1
|
Silva-Hucha S, Fernández de Sevilla ME, Humphreys KM, Benson FE, Franco JM, Pozo D, Pastor AM, Morcuende S. VEGF expression disparities in brainstem motor neurons of the SOD1 G93A ALS model: Correlations with neuronal vulnerability. Neurotherapeutics 2024; 21:e00340. [PMID: 38472048 PMCID: PMC11070718 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00340] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neuromuscular disease characterized by severe muscle weakness mainly due to degeneration and death of motor neurons. A peculiarity of the neurodegenerative processes is the variable susceptibility among distinct neuronal populations, exemplified by the contrasting resilience of motor neurons innervating the ocular motor system and the more vulnerable facial and hypoglossal motor neurons. The crucial role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a neuroprotective factor in the nervous system is well-established since a deficit of VEGF has been related to motoneuronal degeneration. In this study, we investigated the survival of ocular, facial, and hypoglossal motor neurons utilizing the murine SOD1G93A ALS model at various stages of the disease. Our primary objective was to determine whether the survival of the different brainstem motor neurons was linked to disparate VEGF expression levels in resilient and susceptible motor neurons throughout neurodegeneration. Our findings revealed a selective loss of motor neurons exclusively within the vulnerable nuclei. Furthermore, a significantly higher level of VEGF was detected in the more resistant motor neurons, the extraocular ones. We also examined whether TDP-43 dynamics in the brainstem motor neuron of SOD mice was altered. Our data suggests that the increased VEGF levels observed in extraocular motor neurons may potentially underlie their resistance during the neurodegenerative processes in ALS in a TDP-43-independent manner. Our work might help to better understand the underlying mechanisms of selective vulnerability of motor neurons in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Silva-Hucha
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain; Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Medawar Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | | | - Kirsty M Humphreys
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Fiona E Benson
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Jaime M Franco
- Andalusian Center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine-CABIMER, Junta de Andalucía-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - David Pozo
- Andalusian Center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine-CABIMER, Junta de Andalucía-Universidad Pablo de Olavide-Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC, 41092, Seville, Spain; Department of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology, Universidad de Sevilla Medical School, 41009 Seville, Spain
| | - Angel M Pastor
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain.
| | - Sara Morcuende
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is well known for its angiogenic activity, but recent evidence has revealed a neuroprotective action of this factor on injured or diseased neurons. In the present review, we summarize the most relevant findings that have contributed to establish a link between VEGF deficiency and neuronal degeneration. At issue, 1) mutant mice with reduced levels of VEGF show adult-onset muscle weakness and motoneuron degeneration resembling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), 2) administration of VEGF to different animal models of motoneuron degeneration improves motor performance and ameliorates motoneuronal degeneration, and 3) there is an association between low plasmatic levels of VEGF and human ALS. Altogether, the results presented in this review highlight VEGF as an essential motoneuron neurotrophic factor endowed with promising therapeutic potential for the treatment of motoneuron disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paula M Calvo
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Rosendo G Hernández
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Angel M Pastor
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Rosa R de la Cruz
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chen D, Philippidou P, Brenha BDF, Schaffer AE, Miranda HC. Scalable, optically-responsive human neuromuscular junction model reveals convergent mechanisms of synaptic dysfunction in familial ALS. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.11.575304. [PMID: 38260655 PMCID: PMC10802619 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.11.575304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are specialized synapses that mediate communication between motor neurons and skeletal muscles and are essential for movement. The degeneration of this system can lead to symptoms observed in neuromuscular and motor neuron diseases. Studying these synapses and their degeneration has proven challenging. Prior NMJ studies heavily relied upon the use of mouse, chick, or isolated primary human cells, which have demonstrated limited fidelity for disease modeling. To enable the study of NMJ dysfunction and model genetic diseases, we, and others, have developed methods to generate human NMJs from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. However, published studies have highlighted technical limitations associated with these complex in vitro NMJ models. In this study, we developed a robust PSC-derived motor neuron and skeletal muscle co-culture method, and demonstrated its sensitivity in modeling motor neuron disease. Our method spontaneously and reproducibly forms human NMJs. We developed multiwell-multielectrode array (MEA) parameters to quantify the activity of PSC-derived skeletal muscles, as well as measured the electrophysiological activity of functional human PSC-derived NMJs. We further leveraged our method to morphologically and functionally assess NMJs from the familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) PSCs, C9orf72 hexanucleotide (G4C2)n repeat expansion (HRE), SOD1 A5V , and TDP43 G298S to define the reproducibility and sensitivity of our system. We observed a significant decrease in the numbers and activity of PSC-derived NMJs developed from the different ALS lines compared to their respective controls. Furthermore, we evaluated a therapeutic candidate undergoing clinical trials and observed a variant-dependent rescue of functionality of NMJs. Our newly developed method provides a platform for the systematic investigation of genetic causes of NMJ neurodegeneration and highlights the need for therapeutic avenues to consider patient genotype.
Collapse
|
4
|
Ovsepian SV, O'Leary VB, Martinez S. Selective vulnerability of motor neuron types and functional groups to degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: review of the neurobiological mechanisms and functional correlates. Brain Struct Funct 2024; 229:1-14. [PMID: 37999738 PMCID: PMC10827929 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02728-6] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative condition characterised by a progressive loss of motor neurons controlling voluntary muscle activity. The disease manifests through a variety of motor dysfunctions related to the extent of damage and loss of neurons at different anatomical locations. Despite extensive research, it remains unclear why some motor neurons are especially susceptible to the disease, while others are affected less or even spared. In this article, we review the neurobiological mechanisms, neurochemical profiles, and morpho-functional characteristics of various motor neuron groups and types of motor units implicated in their differential exposure to degeneration. We discuss specific cell-autonomous (intrinsic) and extrinsic factors influencing the vulnerability gradient of motor units and motor neuron types to ALS, with their impact on disease manifestation, course, and prognosis, as revealed in preclinical and clinical studies. We consider the outstanding challenges and emerging opportunities for interpreting the phenotypic and mechanistic variability of the disease to identify targets for clinical interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saak V Ovsepian
- Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich London, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK.
| | - Valerie B O'Leary
- Department of Medical Genetics, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruská 87, 10000, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Salvador Martinez
- Instituto de Neurociencias UMH-CSIC, Avda. Ramon y Cajal, 03550, San Juan de Alicante, Spain.
- Center of Biomedical Network Research on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rizzuti M, Sali L, Melzi V, Scarcella S, Costamagna G, Ottoboni L, Quetti L, Brambilla L, Papadimitriou D, Verde F, Ratti A, Ticozzi N, Comi GP, Corti S, Gagliardi D. Genomic and transcriptomic advances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 92:102126. [PMID: 37972860 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102126] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the most common motor neuron disease. ALS shows substantial clinical and molecular heterogeneity. In vitro and in vivo models coupled with multiomic techniques have provided important contributions to unraveling the pathomechanisms underlying ALS. To date, despite promising results and accumulating knowledge, an effective treatment is still lacking. Here, we provide an overview of the literature on the use of genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics and microRNAs to deeply investigate the molecular mechanisms developing and sustaining ALS. We report the most relevant genes implicated in ALS pathogenesis, discussing the use of different high-throughput sequencing techniques and the role of epigenomic modifications. Furthermore, we present transcriptomic studies discussing the most recent advances, from microarrays to bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing. Finally, we discuss the use of microRNAs as potential biomarkers and promising tools for molecular intervention. The integration of data from multiple omic approaches may provide new insights into pathogenic pathways in ALS by shedding light on diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, helping to stratify patients into clinically relevant subgroups, revealing novel therapeutic targets and supporting the development of new effective therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mafalda Rizzuti
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Sali
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Melzi
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Scarcella
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Costamagna
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Linda Ottoboni
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Quetti
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Brambilla
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Federico Verde
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonia Ratti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo Pietro Comi
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Neuromuscular and Rare Diseases Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Corti
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Delia Gagliardi
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sansa A, Miralles MP, Beltran M, Celma-Nos F, Calderó J, Garcera A, Soler RM. ERK MAPK signaling pathway inhibition as a potential target to prevent autophagy alterations in Spinal Muscular Atrophy motoneurons. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:113. [PMID: 37019880 PMCID: PMC10076363 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01409-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a severe genetic neuromuscular disorder that occurs in childhood and is caused by misexpression of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. SMN reduction induces spinal cord motoneuron (MN) degeneration, which leads to progressive muscular atrophy and weakness. The link between SMN deficiency and the molecular mechanisms altered in SMA cells remains unclear. Autophagy, deregulation of intracellular survival pathways and ERK hyperphosphorylation may contribute to SMN-reduced MNs collapse, offering a useful strategy to develop new therapies to prevent neurodegeneration in SMA. Using SMA MN in vitro models, the effect of pharmacological inhibition of PI3K/Akt and ERK MAPK pathways on SMN and autophagy markers modulation was studied by western blot analysis and RT-qPCR. Experiments involved primary cultures of mouse SMA spinal cord MNs and differentiated SMA human MNs derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Inhibition of the PI3K/Akt and the ERK MAPK pathways reduced SMN protein and mRNA levels. Importantly, mTOR phosphorylation, p62, and LC3-II autophagy markers protein level were decreased after ERK MAPK pharmacological inhibition. Furthermore, the intracellular calcium chelator BAPTA prevented ERK hyperphosphorylation in SMA cells. Our results propose a link between intracellular calcium, signaling pathways, and autophagy in SMA MNs, suggesting that ERK hyperphosphorylation may contribute to autophagy deregulation in SMN-reduced MNs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alba Sansa
- Neuronal Signaling Unit, Experimental Medicine Department, Universitat de Lleida-IRBLleida, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Maria P Miralles
- Neuronal Signaling Unit, Experimental Medicine Department, Universitat de Lleida-IRBLleida, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Maria Beltran
- Neuronal Signaling Unit, Experimental Medicine Department, Universitat de Lleida-IRBLleida, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Ferran Celma-Nos
- Neuronal Signaling Unit, Experimental Medicine Department, Universitat de Lleida-IRBLleida, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Jordi Calderó
- Patologia Neuromuscular Experimental, Experimental Medicine Department, Universitat de Lleida-IRBLleida, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Ana Garcera
- Neuronal Signaling Unit, Experimental Medicine Department, Universitat de Lleida-IRBLleida, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Rosa M Soler
- Neuronal Signaling Unit, Experimental Medicine Department, Universitat de Lleida-IRBLleida, Rovira Roure, 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Castañeda-Cabral JL, Orozco-Suárez SA, Beas-Zárate C, Fajardo-Fregoso BF, Flores-Soto ME, Ureña-Guerrero ME. Inhibition of VEGFR-2 by SU5416 increases neonatally glutamate-induced neuronal damage in the cerebral motor cortex and hippocampus. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2023; 37:e23315. [PMID: 36732937 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) exerts neuroprotective or proinflammatory effects, depending on what VEGF forms (A-E), receptor types (VEGFR1-3), and intracellular signaling pathways are involved. Neonatal monosodium glutamate (MSG) treatment triggers neuronal death by excitotoxicity, which is commonly involved in different neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of VEGFR-2 inhibition on neuronal damage triggered by excitotoxicity in the cerebral motor cortex (CMC) and hippocampus (Hp) after neonatal MSG treatment. MSG was administered at a dose of 4 g/kg of body weight (b.w.) subcutaneously on postnatal days (PD) 1, 3, 5, and 7, whereas the VEGFR-2 inhibitor SU5416 was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg b.w. subcutaneously on PD 5 and 7, 30 min before the MSG treatment. Neuronal damage was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, fluoro-Jade staining, and TUNEL assay. Additionally, western blot assays for some proteins of the VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 signaling pathway (VEGF-A, VEGFR-2, PI3K, Akt, and iNOS) were carried out. All assays were performed on PD 6, 8, 10, and 14. Inhibition of VEGFR-2 signaling by SU5416 increases the neuronal damage induced by neonatal MSG treatment in both the CMC and Hp. Moreover, neonatal MSG treatment increased the expression levels of the studied VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 signaling pathway proteins, particularly in the CMC. We conclude that VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 signaling pathway activation could be part of the neuroprotective mechanisms that attempt to compensate for neuronal damage induced by neonatal MSG treatment and possibly also in other conditions involving excitotoxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José Luis Castañeda-Cabral
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias (CUCBA), Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, México
| | - Sandra A Orozco-Suárez
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Ciudad de México, México
| | - Carlos Beas-Zárate
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias (CUCBA), Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, México
| | - Blanca F Fajardo-Fregoso
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias (CUCBA), Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, México
| | - Mario E Flores-Soto
- División de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente (CIBO), IMSS, Guadalajara, México
| | - Mónica E Ureña-Guerrero
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias (CUCBA), Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, México
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
The paradigm of amyloid precursor protein in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: The potential role of the 682YENPTY 687 motif. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:923-930. [PMID: 36698966 PMCID: PMC9860402 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the progressive decline of neuronal function in several brain areas, and are always associated with cognitive, psychiatric, or motor deficits due to the atrophy of certain neuronal populations. Most neurodegenerative diseases share common pathological mechanisms, such as neurotoxic protein misfolding, oxidative stress, and impairment of autophagy machinery. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one of the most common adult-onset motor neuron disorders worldwide. It is clinically characterized by the selective and progressive loss of motor neurons in the motor cortex, brain stem, and spinal cord, ultimately leading to muscle atrophy and rapidly progressive paralysis. Multiple recent studies have indicated that the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its proteolytic fragments are not only drivers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) but also one of the earliest signatures in ALS, preceding or anticipating neuromuscular junction instability and denervation. Indeed, altered levels of APP peptides have been found in the brain, muscles, skin, and cerebrospinal fluid of ALS patients. In this short review, we discuss the nature and extent of research evidence on the role of APP peptides in ALS, focusing on the intracellular C-terminal peptide and its regulatory motif 682YENPTY687, with the overall aim of providing new frameworks and perspectives for intervention and identifying key questions for future investigations.
