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Jellinger KA. Pathomechanisms of behavioral abnormalities in Huntington disease: an update. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024:10.1007/s00702-024-02794-y. [PMID: 38874766 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-024-02794-y] [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: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD), a devastating autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat, is clinically characterized by a triad of symptoms including involuntary motions, behavior problems and cognitive deficits. Behavioral symptoms with anxiety, irritability, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, apathy and other neuropsychiatric symptoms, occurring in over 50% of HD patients are important features of this disease and contribute to impairment of quality of life, but their pathophysiology is poorly understood. Behavior problems, more frequent than depression, can be manifest before obvious motor symptoms and occur across all HD stages, usually correlated with duration of illness. While specific neuropathological data are missing, the relations between gene expression and behavior have been elucidated in transgenic models of HD. Disruption of interneuronal communications, with involvement of prefronto-striato-thalamic networks and hippocampal dysfunctions produce deficits in multiple behavioral domains. These changes that have been confirmed by multistructural neuroimaging studies are due to a causal cascade linking molecular pathologies (glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunctions inducing multiple biochemical and structural alterations) and deficits in multiple behavioral domains. The disruption of large-scale connectivities may explain the variability of behavior profiles and is useful in understanding the biological backgrounds of functional decline in HD. Such findings offer new avenues for targeted treatments in terms of minimizing neurobehavioral impairment in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt A Jellinger
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, Alberichgasse 5/13, Vienna, A-1150, Austria.
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2
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Loan A, Syal C, Lui M, He L, Wang J. Promising use of metformin in treating neurological disorders: biomarker-guided therapies. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1045-1055. [PMID: 37862207 PMCID: PMC10749596 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385286] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurological disorders are a diverse group of conditions that affect the nervous system and include neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease), cerebrovascular conditions (stroke), and neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum disorder). Although they affect millions of individuals around the world, only a limited number of effective treatment options are available today. Since most neurological disorders express mitochondria-related metabolic perturbations, metformin, a biguanide type II antidiabetic drug, has attracted a lot of attention to be repurposed to treat neurological disorders by correcting their perturbed energy metabolism. However, controversial research emerges regarding the beneficial/detrimental effects of metformin on these neurological disorders. Given that most neurological disorders have complex etiology in their pathophysiology and are influenced by various risk factors such as aging, lifestyle, genetics, and environment, it is important to identify perturbed molecular functions that can be targeted by metformin in these neurological disorders. These molecules can then be used as biomarkers to stratify subpopulations of patients who show distinct molecular/pathological properties and can respond to metformin treatment, ultimately developing targeted therapy. In this review, we will discuss mitochondria-related metabolic perturbations and impaired molecular pathways in these neurological disorders and how these can be used as biomarkers to guide metformin-responsive treatment for the targeted therapy to treat neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Loan
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Charvi Syal
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Margarita Lui
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ling He
- Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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3
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Stroh A, Schweiger S, Ramirez JM, Tüscher O. The selfish network: how the brain preserves behavioral function through shifts in neuronal network state. Trends Neurosci 2024; 47:246-258. [PMID: 38485625 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2024.02.005] [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: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Neuronal networks possess the ability to regulate their activity states in response to disruptions. How and when neuronal networks turn from physiological into pathological states, leading to the manifestation of neuropsychiatric disorders, remains largely unknown. Here, we propose that neuronal networks intrinsically maintain network stability even at the cost of neuronal loss. Despite the new stable state being potentially maladaptive, neural networks may not reverse back to states associated with better long-term outcomes. These maladaptive states are often associated with hyperactive neurons, marking the starting point for activity-dependent neurodegeneration. Transitions between network states may occur rapidly, and in discrete steps rather than continuously, particularly in neurodegenerative disorders. The self-stabilizing, metastable, and noncontinuous characteristics of these network states can be mathematically described as attractors. Maladaptive attractors may represent a distinct pathophysiological entity that could serve as a target for new therapies and for fostering resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albrecht Stroh
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany; Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Susann Schweiger
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany; Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany; Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany
| | - Jan-Marino Ramirez
- Center for Integrative Brain Research at the Seattle Children's Research Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Oliver Tüscher
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany; Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
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4
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Isop LM, Neculau AE, Necula RD, Kakucs C, Moga MA, Dima L. Metformin: The Winding Path from Understanding Its Molecular Mechanisms to Proving Therapeutic Benefits in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1714. [PMID: 38139841 PMCID: PMC10748332 DOI: 10.3390/ph16121714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Metformin, a widely prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes, has garnered increasing attention for its potential neuroprotective properties due to the growing demand for treatments for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and motor neuron diseases. This review synthesizes experimental and clinical studies on metformin's mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic benefits for neurodegenerative disorders. A comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane library, focused on key phrases such as "metformin", "neuroprotection", and "neurodegenerative diseases", with data up to September 2023. Recent research on metformin's glucoregulatory mechanisms reveals new molecular targets, including the activation of the LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway, which is crucial for chronic administration of metformin. The pleiotropic impact may involve other stress kinases that are acutely activated. The precise role of respiratory chain complexes (I and IV), of the mitochondrial targets, or of the lysosomes in metformin effects remains to be established by further research. Research on extrahepatic targets like the gut and microbiota, as well as its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties, is crucial for understanding neurodegenerative disorders. Experimental data on animal models shows promising results, but clinical studies are inconclusive. Understanding the molecular targets and mechanisms of its effects could help design clinical trials to explore and, hopefully, prove its therapeutic effects in neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Mihaela Isop
- Department of Fundamental, Prophylactic and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brașov, Romania; (L.M.I.)
| | - Andrea Elena Neculau
- Department of Fundamental, Prophylactic and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brașov, Romania; (L.M.I.)
| | - Radu Dan Necula
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brașov, Romania
| | - Cristian Kakucs
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brașov, Romania
| | - Marius Alexandru Moga
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brașov, Romania
| | - Lorena Dima
- Department of Fundamental, Prophylactic and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brașov, Romania; (L.M.I.)
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Atia AA, Ashour RH, Zaki MM, Rahman KM, Ramadan NM. The comparative effectiveness of metformin and risperidone in a rat model of valproic acid-induced autism, Potential role for enhanced autophagy. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:1313-1332. [PMID: 37133558 PMCID: PMC10172247 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06371-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Risperidone is the first antipsychotic to be approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The potential efficacy of metformin in preventing and/or controlling ASD behavioral deficits was also recently reported. Suppression of hippocampus autophagy was suggested as a potential pathologic mechanism in ASD. OBJECTIVES Is metformin's ability to improve ASD clinical phenotype driven by its autophagy-enhancing properties? And does hippocampus autophagy enhancement underlie risperidone's efficacy as well? Both questions are yet to be answered. METHODS The effectiveness of metformin on alleviation of ASD-like behavioral deficits in adolescent rats exposed prenatally to valproic acid (VPA) was compared to that of risperidone. The potential modulatory effects of risperidone on hippocampal autophagic activity were also assessed and compared to those of metformin. RESULTS Male offspring exposed to VPA during gestation exhibited marked anxiety, social impairment and aggravation of stereotyped grooming; such deficits were efficiently rescued by postnatal risperidone or metformin therapy. This autistic phenotype was associated with suppressed hippocampal autophagy; as evidenced by reduced gene/dendritic protein expression of LC3B (microtubule-associated proteins 1 light chain 3B) and increased somatic P62 (Sequestosome 1) protein aggregates. Interestingly, compared to risperidone, the effectiveness of metformin in controlling ASD symptoms and improving hippocampal neuronal survival was well correlated to its ability to markedly induce pyramidal neuronal LC3B expression while lowering P62 accumulation. CONCLUSIONS Our work highlights, for the first time, positive modulation of hippocampus autophagy as potential mechanism underlying improvements in autistic behaviors, observed with metformin, as well as risperidone, therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amany Aa Atia
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, 60 El-Gomhoria Street, Mansoura, Al-Dakahlia, 35516, Egypt
| | - Rehab H Ashour
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, 60 El-Gomhoria Street, Mansoura, Al-Dakahlia, 35516, Egypt
| | - Marwa Maf Zaki
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, 60 El-Gomhoria Street, Mansoura, Al-Dakahlia, 35516, Egypt
| | - Karawan Ma Rahman
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, 60 El-Gomhoria Street, Mansoura, Al-Dakahlia, 35516, Egypt
| | - Nehal M Ramadan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, 60 El-Gomhoria Street, Mansoura, Al-Dakahlia, 35516, Egypt.
