1
|
Chen Y, Kuang J, Niu Y, Zhu H, Chen X, So KF, Xu A, Shi L. Multiple factors to assist human-derived induced pluripotent stem cells to efficiently differentiate into midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:908-914. [PMID: 37843228 PMCID: PMC10664128 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.378203] [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: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Midbrain dopaminergic neurons play an important role in the etiology of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. They also represent a potential source of transplanted cells for therapeutic applications. In vitro differentiation of functional midbrain dopaminergic neurons provides an accessible platform to study midbrain neuronal dysfunction and can be used to examine obstacles to dopaminergic neuronal development. Emerging evidence and impressive advances in human induced pluripotent stem cells, with tuned neural induction and differentiation protocols, makes the production of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons feasible. Using SB431542 and dorsomorphin dual inhibitor in an induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural induction protocol, we obtained multiple subtypes of neurons, including 20% tyrosine hydroxylase-positive dopaminergic neurons. To obtain more dopaminergic neurons, we next added sonic hedgehog (SHH) and fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) on day 8 of induction. This increased the proportion of dopaminergic neurons, up to 75% tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons, with 15% tyrosine hydroxylase and forkhead box protein A2 (FOXA2) co-expressing neurons. We further optimized the induction protocol by applying the small molecule inhibitor, CHIR99021 (CHIR).This helped facilitate the generation of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, and we obtained 31-74% midbrain dopaminergic neurons based on tyrosine hydroxylase and FOXA2 staining. Thus, we have established three induction protocols for dopaminergic neurons. Based on tyrosine hydroxylase and FOXA2 immunostaining analysis, the CHIR, SHH, and FGF8 combined protocol produces a much higher proportion of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, which could be an ideal resource for tackling midbrain-related diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Chen
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Junxin Kuang
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yimei Niu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hongyao Zhu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaoxia Chen
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Anding Xu
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Lingling Shi
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lin L, Deng J, Peng J, Cui J, Wang L, Zhang M, Gao J, Li F, Shi Y, Lv M. Structural insights into the recognition of the A/T-rich motif in target gene promoters by the LMX1a homeobox domain. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 38465368 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
LIM homeodomain transcription factor 1-alpha (LMX1a) is a neuronal lineage-specific transcription activator that plays an essential role during the development of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons. LMX1a induces the expression of multiple key genes, which ultimately determine the morphology, physiology, and functional identity of mDA neurons. This function of LMX1a is dependent on its homeobox domain. Here, we determined the structures of the LMX1a homeobox domain in complex with the promoter sequences of the Wnt family member 1 (WNT1) or paired like homeodomain 3 (Pitx3) gene, respectively. The complex structures revealed that the LMX1a homeobox domain employed its α3 helix and an N-terminal loop to achieve specific target recognition. The N-terminal loop (loop1) interacted with the minor groove of the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), whereas the third α-helix (α3) was tightly packed into the major groove of the dsDNA. Structure-based mutations in the α3 helix of the homeobox domain significantly reduced the binding affinity of LMX1a to dsDNA. Moreover, we identified a nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL)-related mutation, R199, which yielded a more flexible loop and disturbed the recognition in the minor groove of dsDNA, consistent with the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Furthermore, overexpression of Lmx1a promoted the differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells and upregulated the transcription of WNT1 and PITX3 genes. Hence, our work provides a detailed elucidation of the specific recognition between the LMX1a homeobox domain and its specific dsDNA targets, which represents valuable information for future investigations of the functional pathways that are controlled by LMX1a during mDA neuron development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liqing Lin
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jie Deng
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Junhui Peng
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jing Cui
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jia Gao
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Fudong Li
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yunyu Shi
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Mengqi Lv