Collapse
|
9
|
Kablar B. Skeletal Muscle's Role in Prenatal Inter-organ Communication: A Phenogenomic Study with Qualitative Citation Analysis. ADVANCES IN ANATOMY, EMBRYOLOGY, AND CELL BIOLOGY 2023; 236:1-19. [PMID: 37955769 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-38215-4_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Gene targeting in mice allows for a complete elimination of skeletal (striated or voluntary) musculature in the body, from the beginning of its development, resulting in our ability to study the consequences of this ablation on other organs. Here I focus on the relationship between the muscle and lung, motor neurons, skeleton, and special senses. Since the inception of my independent laboratory, in 2000, with my team, we published more than 30 papers (and a book chapter), nearly 400 pages of data, on these specific relationships. Here I trace, using Web of Science, nearly 600 citations of this work, to understand its impact. The current report contains a summary of our work and its impact, NCBI's Gene Expression Omnibus accession numbers of all our microarray data, and three clear future directions doable by anyone using our publicly available data. Together, this effort furthers our understanding of inter-organ communication during prenatal development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Boris Kablar
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Anatomy and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
The Efficiency of Direct Maturation: the Comparison of Two hiPSC Differentiation Approaches into Motor Neurons. Stem Cells Int 2022; 2022:1320950. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/1320950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor neurons (MNs) derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) hold great potential for the treatment of various motor neurodegenerative diseases as transplantations with a low-risk of rejection are made possible. There are many hiPSC differentiation protocols that pursue to imitate the multistep process of motor neurogenesis in vivo. However, these often apply viral vectors, feeder cells, or antibiotics to generate hiPSC and MNs, limiting their translational potential. In this study, a virus-, feeder-, and antibiotic-free method was used for reprogramming hiPSC, which were maintained in culture medium produced under clinical good manufacturing practice. Differentiation into MNs was performed with standardized, chemically defined, and antibiotic-free culture media. The identity of hiPSC, neuronal progenitors, and mature MNs was continuously verified by the detection of specific markers at the genetic and protein level via qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, Western Blot, and immunofluorescence. MNX1- and ChAT-positive motoneuronal progenitor cells were formed after neural induction via dual-SMAD inhibition and expansion. For maturation, an approach aiming to directly mature these progenitors was compared to an approach that included an additional differentiation step for further specification. Although both approaches generated mature MNs expressing characteristic postmitotic markers, the direct maturation approach appeared to be more efficient. These results provide new insights into the suitability of two standardized differentiation approaches for generating mature MNs, which might pave the way for future clinical applications.
Collapse
|
11
|
Sarikidi A, Kefalakes E, Falk CS, Esser R, Ganser A, Thau-Habermann N, Petri S. Altered Immunomodulatory Responses in the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 Axis Mediated by hMSCs in an Early In Vitro SOD1 G93A Model of ALS. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10112916. [PMID: 36428484 PMCID: PMC9688016 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron (MN) disease characterized by progressive MN loss and muscular atrophy resulting in rapidly progressive paralysis and respiratory failure. Human mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (hMSC)-based therapy has been suggested to prolong MN survival via secretion of growth factors and modulation of cytokines/chemokines. We investigated the effects of hMSCs and a hMSC-conditioned medium (CM) on Cu/Zn superoxidase dismutase 1G93A (SOD1G93A) transgenic primary MNs. We found that co-culture of hMSCs and MNs resulted in slightly higher MN numbers, but did not protect against staurosporine (STS)-induced toxicity, implying marginal direct trophic effects of hMSCs. Aiming to elucidate the crosstalk between hMSCs and MNs in vitro, we found high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and C-X3-C motif chemokine 1 (CX3CL1) in the hMSC secretome. Co-culture of hMSCs and MNs resulted in altered gene expression of growth factors and cytokines/chemokines in both MNs and hMSCs. hMSCs showed upregulation of CX3CL1 and its receptor CX3CR1 and downregulation of interleukin-1 β (IL1β) and interleukin-8 (IL8) when co-cultured with SOD1G93A MNs. MNs, on the other hand, showed upregulation of growth factors as well as CX3CR1 upon hMSC co-culture. Our results indicate that hMSCs only provide moderate trophic support to MNs by growth factor gene regulation and may mediate anti-inflammatory responses through the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis, but also increase expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which limits their therapeutic potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Sarikidi
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Ekaterini Kefalakes
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Christine S. Falk
- Institute of Transplant Immunology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Ruth Esser
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Arnold Ganser
- Institute of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-511-532-3740
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Marques CF, Pinheiro PF, Justino GC. Optimized protocol for obtaining and characterizing primary neuron-enriched cultures from embryonic chicken brains. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101753. [PMID: 36209426 PMCID: PMC9558106 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101753] [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: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
We present here an optimized protocol to obtain primary neuron-enriched cultures from embryonic chicken brains with no need for an animal facility. The protocol details the steps to isolate a neuron-enriched cell fraction from chicken embryos, followed by characterization of the chicken neurons with mass spectrometry proteomics and cell staining. Because of the high homology between chicken and human amyloid precursor protein processing machinery, these chicken neurons can be used as an alternative to rodent models for studying Alzheimer disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cátia F. Marques
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal,Corresponding author
| | - Pedro F. Pinheiro
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal,Corresponding author
| | - Gonçalo C. Justino
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal,Corresponding author
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
BDNF and Pro-BDNF in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A New Perspective for Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12050617. [PMID: 35625004 PMCID: PMC9139087 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12050617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the progressive degeneration of upper or lower motor neurons, leading to muscle wasting and paralysis, resulting in respiratory failure and death. The precise ALS aetiology is poorly understood, mainly due to clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Thus, the identification of reliable biomarkers of disease could be helpful in clinical practice. In this study, we investigated whether the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its precursor Pro-BDNF in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may reflect the pathological changes related to ALS. We found higher BDNF and lower Pro-BDNF levels in ALS sera compared to healthy controls. BDNF/Pro-BDNF ratio turned out to be accurate in distinguishing ALS patients from controls. Then, the correlations of these markers with several ALS clinical variables were evaluated. This analysis revealed three statistically significant associations: (1) Patients carrying the C9orf72 expansion significantly differed from non-carrier patients and showed serum BDNF levels comparable to control subjects; (2) BDNF levels in CSF were significantly higher in ALS patients with faster disease progression; (3) lower serum levels of Pro-BDNF were associated with a shorter survival. Therefore, we suggest that BDNF and Pro-BDNF, alone or in combination, might be used as ALS prognostic biomarkers.