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6
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Xiong H, Tang F, Guo Y, Xu R, Lei P. Neural Circuit Changes in Neurological Disorders: Evidence from in vivo Two-photon Imaging. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 87:101933. [PMID: 37061201 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Neural circuits, such as synaptic plasticity and neural activity, are critical components of healthy brain function. The consequent dynamic remodeling of neural circuits is an ongoing procedure affecting neuronal activities. Disruption of this essential process results in diseases. Advanced microscopic applications such as two-photon laser scanning microscopy have recently been applied to understand neural circuit changes during disease since it can visualize fine structural and functional cellular activation in living animals. In this review, we have summarized the latest work assessing the dynamic rewiring of postsynaptic dendritic spines and modulation of calcium transients in neurons of the intact living brain, focusing on their potential roles in neurological disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and epilepsy). Understanding the fine changes that occurred in the brain during disease is crucial for future clinical intervention developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Xiong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China; Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, China; Department of Neurology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Fei Tang
- Department of Neurology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yujie Guo
- Department of Neurology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ruxiang Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China; Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, China
| | - Peng Lei
- Department of Neurology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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7
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Danics L, Abbas AA, Kis B, Pircs K. Fountain of youth—Targeting autophagy in aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1125739. [PMID: 37065462 PMCID: PMC10090449 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1125739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
As our society ages inexorably, geroscience and research focusing on healthy aging is becoming increasingly urgent. Macroautophagy (referred to as autophagy), a highly conserved process of cellular clearance and rejuvenation has attracted much attention due to its universal role in organismal life and death. Growing evidence points to autophagy process as being one of the key players in the determination of lifespan and health. Autophagy inducing interventions show significant improvement in organismal lifespan demonstrated in several experimental models. In line with this, preclinical models of age-related neurodegenerative diseases demonstrate pathology modulating effect of autophagy induction, implicating its potential to treat such disorders. In humans this specific process seems to be more complex. Recent clinical trials of drugs targeting autophagy point out some beneficial effects for clinical use, although with limited effectiveness, while others fail to show any significant improvement. We propose that using more human-relevant preclinical models for testing drug efficacy would significantly improve clinical trial outcomes. Lastly, the review discusses the available cellular reprogramming techniques used to model neuronal autophagy and neurodegeneration while exploring the existing evidence of autophagy’s role in aging and pathogenesis in human-derived in vitro models such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons (iPSC-neurons) or induced neurons (iNs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Danics
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine - Semmelweis University (HCEMM-SU), Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- Eötvös Loránd Research Network and Semmelweis University (ELKH-SU), Cerebrovascular and Neurocognitive Disorders Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Anoir Abbas
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine - Semmelweis University (HCEMM-SU), Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Kis
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine - Semmelweis University (HCEMM-SU), Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Karolina Pircs
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine - Semmelweis University (HCEMM-SU), Neurobiology and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Karolina Pircs,
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8
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Water-Reaching Platform for Longitudinal Assessment of Cortical Activity and Fine Motor Coordination Defects in a Huntington Disease Mouse Model. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0452-22.2022. [PMID: 36596592 PMCID: PMC9833054 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0452-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD), caused by dominantly inherited expansions of a CAG repeat results in characteristic motor dysfunction. Although gross motor defects have been extensively characterized in multiple HD mouse models using tasks such as rotarod and beam walking, less is known about forelimb deficits. We develop a high-throughput alternating reward/nonreward water-reaching task and training protocol conducted daily over approximately two months to simultaneously monitor forelimb impairment and mesoscale cortical changes in GCaMP activity, comparing female zQ175 (HD) and wild-type (WT) littermate mice, starting at ∼5.5 months. Behavioral analysis of the water-reaching task reveals that HD mice, despite learning the water-reaching task as proficiently as wild-type mice, take longer to learn the alternating event sequence as evident by impulsive (noncued) reaches and initially display reduced cortical activity associated with successful reaches. At this age gross motor defects determined by tapered beam assessment were not apparent. Although wild-type mice displayed no significant changes in cortical activity and reaching trajectory throughout the testing period, HD mice exhibited an increase in cortical activity, especially in the secondary motor and retrosplenial cortices, over time, as well as longer and more variable reaching trajectories by approximately seven months. HD mice also experienced a progressive reduction in successful performance. Tapered beam and rotarod tests as well as reduced DARPP-32 expression (striatal medium spiny neuron marker) after water-reaching assessment confirmed HD pathology. The water-reaching task can be used to inform on a daily basis, HD and other movement disorder onset and manifestation, therapeutic intervention windows, and test drug efficacy.
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9
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Mechanism of metformin regulation in central nervous system: Progression and future perspectives. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 156:113686. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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10
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Wang Y, LeDue JM, Murphy TH. Multiscale imaging informs translational mouse modeling of neurological disease. Neuron 2022; 110:3688-3710. [PMID: 36198319 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Multiscale neurophysiology reveals that simple motor actions are associated with changes in neuronal firing in virtually every brain region studied. Accordingly, the assessment of focal pathology such as stroke or progressive neurodegenerative diseases must also extend widely across brain areas. To derive mechanistic information through imaging, multiple resolution scales and multimodal factors must be included, such as the structure and function of specific neurons and glial cells and the dynamics of specific neurotransmitters. Emerging multiscale methods in preclinical animal studies that span micro- to macroscale examinations fill this gap, allowing a circuit-based understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms. Combined with high-performance computation and open-source data repositories, these emerging multiscale and large field-of-view techniques include live functional ultrasound, multi- and single-photon wide-scale light microscopy, video-based miniscopes, and tissue-penetrating fiber photometry, as well as variants of post-mortem expansion microscopy. We present these technologies and outline use cases and data pipelines to uncover new knowledge within animal models of stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and movement disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yundi Wang
- University of British Columbia, Department of Psychiatry, Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Detwiller Pavilion, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jeffrey M LeDue
- University of British Columbia, Department of Psychiatry, Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Detwiller Pavilion, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Timothy H Murphy
- University of British Columbia, Department of Psychiatry, Kinsmen Laboratory of Neurological Research, Detwiller Pavilion, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, 2215 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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11
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van der Bent ML, Evers MM, Vallès A. Emerging Therapies for Huntington's Disease - Focus on N-Terminal Huntingtin and Huntingtin Exon 1. Biologics 2022; 16:141-160. [PMID: 36213816 PMCID: PMC9532260 DOI: 10.2147/btt.s270657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a devastating heritable neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by the presence of a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion in the Huntingtin gene, leading to a polyglutamine tract in the protein. Various mechanisms lead to the production of N-terminal Huntingtin protein fragments, which are reportedly more toxic than the full-length protein. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the production and toxicity of N-terminal Huntingtin protein fragments. Further, we expand on various therapeutic strategies targeting N-terminal Huntingtin on the protein, RNA and DNA level. Finally, we compare the therapeutic approaches that are clinically most advanced, including those that do not target N-terminal Huntingtin, discussing differences in mode of action and translational applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melvin M Evers
- uniQure biopharma B.V., Department of Research and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Astrid Vallès
- uniQure biopharma B.V., Department of Research and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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12
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Singh A, Agrawal N. Metabolism in Huntington's disease: a major contributor to pathology. Metab Brain Dis 2022; 37:1757-1771. [PMID: 34704220 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-021-00844-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressively debilitating neurodegenerative disease exhibiting autosomal-dominant inheritance. It is caused by an unstable expansion in the CAG repeat tract of HD gene, which transforms the disease-specific Huntingtin protein (HTT) to a mutant form (mHTT). The profound neuronal death in cortico-striatal circuits led to its identification and characterisation as a neurodegenerative disease. However, equally disturbing are the concomitant whole-body manifestations affecting nearly every organ of the diseased individuals, at varying extents. Altered central and peripheral metabolism of energy, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates encompass the gross pathology of the disease. Intense fluctuation of body weight, glucose homeostasis and organ-specific subcellular abnormalities are being increasingly recognised in HD. Many of these metabolic abnormalities exist years before the neuropathological manifestations such as chorea, cognitive decline and behavioural abnormalities develop, and prove to be reliable predictors of the disease progression. In this review, we provide a consolidated overview of the central and peripheral metabolic abnormalities associated with HD, as evidenced from clinical and experimental studies. Additionally, we have discussed the potential of metabolic biomolecules to translate into efficient biomarkers for the disease onset as well as progression. Finally, we provide a brief outlook on the efficacy of existing therapies targeting metabolic remediation. While it is clear that components of altered metabolic pathways can mark many aspects of the disease, it is only conceivable that combinatorial therapies aiming for neuronal protection in consort with metabolic upliftment will prove to be more efficient than the existing symptomatic treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Singh
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Namita Agrawal
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India.
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13
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Actions of Metformin in the Brain: A New Perspective of Metformin Treatments in Related Neurological Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158281. [PMID: 35955427 PMCID: PMC9368983 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin is a first-line drug for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world. Besides its hypoglycemic effects, metformin also can improve cognitive or mood functions in some T2DM patients; moreover, it has been reported that metformin exerts beneficial effects on many neurological disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Fragile X syndrome (FXS); however, the mechanism underlying metformin in the brain is not fully understood. Neurotransmission between neurons is fundamental for brain functions, and its defects have been implicated in many neurological disorders. Recent studies suggest that metformin appears not only to regulate synaptic transmission or plasticity in pathological conditions but also to regulate the balance of excitation and inhibition (E/I balance) in neural networks. In this review, we focused on and reviewed the roles of metformin in brain functions and related neurological disorders, which would give us a deeper understanding of the actions of metformin in the brain.
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14
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Du MR, Gao QY, Liu CL, Bai LY, Li T, Wei FL. Exploring the Pharmacological Potential of Metformin for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:838173. [PMID: 35557834 PMCID: PMC9087341 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.838173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin, one of the first-line of hypoglycemic drugs, has cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, in addition to its proven hypoglycemic effects. Furthermore, the preventive and therapeutic potential of metformin for neurodegenerative diseases has become a topic of concern. Increasing research suggests that metformin can prevent the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In recent years, many studies have investigated the neuroprotective effect of metformin in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. It has been revealed that metformin can play a neuroprotective role by regulating energy metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammatory response and protein deposition of cells, and avoiding neuronal dysfunction and neuronal death. On the contrary, some have hypothesized that metformin has a two-sided effect which may accelerate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, the results of animal experiments and clinical studies are reviewed to discuss the application prospects of metformin in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Rui Du
- Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Quan-You Gao
- Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chen-Lin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lin-Ya Bai
- Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tian Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fei-Long Wei
- Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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15
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C9orf72 Hexanucleotide Repeat Expansion-Related Neuropathology Is Attenuated by Nasal Rifampicin in Mice. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10051080. [PMID: 35625816 PMCID: PMC9138602 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10051080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The non-coding GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) in C9orf72 gene is a dominant cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This intronic mutation elicits the formation of nuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions containing RNA, RNA-binding proteins, and HRE-derived dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), leading to neurodegeneration via the gain-of-toxic function or loss-of-function of relevant proteins. Using C9-500 mice harboring ~500 repeats of the GGGGCC sequence in human C9orf72 gene, we investigated the effects of rifampicin against HRE-related pathological phenotypes. Rifampicin was administered intranasally to 4.5- to 5-month-old mice for 1 month, and their cognitive function and neuropathology were assessed by the Morris water maze test and immunohistochemical staining. Rifampicin treatment reduced the formation of RNA foci and cytoplasmic inclusions containing DPRs or phosphorylated TDP-43, and furthermore, the levels of phosphorylated double-strand RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) that regulates repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation. Synapse loss in the hippocampus and neuronal loss and microglial activation in the prefrontal and motor cortices were also attenuated, and mouse memory was significantly improved. Our findings suggest a therapeutic potential of nasal rifampicin in the prevention of C9orf72-linked neurodegenerative disorders.
