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Gatica-Garcia B, Bannon MJ, Martínez-Dávila IA, Soto-Rojas LO, Reyes-Corona D, Escobedo L, Maldonado-Berny M, Gutierrez-Castillo ME, Espadas-Alvarez AJ, Fernandez-Parrilla MA, Mascotte-Cruz JU, Rodríguez-Oviedo CP, Valenzuela-Arzeta IE, Luna-Herrera C, Lopez-Salas FE, Santoyo-Salazar J, Martinez-Fong D. Unilateral rNurr1-V5 transgene expression in nigral dopaminergic neurons mitigates bilateral neuropathology and behavioral deficits in parkinsonian rats with α-synucleinopathy. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:2057-2067. [PMID: 38227536 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.391190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202409000-00039/figure1/v/2024-01-16T170235Z/r/image-tiff Parkinsonism by unilateral, intranigral β-sitosterol β-D-glucoside administration in rats is distinguished in that the α-synuclein insult begins unilaterally but spreads bilaterally and increases in severity over time, thus replicating several clinical features of Parkinson's disease, a typical α-synucleinopathy. As Nurr1 represses α-synuclein, we evaluated whether unilateral transfected of rNurr1-V5 transgene via neurotensin-polyplex to the substantia nigra on day 30 after unilateral β-sitosterol β-D-glucoside lesion could affect bilateral neuropathology and sensorimotor deficits on day 30 post-transfection. This study found that rNurr1-V5 expression but not that of the green fluorescent protein (the negative control) reduced β-sitosterol β-D-glucoside-induced neuropathology. Accordingly, a bilateral increase in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells and arborization occurred in the substantia nigra and increased tyrosine hydroxylase-positive ramifications in the striatum. In addition, tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells displayed less senescence marker β-galactosidase and more neuron-cytoskeleton marker βIII-tubulin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. A significant decrease in activated microglia (positive to ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1) and neurotoxic astrocytes (positive to glial fibrillary acidic protein and complement component 3) and increased neurotrophic astrocytes (positive to glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100 calcium-binding protein A10) also occurred in the substantia nigra. These effects followed the bilateral reduction in α-synuclein aggregates in the nigrostriatal system, improving sensorimotor behavior. Our results show that unilateral rNurr1-V5 transgene expression in nigral dopaminergic neurons mitigates bilateral neurodegeneration (senescence and loss of neuron-cytoskeleton and tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells), neuroinflammation (activated microglia, neurotoxic astrocytes), α-synuclein aggregation, and sensorimotor deficits. Increased neurotrophic astrocytes and brain-derived neurotrophic factor can mediate the rNurr1-V5 effect, supporting its potential clinical use in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bismark Gatica-Garcia
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Michael J Bannon
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Irma Alicia Martínez-Dávila
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Luis O Soto-Rojas
- Laboratorio de Patogénesis Molecular, Carrera Médico Cirujano, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla de Baz, México
- Red de Medicina para la Educación y Desarrollo y la Investigación Científica de Iztacala (Red MEDICI), Carrera Médico Cirujano, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla de Baz, México
| | | | - Lourdes Escobedo
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Minerva Maldonado-Berny
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Ciudad de México, México
| | - M E Gutierrez-Castillo
- Departamento de Biociencias e Ingeniería, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Armando J Espadas-Alvarez
- Departamento de Biociencias e Ingeniería, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
| | | | - Juan U Mascotte-Cruz
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Ciudad de México, México
| | | | - Irais E Valenzuela-Arzeta
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Claudia Luna-Herrera
- Departamento de Fisiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Francisco E Lopez-Salas
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Jaime Santoyo-Salazar
- Departamento de Física, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Daniel Martinez-Fong
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Ciudad de México, México
- Nanoparticle Therapy Institute, Aguascalientes, México
- Programa de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Ciudad de México, México
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Pulcrano S, De Gregorio R, De Sanctis C, Volpicelli F, Piscitelli RM, Speranza L, Perrone-Capano C, di Porzio U, Caiazzo M, Martini A, Giacomet C, Medina D, Awatramani R, Viggiano D, Federici M, Mercuri NB, Guatteo E, Bellenchi GC. miR-218 Promotes Dopaminergic Differentiation and Controls Neuron Excitability and Neurotransmitter Release through the Regulation of a Synaptic-Related Genes Network. J Neurosci 2023; 43:8104-8125. [PMID: 37816598 PMCID: PMC10697421 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0431-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In the brain, microRNAs (miRNAs) are believed to play a role in orchestrating synaptic plasticity at a higher level by acting as an additional mechanism of translational regulation, alongside the mRNA/polysome system. Despite extensive research, our understanding of the specific contribution of individual miRNA to the function of dopaminergic neurons (DAn) remains limited. By performing a dopaminergic-specific miRNA screening, we have identified miR-218 as a critical regulator of DAn activity in male and female mice. We have found that miR-218 is specifically expressed in mesencephalic DAn and is able to promote dopaminergic differentiation of embryonic stem cells and functional maturation of transdifferentiated induced DA neurons. Midbrain-specific deletion of both genes encoding for miR-218 (referred to as miR-218-1 and mir218-2) affects the expression of a cluster of synaptic-related mRNAs and alters the intrinsic excitability of DAn, as it increases instantaneous frequencies of evoked action potentials, reduces rheobase current, affects the ionic current underlying the action potential after hyperpolarization phase, and reduces dopamine efflux in response to a single electrical stimulus. Our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the involvement of miR-218 in the dopaminergic system and highlight its role as a modulator of dopaminergic transmission.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT In the past decade, several miRNAs have emerged as potential regulators of synapse activity through the modulation of specific gene expression. Among these, we have identified a dopaminergic-specific miRNA, miR-218, which is able to promote dopaminergic differentiation and regulates the translation of an entire cluster of synapse related mRNAs. Deletion of miR-218 has notable effects on dopamine release and alters the intrinsic excitability of dopaminergic neurons, indicating a direct control of dopaminergic activity by miR-218.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Pulcrano
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, 80131, Italy
| | - Roberto De Gregorio
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, 80131, Italy
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Presbyterian, New York, New York 10021
| | - Claudia De Sanctis
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, 80131, Italy
- Neuropathology Brain Bank at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | - Floriana Volpicelli
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, 80131, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, 80131, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Piscitelli
- Fondazione Santa Lucia Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, 00143, Italy
| | - Luisa Speranza
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York 10461
| | - Carla Perrone-Capano
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, 80131, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, 80131, Italy
| | - Umberto di Porzio
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, 80131, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Caiazzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, 80131, Italy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584 CG, The Netherlands
| | - Alessandro Martini
- Fondazione Santa Lucia Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, 00143, Italy
| | - Cecilia Giacomet
- Fondazione Santa Lucia Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, 00143, Italy
| | - Diego Medina
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, 80078, Italy
- Department of Medical and Translational Science, Federico II University, Naples, 80131, Italy
| | | | - Davide Viggiano
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli," Naples, 80131, Italy
| | - Mauro Federici
- Fondazione Santa Lucia Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, 00143, Italy
| | - Nicola B Mercuri
- Fondazione Santa Lucia Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, 00143, Italy
- University of Tor Vergata, Department of Systems Medicine, Rome, 00133, Italy
| | - Ezia Guatteo
- Fondazione Santa Lucia Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, 00143, Italy
- Department of Motor Science and Wellness, Parthenope University, Naples, 80133, Italy
| | - Gian Carlo Bellenchi
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, 80131, Italy
- Fondazione Santa Lucia Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, 00143, Italy
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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.
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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
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