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Tandon S, Aggarwal P, Sarkar S. Polyglutamine disorders: Pathogenesis and potential drug interventions. Life Sci 2024; 344:122562. [PMID: 38492921 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122562] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Polyglutamine/poly(Q) diseases are a group nine hereditary neurodegenerative disorders caused due to abnormally expanded stretches of CAG trinucleotide in functionally distinct genes. All human poly(Q) diseases are characterized by the formation of microscopically discernable poly(Q) positive aggregates, the inclusion bodies. These toxic inclusion bodies are responsible for the impairment of several cellular pathways such as autophagy, transcription, cell death, etc., that culminate in disease manifestation. Although, these diseases remain largely without treatment, extensive research has generated mounting evidences that various events of poly(Q) pathogenesis can be developed as potential drug targets. The present review article briefly discusses the key events of disease pathogenesis, model system-based investigations that support the development of effective therapeutic interventions against pathogenesis of human poly(Q) disorders, and a comprehensive list of pharmacological and bioactive compounds that have been experimentally shown to alleviate poly(Q)-mediated neurotoxicity. Interestingly, due to the common cause of pathogenesis, all poly(Q) diseases share etiology, thus, findings from one disease can be potentially extrapolated to other poly(Q) diseases as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Tandon
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Prerna Aggarwal
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110021, India
| | - Surajit Sarkar
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi 110021, India.
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2
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Burton CL, Longaretti A, Zlatanovic A, Gomes GM, Tonini R. Striatal insights: a cellular and molecular perspective on repetitive behaviors in pathology. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1386715. [PMID: 38601025 PMCID: PMC11004256 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1386715] [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: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Animals often behave repetitively and predictably. These repetitive behaviors can have a component that is learned and ingrained as habits, which can be evolutionarily advantageous as they reduce cognitive load and the expenditure of attentional resources. Repetitive behaviors can also be conscious and deliberate, and may occur in the absence of habit formation, typically when they are a feature of normal development in children, or neuropsychiatric disorders. They can be considered pathological when they interfere with social relationships and daily activities. For instance, people affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, Huntington's disease and Gilles de la Tourette syndrome can display a wide range of symptoms like compulsive, stereotyped and ritualistic behaviors. The striatum nucleus of the basal ganglia is proposed to act as a master regulator of these repetitive behaviors through its circuit connections with sensorimotor, associative, and limbic areas of the cortex. However, the precise mechanisms within the striatum, detailing its compartmental organization, cellular specificity, and the intricacies of its downstream connections, remain an area of active research. In this review, we summarize evidence across multiple scales, including circuit-level, cellular, and molecular dimensions, to elucidate the striatal mechanisms underpinning repetitive behaviors and offer perspectives on the implicated disorders. We consider the close relationship between behavioral output and transcriptional changes, and thereby structural and circuit alterations, including those occurring through epigenetic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Raffaella Tonini
- Neuromodulation of Cortical and Subcortical Circuits Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
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Pressl C, Mätlik K, Kus L, Darnell P, Luo JD, Paul MR, Weiss AR, Liguore W, Carroll TS, Davis DA, McBride J, Heintz N. Selective vulnerability of layer 5a corticostriatal neurons in Huntington's disease. Neuron 2024; 112:924-941.e10. [PMID: 38237588 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.12.009] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The properties of the cell types that are selectively vulnerable in Huntington's disease (HD) cortex, the nature of somatic CAG expansions of mHTT in these cells, and their importance in CNS circuitry have not been delineated. Here, we employed serial fluorescence-activated nuclear sorting (sFANS), deep molecular profiling, and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) of motor-cortex samples from thirteen predominantly early stage, clinically diagnosed HD donors and selected samples from cingulate, visual, insular, and prefrontal cortices to demonstrate loss of layer 5a pyramidal neurons in HD. Extensive mHTT CAG expansions occur in vulnerable layer 5a pyramidal cells, and in Betz cells, layers 6a and 6b neurons that are resilient in HD. Retrograde tracing experiments in macaque brains identify layer 5a neurons as corticostriatal pyramidal cells. We propose that enhanced somatic mHTT CAG expansion and altered synaptic function act together to cause corticostriatal disconnection and selective neuronal vulnerability in HD cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Pressl
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kert Mätlik
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura Kus
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paul Darnell
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ji-Dung Luo
- Bioinformatics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew R Paul
- Bioinformatics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alison R Weiss
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - William Liguore
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Thomas S Carroll
- Bioinformatics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - David A Davis
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jodi McBride
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Nathaniel Heintz
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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Thompson LM, Orr HT. HD and SCA1: Tales from two 30-year journeys since gene discovery. Neuron 2023; 111:3517-3530. [PMID: 37863037 PMCID: PMC10842341 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.09.036] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
One of the more transformative findings in human genetics was the discovery that the expansion of unstable nucleotide repeats underlies a group of inherited neurological diseases. A subset of these unstable repeat neurodegenerative diseases is due to the expansion of a CAG trinucleotide repeat encoding a stretch of glutamines, i.e., the polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat neurodegenerative diseases. Among the CAG/polyQ repeat diseases are Huntington's disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), in which the expansions are within widely expressed proteins. Although both HD and SCA1 are autosomal dominantly inherited, and both typically cause mid- to late-life-onset movement disorders with cognitive decline, they each are characterized by distinct clinical characteristics and predominant sites of neuropathology. Importantly, the respective affected proteins, Huntingtin (HTT, HD) and Ataxin 1 (ATXN1, SCA1), have unique functions and biological properties. Here, we review HD and SCA1 with a focus on how their disease-specific and shared features may provide informative insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie M Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Harry T Orr
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, MN 55455, USA.
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Lammert DB, Bang J, Stafstrom CE. Pearls & Oy-sters: Epilepsy Is a Key Feature of Pediatric-Onset Huntington Disease. Neurology 2023; 101:e2051-e2055. [PMID: 37652706 PMCID: PMC10662976 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000207867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric-onset Huntington disease (PoHD) presents differently from adult-onset disease. Children typically exhibit regression in school performance, psychiatric features such as inattention, and oral motor dysfunction. Unlike adult-onset HD, in which seizures occur at approximately the rate of the general public, at least half of children with HD develop epilepsy, and seizures can be a presenting feature of PoHD. Here we present the case of a 10-year-old boy with a history of language delay, motor regression, oral motor dysfunction, and tremor who presented with a first lifetime seizure. Given a family history of Huntington disease in his father, PoHD was considered, and a pathogenic allele with 88 repeats was confirmed in the child. As symptoms progressed, history alone could not differentiate abnormal movements from seizures. Continuous video electroencephalography helped to demonstrate epileptic myoclonic jerks and guide treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn B Lammert
- From the Department of Neurology (D.B.L., C.E.S.), Division of Pediatric Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Neurology (J.B.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
| | - Jee Bang
- From the Department of Neurology (D.B.L., C.E.S.), Division of Pediatric Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Neurology (J.B.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Carl E Stafstrom
- From the Department of Neurology (D.B.L., C.E.S.), Division of Pediatric Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Department of Neurology (J.B.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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Van de Roovaart HJ, Nguyen N, Veenstra TD. Huntington's Disease Drug Development: A Phase 3 Pipeline Analysis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1513. [PMID: 38004378 PMCID: PMC10674993 DOI: 10.3390/ph16111513] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's Disease (HD) is a severely debilitating neurodegenerative disorder in which sufferers exhibit different combinations of movement disorders, dementia, and behavioral or psychiatric abnormalities. The disorder is a result of a trinucleotide repeat expansion mutation that is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. While there is currently no treatment to alter the course of HD, there are medications that lessen abnormal movement and psychiatric symptoms. ClinicalTrials.gov was searched to identify drugs that are currently in or have completed phase III drug trials for the treatment of HD. The described phase III trials were further limited to interventional studies that were recruiting, active not recruiting, or completed. In addition, all studies must have posted an update within the past year. PubMed was used to gather further information on these interventional studies. Of the nine clinical trials that met these criteria, eight involved the following drugs: metformin, dextromethorphan/quinidine, deutetrabenazine, valbenazine, Cellavita HD, pridopidine, SAGE-718, and RO7234292 (RG6042). Of these drug treatments, four are already FDA approved. This systematic review provides a resource that summarizes the present therapies for treating this devastating condition that are currently in phase III clinical trials in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Timothy D. Veenstra
- School of Pharmacy, Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH 45314, USA; (H.J.V.d.R.); (N.N.)
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Pressl C, Mätlik K, Kus L, Darnell P, Luo JD, Paul MR, Weiss AR, Liguore W, Carroll TS, Davis DA, McBride J, Heintz N. Selective Vulnerability of Layer 5a Corticostriatal Neurons in Huntington's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.24.538096. [PMID: 37162977 PMCID: PMC10168234 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.24.538096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The properties of the cell types that are selectively vulnerable in Huntington's disease (HD) cortex, the nature of somatic CAG expansions of mHTT in these cells, and their importance in CNS circuitry have not been delineated. Here we employed serial fluorescence activated nuclear sorting (sFANS), deep molecular profiling, and single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) to demonstrate that layer 5a pyramidal neurons are vulnerable in primary motor cortex and other cortical areas of HD donors. Extensive mHTT -CAG expansions occur in vulnerable layer 5a pyramidal cells, and in Betz cells, layer 6a, layer 6b neurons that are resilient in HD. Retrograde tracing experiments in macaque brains identify the vulnerable layer 5a neurons as corticostriatal pyramidal cells. We propose that enhanced somatic mHTT -CAG expansion and altered synaptic function act together to cause corticostriatal disconnection and selective neuronal vulnerability in the HD cerebral cortex.