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Atherton E, Hu Y, Brown S, Papiez E, Ling V, Colvin V, Borton D. A 3D in vitro model of the device-tissue interface: Functional and structural symptoms of innate neuroinflammation are mitigated by antioxidant ceria nanoparticles. J Neural Eng 2022; 19. [PMID: 35447619 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac6908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The recording instability of neural implants due to neuroinflammation at the device-tissue interface is a primary roadblock to broad adoption of brain-machine interfaces. While a multiphasic immune response, marked by glial scaring, oxidative stress (OS), and neurodegeneration, is well-characterized, the independent contributions of systemic and local "innate" immune responses are not well-understood. We aimed to understand and mitigate the isolated the innate neuroinflammatory response to devices. APPROACH Three-dimensional primary neural cultures provide a unique environment for studying the drivers of neuroinflammation by decoupling the innate and systemic immune systems, while conserving an endogenous extracellular matrix and structural and functional network complexity. We created a three-dimensional in vitro model of the DTI by seeding primary cortical cells around microwires. Live imaging of both dye and AAV-mediated functional, structural, and lipid peroxidation fluorescence was employed to characterize the neuroinflammatory response. MAIN RESULTS Live imaging of microtissues over time revealed independent innate neuroinflammation, marked by increased OS, decreased neuronal density, and increased functional connectivity. We demonstrated the use of this model for therapeutic screening by directly applying drugs to neural tissue, bypassing low bioavailability through the in vivo blood brain barrier. As there is growing interest in long-acting antioxidant therapies, we tested efficacy of "perpetual" antioxidant ceria nanoparticles, which reduced OS, increased neuronal density, and protected functional connectivity. SIGNIFICANCE Our 3D in vitro model of the device-tissue interface exhibited symptoms of OS-mediated innate neuroinflammation, indicating a significant local immune response to devices. The dysregulation of functional connectivity of microcircuits surround implants suggests the presence of an observer effect, in which the process of recording neural activity may fundamentally change the neural signal. Finally, the demonstration of antioxidant ceria nanoparticle treatment exhibited substantial promise as a neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaina Atherton
- School of Engineering, Brown University, 182 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA, Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, UNITED STATES
| | - Yue Hu
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, 182 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA, Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, UNITED STATES
| | - Sophie Brown
- School of Engineering, Brown University, 182 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA, Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, UNITED STATES
| | - Emily Papiez
- School of Engineering, Brown University, 182 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA, Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, UNITED STATES
| | - Vivian Ling
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, 182 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA, Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, UNITED STATES
| | - Vicki Colvin
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, 182 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA, Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, UNITED STATES
| | - David Borton
- School of Engineering, Brown University, 182 Hope Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA, Providence, Rhode Island, 02912, UNITED STATES
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17
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Takaine M, Imamura H, Yoshida S. High and stable ATP levels prevent aberrant intracellular protein aggregation in yeast. eLife 2022; 11:67659. [PMID: 35438635 PMCID: PMC9018071 DOI: 10.7554/elife.67659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) at millimolar levels has recently been implicated in the solubilization of cellular proteins. However, the significance of this high ATP level under physiological conditions and the mechanisms that maintain ATP remain unclear. We herein demonstrated that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and adenylate kinase (ADK) cooperated to maintain cellular ATP levels regardless of glucose levels. Single-cell imaging of ATP-reduced yeast mutants revealed that ATP levels in these mutants underwent stochastic and transient depletion, which promoted the cytotoxic aggregation of endogenous proteins and pathogenic proteins, such as huntingtin and α-synuclein. Moreover, pharmacological elevations in ATP levels in an ATP-reduced mutant prevented the accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates and its cytotoxicity. The present study demonstrates that cellular ATP homeostasis ensures proteostasis and revealed that suppressing the high volatility of cellular ATP levels prevented cytotoxic protein aggregation, implying that AMPK and ADK are important factors that prevent proteinopathies, such as neurodegenerative diseases. Cells use a chemical called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a controllable source of energy. Like a battery, each ATP molecule contains a specific amount of energy that can be released when needed. Cells just need enough ATP to survive, but most cells store a lot more than they need. It is unclear why cells keep so much ATP, or whether this excess ATP has any other purpose. To answer these questions, Takaine et al. identified mutants of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that had low levels of ATP, and studied how these cells differ from normal yeast The results showed that, in S. cerevisiae cells with lower and variable levels of ATP, proteins stick together, forming clumps. Proteins are molecules that perform diverse roles, keeping cells alive. When they clump together, they stop working and can cause cells to die. Further experiments showed that reducing the levels of ATP just for a short time increased the rate at which proteins stick together. Taken together, Takaine et al.’s results suggest that ATP plays a role in stopping proteins from sticking together, explaining why cells may store excess ATP, since it could aid survival. Protein clumps, also called aggregates, are a key feature of various illnesses, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Takaine et al. provide a possible cause for why proteins aggregate in these diseases, which may be worth further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masak Takaine
- Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan.,Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation (IMCR), Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Hiromi Imamura
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yoshida
- Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan.,Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation (IMCR), Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan.,School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan.,Japan Science and Technology Agency, PREST, Tokyo, Japan
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18
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Non-ablative doses of focal ionizing radiation alters function of central neural circuits. Brain Stimul 2022; 15:586-597. [PMID: 35395424 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Modulation of pathological neural circuit activity in the brain with a minimum of complications is an area of intense interest. OBJECTIVE The goal of the study was to alter neurons' physiological states without apparent damage of cellular integrity using stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). METHODS We treated a 7.5 mm-diameter target on the visual cortex of Göttingen minipigs with doses of 40, 60, 80, and 100 Gy. Six months post-irradiation, the pigs were implanted with a 9 mm-wide, eight-shank multi-electrode probe, which spanned the radiation focus as well as the low-exposure neighboring areas. RESULTS Doses of 40 Gy led to an increase of spontaneous firing rate, six months post-irradiation, while doses of 60 Gy and greater were associated with a decrease. Subjecting the animals to visual stimuli resulted in typical visual evoked potentials (VEP). At 40 Gy, a significant reduction of the P1 peak time, indicative of higher network excitability was observed. At 80 Gy, P1 peak time was not affected, while a minor reduction at 60 Gy was seen. No distance-dependent effects on spontaneous firing rate, or on VEP were observed. Post-mortem histology revealed no evidence of necrosis at doses below 60 Gy. In an in vitro assay comprising of iPS-derived human neuron-astrocyte co-cultures, we found a higher vulnerability of inhibitory neurons than excitatory neurons with respect to radiation, which might provide the cellular mechanism of the disinhibitory effect observed in vivo. CONCLUSION We provide initial evidence for a rather circuit-wide, long-lasting disinhibitory effect of low sub-ablative doses of SRS.
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19
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Srinivasan E, Ram V, Rajasekaran R. A review on Huntington protein Insight into protein aggregation and therapeutic interventions. Curr Drug Metab 2022; 23:260-282. [PMID: 35319359 DOI: 10.2174/1389200223666220321103942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a distressing, innate neurodegenerative disease that descends from CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene causing behavioral changes, motor dysfunction, and dementia in children and adults. Mutation in huntingtin (HTT) protein has been suggested to cause neuron loss in the cortex and striatum through various mechanisms including abnormal regulation of transcription, proteasomal dysfunction, post-translational modification, and other events, regulating toxicity. Pathogenesis of HD involves cleavage of the huntingtin protein followed by the neuronal accumulation of its aggregated form. Several research groups made possible efforts to reduce huntingtin gene expression, protein accumulation, and protein aggregation using inhibitors and molecular chaperones as developing drugs against HD. Herein, we review the mechanism proposed towards the formation of HTT protein aggregation and the impact of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Srinivasan
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore - 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
- Department of Bioinformatics, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam, Chennai - 602105, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Vavish Ram
- Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore - 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - R Rajasekaran
- Bioinformatics Lab, Department of Biotechnology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore - 632014, Tamil Nadu, India
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20
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García-Puga M, Saenz-Antoñanzas A, Matheu A, López de Munain A. Targeting Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 with Metformin. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052901. [PMID: 35270043 PMCID: PMC8910924 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disorder of genetic origin. Progressive muscular weakness, atrophy and myotonia are its most prominent neuromuscular features, while additional clinical manifestations in multiple organs are also common. Overall, DM1 features resemble accelerated aging. There is currently no cure or specific treatment for myotonic dystrophy patients. However, in recent years a great effort has been made to identify potential new therapeutic strategies for DM1 patients. Metformin is a biguanide antidiabetic drug, with potential to delay aging at cellular and organismal levels. In DM1, different studies revealed that metformin rescues multiple phenotypes of the disease. This review provides an overview of recent findings describing metformin as a novel therapy to combat DM1 and their link with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikel García-Puga
- Neuromuscular Diseases Group, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain;
- Cellular Oncology Group, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain;
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED-CIBER), Carlos III Institute, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ander Saenz-Antoñanzas
- Cellular Oncology Group, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain;
| | - Ander Matheu
- Cellular Oncology Group, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain;
- Basque Foundation for Science (IKERBASQUE), 48009 Bilbao, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERfes), Carlos III Institute, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (A.M.); (A.L.d.M.); Tel.: +34-943-006-073 (A.M.); +34-943-006-294 (A.L.d.M.)
| | - Adolfo López de Munain
- Neuromuscular Diseases Group, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain;
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED-CIBER), Carlos III Institute, 28031 Madrid, Spain
- Neurology Department, Donostia University Hospital, OSAKIDETZA, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Nursery, University of the Basque Country, 20014 San Sebastian, Spain
- Correspondence: (A.M.); (A.L.d.M.); Tel.: +34-943-006-073 (A.M.); +34-943-006-294 (A.L.d.M.)
