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Alemany S, Vilor-Tejedor N, García-Esteban R, Bustamante M, Dadvand P, Esnaola M, Mortamais M, Forns J, van Drooge BL, Álvarez-Pedrerol M, Grimalt JO, Rivas I, Querol X, Pujol J, Sunyer J. Traffic-Related Air Pollution, APOEε4 Status, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes among School Children Enrolled in the BREATHE Project (Catalonia, Spain). ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2018; 126:087001. [PMID: 30073950 PMCID: PMC6108838 DOI: 10.1289/ehp2246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traffic-related air pollution is emerging as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and impaired brain development. Individual differences in vulnerability to air pollution may involve the ε4 allele of Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, the primary genetic risk factor for AD. OBJECTIVE We analyzed whether the association between traffic air pollution and neurodevelopmental outcomes is modified by APOEε4 status in children. METHODS Data on parent-reported behavior problems (total difficulties scores, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), teacher-reported attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptom scores, cognitive performance trajectories (computerized tests of inattentiveness and working memory repeated 2-4 times during January 2012-March 2013), and APOE genotypes were obtained for 1,667 children age 7-11 y attending 39 schools in or near Barcelona. Basal ganglia volume (putamen, caudate, and globus pallidum) was measured in 163 of the children by MRI (October 2012-April 2014.) Average annual outdoor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), elemental carbon (EC), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations were estimated based on measurements at each school (two 1-wk campaigns conducted 6 months apart in 2012). RESULTS APOEε4 allele carriers had significantly higher behavior problem scores than noncarriers, and adverse associations with PAHs and NO2 were stronger or limited to ε4 carriers for behavior problem scores (P-interaction 0.03 and 0.04), caudate volume (P-interaction 0.04 and 0.03), and inattentiveness trajectories (P-interaction 0.15 and 0.08, respectively). Patterns of associations with the same outcomes were similar for EC. CONCLUSION PAHs, EC, and NO2 were associated with higher behavior problem scores, smaller reductions in inattentiveness over time, and smaller caudate volume in APOEε4 allele carriers in our study population, and corresponding associations were weak or absent among ε4 noncarriers. These findings support a potential role of APOE in biological mechanisms that may contribute to associations between air pollution and neurobehavioral outcomes in children. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2246.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Alemany
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Natàlia Vilor-Tejedor
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel García-Esteban
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Mariona Bustamante
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Payam Dadvand
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Mikel Esnaola
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Marion Mortamais
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Joan Forns
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Barend L van Drooge
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mar Álvarez-Pedrerol
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Joan O Grimalt
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ioar Rivas
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesus Pujol
- MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar and Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM G21), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
- IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
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Galiano MR, Goitea VE, Hallak ME. Post-translational protein arginylation in the normal nervous system and in neurodegeneration. J Neurochem 2016; 138:506-17. [PMID: 27318192 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Revised: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Post-translational arginylation of proteins is an important regulator of many physiological pathways in cells. This modification was originally noted in protein degradation during neurodegenerative processes, with an apparently different physiological relevance between central and peripheral nervous system. Subsequent studies have identified a steadily increasing number of proteins and proteolysis-derived polypeptides as arginyltransferase (ATE1) substrates, including β-amyloid, α-synuclein, and TDP43 proteolytic fragments. Arginylation is involved in signaling processes of proteins and polypeptides that are further ubiquitinated and degraded by the proteasome. In addition, it is also implicated in autophagy/lysosomal degradation pathway. Recent studies using mutant mouse strains deficient in ATE1 indicate additional roles of this modification in neuronal physiology. As ATE1 is capable of modifying proteins either at the N-terminus or middle-chain acidic residues, determining which proteins function are modulated by arginylation represents a big challenge. Here, we review studies addressing various roles of ATE1 activity in nervous system function, and suggest future research directions that will clarify the role of post-translational protein arginylation in brain development and various neurological disorders. Arginyltransferase (ATE1), the enzyme responsible for post-translational arginylation, modulates the functions of a wide variety of proteins and polypeptides, and is also involved in the main degradation pathways of intracellular proteins. Regulatory roles of ATE1 have been well defined for certain organs. However, its roles in nervous system development and neurodegenerative processes remain largely unknown, and present exciting opportunities for future research, as discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio R Galiano
