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Niewiadomska-Cimicka A, Fievet L, Surdyka M, Jesion E, Keime C, Singer E, Eisenmann A, Kalinowska-Poska Z, Nguyen HHP, Fiszer A, Figiel M, Trottier Y. AAV-Mediated CAG-Targeting Selectively Reduces Polyglutamine-Expanded Protein and Attenuates Disease Phenotypes in a Spinocerebellar Ataxia Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4354. [PMID: 38673939 PMCID: PMC11050704 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084354] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ)-encoding CAG repeat expansions represent a common disease-causing mutation responsible for several dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs). PolyQ-expanded SCA proteins are toxic for cerebellar neurons, with Purkinje cells (PCs) being the most vulnerable. RNA interference (RNAi) reagents targeting transcripts with expanded CAG reduce the level of various mutant SCA proteins in an allele-selective manner in vitro and represent promising universal tools for treating multiple CAG/polyQ SCAs. However, it remains unclear whether the therapeutic targeting of CAG expansion can be achieved in vivo and if it can ameliorate cerebellar functions. Here, using a mouse model of SCA7 expressing a mutant Atxn7 allele with 140 CAGs, we examined the efficacy of short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting CAG repeats expressed from PHP.eB adeno-associated virus vectors (AAVs), which were introduced into the brain via intravascular injection. We demonstrated that shRNAs carrying various mismatches with the CAG target sequence reduced the level of polyQ-expanded ATXN7 in the cerebellum, albeit with varying degrees of allele selectivity and safety profile. An shRNA named A4 potently reduced the level of polyQ-expanded ATXN7, with no effect on normal ATXN7 levels and no adverse side effects. Furthermore, A4 shRNA treatment improved a range of motor and behavioral parameters 23 weeks after AAV injection and attenuated the disease burden of PCs by preventing the downregulation of several PC-type-specific genes. Our results show the feasibility of the selective targeting of CAG expansion in the cerebellum using a blood-brain barrier-permeable vector to attenuate the disease phenotype in an SCA mouse model. Our study represents a significant advancement in developing CAG-targeting strategies as a potential therapy for SCA7 and possibly other CAG/polyQ SCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Niewiadomska-Cimicka
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, INSERM U1258, CNRS UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France; (L.F.); (C.K.); (A.E.)
| | - Lorraine Fievet
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, INSERM U1258, CNRS UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France; (L.F.); (C.K.); (A.E.)
| | - Magdalena Surdyka
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland; (M.S.); (E.J.); (Z.K.-P.); (M.F.)
| | - Ewelina Jesion
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland; (M.S.); (E.J.); (Z.K.-P.); (M.F.)
| | - Céline Keime
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, INSERM U1258, CNRS UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France; (L.F.); (C.K.); (A.E.)
| | - Elisabeth Singer
- Centre for Rare Diseases (ZSE), University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany;
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
- Department of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany;
| | - Aurélie Eisenmann
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, INSERM U1258, CNRS UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France; (L.F.); (C.K.); (A.E.)
| | - Zaneta Kalinowska-Poska
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland; (M.S.); (E.J.); (Z.K.-P.); (M.F.)
| | - Hoa Huu Phuc Nguyen
- Department of Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany;
| | - Agnieszka Fiszer
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Maciej Figiel
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland; (M.S.); (E.J.); (Z.K.-P.); (M.F.)
| | - Yvon Trottier
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, INSERM U1258, CNRS UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France; (L.F.); (C.K.); (A.E.)