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Sneha NP, Dharshini SAP, Taguchi YH, Gromiha MM. Investigating Neuron Degeneration in Huntington's Disease Using RNA-Seq Based Transcriptome Study. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1801. [PMID: 37761940 PMCID: PMC10530489 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091801] [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: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 09/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused due to a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. The primary symptoms of HD include motor dysfunction such as chorea, dystonia, and involuntary movements. The primary motor cortex (BA4) is the key brain region responsible for executing motor/movement activities. Investigating patient and control samples from the BA4 region will provide a deeper understanding of the genes responsible for neuron degeneration and help to identify potential markers. Previous studies have focused on overall differential gene expression and associated biological functions. In this study, we illustrate the relationship between variants and differentially expressed genes/transcripts. We identified variants and their associated genes along with the quantification of genes and transcripts. We also predicted the effect of variants on various regulatory activities and found that many variants are regulating gene expression. Variants affecting miRNA and its targets are also highlighted in our study. Co-expression network studies revealed the role of novel genes. Function interaction network analysis unveiled the importance of genes involved in vesicle-mediated transport. From this unified approach, we propose that genes expressed in immune cells are crucial for reducing neuron death in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nela Pragathi Sneha
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, Tamil Nadu, India; (N.P.S.); (S.A.P.D.)
| | - S. Akila Parvathy Dharshini
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, Tamil Nadu, India; (N.P.S.); (S.A.P.D.)
| | - Y.-h. Taguchi
- Department of Physics, Chuo University, Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan;
| | - M. Michael Gromiha
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, Tamil Nadu, India; (N.P.S.); (S.A.P.D.)
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Vishweswaraiah S, Yilmaz A, Saiyed N, Khalid A, Koladiya PR, Pan X, Macias S, Robinson AC, Mann D, Green BD, Kerševičiūte I, Gordevičius J, Radhakrishna U, Graham SF. Integrative Analysis Unveils the Correlation of Aminoacyl-tRNA Biosynthesis Metabolites with the Methylation of the SEPSECS Gene in Huntington's Disease Brain Tissue. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1752. [PMID: 37761892 PMCID: PMC10530570 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091752] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of environmental factors on epigenetic changes is well established, and cellular function is determined not only by the genome but also by interacting partners such as metabolites. Given the significant impact of metabolism on disease progression, exploring the interaction between the metabolome and epigenome may offer new insights into Huntington's disease (HD) diagnosis and treatment. Using fourteen post-mortem HD cases and fourteen control subjects, we performed metabolomic profiling of human postmortem brain tissue (striatum and frontal lobe), and we performed DNA methylome profiling using the same frontal lobe tissue. Along with finding several perturbed metabolites and differentially methylated loci, Aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis (adj p-value = 0.0098) was the most significantly perturbed metabolic pathway with which two CpGs of the SEPSECS gene were correlated. This study improves our understanding of molecular biomarker connections and, importantly, increases our knowledge of metabolic alterations driving HD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeetha Vishweswaraiah
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, 3601 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA; (S.V.); (U.R.)
| | - Ali Yilmaz
- Metabolomics Department, Corewell Health Research Institute, 3811 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA; (A.Y.); (N.S.); (A.K.); (P.R.K.)
| | - Nazia Saiyed
- Metabolomics Department, Corewell Health Research Institute, 3811 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA; (A.Y.); (N.S.); (A.K.); (P.R.K.)
| | - Abdullah Khalid
- Metabolomics Department, Corewell Health Research Institute, 3811 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA; (A.Y.); (N.S.); (A.K.); (P.R.K.)
| | - Purvesh R. Koladiya
- Metabolomics Department, Corewell Health Research Institute, 3811 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA; (A.Y.); (N.S.); (A.K.); (P.R.K.)
| | - Xiaobei Pan
- Advanced Asset Technology Centre, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5DL, UK; (X.P.); (S.M.); (B.D.G.)
| | - Shirin Macias
- Advanced Asset Technology Centre, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5DL, UK; (X.P.); (S.M.); (B.D.G.)
| | - Andrew C. Robinson
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Division of Neuroscience, The University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford M6 8HD, UK; (A.C.R.); (D.M.)
| | - David Mann
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Division of Neuroscience, The University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford M6 8HD, UK; (A.C.R.); (D.M.)
| | - Brian D. Green
- Advanced Asset Technology Centre, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5DL, UK; (X.P.); (S.M.); (B.D.G.)
| | - Ieva Kerševičiūte
- VUGENE, LLC, 625 Kenmoor Ave Suite 301 PMB 96578, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA; (I.K.); (J.G.)
| | - Juozas Gordevičius
- VUGENE, LLC, 625 Kenmoor Ave Suite 301 PMB 96578, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, USA; (I.K.); (J.G.)
| | - Uppala Radhakrishna
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, 3601 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA; (S.V.); (U.R.)
| | - Stewart F. Graham
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, 3601 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA; (S.V.); (U.R.)
- Metabolomics Department, Corewell Health Research Institute, 3811 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, USA; (A.Y.); (N.S.); (A.K.); (P.R.K.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oakland University-William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI 48309, USA
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Manivannan A, Foley LM, Hitchens TK, Rattray I, Bates GP, Modo M. Ex vivo 100 μm isotropic diffusion MRI-based tractography of connectivity changes in the end-stage R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease. NEUROPROTECTION 2023; 1:66-83. [PMID: 37745674 PMCID: PMC10516267 DOI: 10.1002/nep3.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Background Huntington's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Brain atrophy, as measured by volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is a downstream consequence of neurodegeneration, but microstructural changes within brain tissue are expected to precede this volumetric decline. The tissue microstructure can be assayed non-invasively using diffusion MRI, which also allows a tractographic analysis of brain connectivity. Methods We here used ex vivo diffusion MRI (11.7 T) to measure microstructural changes in different brain regions of end-stage (14 weeks of age) wild type and R6/2 mice (male and female) modeling Huntington's disease. To probe the microstructure of different brain regions, reduce partial volume effects and measure connectivity between different regions, a 100 μm isotropic voxel resolution was acquired. Results Although fractional anisotropy did not reveal any difference between wild-type controls and R6/2 mice, mean, axial, and radial diffusivity were increased in female R6/2 mice and decreased in male R6/2 mice. Whole brain streamlines were only reduced in male R6/2 mice, but streamline density was increased. Region-to-region tractography indicated reductions in connectivity between the cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus with the striatum, as well as within the basal ganglia (striatum-globus pallidus-subthalamic nucleus-substantia nigra-thalamus). Conclusions Biological sex and left/right hemisphere affected tractographic results, potentially reflecting different stages of disease progression. This proof-of-principle study indicates that diffusion MRI and tractography potentially provide novel biomarkers that connect volumetric changes across different brain regions. In a translation setting, these measurements constitute a novel tool to assess the therapeutic impact of interventions such as neuroprotective agents in transgenic models, as well as patients with Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwinee Manivannan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lesley M. Foley
- Animal Imaging Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - T. Kevin Hitchens
- Animal Imaging Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ivan Rattray
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gillian P. Bates
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michel Modo
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Ferrari C, Capacci E, Bagnoli S, Ingannato A, Sorbi S, Nacmias B. The Huntington's Disease Gene in an Italian Cohort of Patients with Bipolar Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1681. [PMID: 37761821 PMCID: PMC10531383 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091681] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by motor, cognitive and psychiatric manifestations and caused by an expansion of CAG repeats over 35 triplets on the huntingtin (HTT) gene. However, expansions in the range 27-35 repeats (intermediate allele) can be associated with pathological phenotypes. The onset of HD is conventionally defined by the onset of motor symptoms, but psychiatric disturbances can precede the motor phase by up to twenty years. The aims of the present study are to identify HD patients in the pre-motor phase of the disease among patients diagnosed with bipolar disorders and evaluate any differences between bipolar patients carrying the normal HTT allele and patients with the expanded HTT gene. METHODS We assessed the HTT genotype in an Italian cohort of 69 patients who were affected by either type 1 or type 2 bipolar disorder. RESULTS No patient was found to be a carrier of the pathological HTT allele, but 10% of bipolar subjects carried an intermediate allele. Carriers of the intermediate allele were older at the onset of psychiatric symptoms than non-carriers. CONCLUSION The pathological HTT gene was not associated with bipolar disorder, while we found a higher frequency of the intermediate allele among the bipolar population with respect to healthy controls. The identification of this subset of bipolar subjects has implications for the clinical management of patients and their family members and promotes further investigation into possible pathological mechanisms common to both HD and bipolar disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Ferrari
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.C.); (S.B.); (A.I.); (S.S.); (B.N.)
| | - Elena Capacci
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.C.); (S.B.); (A.I.); (S.S.); (B.N.)
| | - Silvia Bagnoli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.C.); (S.B.); (A.I.); (S.S.); (B.N.)
| | - Assunta Ingannato
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.C.); (S.B.); (A.I.); (S.S.); (B.N.)
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.C.); (S.B.); (A.I.); (S.S.); (B.N.)
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Nacmias
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.C.); (S.B.); (A.I.); (S.S.); (B.N.)