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Cross Disciplinary Science, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Price K, Yang WH, Cardoso L, Wang CM, Yang RH, Yang WH. Jun Dimerization Protein 2 (JDP2) Increases p53 Transactivation by Decreasing MDM2. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1000. [PMID: 38473360 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16051000] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The AP-1 protein complex primarily consists of several proteins from the c-Fos, c-Jun, activating transcription factor (ATF), and Jun dimerization protein (JDP) families. JDP2 has been shown to interact with the cAMP response element (CRE) site present in many cis-elements of downstream target genes. JDP2 has also demonstrates important roles in cell-cycle regulation, cancer development and progression, inhibition of adipocyte differentiation, and the regulation of antibacterial immunity and bone homeostasis. JDP2 and ATF3 exhibit significant similarity in their C-terminal domains, sharing 60-65% identities. Previous studies have demonstrated that ATF3 is able to influence both the transcriptional activity and p53 stability via a p53-ATF3 interaction. While some studies have shown that JDP2 suppresses p53 transcriptional activity and in turn, p53 represses JDP2 promoter activity, the direct interaction between JDP2 and p53 and the regulatory role of JDP2 in p53 transactivation have not been explored. In the current study, we provide evidence, for the first time, that JDP2 interacts with p53 and regulates p53 transactivation. First, we demonstrated that JDP2 binds to p53 and the C-terminal domain of JDP2 is crucial for the interaction. Second, in p53-null H1299 cells, JDP2 shows a robust increase of p53 transactivation in the presence of p53 using p53 (14X)RE-Luc. Furthermore, JDP2 and ATF3 together additively enhance p53 transactivation in the presence of p53. While JDP2 can increase p53 transactivation in the presence of WT p53, JDP2 fails to enhance transactivation of hotspot mutant p53. Moreover, in CHX chase experiments, we showed that JDP2 slightly enhances p53 stability. Finally, our findings indicate that JDP2 has the ability to reverse MDM2-induced p53 repression, likely due to decreased levels of MDM2 by JDP2. In summary, our results provide evidence that JDP2 directly interacts with p53 and decreases MDM2 levels to enhance p53 transactivation, suggesting that JDP2 is a novel regulator of p53 and MDM2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kasey Price
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, GA 31404, USA
| | - William H Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, GA 31404, USA
| | - Leticia Cardoso
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, GA 31404, USA
| | - Chiung-Min Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, GA 31404, USA
| | - Richard H Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, GA 31404, USA
| | - Wei-Hsiung Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Savannah, GA 31404, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhao Y, Qin L, Pan H, Song T, Wang Y, Zhou X, Xiang Y, Li J, Liu Z, Sun Q, Guo J, Yan X, Tang B, Xu Q. Genetic analysis of transcription factors in dopaminergic neuronal development in Parkinson's disease. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:450-456. [PMID: 37341647 PMCID: PMC10876230 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002743] [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: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic variants of dopaminergic transcription factor-encoding genes are suggested to be Parkinson's disease (PD) risk factors; however, no comprehensive analyses of these genes in patients with PD have been undertaken. Therefore, we aimed to genetically analyze 16 dopaminergic transcription factor genes in Chinese patients with PD. METHODS Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed using a Chinese cohort comprising 1917 unrelated patients with familial or sporadic early-onset PD and 1652 controls. Additionally, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed using another Chinese cohort comprising 1962 unrelated patients with sporadic late-onset PD and 1279 controls. RESULTS We detected 308 rare and 208 rare protein-altering variants in the WES and WGS cohorts, respectively. Gene-based association analyses of rare variants suggested that MSX1 is enriched in sporadic late-onset PD. However, the significance did not pass the Bonferroni correction. Meanwhile, 72 and 1730 common variants were found in the WES and WGS cohorts, respectively. Unfortunately, single-variant logistic association analyses did not identify significant associations between common variants and PD. CONCLUSIONS Variants of 16 typical dopaminergic transcription factors might not be major genetic risk factors for PD in Chinese patients. However, we highlight the complexity of PD and the need for extensive research elucidating its etiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuwen Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Lixia Qin
- Department of Neurology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Hongxu Pan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Tingwei Song
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Yige Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Xiaoxia Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Yaqin Xiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Jinchen Li