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21
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Vela M, García-Gimeno MA, Sanchis A, Bono-Yagüe J, Cumella J, Lagartera L, Pérez C, Priego EM, Campos A, Sanz P, Vázquez-Manrique RP, Castro A. Neuroprotective Effect of IND1316, an Indole-Based AMPK Activator, in Animal Models of Huntington Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:275-287. [PMID: 34962383 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of mutant huntingtin, because of an expanded polyglutamine track, underlies the cause of neurodegeneration in Huntington disease (HD). However, it remains unclear how some alterations at the cellular level lead to specific structural changes in HD brains. In this context, the neuroprotective effect of the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) appears to be a determinant factor in several neurodegenerative diseases, including HD. In the present work, we describe a series of indole-derived compounds able to activate AMPK at the cellular level. By using animal models of HD (both worms and mice), we demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of one of these compounds (IND1316), confirming that it can reduce the neuropathological symptoms of this disease. Taken together, in vivo results and in silico studies of druggability, allow us to suggest that IND1316 could be considered as a promising new lead compound for the treatment of HD and other central nervous system diseases in which the activation of AMPK results in neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Vela
- Instituto de Química Médica, IQM-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Adelaida García-Gimeno
- Department of Biotechnology, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica y del Medio Natural (ETSIAMN), Universitat Politécnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Sanchis
- Grupo de Investigación en Biomedicina Molecular, Celular y Genómica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - José Bono-Yagüe
- Grupo de Investigación en Biomedicina Molecular, Celular y Genómica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - José Cumella
- Instituto de Química Médica, IQM-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Lagartera
- Instituto de Química Médica, IQM-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Concepción Pérez
- Instituto de Química Médica, IQM-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva-María Priego
- Instituto de Química Médica, IQM-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Angela Campos
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, IBV-CSIC, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Pascual Sanz
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, IBV-CSIC, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rafael P. Vázquez-Manrique
- Grupo de Investigación en Biomedicina Molecular, Celular y Genómica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, 46012 Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Castro
- Instituto de Química Médica, IQM-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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22
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OUP accepted manuscript. Cereb Cortex 2022; 32:4782-4796. [DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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23
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Guimarães Backhaus R, Fu T, Backhaus H, Stroh A. Pipeline for 2-photon all-optical physiology in mouse: From viral titration and optical window implantation to binarization of calcium transients. STAR Protoc 2021; 2:101010. [PMID: 35079708 PMCID: PMC8776863 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.101010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
2-photon all-optical physiology combines in vivo 2-photon calcium imaging and optogenetics, which enables both the read out and manipulation of neuronal microcircuits with single-cell resolution. Here, we describe a protocol for achieving optimized co-expression of calcium indicator and opsin. To enable longitudinal designs, we introduce a template for virus injection and chronic window implantation. We also highlight key aspects of performing 2-photon imaging and suggest an analysis algorithm for the binarization of putatively action-potential (AP)-related calcium transients. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Fu et al. (2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Guimarães Backhaus
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 19, 55128 Mainz, Germany.,Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Wallstr. 7, 55122 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ting Fu
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 19, 55128 Mainz, Germany.,Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Wallstr. 7, 55122 Mainz, Germany
| | - Hendrik Backhaus
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Wallstr. 7, 55122 Mainz, Germany
| | - Albrecht Stroh
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 19, 55128 Mainz, Germany.,Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Wallstr. 7, 55122 Mainz, Germany
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24
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González LF, Bevilacqua LE, Naves R. Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery Strategies to Repair the Mitochondrial Function in Neuroinflammatory and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:2055. [PMID: 34959337 PMCID: PMC8707316 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13122055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are vital organelles in eukaryotic cells that control diverse physiological processes related to energy production, calcium homeostasis, the generation of reactive oxygen species, and cell death. Several studies have demonstrated that structural and functional mitochondrial disturbances are involved in the development of different neuroinflammatory (NI) and neurodegenerative (ND) diseases (NI&NDDs) such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Remarkably, counteracting mitochondrial impairment by genetic or pharmacologic treatment ameliorates neurodegeneration and clinical disability in animal models of these diseases. Therefore, the development of nanosystems enabling the sustained and selective delivery of mitochondria-targeted drugs is a novel and effective strategy to tackle NI&NDDs. In this review, we outline the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction associated with unbalanced mitochondrial dynamics, altered mitophagy, oxidative stress, energy deficit, and proteinopathies in NI&NDDs. In addition, we review different strategies for selective mitochondria-specific ligand targeting and discuss novel nanomaterials, nanozymes, and drug-loaded nanosystems developed to repair mitochondrial function and their therapeutic benefits protecting against oxidative stress, restoring cell energy production, preventing cell death, inhibiting protein aggregates, and improving motor and cognitive disability in cellular and animal models of different NI&NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rodrigo Naves
- Immunology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Av. Independencia 1027, Santiago 8380453, Chile; (L.F.G.); (L.E.B.)
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25
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Lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation disrupts functional connectivity and community structure in primary cortical microtissues. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22303. [PMID: 34785714 PMCID: PMC8595892 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01616-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) neural microtissues are a powerful in vitro paradigm for studying brain development and disease under controlled conditions, while maintaining many key attributes of the in vivo environment. Here, we used primary cortical microtissues to study the effects of neuroinflammation on neural microcircuits. We demonstrated the use of a genetically encoded calcium indicator combined with a novel live-imaging platform to record spontaneous calcium transients in microtissues from day 14-34 in vitro. We implemented graph theory analysis of calcium activity to characterize underlying functional connectivity and community structure of microcircuits, which are capable of capturing subtle changes in network dynamics during early disease states. We found that microtissues cultured for 34 days displayed functional remodeling of microcircuits and that community structure strengthened over time. Lipopolysaccharide, a neuroinflammatory agent, significantly increased functional connectivity and disrupted community structure 5-9 days after exposure. These microcircuit-level changes have broad implications for the role of neuroinflammation in functional dysregulation of neural networks.
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26
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Kaye J, Reisine T, Finkbeiner S. Huntington's disease mouse models: unraveling the pathology caused by CAG repeat expansion. Fac Rev 2021; 10:77. [PMID: 34746930 PMCID: PMC8546598 DOI: 10.12703/r/10-77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease that results in motor and cognitive dysfunction, leading to early death. HD is caused by an expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene (HTT). Here, we review the mouse models of HD. They have been used extensively to better understand the molecular and cellular basis of disease pathogenesis as well as to provide non-human subjects to test the efficacy of potential therapeutics. The first and best-studied in vivo rodent model of HD is the R6/2 mouse, in which a transgene containing the promoter and exon 1 fragment of human HTT with 150 CAG repeats was inserted into the mouse genome. R6/2 mice express rapid, robust behavioral pathologies and display a number of degenerative abnormalities in neuronal populations most vulnerable in HD. The first conditional full-length mutant huntingtin (mHTT) mouse model of HD was the bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mouse model of HD (BACHD), which expresses human full-length mHTT with a mixture of 97 CAG-CAA repeats under the control of endogenous HTT regulatory machinery. It has been useful in identifying the role of mHTT in specific neuronal populations in degenerative processes. In the knock-in (KI) model of HD, the expanded human CAG repeats and human exon 1 are inserted into the mouse Htt locus, so a chimera of the full-length mouse protein with the N-terminal human portion is expressed. Many of aspects of the pathology and behavioral deficits in the KI model better mimic disease characteristics found in HD patients than other models. Accordingly, some have proposed that these mice may be preferable models of the disease over others. Indeed, as our understanding of HD advances, so will the design of animal models to test and develop HD therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Kaye
- Center for Systems and Therapeutics, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Terry Reisine
- Independent Scientific Consultant, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Steve Finkbeiner
- Center for Systems and Therapeutics, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Taube/Koret Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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27
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Heinz A, Schilling J, van Roon-Mom W, Krauß S. The MID1 Protein: A Promising Therapeutic Target in Huntington's Disease. Front Genet 2021; 12:761714. [PMID: 34659371 PMCID: PMC8517220 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.761714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by an expansion mutation of a CAG repeat in exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene, that encodes an expanded polyglutamine tract in the HTT protein. HD is characterized by progressive psychiatric and cognitive symptoms associated with a progressive movement disorder. HTT is ubiquitously expressed, but the pathological changes caused by the mutation are most prominent in the central nervous system. Since the mutation was discovered, research has mainly focused on the mutant HTT protein. But what if the polyglutamine protein is not the only cause of the neurotoxicity? Recent studies show that the mutant RNA transcript is also involved in cellular dysfunction. Here we discuss the abnormal interaction of the mutant HTT transcript with a protein complex containing the MID1 protein. MID1 aberrantly binds to CAG repeats and this binding increases with CAG repeat length. Since MID1 is a translation regulator, association of the MID1 complex stimulates translation of mutant HTT mRNA, resulting in an overproduction of polyglutamine protein. Thus, blocking the interaction between MID1 and mutant HTT mRNA is a promising therapeutic approach. Additionally, we show that MID1 expression in the brain of both HD patients and HD mice is aberrantly increased. This finding further supports the concept of blocking the interaction between MID1 and mutant HTT mRNA to counteract mutant HTT translation as a valuable therapeutic strategy. In line, recent studies in which either compounds affecting the assembly of the MID1 complex or molecules targeting HTT RNA, show promising results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Heinz
- University of Siegen, Institute of Biology, Human Biology / Neurobiology, Siegen, Germany
| | - Judith Schilling
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Willeke van Roon-Mom
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sybille Krauß
- University of Siegen, Institute of Biology, Human Biology / Neurobiology, Siegen, Germany
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28
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Emerging roles of dysregulated adenosine homeostasis in brain disorders with a specific focus on neurodegenerative diseases. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:70. [PMID: 34635103 PMCID: PMC8507231 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-021-00766-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In modern societies, with an increase in the older population, age-related neurodegenerative diseases have progressively become greater socioeconomic burdens. To date, despite the tremendous effort devoted to understanding neurodegenerative diseases in recent decades, treatment to delay disease progression is largely ineffective and is in urgent demand. The development of new strategies targeting these pathological features is a timely topic. It is important to note that most degenerative diseases are associated with the accumulation of specific misfolded proteins, which is facilitated by several common features of neurodegenerative diseases (including poor energy homeostasis and mitochondrial dysfunction). Adenosine is a purine nucleoside and neuromodulator in the brain. It is also an essential component of energy production pathways, cellular metabolism, and gene regulation in brain cells. The levels of intracellular and extracellular adenosine are thus tightly controlled by a handful of proteins (including adenosine metabolic enzymes and transporters) to maintain proper adenosine homeostasis. Notably, disruption of adenosine homeostasis in the brain under various pathophysiological conditions has been documented. In the past two decades, adenosine receptors (particularly A1 and A2A adenosine receptors) have been actively investigated as important drug targets in major degenerative diseases. Unfortunately, except for an A2A antagonist (istradefylline) administered as an adjuvant treatment with levodopa for Parkinson's disease, no effective drug based on adenosine receptors has been developed for neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we summarize the emerging findings on proteins involved in the control of adenosine homeostasis in the brain and discuss the challenges and future prospects for the development of new therapeutic treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and their associated disorders based on the understanding of adenosine homeostasis.
