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Johnston KJA, Cote AC, Hicks E, Johnson J, Huckins LM. Genetically Regulated Gene Expression in the Brain Associated With Chronic Pain: Relationships With Clinical Traits and Potential for Drug Repurposing. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:745-761. [PMID: 37678542 PMCID: PMC10924073 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic pain is a common, poorly understood condition. Genetic studies including genome-wide association studies have identified many relevant variants, which have yet to be translated into full understanding of chronic pain. Transcriptome-wide association studies using transcriptomic imputation methods such as S-PrediXcan can help bridge this genotype-phenotype gap. METHODS We carried out transcriptomic imputation using S-PrediXcan to identify genetically regulated gene expression associated with multisite chronic pain in 13 brain tissues and whole blood. Then, we imputed genetically regulated gene expression for over 31,000 Mount Sinai BioMe participants and performed a phenome-wide association study to investigate clinical relationships in chronic pain-associated gene expression changes. RESULTS We identified 95 experiment-wide significant gene-tissue associations (p < 7.97 × 10-7), including 36 unique genes and an additional 134 gene-tissue associations reaching within-tissue significance, including 53 additional unique genes. Of the 89 unique genes in total, 59 were novel for multisite chronic pain and 18 are established drug targets. Chronic pain genetically regulated gene expression for 10 unique genes was significantly associated with cardiac dysrhythmia, metabolic syndrome, disc disorders/dorsopathies, joint/ligament sprain, anemias, and neurologic disorder phecodes. Phenome-wide association study analyses adjusting for mean pain score showed that associations were not driven by mean pain score. CONCLUSIONS We carried out the largest transcriptomic imputation study of any chronic pain trait to date. Results highlight potential causal genes in chronic pain development and tissue and direction of effect. Several gene results were also drug targets. Phenome-wide association study results showed significant associations for phecodes including cardiac dysrhythmia and metabolic syndrome, thereby indicating potential shared mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keira J A Johnston
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
| | - Alanna C Cote
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genetics, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Emily Hicks
- Pamela Sklar Division of Psychiatric Genetics, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Jessica Johnson
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Laura M Huckins
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
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2
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Sanz P, Rubio T, Garcia-Gimeno MA. Neuroinflammation and Epilepsy: From Pathophysiology to Therapies Based on Repurposing Drugs. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4161. [PMID: 38673747 PMCID: PMC11049926 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084161] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation and epilepsy are different pathologies, but, in some cases, they are so closely related that the activation of one of the pathologies leads to the development of the other. In this work, we discuss the three main cell types involved in neuroinflammation, namely (i) reactive astrocytes, (ii) activated microglia, and infiltration of (iii) peripheral immune cells in the central nervous system. Then, we discuss how neuroinflammation and epilepsy are interconnected and describe the use of different repurposing drugs with anti-inflammatory properties that have been shown to have a beneficial effect in different epilepsy models. This review reinforces the idea that compounds designed to alleviate seizures need to target not only the neuroinflammation caused by reactive astrocytes and microglia but also the interaction of these cells with infiltrated peripheral immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascual Sanz
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Jaime Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Teresa Rubio
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Jaime Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Health Science, Universidad Europea de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Adelaida Garcia-Gimeno
- Department of Biotechnology, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica y del Medio Natural, Universitat Politécnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain;
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3
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Jiang Q, Li Y, Cai S, Shi X, Yang Y, Xing Z, He Z, Wang S, Su Y, Chen M, Chen Z, Shi Z. GLUL stabilizes N-Cadherin by antagonizing β-Catenin to inhibit the progresses of gastric cancer. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:698-711. [PMID: 38322340 PMCID: PMC10840430 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.11.008] [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: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Glutamate-ammonia ligase (GLUL, also known as glutamine synthetase) is a crucial enzyme that catalyzes ammonium and glutamate into glutamine in the ATP-dependent condensation. Although GLUL plays a critical role in multiple cancers, the expression and function of GLUL in gastric cancer remain unclear. In the present study, we have found that the expression level of GLUL was significantly lower in gastric cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues, and correlated with N stage and TNM stage, and low GLUL expression predicted poor survival for gastric cancer patients. Knockdown of GLUL promoted the growth, migration, invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, and vice versa, which was independent of its enzyme activity. Mechanistically, GLUL competed with β-Catenin to bind to N-Cadherin, increased the stability of N-Cadherin and decreased the stability of β-Catenin by alerting their ubiquitination. Furthermore, there were lower N-Cadherin and higher β-Catenin expression levels in gastric cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. GLUL protein expression was correlated with that of N-Cadherin, and could be the independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer. Our findings reveal that GLUL stabilizes N-Cadherin by antagonizing β-Catenin to inhibit the progress of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiwei Jiang
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery & General Surgery, the Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Songwang Cai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xingyuan Shi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Fifth Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510150, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zihao Xing
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zhenjie He
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Shengte Wang
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yubin Su
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Meiwan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 519000, China
| | - Zhesheng Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA
| | - Zhi Shi
