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Raiteri L. Interactions Involving Glycine and Other Amino Acid Neurotransmitters: Focus on Transporter-Mediated Regulation of Release and Glycine-Glutamate Crosstalk. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1518. [PMID: 39062091 PMCID: PMC11275102 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071518] [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: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Glycine plays a pivotal role in the Central Nervous System (CNS), being a major inhibitory neurotransmitter as well as a co-agonist of Glutamate at excitatory NMDA receptors. Interactions involving Glycine and other neurotransmitters are the subject of different studies. Functional interactions among neurotransmitters include the modulation of release through release-regulating receptors but also through transporter-mediated mechanisms. Many transporter-mediated interactions involve the amino acid transmitters Glycine, Glutamate, and GABA. Different studies published during the last two decades investigated a number of transporter-mediated interactions in depth involving amino acid transmitters at the nerve terminal level in different CNS areas, providing details of mechanisms involved and suggesting pathophysiological significances. Here, this evidence is reviewed also considering additional recent information available in the literature, with a special (but not exclusive) focus on glycinergic neurotransmission and Glycine-Glutamate interactions. Some possible pharmacological implications, although partly speculative, are also discussed. Dysregulations in glycinergic and glutamatergic transmission are involved in relevant CNS pathologies. Pharmacological interventions on glycinergic targets (including receptors and transporters) are under study to develop novel therapies against serious CNS pathological states including pain, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases. Although with limitations, it is hoped to possibly contribute to a better understanding of the complex interactions between glycine-mediated neurotransmission and other major amino acid transmitters, also in view of the current interest in potential drugs acting on "glycinergic" targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Raiteri
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genoa, Italy;
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 16148 Genoa, Italy
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2
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Yi J, Ma Y, Ma J, Yu H, Zhang K, Jin L, Yang Q, Sun D, Wu D. Rapid Assessment of Ocular Toxicity from Environmental Contaminants Based on Visually Mediated Zebrafish Behavior Studies. TOXICS 2023; 11:706. [PMID: 37624211 PMCID: PMC10459940 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11080706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The presence of contaminants in the environment has increased in recent years, and studies have demonstrated that these contaminants have the ability to penetrate the blood-retinal barrier and directly affect the visual systems of organisms. Zebrafish are recognized as an ideal model for human eye diseases due to their anatomical and functional similarities to the human eye, making them an efficient and versatile organism for studying ocular toxicity caused by environmental contaminants in the field of environmental toxicology. Meanwhile, zebrafish exhibit a diverse repertoire of visually mediated behaviors, and their visual system undergoes complex changes in behavioral responses when exposed to environmental contaminants, enabling rapid assessment of the ocular toxicity induced by such pollutants. Therefore, this review aimed to highlight the effectiveness of zebrafish as a model for examining the effects of environmental contaminants on ocular development. Special attention is given to the visually mediated behavior of zebrafish, which allows for a rapid assessment of ocular toxicity resulting from exposure to environmental contaminants. Additionally, the potential mechanisms by which environmental contaminants may induce ocular toxicity are briefly outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Yi
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yilei Ma
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jiahui Ma
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Haiyang Yu
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Libo Jin
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Ecological Treatment Technology of Urban Water Pollution, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China;
| | - Qinsi Yang
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, China;
| | - Da Sun
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Ecological Treatment Technology of Urban Water Pollution, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China;
| | - Dejun Wu
- Emergency Department, Quzhou People’s Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China