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29
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Abdi M, Pasbakhsh P, Shabani M, Nekoonam S, Sadeghi A, Fathi F, Abouzaripour M, Mohamed W, Zibara K, Kashani IR, Zendedel A. Metformin Therapy Attenuates Pro-inflammatory Microglia by Inhibiting NF-κB in Cuprizone Demyelinating Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis. Neurotox Res 2021; 39:1732-1746. [PMID: 34570348 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-021-00417-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disorder characterized by reactive gliosis, inflammation, and demyelination. Microglia plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of MS and has the dynamic plasticity to polarize between pro-inflammatory (M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes. Metformin, a glucose-lowering drug, attenuates inflammatory responses by activating adenosine monophosphate protein kinase (AMPK) which suppresses nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). In this study, we indirectly investigated whether metformin therapy would regulate microglia activity in the cuprizone (CPZ)-induced demyelination mouse model of MS via measuring the markers associated with pro- and anti-inflammatory microglia. Evaluation of myelin by luxol fast blue staining revealed that metformin treatment (CPZ + Met) diminished demyelination, in comparison to CPZ mice. In addition, metformin therapy significantly alleviated reactive microgliosis and astrogliosis in the corpus callosum, as measured by Iba-1 and GFAP staining. Moreover, metformin treatment significantly downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory associated genes (iNOS, H2-Aa, and TNF-α) in the corpus callosum, whereas expression of anti-inflammatory markers (Arg1, Mrc1, and IL10) was not promoted, compared to CPZ mice. Furthermore, protein levels of iNOS (pro-inflammatory marker) were significantly decreased in the metformin group, while those of Trem2 (anti-inflammatory marker) were increased. In addition, metformin significantly increased AMPK activation in CPZ mice. Finally, metformin administration significantly reduced the activation level of NF-κB in CPZ mice. In summary, our data revealed that metformin attenuated pro-inflammatory microglia markers through suppressing NF-κB activity. The positive effects of metformin on microglia and remyelination suggest that it could be used as a promising candidate to lessen the incidence of inflammatory neurodegenerative diseases such as MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdad Abdi
- Department of Anatomy, school of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parichehr Pasbakhsh
- Department of Anatomy, school of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maryam Shabani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saied Nekoonam
- Department of Anatomy, school of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Asie Sadeghi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Fardin Fathi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | | | - Wael Mohamed
- Basic Medical Science Department, International Islamic University Malaysia, Pahang, Malaysia.,Clinical Pharmacology Department, Menoufia Medical School, Menoufia University, Shebin El Kom, Egypt
| | - Kazem Zibara
- PRASE and Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences-I, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Iraj Ragerdi Kashani
- Department of Anatomy, school of medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Adib Zendedel
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH University Hospital Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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30
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Huntingtin and Its Role in Mechanisms of RNA-Mediated Toxicity. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13070487. [PMID: 34357961 PMCID: PMC8310054 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13070487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by a CAG-repeat expansion mutation in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. It is characterized by progressive psychiatric and neurological symptoms in combination with a progressive movement disorder. Despite the ubiquitous expression of HTT, pathological changes occur quite selectively in the central nervous system. Since the discovery of HD more than 150 years ago, a lot of research on molecular mechanisms contributing to neurotoxicity has remained the focal point. While traditionally, the protein encoded by the HTT gene remained the cynosure for researchers and was extensively reviewed elsewhere, several studies in the last few years clearly indicated the contribution of the mutant RNA transcript to cellular dysfunction as well. In this review, we outline recent studies on RNA-mediated molecular mechanisms that are linked to cellular dysfunction in HD models. These mechanisms include mis-splicing, aberrant translation, deregulation of the miRNA machinery, deregulated RNA transport and abnormal regulation of mitochondrial RNA. Furthermore, we summarize recent therapeutical approaches targeting the mutant HTT transcript. While currently available treatments are of a palliative nature only and do not halt the disease progression, recent clinical studies provide hope that these novel RNA-targeting strategies will lead to better therapeutic approaches.
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31
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Sun T, Liu J, Xie C, Yang J, Zhao L, Yang J. Metformin attenuates diabetic renal injury via the AMPK-autophagy axis. Exp Ther Med 2021; 21:578. [PMID: 33850550 PMCID: PMC8027752 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a clinical condition characterized by kidney damage that is observed in patients with diabetes. DN is the main cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which is the final stage of chronic kidney disease. Increasing evidence suggests that metformin, a characteristic oral hypoglycemic drug used for treating diabetes, exerts beneficial effects on various medical conditions and diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and thyroid-related disorders. However, the impact of metformin on DN remains unknown. The present study investigated whether metformin could attenuate the inflammatory response, fibrosis and increased oxidative stress observed during DN in diabetic/dyslipidemic (db/db) mice. The kidneys of the mice (12-16 weeks) were isolated for immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The results demonstrated that metformin significantly reduced the oxidative damage and fibrosis in the kidneys of db/db mice. Furthermore, metformin treatment significantly inhibited the generation of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-1β in db/db mice. These effects were induced by the activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, which was mediated by increased phosphorylation of AMPK and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), resulting in autophagy and the simultaneous decrease in reactive oxygen species production, cell apoptosis and inflammatory response. These findings suggested that metformin may reduce DN damage via regulation of the AMPK-mTOR-autophagy axis and indicated that metformin may be considered as a potential target in the treatment of DN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingli Sun
- Department of Nephrology, General Hospital of Daqing Oil Field, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163001, P.R. China
| | - Jizhang Liu
- Department of Nephrology, General Hospital of Daqing Oil Field, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163001, P.R. China
| | - Changying Xie
- Department of Nephrology, General Hospital of Daqing Oil Field, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163001, P.R. China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Nephrology, General Hospital of Daqing Oil Field, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163001, P.R. China
| | - Lijie Zhao
- Department of Geriatrics, General Hospital of Daqing Oil Field, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163001, P.R. China
| | - Jingbo Yang
- Department of Nephrology, General Hospital of Daqing Oil Field, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163001, P.R. China
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32
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Acitretin reverses early functional network degradation in a mouse model of familial Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6649. [PMID: 33758244 PMCID: PMC7988040 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85912-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activity of local functional networks underlies memory and cognition deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Hyperactivity was observed in microcircuits of mice AD-models showing plaques, and also recently in early stage AD mutants prior to amyloid deposition. However, early functional effects of AD on cortical microcircuits remain unresolved. Using two-photon calcium imaging, we found altered temporal distributions (burstiness) in the spontaneous activity of layer II/III visual cortex neurons, in a mouse model of familial Alzheimer's disease (5xFAD), before plaque formation. Graph theory (GT) measures revealed a distinct network topology of 5xFAD microcircuits, as compared to healthy controls, suggesting degradation of parameters related to network robustness. After treatment with acitretin, we observed a re-balancing of those network measures in 5xFAD mice; particularly in the mean degree distribution, related to network development and resilience, and post-treatment values resembled those of age-matched controls. Further, behavioral deficits, and the increase of excitatory synapse numbers in layer II/III were reversed after treatment. GT is widely applied for whole-brain network analysis in human neuroimaging, we here demonstrate the translational value of GT as a multi-level tool, to probe networks at different levels in order to assess treatments, explore mechanisms, and contribute to early diagnosis.