Collapse
|
14
|
Heras-Romero Y, Morales-Guadarrama A, Santana-Martínez R, Ponce I, Rincón-Heredia R, Poot-Hernández AC, Martínez-Moreno A, Urrieta E, Bernal-Vicente BN, Campero-Romero AN, Moreno-Castilla P, Greig NH, Escobar ML, Concha L, Tovar-Y-Romo LB. Improved post-stroke spontaneous recovery by astrocytic extracellular vesicles. Mol Ther 2022; 30:798-815. [PMID: 34563674 PMCID: PMC8821969 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous recovery after a stroke accounts for a significant part of the neurological recovery in patients. However limited, the spontaneous recovery is mechanistically driven by axonal restorative processes for which several molecular cues have been previously described. We report the acceleration of spontaneous recovery in a preclinical model of ischemia/reperfusion in rats via a single intracerebroventricular administration of extracellular vesicles released from primary cortical astrocytes. We used magnetic resonance imaging and confocal and multiphoton microscopy to correlate the structural remodeling of the corpus callosum and striatocortical circuits with neurological performance during 21 days. We also evaluated the functionality of the corpus callosum by repetitive recordings of compound action potentials to show that the recovery facilitated by astrocytic extracellular vesicles was both anatomical and functional. Our data provide compelling evidence that astrocytes can hasten the basal recovery that naturally occurs post-stroke through the release of cellular mediators contained in extracellular vesicles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yessica Heras-Romero
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Axayacatl Morales-Guadarrama
- Departmento de Ingeniería Eléctrica, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa, Mexico City, Mexico; National Center for Medical Imaging and Instrumentation Research, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Santana-Martínez
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Isaac Ponce
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ruth Rincón-Heredia
- Microscopy Core Unit, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Augusto César Poot-Hernández
- Bioinformatics Core Unit, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Araceli Martínez-Moreno
- Divisíon de Investigación y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Esteban Urrieta
- Divisíon de Investigación y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Berenice N Bernal-Vicente
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Aura N Campero-Romero
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Perla Moreno-Castilla
- Laboratory of Neurocognitive Aging, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Martha L Escobar
- Divisíon de Investigación y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luis Concha
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Neurobiology, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Luis B Tovar-Y-Romo
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kubiak CA, Svientek SR, Dehdashtian A, Lawera NG, Nadarajan V, Bratley JV, Kung TA, Cederna PS, Kemp SWP. Physiologic signaling and viability of the muscle cuff regenerative peripheral nerve interface (MC-RPNI) for intact peripheral nerves. J Neural Eng 2021; 18. [PMID: 34359056 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac1b6b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Background. Robotic exoskeleton devices have become a promising modality for restoration of extremity function in individuals with limb loss or functional weakness. However, there exists no consistent or reliable way to record efferent motor action potentials from intact peripheral nerves to control device movement. Peripheral nerve motor action potentials are similar in amplitude to that of background noise, producing an unfavorable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that makes these signals difficult to detect and interpret. To address this issue, we have developed the muscle cuff regenerative peripheral nerve interface (MC-RPNI), a construct consisting of a free skeletal muscle graft wrapped circumferentially around an intact peripheral nerve. Over time, the muscle graft regenerates, and the intact nerve undergoes collateral axonal sprouting to reinnervate the muscle. The MC-RPNI amplifies efferent motor action potentials by several magnitudes, thereby increasing the SNR, allowing for higher fidelity signaling and detection of motor intention. The goal of this study was to characterize the signaling capabilities and viability of the MC-RPNI over time.Methods. Thirty-seven rats were randomly assigned to one of five experimental groups (Groups A-E). For MC-RPNI animals, their contralateral extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle was harvested and trimmed to either 8 mm (Group A) or 13 mm (Group B) in length, wrapped circumferentially around the intact ipsilateral common peroneal (CP) nerve, secured, and allowed to heal for 3 months. Additionally, one 8 mm (Group C) and one 13 mm (Group D) length group had an epineurial window created in the CP nerve immediately preceding MC-RPNI creation. Group E consisted of sham surgery animals. At 3 months, electrophysiologic analyses were conducted to determine the signaling capabilities of the MC-RPNI. Additionally, electromyography and isometric force analyses were performed on the CP-innervated EDL to determine the effects of the MC-RPNI on end organ function. Following evaluation, the CP nerve, MC-RPNI, and ipsilateral EDL muscle were harvested for histomorphometric analysis.Results. Study endpoint analysis was performed at 3 months post-surgery. All rats displayed visible muscle contractions in both the MC-RPNI and EDL following proximal CP nerve stimulation. Compound muscle action potentials were recorded from the MC-RPNI following proximal CP nerve stimulation and ranged from 3.67 ± 0.58 mV to 6.04 ± 1.01 mV, providing efferent motor action potential amplification of 10-20 times that of a normal physiologic nerve action potential. Maximum tetanic isometric force (Fo) testing of the distally-innervated EDL muscle in MC-RPNI groups producedFo(2341 ± 114 mN-2832 ± 102 mN) similar to controls (2497 ± 122 mN), thus demonstrating that creation of MC-RPNIs did not adversely impact the function of the distally-innervated EDL muscle. Overall, comparison between all MC-RPNI sub-groups did not reveal any statistically significant differences in signaling capabilities or negative effects on distal-innervated muscle function as compared to the control group.Conclusions. MC-RPNIs have the capability to provide efferent motor action potential amplification from intact nerves without adversely impacting distal muscle function. Neither the size of the muscle graft nor the presence of an epineurial window in the nerve had any significant impact on the ability of the MC-RPNI to amplify efferent motor action potentials from intact nerves. These results support the potential for the MC-RPNI to serve as a biologic nerve interface to control advanced exoskeleton devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carrie A Kubiak
- Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Michigan Health System, 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Medical Sciences Research Building II, Rm.A570A, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5456, United States of America
| | - Shelby R Svientek
- Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Michigan Health System, 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Medical Sciences Research Building II, Rm.A570A, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5456, United States of America
| | - Amir Dehdashtian
- Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Michigan Health System, 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Medical Sciences Research Building II, Rm.A570A, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5456, United States of America
| | - Nathan G Lawera
- Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Michigan Health System, 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Medical Sciences Research Building II, Rm.A570A, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5456, United States of America
| | - Vidhya Nadarajan
- Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Michigan Health System, 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Medical Sciences Research Building II, Rm.A570A, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5456, United States of America
| | - Jarred V Bratley
- Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Michigan Health System, 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Medical Sciences Research Building II, Rm.A570A, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5456, United States of America
| | - Theodore A Kung
- Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Michigan Health System, 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Medical Sciences Research Building II, Rm.A570A, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5456, United States of America
| | - Paul S Cederna
- Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Michigan Health System, 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Medical Sciences Research Building II, Rm.A570A, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5456, United States of America.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| | - Stephen W P Kemp
- Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Michigan Health System, 1150 W Medical Center Drive, Medical Sciences Research Building II, Rm.A570A, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5456, United States of America.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Saini J, Faroni A, Reid AJ, Mouly V, Butler-Browne G, Lightfoot AP, McPhee JS, Degens H, Al-Shanti N. Cross-talk between motor neurons and myotubes via endogenously secreted neural and muscular growth factors. Physiol Rep 2021; 9:e14791. [PMID: 33931983 PMCID: PMC8087923 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) research is vital to advance the understanding of neuromuscular patho‐physiology and development of novel therapies for diseases associated with NM dysfunction. In vivo, the micro‐environment surrounding the NMJ has a significant impact on NMJ formation and maintenance via neurotrophic and differentiation factors that are secreted as a result of cross‐talk between muscle fibers and motor neurons. Recently we showed the formation of functional NMJs in vitro in a co‐culture of immortalized human myoblasts and motor neurons from rat‐embryo spinal‐cord explants, using a culture medium free from serum and neurotrophic or growth factors. The aim of this study was to assess how functional NMJs were established in this co‐culture devoid of exogenous neural growth factors. To investigate this, an ELISA‐based microarray was used to compare the composition of soluble endogenously secreted growth factors in this co‐culture with an a‐neural muscle culture. The levels of seven neurotrophic factors brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial‐cell‐line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein‐3 (IGFBP‐3), insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1), neurotrophin‐3 (NT‐3), neurotrophin‐4 (NT‐4), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were higher (p < 0.05) in the supernatant of NMJ culture compared to those in the supernatant of the a‐neural muscle culture. This indicates that the cross‐talk between muscle and motor neurons promotes the secretion of soluble growth factors contributing to the local microenvironment thereby providing a favourable regenerative niche for NMJs formation and maturation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jasdeep Saini
- Musculoskeletal Science & Sports Medicine Research Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Alessandro Faroni
- Blond McIndoe Laboratories, Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.,Dept. of Plastic Surgery & Burns, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Adam J Reid
- Blond McIndoe Laboratories, Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.,Dept. of Plastic Surgery & Burns, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Vincent Mouly
- Center for Research in Myology, Sorbonne Université-INSERM, Paris, France
| | | | - Adam P Lightfoot
- Musculoskeletal Science & Sports Medicine Research Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Jamie S McPhee
- Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | - Hans Degens
- Musculoskeletal Science & Sports Medicine Research Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.,Lithuanian Sports University, Institute of Sport Science and Innovations, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Nasser Al-Shanti
- Musculoskeletal Science & Sports Medicine Research Centre, Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Jaumotte JD, Saarma M, Zigmond MJ. Protection of dopamine neurons by CDNF and neurturin variant N4 against MPP+ in dissociated cultures from rat mesencephalon. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245663. [PMID: 33534843 PMCID: PMC7857574 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is associated with the loss of dopamine (DA) neurons in ventral mesencephalon. We have previously reported that no single neurotrophic factor we tested protected DA neurons from the dopaminergic toxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) in dissociated cultures isolated from the P0 rat substantia nigra, but that a combination of five neurotrophic factors was protective. We now report that cerebral DA neurotrophic factor (CDNF) and a variant of neurturin (NRTN), N4, were also not protective when provided alone but were protective when added together. In cultures isolated from the substantia nigra, MPP+ (10 μM) decreased tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells to 41.7 ± 5.4% of vehicle control. Although treatment of cultures with 100 ng/ml of either CDNF or N4 individually before and after toxin exposure did not significantly increase survival in MPP+-treated cultures, when the two trophic factors were added together at 100 ng/ml each, survival of cells was increased 28.2 ± 6.1% above the effect of MPP+ alone. In cultures isolated from the ventral tegmental area, another DA rich area, a higher dose of MPP+ (1 mM) was required to produce an EC50 in TH-positive cells but, as in the substantia nigra, only the combination of CDNF and N4 (100 ng/ml each) was successful at increasing the survival of these cells compared to MPP+ alone (by 22.5 ± 3.5%). These data support previous findings that CDNF and N4 may be of therapeutic value for treatment of PD, but suggest that they may need to be administered together.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliann D. Jaumotte
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Pittsburgh Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Mart Saarma
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michael J. Zigmond
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Pittsburgh Institute of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Neuroprotective Effect of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor on Motoneurons of the Oculomotor System. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020814. [PMID: 33467517 PMCID: PMC7830098 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was initially characterized as a potent angiogenic factor based on its activity on the vascular system. However, it is now well established that VEGF also plays a crucial role as a neuroprotective factor in the nervous system. A deficit of VEGF has been related to motoneuronal degeneration, such as that occurring in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Strikingly, motoneurons of the oculomotor system show lesser vulnerability to neurodegeneration in ALS compared to other motoneurons. These motoneurons presented higher amounts of VEGF and its receptor Flk-1 than other brainstem pools. That higher VEGF level could be due to an enhanced retrograde input from their target muscles, but it can also be produced by the motoneurons themselves and act in an autocrine way. By contrast, VEGF’s paracrine supply from the vicinity cells, such as glial cells, seems to represent a minor source of VEGF for brainstem motoneurons. In addition, ocular motoneurons experiment an increase in VEGF and Flk-1 level in response to axotomy, not observed in facial or hypoglossal motoneurons. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the differences in VEGF availability that could contribute to the higher resistance of extraocular motoneurons to injury and neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
|
19
|
Ozalp O, Cark O, Azbazdar Y, Haykir B, Cucun G, Kucukaylak I, Alkan-Yesilyurt G, Sezgin E, Ozhan G. Nradd Acts as a Negative Feedback Regulator of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling and Promotes Apoptosis. Biomolecules 2021; 11:100. [PMID: 33466728 PMCID: PMC7828832 DOI: 10.3390/biom11010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling controls many biological processes for the generation and sustainability of proper tissue size, organization and function during development and homeostasis. Consequently, mutations in the Wnt pathway components and modulators cause diseases, including genetic disorders and cancers. Targeted treatment of pathway-associated diseases entails detailed understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that fine-tune Wnt signaling. Here, we identify the neurotrophin receptor-associated death domain (Nradd), a homolog of p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), as a negative regulator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in zebrafish embryos and in mammalian cells. Nradd significantly suppresses Wnt8-mediated patterning of the mesoderm and neuroectoderm during zebrafish gastrulation. Nradd is localized at the plasma membrane, physically interacts with the Wnt receptor complex and enhances apoptosis in cooperation with Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Our functional analyses indicate that the N-glycosylated N-terminus and the death domain-containing C-terminus regions are necessary for both the inhibition of Wnt signaling and apoptosis. Finally, Nradd can induce apoptosis in mammalian cells. Thus, Nradd regulates cell death as a modifier of Wnt/β-catenin signaling during development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ozgun Ozalp
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ozge Cark
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Yagmur Azbazdar
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Betul Haykir
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Institute of Physiology, Switzerland and National Center of Competence in Research NCCR Kidney, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gokhan Cucun
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ismail Kucukaylak
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Institute of Zoology-Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Gozde Alkan-Yesilyurt
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
| | - Erdinc Sezgin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden;
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, MRC Human Immunology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford OX39DS, UK
| | - Gunes Ozhan
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey; (O.O.); (O.C.); (Y.A.); (B.H.); (G.C.); (I.K.); (G.A.-Y.)