- Bioinformatics Center National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Centre for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Zhenhua Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Qiying Sun
- Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Jifeng Guo
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Bioinformatics Center National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Centre for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Xinxiang Yan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Bioinformatics Center National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Centre for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| | - Qian Xu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Bioinformatics Center National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Centre for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang Q, Wang M, Choi I, Sarrafha L, Liang M, Ho L, Farrell K, Beaumont KG, Sebra R, De Sanctis C, Crary JF, Ahfeldt T, Blanchard J, Neavin D, Powell J, Davis DA, Sun X, Zhang B, Yue Z. Molecular profiling of human substantia nigra identifies diverse neuron types associated with vulnerability in Parkinson's disease. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadi8287. [PMID: 38198537 PMCID: PMC10780895 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi8287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized pathologically by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Whether cell types beyond DA neurons in the SN show vulnerability in PD remains unclear. Through transcriptomic profiling of 315,867 high-quality single nuclei in the SN from individuals with and without PD, we identified cell clusters representing various neuron types, glia, endothelial cells, pericytes, fibroblasts, and T cells and investigated cell type-dependent alterations in gene expression in PD. Notably, a unique neuron cluster marked by the expression of RIT2, a PD risk gene, also displayed vulnerability in PD. We validated RIT2-enriched neurons in midbrain organoids and the mouse SN. Our results demonstrated distinct transcriptomic signatures of the RIT2-enriched neurons in the human SN and implicated reduced RIT2 expression in the pathogenesis of PD. Our study sheds light on the diversity of cell types, including DA neurons, in the SN and the complexity of molecular and cellular changes associated with PD pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Minghui Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Insup Choi
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Lily Sarrafha
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Marianna Liang
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Lap Ho
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Kurt Farrell
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Kristin G. Beaumont
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Robert Sebra
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Sema4, a Mount Sinai venture, Stamford, CT 06902, USA
| | - Claudia De Sanctis
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - John F. Crary
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, NY 10029, USA
| | - Tim Ahfeldt
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Ronald Loeb Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Joel Blanchard
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Ronald Loeb Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Drew Neavin
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute for Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Sydney 2010, Australia
| | - Joseph Powell
- Garvan-Weizmann Centre for Cellular Genomics, Garvan Institute for Medical Research, 384 Victoria Street, Sydney 2010, Australia
- UNSW Cellular Genomics Futures Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - David A. Davis
- Department of Neurology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Brain Endowment Bank, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Department of Neurology, Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, Brain Endowment Bank, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Icahn Institute of Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Zhenyu Yue
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
- The Center for Parkinson’s Disease Neurobiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Marzoog BA. Transcription Factors in Brain Regeneration: A Potential Novel Therapeutic Target. Curr Drug Targets 2024; 25:46-61. [PMID: 38444255 DOI: 10.2174/0113894501279977231210170231] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Transcription factors play a crucial role in providing identity to each cell population. To maintain cell identity, it is essential to balance the expression of activator and inhibitor transcription factors. Cell plasticity and reprogramming offer great potential for future therapeutic applications, as they can regenerate damaged tissue. Specific niche factors can modify gene expression and differentiate or transdifferentiate the target cell to the required fate. Ongoing research is being carried out on the possibilities of transcription factors in regenerating neurons, with neural stem cells (NSCs) being considered the preferred cells for generating new neurons due to their epigenomic and transcriptome memory. NEUROD1/ASCL1, BRN2, MYTL1, and other transcription factors can induce direct reprogramming of somatic cells, such as fibroblasts, into neurons. However, the molecular biology of transcription factors in reprogramming and differentiation still needs to be fully understood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Basheer Abdullah Marzoog