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33
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Fu T, Arnoux I, Döring J, Backhaus H, Watari H, Stasevicius I, Fan W, Stroh A. Exploring two-photon optogenetics beyond 1100 nm for specific and effective all-optical physiology. iScience 2021; 24:102184. [PMID: 33718836 PMCID: PMC7921810 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Two-photon (2-P) all-optical approaches combine in vivo 2-P calcium imaging and 2-P optogenetic modulations. Here, firstly, we combined in vivo juxtacellular recordings and GCaMP6f-based 2-P calcium imaging in mouse visual cortex to tune our detection algorithm towards a 100% specific identification of action potential-related calcium transients. Secondly, we minimized photostimulation artifacts by using extended-wavelength-spectrum laser sources for optogenetic stimulation. We achieved artifact-free all-optical experiments performing optogenetic stimulation from 1100 nm to 1300 nm. Thirdly, we determined the spectral range for maximizing efficacy until 1300 nm. The rate of evoked transients in GCaMP6f/C1V1-co-expressing cortical neurons peaked already at 1100 nm. By refining spike detection and defining 1100 nm as the optimal wavelength for artifact-free and effective GCaMP6f/C1V1-based all-optical physiology, we increased the translational value of these approaches, e.g., for the development of network-based therapies. We developed an algorithm for 100 %-specific identification of AP-related calcium transients Artifact-free all-optical experiments can be achieved from 1100 nm to 1300 nm Efficacy of C1V1 excitation does not increase beyond 1100 nm until 1300 nm
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Fu
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 19, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.,Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Wallstr. 7, D-55122 Mainz, Germany
| | - Isabelle Arnoux
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 19, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.,Neuroglial Interactions in Cerebral Physiopathology, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, CNR UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, Labex Memolife, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Jan Döring
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 19, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Hendrik Backhaus
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Wallstr. 7, D-55122 Mainz, Germany
| | - Hirofumi Watari
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 19, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ignas Stasevicius
- Vilnius University Laser Research Center, Saulėtekio av. 10, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania.,Light Conversion, Keramikų 2b, Vilnius LT-10223, Lithuania
| | - Wei Fan
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 19, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.,Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Wallstr. 7, D-55122 Mainz, Germany
| | - Albrecht Stroh
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 19, D-55128 Mainz, Germany.,Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Wallstr. 7, D-55122 Mainz, Germany
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34
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Zaer H, Deshmukh A, Orlowski D, Fan W, Prouvot PH, Glud AN, Jensen MB, Worm ES, Lukacova S, Mikkelsen TW, Fitting LM, Adler JR, Schneider MB, Jensen MS, Fu Q, Go V, Morizio J, Sørensen JCH, Stroh A. An Intracortical Implantable Brain-Computer Interface for Telemetric Real-Time Recording and Manipulation of Neuronal Circuits for Closed-Loop Intervention. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:618626. [PMID: 33613212 PMCID: PMC7887289 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.618626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recording and manipulating neuronal ensemble activity is a key requirement in advanced neuromodulatory and behavior studies. Devices capable of both recording and manipulating neuronal activity brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) should ideally operate un-tethered and allow chronic longitudinal manipulations in the freely moving animal. In this study, we designed a new intracortical BCI feasible of telemetric recording and stimulating local gray and white matter of visual neural circuit after irradiation exposure. To increase the translational reliance, we put forward a Göttingen minipig model. The animal was stereotactically irradiated at the level of the visual cortex upon defining the target by a fused cerebral MRI and CT scan. A fully implantable neural telemetry system consisting of a 64 channel intracortical multielectrode array, a telemetry capsule, and an inductive rechargeable battery was then implanted into the visual cortex to record and manipulate local field potentials, and multi-unit activity. We achieved a 3-month stability of the functionality of the un-tethered BCI in terms of telemetric radio-communication, inductive battery charging, and device biocompatibility for 3 months. Finally, we could reliably record the local signature of sub- and suprathreshold neuronal activity in the visual cortex with high bandwidth without complications. The ability to wireless induction charging combined with the entirely implantable design, the rather high recording bandwidth, and the ability to record and stimulate simultaneously put forward a wireless BCI capable of long-term un-tethered real-time communication for causal preclinical circuit-based closed-loop interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Zaer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Experimental Neuroscience (CENSE), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ashlesha Deshmukh
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Dariusz Orlowski
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Experimental Neuroscience (CENSE), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Wei Fan
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Andreas Nørgaard Glud
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Experimental Neuroscience (CENSE), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Morten Bjørn Jensen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Oncology, Radiation Therapy, and Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Esben Schjødt Worm
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Oncology, Radiation Therapy, and Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Slávka Lukacova
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Oncology, Radiation Therapy, and Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Trine Werenberg Mikkelsen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Experimental Neuroscience (CENSE), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lise Moberg Fitting
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Experimental Neuroscience (CENSE), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - John R. Adler
- Zap Surgical Systems, Inc., San Carlos, CA, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - M. Bret Schneider
- Zap Surgical Systems, Inc., San Carlos, CA, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Martin Snejbjerg Jensen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University and Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Quanhai Fu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Vinson Go
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - James Morizio
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jens Christian Hedemann Sørensen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Experimental Neuroscience (CENSE), Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Albrecht Stroh
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Pathophysiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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35
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Demaré S, Kothari A, Calcutt NA, Fernyhough P. Metformin as a potential therapeutic for neurological disease: mobilizing AMPK to repair the nervous system. Expert Rev Neurother 2020; 21:45-63. [PMID: 33161784 PMCID: PMC9482886 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2021.1847645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Metformin is currently first line therapy for type 2 diabetes (T2D). The mechanism of action of metformin involves activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to enhance mitochondrial function (for example, biogenesis, refurbishment and dynamics) and autophagy. Many neurodegenerative diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems arise from metabolic failure and toxic protein aggregation where activated AMPK could prove protective. Areas covered: The authors review literature on metformin treatment in Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and other neurological diseases of the CNS along with neuroprotective effects of AMPK activation and suppression of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway on peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain. The authors compare the efficacy of metformin with the actions of resveratrol. Expert opinion: Metformin, through activation of AMPK and autophagy, can enhance neuronal bioenergetics, promote nerve repair and reduce toxic protein aggregates in neurological diseases. A long history of safe use in humans should encourage development of metformin and other AMPK activators in preclinical and clinical research. Future studies in animal models of neurological disease should strive to further dissect in a mechanistic manner the pathways downstream from metformin-dependent AMPK activation, and to further investigate mTOR dependent and independent signaling pathways driving neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Demaré
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre , Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba , Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Asha Kothari
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre , Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba , Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Nigel A Calcutt
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego , La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Paul Fernyhough
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre , Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba , Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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36
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Metformin Ameliorates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Depressive-Like Behaviors and Abnormal Glutamatergic Transmission. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9110359. [PMID: 33114529 PMCID: PMC7692296 DOI: 10.3390/biology9110359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Metformin is a promising drug for diabetes and has been reported to have antidepressant effects in depression patients or patients with comorbid depression and other diseases. However, it is largely unclear how metformin ameliorates depressive-like behaviors. To this end, we injected mice with a bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) to induce depressive-like behaviors such as increased immobility in the forced swimming test and tail suspension test. In this depression mouse model, metformin administration ameliorated depressive-like behaviors. Glutamate is a major excitatory signal for the communications between neurons in the brain. Dysfunction of glutamatergic neurotransmission is implicated in the pathogenesis of depression. Glutamatergic transmission was elevated in our depression mouse model. Metformin administration also recovered the glutamatergic transmission deficit in the model. Taken together, our results suggest metformin had antidepressant effects and can correct abnormal glutamatergic transmission in the lipopolysaccharide-induced depression mouse model. These findings provide new insights into the underlying mechanism by which metformin acts against depression. Abstract Metformin, a first-line drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), has been found to reduce depressive symptoms in patients with comorbid depression and other diseases. However, it is largely unclear how metformin ameliorates depressive-like behaviors. Here, we used lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce depressive-like behaviors in mice and found that LPS-treated mice exhibited increased immobility in the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST), as well as increased glutamatergic transmission. Furthermore, metformin administration in the LPS-treated mice ameliorated depressive-like behaviors and elevated glutamatergic transmission. Our results suggest that metformin has antidepressant effects and can correct abnormal glutamatergic transmission, providing an insight into the underlying mechanism by which metformin acts against depression.
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37
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Metformin Enhances Excitatory Synaptic Transmission onto Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10100706. [PMID: 33020379 PMCID: PMC7601223 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10100706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Metformin (Met) is a first-line drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Numerous studies have shown that Met exerts beneficial effects on a variety of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD). However, it is still largely unclear how Met acts on neurons. Here, by treating acute hippocampal slices with Met (1 μM and 10 μM) and recording synaptic transmission as well as neuronal excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons, we found that Met treatments significantly increased the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs), but not amplitude. Neither frequency nor amplitude of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) were changed with Met treatments. Analysis of paired-pulse ratios (PPR) demonstrates that enhanced presynaptic glutamate release from terminals innervating CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons, while excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons was not altered. Our results suggest that Met preferentially increases glutamatergic rather than GABAergic transmission in hippocampal CA1, providing a new insight on how Met acts on neurons.
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Cunnane SC, Trushina E, Morland C, Prigione A, Casadesus G, Andrews ZB, Beal MF, Bergersen LH, Brinton RD, de la Monte S, Eckert A, Harvey J, Jeggo R, Jhamandas JH, Kann O, la Cour CM, Martin WF, Mithieux G, Moreira PI, Murphy MP, Nave KA, Nuriel T, Oliet SHR, Saudou F, Mattson MP, Swerdlow RH, Millan MJ. Brain energy rescue: an emerging therapeutic concept for neurodegenerative disorders of ageing. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2020; 19:609-633. [PMID: 32709961 PMCID: PMC7948516 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-020-0072-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 437] [Impact Index Per Article: 109.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The brain requires a continuous supply of energy in the form of ATP, most of which is produced from glucose by oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, complemented by aerobic glycolysis in the cytoplasm. When glucose levels are limited, ketone bodies generated in the liver and lactate derived from exercising skeletal muscle can also become important energy substrates for the brain. In neurodegenerative disorders of ageing, brain glucose metabolism deteriorates in a progressive, region-specific and disease-specific manner - a problem that is best characterized in Alzheimer disease, where it begins presymptomatically. This Review discusses the status and prospects of therapeutic strategies for countering neurodegenerative disorders of ageing by improving, preserving or rescuing brain energetics. The approaches described include restoring oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis, increasing insulin sensitivity, correcting mitochondrial dysfunction, ketone-based interventions, acting via hormones that modulate cerebral energetics, RNA therapeutics and complementary multimodal lifestyle changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen C Cunnane
- Department of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
- Research Center on Aging, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
| | | | - Cecilie Morland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alessandro Prigione
- Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatology, and Pediatric Cardiology, University of Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Gemma Casadesus
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Zane B Andrews
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - M Flint Beal
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Linda H Bergersen
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | | | - Jenni Harvey
- Ninewells Hospital, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Ross Jeggo
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation in Neuropsychiatry, Institut de Recherche Servier, Croissy sur Seine, France
| | - Jack H Jhamandas
- Department of Medicine, University of Albeta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Albeta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Oliver Kann
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Clothide Mannoury la Cour
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation in Neuropsychiatry, Institut de Recherche Servier, Croissy sur Seine, France
| | - William F Martin
- Institute of Molecular Evolution, University of Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Paula I Moreira
- CNC Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Michael P Murphy
- MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Klaus-Armin Nave
- Department of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tal Nuriel
- Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stéphane H R Oliet
- Neurocentre Magendie, INSERM U1215, Bordeaux, France
- Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Frédéric Saudou
- University of Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- INSERM U1216, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institute Neurosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Mark P Mattson
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Mark J Millan
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation in Neuropsychiatry, Institut de Recherche Servier, Croissy sur Seine, France.