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti-Balcova, 35340 Izmir, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Leyton-Jaimes MF, Ivert P, Hoeber J, Han Y, Feiler A, Zhou C, Pankratova S, Shoshan-Barmatz V, Israelson A, Kozlova EN. Empty mesoporous silica particles significantly delay disease progression and extend survival in a mouse model of ALS. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20675. [PMID: 33244084 PMCID: PMC7691331 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77578-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating incurable neurological disorder characterized by motor neuron (MN) death and muscle dysfunction leading to mean survival time after diagnosis of only 2-5 years. A potential ALS treatment is to delay the loss of MNs and disease progression by the delivery of trophic factors. Previously, we demonstrated that implanted mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSPs) loaded with trophic factor peptide mimetics support survival and induce differentiation of co-implanted embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived MNs. Here, we investigate whether MSP loaded with peptide mimetics of ciliary neurotrophic factor (Cintrofin), glial-derived neurotrophic factor (Gliafin), and vascular endothelial growth factor (Vefin1) injected into the cervical spinal cord of mutant SOD1 mice affect disease progression and extend survival. We also transplanted boundary cap neural crest stem cells (bNCSCs) which have been shown previously to have a positive effect on MN survival in vitro and in vivo. We show that mimetic-loaded MSPs and bNCSCs significantly delay disease progression and increase survival of mutant SOD1 mice, and also that empty particles significantly improve the condition of ALS mice. Our results suggest that intraspinal delivery of MSPs is a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcel F Leyton-Jaimes
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, 84105, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Patrik Ivert
- Department of Neuroscience, Regenerative Neurobiology, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan Hoeber
- Department of Neuroscience, Regenerative Neurobiology, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 815, 751 08, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yilin Han
- Department of Neuroscience, Regenerative Neurobiology, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Adam Feiler
- Nanologica AB, Forskargatan 20G, 151 36, Södertälje, Sweden.,Chemistry Department, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Chunfang Zhou
- Chemistry Department, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stanislava Pankratova
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Comparative Pediatrics and Nutrition, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Varda Shoshan-Barmatz
- Department of Life Sciences, The National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev Ltd, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Adrian Israelson
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, 84105, Beer Sheva, Israel.
| | - Elena N Kozlova
- Department of Neuroscience, Regenerative Neurobiology, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Takayama Y, Akagi Y, Shibuya Y, Kida YS. Exposure to small molecule cocktails allows induction of neural crest lineage cells from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0241125. [PMID: 33104750 PMCID: PMC7588063 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural crest cells (NCCs) are a promising source for cell therapy and regenerative medicine owing to their multipotency, self-renewability, and capability to secrete various trophic factors. However, isolating NCCs from adult organs is challenging, because NCCs are broadly distributed throughout the body. Hence, we attempted to directly induce NCCs from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs), which can be isolated easily, using small molecule cocktails. We established a controlled induction protocol with two-step application of small molecule cocktails for 6 days. The induction efficiency was evaluated based on mRNA and protein expression of neural crest markers, such as nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) and sex-determining region Y-box 10 (SOX10). We also found that various trophic factors were significantly upregulated following treatment with the small molecule cocktails. Therefore, we performed global profiling of cell surface makers and identified distinctly upregulated markers, including the neural crest-specific cell surface markers CD271 and CD57. These results indicate that our chemical treatment can direct human ADSCs to developing into the neural crest lineage. This offers a promising experimental platform to study human NCCs for applications in cell therapy and regenerative medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuzo Takayama
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- * E-mail: (YT); (YSK)
| | - Yuka Akagi
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- Advanced Photonics and Biosensing Open Innovation Laboratory, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yoichiro Shibuya
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki S. Kida
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- Advanced Photonics and Biosensing Open Innovation Laboratory, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- * E-mail: (YT); (YSK)
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Volonté C, Morello G, Spampinato AG, Amadio S, Apolloni S, D’Agata V, Cavallaro S. Omics-based exploration and functional validation of neurotrophic factors and histamine as therapeutic targets in ALS. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 62:101121. [PMID: 32653439 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A plethora of genetic and molecular mechanisms have been implicated in the pathophysiology of the heterogeneous and multifactorial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease, and hence the conventional "one target-one drug" paradigm has failed so far to provide effective therapeutic solutions, precisely because of the complex nature of ALS. This review intends to highlight how the integration of emerging "omics" approaches may provide a rational foundation for the comprehensive exploration of molecular pathways and dynamic interactions involved in ALS, for the identification of candidate targets and biomarkers that will assist in the rapid diagnosis and prognosis, lastly for the stratification of patients into different subgroups with the aim of personalized therapeutic strategies. To this purpose, particular emphasis will be placed on some potential therapeutic targets, including neurotrophic factors and histamine signaling that both have emerged as dysregulated at different omics levels in specific subgroups of ALS patients, and have already shown promising results in in vitro and in vivo models of ALS. To conclude, we will discuss about the utility of using integrated omics coupled with network-based approaches to provide additional guidance for personalization of medicine applications in ALS.
Collapse
|
23
|
Godinho MJ, Staal JL, Krishnan VS, Hodgetts SI, Pollett MA, Goodman DP, Teh L, Verhaagen J, Plant GW, Harvey AR. Regeneration of adult rat sensory and motor neuron axons through chimeric peroneal nerve grafts containing donor Schwann cells engineered to express different neurotrophic factors. Exp Neurol 2020; 330:113355. [PMID: 32422148 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Large peripheral nerve (PN) defects require bridging substrates to restore tissue continuity and permit the regrowth of sensory and motor axons. We previously showed that cell-free PN segments repopulated ex vivo with Schwann cells (SCs) transduced with lentiviral vectors (LV) to express different growth factors (BDNF, CNTF or NT-3) supported the regeneration of axons across a 1 cm peroneal nerve defect (Godinho et al., 2013). Graft morphology, the number of regrown axons, the ratio of myelinated to unmyelinated axons, and hindlimb locomotor function differed depending on the growth factor engineered into SCs. Here we extend these observations, adding more LVs (expressing GDNF or NGF) and characterising regenerating sensory and motor neurons after injection of the retrograde tracer Fluorogold (FG) into peroneal nerve distal to grafts, 10 weeks after surgery. Counts were also made in rats with intact nerves and in animals receiving autografts, acellular grafts, or grafts containing LV-GFP transduced SCs. Counts and analysis of FG positive (+) DRG neurons were made from lumbar (L5) ganglia. Graft groups contained fewer labeled sensory neurons than non-operated controls, but this decrease was only significant in the LV-GDNF group. These grafts had a complex fascicular morphology that may have resulted in axon trapping. The proportion of FG+ sensory neurons immunopositive for calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP) varied between groups, there being a significantly higher percentage in autografts and most neurotrophic factor groups compared to the LV-CNTF, LV-GFP and acellular groups. Furthermore, the proportion of regenerating isolectin B4+ neurons was significantly greater in the LV-NT-3 group compared to other groups, including autografts and non-lesion controls. Immunohistochemical analysis of longitudinal graft sections revealed that all grafts contained a reduced number of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) positive axons, but this decrease was significant only in the GDNF and NT-3 graft groups. We also assessed the number and phenotype of regrowing lumbar FG+ motor neurons in non-lesioned animals, and in rats with autografts, acellular grafts, or in grafts containing SCs expressing GFP, CNTF, NGF or NT-3. The overall number of FG+ motor neurons per section was similar in all groups; however in tissue immunostained for NeuN (expressed in α- but not γ-motor neurons) the proportion of NeuN negative FG+ neurons ranged from about 40-50% in all groups except the NT-3 group, where the percentage was 82%, significantly more than the SC-GFP group. Immunostaining for the vesicular glutamate transporter VGLUT-1 revealed occasional proprioceptive terminals in 'contact' with regenerating FG+ α-motor neurons in PN grafted animals, the acellular group having the lowest counts. In sum, while all graft types supported sensory and motor axon regrowth, there appeared to be axon trapping in SC-GDNF grafts, and data from the SC-NT-3 group revealed greater regeneration of sensory CGRP+ and IB4+ neurons, preferential regeneration of γ-motor neurons and perhaps partial restoration of monosynaptic sensorimotor relays.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria João Godinho
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jonas L Staal
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Vidya S Krishnan
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Stuart I Hodgetts
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Margaret A Pollett
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Douglas P Goodman
- School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Lip Teh
- Plastic Surgery Centre, St John of God Hospital, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Giles W Plant
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alan R Harvey
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Presynaptic Homeostasis Opposes Disease Progression in Mouse Models of ALS-Like Degeneration: Evidence for Homeostatic Neuroprotection. Neuron 2020; 107:95-111.e6. [PMID: 32380032 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Progressive synapse loss is an inevitable and insidious part of age-related neurodegenerative disease. Typically, synapse loss precedes symptoms of cognitive and motor decline. This suggests the existence of compensatory mechanisms that can temporarily counteract the effects of ongoing neurodegeneration. Here, we demonstrate that presynaptic homeostatic plasticity (PHP) is induced at degenerating neuromuscular junctions, mediated by an evolutionarily conserved activity of presynaptic ENaC channels in both Drosophila and mouse. To assess the consequence of eliminating PHP in a mouse model of ALS-like degeneration, we generated a motoneuron-specific deletion of Scnn1a, encoding the ENaC channel alpha subunit. We show that Scnn1a is essential for PHP without adversely affecting baseline neural function or lifespan. However, Scnn1a knockout in a degeneration-causing mutant background accelerated motoneuron loss and disease progression to twice the rate observed in littermate controls with intact PHP. We propose a model of neuroprotective homeostatic plasticity, extending organismal lifespan and health span.