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Fu X, Feng S, Qin H, Yan L, Zheng C, Yao K. Microglia: The breakthrough to treat neovascularization and repair blood-retinal barrier in retinopathy. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1100254. [PMID: 36756614 PMCID: PMC9899825 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1100254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia are the primary resident retinal macrophages that monitor neuronal activity in real-time and facilitate angiogenesis during retinal development. In certain retinal diseases, the activated microglia promote retinal angiogenesis in hypoxia stress through neurovascular coupling and guide neovascularization to avascular areas (e.g., the outer nuclear layer and macula lutea). Furthermore, continuously activated microglia secrete inflammatory factors and expedite the loss of the blood-retinal barrier which causes irreversible damage to the secondary death of neurons. In this review, we support microglia can be a potential cellular therapeutic target in retinopathy. We briefly describe the relevance of microglia to the retinal vasculature and blood-retinal barrier. Then we discuss the signaling pathway related to how microglia move to their destinations and regulate vascular regeneration. We summarize the properties of microglia in different retinal disease models and propose that reducing the number of pro-inflammatory microglial death and conversing microglial phenotypes from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory are feasible for treating retinal neovascularization and the damaged blood-retinal barrier (BRB). Finally, we suppose that the unique properties of microglia may aid in the vascularization of retinal organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefei Fu
- Institute of Visual Neuroscience and Stem Cell Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuyu Feng
- Institute of Visual Neuroscience and Stem Cell Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huan Qin
- Institute of Visual Neuroscience and Stem Cell Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lin Yan
- Institute of Visual Neuroscience and Stem Cell Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Caiyan Zheng
- Institute of Visual Neuroscience and Stem Cell Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kai Yao
- Institute of Visual Neuroscience and Stem Cell Engineering, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,College of Life Sciences and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,*Correspondence: Kai Yao,
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Fehér J, Élő Á, István L, Nagy ZZ, Radák Z, Scuderi G, Artico M, Kovács I. Microbiota mitochondria disorders as hubs for early age-related macular degeneration. GeroScience 2022; 44:2623-2653. [PMID: 35978068 PMCID: PMC9385247 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-022-00620-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting the central area (macula lutea) of the retina. Research on the pathogenic mechanism of AMD showed complex cellular contribution governed by such risk factors as aging, genetic predisposition, diet, and lifestyle. Recent studies suggested that microbiota is a transducer and a modifier of risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases, and mitochondria may be one of the intracellular targets of microbial signaling molecules. This review explores studies supporting a new concept on the contribution of microbiota-mitochondria disorders to AMD. We discuss metabolic, vascular, immune, and neuronal mechanism in AMD as well as key alterations of photoreceptor cells, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), Bruch's membrane, choriocapillaris endothelial, immune, and neuronal cells. Special attention was paid to alterations of mitochondria contact sites (MCSs), an organelle network of mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, lipid droplets (LDs), and peroxisomes being documented based on our own electron microscopic findings from surgically removed human eyes. Morphometry of Bruch's membrane lipids and proteoglycans has also been performed in early AMD and aged controls. Microbial metabolites (short-chain fatty acids, polyphenols, and secondary bile acids) and microbial compounds (lipopolysaccharide, peptidoglycan, and bacterial DNA)-now called postbiotics-in addition to local effects on resident microbiota and mucous membrane, regulate systemic metabolic, vascular, immune, and neuronal mechanisms in normal conditions and in various common diseases. We also discuss their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic effects as well as experimental and clinical observations on regulating the main processes of photoreceptor renewal, mitophagy, and autophagy in early AMD. These findings support an emerging concept that microbiota-mitochondria disorders may be a crucial pathogenic mechanism of early AMD; and similarly, to other age-related neurodegenerative diseases, new treatment approaches should be targeted at these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- János Fehér
- PRIMAVERA Program, Nutripharma Hungaria Ltd., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Élő
- grid.11804.3c0000 0001 0942 9821Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Lilla István
- grid.11804.3c0000 0001 0942 9821Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Zsolt Nagy
- grid.11804.3c0000 0001 0942 9821Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Radák
- grid.472475.70000 0000 9243 1481Research Institute of Sport Science, University of Physical Education, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gianluca Scuderi
- grid.7841.aOphthalmology Unit, NESMOS Department, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Artico
- grid.417007.5Department of Sensory Organs, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Roma, Italy