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Soo SK, Rudich PD, Traa A, Harris-Gauthier N, Shields HJ, Van Raamsdonk JM. Compounds that extend longevity are protective in neurodegenerative diseases and provide a novel treatment strategy for these devastating disorders. Mech Ageing Dev 2020; 190:111297. [PMID: 32610099 PMCID: PMC7484136 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2020.111297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
While aging is the greatest risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative disease, the role of aging in these diseases is poorly understood. In the inherited forms of these diseases, the disease-causing mutation is present from birth but symptoms appear decades later. This indicates that these mutations are well tolerated in younger individuals but not in older adults. Based on this observation, we hypothesized that changes taking place during normal aging make the cells in the brain (and elsewhere) susceptible to the disease-causing mutations. If so, then delaying some of these age-related changes may be beneficial in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. In this review, we examine the effects of five compounds that have been shown to extend longevity (metformin, rapamycin, resveratrol, N-acetyl-l-cysteine, curcumin) in four of the most common neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). While not all investigations observe a beneficial effect of these compounds, there are multiple studies that show a protective effect of each of these lifespan-extending compounds in animal models of neurodegenerative disease. Combined with genetic studies, this suggests the possibility that targeting the aging process may be an effective strategy to treat neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja K Soo
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Paige D Rudich
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Annika Traa
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Namasthée Harris-Gauthier
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Hazel J Shields
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Jeremy M Van Raamsdonk
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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Gómez-Escribano AP, Bono-Yagüe J, García-Gimeno MA, Sequedo MD, Hervás D, Fornés-Ferrer V, Torres-Sánchez SC, Millán JM, Sanz P, Vázquez-Manrique RP. Synergistic activation of AMPK prevents from polyglutamine-induced toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Pharmacol Res 2020; 161:105105. [PMID: 32739430 PMCID: PMC7755709 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Expression of abnormally long polyglutamine (polyQ) tracks is the source of a range of dominant neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington disease. Currently, there is no treatment for this devastating disease, although some chemicals, e.g., metformin, have been proposed as therapeutic solutions. In this work, we show that metformin, together with salicylate, can synergistically reduce the number of aggregates produced after polyQ expression in Caenorhabditis elegans. Moreover, we demonstrate that incubation polyQ-stressed worms with low doses of both chemicals restores neuronal functionality. Both substances are pleitotropic and may activate a range of different targets. However, we demonstrate in this report that the beneficial effect induced by the combination of these drugs depends entirely on the catalytic action of AMPK, since loss of function mutants of aak-2/AMPKα2 do not respond to the treatment. To further investigate the mechanism of the synergetic activity of metformin/salicylate, we used CRISPR to generate mutant alleles of the scaffolding subunit of AMPK, aakb-1/AMPKβ1. In addition, we used an RNAi strategy to silence the expression of the second AMPKβ subunit in worms, namely aakb-2/AMPKβ2. In this work, we demonstrated that both regulatory subunits of AMPK are modulators of protein homeostasis. Interestingly, only aakb-2/AMPKβ2 is required for the synergistic action of metformin/salicylate to reduce polyQ aggregation. Finally, we showed that autophagy acts downstream of metformin/salicylate-related AMPK activation to promote healthy protein homeostasis in worms.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Gómez-Escribano
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - J Bono-Yagüe
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - M A García-Gimeno
- Department of Biotechnology, Escuela Técnica Superior De Ingeniería Agronómica y Del Medio Natural (ETSIAMN), Universitat Politécnica De València, Valencia, Spain
| | - M D Sequedo
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - D Hervás
- Department of Biostatistics, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - V Fornés-Ferrer
- Tau Analytics, Parc Científic De La Universitat De València, Paterna, Spain
| | - S C Torres-Sánchez
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - J M Millán
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - P Sanz
- Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Instituto De Biomedicina De València, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - R P Vázquez-Manrique
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain.
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Metformin inhibits RAN translation through PKR pathway and mitigates disease in C9orf72 ALS/FTD mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:18591-18599. [PMID: 32690681 PMCID: PMC7414156 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2005748117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) proteins accumulate in patient brains and contribute to a growing number of neurodegenerative diseases. There is an urgent need to understand why expression of these proteins does not require canonical or near-cognate AUG start codons and to develop ways to block RAN protein production. We show several types of repeat-expansion RNAs activate the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) pathway and that blocking PKR reduces RAN protein levels in cells. PKR is activated in C9orf72 ALS/FTD human and mouse brains and PKR inhibition using AAV-PKR-K296R or the FDA-approved drug metformin decreases RAN protein levels and improves disease in ALS/FTD mice. Targeting PKR using gene therapy or metformin are promising therapeutic approaches for C9orf72 ALS/FTD and other expansion diseases. Repeat associated non-AUG (RAN) translation is found in a growing number of microsatellite expansion diseases, but the mechanisms remain unclear. We show that RAN translation is highly regulated by the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR). In cells, structured CAG, CCUG, CAGG, and G4C2 expansion RNAs activate PKR, which leads to increased levels of multiple RAN proteins. Blocking PKR using PKR-K296R, the TAR RNA binding protein or PKR-KO cells, reduces RAN protein levels. p-PKR is elevated in C9orf72 ALS/FTD human and mouse brains, and inhibiting PKR in C9orf72 BAC transgenic mice using AAV-PKR-K296R or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug metformin, decreases RAN proteins, and improves behavior and pathology. In summary, targeting PKR, including by use of metformin, is a promising therapeutic approach for C9orf72 ALS/FTD and other expansion diseases.
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Brás IC, König A, Outeiro TF. Glycation in Huntington's Disease: A Possible Modifier and Target for Intervention. J Huntingtons Dis 2020; 8:245-256. [PMID: 31322580 PMCID: PMC6839463 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-190366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Glycation is the non-enzymatic reaction between reactive dicarbonyls and amino groups, and gives rise to a variety of different reaction products known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Accumulation of AGEs on proteins is inevitable, and is associated with the aging process. Importantly, glycation is highly relevant in diabetic patients that experience periods of hyperglycemia. AGEs also play an important role in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease caused by an expansion of a CAG repeat in the huntingtin gene. The resulting expanded polyglutamine stretch in the huntingtin (HTT) protein induces its misfolding and aggregation, leading to neuronal dysfunction and death. HD patients exhibit chorea and psychiatric disturbances, along with abnormalities in glucose and energy homeostasis. Interestingly, an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus has been reported in HD and in other CAG triplet repeat disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying the connection between glycation and HD progression remain unclear. In this review, we explore the possible connection between glycation and proteostasis imbalances in HD, and posit that it may contribute to disease progression, possibly by accelerating protein aggregation and deposition. Finally, we review therapeutic interventions that might be able to alleviate the negative impact of glycation in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Caldeira Brás
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Annekatrin König
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience, The Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Reactive Species in Huntington Disease: Are They Really the Radicals You Want to Catch? Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:antiox9070577. [PMID: 32630706 PMCID: PMC7401865 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9070577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative condition and one of the so-called rare or minority diseases, due to its low prevalence (affecting 1–10 of every 100,000 people in western countries). The causative gene, HTT, encodes huntingtin, a protein with a yet unknown function. Mutant huntingtin causes a range of phenotypes, including oxidative stress and the activation of microglia and astrocytes, which leads to chronic inflammation of the brain. Although substantial efforts have been made to find a cure for HD, there is currently no medical intervention able to stop or even delay progression of the disease. Among the many targets of therapeutic intervention, oxidative stress and inflammation have been extensively studied and some clinical trials have been promoted to target them. In the present work, we review the basic research on oxidative stress in HD and the strategies used to fight it. Many of the strategies to reduce the phenotypes associated with oxidative stress have produced positive results, yet no substantial functional recovery has been observed in animal models or patients with the disease. We discuss possible explanations for this and suggest potential ways to overcome it.