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment, MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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4
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Wang P, Wu PF, Wang HJ, Liao F, Wang F, Chen JG. Gut microbiome-derived ammonia modulates stress vulnerability in the host. Nat Metab 2023; 5:1986-2001. [PMID: 37872351 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00909-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia has been long recognized as a metabolic waste product with well-known neurotoxic effects. However, little is known about the beneficial function of endogenous ammonia. Here, we show that gut ammonia links microbe nitrogen metabolism to host stress vulnerability by maintaining brain glutamine availability in male mice. Chronic stress decreases blood ammonia levels by altering gut urease-positive microbiota. A representative urease-producing strain, Streptococcus thermophilus, can reverse depression-like behaviours induced by gut microbiota that was altered by stress, whereas pharmacological inhibition of gut ammonia production increases stress vulnerability. Notably, abnormally low blood ammonia levels limit the brain's availability of glutamine, a key metabolite produced by astrocytes that is required for presynaptic γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) replenishment and confers stress vulnerability through cortical GABAergic dysfunction. Of therapeutic interest, ammonium chloride (NH4Cl), a commonly used expectorant in the clinic, can rescue behavioural abnormalities and GABAergic deficits in mouse models of depression. In sum, ammonia produced by the gut microbiome can help buffer stress in the host, providing a gut-brain signalling basis for emotional behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng-Fei Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, Wuhan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan, China
| | - Hua-Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fang Liao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China.
- The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, Wuhan, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan, China.
| | - Jian-Guo Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China.
- The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, Wuhan, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan, China.
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Cieri MB, Villarreal A, Gomez-Cuautle DD, Mailing I, Ramos AJ. Progression of reactive gliosis and astroglial phenotypic changes following stab wound-induced traumatic brain injury in mice. J Neurochem 2023; 167:183-203. [PMID: 37592830 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Astrocytes are the main homeostatic cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and they have an essential role in preserving neuronal physiology. After brain injury, astrocytes become reactive, and that involves a profound change in the astroglial gene expression program as well as intense cytoskeleton remodeling that has been classically shown by the up-regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a pan-reactive gene over-expressed in reactive astrocytes, independently of the type of injury. Using the stab wound rodent model of penetrating traumatic injury in the cortex, we here studied the reactive astroglial morphology and reactive microgliosis in detail at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days post-injury (dpi). By combining immunohistochemistry, morphometrical parameters, and Sholl analysis, we segmented the astroglial cell population into clusters of reactive astrocytes that were localized in the core, penumbra, and distal regions of the stab wound. Specifically, highly reactive clusters with more complex morphology, increased C3, decreased aquaporin-4 (AQP4), and glutamine synthetase (GS) expression, were enriched at 7 dpi when behavioral alterations, microgliosis, and neuronal alterations in injured mice were most significant. While pro-inflammatory gain of function with peripheral lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration immediately after a stab wound expanded these highly reactive astroglial clusters, the treatment with the NF-κB inhibitor sulfasalazine reduced the abundance of this highly reactive cluster. Increased neuronal loss and exacerbated reactive microgliosis at 7 dpi were associated with the expansion of the highly reactive astroglial cluster. We conclude that highly reactive astrocytes found in stab wound injury, but expanded in pro-inflammatory conditions, are a population of astrocytes that become engaged in pathological remodeling with a pro-inflammatory gain of function and loss of homeostatic capacity. Controlling this astroglial population may be a tempting strategy to reduce neuronal loss and neuroinflammation in the injured brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Belen Cieri
- Laboratorio de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis", UBA-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro Villarreal
- Laboratorio de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis", UBA-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Dante Daniel Gomez-Cuautle
- Laboratorio de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis", UBA-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ingrid Mailing
- Laboratorio de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis", UBA-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alberto Javier Ramos
- Laboratorio de Neuropatología Molecular, Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia "Prof. E. De Robertis", UBA-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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6
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Henning L, Unichenko P, Bedner P, Steinhäuser C, Henneberger C. Overview Article Astrocytes as Initiators of Epilepsy. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:1091-1099. [PMID: 36244037 PMCID: PMC10030460 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03773-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes play a dual role in the brain. On the one hand, they are active signaling partners of neurons and can for instance control synaptic transmission and its plasticity. On the other hand, they fulfill various homeostatic functions such as clearance of glutamate and K+ released from neurons. The latter is for instance important for limiting neuronal excitability. Therefore, an impairment or failure of glutamate and K+ clearance will lead to increased neuronal excitability, which could trigger or aggravate brain diseases such as epilepsy, in which neuronal hyperexcitability plays a role. Experimental data indicate that astrocytes could have such a causal role in epilepsy, but the role of astrocytes as initiators of epilepsy and the relevant mechanisms are under debate. In this overview, we will discuss the potential mechanisms with focus on K+ clearance, glutamate uptake and homoeostasis and related mechanisms, and the evidence for their causative role in epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Henning
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Petr Unichenko
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Peter Bedner
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christian Steinhäuser
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Christian Henneberger
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127, Bonn, Germany.