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Florence, Italy
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Arancibia-Opazo S, Contreras-Riquelme JS, Sánchez M, Cisternas-Olmedo M, Vidal RL, Martin AJM, Sáez MA. Transcriptional and Histone Acetylation Changes Associated with CRE Elements Expose Key Factors Governing the Regulatory Circuit in the Early Stage of Huntington's Disease Models. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10848. [PMID: 37446028 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a disorder caused by an abnormal expansion of trinucleotide CAG repeats within the huntingtin (Htt) gene. Under normal conditions, the CREB Binding Protein interacts with CREB elements and acetylates Lysine 27 of Histone 3 to direct the expression of several genes. However, mutant Htt causes depletion of CBP, which in turn induces altered histone acetylation patterns and transcriptional deregulation. Here, we have studied a differential expression analysis and H3K27ac variation in 4- and 6-week-old R6/2 mice as a model of juvenile HD. The analysis of differential gene expression and acetylation levels were integrated into Gene Regulatory Networks revealing key regulators involved in the altered transcription cascade. Our results show changes in acetylation and gene expression levels that are related to impaired neuronal development, and key regulators clearly defined in 6-week-old mice are proposed to drive the downstream regulatory cascade in HD. Here, we describe the first approach to determine the relationship among epigenetic changes in the early stages of HD. We determined the existence of changes in pre-symptomatic stages of HD as a starting point for early onset indicators of the progression of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Arancibia-Opazo
- Chromatin, Epigenetic, and Neuroscience Laboratory, Centro de Genómica y Bioinformática, Facultad de Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, Chile
- Programa de Doctorado en Genómica Integrativa, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, Chile
- Laboratorio de Redes Biológicas, Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago 8580704, Chile
| | - J Sebastián Contreras-Riquelme
- Plant Genome Regulation Lab, Centro de Biotecnología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago 8370186, Chile
| | - Mario Sánchez
- Chromatin, Epigenetic, and Neuroscience Laboratory, Centro de Genómica y Bioinformática, Facultad de Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, Chile
| | - Marisol Cisternas-Olmedo
- Centro de Biología Integrativa, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, Chile
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, University of Chile, Santiago 8380455, Chile
- Center for Geroscience, Brain Health, and Metabolism, Santiago 8380453, Chile
| | - René L Vidal
- Centro de Biología Integrativa, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, Chile
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, University of Chile, Santiago 8380455, Chile
- Center for Geroscience, Brain Health, and Metabolism, Santiago 8380453, Chile
- Escuela de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, Chile
| | - Alberto J M Martin
- Laboratorio de Redes Biológicas, Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago 8580704, Chile
- Escuela de Ingeniería, Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago 7500000, Chile
| | - Mauricio A Sáez
- Chromatin, Epigenetic, and Neuroscience Laboratory, Centro de Genómica y Bioinformática, Facultad de Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, Chile
- Centro de Oncología de Precisión, Facultad de Medicina Universidad Mayor, Santiago 7560908, Chile
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Salud de Precisión, Departamento de Procesos Diagnósticos y Evaluación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco 4813302, Chile
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Pancani T, Day M, Tkatch T, Wokosin DL, González-Rodríguez P, Kondapalli J, Xie Z, Chen Y, Beaumont V, Surmeier DJ. Cholinergic deficits selectively boost cortical intratelencephalic control of striatum in male Huntington's disease model mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1398. [PMID: 36914640 PMCID: PMC10011605 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36556-3] [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: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG triplet expansion in huntingtin. Although corticostriatal dysfunction has long been implicated in HD, the determinants and pathway specificity of this pathophysiology are not fully understood. Here, using a male zQ175+/- knock-in mouse model of HD we carry out optogenetic interrogation of intratelencephalic and pyramidal tract synapses with principal striatal spiny projection neurons (SPNs). These studies reveal that the connectivity of intratelencephalic, but not pyramidal tract, neurons with direct and indirect pathway SPNs increased in early symptomatic zQ175+/- HD mice. This enhancement was attributable to reduced pre-synaptic inhibitory control of intratelencephalic terminals by striatal cholinergic interneurons. Lowering mutant huntingtin selectively in striatal cholinergic interneurons with a virally-delivered zinc finger repressor protein normalized striatal acetylcholine release and intratelencephalic functional connectivity, revealing a node in the network underlying corticostriatal pathophysiology in a HD mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristano Pancani
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60613, USA
| | - Michelle Day
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60613, USA
| | - Tatiana Tkatch
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60613, USA
| | - David L Wokosin
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60613, USA
| | - Patricia González-Rodríguez
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60613, USA.,Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Jyothisri Kondapalli
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60613, USA
| | - Zhong Xie
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60613, USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60613, USA
| | - Vahri Beaumont
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, Suite 700, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90045, USA
| | - D James Surmeier
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60613, USA.
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Tassan Mazzocco M, Murtaj V, Martins D, Schellino R, Coliva A, Toninelli E, Vercelli A, Turkheimer F, Belloli S, Moresco RM. Exploring the neuroprotective effects of montelukast on brain inflammation and metabolism in a rat model of quinolinic acid-induced striatal neurotoxicity. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:34. [PMID: 36782185 PMCID: PMC9923670 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02714-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One intrastriatal administration of quinolinic acid (QA) in rats induces a lesion with features resembling those observed in Huntington's disease. Our aim is to evaluate the effects of the cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast (MLK), which exhibited neuroprotection in different preclinical models of neurodegeneration, on QA-induced neuroinflammation and regional metabolic functions. METHODS The right and left striatum of Sprague Dawley and athymic nude rats were injected with QA and vehicle (VEH), respectively. Starting from the day before QA injection, animals were treated with 1 or 10 mg/kg of MLK or VEH for 14 days. At 14 and 30 days post-lesion, animals were monitored with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) using [18F]-VC701, a translocator protein (TSPO)-specific radiotracer. Striatal neuroinflammatory response was measured post-mortem in rats treated with 1 mg/kg of MLK by immunofluorescence. Rats treated with 10 mg/kg of MLK also underwent a [18F]-FDG PET study at baseline and 4 months after lesion. [18F]-FDG PET data were then used to assess metabolic connectivity between brain regions by applying a covariance analysis method. RESULTS MLK treatment was not able to reduce the QA-induced increase in striatal TSPO PET signal and MRI lesion volume, where we only detected a trend towards reduction in animals treated with 10 mg/kg of MLK. Post-mortem immunofluorescence analysis revealed that MLK attenuated the increase in striatal markers of astrogliosis and activated microglia in the lesioned hemisphere. We also found a significant increase in a marker of anti-inflammatory activity (MannR) and a trend towards reduction in a marker of pro-inflammatory activity (iNOS) in the lesioned striatum of MLK-compared to VEH-treated rats. [18F]-FDG uptake was significantly reduced in the striatum and ipsilesional cortical regions of VEH-treated rats at 4 months after lesion. MLK administration preserved glucose metabolism in these cortical regions, but not in the striatum. Finally, MLK was able to counteract changes in metabolic connectivity and measures of network topology induced by QA, in both lesioned and non-lesioned hemispheres. CONCLUSIONS Overall, MLK treatment produced a significant neuroprotective effect by reducing neuroinflammation assessed by immunofluorescence and preserving regional brain metabolism and metabolic connectivity from QA-induced neurotoxicity in cortical and subcortical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Tassan Mazzocco
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Medicine and Surgery Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Nuclear Medicine Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Murtaj
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Medicine and Surgery Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
- Nuclear Medicine Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Daniel Martins
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Roberta Schellino
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini" and Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Angela Coliva
- Nuclear Medicine Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Toninelli
- Nuclear Medicine Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vercelli
- Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini" and Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Federico Turkheimer
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Sara Belloli
- Nuclear Medicine Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), CNR, Milan, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Moresco
- Nuclear Medicine Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute (IRCCS), Milan, Italy.
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), CNR, Milan, Italy.
- Technomed Foundation and Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.
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15
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Han S, Bang S, Kim HN, Choi N, Kim SH. Modulating and monitoring the functionality of corticostriatal circuits using an electrostimulable microfluidic device. Mol Brain 2023; 16:13. [PMID: 36670465 PMCID: PMC9863144 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-023-01007-z] [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: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system is organized into different neural circuits, each with particular functions and properties. Studying neural circuits is essential to understanding brain function and neuronal diseases. Microfluidic systems are widely used for reconstructing and studying neural circuits but still need improvement to allow modulation and monitoring of the physiological properties of circuits. In this study, we constructed an improved microfluidic device that supports the electrical modulation of neural circuits and proper reassembly. We demonstrated that our microfluidic device provides a platform for electrically modulating and monitoring the physiological function of neural circuits with genetic indicators for synaptic functionality in corticostriatal (CStr) circuits. In particular, our microfluidic device measures activity-driven Ca2+ dynamics using Ca2+ indicators (synaptophysin-GCaMP6f and Fluo5F-AM), as well as activity-driven synaptic transmission and retrieval using vGlut-pHluorin. Overall, our findings indicate that the improved microfluidic platform described here is an invaluable tool for studying the physiological properties of specific neural circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukmin Han
- grid.289247.20000 0001 2171 7818Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447 Republic of Korea
| | - Seokyoung Bang
- grid.35541.360000000121053345Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Nam Kim
- grid.35541.360000000121053345Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Nakwon Choi
- grid.35541.360000000121053345Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Hyun Kim
- grid.289247.20000 0001 2171 7818Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447 Republic of Korea ,grid.289247.20000 0001 2171 7818Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447 Republic of Korea ,grid.289247.20000 0001 2171 7818Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447 South Korea
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16
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Bruno F, Camuso S, Capuozzo E, Canterini S. The Antifungal Antibiotic Filipin as a Diagnostic Tool of Cholesterol Alterations in Lysosomal Storage Diseases and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12010122. [PMID: 36671323 PMCID: PMC9855188 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12010122] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholesterol is the most considerable member of a family of polycyclic compounds understood as sterols, and represents an amphipathic molecule, such as phospholipids, with the polar hydroxyl group located in position 3 and the rest of the molecule is completely hydrophobic. In cells, it is usually present as free, unesterified cholesterol, or as esterified cholesterol, in which the hydroxyl group binds to a carboxylic acid and thus generates an apolar molecule. Filipin is a naturally fluorescent antibiotic that exerts a primary antifungal effect with low antibacterial activity, interfering with the sterol stabilization of the phospholipid layers and favoring membrane leakage. This polyene macrolide antibiotic does not bind to esterified sterols, but only to non-esterified cholesterol, and it is commonly used as a marker to label and quantify free cholesterol in cells and tissues. Several lines of evidence have indicated that filipin staining could be a good diagnostic tool for the cholesterol alterations present in neurodegenerative (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease and Huntington Disease) and lysosomal storage diseases (e.g., Niemann Pick type C Disease and GM1 gangliosidosis). Here, we have discussed the uses and applications of this fluorescent molecule in lipid storage diseases and neurodegenerative disorders, exploring not only the diagnostic strength of filipin staining, but also its limitations, which over the years have led to the development of new diagnostic tools to combine with filipin approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Bruno
- Regional Neurogenetic Centre (CRN), Department of Primary Care, ASP Catanzaro, 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy
- Association for Neurogenetic Research (ARN), 88046 Lamezia Terme, Italy
| | - Serena Camuso
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Capuozzo
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (E.C.); (S.C.)
| | - Sonia Canterini
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (E.C.); (S.C.)