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Tang BL. Could metformin be therapeutically useful in Huntington's disease? Rev Neurosci 2020; 31:297-317. [PMID: 31751298 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2019-0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggest that dimethylbiguanide (metformin), a first-line drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus, could be neuroprotective in a range of brain pathologies, which include neurodegenerative diseases and brain injury. However, there are also contraindications that associate metformin treatment with cognitive impairment as well as adverse outcomes in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease animal models. Recently, a beneficial effect of metformin in animal models of Huntington's disease (HD) has been strengthened by multiple reports. In this brief review, the findings associated with the effects of metformin in attenuating neurodegenerative diseases are discussed, focusing on HD-associated pathology and the potential underlying mechanisms highlighted by these studies. The mechanism of action of metformin is complex, and its therapeutic efficacy is therefore expected to be dependent on the disease context. The key metabolic pathways that are effectively affected by metformin, such as AMP-activated protein kinase activation, may be altered in the later decades of the human lifespan. In this regard, metformin may nonetheless be therapeutically useful for neurological diseases with early pathological onsets, such as HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bor Luen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore 117596, Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Medical Drive, Singapore 119077, Singapore
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Li X, Wang L, Yang X, Huang C. Metformin Attenuates Ischemia-reperfusion Injury of Fatty Liver in Rats Through Inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB Axis. Balkan Med J 2020; 37:196-202. [PMID: 32270948 PMCID: PMC7285667 DOI: 10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2020.2019.9.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Donor organs for liver transplantation may often have fatty liver disease, which confers a higher sensitivity to ischemia/reperfusion injury. At present, there is no effective treatment for the condition. Evidence has suggested that metformin, the first-line medication for diabetes, has protective effects against many disorders. However, the potential role of metformin in ischemia/reperfusion injury in fatty liver disease remains unclear. Aims To examine the effect of metformin treatment during ischemia/reperfusion injury in fatty liver and determine the possible mechanisms. Study Design Animal experimentation. Methods Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed a high-fat diet (520 kcal/100 g) for 14 weeks and then were subjected to the orthotopic autologous liver transplantation model. Sections of liver tissue were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to visualize the damage. Blood and liver samples were used to analyze the related proteins and components involved in the inflammatory signaling pathway. Results We found that metformin significantly ameliorated the ischemia/reperfusion injury of the fatty liver through a reduction in alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase concentrations in the serum and a decrease in dead cells, as shown by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay (p<0.05). In addition, metformin significantly attenuated interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α production and increased the expression of active caspase-3 and Bax in the liver (p<0.05). Mechanistically, metformin suppressed the activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB signaling (p<0.05), resulting in a decreased inflammatory response and apoptosis. Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that metformin attenuated ischemia/reperfusion injury in fatty liver disease via the TLR4/NF-κB axis, suggesting that metformin could have potential therapeutic applications in ischemia/reperfusion injury associated with liver transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohua Li
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University Jiangxi, China
| | - Liangliang Wang
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaoguang Yang
- Department of Ultrasonic, Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Chunyan Huang
- Department of Hospitality, Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University, Jiangxi, China
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Blumenstock S, Dudanova I. Cortical and Striatal Circuits in Huntington's Disease. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:82. [PMID: 32116525 PMCID: PMC7025546 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder that typically manifests in midlife with motor, cognitive, and/or psychiatric symptoms. The disease is caused by a CAG triplet expansion in exon 1 of the huntingtin gene and leads to a severe neurodegeneration in the striatum and cortex. Classical electrophysiological studies in genetic HD mouse models provided important insights into the disbalance of excitatory, inhibitory and neuromodulatory inputs, as well as progressive disconnection between the cortex and striatum. However, the involvement of local cortical and striatal microcircuits still remains largely unexplored. Here we review the progress in understanding HD-related impairments in the cortical and basal ganglia circuits, and outline new opportunities that have opened with the development of modern circuit analysis methods. In particular, in vivo imaging studies in mouse HD models have demonstrated early structural and functional disturbances within the cortical network, and optogenetic manipulations of striatal cell types have started uncovering the causal roles of certain neuronal populations in disease pathogenesis. In addition, the important contribution of astrocytes to HD-related circuit defects has recently been recognized. In parallel, unbiased systems biology studies are providing insights into the possible molecular underpinnings of these functional defects at the level of synaptic signaling and neurotransmitter metabolism. With these approaches, we can now reach a deeper understanding of circuit-based HD mechanisms, which will be crucial for the development of effective and targeted therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Blumenstock
- Department of Molecules – Signaling – Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
- Molecular Neurodegeneration Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Irina Dudanova
- Molecular Neurodegeneration Group, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, Germany
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Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal, inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene (HTT). While mutant HTT is present ubiquitously throughout life, HD onset typically occurs in mid-life, suggesting that aging may play an active role in pathogenesis. Cellular aging is defined as the slow decline in stress resistance and accumulation of damage over time. While different cells and tissues can age at different rates, 9 hallmarks of aging have emerged to better define the cellular aging process. Strikingly, many of the hallmarks of aging are also hallmarks of HD pathology. Models of HD and HD patients possess markers of accelerated aging, and processes that decline during aging also decline at a more rapid rate in HD, further implicating the role of aging in HD pathogenesis. Furthermore, accelerating aging in HD mouse and patient-derived neurons unmasks HD-specific phenotypes, suggesting an active role for the aging process in the onset and progression of HD. Here, we review the overlap between the hallmarks of aging and HD and discuss how aging may contribute to pathogenesis in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Machiela
- University of Central Florida, College of Medicine, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Amber L. Southwell
- University of Central Florida, College of Medicine, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, Orlando, FL, USA
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Metformin treatment reduces motor and neuropsychiatric phenotypes in the zQ175 mouse model of Huntington disease. Exp Mol Med 2019; 51:1-16. [PMID: 31165723 PMCID: PMC6549163 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-019-0264-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease is a neurodegenerative condition for which there is no cure to date. Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase has previously been shown to be beneficial in in vitro and in vivo models of Huntington’s disease. Moreover, a recent cross-sectional study demonstrated that treatment with metformin, a well-known activator of this enzyme, is associated with better cognitive scores in patients with this disease. We performed a preclinical study using metformin to treat phenotypes of the zQ175 mouse model of Huntington disease. We evaluated behavior (motor and neuropsychiatric function) and molecular phenotypes (aggregation of mutant huntingtin, levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neuronal inflammation, etc.). We also used two models of polyglutamine toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans to further explore potential mechanisms of metformin action. Our results provide strong evidence that metformin alleviates motor and neuropsychiatric phenotypes in zQ175 mice. Moreover, metformin intake reduces the number of nuclear aggregates of mutant huntingtin in the striatum. The expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which is reduced in mutant animals, is partially restored in metformin-treated mice, and glial activation in mutant mice is reduced in metformin-treated animals. In addition, using worm models of polyglutamine toxicity, we demonstrate that metformin reduces polyglutamine aggregates and restores neuronal function through mechanisms involving AMP-activated protein kinase and lysosomal function. Our data indicate that metformin alleviates the progression of the disease and further supports AMP-activated protein kinase as a druggable target against Huntington’s disease. Metformin, an existing drug for diabetes, shows promise in alleviating symptoms of early Huntington’s disease in mouse models. Huntington’s disease is a genetic disorder that results in the gradual deterioration of motor skills and cognitive ability. It is caused by a defect in a single gene that then encodes a mutant huntingtin protein, which aggregates and kills brain cells. Growing observational evidence suggests that patients undergoing metformin treatment for diabetes type II exhibit fewer symptoms of age-related disease, as well as Huntington’s disease. Rafael Vázquez-Manrique at Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, València and Pascual Sanz at IBV-CSIC and CIBERER, València, and scientists across Spain used metformin to treat motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms in a Huntington’s mouse model. They found that metformin alleviated symptoms by actively reducing huntingtin levels, dispersing aggregations and limiting brain inflammation.
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Wang X, Luo C, Mao XY, Li X, Yin JY, Zhang W, Zhou HH, Liu ZQ. Metformin reverses the schizophrenia-like behaviors induced by MK-801 in rats. Brain Res 2019; 1719:30-39. [PMID: 31121159 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is known to be a complex and disabling psychiatric disorder. Dopamine receptor antagonists have a significant therapeutic effect in improving the positive symptoms that are associated with the illness. Therefore, dopamine receptor antagonists are commonly used in the treatment of schizophrenia; however, they do not achieve satisfactory results in improving negative symptoms and cognitive impairment. Metformin, widely known as an antidiabetic drug, has been found to enhance spatial memory formation and improve anxiety-like behaviors in rodents. Metformin's neuroprotective effect has been well documented in several neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, strokes, Huntington's disease, and seizures. In the present study, we used a rat model to explore the effect of metformin on schizophrenia-like behaviors induced by MK-801 (dizocilpine), an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. We found that the pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) deficit caused by MK-801 could be alleviated by metformin. The hyperlocomotion in the open field test induced by chronic treatment of MK-801 was reversed by administration of metformin. Metformin has no effect on the baseline level of anxiety in normal naive rats, while metformin could relieve the anxiety-like behaviors in MK-801-treatment rats, though this effect is not reaching a significant level. Additionally, metformin could significantly ameliorate working memory impairments induced by MK-801. Moreover, the increased level of phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3β in the frontal cortex induced by MK-801 was normalized by metformin. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that metformin improved schizophrenia-like symptoms in rats, and is therefore a potential agent for the treatment of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Wang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Changsha 410078, PR China
| | - Chao Luo
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Changsha 410078, PR China; School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, PR China
| | - Xiao-Yuan Mao
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Changsha 410078, PR China
| | - Xi Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Changsha 410078, PR China
| | - Ji-Ye Yin
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Changsha 410078, PR China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Changsha 410078, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China
| | - Hong-Hao Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Changsha 410078, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China
| | - Zhao-Qian Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Changsha 410078, PR China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, PR China.
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Burgold J, Schulz-Trieglaff EK, Voelkl K, Gutiérrez-Ángel S, Bader JM, Hosp F, Mann M, Arzberger T, Klein R, Liebscher S, Dudanova I. Cortical circuit alterations precede motor impairments in Huntington's disease mice. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6634. [PMID: 31036840 PMCID: PMC6488584 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43024-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating hereditary movement disorder, characterized by degeneration of neurons in the striatum and cortex. Studies in human patients and mouse HD models suggest that disturbances of neuronal function in the neocortex play an important role in disease onset and progression. However, the precise nature and time course of cortical alterations in HD have remained elusive. Here, we use chronic in vivo two-photon calcium imaging to longitudinally monitor the activity of identified single neurons in layer 2/3 of the primary motor cortex in awake, behaving R6/2 transgenic HD mice and wildtype littermates. R6/2 mice show age-dependent changes in cortical network function, with an increase in activity that affects a large fraction of cells and occurs rather abruptly within one week, preceeding the onset of motor defects. Furthermore, quantitative proteomics demonstrate a pronounced downregulation of synaptic proteins in the cortex, and histological analyses in R6/2 mice and human HD autopsy cases reveal a reduction in perisomatic inhibitory synaptic contacts on layer 2/3 pyramidal cells. Taken together, our study provides a time-resolved description of cortical network dysfunction in behaving HD mice and points to disturbed excitation/inhibition balance as an important pathomechanism in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Burgold
- Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | | | - Kerstin Voelkl
- Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sara Gutiérrez-Ángel
- Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jakob Maximilian Bader
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Fabian Hosp
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Matthias Mann
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Thomas Arzberger
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 81377, Munich, Germany
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Rüdiger Klein
- Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377, Munich, Germany.
| | - Sabine Liebscher
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377, Munich, Germany.
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
- Biomedical Center, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Irina Dudanova
- Department of Molecules - Signaling - Development, Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
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