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7
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Alpha-Pinene Exerts Antiseizure Effects by Preventing Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in the Hippocampus in a Rat Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Induced by Kainate. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:3227-3238. [PMID: 36840843 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03274-2] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
Oxidative stress and apoptosis following seizures play pivotal roles in the consequences of repeated seizures. Beneficial effects of alpha-pinene (APN) have been reported in some experimental models of neurodegenerative diseases. However, its neuroprotective efficacy in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) induced by kainic acid (KA) has remained unexplored. We aimed to explore the possible antiseizure effects of APN pretreatment and underlying molecular mechanisms in a rat model of TLE induced by KA. TLE was induced in male Wistar rats by intracerebroventricular injection of KA. APN at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day was intraperitoneally injected for 2 weeks before induction of TLE. One day after the induction of TLE, behavioral expressions of seizure were recorded and scored using Racine's scale. Furthermore, the hippocampal levels of oxidative stress markers, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), BCL2-associated X protein (BAX), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) protein levels were also assessed. Histopathological assessment in the hippocampus was performed with Nissl staining 5 days following induction of TLE. The results revealed that APN pretreatment alleviated epileptic seizures, diminished oxidative stress indicators, blocked the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway via decreasing BAX and raising BCL2 protein levels in the hippocampus at least partly through inhibiting JNK activity, and decreased neuronal death in the CA3 and hilus regions. These findings reveal that APN pretreatment mitigates KA-induced seizures by blocking oxidative stress and neuronal damage factors. It can be concluded that APN has a potent potential to be considered an antiseizure medication, but it needs further investigation.
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8
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Dahal A, Govindarajan K, Kar S. Administration of Kainic Acid Differentially Alters Astrocyte Markers and Transiently Enhanced Phospho-tau Level in Adult Rat Hippocampus. Neuroscience 2023; 516:27-41. [PMID: 36805001 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.02.010] [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: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Kainic acid (KA), an analogue of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, when administered systemically can trigger seizures and neuronal loss in a manner that mirrors the neuropathology of human mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE), which affects ∼50 million people globally. Evidence suggests that changes in astrocytes which precede neuronal damage play an important role in the degeneration of neurons and/or development of seizures in TLE pathogenesis. Additionally, a role for microtubule associated tau protein, involved in various neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, has also been suggested in the development of seizure and/or neurodegeneration in TLE pathogenesis. At present, possible alterations of different subtypes of astrocytes and their association, if any, with tau protein in TLE remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated alterations of different subtypes of astrocytes and phospho-/cleaved-tau levels in KA-treated rat model of TLE. Our results reveal that levels/expression of various astrocyte markers such as GFAP, vimentin, S100B, Aldh1L1, but not GS, are increased in the hippocampus of KA-treated rats. The levels/expression of both A1(C3+) and A2(S100A10+)-like astrocytes are also increased in KA-treated rats. Concurrently, the total (Tau1 and Tau5) and phospho-tau (AT270 and PHF1) levels are transiently enhanced following KA administration. Furthermore, the level/expression of cleaved-tau, which is apparent in a subset of GFAP-, S100B- and A2-positive astrocytes, are increased in KA-treated rats. These results, taken together, suggest a differential role for various astrocytic subpopulations and tau protein in the development of seizure and/or loss of neurons in KA model of TLE and possibly in human mTLE pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Dahal
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada; Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Karthivashan Govindarajan
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Satyabrata Kar
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada; Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M8, Canada.