Collapse
|
25
|
Hirose-Ikeda M, Chu B, Zhao P, Akil O, Escalante E, Vergnes L, Cepeda C, Espinosa-Jeffrey A. Trophic factors are essential for the survival of grafted oligodendrocyte progenitors and for neuroprotection after perinatal excitotoxicity. Neural Regen Res 2020; 15:557-568. [PMID: 31571668 PMCID: PMC6921341 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.266066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The consequences of neonatal white matter injury are devastating and represent a major societal problem as currently there is no cure. Prematurity, low weight birth and maternal pre-natal infection are the most frequent causes of acquired myelin deficiency in the human neonate leading to cerebral palsy and cognitive impairment. In the developing brain, oligodendrocyte (OL) maturation occurs perinatally, and immature OLs are particularly vulnerable. Cell replacement therapy is often considered a viable option to replace progenitors that die due to glutamate excitotoxicity. We previously reported directed specification and mobilization of endogenous committed and uncommitted neural progenitors by the combination of transferrin and insulin growth factor 1 (TSC1). Here, considering cell replacement and integration as therapeutic goals, we examined if OL progenitors (OLPs) grafted into the brain parenchyma of mice that were subjected to an excitotoxic insult could rescue white matter injury. For that purpose, we used a well-established model of glutamate excitotoxic injury. Four-day-old mice received a single intraparenchymal injection of the glutamate receptor agonist N-methyl-D-aspartate alone or in conjunction with TSC1 in the presence or absence of OLPs grafted into the brain parenchyma. Energetics and expression of stress proteins and OL developmental specific markers were examined. A comparison of the proteomic profile per treatment was also ascertained. We found that OLPs did not survive in the excitotoxic environment when grafted alone. In contrast, when combined with TSC1, survival and integration of grafted OLPs was observed. Further, energy metabolism in OLPs was significantly increased by N-methyl-D-aspartate and modulated by TSC1. The proteomic profile after the various treatments showed elevated ubiquitination and stress/heat shock protein 90 in response to N-methyl-D-aspartate. These changes were reversed in the presence of TSC1 and ubiquitination was decreased. The results obtained in this pre-clinical study indicate that the use of a combinatorial intervention including both trophic support and healthy OLPs constitutes a promising approach for long-term survival and successful graft integration. We established optimal conditioning of the host brain environment to promote long-term survival and integration of grafted OLPs into an inflamed neonate host brain. Experimental procedures were performed under the United States Public Health Service Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and were approved by the Institutional Animal Care Committee at (UCLA) (ARC #1992-034-61) on July 1, 2010.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megumi Hirose-Ikeda
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brian Chu
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Paul Zhao
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Omar Akil
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elida Escalante
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Laurent Vergnes
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carlos Cepeda
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Araceli Espinosa-Jeffrey
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Departments of Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ozaki T, Muramatsu R, Nakamura H, Kinoshita M, Kishima H, Yamashita T. Proteomic analysis of protein changes in plasma by balloon test occlusion. J Clin Neurosci 2019; 72:397-401. [PMID: 31875829 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2019.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Transient ischemia provides the tolerance against prolonged ischemia in the brain. In mouse experimental model, transient ischemia changes the composition ratio of circulating proteins, which associate with neuroprotection; however, the human evidence is lacking. Here we mimicked balloon test occlusion (BTO) of carotid artery as a transient ischemia and investigated the change of composition ratio of the circulating protein in the human plasma. We collected blood samples from nine patients (5 men and 4 women; mean age 64.2 years; range 45 to 77 years) before and 48 h after BTO and investigated the changes of circulating molecules level in the proteome using LC-MS/MS analysis. Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein and serum amyloid A-1 increased and protein AMBP decreased in the blood samples after BTO. Transient change of blood flow in the brain alters molecular expression in the plasma. Because the alteration of plasma protein composition is involved in ischemic tolerance in animal models, the proteins whose level was changed by BTO may be also involved in neuroprotection against ischemia in human.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiko Ozaki
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan; Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Japan; Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Rieko Muramatsu
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan; WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Japan; Department of Molecular Pharmacology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan.
| | - Hajime Nakamura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Japan
| | - Manabu Kinoshita
- Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Kishima
- Department of Neurosurgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Japan
| | - Toshihide Yamashita
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan; WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Japan; Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
White MA, Lin Z, Kim E, Henstridge CM, Pena Altamira E, Hunt CK, Burchill E, Callaghan I, Loreto A, Brown-Wright H, Mead R, Simmons C, Cash D, Coleman MP, Sreedharan J. Sarm1 deletion suppresses TDP-43-linked motor neuron degeneration and cortical spine loss. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:166. [PMID: 31661035 PMCID: PMC6819591 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0800-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative condition that primarily affects the motor system and shares many features with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Evidence suggests that ALS is a 'dying-back' disease, with peripheral denervation and axonal degeneration occurring before loss of motor neuron cell bodies. Distal to a nerve injury, a similar pattern of axonal degeneration can be seen, which is mediated by an active axon destruction mechanism called Wallerian degeneration. Sterile alpha and TIR motif-containing 1 (Sarm1) is a key gene in the Wallerian pathway and its deletion provides long-term protection against both Wallerian degeneration and Wallerian-like, non-injury induced axonopathy, a retrograde degenerative process that occurs in many neurodegenerative diseases where axonal transport is impaired. Here, we explored whether Sarm1 signalling could be a therapeutic target for ALS by deleting Sarm1 from a mouse model of ALS-FTD, a TDP-43Q331K, YFP-H double transgenic mouse. Sarm1 deletion attenuated motor axon degeneration and neuromuscular junction denervation. Motor neuron cell bodies were also significantly protected. Deletion of Sarm1 also attenuated loss of layer V pyramidal neuronal dendritic spines in the primary motor cortex. Structural MRI identified the entorhinal cortex as the most significantly atrophic region, and histological studies confirmed a greater loss of neurons in the entorhinal cortex than in the motor cortex, suggesting a prominent FTD-like pattern of neurodegeneration in this transgenic mouse model. Despite the reduction in neuronal degeneration, Sarm1 deletion did not attenuate age-related behavioural deficits caused by TDP-43Q331K. However, Sarm1 deletion was associated with a significant increase in the viability of male TDP-43Q331K mice, suggesting a detrimental role of Wallerian-like pathways in the earliest stages of TDP-43Q331K-mediated neurodegeneration. Collectively, these results indicate that anti-SARM1 strategies have therapeutic potential in ALS-FTD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A White
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Ziqiang Lin
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
- West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Eugene Kim
- BRAIN Centre (Biomarker Research And Imaging for Neuroscience), Department of Neuroimaging, IoPPN, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Emiliano Pena Altamira
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Camille K Hunt
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Ella Burchill
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Isobel Callaghan
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Andrea Loreto
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Heledd Brown-Wright
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Richard Mead
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Camilla Simmons
- BRAIN Centre (Biomarker Research And Imaging for Neuroscience), Department of Neuroimaging, IoPPN, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Diana Cash
- BRAIN Centre (Biomarker Research And Imaging for Neuroscience), Department of Neuroimaging, IoPPN, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Michael P Coleman
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Signalling Programme, Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jemeen Sreedharan
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
BDNF is a mediator of glycolytic fiber-type specification in mouse skeletal muscle. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:16111-16120. [PMID: 31320589 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1900544116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) influences the differentiation, plasticity, and survival of central neurons and likewise, affects the development of the neuromuscular system. Besides its neuronal origin, BDNF is also a member of the myokine family. However, the role of skeletal muscle-derived BDNF in regulating neuromuscular physiology in vivo remains unclear. Using gain- and loss-of-function animal models, we show that muscle-specific ablation of BDNF shifts the proportion of muscle fibers from type IIB to IIX, concomitant with elevated slow muscle-type gene expression. Furthermore, BDNF deletion reduces motor end plate volume without affecting neuromuscular junction (NMJ) integrity. These morphological changes are associated with slow muscle function and a greater resistance to contraction-induced fatigue. Conversely, BDNF overexpression promotes a fast muscle-type gene program and elevates glycolytic fiber number. These findings indicate that BDNF is required for fiber-type specification and provide insights into its potential modulation as a therapeutic target in muscle diseases.