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17
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Kip E, Parr-Brownlie LC. Healthy lifestyles and wellbeing reduce neuroinflammation and prevent neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1092537. [PMID: 36875655 PMCID: PMC9975355 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1092537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the mid-20th century, Western societies have considered productivity and economic outcomes are more important than focusing on people's health and wellbeing. This focus has created lifestyles with high stress levels, associated with overconsumption of unhealthy foods and little exercise, which negatively affect people's lives, and subsequently lead to the development of pathologies, including neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Prioritizing a healthy lifestyle to maintain wellbeing may slow the onset or reduce the severity of pathologies. It is a win-win for everyone; for societies and for individuals. A balanced lifestyle is increasingly being adopted globally, with many doctors encouraging meditation and prescribing non-pharmaceutical interventions to treat depression. In psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, the inflammatory response system of the brain (neuroinflammation) is activated. Many risks factors are now known to be linked to neuroinflammation such as stress, pollution, and a high saturated and trans fat diet. On the other hand, many studies have linked healthy habits and anti-inflammatory products with lower levels of neuroinflammation and a reduced risk of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Sharing risk and protective factors is critical so that individuals can make informed choices that promote positive aging throughout their lifespan. Most strategies to manage neurodegenerative diseases are palliative because neurodegeneration has been progressing silently for decades before symptoms appear. Here, we focus on preventing neurodegenerative diseases by adopting an integrated "healthy" lifestyle approach. This review summarizes the role of neuroinflammation on risk and protective factors of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Kip
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Louise C Parr-Brownlie
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, Brain Research New Zealand, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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McBride SD, Ober J, Dylak J, Schneider W, Morton AJ. Oculomotor Abnormalities in a Sheep (Ovis aries) Model of Huntington's Disease: Towards a Biomarker for Assessing Therapeutic Efficacy. J Huntingtons Dis 2023; 12:189-200. [PMID: 37718849 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-230584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by a loss of control of motor function that causes the presence of abnormal eye movements at early stages. OBJECTIVE To determine if, compared to normal sheep, HD sheep have abnormal eye movements. METHODS We measured eye movements in a transgenic sheep (Ovis aries) model of HD using a purpose-built, head-mounted sheep oculometer. This allows us to measure saccades without the need for either behavioral training or head fixation. At the age of testing (6 years old), the HD sheep were pre-manifest. We used 21 sheep (11 HD, 10 normal). RESULTS We found small but significant differences in eye movements between normal (control) and HD sheep during vestibular ocular reflex (VOR)- and vestibular post-rotational nystagmus (PRN)-based tests. CONCLUSIONS Two measures were identified that could distinguish normal from HD sheep; the number of PRN oscillations when tested in the dark and the gain (eye movement to head movement ratio) during the VOR when tested in the light. To our knowledge, this is the first study in which eye movements have been quantified in sheep. It demonstrates the feasibility of measuring and quantifying human-relevant eye movements in this species. The HD-relevant deficits show that even in 'premanifest' sheep there are measurable signs of neurological dysfunction that are characterized by loss of control of eye movements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jan Ober
- Ober Consulting Sp. z o.o., Poznań, Poland
| | | | | | - A Jennifer Morton
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK
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19
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Alhassen W, Alhassen S, Chen J, Monfared RV, Alachkar A. Cilia in the Striatum Mediate Timing-Dependent Functions. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:545-565. [PMID: 36322337 PMCID: PMC9849326 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03095-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Almost all brain cells contain cilia, antennae-like microtubule-based organelles. Yet, the significance of cilia, once considered vestigial organelles, in the higher-order brain functions is unknown. Cilia act as a hub that senses and transduces environmental sensory stimuli to generate an appropriate cellular response. Similarly, the striatum, a brain structure enriched in cilia, functions as a hub that receives and integrates various types of environmental information to drive appropriate motor response. To understand cilia's role in the striatum functions, we used loxP/Cre technology to ablate cilia from the dorsal striatum of male mice and monitored the behavioral consequences. Our results revealed an essential role for striatal cilia in the acquisition and brief storage of information, including learning new motor skills, but not in long-term consolidation of information or maintaining habitual/learned motor skills. A fundamental aspect of all disrupted functions was the "time perception/judgment deficit." Furthermore, the observed behavioral deficits form a cluster pertaining to clinical manifestations overlapping across psychiatric disorders that involve the striatum functions and are known to exhibit timing deficits. Thus, striatal cilia may act as a calibrator of the timing functions of the basal ganglia-cortical circuit by maintaining proper timing perception. Our findings suggest that dysfunctional cilia may contribute to the pathophysiology of neuro-psychiatric disorders, as related to deficits in timing perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wedad Alhassen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California-Irvine, 356A Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625 USA
| | - Sammy Alhassen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California-Irvine, 356A Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625 USA
| | - Jiaqi Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California-Irvine, 356A Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625 USA
| | - Roudabeh Vakil Monfared
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California-Irvine, 356A Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625 USA
| | - Amal Alachkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California-Irvine, 356A Med Surge II, Irvine, CA 92697-4625 USA ,UC Irvine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697 USA ,Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697 USA
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20
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Nollet M, Franks NP, Wisden W. Understanding Sleep Regulation in Normal and Pathological Conditions, and Why It Matters. J Huntingtons Dis 2023; 12:105-119. [PMID: 37302038 PMCID: PMC10473105 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-230564] [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] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sleep occupies a peculiar place in our lives and in science, being both eminently familiar and profoundly enigmatic. Historically, philosophers, scientists and artists questioned the meaning and purpose of sleep. If Shakespeare's verses from MacBeth depicting "Sleep that soothes away all our worries" and "relieves the weary laborer and heals hurt minds" perfectly epitomize the alleviating benefits of sleep, it is only during the last two decades that the growing understanding of the sophisticated sleep regulatory mechanisms allows us to glimpse putative biological functions of sleep. Sleep control brings into play various brain-wide processes occurring at the molecular, cellular, circuit, and system levels, some of them overlapping with a number of disease-signaling pathways. Pathogenic processes, including mood disorders (e.g., major depression) and neurodegenerative illnesses such Huntington's or Alzheimer's diseases, can therefore affect sleep-modulating networks which disrupt the sleep-wake architecture, whereas sleep disturbances may also trigger various brain disorders. In this review, we describe the mechanisms underlying sleep regulation and the main hypotheses drawn about its functions. Comprehending sleep physiological orchestration and functions could ultimately help deliver better treatments for people living with neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Nollet
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Nicholas P. Franks
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - William Wisden
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
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21
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Wiprich MT, Altenhofen S, Gusso D, Vasques RDR, Zanandrea R, Kist LW, Bogo MR, Bonan CD. Modulation of adenosine signaling reverses 3-nitropropionic acid-induced bradykinesia and memory impairment in adult zebrafish. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2022; 119:110602. [PMID: 35843370 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by motor dysfunction, psychiatric disturbance, and cognitive decline. In the early stage of HD, occurs a decrease in dopamine D2 receptors and adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR), while in the late stage also occurs a decrease in dopamine D1 receptors and adenosine A1 receptors (A1R). Adenosine exhibits neuromodulatory and neuroprotective effects in the brain and is involved in motor control and memory function. 3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NPA), a toxin derived from plants and fungi, may reproduce HD behavioral phenotypes and biochemical characteristics. This study investigated the effects of acute exposure to CPA (A1R agonist), CGS 21680 (A2AR agonist), caffeine (non-selective of A1R and A2AR antagonist), ZM 241385 (A2AR antagonist), DPCPX (A1R antagonist), dipyridamole (inhibitor of nucleoside transporters) and EHNA (inhibitor of adenosine deaminase) in an HD pharmacological model induced by 3-NPA in adult zebrafish. CPA, CGS 21680, caffeine, ZM 241385, DPCPX, dipyridamole, and EHNA were acutely administered via i.p. in zebrafish after 3-NPA (at dose 60 mg/kg) chronic treatment. Caffeine and ZM 241385 reversed the bradykinesia induced by 3-NPA, while CGS 21680 potentiated the bradykinesia caused by 3-NPA. Moreover, CPA, caffeine, ZM 241385, DPCPX, dipyridamole, and EHNA reversed the 3-NPA-induced memory impairment. Together, these data support the hypothesis that A2AR antagonists have an essential role in modulating locomotor function, whereas the activation of A1R and blockade of A2AR and A1R and modulation of adenosine levels may reduce the memory impairment, which could be a potential pharmacological strategy against late-stage symptoms HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Talita Wiprich
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Cerebrais, Excitotoxicidade e Neuroproteção, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Stefani Altenhofen
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Cerebrais, Excitotoxicidade e Neuroproteção, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Darlan Gusso
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Cerebrais, Excitotoxicidade e Neuroproteção, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Rafaela da Rosa Vasques
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Zanandrea
- Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Luiza Wilges Kist
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Genômica e Celular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Mauricio Reis Bogo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Biologia Genômica e Celular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Carla Denise Bonan
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Cerebrais, Excitotoxicidade e Neuroproteção, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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22
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Humbert S, Barnat M. Huntington's disease and brain development. C R Biol 2022; 345:77-90. [PMID: 36847466 DOI: 10.5802/crbiol.93] [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: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a rare inherited neurological disorder that generally manifests in mild-adulthood. The disease is characterized by the dysfunction and the degeneration of specific brain structures leading progressively to psychiatric, cognitive and motor disorders. The disease is caused by a mutation in the gene coding for huntingtin and, although it appears in adulthood, embryos carry the mutated gene from their development in utero. Studies based on mouse models and human stem cells have reported altered developmental mechanisms in disease conditions. However, does the mutation affect development in humans? Focusing on the early stages of brain development in human fetuses carrying the HD mutation, we have identified abnormalities in the development of the neocortex, the structure that ensure higher cerebral functions. Altogether, these studies suggests that developmental defects could contribute to the onset symptoms in adults, changing the perspective on disease and thus the health care of patients.
