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Häusler S, Robertson NJ, Golhen K, van den Anker J, Tucker K, Felder TK. Melatonin as a Therapy for Preterm Brain Injury: What Is the Evidence? Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1630. [PMID: 37627625 PMCID: PMC10451719 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12081630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite significant improvements in survival following preterm birth in recent years, the neurodevelopmental burden of prematurity, with its long-term cognitive and behavioral consequences, remains a significant challenge in neonatology. Neuroprotective treatment options to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants are therefore urgently needed. Alleviating inflammatory and oxidative stress (OS), melatonin might modify important triggers of preterm brain injury, a complex combination of destructive and developmental abnormalities termed encephalopathy of prematurity (EoP). Preliminary data also suggests that melatonin has a direct neurotrophic impact, emphasizing its therapeutic potential with a favorable safety profile in the preterm setting. The current review outlines the most important pathomechanisms underlying preterm brain injury and correlates them with melatonin's neuroprotective potential, while underlining significant pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic uncertainties that need to be addressed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke Häusler
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Nicola J. Robertson
- EGA Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London WC1E 6HX, UK; (N.J.R.); (K.T.)
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Klervi Golhen
- Pediatric Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, University Children’s Hospital Basel (UKBB), University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland; (K.G.); (J.v.d.A.)
| | - John van den Anker
- Pediatric Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, University Children’s Hospital Basel (UKBB), University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland; (K.G.); (J.v.d.A.)
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | - Katie Tucker
- EGA Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London WC1E 6HX, UK; (N.J.R.); (K.T.)
| | - Thomas K. Felder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria;
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Peeples ES. MicroRNA therapeutic targets in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury: a narrative review. Pediatr Res 2023; 93:780-788. [PMID: 35854090 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-022-02196-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) is a devastating injury resulting from impaired blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain at or around the time of birth. Despite the use of therapeutic hypothermia, more than one in four survivors suffer from major developmental disabilities-an indication of the critical need for more effective therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNA) have the potential to act as biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets in neonatal HIBI as a step toward improving outcomes in this high-risk population. This review summarizes the current literature around the use of cord blood and postnatal circulating blood miRNA expression for diagnosis or prognosis in human infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, as well as animal studies assessing endogenous brain miRNA expression and potential for therapeutic targeting of miRNA expression for neuroprotection. Ultimately, the lack of knowledge regarding brain specificity of circulating miRNAs and the temporal variability in expression currently limit the use of miRNAs as biomarkers. However, given their broad effect profile, ease of administration, and small size allowing for effective blood-brain barrier crossing, miRNAs represent promising therapeutic targets for improving brain injury and reducing developmental impairments in neonates after HIBI. IMPACT: The high morbidity and mortality of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (HIBI) despite current therapies demonstrates a need for developing more sensitive biomarkers and superior therapeutic options. MicroRNAs have been evaluated both as biomarkers and therapeutic options after neonatal HIBI. The limited knowledge regarding brain specificity of circulating microRNAs and temporal variability in expression currently limit the use of microRNAs as biomarkers. Future studies comparing the neuroprotective effects of modulating microRNA expression must consider temporal changes in the endogenous expression to determine appropriate timing of therapy, while also optimizing techniques for delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric S Peeples
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
- Children's Hospital & Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
- Child Health Research Institute, Omaha, NE, USA.
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Mao L, Li YD, Chen RL, Li G, Zhou XX, Song F, Wu C, Hu Y, Hong YX, Dang X, Li GR, Wang Y. Heart-targeting exosomes from human cardiosphere-derived cells improve the therapeutic effect on cardiac hypertrophy. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:435. [PMID: 36195937 PMCID: PMC9531502 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01630-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Exosomes of human cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) are very promising for treating cardiovascular disorders. However, the current challenge is inconvenient delivery methods of exosomes for clinical application. The present study aims to explore the potential to enhance the therapeutic effect of exosome (EXO) from human CDCs to myocardial hypertrophy. A heart homing peptide (HHP) was displayed on the surface of exosomes derived from CDCs that were forced to express the HHP fused on the N-terminus of the lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2b (LAMP2b). The cardiomyocyte-targeting capability of exosomes were analyzed and their therapeutic effects were evaluated in a mouse model of myocardial hypertrophy induced by transverse aorta constriction (TAC). The molecular mechanisms of the therapeutic effects were dissected in angiotensin II-induced neonatal rat cardiomyocyte (NRCMs) hypertrophy model using a combination of biochemistry, immunohistochemistry and molecular biology techniques. We found that HHP-exosomes (HHP-EXO) accumulated more in mouse hearts after intravenous delivery and in cultured NRCMs than control exosomes (CON-EXO). Cardiac function of TAC mice was significantly improved with intravenous HHP-EXO administration. Left ventricular hypertrophy was reduced more by HHP-EXO than CON-EXO via inhibition of β-MHC, BNP, GP130, p-STAT3, p-ERK1/2, and p-AKT. Similar results were obtained in angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy of NRCMs, in which the beneficial effects of HHP-EXO were abolished by miRNA-148a inhibition. Our results indicate that HHP-EXO preferentially target the heart and improve the therapeutic effect of CDCs-exosomes on cardiac hypertrophy. The beneficial therapeutic effect is most likely attributed to miRNA-148a-mediated suppression of GP130, which in turn inhibits STAT3/ERK1/2/AKT signaling pathway, leading to improved cardiac function and remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Mao
- Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China.,Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Yun-Da Li
- Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Ruo-Lan Chen
- Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Gang Li
- Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Xiao-Xia Zhou
- Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Fei Song
- Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Chan Wu
- Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Yu Hu
- Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Yi-Xiang Hong
- Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Xitong Dang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Gui-Rong Li
- Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China.,Nanjing Amaigh Pharma Limited, Nanjing, 210032, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China.
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