Collapse
|
29
|
Sawada A, Wang S, Jian M, Leem J, Wackerbarth J, Egawa J, Schilling JM, Platoshyn O, Zemljic-Harpf A, Roth DM, Patel HH, Patel PM, Marsala M, Head BP. Neuron-targeted caveolin-1 improves neuromuscular function and extends survival in SOD1 G93A mice. FASEB J 2019; 33:7545-7554. [PMID: 30894019 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201802652rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Interventions that preserve motor neurons or restore functional motor neuroplasticity may extend longevity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Delivery of neurotrophins may potentially revive degenerating motor neurons, yet this approach is dependent on the proper subcellular localization of neurotrophin receptor (NTR) to plasmalemmal signaling microdomains, termed membrane/lipid rafts (MLRs). We previously showed that overexpression of synapsin-driven caveolin-1 (Cav-1) (SynCav1) increases MLR localization of NTR [e.g., receptor tyrosine kinase B (TrkB)], promotes hippocampal synaptic and neuroplasticity, and significantly improves learning and memory in aged mice. The present study crossed a SynCav1 transgene-positive (SynCav1+) mouse with the mutant human superoxide dismutase glycine to alanine point mutation at amino acid 93 (hSOD1G93A) mouse model of ALS. When compared with hSOD1G93A, hSOD1G93A/SynCav1+ mice exhibited greater body weight and longer survival as well as better motor function. Microscopic analyses of hSOD1G93A/SynCav1+ spinal cords revealed preserved spinal cord α-motor neurons and preserved mitochondrial morphology. Moreover, hSOD1G93A/SynCav1+ spinal cords contained more MLRs (cholera toxin subunit B positive) and MLR-associated TrkB and Cav-1 protein expression. These findings demonstrate that SynCav1 delays disease progression in a mouse model of ALS, potentially by preserving or restoring NTR expression and localization to MLRs.-Sawada, A., Wang, S., Jian, M., Leem, J., Wackerbarth, J., Egawa, J., Schilling, J. M., Platoshyn, O., Zemljic-Harpf, A., Roth, D. M., Patel, H. H., Patel, P. M., Marsala, M., Head, B. P. Neuron-targeted caveolin-1 improves neuromuscular function and extends survival in SOD1G93A mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Sawada
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shanshan Wang
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Minyu Jian
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Joseph Leem
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jesse Wackerbarth
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Junji Egawa
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan; and
| | - Jan M Schilling
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Oleksandr Platoshyn
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Alice Zemljic-Harpf
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - David M Roth
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Hemal H Patel
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Piyush M Patel
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Martin Marsala
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.,Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Brian P Head
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ko E, Yu SJ, Pagan‐Diaz GJ, Mahmassani Z, Boppart MD, Im SG, Bashir R, Kong H. Matrix Topography Regulates Synaptic Transmission at the Neuromuscular Junction. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2019; 6:1801521. [PMID: 30937256 PMCID: PMC6425454 DOI: 10.1002/advs.201801521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Recreation of a muscle that can be controlled by the nervous system would provide a major breakthrough for treatments of injury and diseases. However, the underlying basis of how neuron-muscle interfaces are formed is still not understood sufficiently. Here, it is hypothesized that substrate topography regulates neural innervation and synaptic transmission by mediating the cross-talk between neurons and muscles. This hypothesis is examined by differentiating neural stem cells on the myotubes, formed on the substrate with controlled groove width. The substrate with the groove width of 1600 nm, a similar size to the myofibril diameter, serves to produce larger and aligned myotubes than the flat substrate. The myotubes formed on the grooved substrate display increases in the acetylcholine receptor expression. Reciprocally, motor neuron progenitor cells differentiated from neural stem cells innervate the larger and aligned myotubes more actively than randomly oriented myotubes. As a consequence, mature and aligned myotubes respond to glutamate (i.e., an excitatory neurotransmitter) and curare (i.e., a neuromuscular antagonist) more rapidly and homogeneously than randomly oriented myotubes. The results of this study will be broadly useful for improving the quality of engineered muscle used in a series of applications including drug screening, regeneration therapies, and biological machinery assembly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eunkyung Ko
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Department of BioengineeringMicro and Nanotechnology LaboratoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Seung Jung Yu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and KI for the Nano CenturyKorea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Daejeon305‐701Republic of Korea
| | - Gelson J. Pagan‐Diaz
- Department of BioengineeringMicro and Nanotechnology LaboratoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Ziad Mahmassani
- Department of Kinesiology and Community HealthBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and TechnologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Marni D. Boppart
- Department of Kinesiology and Community HealthBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and TechnologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Sung Gap Im
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and KI for the Nano CenturyKorea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)Daejeon305‐701Republic of Korea
| | - Rashid Bashir
- Department of BioengineeringMicro and Nanotechnology LaboratoryUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and TechnologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Carle Illinois College of MedicineUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Hyunjoon Kong
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology and Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and TechnologyUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Carle Illinois College of MedicineUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Gould TW, Dominguez B, de Winter F, Yeo GW, Liu P, Sundararaman B, Stark T, Vu A, Degen JL, Lin W, Lee KF. Glial cells maintain synapses by inhibiting an activity-dependent retrograde protease signal. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1007948. [PMID: 30870413 PMCID: PMC6417855 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cells regulate multiple aspects of synaptogenesis. In the absence of Schwann cells, a peripheral glial cell, motor neurons initially innervate muscle but then degenerate. Here, using a genetic approach, we show that neural activity-regulated negative factors produced by muscle drive neurodegeneration in Schwann cell-deficient mice. We find that thrombin, the hepatic serine protease central to the hemostatic coagulation cascade, is one such negative factor. Trancriptomic analysis shows that expression of the antithrombins serpin C1 and D1 is significantly reduced in Schwann cell-deficient mice. In the absence of peripheral neuromuscular activity, neurodegeneration is completely blocked, and expression of prothrombin in muscle is markedly reduced. In the absence of muscle-derived prothrombin, neurodegeneration is also markedly reduced. Together, these results suggest that Schwann cells regulate NMJs by opposing the effects of activity-regulated, muscle-derived negative factors and provide the first genetic evidence that thrombin plays a central role outside of the coagulation system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W. Gould
- Peptide Biology Laboratories, Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV, United States of America
| | - Bertha Dominguez
- Peptide Biology Laboratories, Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Fred de Winter
- Peptide Biology Laboratories, Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Gene W. Yeo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Program and Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Patrick Liu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Program and Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Balaji Sundararaman
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV, United States of America
| | - Thomas Stark
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV, United States of America
| | - Anthony Vu
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, NV, United States of America
| | - Jay L. Degen
- Division of Experimental Hematology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Weichun Lin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States of America
| | - Kuo-Fen Lee
- Peptide Biology Laboratories, Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Valko K, Ciesla L. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. PROGRESS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2019; 58:63-117. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmch.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
33
|
Netzahualcoyotzi C, Tapia R. Tetanus toxin C-fragment protects against excitotoxic spinal motoneuron degeneration in vivo. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16584. [PMID: 30410110 PMCID: PMC6224557 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35027-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The tetanus toxin C-fragment is a non-toxic peptide that can be transported from peripheral axons into spinal motoneurons. In in vitro experiments it has been shown that this peptide activates signaling pathways associated with Trk receptors, leading to cellular survival. Because motoneuron degeneration is the main pathological hallmark in motoneuron diseases, and excitotoxicity is an important mechanism of neuronal death in this type of disorders, in this work we tested whether the tetanus toxin C-fragment is able to protect MN in the spinal cord in vivo. For this purpose, we administered the peptide to rats subjected to excitotoxic motoneuron degeneration induced by the chronic infusion of AMPA in the rat lumbar spinal cord, a well-established model developed in our laboratory. Because the intraspinal infusion of the fragment was only weakly effective, whereas the i.m. administration was remarkably neuroprotective, and because the i.m. injection of an inhibitor of Trk receptors diminished the protection, we conclude that such effects require a retrograde signaling from the neuromuscular junction to the spinal motoneurons. The protection after a simple peripheral route of administration of the fragment suggests a potential therapeutic use of this peptide to target spinal MNs exposed to excitotoxic conditions in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Citlalli Netzahualcoyotzi
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| | - Ricardo Tapia
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Kefalakes E, Böselt S, Sarikidi A, Ettcheto M, Bursch F, Naujock M, Stanslowsky N, Schmuck M, Barenys M, Wegner F, Grothe C, Petri S. Characterizing the multiple roles of FGF-2 in SOD1 G93A ALS mice in vivo and in vitro. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:7395-7410. [PMID: 30370540 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We have previously shown that knockout of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and potential compensatory effects of other growth factors result in amelioration of disease symptoms in a transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a rapidly progressive neurological disorder leading to degeneration of cortical, brain stem, and spinal motor neurons followed by subsequent denervation and muscle wasting. Mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene are responsible for approximately 20% of familial ALS cases and SOD1 mutant mice still are among the models best mimicking clinical and neuropathological characteristics of ALS. The aim of the present study was a thorough characterization of FGF-2 and other growth factors and signaling effectors in vivo in the SOD1G93A mouse model. We observed tissue-specific opposing gene regulation of FGF-2 and overall dysregulation of other growth factors, which in the gastrocnemius muscle was associated with reduced downstream extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and protein kinase B (AKT) activation. To further investigate whether the effects of FGF-2 on motor neuron death are mediated by glial cells, astrocytes lacking FGF-2 were cocultured together with mutant SOD1 G93A motor neurons. FGF-2 had an impact on motor neuron maturation indicating that astrocytic FGF-2 affects motor neurons at a developmental stage. Moreover, neuronal gene expression patterns showed FGF-2- and SOD1 G93A -dependent changes in ciliary neurotrophic factor, glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor, and ERK2, implying a potential involvement in ALS pathogenesis before the onset of clinical symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterini Kefalakes
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Sebastian Böselt
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Miren Ettcheto
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Biomedical Research Networking Center in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Life Science, University of Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain
| | - Franziska Bursch
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Maximilian Naujock
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Nancy Stanslowsky
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Martin Schmuck
- DAVIS School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, California
| | - Marta Barenys
- GRET, INSA-UB and Toxicology Unit, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Florian Wegner
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| | - Claudia Grothe
- Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany.,Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Systems Neuroscience (ZSN), Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Protein-protein interactions reveal key canonical pathways, upstream regulators, interactome domains, and novel targets in ALS. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14732. [PMID: 30283000 PMCID: PMC6170493 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32902-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Developing effective treatment strategies for neurodegenerative diseases require an understanding of the underlying cellular pathways that lead to neuronal vulnerability and progressive degeneration. To date, numerous mutations in 147 distinct genes are identified to be "associated" with, "modifier" or "causative" of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Protein products of these genes and their interactions helped determine the protein landscape of ALS, and revealed upstream modulators, key canonical pathways, interactome domains and novel therapeutic targets. Our analysis originates from known human mutations and circles back to human, revealing increased PPARG and PPARGC1A expression in the Betz cells of sALS patients and patients with TDP43 pathology, and emphasizes the importance of lipid homeostasis. Downregulation of YWHAZ, a 14-3-3 protein, and cytoplasmic accumulation of ZFYVE27 especially in diseased Betz cells of ALS patients reinforce the idea that perturbed protein communications, interactome defects, and altered converging pathways will reveal novel therapeutic targets in ALS.