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23
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Effect of Renal Ischemia Reperfusion on Brain Neuroinflammation. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10112993. [PMID: 36428560 PMCID: PMC9687457 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112993] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an inflammatory sequence. It can lead to distant organ injury, including damage to the central nervous system (CNS), mediated by increased circulating cytokines and other inflammatory mediators. It can also lead to increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. However, the effect of AKI on the inflammatory response of the brain has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we observed the effect of AKI on BBB permeability, microglia and astrocyte activation, and neuronal toxicity in the brain. The striatum and ventral midbrain, known to control overall movement, secrete the neurotransmitter dopamine. The activation of microglia and astrocytes present in this area causes neuro-degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The activation of astrocytes and microglia in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, which are responsible for important functions, including memory, learning, concentration, and language, can trigger nerve cell apoptosis. The activation of astrocytes and microglia at this site is also involved in the inflammatory response associated with the accumulation of beta-amyloid. In the situation of kidney ischemia reperfusion (IR)-induced AKI, activation of microglia and astrocytes were observed in the striatum, ventral midbrain, hippocampus, and cortex. However, neuronal cell death was not observed until 48 h.
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24
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Dickson E, Dwijesha AS, Andersson N, Lundh S, Björkqvist M, Petersén Å, Soylu-Kucharz R. Microarray profiling of hypothalamic gene expression changes in Huntington’s disease mouse models. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1027269. [DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1027269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural changes and neuropathology in the hypothalamus have been suggested to contribute to the non-motor manifestations of Huntington’s disease (HD), a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. In this study, we investigated whether hypothalamic HTT expression causes transcriptional changes. Hypothalamic RNA was isolated from two different HD mouse models and their littermate controls; BACHD mice with ubiquitous expression of full-length mutant HTT (mHTT) and wild-type mice with targeted hypothalamic overexpression of either wild-type HTT (wtHTT) or mHTT fragments. The mHTT and wtHTT groups showed the highest number of differentially expressed genes compared to the BACHD mouse model. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) with leading-edge analysis showed that suppressed sterol- and cholesterol metabolism were shared between hypothalamic wtHTT and mHTT overexpression. Most distinctive for mHTT overexpression was the suppression of neuroendocrine networks, in which qRT-PCR validation confirmed significant downregulation of neuropeptides with roles in feeding behavior; hypocretin neuropeptide precursor (Hcrt), tachykinin receptor 3 (Tacr3), cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (Cart) and catecholamine-related biological processes; dopa decarboxylase (Ddc), histidine decarboxylase (Hdc), tyrosine hydroxylase (Th), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (Vip). In BACHD mice, few hypothalamic genes were differentially expressed compared to age-matched WT controls. However, GSEA indicated an enrichment of inflammatory- and gonadotropin-related processes at 10 months. In conclusion, we show that both wtHTT and mHTT overexpression change hypothalamic transcriptome profile, specifically mHTT, altering neuroendocrine circuits. In contrast, the ubiquitous expression of full-length mHTT in the BACHD hypothalamus moderately affects the transcriptomic profile.
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25
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Barker MS, Cosentino SA, Fremont R, Devanand DP, Huey ED. Towards Defining the Neuroanatomical Basis of Late-Onset Psychiatric Symptoms. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2022; 35:751-762. [PMID: 35380884 DOI: 10.1177/08919887221090213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Psychiatric symptoms, including changes in emotional processing, are a common feature of many neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia with Lewy Bodies, frontotemporal dementia, and Huntington's disease. However, the neuroanatomical basis of emotional symptoms is not well defined; this stands in contrast to the relatively well-understood neuroanatomical correlates of cognitive and motor symptoms in neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, psychiatric diagnostic categories, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), may have limited applicability in patients with late-onset psychiatric symptoms in the context of neurodegenerative disorders. In this clinical review, we suggest that early-onset and late-onset psychiatric symptoms have distinct etiologies, and that late-onset changes in emotional processing are likely underpinned by neurodegenerative disease. Furthermore, we suggest that an improved understanding of the neuroanatomical correlates of emotional changes in neurodegenerative disease may facilitate diagnosis and future treatment development. Finally, we propose a novel clinical approach, in a preliminary attempt to incorporate late-onset emotional symptoms alongside cognitive and motor symptoms into a clinical "algorithm," with a focus on the neuroanatomy implicated when particular combinations of emotional, cognitive, and motor features are present. We anticipate that this clinical approach will assist with the diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders, and our proposed schema represents a move towards integrating neurologic and psychiatric classification systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan S Barker
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, 21611Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephanie A Cosentino
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, 21611Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, 21611Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 12294Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Fremont
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 12294Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Davangere P Devanand
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 12294Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Edward D Huey
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, 21611Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 12294Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 12294Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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26
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Pérot JB, Célestine M, Palombo M, Dhenain M, Humbert S, Brouillet E, Flament J. Longitudinal multimodal MRI characterization of a knock-in mouse model of Huntington's disease reveals early gray and white matter alterations. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:3581-3596. [PMID: 35147158 PMCID: PMC9616570 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenesis of the inherited neurodegenerative disorder Huntington's disease (HD) is progressive with a long presymptomatic phase in which subtle changes occur up to 15 years before the onset of symptoms. Thus, there is a need for early, functional biomarker to better understand disease progression and to evaluate treatment efficacy far from onset. Recent studies have shown that white matter may be affected early in mutant HTT gene carriers. A previous study performed on 12 months old Ki140CAG mice showed reduced glutamate level measured by Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer of glutamate (gluCEST), especially in the corpus callosum. In this study, we scanned longitudinally Ki140CAG mice with structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, gluCEST and magnetization transfer imaging, in order to assess white matter integrity over the life of this mouse model characterized by slow progression of symptoms. Our results show early defects of diffusion properties in the anterior part of the corpus callosum at 5 months of age, preceding gluCEST defects in the same region at 8 and 12 months that spread to adjacent regions. At 12 months, frontal and piriform cortices showed reduced gluCEST, as well as the pallidum. MT imaging showed reduced signal in the septum at 12 months. Cortical and striatal atrophy then appear at 18 months. Vulnerability of the striatum and motor cortex, combined with alterations of anterior corpus callosum, seems to point out the potential role of white matter in the brain dysfunction that characterizes HD and the pertinence of gluCEST and DTI as biomarkers in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Pérot
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRCen), Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Fontenay -aux-Roses 92260, France
| | - Marina Célestine
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRCen), Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Fontenay -aux-Roses 92260, France
| | - Marco Palombo
- Department of Computer Science, Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Marc Dhenain
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRCen), Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Fontenay -aux-Roses 92260, France
| | - Sandrine Humbert
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, Grenoble 38000 , France
| | - Emmanuel Brouillet
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRCen), Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Fontenay -aux-Roses 92260, France
| | - Julien Flament
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRCen), Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Fontenay -aux-Roses 92260, France
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27
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Voelkl K, Schulz-Trieglaff EK, Klein R, Dudanova I. Distinct histological alterations of cortical interneuron types in mouse models of Huntington’s disease. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1022251. [PMID: 36225731 PMCID: PMC9549412 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1022251] [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: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a debilitating hereditary motor disorder caused by an expansion of the CAG triplet repeat in the Huntingtin gene. HD causes neurodegeneration particularly in the basal ganglia and neocortex. In the cortex, glutamatergic pyramidal neurons are known to be severely affected by the disease, but the involvement of GABAergic interneurons remains unclear. Here, we use a combination of immunostaining and genetic tracing to investigate histological changes in three major cortical interneuron types — parvalbumin (PV), somatostatin (SST), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) interneurons — in the R6/2 and zQ175DN mouse models of HD. In R6/2 mice, we find a selective reduction in SST and VIP, but not PV-positive cells. However, genetic labeling reveals unchanged cell numbers for all the interneuron types, pointing to molecular marker loss in the absence of cell death. We also observe a reduction in cell body size for all three interneuron populations. Furthermore, we demonstrate progressive accumulation of mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) inclusion bodies in interneurons, which occurs faster in SST and VIP compared to PV cells. In contrast to the R6/2 model, heterozygous zQ175DN knock-in HD mice do not show any significant histological changes in cortical cell types at the age of 12 months, apart from the presence of mHTT inclusions, which are abundant in pyramidal neurons and rare in interneurons. Taken together, our findings point to differential molecular changes in cortical interneuron types of HD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Voelkl
- Department of Molecules–Signaling–Development, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
- Molecular Neurodegeneration Group, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Rüdiger Klein
- Department of Molecules–Signaling–Development, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Irina Dudanova
- Department of Molecules–Signaling–Development, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
- Molecular Neurodegeneration Group, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Martinsried, Germany
- Center for Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- *Correspondence: Irina Dudanova,
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28
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Blumenstock S, Dudanova I. Balancing neuronal circuits. Science 2022; 377:1383-1384. [PMID: 36137024 DOI: 10.1126/science.ade3116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Correcting synaptic defects in development delays Huntington's disease symptoms in older mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Blumenstock
- Molecular Neurodegeneration Group, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, i.f., Martinsried, Germany.,Department of Molecules-Signaling-Development, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, i.f., Martinsried, Germany.,Department of Neurobiology, Center for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Irina Dudanova
- Molecular Neurodegeneration Group, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, i.f., Martinsried, Germany.,Department of Molecules-Signaling-Development, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, i.f., Martinsried, Germany.,Center for Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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29
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An opinion on the debatable function of brain resident immune protein, T-cell receptor beta subunit in the central nervous system. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2022; 13:235-242. [PMID: 36590097 PMCID: PMC9795316 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years scientific research has established that the nervous and immune systems have shared molecular signaling components. Proteins native to immune cells, which are also found in the brain, have neuronal functions in the nervous system where they affect synaptic plasticity, axonal regeneration, neurogenesis, and neurotransmission. Certain native immune molecules like major histocompatibility complex I (MHC-I), paired immunoglobulin receptor B (PirB), toll-like receptor (TLR), cluster of differentiation-3 zeta (CD3ζ), CD4 co-receptor, and T-cell receptor beta (TCR-β) expression in neurons have been extensively documented. In this review, we provide our opinion and discussed the possible roles of T-cell receptor beta subunits in modulating the function of neurons in the central nervous system. Based on the previous findings of Syken and Shatz., 2003; Nishiyori et al., 2004; Rodriguez et., 1993 and Komal et., 2014; we discuss whether restrictive expression of TCR-β subunits in selected brain regions could be involved in the pathology of neurological disorders and whether their aberrant enhancement in expression may be considered as a suitable biomarker for aging or neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's disease (HD).
