Rossetto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Center of Myology CIR-Myo, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Padua, Italy
| | - Morena Simonato
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Padua, Italy
| | - Giampietro Schiavo
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases and UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology; (ǁ)UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Pirazzini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Center of Myology CIR-Myo, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
| | - Cesare Montecucco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council, Padua, Italy.
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Hann SH, Kim SY, Kim YL, Jo YW, Kang JS, Park H, Choi SY, Kong YY. Depletion of SMN protein in mesenchymal progenitors impairs the development of bone and neuromuscular junction in spinal muscular atrophy. eLife 2024; 12:RP92731. [PMID: 38318851 PMCID: PMC10945524 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92731] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by the deficiency of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, which leads to motor neuron dysfunction and muscle atrophy. In addition to the requirement for SMN in motor neurons, recent studies suggest that SMN deficiency in peripheral tissues plays a key role in the pathogenesis of SMA. Using limb mesenchymal progenitor cell (MPC)-specific SMN-depleted mouse models, we reveal that SMN reduction in limb MPCs causes defects in the development of bone and neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Specifically, these mice exhibited impaired growth plate homeostasis and reduced insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling from chondrocytes, rather than from the liver. Furthermore, the reduction of SMN in fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) resulted in abnormal NMJ maturation, altered release of neurotransmitters, and NMJ morphological defects. Transplantation of healthy FAPs rescued the morphological deterioration. Our findings highlight the significance of mesenchymal SMN in neuromusculoskeletal pathogenesis of SMA and provide insights into potential therapeutic strategies targeting mesenchymal cells for the treatment of SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Hyeon Hann
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Yong Kim
- Department of Physiology, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Lynne Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Woo Jo
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Seol Kang
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyerim Park
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Young Choi
- Department of Physiology, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Yun Kong
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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3
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Martínez-Sánchez JE, Cárdenas Y, Trujillo X, Ríos-Silva M, Díaz-Reval MI, Bricio-Barrios JA, Muñiz J, Alcaraz-Siqueiros J, Huerta M. Increased Frequency of Giant Miniature End-Plate Potentials at the Neuromuscular Junction in Diabetic Rats. Biomedicines 2023; 12:68. [PMID: 38255175 PMCID: PMC10813272 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010068] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a need for research addressing the functional characteristics of the motor end-plate in diabetes to identify mechanisms contributing to neuromuscular dysfunction. Here, we investigated the effect of diabetes on spontaneous acetylcholine release in the rat neuromuscular junction. We studied two randomized groups of male Wistar rats (n = 7 per group, 350 ± 50 g, 12-16 weeks of age): one with streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetes, and a healthy control group without diabetes. After 8 weeks of monitoring after diabetes induction, rats in both groups were anesthetized with pentobarbital. Then, the diaphragm muscle was dissected for electrophysiological recordings of miniature end-plate potentials (MEPPs) using a single electrode located at the region of the muscle end-plate. All experiments were conducted at environmental temperature (20-22 °C) in rat Ringer solution with constant bubbling carbogen (95% O2, 5% CO2). Compared to healthy controls, in the diaphragm neuromuscular end-plate derived from diabetic rats, the MEPPs were higher in amplitude and frequency, and the proportion of giant MEPPs was elevated (7.09% vs. 1.4% in controls). Our results showed that diabetes affected the acetylcholine MEPP pattern and increased the number of giant potentials compared to healthy controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián Elías Martínez-Sánchez
- Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, Av. 25 de julio # 965, Col. Villas San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Colima, Mexico; (J.E.M.-S.); (X.T.)
| | - Yolitzy Cárdenas
- Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, Av. 25 de julio # 965, Col. Villas San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Colima, Mexico; (J.E.M.-S.); (X.T.)
| | - Xóchitl Trujillo
- Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, Av. 25 de julio # 965, Col. Villas San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Colima, Mexico; (J.E.M.-S.); (X.T.)
| | - Mónica Ríos-Silva
- Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, Av. 25 de julio # 965, Col. Villas San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Colima, Mexico; (J.E.M.-S.); (X.T.)
- Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima—CONAHCyT, Av. 25 de Julio 965, Col. Villas San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Colima, Mexico
| | - M. Irene Díaz-Reval
- Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, Av. 25 de julio # 965, Col. Villas San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Colima, Mexico; (J.E.M.-S.); (X.T.)
| | - Jaime Alberto Bricio-Barrios
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Colima, Av. Universidad #333, Col. Las Víboras, Colima 28040, Colima, Mexico;
| | - Jesús Muñiz
- Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, Av. 25 de julio # 965, Col. Villas San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Colima, Mexico; (J.E.M.-S.); (X.T.)
| | - Julio Alcaraz-Siqueiros
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Colima, Km 40 Autopista Colima-Manzanillo, Crucero de Tecomán, Tecomán 28930, Colima, Mexico
| | - Miguel Huerta
- Centro Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Colima, Av. 25 de julio # 965, Col. Villas San Sebastián, Colima 28045, Colima, Mexico; (J.E.M.-S.); (X.T.)