- Centro de Investigaciones de Química Biológica de Córdoba, CIQUIBIC, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Victor E Goitea
- Centro de Investigaciones de Química Biológica de Córdoba, CIQUIBIC, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marta E Hallak
- Centro de Investigaciones de Química Biológica de Córdoba, CIQUIBIC, Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, Argentina
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Mufson EJ, Mahady L, Waters D, Counts SE, Perez SE, DeKosky ST, Ginsberg SD, Ikonomovic MD, Scheff SW, Binder LI. Hippocampal plasticity during the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Neuroscience 2015; 309:51-67. [PMID: 25772787 PMCID: PMC4567973 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Revised: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Neuroplasticity involves molecular and structural changes in central nervous system (CNS) throughout life. The concept of neural organization allows for remodeling as a compensatory mechanism to the early pathobiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in an attempt to maintain brain function and cognition during the onset of dementia. The hippocampus, a crucial component of the medial temporal lobe memory circuit, is affected early in AD and displays synaptic and intraneuronal molecular remodeling against a pathological background of extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition and intracellular neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) formation in the early stages of AD. Here we discuss human clinical pathological findings supporting the concept that the hippocampus is capable of neural plasticity during mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a prodromal stage of AD and early stage AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Mufson
- Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Department of Neurobiology, Phoenix, AZ 85013, United States.
| | - L Mahady
- Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Department of Neurobiology, Phoenix, AZ 85013, United States
| | - D Waters
- Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Medical Center, Department of Neurobiology, Phoenix, AZ 85013, United States
| | - S E Counts
- Department of Translational Science & Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - S E Perez
- Division of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - S T DeKosky
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - S D Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Departments of Psychiatry and Physiology & Neuroscience, New York University Langone Medical Center, Orangeburg, NY, United States
| | - M D Ikonomovic
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - S W Scheff
- Sanders Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - L I Binder
- Department of Translational Science & Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
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Kota LN, Purushottam M, Moily NS, Jain S. Shortened telomere in unremitted schizophrenia. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2015; 69:292-7. [PMID: 25430532 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2014] [Revised: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
AIM Telomere attrition has been noted in many neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative syndromes, and may indicate a shared molecular pathology across conditions. We evaluated telomere length in subjects with remitted and unremitted schizophrenia and in control subjects. METHODS We measured telomere length as relative telomere/single-copy gene ratios in subjects with schizophrenia (n = 71) using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. This was compared with relative telomere/single-copy gene ratios in age-matched controls without neuropsychiatric illness (n = 73). RESULTS The relative telomere/single-copy gene ratios were significantly lower in subjects with unremitted schizophrenia when compared with control subjects (r = -0.281, P = 0.003), as well as the individuals with remitted schizophrenia. CONCLUSION The lower relative telomere length in unremitted schizophrenia subjects may thus indicate shared biological pathways with other neurodegenerative disorders that are also characterized by increased cellular senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi Narayanan Kota
- Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
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Gamba P, Guglielmotto M, Testa G, Monteleone D, Zerbinati C, Gargiulo S, Biasi F, Iuliano L, Giaccone G, Mauro A, Poli G, Tamagno E, Leonarduzzi G. Up-regulation of β-amyloidogenesis in neuron-like human cells by both 24- and 27-hydroxycholesterol: protective effect of N-acetyl-cysteine. Aging Cell 2014; 13:561-72. [PMID: 24612036 PMCID: PMC4326893 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