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30
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Orth L, Meeh J, Gur RC, Neuner I, Sarkheil P. Frontostriatal circuitry as a target for fMRI-based neurofeedback interventions: A systematic review. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:933718. [PMID: 36092647 PMCID: PMC9449529 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.933718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated frontostriatal circuitries are viewed as a common target for the treatment of aberrant behaviors in various psychiatric and neurological disorders. Accordingly, experimental neurofeedback paradigms have been applied to modify the frontostriatal circuitry. The human frontostriatal circuitry is topographically and functionally organized into the “limbic,” the “associative,” and the “motor” subsystems underlying a variety of affective, cognitive, and motor functions. We conducted a systematic review of the literature regarding functional magnetic resonance imaging-based neurofeedback studies that targeted brain activations within the frontostriatal circuitry. Seventy-nine published studies were included in our survey. We assessed the efficacy of these studies in terms of imaging findings of neurofeedback intervention as well as behavioral and clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we evaluated whether the neurofeedback targets of the studies could be assigned to the identifiable frontostriatal subsystems. The majority of studies that targeted frontostriatal circuitry functions focused on the anterior cingulate cortex, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and the supplementary motor area. Only a few studies (n = 14) targeted the connectivity of the frontostriatal regions. However, post-hoc analyses of connectivity changes were reported in more cases (n = 32). Neurofeedback has been frequently used to modify brain activations within the frontostriatal circuitry. Given the regulatory mechanisms within the closed loop of the frontostriatal circuitry, the connectivity-based neurofeedback paradigms should be primarily considered for modifications of this system. The anatomical and functional organization of the frontostriatal system needs to be considered in decisions pertaining to the neurofeedback targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Orth
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Linda Orth
| | - Johanna Meeh
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Ruben C. Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Irene Neuner
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Pegah Sarkheil
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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31
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Phillips MCL, McManus EJ, Brinkhuis M, Romero-Ferrando B. Time-Restricted Ketogenic Diet in Huntington's Disease: A Case Study. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:931636. [PMID: 35967897 PMCID: PMC9372583 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.931636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disorder with limited treatment options. Substantial evidence implicates mitochondria dysfunction in brain and skeletal muscle in the pathogenesis of HD. Metabolic strategies, such as fasting and ketogenic diets, theoretically enhance brain and muscle metabolism and mitochondria function, which may improve the clinical symptoms of HD. We report the case of a 41-year-old man with progressive, deteriorating HD who pursued a time-restricted ketogenic diet (TRKD) for 48 weeks. Improvements were measured in his motor symptoms (52% improvement from baseline), activities of daily living (28% improvement), composite Unified HD Rating Scale (cUHDRS) score (20% improvement), HD-related behavior problems (apathy, disorientation, anger, and irritability improved by 50–100%), and mood-related quality of life (25% improvement). Cognition did not improve. Weight remained stable and there were no significant adverse effects. This case study is unique in that a patient with progressive, deteriorating HD was managed with a TRKD, with subsequent improvements in his motor symptoms, activities of daily living, cUHDRS score, most major HD-related behavior problems, and quality of life. Our patient remains dedicated to his TRKD, which continues to provide benefit for him and his family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C. L. Phillips
- Department of Neurology, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand
- *Correspondence: Matthew C. L. Phillips
| | | | - Martijn Brinkhuis
- Mental Health Services for Older People, Tauranga Hospital, Tauranga, New Zealand
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32
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Gordon EM, Laumann TO, Marek S, Newbold DJ, Hampton JM, Seider NA, Montez DF, Nielsen AM, Van AN, Zheng A, Miller R, Siegel JS, Kay BP, Snyder AZ, Greene DJ, Schlaggar BL, Petersen SE, Nelson SM, Dosenbach NUF. Individualized Functional Subnetworks Connect Human Striatum and Frontal Cortex. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:2868-2884. [PMID: 34718460 PMCID: PMC9247416 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The striatum and cerebral cortex are interconnected via multiple recurrent loops that play a major role in many neuropsychiatric conditions. Primate corticostriatal connections can be precisely mapped using invasive tract-tracing. However, noninvasive human research has not mapped these connections with anatomical precision, limited in part by the practice of averaging neuroimaging data across individuals. Here we utilized highly sampled resting-state functional connectivity MRI for individual-specific precision functional mapping (PFM) of corticostriatal connections. We identified ten individual-specific subnetworks linking cortex-predominately frontal cortex-to striatum, most of which converged with nonhuman primate tract-tracing work. These included separable connections between nucleus accumbens core/shell and orbitofrontal/medial frontal gyrus; between anterior striatum and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex; between dorsal caudate and lateral prefrontal cortex; and between middle/posterior putamen and supplementary motor/primary motor cortex. Two subnetworks that did not converge with nonhuman primates were connected to cortical regions associated with human language function. Thus, precision subnetworks identify detailed, individual-specific, neurobiologically plausible corticostriatal connectivity that includes human-specific language networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan M Gordon
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Timothy O Laumann
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Scott Marek
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Dillan J Newbold
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jacqueline M Hampton
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Nicole A Seider
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - David F Montez
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ashley M Nielsen
- Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Andrew N Van
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Annie Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ryland Miller
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Joshua S Siegel
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Benjamin P Kay
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Abraham Z Snyder
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Deanna J Greene
- Department of Cognitive Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Bradley L Schlaggar
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Steven E Petersen
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Steven M Nelson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
- Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Nico U F Dosenbach
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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33
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Tang XY, Wu S, Wang D, Chu C, Hong Y, Tao M, Hu H, Xu M, Guo X, Liu Y. Human organoids in basic research and clinical applications. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:168. [PMID: 35610212 PMCID: PMC9127490 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01024-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) miniature structures cultured in vitro produced from either human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) or adult stem cells (AdSCs) derived from healthy individuals or patients that recapitulate the cellular heterogeneity, structure, and functions of human organs. The advent of human 3D organoid systems is now possible to allow remarkably detailed observation of stem cell morphogens, maintenance and differentiation resemble primary tissues, enhancing the potential to study both human physiology and developmental stage. As they are similar to their original organs and carry human genetic information, organoids derived from patient hold great promise for biomedical research and preclinical drug testing and is currently used for personalized, regenerative medicine, gene repair and transplantation therapy. In recent decades, researchers have succeeded in generating various types of organoids mimicking in vivo organs. Herein, we provide an update on current in vitro differentiation technologies of brain, retinal, kidney, liver, lung, gastrointestinal, cardiac, vascularized and multi-lineage organoids, discuss the differences between PSC- and AdSC-derived organoids, summarize the potential applications of stem cell-derived organoids systems in the laboratory and clinic, and outline the current challenges for the application of organoids, which would deepen the understanding of mechanisms of human development and enhance further utility of organoids in basic research and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yan Tang
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine; Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shanshan Wu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine; Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Da Wang
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine; Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chu Chu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine; Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuan Hong
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine; Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengdan Tao
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine; Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Hu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine; Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Xu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine; Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xing Guo
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yan Liu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, School of Pharmacy; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine; Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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34
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Alpaugh M, Masnata M, de Rus Jacquet A, Lepinay E, Denis HL, Saint-Pierre M, Davies P, Planel E, Cicchetti F. Passive immunization against phosphorylated tau improves features of Huntington's disease pathology. Mol Ther 2022; 30:1500-1522. [PMID: 35051614 PMCID: PMC9077324 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is classically described as a neurodegenerative disorder of monogenic aetiology. The disease is characterized by an abnormal polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin gene, which drives the toxicity of the mutated form of the protein. However, accumulation of the microtubule-associated protein tau, which is involved in a number of neurological disorders, has also been observed in patients with Huntington's disease. In order to unravel the contribution of tau hyperphosphorylation to hallmark features of Huntington's disease, we administered weekly intraperitoneal injections of the anti-tau pS202 CP13 monoclonal antibody to zQ175 mice and characterized the resulting behavioral and biochemical changes. After 12 weeks of treatment, motor impairments, cognitive performance and general health were improved in zQ175 mice along with a significant reduction in hippocampal pS202 tau levels. Despite the lack of effect of CP13 on neuronal markers associated with Huntington's disease pathology, tau-targeting enzymes and gliosis, CP13 was shown to directly impact mutant huntingtin aggregation such that brain levels of amyloid fibrils and huntingtin oligomers were decreased, while larger huntingtin protein aggregates were increased. Investigation of CP13 treatment of Huntington's disease patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) revealed a reduction in pS202 levels in differentiated cortical neurons and a rescue of neurite length. Collectively, these findings suggest that attenuating tau pathology could mitigate behavioral and molecular hallmarks associated with Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Alpaugh
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Maria Masnata
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Aurelie de Rus Jacquet
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Eva Lepinay
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Hélèna L Denis
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Martine Saint-Pierre
- Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Peter Davies
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Emmanuel Planel
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada
| | - Francesca Cicchetti
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Axe Neurosciences, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; Département de Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1K 0A6, Canada.