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Norris MR, Kuo CC, Kim JR, Dunn SS, Borges G, Thang LV, McCall JG. Endogenous opioids gate the locus coeruleus pain generator. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.20.562785. [PMID: 37961541 PMCID: PMC10634678 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.20.562785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC) plays a paradoxical role in chronic pain. Although largely known as a potent source of endogenous analgesia, increasing evidence suggests injury can transform the LC into a chronic pain generator. We sought to clarify the role of this system in pain. Here, we show optogenetic inhibition of LC activity is acutely antinociceptive. Following long-term spared nerve injury, the same LC inhibition is analgesic - further supporting its pain generator function. To identify inhibitory substrates that may naturally serve this function, we turned to endogenous LC mu opioid receptors (LC-MOR). These receptors provide powerful LC inhibition and exogenous activation of LC-MOR is antinociceptive. We therefore hypothesized that endogenous LC-MOR-mediated inhibition is critical to how the LC modulates pain. Using cell type-selective conditional knockout and rescue of LC-MOR receptor signaling, we show these receptors bidirectionally regulate thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia - providing a functional gate on the LC pain generator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makenzie R. Norris
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Chao-Cheng Kuo
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jenny R. Kim
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Samantha S. Dunn
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gustavo Borges
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Loc V. Thang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jordan G. McCall
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO, USA; Center for Clinical Pharmacology, St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Arnold WD, Clark BC. Neuromuscular junction transmission failure in aging and sarcopenia: The nexus of the neurological and muscular systems. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 89:101966. [PMID: 37270145 PMCID: PMC10847753 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Sarcopenia, or age-related decline in muscle form and function, exerts high personal, societal, and economic burdens when untreated. Integrity and function of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), as the nexus between the nervous and muscular systems, is critical for input and dependable neural control of muscle force generation. As such, the NMJ has long been a site of keen interest in the context of skeletal muscle function deficits during aging and in the context of sarcopenia. Historically, changes of NMJ morphology during aging have been investigated extensively but primarily in aged rodent models. Aged rodents have consistently shown features of NMJ endplate fragmentation and denervation. Yet, the presence of NMJ changes in older humans remains controversial, and conflicting findings have been reported. This review article describes the physiological processes involved in NMJ transmission, discusses the evidence that supports NMJ transmission failure as a possible contributor to sarcopenia, and speculates on the potential of targeting these defects for therapeutic development. The technical approaches that are available for assessment of NMJ transmission, whether each approach has been applied in the context of aging and sarcopenia, and the associated findings are summarized. Like morphological studies, age-related NMJ transmission deficits have primarily been studied in rodents. In preclinical studies, isolated synaptic electrophysiology recordings of endplate currents or potentials have been mostly used, and paradoxically, have shown enhancement, rather than failure, with aging. Yet, in vivo assessment of single muscle fiber action potential generation using single fiber electromyography and nerve-stimulated muscle force measurements show evidence of NMJ failure in aged mice and rats. Together these findings suggest that endplate response enhancement may be a compensatory response to post-synaptic mechanisms of NMJ transmission failure in aged rodents. Possible, but underexplored, mechanisms of this failure are discussed including the simplification of post-synaptic folding and altered voltage-gated sodium channel clustering or function. In humans, there is limited clinical data that has selectively investigated single synaptic function in the context of aging. If sarcopenic older adults turn out to exhibit notable impairments in NMJ transmission (this has yet to be examined but based on available evidence appears to be plausible) then these NMJ transmission defects present a well-defined biological mechanism and offer a well-defined pathway for clinical implementation. Investigation of small molecules that are currently available clinically or being testing clinically in other disorders may provide a rapid route for development of interventions for older adults impacted by sarcopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- W David Arnold
- NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri System, Columbia, MO, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
| | - Brian C Clark
- Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute (OMNI) Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA.
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Latrotoxin-Induced Neuromuscular Junction Degeneration Reveals Urocortin 2 as a Critical Contributor to Motor Axon Terminal Regeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031186. [PMID: 35163106 PMCID: PMC8835473 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We used α-Latrotoxin (α-LTx), the main neurotoxic component of the black widow spider venom, which causes degeneration of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) followed by a rapid and complete regeneration, as a molecular tool to identify by RNA transcriptomics factors contributing to the structural and functional recovery of the NMJ. We found that Urocortin 2 (UCN2), a neuropeptide involved in the stress response, is rapidly expressed at the NMJ after acute damage and that inhibition of CRHR2, the specific receptor of UCN2, delays neuromuscular transmission rescue. Experiments in neuronal cultures show that CRHR2 localises at the axonal tips of growing spinal motor neurons and that its expression inversely correlates with synaptic maturation. Moreover, exogenous UCN2 enhances the growth of axonal sprouts in cultured neurons in a CRHR2-dependent manner, pointing to a role of the UCN2-CRHR2 axis in the regulation of axonal growth and synaptogenesis. Consistently, exogenous administration of UCN2 strongly accelerates the regrowth of motor axon terminals degenerated by α-LTx, thereby contributing to the functional recovery of neuromuscular transmission after damage. Taken together, our results posit a novel role for UCN2 and CRHR2 as a signalling axis involved in NMJ regeneration.