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Schreurs BG, O'Dell DE, Wang D. The Role of Cerebellar Intrinsic Neuronal Excitability, Synaptic Plasticity, and Perineuronal Nets in Eyeblink Conditioning. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:200. [PMID: 38534469 DOI: 10.3390/biology13030200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Evidence is strong that, in addition to fine motor control, there is an important role for the cerebellum in cognition and emotion. The deep nuclei of the mammalian cerebellum also contain the highest density of perineural nets-mesh-like structures that surround neurons-in the brain, and it appears there may be a connection between these nets and cognitive processes, particularly learning and memory. Here, we review how the cerebellum is involved in eyeblink conditioning-a particularly well-understood form of learning and memory-and focus on the role of perineuronal nets in intrinsic membrane excitability and synaptic plasticity that underlie eyeblink conditioning. We explore the development and role of perineuronal nets and the in vivo and in vitro evidence that manipulations of the perineuronal net in the deep cerebellar nuclei affect eyeblink conditioning. Together, these findings provide evidence of an important role for perineuronal net in learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard G Schreurs
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Deidre E O'Dell
- Department of Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Pennsylvania Western (PennWest) University, California, PA 15419, USA
| | - Desheng Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
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Ge F, Wang Z, Yu W, Yuan X, Cai Q, Wang G, Li X, Xu X, Yang P, Fan Y, Chang J, Guan X. Activating Lobule VI PC TH+-Med Pathway in Cerebellum Blocks the Acquisition of Methamphetamine Conditioned Place Preference in Mice. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1312232024. [PMID: 38331582 PMCID: PMC10941241 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1312-23.2024] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cerebellum has been implicated in drug addiction; however, its underlying cellular populations and neuronal circuitry remain largely unknown. In the current study, we identified a neural pathway from tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive Purkinje cells (PCTH+) in cerebellar lobule VI to calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-positive glutamatergic neurons in the medial cerebellar nucleus (MedCaMKII), forming the lobule VI PCTH+-MedCaMKII pathway in male mice. In naive male mice, inhibition of PCTH+ neurons activated Med neurons. During conditioned place preference (CPP) training, exposure to methamphetamine (METH) inhibited lobule VI PCTH+ neurons while excited MedCaMKII neurons in mice. Silencing MedCaMKII using a tetanus toxin light chain (tettox) suppressed the acquisition of METH CPP in mice but resulted in motor coordination deficits in naive mice. In contrast, activating lobule VI PCTH+ terminals within Med inhibited the activity of Med neurons and subsequently blocked the acquisition of METH CPP in mice without affecting motor coordination, locomotor activity, and sucrose reinforcements in naive mice. Our findings identified a novel lobule VI PCTH+-MedCaMKII pathway within the cerebellum and explored its role in mediating the acquisition of METH-preferred behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Ge
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zilin Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Wen Yu
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiya Yuan
- The first Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Qinglong Cai
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Guanxiong Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xing Xu
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ping Yang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yu Fan
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jiasong Chang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiaowei Guan
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histoembryology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
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Wu BS, Ge YJ, Zhang W, Chen SD, Xiang ST, Zhang YR, Ou YN, Jiang YC, Tan L, Cheng W, Suckling J, Feng JF, Yu JT, Mao Y. Genome-wide association study of cerebellar white matter microstructure and genetic overlap with common brain disorders. Neuroimage 2023; 269:119928. [PMID: 36740028 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cerebellum is recognized as being involved in neurocognitive and motor functions with communication with extra-cerebellar regions relying on the white matter integrity of the cerebellar peduncles. However, the genetic determinants of cerebellar white matter integrity remain largely unknown. METHODS We conducted a genome-wide association analysis of cerebellar white matter microstructure using diffusion tensor imaging data from 25,415 individuals from UK Biobank. The integrity of cerebellar white matter microstructure was measured as fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD). Identification of independent genomic loci, functional annotation, and tissue and cell-type analysis were conducted with FUMA. The linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) was used to calculate genetic correlations between cerebellar white matter microstructure and regional brain volumes and brain-related traits. Furthermore, the conditional/conjunctional false discovery rate (condFDR/conjFDR) framework was employed to identify the shared genetic basis between cerebellar white matter microstructure and common brain disorders. RESULTS We identified 11 genetic loci (P < 8.3 × 10-9) and 86 genes associated with cerebellar white matter microstructure. Further functional enrichment analysis implicated the involvement of GABAergic neurons and cholinergic pathways. Significant polygenetic overlap between cerebellar white matter tracts and their anatomically connected or adjacent brain regions was detected. In addition, we report the overall genetic correlation and specific loci shared between cerebellar white matter microstructural integrity and brain-related traits, including movement, cognitive, psychiatric, and cerebrovascular categories. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, this study represents a step forward in understanding the genetics of cerebellar white matter microstructure and its shared genetic etiology with common brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bang-Sheng Wu
- Department of Neurology and National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Jun Ge
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shi-Dong Chen
- Department of Neurology and National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shi-Tong Xiang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya-Ru Zhang
- Department of Neurology and National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya-Nan Ou
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yu-Chao Jiang
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lan Tan
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wei Cheng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China; Fudan ISTBI-ZJNU Algorithm Centre for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China; Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - John Suckling
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Mapping Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - Jian-Feng Feng
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Computer Science, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Jin-Tai Yu
- Department of Neurology and National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Ying Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery and National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Gupta A, Kallianpur M, Roy DS, Engberg O, Chakrabarty H, Huster D, Maiti S. Different membrane order measurement techniques are not mutually consistent. Biophys J 2023; 122:964-972. [PMID: 36004780 PMCID: PMC10111216 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
"Membrane order" is a term commonly used to describe the elastic and mechanical properties of the lipid bilayer, though its exact meaning is somewhat context- and method dependent. These mechanical properties of the membrane control many cellular functions and are measured using various biophysical techniques. Here, we ask if the results obtained from various techniques are mutually consistent. Such consistency cannot be assumed a priori because these techniques probe different spatial locations and different spatial and temporal scales. We evaluate the change of membrane order induced by serotonin using nine different techniques in lipid bilayers of three different compositions. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter present at 100s of mM concentrations in neurotransmitter vesicles, and therefore its interaction with the lipid bilayer is biologically relevant. Our measurement tools include fluorescence of lipophilic dyes (Nile Red, Laurdan, TMA-DPH, DPH), whose properties are a function of membrane order; atomic force spectroscopy, which provides a measure of the force required to indent the lipid bilayer; 2H solid-state NMR spectroscopy, which measures the molecular order of the lipid acyl chain segments; fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, which provides a measure of the diffusivity of the probe in the membrane; and Raman spectroscopy, where spectral intensity ratios are affected by acyl chain order. We find that different measures often do not correlate with each other and sometimes even yield conflicting results. We conclude that no probe provides a general measure of membrane order and that any inference based on the change of membrane order measured by a particular probe may be unreliable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Gupta
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Colaba, Mumbai, India
| | | | | | - Oskar Engberg
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Daniel Huster
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Colaba, Mumbai, India; Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Sudipta Maiti
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Colaba, Mumbai, India.