| | - Illés Kovács
- grid.11804.3c0000 0001 0942 9821Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary ,grid.5386.8000000041936877XDepartment of Ophthalmology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, NY USA
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Peña JS, Vazquez M. Harnessing the Neuroprotective Behaviors of Müller Glia for Retinal Repair. FRONT BIOSCI-LANDMRK 2022; 27:169. [PMID: 35748245 PMCID: PMC9639582 DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2706169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Progressive and irreversible vision loss in mature and aging adults creates a health and economic burden, worldwide. Despite the advancements of many contemporary therapies to restore vision, few approaches have considered the innate benefits of gliosis, the endogenous processes of retinal repair that precede vision loss. Retinal gliosis is fundamentally driven by Müller glia (MG) and is characterized by three primary cellular mechanisms: hypertrophy, proliferation, and migration. In early stages of gliosis, these processes have neuroprotective potential to halt the progression of disease and encourage synaptic activity among neurons. Later stages, however, can lead to glial scarring, which is a hallmark of disease progression and blindness. As a result, the neuroprotective abilities of MG have remained incompletely explored and poorly integrated into current treatment regimens. Bioengineering studies of the intrinsic behaviors of MG hold promise to exploit glial reparative ability, while repressing neuro-disruptive MG responses. In particular, recent in vitro systems have become primary models to analyze individual gliotic processes and provide a stepping stone for in vivo strategies. This review highlights recent studies of MG gliosis seeking to harness MG neuroprotective ability for regeneration using contemporary biotechnologies. We emphasize the importance of studying gliosis as a reparative mechanism, rather than disregarding it as an unfortunate clinical prognosis in diseased retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan S. Peña
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State
University of New Jersey, Piscataway (08854), New Jersey, USA
| | - Maribel Vazquez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers, The State
University of New Jersey, Piscataway (08854), New Jersey, USA
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Harhai M, Harsing, Jr LG. An Overview of Glycine Transporter Subtype 1 Inhibitors Under Preclinical and Clinical Evaluation for the Treatment of Alcohol Abuse. CURRENT PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH AND REVIEWS 2022. [DOI: 10.2174/2666082218666220126111415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract:
Being a historical issue that withstands multiple societal control measures, alcohol abuse remains a major healthcare problem. Despite worldwide efforts to limit consumption and educate people about its effects, consumption rates remain unchanged. Alcohol abuse arises from chronic alcohol exposure-caused permanent synaptic plasticity changes in the brain. These manifest in life-threatening withdrawal symptoms and drive relapse even after detoxification and treatment. Since ethanol has multiple targets in the human brain, it warrants a multiapproach therapy; here we introduce the potential therapeutic effects of glycine transporter subtype 1 inhibitors. We have listed the various glycine transporter 1 inhibitors used in studies of alcoholism and how they influenced glycine release from rat hippocampus was demonstrated in a preliminary study. Glycine transporters modulate both glutamatergic and glycinergic pathways: (i) glutamatergic neurotransmission plays an important role in the development of chronic changes in alcoholism as daily alcohol administration was shown to increase N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor activity long-term, and (ii) ethanol has access to the dopaminergic reward system via glycine receptors, being an allosteric modulator of glycine receptors. This manuscript summarises the progress and development of glycine transporter 1 inhibitors, characterizing them by their mode of action, adverse effects, and discusses their clinical applicability. Furthermore, we highlight the progress in the latest clinical trials, outline currently applied treatment methods, and offer suggestions for implementing glycine transporter 1 inhibitors into the long-term treatment of alcohol abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcell Harhai
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Laszlo G. Harsing, Jr
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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Aminin D, Illes P. Purinergic Signaling in Neuroinflammation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312895. [PMID: 34884700 PMCID: PMC8657746 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Aminin
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia;
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 80708, Taiwan
| | - Peter Illes
- Rudolf Boehm Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Leipzig, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
- International Collaborative Center on Big Science Plan for Purine Signaling, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu 610075, China
- Correspondence:
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