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Manjari S, Maity S, Poornima R, Yau SY, Vaishali K, Stellwagen D, Komal P. Restorative action of vitamin D3 on motor dysfunction through enhancement of neurotrophins and antioxidant expression in the striatum. Neuroscience 2022; 492:67-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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36
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Storey CL, Williams RSB, Fisher PR, Annesley SJ. Dictyostelium discoideum: A Model System for Neurological Disorders. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030463. [PMID: 35159273 PMCID: PMC8833889 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The incidence of neurological disorders is increasing due to population growth and extended life expectancy. Despite advances in the understanding of these disorders, curative strategies for treatment have not yet eventuated. In part, this is due to the complexities of the disorders and a lack of identification of their specific underlying pathologies. Dictyostelium discoideum has provided a useful, simple model to aid in unraveling the complex pathological characteristics of neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses and lissencephaly. In addition, D. discoideum has proven to be an innovative model for pharmaceutical research in the neurological field. Scope of review: This review describes the contributions of D. discoideum in the field of neurological research. The continued exploration of proteins implicated in neurological disorders in D. discoideum may elucidate their pathological roles and fast-track curative therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Louise Storey
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3086, Australia; (C.L.S.); (P.R.F.)
| | - Robin Simon Brooke Williams
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK;
| | - Paul Robert Fisher
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3086, Australia; (C.L.S.); (P.R.F.)
| | - Sarah Jane Annesley
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, Bundoora 3086, Australia; (C.L.S.); (P.R.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-394-791-412
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37
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Motor cortex plasticity response to acute cardiorespiratory exercise and intermittent theta-burst stimulation is attenuated in premanifest and early Huntington’s disease. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1104. [PMID: 35058470 PMCID: PMC8776762 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-04378-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractHuntington’s disease (HD) mouse models suggest that cardiovascular exercise may enhance neuroplasticity and delay disease signs, however, the effects of exercise on neuroplasticity in people with HD are unknown. Using a repeated-measures experimental design, we compared the effects of a single bout of high-intensity exercise, moderate-intensity exercise, or rest, on motor cortex synaptic plasticity in 14 HD CAG-expanded participants (9 premanifest and 5 early manifest) and 20 CAG-healthy control participants, using transcranial magnetic stimulation. Measures of cortico-motor excitability, short-interval intracortical inhibition and intracortical facilitation were obtained before and after a 20-min bout of either high-intensity interval exercise, moderate-intensity continuous exercise, or rest, and again after intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS). HD participants showed less inhibition at baseline compared to controls. Whereas the control group showed increased excitability and facilitation following high-intensity exercise and iTBS, the HD group showed no differences in neuroplasticity responses following either exercise intensity or rest, with follow-up Bayesian analyses providing consistent evidence that these effects were absent in the HD group. These findings indicate that exercise-induced synaptic plasticity mechanisms in response to acute exercise may be attenuated in HD, and demonstrate the need for future research to further investigate exercise and plasticity mechanisms in people with HD.
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38
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Villegas L, Nørremølle A, Freude K, Vilhardt F. Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Oxidases Are Everywhere in Brain Disease, but Not in Huntington's Disease? Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:736734. [PMID: 34803655 PMCID: PMC8602359 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.736734] [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: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neuronal loss and tissue atrophy mainly in the striatum and cortex. In the early stages of the disease, impairment of neuronal function, synaptic dysfunction and white matter loss precedes neuronal death itself. Relative to other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, where the effects of either microglia or NADPH oxidases (NOXs) are recognized as important contributors to disease pathogenesis and progression, there is a pronounced lack of information in HD. This information void contrasts with evidence from human HD patients where blood monocytes and microglia are activated well before HD clinical symptoms (PET scans), and the clear signs of oxidative stress and inflammation in post mortem HD brain. Habitually, NOX activity and oxidative stress in the central nervous system (CNS) are equated with microglia, but research of the last two decades has carved out important roles for NOX enzyme function in neurons. Here, we will convey recent information about the function of NOX enzymes in neurons, and contemplate on putative roles of neuronal NOX in HD. We will focus on NOX-produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) as redox signaling molecules in/among neurons, and the specific roles of NOXs in important processes such as neurogenesis and lineage specification, neurite outgrowth and growth cone dynamics, and synaptic plasticity where NMDAR-dependent signaling, and long-term depression/potentiation are redox-regulated phenomena. HD animal models and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) studies have made it clear that the very same physiological processes are also affected in HD, and we will speculate on possible roles for NOX in the pathogenesis and development of disease. Finally, we also take into account the limited information on microglia in HD and relate this to any contribution of NOX enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisana Villegas
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Nørremølle
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristine Freude
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Frederik Vilhardt
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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C57BL/6 Background Attenuates mHTT Toxicity in the Striatum of YAC128 Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312664. [PMID: 34884469 PMCID: PMC8657915 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312664] [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: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse models are frequently used to study Huntington’s disease (HD). The onset and severity of neuronal and behavioral pathologies vary greatly between HD mouse models, which results from different huntingtin expression levels and different CAG repeat length. HD pathology appears to depend also on the strain background of mouse models. Thus, behavioral deficits of HD mice are more severe in the FVB than in the C57BL/6 background. Alterations in medium spiny neuron (MSN) morphology and function have been well documented in young YAC128 mice in the FVB background. Here, we tested the relevance of strain background for mutant huntingtin (mHTT) toxicity on the cellular level by investigating HD pathologies in YAC128 mice in the C57BL/6 background (YAC128/BL6). Morphology, spine density, synapse function and membrane properties were not or only subtly altered in MSNs of 12-month-old YAC128/BL6 mice. Despite the mild cellular phenotype, YAC128/BL6 mice showed deficits in motor performance. More pronounced alterations in MSN function were found in the HdhQ150 mouse model in the C57BL/6 background (HdhQ150/BL6). Consistent with the differences in HD pathology, the number of inclusion bodies was considerably lower in YAC128/BL6 mice than HdhQ150/BL6 mice. This study highlights the relevance of strain background for mHTT toxicity in HD mouse models.
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40
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Kim C, Yousefian-Jazi A, Choi SH, Chang I, Lee J, Ryu H. Non-Cell Autonomous and Epigenetic Mechanisms of Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:12499. [PMID: 34830381 PMCID: PMC8617801 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeat located in the exon 1 of Huntingtin (HTT) gene in human chromosome 4. The HTT protein is ubiquitously expressed in the brain. Specifically, mutant HTT (mHTT) protein-mediated toxicity leads to a dramatic degeneration of the striatum among many regions of the brain. HD symptoms exhibit a major involuntary movement followed by cognitive and psychiatric dysfunctions. In this review, we address the conventional role of wild type HTT (wtHTT) and how mHTT protein disrupts the function of medium spiny neurons (MSNs). We also discuss how mHTT modulates epigenetic modifications and transcriptional pathways in MSNs. In addition, we define how non-cell autonomous pathways lead to damage and death of MSNs under HD pathological conditions. Lastly, we overview therapeutic approaches for HD. Together, understanding of precise neuropathological mechanisms of HD may improve therapeutic approaches to treat the onset and progression of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaebin Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Korea; (C.K.); (A.Y.-J.); (S.-H.C.)
| | - Ali Yousefian-Jazi
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Korea; (C.K.); (A.Y.-J.); (S.-H.C.)
| | - Seung-Hye Choi
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Korea; (C.K.); (A.Y.-J.); (S.-H.C.)
| | - Inyoung Chang
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA;
| | - Junghee Lee
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA
| | - Hoon Ryu
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Korea; (C.K.); (A.Y.-J.); (S.-H.C.)
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41
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Hagemann TL, Powers B, Lin NH, Mohamed AF, Dague KL, Hannah SC, Bachmann G, Mazur C, Rigo F, Olsen AL, Feany MB, Perng MD, Berman RF, Messing A. Antisense therapy in a rat model of Alexander disease reverses GFAP pathology, white matter deficits, and motor impairment. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:eabg4711. [PMID: 34788075 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abg4711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy L Hagemann
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | | | - Ni-Hsuan Lin
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Life Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Ahmed F Mohamed
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Katerina L Dague
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Seth C Hannah
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | | | - Curt Mazur
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Abby L Olsen
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Mel B Feany
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ming-Der Perng
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Life Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Robert F Berman
- Department of Neurological Surgery and M.I.N.D Institute, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Albee Messing
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA.,Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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42
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Tran HT, Lucas MS, Ishikawa T, Shahmoradian SH, Padeste C. A Compartmentalized Neuronal Cell-Culture Platform Compatible With Cryo-Fixation by High-Pressure Freezing for Ultrastructural Imaging. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:726763. [PMID: 34566569 PMCID: PMC8455873 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.726763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The human brain contains a wide array of billions of neurons and interconnections, which are often simplified for analysis in vitro using compartmentalized microfluidic devices for neuronal cell culturing, to better understand neuronal development and disease. However, such devices are traditionally incompatible for high-pressure freezing and high-resolution nanoscale imaging and analysis of their sub-cellular processes by methods including electron microscopy. Here we develop a novel compartmentalized neuronal co-culture platform allowing reconstruction of neuronal networks with high variable spatial control, which is uniquely compatible for high-pressure freezing. This cryo-fixation method is well-established to enable high-fidelity preservation of the reconstructed neuronal networks and their sub-cellular processes in a near-native vitreous state without requiring chemical fixatives. To direct the outgrowth of neurites originating from two distinct groups of neurons growing in the two different compartments, polymer microstructures akin to microchannels are fabricated atop of sapphire disks. Two populations of neurons expressing either enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or mCherry were grown in either compartment, facilitating the analysis of the specific interactions between the two separate groups of cells. Neuronally differentiated PC12 cells, murine hippocampal and striatal neurons were successfully used in this context. The design of this device permits direct observation of entire neuritic processes within microchannels by optical microscopy with high spatial and temporal resolution, prior to processing for high-pressure freezing and electron microscopy. Following freeze substitution, we demonstrate that it is possible to process the neuronal networks for ultrastructural imaging by electron microscopy. Several key features of the embedded neuronal networks, including mitochondria, synaptic vesicles, axonal terminals, microtubules, with well-preserved ultrastructures were observed at high resolution using focused ion beam - scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and serial sectioning - transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These results demonstrate the compatibility of the platform with optical microscopy, high-pressure freezing and electron microscopy. The platform can be extended to neuronal models of brain disease or development in future studies, enabling the investigation of subcellular processes at the nanoscale within two distinct groups of neurons in a functional neuronal pathway, as well as pharmacological testing and drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung Tri Tran
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Miriam S. Lucas
- Scientific Center for Optical and Electron Microscopy ScopeM, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Takashi Ishikawa
