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Hong S, Kim J, Ahn M, Jung K, Moon C, Ahn C, Sanchez-Quinteiro P, Shin T. Key Genes in Olfactory Disorder in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Identified by Transcriptomic Analysis of the Olfactory Bulbs. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:5771-5786. [PMID: 38233686 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03923-0] [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: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model of multiple sclerosis that shows demyelination in the central nervous system and functional deficits, including olfactory impairment. However, the genes related to olfactory impairment in EAE are unknown. We evaluated hub genes of the olfactory bulb in EAE mice. Differentially expressed genes (cut-offs, fold change > 2 and adjusted p < 0.05) and their related pathways in olfactory bulbs were subjected to gene ontology (GO) pathway analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Protein-protein interactions with selected genes were evaluated using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins. Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) which were constructed at the post-transcriptional level, including the genes-transcription factors (TFs) and gene-microRNAs (miRNAs) interaction networks. Twelve hub genes were found, three of which (Ctss, Itgb2, and Tlr2) were validated by RT-qPCR to be related to GO pathways such as immune response and regulation of immune response. GSEA showed that neuron-related genes-including Atp6v1g2, Egr1, and Gap43-and their pathways were significantly downregulated. GRNs analysis of six genes (Ctss, Itgb2, Tlr2, Atp6v1g2, Egr1, and Gap43) revealed 37 TFs and 84 miRNAs were identified as potential regulators of six genes, indicating significant interaction among six genes, TFs, and miRNAs. Collectively, these results suggest that transcriptomic analysis of the olfactory bulb of EAE mice can provide insight into olfactory dysfunction and reveal therapeutic targets for olfactory impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungmoo Hong
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, 102 Jejudaehakno, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongtae Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, 49267, Republic of Korea
| | - Meejung Ahn
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Science, Sangji University, Wonju, 26339, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungsook Jung
- Functional Biomaterials Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Jeongeup, 56212, Republic of Korea
| | - Changjong Moon
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Plus Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Changhwan Ahn
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, 102 Jejudaehakno, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Pablo Sanchez-Quinteiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Taekyun Shin
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, 102 Jejudaehakno, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea.
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Hong S, Kim J, Jung K, Ahn M, Moon C, Nomura Y, Matsuda H, Tanaka A, Jeong H, Shin T. Histopathological evaluation of the lungs in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Vet Sci 2024; 25:e35. [PMID: 38834505 PMCID: PMC11156594 DOI: 10.4142/jvs.23302] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an animal model of multiple sclerosis characterized by inflammation within the central nervous system. However, inflammation in non-neuronal tissues, including the lungs, has not been fully evaluated. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the inflammatory response in lungs of EAE mice by immunohistochemistry and histochemistry. METHODS Eight adult C57BL/6 mice were injected with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein35-55 to induce the EAE. Lungs and spinal cords were sampled from the experimental mice at the time of sacrifice and used for the western blotting, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Histopathological examination revealed inflammatory lesions in the lungs of EAE mice, characterized by infiltration of myeloperoxidase (MPO)- and galectin-3-positive cells, as determined by immunohistochemistry. Increased numbers of collagen fibers in the lungs of EAE mice were confirmed by histopathological analysis. Western blotting revealed significantly elevated level of osteopontin (OPN), cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44), MPO and galectin-3 in the lungs of EAE mice compared with normal controls (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed both OPN and CD44 in ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1-positive macrophages within the lungs of EAE mice. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Taken together, these findings suggest that the increased OPN level in lungs of EAE mice led to inflammation; concurrent increases in proinflammatory factors (OPN and galectin-3) caused pulmonary impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungmoo Hong
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea
| | - Jeongtae Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan 49267, Korea
| | - Kyungsook Jung
- Functional Biomaterials Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Jeongeup 56212, Korea
| | - Meejung Ahn
- Department of Animal Science, College of Life Science, Sangji University, Wonju 26339, Korea
| | - Changjong Moon
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Yoshihiro Nomura
- Scleroprotein and Leather Research Institute, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Matsuda
- Laboratory of Comparative Animal Medicine, Division of Animal Life Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Akane Tanaka
- Laboratory of Comparative Animal Medicine, Division of Animal Life Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Hyohoon Jeong
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea.
| | - Taekyun Shin
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea.