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9
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Tringides ML, Zhang Z, Morgan CE, Su CC, Yu EW. A cryo-electron microscopic approach to elucidate protein structures from human brain microsomes. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:6/2/e202201724. [PMID: 36450447 PMCID: PMC9713474 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently developed a "Build and Retrieve" cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) methodology, which is capable of simultaneously producing near-atomic resolution cryo-EM maps for several individual proteins from a heterogeneous, multiprotein sample. Here we report the use of "Build and Retrieve" to define the composition of a raw human brain microsomal lysate. From this sample, we simultaneously identify and solve cryo-EM structures of five different brain enzymes whose functions affect neurotransmitter recycling, iron metabolism, glycolysis, axonal development, energy homeostasis, and retinoic acid biosynthesis. Interestingly, malfunction of these important proteins has been directly linked to several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's diseases. Our work underscores the importance of cryo-EM in facilitating tissue and organ proteomics at the atomic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marios L Tringides
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Zhemin Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Christopher E Morgan
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Chih-Chia Su
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Edward W Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
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10
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Vezzani A, Ravizza T, Bedner P, Aronica E, Steinhäuser C, Boison D. Astrocytes in the initiation and progression of epilepsy. Nat Rev Neurol 2022; 18:707-722. [PMID: 36280704 PMCID: PMC10368155 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-022-00727-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy affects ~65 million people worldwide. First-line treatment options include >20 antiseizure medications, but seizure control is not achieved in approximately one-third of patients. Antiseizure medications act primarily on neurons and can provide symptomatic control of seizures, but do not alter the onset and progression of epilepsy and can cause serious adverse effects. Therefore, medications with new cellular and molecular targets and mechanisms of action are needed. Accumulating evidence indicates that astrocytes are crucial to the pathophysiological mechanisms of epilepsy, raising the possibility that these cells could be novel therapeutic targets. In this Review, we discuss how dysregulation of key astrocyte functions - gliotransmission, cell metabolism and immune function - contribute to the development and progression of hyperexcitability in epilepsy. We consider strategies to mitigate astrocyte dysfunction in each of these areas, and provide an overview of how astrocyte activation states can be monitored in vivo not only to assess their contribution to disease but also to identify markers of disease processes and treatment effects. Improved understanding of the roles of astrocytes in epilepsy has the potential to lead to novel therapies to prevent the initiation and progression of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Vezzani
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy.
| | - Teresa Ravizza
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Peter Bedner
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN), Heemstede, Netherlands
| | - Christian Steinhäuser
- Institute of Cellular Neurosciences, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Detlev Boison
- Department of Neurosurgery, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
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11
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Zhang L, Li S, Tai Z, Yu C, Xu Z. Gut Microbes Regulate Innate Immunity and Epilepsy. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:870197. [PMID: 35720723 PMCID: PMC9198293 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.870197] [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: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is a common chronic brain disease. There are many clinical methods to control epileptic seizures, such as anti-seizure medications (ASMs) or surgical removal of epileptogenic lesions. However, the pathophysiology of epilepsy is still unknown, making it difficult to control or prevent it. The host’s immune system monitors gut microbes, interacts with microbes through pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and NOD-like receptors (NLRs) expressed by innate immune cells, and activates immune responses in the body to kill pathogens and balance the relationship between microbes and host. In addition, inflammatory responses induced by the innate immune system are seen in animal models of epilepsy and temporal lobe epilepsy brain tissue to combat pathogens or injuries. This review summarizes the potential relationship between gut microbes, innate immunity, and epilepsy based on recent research to provide more hints for researchers to explore this field further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linhai Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,The Collaborative Innovation Center of Tissue Damage Repair and Regeneration Medicine of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Zhenzhen Tai
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Changyin Yu
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,The Collaborative Innovation Center of Tissue Damage Repair and Regeneration Medicine of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Zucai Xu
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,The Collaborative Innovation Center of Tissue Damage Repair and Regeneration Medicine of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