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
| | | | - Celestino Padeste
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
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43
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Shobe JL, Donzis EJ, Lee K, Chopra S, Masmanidis SC, Cepeda C, Levine MS. Early impairment of thalamocortical circuit activity and coherence in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 157:105447. [PMID: 34274461 PMCID: PMC8591983 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric disturbances. There is no known cure for HD, but its progressive nature allows for early therapeutic intervention. Currently, much of the research has focused on the striatum, however, there is evidence suggesting that disruption of thalamocortical circuits could underlie some of the early symptoms of HD. Loss of both cortical pyramidal neurons (CPNs) and thalamic neurons occurs in HD patients, and cognitive, somatosensory, and attention deficits precede motor abnormalities. However, the role of thalamocortical pathways in HD progression has been understudied. Here, we measured single unit activity and local field potentials (LFPs) from electrode arrays implanted in the thalamus and primary motor cortex of 4-5 month-old male and female Q175 mice. We assessed neuronal activity under baseline conditions as well as during presentation of rewards delivered via actuation of an audible solenoid valve. HD mice showed a significantly delayed licking response to the reward stimulus. At the same time, neuronal activation to the reward was delayed in thalamic neurons, CPNs and fast-spiking cortical interneurons (FSIs) of HD mice. In addition, thalamocortical coherence increased at lower frequencies in HD relative to wildtype mice. Together, these data provide evidence that impaired cortical and thalamic responses to reward stimuli, and impaired thalamocortical coherence, may play an important early role in motor, cognitive, and learning deficits in HD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin L Shobe
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Elissa J Donzis
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kwang Lee
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea
| | - Samiksha Chopra
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sotiris C Masmanidis
- Department of Neurobiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carlos Cepeda
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael S Levine
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by motor dysfunction, behavioral/psychiatric symptoms, and cognitive impairment. Because of the lack of availability of curative or disease modifying treatments, much of clinical practice in HD care to date has focused on symptomatic treatment. Recent work has created optimism surrounding possible emerging disease modifying therapeutics. HD is a developing therapeutic field with diverse and promising emerging therapies. AREAS COVERED A PubMed literature review was completed to discover pertinent reviews and analyses. ClinicalTrials.gov was referenced to find updated information about ongoing and planned trials. Lastly, because of the rapidly evolving nature of HD treatments, drug manufacturer websites and press releases were reviewed to provide current information surrounding recently reported trial results. EXPERT OPINION Recent setbacks involving antisense oligonucleotide research should not diminish enthusiasm and hope for the many other novel therapies currently being pursued. We remain optimistic about the many promising emerging therapies for HD, and we expect that growing knowledge about the pathophysiology of the underlying disease and constant advances in biotechnology will lead to therapies that have a meaningful impact in the lives of patients, their families, and those who care for them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Wiggins
- NYU Langone's Fresco Institute for Parkinson's & Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, United States of America
| | - Andrew Feigin
- NYU Langone's Fresco Institute for Parkinson's & Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, United States of America
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Wiprich MT, Bonan CD. Purinergic Signaling in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Huntington's Disease. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:657338. [PMID: 34276284 PMCID: PMC8281137 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.657338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a devastating, progressive, and fatal neurodegenerative disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. This condition is characterized by motor dysfunction (chorea in the early stage, followed by bradykinesia, dystonia, and motor incoordination in the late stage), psychiatric disturbance, and cognitive decline. The neuropathological hallmark of HD is the pronounced neuronal loss in the striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen). The striatum is related to the movement control, flexibility, motivation, and learning and the purinergic signaling has an important role in the control of these events. Purinergic signaling involves the actions of purine nucleotides and nucleosides through the activation of P2 and P1 receptors, respectively. Extracellular nucleotide and nucleoside-metabolizing enzymes control the levels of these messengers, modulating the purinergic signaling. The striatum has a high expression of adenosine A2A receptors, which are involved in the neurodegeneration observed in HD. The P2X7 and P2Y2 receptors may also play a role in the pathophysiology of HD. Interestingly, nucleotide and nucleoside levels may be altered in HD animal models and humans with HD. This review presents several studies describing the relationship between purinergic signaling and HD, as well as the use of purinoceptors as pharmacological targets and biomarkers for this neurodegenerative disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Talita Wiprich
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Carla Denise Bonan
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Cerebrais, Excitotoxicidade e Neuroproteção, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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46
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Desai R, Fritz NE, Muratori L, Hausdorff JM, Busse M, Quinn L. Evaluation of gait initiation using inertial sensors in Huntington's Disease: insights into anticipatory postural adjustments and cognitive interference. Gait Posture 2021; 87:117-122. [PMID: 33906090 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the contribution of anticipatory postural adjustments (APA) to walking ability in individuals with Huntington's disease (HD) may provide insight into motor planning and the functional consequences of HD-specific cortical-basal ganglia pathway dysfunctions. RESEARCH QUESTION How do inertial measurement unit (IMU)-derived APAs and first step parameters differ between individuals with HD and non-HD peers under no load and cognitive load conditions, and what is their relationship to gait speed and clinical measures? METHODS 33 individuals with manifest HD and 15 non-HD peers wore three Opal APDM IMUs during a 14-meter walk under no load and cognitive load conditions. APA acceleration amplitudes, APA durations, first step range of motion (ROM), and first step durations were compared, along with their relationship to gait speed. RESULTS Individuals with HD had greater APA acceleration amplitudes, smaller first step ROM and longer first step durations compared to non-HD peers. No differences in APA durations were present between groups in both conditions. Cognitive loading influenced first step ROM but not other APA parameters. Mediolateral APA acceleration amplitudes were a significant predictor of gait speed and were related to disease-specific measures. SIGNIFICANCE Larger acceleration amplitudes and smaller first step ROMs of greater duration, accompanied by the preservation of APA durations, reveal a discrepancy in movement scaling in HD. Additionally, the mediolateral component of the APA is likely a rate-limiting factor that drives a compensatory response in gait initiation. Further research is needed to explore the neural correlates of HD-related movement scaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radhika Desai
- Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Nora E Fritz
- Wayne State University, Program in Physical Therapy, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - Lisa Muratori
- Physical Therapy Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
| | - Jeffrey M Hausdorff
- Center for the Study of Movement, Cognition, and Mobility, Neurological Institute,Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Physical Therapy and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Monica Busse
- Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
| | - Lori Quinn
- Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
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Borgini M, Mondal P, Liu R, Wipf P. Chemical modulation of Kv7 potassium channels. RSC Med Chem 2021; 12:483-537. [PMID: 34046626 PMCID: PMC8128042 DOI: 10.1039/d0md00328j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The rising interest in Kv7 modulators originates from their ability to evoke fundamental electrophysiological perturbations in a tissue-specific manner. A large number of therapeutic applications are, in part, based on the clinical experience with two broad-spectrum Kv7 agonists, flupirtine and retigabine. Since precise molecular structures of human Kv7 channel subtypes in closed and open states have only very recently started to emerge, computational studies have traditionally been used to analyze binding modes and direct the development of more potent and selective Kv7 modulators with improved safety profiles. Herein, the synthetic and medicinal chemistry of small molecule modulators and the representative biological properties are summarized. Furthermore, new therapeutic applications supported by in vitro and in vivo assay data are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Borgini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15260 USA
| | - Pravat Mondal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15260 USA
| | - Ruiting Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15260 USA
| | - Peter Wipf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA 15260 USA
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Bang J, Ross CA. Cerebrospinal Fluid Markers of Medium Spiny Neuron Injury in Huntington's Disease. Mov Disord 2021; 36:280-282. [PMID: 33599006 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jee Bang
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher A Ross
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience, and Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Langley C, Gregory S, Osborne-Crowley K, O'Callaghan C, Zeun P, Lowe J, Johnson EB, Papoutsi M, Scahill RI, Rees G, Tabrizi SJ, Robbins TW, Sahakian BJ. Fronto-striatal circuits for cognitive flexibility in far from onset Huntington's disease: evidence from the Young Adult Study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2021; 92:143-149. [PMID: 33130575 PMCID: PMC7841479 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2020-324104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cognitive flexibility, which is key for adaptive decision-making, engages prefrontal cortex (PFC)-striatal circuitry and is impaired in both manifest and premanifest Huntington's disease (pre-HD). The aim of this study was to examine cognitive flexibility in a far from onset pre-HD cohort to determine whether an early impairment exists and if so, whether fronto-striatal circuits were associated with this deficit. METHODS In the present study, we examined performance of 51 pre-HD participants (mean age=29.22 (SD=5.71) years) from the HD Young Adult Study cohort and 53 controls matched for age, sex and IQ, on the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) Intra-Extra Dimensional Set-Shift (IED) task. This cohort is unique as it is the furthest from disease onset comprehensively studied to date (mean years=23.89 (SD=5.96) years). The IED task measures visual discrimination learning, cognitive flexibility and specifically attentional set-shifting. We used resting-state functional MRI to examine whether the functional connectivity between specific fronto-striatal circuits was dysfunctional in pre-HD, compared with controls, and whether these circuits were associated with performance on the critical extradimensional shift stage. RESULTS Our results demonstrated that the CANTAB IED task detects a mild early impairment in cognitive flexibility in a pre-HD group far from onset. Attentional set-shifting was significantly related to functional connectivity between the ventrolateral PFC and ventral striatum in healthy controls and to functional connectivity between the dorsolateral PFC and caudate in pre-HD participants. CONCLUSION We postulate that this incipient impairment of cognitive flexibility may be associated with intrinsically abnormal functional connectivity of fronto-striatal circuitry in pre-HD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Gregory
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Katie Osborne-Crowley
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
- Division of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Claire O'Callaghan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Brain and Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul Zeun
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jessica Lowe
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Eileanoir B Johnson
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Marina Papoutsi
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rachael I Scahill
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Geraint Rees
- University College London Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL, London, UK
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Trevor W Robbins
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Lysosomal Function and Axon Guidance: Is There a Meaningful Liaison? Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11020191. [PMID: 33573025 PMCID: PMC7911486 DOI: 10.3390/biom11020191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Axonal trajectories and neural circuit activities strongly rely on a complex system of molecular cues that finely orchestrate the patterning of neural commissures. Several of these axon guidance molecules undergo continuous recycling during brain development, according to incompletely understood intracellular mechanisms, that in part rely on endocytic and autophagic cascades. Based on their pivotal role in both pathways, lysosomes are emerging as a key hub in the sophisticated regulation of axonal guidance cue delivery, localization, and function. In this review, we will attempt to collect some of the most relevant research on the tight connection between lysosomal function and axon guidance regulation, providing some proof of concepts that may be helpful to understanding the relation between lysosomal storage disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
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