An abnormal accumulation of cholesterol oxidation products in the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) would further link an impaired cholesterol metabolism in the pathogenesis of the disease. The first evidence stemming from the content of oxysterols in autopsy samples from AD and normal brains points to an increase in both 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OH) and 24-hydroxycholesterol (24-OH) in the frontal cortex of AD brains, with a trend that appears related to the disease severity. The challenge of differentiated SK-N-BE human neuroblastoma cells with patho-physiologically relevant amounts of 27-OH and 24-OH showed that both oxysterols induce a net synthesis of Aβ1-42 by up-regulating expression levels of amyloid precursor protein and β-secretase, as well as the β-secretase activity. Interestingly, cell pretreatment with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) fully prevented the enhancement of β-amyloidogenesis induced by the two oxysterols. The reported findings link an impaired cholesterol oxidative metabolism to an excessive β-amyloidogenesis and point to NAC as an efficient inhibitor of oxysterols-induced Aβ toxic peptide accumulation in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Gamba
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences University of Turin Orbassano Turin Italy
| | - Michela Guglielmotto
- Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini” University of Turin Orbassano Turin Italy
| | - Gabriella Testa
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences University of Turin Orbassano Turin Italy
| | - Debora Monteleone
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences University of Turin Orbassano Turin Italy
- Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini” University of Turin Orbassano Turin Italy
| | - Chiara Zerbinati
- Department of Medico‐Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology Vascular Biology and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory Sapienza University of Rome Latina Italy
| | - Simona Gargiulo
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences University of Turin Orbassano Turin Italy
| | - Fiorella Biasi
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences University of Turin Orbassano Turin Italy
| | - Luigi Iuliano
- Department of Medico‐Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology Vascular Biology and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory Sapienza University of Rome Latina Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Mauro
- Division of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation IRCCS Italian Institute of Auxology Verbania Italy
- Department of Neurosciences University of Turin Turin Italy
| | - Giuseppe Poli
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences University of Turin Orbassano Turin Italy
| | - Elena Tamagno
- Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini” University of Turin Orbassano Turin Italy
| | - Gabriella Leonarduzzi
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences University of Turin Orbassano Turin Italy
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Impact of peripheral levels of chemokines, BDNF and oxidative markers on cognition in individuals with schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Res 2013; 47:1376-82. [PMID: 23806580 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2013.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Revised: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 05/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate possible differences in peripheral levels of chemokines, BDNF and oxidative markers between patients with Schizophrenia (SZ) and matched healthy controls, and investigate the correlation of these biomarkers with cognitive performance. METHODS Thirty individuals with SZ and 27 healthy controls were included and the following plasmatic biomarkers' levels were determined according to manufacturers' instructions: BDNF, TBARS, protein carbonyl content (PCC) and the chemokines CXCL-10/IP-10, CXCL-8/IL-8, CCL-11, CCL-24/Eotaxin-2, CCL-2/MCP-1, CCL-3/MIP-1. Selected neuropsychological tasks were administered to assess verbal learning (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test), verbal fluency (FAS test), working memory (Visual Working Memory Task, Keep Track Task, Letter Memory Task), set shifting (Plus-minus task, Number-letter task), inhibition (Computerized Stroop Task, Semantic Generation Task) and complex executive function tasks (Tower of London and the shortened version of the WCST-64). RESULTS Compared with the healthy control group, individuals with SZ presented significantly higher levels of BDNF and the chemokine CCL-11, and lower levels of TBARS and the chemokine CXCL-10/IP-10. When we examined only the SZ group, BDNF levels were positively correlated with semantic generation tasks. Working memory ability was negatively correlated with PCC. Regarding chemokines, CCL-11 was negatively correlated to performance in working memory test, and positively correlated with cognitive flexibility task. CXCL-8/IL-8 was positively correlated with verbal fluency. CCL-24/Eotaxin-2 was positively correlated with semantic generation ability and letter memory task. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that cognitive performance in SZ is associated with mediators of neuroplasticity that can be measured peripherally.