Collapse
|
36
|
Abstract
Autosomal-recessive proximal spinal muscular atrophy (Werdnig-Hoffmann, Kugelberg-Welander) is caused by mutation of the SMN1 gene, and the clinical severity correlates with the number of copies of a nearly identical gene, SMN2. The SMN protein plays a critical role in spliceosome assembly and may have other cellular functions, such as mRNA transport. Cell culture and animal models have helped to define the disease mechanism and to identify targets for therapeutic intervention. The main focus for developing treatment has been to increase SMN levels, and accomplishing this with small molecules, oligonucleotides, and gene replacement has been quite. An oligonucleotide, nusinersen, was recently approved for treatment in patients, and confirmatory studies of other agents are now under way.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eveline S Arnold
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Kenneth H Fischbeck
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Acosta L, Morcuende S, Silva-Hucha S, Pastor AM, de la Cruz RR. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Prevents the Downregulation of the Cholinergic Phenotype in Axotomized Motoneurons of the Adult Rat. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:241. [PMID: 30050409 PMCID: PMC6052088 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was initially characterized by its activity on the vascular system. However, there is growing evidence indicating that VEGF also acts as a neuroprotective factor, and that its administration to neurons suffering from trauma or disease is able to rescue them from cell death. We questioned whether VEGF could also maintain damaged neurons in a neurotransmissive mode by evaluating the synthesis of their neurotransmitter, and whether its action would be direct or through its well-known angiogenic activity. Adult rat extraocular motoneurons were chosen as the experimental model. Lesion was performed by monocular enucleation and immediately a gelatine sponge soaked in VEGF was implanted intraorbitally. After 7 days, abducens, trochlear, and oculomotor nuclei were examined by immunohistochemistry against choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the biosynthetic enzyme of the motoneuronal neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Lesioned motoneurons exhibited a noticeable ChAT downregulation which was prevented by VEGF administration. To explore whether this action was mediated via an increase in blood vessels or in their permeability, we performed immunohistochemistry against laminin, glucose transporter-1 and the plasmatic protein albumin. The quantification of the immunolabeling intensity against these three proteins showed no significant differences between VEGF-treated, axotomized and control animals. Therefore, the present data indicate that VEGF is able to sustain the cholinergic phenotype in damaged motoneurons, which is a first step for adequate neuromuscular neurotransmission, and that this action seems to be mediated directly on neurons since no sign of angiogenic activity was evident. These data reinforces the therapeutical potential of VEGF in motoneuronal diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Acosta
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Sara Morcuende
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Silvia Silva-Hucha
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Angel M Pastor
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Rosa R de la Cruz
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Stanga S, Brambilla L, Tasiaux B, Dang AH, Ivanoiu A, Octave JN, Rossi D, van Pesch V, Kienlen-Campard P. A Role for GDNF and Soluble APP as Biomarkers of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Pathophysiology. Front Neurol 2018; 9:384. [PMID: 29899726 PMCID: PMC5988896 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The current inability of clinical criteria to accurately identify the "at-risk group" for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) development as well as its unknown etiology are fueling the interest in biomarkers aimed at completing clinical approaches for the diagnosis. The Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a diffusible peptide critically involved in neuronal differentiation and survival. GDNF is largely studied in various neurological and neuromuscular diseases, with a great interest in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The recent discovery of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP)-dependent GDNF regulation driving neuro-muscular junctions' formation in APP null transgenic mice, prompts to study whether neurodegeneration relies on loss or gain of APP function and suggests that it could affect peripheral processes. Here, we explored a brand-new aspect of the loss of trophic support in ALS by measuring GDNF, APP, soluble APP fragments and Aβ peptides levels in SOD1WT or SOD1G93A transgenic mouse models of ALS and in human biological fluids [i.e. serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)] from ALS patients and control subjects. Our results show that both GDNF and soluble APP fragments levels are altered at the onset of motor deficits in mice and that their levels are also modified in patient samples. This study indicates that both GDNF and soluble APPα represent possible biomarkers for ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Stanga
- Alzheimer Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Liliana Brambilla
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA SB - IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Bernadette Tasiaux
- Alzheimer Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anh H Dang
- Unité de Neurochimie, Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Adrian Ivanoiu
- Neurology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Noël Octave
- Alzheimer Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri SpA SB - IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Vincent van Pesch
- Unité de Neurochimie, Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Neurology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pascal Kienlen-Campard
- Alzheimer Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Distinct homeostatic modulations stabilize reduced postsynaptic receptivity in response to presynaptic DLK signaling. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1856. [PMID: 29748610 PMCID: PMC5945772 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04270-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapses are constructed with the stability to last a lifetime, yet sufficiently flexible to adapt during injury. Although fundamental pathways that mediate intrinsic responses to neuronal injury have been defined, less is known about how synaptic partners adapt. We have investigated responses in the postsynaptic cell to presynaptic activation of the injury-related Dual Leucine Zipper Kinase pathway at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction. We find that the postsynaptic compartment reduces neurotransmitter receptor levels, thus depressing synaptic strength. Interestingly, this diminished state is stabilized through distinct modulations to two postsynaptic homeostatic signaling systems. First, a retrograde response normally triggered by reduced receptor levels is silenced, preventing a compensatory enhancement in presynaptic neurotransmitter release. However, when global presynaptic release is attenuated, a postsynaptic receptor scaling mechanism persists to adaptively stabilize this diminished neurotransmission state. Thus, the homeostatic set point of synaptic strength is recalibrated to a reduced state as synapses acclimate to injury.
Collapse
|
40
|
Priante G, Quaggio F, Gianesello L, Ceol M, Cristofaro R, Terrin L, Furlan C, Del Prete D, Anglani F. Caspase-independent programmed cell death triggers Ca 2PO 4 deposition in an in vitro model of nephrocalcinosis. Biosci Rep 2018; 38:BSR20171228. [PMID: 29208768 PMCID: PMC5770611 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20171228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Nephrocalcinosis involves the deposition of microscopic crystals in the tubular lumen or interstitium. While the clinical, biochemical, and genetic aspects of the diseases causing nephrocalcinosis have been elucidated, little is known about the cellular events in this calcification process. We previously reported a phenomenon involving the spontaneous formation of Ca2PO4 nodules in primary papillary renal cells from a patient with medullary nephrocalcinosis harboring a rare glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) gene variant. We also demonstrated that cultivating GDNF-silenced human kidney-2 (HK-2) cells in osteogenic conditions for 15 days triggered Ca2PO4 deposits. Given the reportedly close relationship between cell death and pathological calcification, aim of the present study was to investigate whether apoptosis is involved in the calcification of GDNF-silenced HK-2 cells under osteogenic conditions. Silenced and control cells were cultured in standard and osteogenic medium for 1, 5, and 15 days, and any Ca2PO4 deposition was identified by means of von Kossa staining and environmental SEM (ESEM) analyses. Based on the results of annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) analysis, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, the silenced cells in the osteogenic medium showed a significant increase in the percentage of cells in the late phase of apoptosis and an increased Ca2PO4 deposition at 15 days. The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) of BAX and BCL2, and in-cell Western analysis of caspases indicated that the cell death process was independent of caspase-3, -6, -7, and -9 activation, however. Using this model, we provide evidence of caspase-independent cell death triggering the calcification process in GDNF-silenced HK-2 cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Priante
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Federica Quaggio
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Lisa Gianesello
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Monica Ceol
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Rosalba Cristofaro
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Liliana Terrin
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Claudio Furlan
- Center for Laboratory Analyses and Certification Services (CEASC), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Dorella Del Prete
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Franca Anglani
- Department of Medicine - DIMED, Kidney Histomorphology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Clinical Nephrology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Bianchi VE, Locatelli V, Rizzi L. Neurotrophic and Neuroregenerative Effects of GH/IGF1. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18112441. [PMID: 29149058 PMCID: PMC5713408 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18112441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Human neurodegenerative diseases increase progressively with age and present a high social and economic burden. Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are both growth factors exerting trophic effects on neuronal regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). GH and IGF-1 stimulate protein synthesis in neurons, glia, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells, and favor neuronal survival, inhibiting apoptosis. This study aims to evaluate the effect of GH and IGF-1 on neurons, and their possible therapeutic clinical applications on neuron regeneration in human subjects. Methods. In the literature, we searched the clinical trials and followed up studies in humans, which have evaluated the effect of GH/IGF-1 on CNS and PNS. The following keywords have been used: “GH/IGF-1” associated with “neuroregeneration”, “amyotrophic lateral sclerosis”, “Alzheimer disease”, “Parkinson’s disease”, “brain”, and “neuron”. Results. Of the retrieved articles, we found nine articles about the effect of GH in healthy patients who suffered from traumatic brain injury (TBI), and six studies (four using IGF-1 and two GH therapy) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The administration of GH in patients after TBI showed a significantly positive recovery of brain and mental function. Treatment with GH and IGF-1 therapy in ALS produced contradictory results. Conclusions. Although strong findings have shown the positive effects of GH/IGF-1 administration on neuroregeneration in animal models, a very limited number of clinical studies have been conducted in humans. GH/IGF-1 therapy had different effects in patients with TBI, evidencing a high recovery of neurons and clinical outcome, while in ALS patients, the results are contradictory. More complex clinical protocols are necessary to evaluate the effect of GH/IGF-1 efficacy in neurodegenerative diseases. It seems evident that GH and IGF-1 therapy favors the optimal recovery of neurons when a consistent residual activity is still present. Furthermore, the effect of GH/IGF-1 could be mediated by, or be overlapped with that of other hormones, such as estradiol and testosterone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Emanuele Bianchi
- Endocrinology and Metabolism, Clinical Center Stella Maris, Strada Rovereta, 42-47891 Falciano, San Marino.
| | - Vittorio Locatelli
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca via Cadore, 48-20900 Monza Brianza, Italy.
| | - Laura Rizzi
- Molecular Biology, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, via Cadore, 48-20900 Monza Brianza, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Johnson IP, Longone P. Commentary: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Myasthenia Gravis Overlap Syndrome: A Review of Two Cases and the Associated Literature. Front Neurol 2017; 8:356. [PMID: 28798720 PMCID: PMC5529356 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Paul Johnson
- Anatomy and Pathology, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Patrizia Longone
- Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Experimental Neurology, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Castañeda-Cabral JL, Beas-Zarate C, Gudiño-Cabrera G, Ureña-Guerrero ME. Glutamate Neonatal Excitotoxicity Modifies VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 Protein Expression Profiles During Postnatal Development of the Cerebral Cortex and Hippocampus of Male Rats. J Mol Neurosci 2017; 63:17-27. [PMID: 28755050 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-017-0952-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) exerts both neuroprotective and proinflammatory effects in the brain, depending on the VEGF (A-E) and VEGF receptor (VEGFR1-3) types involved. Neonatal monosodium glutamate (MSG) treatment triggers an excitotoxic degenerative process associated with several neuropathological conditions, and VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA) expression is increased at postnatal day (PD) 14 in rat hippocampus (Hp) following the treatment. The aim of this work was to establish the changes in immunoreactivity to VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 proteins induced by neonatal MSG treatment (4 g/kg, subcutaneous, at PD1, 3, 5 and 7) in the cerebral motor cortex (CMC) and Hp. Samples collected from PD2 to PD60 from control and MSG-treated male Wistar rats were assessed by western blotting for each protein. Considering that immunoreactivity measured by western blotting is related to the protein expression level, we found that each protein in each cerebral region has a specific expression profile throughout the studied ages, and all profiles were differentially modified by MSG. Specifically, neonatal MSG treatment significantly increased the immunoreactivity to the following: (1) VEGF-A at PD8-PD10 in the CMC and at PD6-PD8 in the Hp; (2) VEGF-B at PD2, PD6 and PD10 in the CMC and at PD8-PD9 in the Hp; and (3) VEGFR-2 at PD6-PD8 in the CMC and at PD21-PD60 in the Hp. Also, MSG significantly reduced the immunoreactivity to the following: (1) VEGF-B at PD8-PD9 and PD45-PD60 in the CMC; and (2) VEGFR-1 at PD4-PD6 and PD14-PD21 in the CMC and at PD4, PD9-PD10 and PD60 in the Hp. Our results indicate that VEGF-mediated signalling is involved in the excitotoxic process triggered by neonatal MSG treatment and should be further characterized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Luis Castañeda-Cabral
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias (CUCBA), Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Carlos Beas-Zarate
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias (CUCBA), Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. .,Laboratorio de Regeneración y Desarrollo Neural, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Km 15.5 Carretera a Nogales, Camino Ing. Ramón Padilla Sánchez Km 2, 45221, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.