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Noseda R. Cerebro-Cerebellar Networks in Migraine Symptoms and Headache. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2022; 3:940923. [PMID: 35910262 PMCID: PMC9326053 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2022.940923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum is associated with the biology of migraine in a variety of ways. Clinically, symptoms such as fatigue, motor weakness, vertigo, dizziness, difficulty concentrating and finding words, nausea, and visual disturbances are common in different types of migraine. The neural basis of these symptoms is complex, not completely known, and likely involve activation of both specific and shared circuits throughout the brain. Posterior circulation stroke, or neurosurgical removal of posterior fossa tumors, as well as anatomical tract tracing in animals, provided the first insights to theorize about cerebellar functions. Nowadays, with the addition of functional imaging, much progress has been done on cerebellar structure and function in health and disease, and, as a consequence, the theories refined. Accordingly, the cerebellum may be useful but not necessary for the execution of motor, sensory or cognitive tasks, but, rather, would participate as an efficiency facilitator of neurologic functions by improving speed and skill in performance of tasks produced by the cerebral area to which it is reciprocally connected. At the subcortical level, critical regions in these processes are the basal ganglia and thalamic nuclei. Altogether, a modulatory role of the cerebellum over multiple brain regions appears compelling, mainly by considering the complexity of its reciprocal connections to common neural networks involved in motor, vestibular, cognitive, affective, sensory, and autonomic processing—all functions affected at different phases and degrees across the migraine spectrum. Despite the many associations between cerebellum and migraine, it is not known whether this structure contributes to migraine initiation, symptoms generation or headache. Specific cerebellar dysfunction via genetically driven excitatory/inhibitory imbalances, oligemia and/or increased risk to white matter lesions has been proposed as a critical contributor to migraine pathogenesis. Therefore, given that neural projections and functions of many brainstem, midbrain and forebrain areas are shared between the cerebellum and migraine trigeminovascular pathways, this review will provide a synopsis on cerebellar structure and function, its role in trigeminal pain, and an updated overview of relevant clinical and preclinical literature on the potential role of cerebellar networks in migraine pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Noseda
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Rodrigo Noseda
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Brandenburg C, Blatt GJ. Region-Specific Alterations of Perineuronal Net Expression in Postmortem Autism Brain Tissue. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:838918. [PMID: 35493330 PMCID: PMC9043328 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.838918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic variance in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often associated with mechanisms that broadly fall into the category of neuroplasticity. Parvalbumin positive neurons and their surrounding perineuronal nets (PNNs) are important factors in critical period plasticity and have both been implicated in ASD. PNNs are found in high density within output structures of the cerebellum and basal ganglia, two regions that are densely connected to many other brain areas and have the potential to participate in the diverse array of symptoms present in an ASD diagnosis. The dentate nucleus (DN) and globus pallidus (GP) were therefore assessed for differences in PNN expression in human postmortem ASD brain tissue. While Purkinje cell loss is a consistent neuropathological finding in ASD, in this cohort, the Purkinje cell targets within the DN did not show differences in number of cells with or without a PNN. However, the density of parvalbumin positive neurons with a PNN were significantly reduced in the GP internus and externus of ASD cases, which was not dependent on seizure status. It is unclear whether these alterations manifest during development or are a consequence of activity-dependent mechanisms that lead to altered network dynamics later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl Brandenburg
- Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Cheryl Brandenburg,
| | - Gene J. Blatt
- Hussman Institute for Autism, Baltimore, MD, United States
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