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Calderón-Garcidueñas L, Mora-Tiscareño A, Franco-Lira M, Cross JV, Engle R, Aragón-Flores M, Gómez-Garza G, Jewells V, Medina-Cortina H, Solorio E, Chao CK, Zhu H, Mukherjee PS, Ferreira-Azevedo L, Torres-Jardón R, D'Angiulli A. Flavonol-rich dark cocoa significantly decreases plasma endothelin-1 and improves cognition in urban children. Front Pharmacol 2013; 4:104. [PMID: 23986703 PMCID: PMC3749371 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2013.00104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Accepted: 08/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Air pollution exposures are linked to systemic inflammation, cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality, neuroinflammation and neuropathology in young urbanites. In particular, most Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) children exhibit subtle cognitive deficits, and neuropathology studies show 40% of them exhibiting frontal tau hyperphosphorylation and 51% amyloid-β diffuse plaques (compared to 0% in low pollution control children). We assessed whether a short cocoa intervention can be effective in decreasing plasma endothelin 1 (ET-1) and/or inflammatory mediators in MCMA children. Thirty gram of dark cocoa with 680 mg of total flavonols were given daily for 10.11 ± 3.4 days (range 9–24 days) to 18 children (10.55 years, SD = 1.45; 11F/7M). Key metabolite ratios in frontal white matter and in hippocampus pre and during cocoa intervention were quantified by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. ET-1 significantly decreased after cocoa treatment (p = 0.0002). Fifteen children (83%) showed a marginally significant individual improvement in one or both of the applied simple short memory tasks. Endothelial dysfunction is a key feature of exposure to particulate matter (PM) and decreased endothelin-1 bioavailability is likely useful for brain function in the context of air pollution. Our findings suggest that cocoa interventions may be critical for early implementation of neuroprotection of highly exposed urban children. Multi-domain nutraceutical interventions could limit the risk for endothelial dysfunction, cerebral hypoperfusion, neuroinflammation, cognitive deficits, structural volumetric detrimental brain effects, and the early development of the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas
- Biomedical Sciences, The Center for Structural and Functional Neurosciences, The University of Montana Missoula, MT, USA ; Hospital Central Militar, Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional Mexico City, Mexico
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Guerra-Araiza C, Álvarez-Mejía AL, Sánchez-Torres S, Farfan-García E, Mondragón-Lozano R, Pinto-Almazán R, Salgado-Ceballos H. Effect of natural exogenous antioxidants on aging and on neurodegenerative diseases. Free Radic Res 2013; 47:451-62. [DOI: 10.3109/10715762.2013.795649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Calderón-Garcidueñas L, Franco-Lira M, Mora-Tiscareño A, Medina-Cortina H, Torres-Jardón R, Kavanaugh M. Early Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease pathology in urban children: Friend versus Foe responses--it is time to face the evidence. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:161687. [PMID: 23509683 PMCID: PMC3581281 DOI: 10.1155/2013/161687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2012] [Revised: 01/01/2013] [Accepted: 01/01/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to particulate matter air pollution is known to cause inflammation leading to respiratory- and cardiovascular-related sickness and death. Mexico City Metropolitan Area children exhibit an early brain imbalance in genes involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, and innate and adaptive immune responses. Early dysregulated neuroinflammation, brain microvascular damage, production of potent vasoconstrictors, and perturbations in the integrity of the neurovascular unit likely contribute to progressive neurodegenerative processes. The accumulation of misfolded proteins coincides with the anatomical distribution observed in the early stages of both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. We contend misfolding of hyperphosphorylated tau (HPπ), alpha-synuclein, and beta-amyloid could represent a compensatory early protective response to the sustained systemic and brain inflammation. However, we favor the view that the chronic systemic and brain dysregulated inflammation and the diffuse vascular damage contribute to the establishment of neurodegenerative processes with childhood clinical manifestations. Friend turns Foe early; therefore, implementation of neuroprotective measures to ameliorate or stop the inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes is warranted in exposed children. Epidemiological, cognitive, structural, and functional neuroimaging and mechanistic studies into the association between air pollution exposures and the development of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in children are of pressing importance for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas
- Center for Structural and Functional Neurosciences, The University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Skaggs Building 287, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.
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