- World-Class Research Center, Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare», I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Li T, Tan X, Tian L, Jia C, Cheng C, Chen X, Wei M, Wang Y, Hu Y, Jia Q, Ni Y, Al-Nusaif M, Li S, Le W. The role of Nurr1-miR-30e-5p-NLRP3 axis in inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration: insights from mouse models and patients' studies in Parkinson's disease. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:274. [PMID: 37990334 PMCID: PMC10664369 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02956-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear receptor related-1 (Nurr1), a ligand-activated transcription factor, is considered a potential susceptibility gene for Parkinson's disease (PD), and has been demonstrated to possess protective effects against inflammation-induced neuronal damage. Despite the evidence showing decreased NURR1 level and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines in cell and animal models as well as in PD patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), the underlying mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of Nurr1 in PD-related inflammation. Through the miRNA-sequencing and verification in PBMCs from a cohort of 450 individuals, we identified a significant change of a Nurr1-dependent miRNA miR-30e-5p in PD patients compared to healthy controls (HC). Additionally, PD patients exhibited an elevated plasma interleukin-1β (IL-1β) level and increased nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) expression in PBMCs compared to HC. Statistical analyses revealed significant correlations among NURR1, miR-30e-5p, and NLRP3 levels in the PBMCs of PD patients. To further explore the involvement of Nurr1-miR-30e-5p-NLRP3 axis in the inflammation-mediated PD pathology, we developed a mouse model (Nurr1flox+/Cd11b-cre+, Nurr1cKO) conditionally knocking out Nurr1 in Cd11b-expressing cells. Our investigations in Nurr1cKO mice unveiled significant dopaminergic neurodegeneration following lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation. Remarkably, Nurr1 deficiency triggered microglial activation and activated NLRP3 inflammasome, resulting in increased IL-1β secretion. Coincidently, we found that miR-30e-5p level was significantly decreased in the PBMCs and primary microglia of Nurr1cKO mice compared to the controls. Furthermore, our in vitro experiments demonstrated that miR-30e-5p specifically targeted NLRP3. In Nurr1-knockdown microglia, NLRP3 expression was upregulated via miR-30e-5p. In summary, our findings highlight the involvement of Nurr1-miR-30e-5p-NLRP3 axis in the inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration in PD, the results of which may offer promising prospects for developing PD biomarkers and targeted therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianbai Li
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research On the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Xiang Tan
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research On the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Lulu Tian
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research On the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Congcong Jia
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research On the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Cheng Cheng
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research On the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, China
| | - Min Wei
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research On the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research On the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Yiying Hu
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research On the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Qiqi Jia
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research On the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Yang Ni
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research On the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Murad Al-Nusaif
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research On the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Song Li
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research On the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China
| | - Weidong Le
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research On the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China.