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Wang W, Wu Y, Li X, Li L, Sun K, Yan S. Altered plasma glutamate and glutamine levels in patients with drug-resistant and drug-responsive symptomatic focal epilepsy. NEUROSCIENCES (RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA) 2021; 26:315-322. [PMID: 34663703 PMCID: PMC9037768 DOI: 10.17712/nsj.2021.4.20210041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare the levels of plasma glutamate and glutamine in drug-resistant or drug-responsive symptomatic focal epilepsy. Dysfunctional glutamate neurotransmission plays an essential role in epilepsy pathophysiology. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 80 drug-resistant and 42 drug-responsive symptomatic focal epileptic patients and 132 healthy controls from June 2017 to February 2018. Plasma glutamate and glutamine levels were assessed via high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS Patients with drug-resistant symptomatic focal epilepsy had significantly higher plasma glutamate levels than healthy controls, whereas those with the drug-responsive disease had higher plasma glutamine levels than healthy controls. These results indicate that plasma glutamate and glutamine levels can discriminate patients with drug-resistant and drug-responsive symptomatic focal epilepsy from control individuals with the areas under the curve values of 0.931 and 0.72, respectively. CONCLUSION Elevated plasma glutamate levels are associated with drug-resistant symptomatic focal epilepsy and may aid the diagnosis of drug-resistant symptomatic focal epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- From the Department of Pharmacy (Wang, Li, Lin Li, Yan); from the Department of Central Laboratory (Wu); from the Department of Functional Neurosurgery (Sun); from the Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery (Sun), Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, and from the Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center (Wu), Beijing, China.
| | - Yanchuan Wu
- From the Department of Pharmacy (Wang, Li, Lin Li, Yan); from the Department of Central Laboratory (Wu); from the Department of Functional Neurosurgery (Sun); from the Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery (Sun), Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, and from the Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center (Wu), Beijing, China.
| | - Xiaoling Li
- From the Department of Pharmacy (Wang, Li, Lin Li, Yan); from the Department of Central Laboratory (Wu); from the Department of Functional Neurosurgery (Sun); from the Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery (Sun), Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, and from the Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center (Wu), Beijing, China.
| | - Lin Li
- From the Department of Pharmacy (Wang, Li, Lin Li, Yan); from the Department of Central Laboratory (Wu); from the Department of Functional Neurosurgery (Sun); from the Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery (Sun), Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, and from the Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center (Wu), Beijing, China.
| | - Ke Sun
- From the Department of Pharmacy (Wang, Li, Lin Li, Yan); from the Department of Central Laboratory (Wu); from the Department of Functional Neurosurgery (Sun); from the Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery (Sun), Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, and from the Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center (Wu), Beijing, China.
| | - Suying Yan
- From the Department of Pharmacy (Wang, Li, Lin Li, Yan); from the Department of Central Laboratory (Wu); from the Department of Functional Neurosurgery (Sun); from the Beijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery (Sun), Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, and from the Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center (Wu), Beijing, China.
- Address correspondence and reprint request to: Dr. Suying Yan, Department of Pharmacy, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. E-mail: ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7223-6467
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Dietary Supplement Enriched in Antioxidants and Omega-3 Promotes Glutamine Synthesis in Müller Cells: A Key Process against Oxidative Stress in Retina. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13093216. [PMID: 34579093 PMCID: PMC8468588 DOI: 10.3390/nu13093216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
To prevent ocular pathologies, new generation of dietary supplements have been commercially available. They consist of nutritional supplement mixing components known to provide antioxidative properties, such as unsaturated fatty acid, resveratrol or flavonoids. However, to date, only one preclinical study has evaluated the impact of a mixture mainly composed of those components (Nutrof Total®) on the retina and demonstrated that in vivo supplementation prevents the retina from structural and functional injuries induced by light. Considering the crucial role played by the glial Müller cells in the retina, particularly to regulate the glutamate cycle to prevent damage in oxidative stress conditions, we questioned the impact of this ocular supplement on the glutamate metabolic cycle. To this end, various molecular aspects associated with the glutamate/glutamine metabolism cycle in Müller cells were investigated on primary Müller cells cultures incubated, or not, with the commercially mix supplement before being subjected, or not, to oxidative conditions. Our results demonstrated that in vitro supplementation provides guidance of the glutamate/glutamine cycle in favor of glutamine synthesis. These results suggest that glutamine synthesis is a crucial cellular process of retinal protection against oxidative damages and could be a key step in the previous in vivo beneficial results provided by the dietary supplementation.
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