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Weerasinghe-Mudiyanselage PDE, Kang S, Kim JS, Kim SH, Wang H, Shin T, Moon C. Changes in structural plasticity of hippocampal neurons in an animal model of multiple sclerosis. Zool Res 2024; 45:398-414. [PMID: 38485508 PMCID: PMC11017077 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.309] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Structural plasticity is critical for the functional diversity of neurons in the brain. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is the most commonly used model for multiple sclerosis (MS), successfully mimicking its key pathological features (inflammation, demyelination, axonal loss, and gliosis) and clinical symptoms (motor and non-motor dysfunctions). Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of synaptic plasticity in EAE pathogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the features of behavioral alteration and hippocampal structural plasticity in EAE-affected mice in the early phase (11 days post-immunization, DPI) and chronic phase (28 DPI). EAE-affected mice exhibited hippocampus-related behavioral dysfunction in the open field test during both early and chronic phases. Dendritic complexity was largely affected in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) and CA3 apical and dentate gyrus (DG) subregions of the hippocampus during the chronic phase, while this effect was only noted in the CA1 apical subregion in the early phase. Moreover, dendritic spine density was reduced in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 apical/basal and DG subregions in the early phase of EAE, but only reduced in the DG subregion during the chronic phase. Furthermore, mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines ( Il1β, Tnfα, and Ifnγ) and glial cell markers ( Gfap and Cd68) were significantly increased, whereas the expression of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (ARC) was reduced during the chronic phase. Similarly, exposure to the aforementioned cytokines in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons reduced dendritic complexity and ARC expression. Primary cultures of hippocampal neurons also showed significantly reduced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation upon treatment with proinflammatory cytokines. Collectively, these results suggest that autoimmune neuroinflammation alters structural plasticity in the hippocampus, possibly through the ERK-ARC pathway, indicating that this alteration may be associated with hippocampal dysfunctions in EAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poornima D E Weerasinghe-Mudiyanselage
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohi Kang
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anatomy and Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Republic of Korea
| | - Joong-Sun Kim
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Ho Kim
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Hongbing Wang
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Taekyun Shin
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Changjong Moon
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea. E-mail:
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Weerasinghe-Mudiyanselage PDE, Kim JS, Shin T, Moon C. Understanding the spectrum of non-motor symptoms in multiple sclerosis: insights from animal models. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:84-91. [PMID: 37488849 PMCID: PMC10479859 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.375307] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system and is generally considered to be a non-traumatic, physically debilitating neurological disorder. In addition to experiencing motor disability, patients with multiple sclerosis also experience a variety of non-motor symptoms, including cognitive deficits, anxiety, depression, sensory impairments, and pain. However, the pathogenesis and treatment of such non-motor symptoms in multiple sclerosis are still under research. Preclinical studies for multiple sclerosis benefit from the use of disease-appropriate animal models, including experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Prior to understanding the pathophysiology and developing treatments for non-motor symptoms, it is critical to characterize the animal model in terms of its ability to replicate certain non-motor features of multiple sclerosis. As such, no single animal model can mimic the entire spectrum of symptoms. This review focuses on the non-motor symptoms that have been investigated in animal models of multiple sclerosis as well as possible underlying mechanisms. Further, we highlighted gaps in the literature to explain the non-motor aspects of multiple sclerosis in experimental animal models, which will serve as the basis for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poornima D. E. Weerasinghe-Mudiyanselage
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Joong-Sun Kim
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Taekyun Shin
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea
| | - Changjong Moon
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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Hong S, Weerasinghe-Mudiyanselage PDE, Kang S, Moon C, Shin T. Retinal transcriptome profiling identifies novel candidate genes associated with visual impairment in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2023; 27:219-233. [PMID: 37808551 PMCID: PMC10552570 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2023.2264354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Visual impairment is occasionally observed in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Although uveitis and optic neuritis have been reported in MS and EAE, the precise mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of these visual impairments remain poorly understood. This study aims to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the retinas of mice with EAE to identify genes that may be implicated in EAE-induced visual impairment. Fourteen adult mice were injected with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein35-55 to induce the EAE model. Transcriptomes of retinas with EAE were analyzed by RNA-sequencing. Gene expression analysis revealed 347 DEGs in the retinas of mice with EAE: 345 were upregulated, and 2 were downregulated (adjusted p-value < 0.05 and absolute log2 fold change > 1). Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that the upregulated genes in the retinas of mice with EAE were primarily related to immune responses, responses to external biotic stimuli, defense responses, and leukocyte-mediated immunity in the GO biological process. The expression of six upregulated hub genes (c1qb, ctss, itgam, itgb2, syk, and tyrobp) from the STRING analysis and the two significantly downregulated DEGs (hapln1 and ndst4) were validated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, gene set enrichment analysis showed that the negatively enriched gene sets in EAE-affected retinas were associated with the neuronal system and phototransduction cascade. This study provides novel molecular evidence for visual impairments in EAE and indicates directions for further research to elucidate the mechanisms of these visual impairments in MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungmoo Hong
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea
| | - Poornima D. E. Weerasinghe-Mudiyanselage
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohi Kang
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Changjong Moon
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Animal Behavior, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Taekyun Shin
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea
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