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan Provincial Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ji X, Zhou S, Wang N, Wang J, Wu Y, Duan Y, Ni P, Zhang J, Yu S. Cerebral-Organoid-Derived Exosomes Alleviate Oxidative Stress and Promote LMX1A-Dependent Dopaminergic Differentiation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11048. [PMID: 37446226 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The remarkable advancements related to cerebral organoids have provided unprecedented opportunities to model human brain development and diseases. However, despite their potential significance in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD), the role of exosomes from cerebral organoids (OExo) has been largely unknown. In this study, we compared the effects of OExo to those of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes (CExo) and found that OExo shared similar neuroprotective effects to CExo. Our findings showed that OExo mitigated H2O2-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in rat midbrain astrocytes by reducing excess ROS production, antioxidant depletion, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the expression of pro-apoptotic genes. Notably, OExo demonstrated superiority over CExo in promoting the differentiation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into dopaminergic (DA) neurons. This was attributed to the higher abundance of neurotrophic factors, including neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) and glial-cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), in OExo, which facilitated the iPSCs' differentiation into DA neurons in an LIM homeobox transcription factor 1 alpha (LMX1A)-dependent manner. Our study provides novel insight into the biological properties of cerebral organoids and highlights the potential of OExo in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xingrui Ji
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Shaocong Zhou
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Nana Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Jingwen Wang
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Yuhan Duan
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Penghao Ni
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Jingzhong Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
- School of Medical Imaging, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Shuang Yu
- School of Biomedical Engineering (Suzhou), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
- School of Medical Imaging, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang X, Chen X, Liu G, Cai H, Le W. The Crucial Roles of Pitx3 in Midbrain Dopaminergic Neuron Development and Parkinson's Disease-Associated Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108614. [PMID: 37239960 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons, particularly in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), is one of the most prominent pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). To uncover the pathogenic mechanisms of mDA neuronal death during PD may provide therapeutic targets to prevent mDA neuronal loss and slow down the disease's progression. Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 3 (Pitx3) is selectively expressed in the mDA neurons as early as embryonic day 11.5 and plays a critical role in mDA neuron terminal differentiation and subset specification. Moreover, Pitx3-deficient mice exhibit some canonical PD-related features, including the profound loss of SNc mDA neurons, a dramatic decrease in striatal dopamine (DA) levels, and motor abnormalities. However, the precise role of Pitx3 in progressive PD and how this gene contributes to mDA neuronal specification during early stages remains unclear. In this review, we updated the latest findings on Pitx3 by summarizing the crosstalk between Pitx3 and its associated transcription factors in mDA neuron development. We further explored the potential benefits of Pitx3 as a therapeutic target for PD in the future. To better understand the transcriptional network of Pitx3 in mDA neuron development may provide insights into Pitx3-related clinical drug-targeting research and therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Guangdong Liu
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Huaibin Cai
- Transgenic Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Weidong Le
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu 611731, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yeap YJ, Teddy TJW, Lee MJ, Goh M, Lim KL. From 2D to 3D: Development of Monolayer Dopaminergic Neuronal and Midbrain Organoid Cultures for Parkinson's Disease Modeling and Regenerative Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032523. [PMID: 36768843 PMCID: PMC9917335 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized pathologically by the loss of A9-specific dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of the midbrain. Despite intensive research, the etiology of PD is currently unresolved, and the disease remains incurable. This, in part, is due to the lack of an experimental disease model that could faithfully recapitulate the features of human PD. However, the recent advent of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has allowed PD models to be created from patient-derived cells. Indeed, DA neurons from PD patients are now routinely established in many laboratories as monolayers as well as 3D organoid cultures that serve as useful toolboxes for understanding the mechanism underlying PD and also for drug discovery. At the same time, the iPSC technology also provides unprecedented opportunity for autologous cell-based therapy for the PD patient to be performed using the patient's own cells as starting materials. In this review, we provide an update on the molecular processes underpinning the development and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) into midbrain DA neurons in both 2D and 3D cultures, as well as the latest advancements in using these cells for drug discovery and regenerative medicine. For the novice entering the field, the cornucopia of differentiation protocols reported for the generation of midbrain DA neurons may seem daunting. Here, we have distilled the essence of the different approaches and summarized the main factors driving DA neuronal differentiation, with the view to provide a useful guide to newcomers who are interested in developing iPSC-based models of PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yee Jie Yeap
