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Wood OWG, Walby J, Yeung JH, Ke S, Palpagama TH, Turner C, Waldvogel HJ, Faull RLM, Kwakowsky A. Alzheimer's Disease-associated Region-specific Decrease of Vesicular Glutamate Transporter Immunoreactivity inthe Medial Temporal Lobe and Superior Temporal Gyrus. Neuroscience 2024; 546:75-87. [PMID: 38552733 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder for which there are very limited treatment options. Dysfunction of the excitatory neurotransmitter system is thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of this condition. Vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) are key to controlling the quantal release of glutamate. Thus, expressional changes in disease can have implications for aberrant neuronal activity, raising the possibility of a therapeutic target. There is no information regarding the expression of VGLUTs in the human medial temporal lobe in AD, one of the earliest and most severely affected brain regions. This study aimed to quantify and compare the layer-specific expression of VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 between control and AD cases in the hippocampus, subiculum, entorhinal cortex, and superior temporal gyrus. Free-floating fluorescent immunohistochemistry was used to label VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 in the hippocampus, subiculum, entorhinal cortex, and superior temporal gyrus. Sections were imaged using laser-scanning confocal microscopy and transporter densitometric analysis was performed. VGLUT1 density was not significantly different in AD tissue, except lower staining density observed in the dentate gyrus stratum moleculare (p = 0.0051). VGLUT2 expression was not altered in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of AD cases but was significantly lower in the subiculum (p = 0.015) and superior temporal gyrus (p = 0.0023). This study indicates a regionally specific vulnerability of VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 expression in the medial temporal lobe and superior temporal gyrus in AD. However, the causes and functional consequences of these disturbances need to be further explored to assess VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 as viable therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver W G Wood
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Josh Walby
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jason H Yeung
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Stephen Ke
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Thulani H Palpagama
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Clinton Turner
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, LabPlus, Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand
| | - Henry J Waldvogel
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard L M Faull
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrea Kwakowsky
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Galway Neuroscience Centre, University of Galway, Ireland.
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Malek-Ahmadi M, Ginsberg SD, Alldred MJ, Counts SE, Ikonomovic MD, Abrahamson EE, Perez SE, Mufson EJ. Application of robust regression in translational neuroscience studies with non-Gaussian outcome data. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 15:1299451. [PMID: 38328735 PMCID: PMC10847267 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1299451] [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: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Linear regression is one of the most used statistical techniques in neuroscience, including the study of the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. However, the practical utility of this approach is often limited because dependent variables are often highly skewed and fail to meet the assumption of normality. Applying linear regression analyses to highly skewed datasets can generate imprecise results, which lead to erroneous estimates derived from statistical models. Furthermore, the presence of outliers can introduce unwanted bias, which affect estimates derived from linear regression models. Although a variety of data transformations can be utilized to mitigate these problems, these approaches are also associated with various caveats. By contrast, a robust regression approach does not impose distributional assumptions on data allowing for results to be interpreted in a similar manner to that derived using a linear regression analysis. Here, we demonstrate the utility of applying robust regression to the analysis of data derived from studies of human brain neurodegeneration where the error distribution of a dependent variable does not meet the assumption of normality. We show that the application of a robust regression approach to two independent published human clinical neuropathologic data sets provides reliable estimates of associations. We also demonstrate that results from a linear regression analysis can be biased if the dependent variable is significantly skewed, further indicating robust regression as a suitable alternate approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Malek-Ahmadi
- Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Stephen D. Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Melissa J. Alldred
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Scott E. Counts
- Departments of Translational Neuroscience and Family Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Milos D. Ikonomovic
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Eric E. Abrahamson
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sylvia E. Perez
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Elliott J. Mufson
- Department of Translational Neurosciences, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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Tsai T, Reinehr S, Deppe L, Strubbe A, Kluge N, Dick HB, Joachim SC. Glaucoma Animal Models beyond Chronic IOP Increase. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:906. [PMID: 38255979 PMCID: PMC10815097 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020906] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is a complex and multifactorial disease defined as the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons. Besides an elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), other mechanisms play a pivotal role in glaucoma onset and progression. For example, it is known that excitotoxicity, immunological alterations, ischemia, and oxidative stress contribute to the neurodegeneration in glaucoma disease. To study these effects and to discover novel therapeutic approaches, appropriate animal models are needed. In this review, we focus on various glaucoma animal models beyond an elevated IOP. We introduce genetically modified mice, e.g., the optineurin E50K knock-in or the glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST)-deficient mouse. Excitotoxicity can be mimicked by injecting the glutamate analogue N-methyl-D-aspartate intravitreally, which leads to rapid RGC degeneration. To explore the contribution of the immune system, the experimental autoimmune glaucoma model can serve as a useful tool. Here, immunization with antigens led to glaucoma-like damage. The ischemic mechanism can be mimicked by inducing a high IOP for a certain amount of time in rodents, followed by reperfusion. Thereby, damage to the retina and the optic nerve occurs rapidly after ischemia/reperfusion. Lastly, we discuss the importance of optic nerve crush models as model systems for normal-tension glaucoma. In summary, various glaucoma models beyond IOP increase can be utilized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Stephanie C. Joachim
- Experimental Eye Research Institute, University Eye Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, In der Schornau 23-25, 44892 Bochum, Germany; (T.T.); (S.R.); (L.D.); (N.K.); (H.B.D.)
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