| | - Graciela Gudiño-Cabrera
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias (CUCBA), Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Monica E Ureña-Guerrero
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias (CUCBA), Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. .,Laboratorio de Biología de la Neurotransmisión, Edificio de Posgrado, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, CUCBA, Universidad de Guadalajara, Km 15.5 Carretera a Nogales, Camino Ing. Ramón Padilla Sánchez Km 2, 45221, Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Aggarwal T, Hoeber J, Ivert P, Vasylovska S, Kozlova EN. Boundary Cap Neural Crest Stem Cells Promote Survival of Mutant SOD1 Motor Neurons. Neurotherapeutics 2017; 14:773-783. [PMID: 28070746 PMCID: PMC5509618 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-016-0505-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
ALS is a devastating disease resulting in degeneration of motor neurons (MNs) in the brain and spinal cord. The survival of MNs strongly depends on surrounding glial cells and neurotrophic support from muscles. We previously demonstrated that boundary cap neural crest stem cells (bNCSCs) can give rise to neurons and glial cells in vitro and in vivo and have multiple beneficial effects on co-cultured and co-implanted cells, including neural cells. In this paper, we investigate if bNCSCs may improve survival of MNs harboring a mutant form of human SOD1 (SOD1G93A) in vitro under normal conditions and oxidative stress and in vivo after implantation to the spinal cord. We found that survival of SOD1G93A MNs in vitro was increased in the presence of bNCSCs under normal conditions as well as under oxidative stress. In addition, when SOD1G93A MN precursors were implanted to the spinal cord of adult mice, their survival was increased when they were co-implanted with bNCSCs. These findings show that bNCSCs support survival of SOD1G93A MNs in normal conditions and under oxidative stress in vitro and improve their survival in vivo, suggesting that bNCSCs have a potential for the development of novel stem cell-based therapeutic approaches in ALS models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Aggarwal
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 75124, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jan Hoeber
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 75124, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Patrik Ivert
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 75124, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Svitlana Vasylovska
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 75124, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elena N Kozlova
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University Biomedical Center, Box 593, 75124, Uppsala, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Kim DY, Yu J, Mui RK, Niibori R, Taufique HB, Aslam R, Semple JW, Cordes SP. The tyrosine kinase receptor Tyro3 enhances lifespan and neuropeptide Y (Npy) neuron survival in the mouse anorexia ( anx) mutation. Dis Model Mech 2017; 10:581-595. [PMID: 28093506 PMCID: PMC5451163 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.027433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe appetite and weight loss define the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, and can also accompany the progression of some neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although acute loss of hypothalamic neurons that produce appetite-stimulating neuropeptide Y (Npy) and agouti-related peptide (Agrp) in adult mice or in mice homozygous for the anorexia (anx) mutation causes aphagia, our understanding of the factors that help maintain appetite regulatory circuitry is limited. Here we identify a mutation (C19T) that converts an arginine to a tryptophan (R7W) in the TYRO3 protein tyrosine kinase 3 (Tyro3) gene, which resides within the anx critical interval, as contributing to the severity of anx phenotypes. Our observation that, like Tyro3-/- mice, anx/anx mice exhibit abnormal secondary platelet aggregation suggested that the C19T Tyro3 variant might have functional consequences. Tyro3 is expressed in the hypothalamus and other brain regions affected by the anx mutation, and its mRNA localization appeared abnormal in anx/anx brains by postnatal day 19 (P19). The presence of wild-type Tyro3 transgenes, but not an R7W-Tyro3 transgene, doubled the weight and lifespans of anx/anx mice and near-normal numbers of hypothalamic Npy-expressing neurons were present in Tyro3-transgenic anx/anx mice at P19. Although no differences in R7W-Tyro3 signal sequence function or protein localization were discernible in vitro, distribution of R7W-Tyro3 protein differed from that of Tyro3 protein in the cerebellum of transgenic wild-type mice. Thus, R7W-Tyro3 protein localization deficits are only detectable in vivo Further analyses revealed that the C19T Tyro3 mutation is present in a few other mouse strains, and hence is not the causative anx mutation, but rather an anx modifier. Our work shows that Tyro3 has prosurvival roles in the appetite regulatory circuitry and could also provide useful insights towards the development of interventions targeting detrimental weight loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Y Kim
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Room 876, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's Crescent, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Joanna Yu
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Room 876, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's Crescent, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Ryan K Mui
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Room 876, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's Crescent, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Rieko Niibori
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Room 876, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
| | - Hamza Bin Taufique
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Room 876, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's Crescent, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Rukhsana Aslam
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michaels Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada
- Canadian Blood Services, 67 College Street, Toronto, ON M5G 2M1, Canada
| | - John W Semple
- Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, St. Michaels Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
- Canadian Blood Services, 67 College Street, Toronto, ON M5G 2M1, Canada
| | - Sabine P Cordes
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Room 876, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 1 King's Crescent, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Thomsen GM, Alkaslasi M, Vit JP, Lawless G, Godoy M, Gowing G, Shelest O, Svendsen CN. Systemic injection of AAV9-GDNF provides modest functional improvements in the SOD1 G93A ALS rat but has adverse side effects. Gene Ther 2017; 24:245-252. [PMID: 28276446 PMCID: PMC5404206 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2017.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Injecting proteins into the central nervous system that stimulate neuronal growth can lead to beneficial effects in animal models of disease. In particular, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has shown promise in animal and cell models of Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, systemic AAV9-GDNF was delivered via tail vein injections to young rats to determine whether this could be a safe and functional strategy to treat the SOD1G93A rat model of ALS and, therefore, translated to a therapy for ALS patients. We found that GDNF administration in this manner resulted in modest functional improvement, whereby grip strength was maintained for longer and the onset of forelimb paralysis was delayed compared to non-treated rats. This did not, however, translate into an extension in survival. In addition, ALS rats receiving GDNF exhibited slower weight gain, reduced activity levels and decreased working memory. Collectively, these results confirm that caution should be applied when applying growth factors such as GDNF systemically to multiple tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G M Thomsen
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - M Alkaslasi
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - J-P Vit
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Biobehavioral Research Core, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - G Lawless
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - M Godoy
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - G Gowing
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - O Shelest
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - C N Svendsen
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Guo J, Yang X, Gao L, Zang D. Evaluating the levels of CSF and serum factors in ALS. Brain Behav 2017; 7:e00637. [PMID: 28293476 PMCID: PMC5346523 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to identify CSF and serum factors as biomarkers that may aid in distinguishing ALS patients from control subjects and predicting ALS progression as well as prognosis. METHODS Serum and CSF samples from 105 patients with ALS and 56 control subjects were analyzed for 13 factors using ELISA. The revised ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS-r) was used to evaluate the overall functional status of ALS patients, and we also followed up with ALS patients either by phone or with clinic visits for five years after enrollment in this study. Finally, we examined the correlations between factor levels and various clinical parameters and evaluated the predictive value for prognosis through a multivariate statistic model. RESULTS A total of eight factors were obviously elevated in CSF, and twelve markers were increased in serum. In the correlation analyses, there were trends toward higher bFGF, VEGF, MIP-1α levels in ALS with a longer disease duration and slower disease progression in both CSF and serum. Higher MCP-1 levels were associated with worse disease severity and faster progression, and the IFN-γ levels were positively associated with disease progression in either CSF or serum. Finally, a better prognosis was observed with higher levels bFGF in CSF and VEGF in CSF and serum; conversely, patients with higher levels of IFN-γ in the CSF had shorter overall survival. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that a factor profile of ALS patients is distinct from control subjects and may be useful in clinical practice and therapeutic trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Guo
- Department of Neurology Tianjin First Center Hospital Tianjin Medical University Tianjin China
| | - Xuan Yang
- Department of Neurology Tianjin First Center Hospital Tianjin Medical University Tianjin China
| | - Lina Gao
- Department of Neurology Tianjin First Center Hospital Tianjin Medical University Tianjin China
| | - Dawei Zang
- Department of Neurology Tianjin First Center Hospital Tianjin Medical University Tianjin China
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Copy Number Variations in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Piecing the Mosaic Tiles Together through a Systems Biology Approach. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:1299-1322. [PMID: 28120152 PMCID: PMC5820374 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0393-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating and still untreatable motor neuron disease. Despite the molecular mechanisms underlying ALS pathogenesis that are still far from being understood, several studies have suggested the importance of a genetic contribution in both familial and sporadic forms of the disease. In addition to single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which account for only a limited number of ALS cases, a consistent number of common and rare copy number variations (CNVs) have been associated to ALS. Most of the CNV-based association studies use a traditional candidate-gene approach that is inadequate for uncovering the genetic architectures of complex traits like ALS. The emergent paradigm of “systems biology” may offer a new perspective to better interpret the wide spectrum of CNVs in ALS, enabling the characterization of the complex network of gene products underlying ALS pathogenesis. In this review, we will explore the landscape of CNVs in ALS, putting specific emphasis on the functional impact of common CNV regions and genes consistently associated with increased risk of developing disease. In addition, we will discuss the potential contribution of multiple rare CNVs in ALS pathogenesis, focusing our attention on the complex mechanisms by which these proteins might impact, individually or in combination, the genetic susceptibility of ALS. The comprehensive detection and functional characterization of common and rare candidate risk CNVs in ALS susceptibility may bring new pieces into the intricate mosaic of ALS pathogenesis, providing interesting and important implications for a more precise molecular biomarker-assisted diagnosis and more effective and personalized treatments.
Collapse
|
49
|
Clinical tests of neurotrophic factors for human neurodegenerative diseases, part 2: Where do we stand and where must we go next? Neurobiol Dis 2017; 97:169-178. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
|
50
|
Ackerman HD, Gerhard GS. Bile Acids in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:263. [PMID: 27920719 PMCID: PMC5118426 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bile acids, a structurally related group of molecules derived from cholesterol, have a long history as therapeutic agents in medicine, from treatment for primarily ocular diseases in ancient Chinese medicine to modern day use as approved drugs for certain liver diseases. Despite evidence supporting a neuroprotective role in a diverse spectrum of age-related neurodegenerative disorders, including several small pilot clinical trials, little is known about their molecular mechanisms or their physiological roles in the nervous system. We review the data reported for their use as treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and their underlying molecular basis. While data from cellular and animal models and clinical trials support potential efficacy to treat a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, the relevant bile acids, their origin, and the precise molecular mechanism(s) by which they confer neuroprotection are not known delaying translation to the clinical setting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hayley D Ackerman
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, The Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Glenn S Gerhard
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, The Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University Philadelphia, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|