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | - Tng J. W. Teddy
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme (IGP-Neuroscience), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Mok Jung Lee
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | - Micaela Goh
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | - Kah Leong Lim
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 308232, Singapore
- National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore 308433, Singapore
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Anatomy, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Yang WH, George AP, Wang CM, Yang RH, Duncan AM, Patel D, Neil ZD, Yang WH. Tumor Suppressor p53 Down-Regulates Programmed Cell Death Protein 4 (PDCD4) Expression. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:1614-1625. [PMID: 36826085 PMCID: PMC9955764 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30020124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4), a well-known tumor suppressor, inhibits translation initiation and cap-dependent translation by inhibiting the helicase activity of EIF4A. The EIF4A tends to target mRNAs with a structured 5'-UTR. In addition, PDCD4 can also prevent tumorigenesis by inhibiting tumor promoter-induced neoplastic transformation, and studies indicate that PDCD4 binding to certain mRNAs inhibits those mRNAs' translation. A previous study demonstrated that PDCD4 inhibits the translation of p53 mRNA and that treatment with DNA-damaging agents down-regulates PDCD4 expression but activates p53 expression. The study further demonstrated that treatment with DNA-damaging agents resulted in the downregulation of PDCD4 expression and an increase in p53 expression, suggesting a potential mechanism by which p53 regulates the expression of PDCD4. However, whether p53 directly regulates PDCD4 remains unknown. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time that p53 regulates PDCD4 expression. Firstly, we found that overexpression of p53 in p53-null cells (H1299 and Saos2 cells) decreased the PDCD4 protein level. Secondly, p53 decreased PDCD4 promoter activity in gene reporter assays. Moreover, we demonstrated that mutations in p53 (R273H: contact hotspot mutation, and R175H: conformational hotspot mutation) abolished p53-mediated PDCD4 repression. Furthermore, mutations in the DNA-binding domain, but not in the C-terminal regulatory domain, of p53 disrupted p53-mediated PDCD4 repression. Finally, the C-terminal regulatory domain truncation study showed that the region between aa374 and aa370 is critical for p53-mediated PDCD4 repression. Taken together, our results suggest that p53 functions as a novel regulator of PDCD4, and the relationship between p53 and PDCD4 may be involved in tumor development and progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Wei-Hsiung Yang
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-912-721-8203; Fax: +1-912-721-8268
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Advances in NURR1-Regulated Neuroinflammation Associated with Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232416184. [PMID: 36555826 PMCID: PMC9788636 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416184] [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: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Parkinson's disease (PD). Glial cell activation and subsequent adaptive immune involvement are neuroinflammatory features in familial and idiopathic PD, resulting in the death of dopaminergic neuron cells. An oxidative stress response, inflammatory mediator production, and immune cell recruitment and activation are all hallmarks of this activation, leading to chronic neuroinflammation and progressive neurodegeneration. Several studies in PD patients' cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood revealed alterations in inflammatory markers and immune cell populations that may lead to or exacerbate neuroinflammation and perpetuate the neurodegenerative process. Most of the genes causing PD are also expressed in astrocytes and microglia, converting their neuroprotective role into a pathogenic one and contributing to disease onset and progression. Nuclear receptor-related transcription factor 1 (NURR1) regulates gene expression linked to dopaminergic neuron genesis and functional maintenance. In addition to playing a key role in developing and maintaining neurotransmitter phenotypes in dopaminergic neurons, NURR1 agonists have been shown to reverse behavioral and histological abnormalities in animal PD models. NURR1 protects dopaminergic neurons from inflammation-induced degeneration, specifically attenuating neuronal death by suppressing the expression of inflammatory genes in microglia and astrocytes. This narrative review highlights the inflammatory changes in PD and the advances in NURR1-regulated neuroinflammation associated with PD. Further, we present new evidence that targeting this inflammation with a variety of potential NURR1 target therapy medications can effectively slow the progression of chronic neuroinflammation-induced PD.