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Stazi M, D’Este G, Mattarei A, Negro S, Lista F, Rigoni M, Megighian A, Montecucco C. An agonist of the CXCR4 receptor accelerates the recovery from the peripheral neuroparalysis induced by Taipan snake envenomation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008547. [PMID: 32898186 PMCID: PMC7537909 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Envenomation by snakes is a major neglected human disease. Hospitalization and use of animal-derived antivenom are the primary therapeutic supports currently available. There is consensus that additional, not expensive, treatments that can be delivered even long after the snake bite are needed. We recently showed that the drug dubbed NUCC-390 shortens the time of recovery from the neuroparalysis caused by traumatic or toxic degeneration of peripheral motor neurons. These syndromes are characterized by the activation of a pro-regenerative molecular axis, consisting of the CXCR4 receptor expressed at the damaged site in neuronal axons and by the release of its ligand CXCL12α, produced by surrounding Schwann cells. This intercellular signaling axis promotes axonal growth and functional recovery from paralysis. NUCC-390 is an agonist of CXCR4 acting similarly to CXCL12α. Here, we have tested its efficacy in a murine model of neuroparalytic envenoming by a Papuan Taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus) where a degeneration of the motor axon terminals caused by the presynaptic PLA2 toxin Taipoxin, contained in the venom, occurs. Using imaging of the neuromuscular junction and electrophysiological analysis, we found that NUCC-390 administration after injection of either the purified neuroparalytic Taipoxin or the whole Taipan venom, significantly accelerates the recovery from paralysis. These results indicate that NUCC-390, which is non-toxic in mice, should be considered for trials in humans to test its efficacy in accelerating the recovery from the peripheral neuroparalysis induced by Taipans. NUCC-390 should be tested as well in the envenomation by other snakes that cause neuroparalytic syndromes in humans. NUCC-390 could become an additional treatment, common to many snake envenomings, that can be delivered after the bite to reduce death by respiratory deficits and to shorten and improve functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Stazi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giorgia D’Este
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Mattarei
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Samuele Negro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Florigio Lista
- Department of Medical and Veterinary Research, the Ministry of Defense, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Rigoni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Aram Megighian
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Cesare Montecucco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Padua, Italy
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Negro S, Zanetti G, Mattarei A, Valentini A, Megighian A, Tombesi G, Zugno A, Dianin V, Pirazzini M, Fillo S, Lista F, Rigoni M, Montecucco C. An Agonist of the CXCR4 Receptor Strongly Promotes Regeneration of Degenerated Motor Axon Terminals. Cells 2019; 8:E1183. [PMID: 31575088 PMCID: PMC6829515 DOI: 10.3390/cells8101183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The activation of the G-protein coupled receptor CXCR4 by its ligand CXCL12α is involved in a large variety of physiological and pathological processes, including the growth of B cells precursors and of motor axons, autoimmune diseases, stem cell migration, inflammation, and several neurodegenerative conditions. Recently, we demonstrated that CXCL12α potently stimulates the functional recovery of damaged neuromuscular junctions via interaction with CXCR4. This result prompted us to test the neuroregeneration activity of small molecules acting as CXCR4 agonists, endowed with better pharmacokinetics with respect to the natural ligand. We focused on NUCC-390, recently shown to activate CXCR4 in a cellular system. We designed a novel and convenient chemical synthesis of NUCC-390, which is reported here. NUCC-390 was tested for its capability to induce the regeneration of motor axon terminals completely degenerated by the presynaptic neurotoxin α-Latrotoxin. NUCC-390 was found to strongly promote the functional recovery of the neuromuscular junction, as assayed by electrophysiology and imaging. This action is CXCR4 dependent, as it is completely prevented by AMD3100, a well-characterized CXCR4 antagonist. These data make NUCC-390 a strong candidate to be tested in human therapy to promote nerve recovery of function after different forms of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuele Negro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua 35131, Italy.
| | - Giulia Zanetti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua 35131, Italy.
| | - Andrea Mattarei
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua 35131, Italy.
| | - Alice Valentini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua 35131, Italy.
| | - Aram Megighian
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua 35131, Italy.
- Padua Neuroscience Institute, Padua 35131, Italy.
| | - Giulia Tombesi
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua 35131, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Zugno
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua 35131, Italy.
| | - Valentina Dianin
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua 35131, Italy.
| | - Marco Pirazzini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua 35131, Italy.
| | - Silvia Fillo
- Center of Medical and Veterinary Research of the Ministry of Defence, Rome 00184, Italy.
| | - Florigio Lista
- Center of Medical and Veterinary Research of the Ministry of Defence, Rome 00184, Italy.
| | - Michela Rigoni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua 35131, Italy.
| | - Cesare Montecucco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua 35131, Italy.
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Padua 35131, Italy.
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