Collapse
|
13
|
Kumar A, Rhee M. Transcriptomic networks of gba3 governing specification of the dopaminergic neurons in zebrafish embryos. Genes Genomics 2022; 44:1543-1554. [PMID: 36181626 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-022-01317-x] [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: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molecular networks associated with dopaminergic (DA) neurogenesis remain undefined within mammalian models. To address this issue, the transient zebrafish model lmx1al: EGFP was generated, which expresses GFP in the DA precursor cells as well as in the DA neurons of the ventral diencephalon (VD). We found that the novel pseudogene gba3 has not been well studied in zebrafish neurogenesis. OBJECTIVE Crucial networks associated with gba3 transcripts were investigated because the biological functions of these networks have not been reported in DA neurogenesis in zebrafish. METHODS RNA isolation and sequencing were employed with GFP-expressing cells from 20-, 22-, and 24 h post-fertilization (hpf), while subsequent transcriptomic analysis generated differentially expressed genes with DA neurogenesis (DEG-DA) list. Hierarchical cluster analysis provided absolute guidance for the collection of gba3, an essential transcript that is strictly spatiotemporally expressed during DA neurogenesis, which was proven with whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) and knockdown and rescue of the gba3 transcripts in zebrafish embryos. RESULTS The gba3 transcripts were restricted to the midbrain at 24 hpf and the midbrain and pectoral fins at 30 hpf in zebrafish embryos. Functional studies with knockdown of gba3 found a diminished state in the midbrain and midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB) and an underdeveloped condition in the anteroposterior and dorsolateral axis relative to the wild type (WT) at 24 hpf. However, it was recovered after forced expression of gba3 transcripts at 24 hpf. Molecular markers for the DA precursors and mature neurons lmx1al, nurr1, th, and pitx3 were analyzed in the gba3 MOs. The levels of transcripts lmx1al, nurr1, and th were significantly reduced in the midbrain ventral diencephalon (VD) and hindbrain of gba3 morphants compared to the WT at 24 hpf, while expression patterns of pitx3 transcripts showed no differences in the identical regions between gba3 MOs and the controls. CONCLUSIONS We discuss transcriptional networks in which transcripts of gba3 plausibly govern the specification of dopaminergic neurogenesis in zebrafish embryos.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ajeet Kumar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School, BK21 plus program, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, South Korea. .,Laboratory of Neural Stem Cell Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea.
| | - Myungchull Rhee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School, BK21 plus program, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
The role of NURR1 in metabolic abnormalities of Parkinson's disease. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:46. [PMID: 35761385 PMCID: PMC9235236 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00544-w] [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: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A constant metabolism and energy supply are crucial to all organs, particularly the brain. Age-dependent neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), are associated with alterations in cellular metabolism. These changes have been recognized as a novel hot topic that may provide new insights to help identify risk in the pre-symptomatic phase of the disease, understand disease pathogenesis, track disease progression, and determine critical endpoints. Nuclear receptor-related factor 1 (NURR1), an orphan member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors, is a major risk factor in the pathogenesis of PD, and changes in NURR1 expression can have a detrimental effect on cellular metabolism. In this review, we discuss recent evidence that suggests a vital role of NURR1 in dopaminergic (DAergic) neuron development and the pathogenesis of PD. The association between NURR1 and cellular metabolic abnormalities and its implications for PD therapy have been further highlighted.
Collapse
|
15
|
Xia N, Cabin DE, Fang F, Reijo Pera RA. Parkinson's Disease: Overview of Transcription Factor Regulation, Genetics, and Cellular and Animal Models. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:894620. [PMID: 35600613 PMCID: PMC9115107 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.894620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, affecting nearly 7-10 million people worldwide. Over the last decade, there has been considerable progress in our understanding of the genetic basis of PD, in the development of stem cell-based and animal models of PD, and in management of some clinical features. However, there remains little ability to change the trajectory of PD and limited knowledge of the underlying etiology of PD. The role of genetics versus environment and the underlying physiology that determines the trajectory of the disease are still debated. Moreover, even though protein aggregates such as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites may provide diagnostic value, their physiological role remains to be fully elucidated. Finally, limitations to the model systems for probing the genetics, etiology and biology of Parkinson's disease have historically been a challenge. Here, we review highlights of the genetics of PD, advances in understanding molecular pathways and physiology, especially transcriptional factor (TF) regulators, and the development of model systems to probe etiology and potential therapeutic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ninuo Xia
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Deborah E. Cabin
- McLaughlin Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Great Falls, MT, United States
| | - Fang Fang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Renee A. Reijo Pera
- McLaughlin Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Great Falls, MT, United States
| |
Collapse
|