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Carletti B, Banaj N, Piras F, Bossù P. Schizophrenia and Glutathione: A Challenging Story. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1526. [PMID: 38003841 PMCID: PMC10672475 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13111526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a devastating mental illness with a complex and heterogeneous clinical state. Several conditions like symptoms, stage and severity of the disease are only some of the variables that have to be considered to define the disorder and its phenotypes. SZ pathophysiology is still unclear, and the diagnosis is currently relegated to the analysis of clinical symptoms; therefore, the search for biomarkers with diagnostic relevance is a major challenge in the field, especially in the era of personalized medicine. Though the mechanisms implicated in SZ are not fully understood, some processes are beginning to be elucidated. Oxidative stress, and in particular glutathione (GSH) dysregulation, has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in SZ pathophysiology. In fact, glutathione is a leading actor of oxidative-stress-mediated damage in SZ and appears to reflect the heterogeneity of the disease. The literature reports differing results regarding the levels of glutathione in SZ patients. However, each GSH state may be a sign of specific symptoms or groups of symptoms, candidating glutathione as a biomarker useful for discriminating SZ phenotypes. Here, we summarize the literature about the levels of glutathione in SZ and analyze the role of this molecule and its potential use as a biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Carletti
- Laboratory of Neuropsychiatry, Clinical Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Department, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy; (N.B.); (F.P.)
| | - Nerisa Banaj
- Laboratory of Neuropsychiatry, Clinical Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Department, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy; (N.B.); (F.P.)
| | - Fabrizio Piras
- Laboratory of Neuropsychiatry, Clinical Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Department, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy; (N.B.); (F.P.)
| | - Paola Bossù
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Clinical Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Department, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy;
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Carletti B, Piermarini E, Tozzi G, Travaglini L, Torraco A, Pastore A, Sparaco M, Petrillo S, Carrozzo R, Bertini E, Piemonte F. Frataxin silencing inactivates mitochondrial Complex I in NSC34 motoneuronal cells and alters glutathione homeostasis. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:5789-806. [PMID: 24714088 PMCID: PMC4013596 DOI: 10.3390/ijms15045789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease characterized by a reduced synthesis of the mitochondrial iron chaperon protein frataxin as a result of a large GAA triplet-repeat expansion within the first intron of the frataxin gene. Despite neurodegeneration being the prominent feature of this pathology involving both the central and the peripheral nervous system, information on the impact of frataxin deficiency in neurons is scant. Here, we describe a neuronal model displaying some major biochemical and morphological features of FRDA. By silencing the mouse NSC34 motor neurons for the frataxin gene with shRNA lentiviral vectors, we generated two cell lines with 40% and 70% residual amounts of frataxin, respectively. Frataxin-deficient cells showed a specific inhibition of mitochondrial Complex I (CI) activity already at 70% residual frataxin levels, whereas the glutathione imbalance progressively increased after silencing. These biochemical defects were associated with the inhibition of cell proliferation and morphological changes at the axonal compartment, both depending on the frataxin amount. Interestingly, at 70% residual frataxin levels, the in vivo treatment with the reduced glutathione revealed a partial rescue of cell proliferation. Thus, NSC34 frataxin silenced cells could be a suitable model to study the effect of frataxin deficiency in neurons and highlight glutathione as a potential beneficial therapeutic target for FRDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Carletti
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Children's Hospital and Research Institute "Bambino Gesù", Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Emanuela Piermarini
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Children's Hospital and Research Institute "Bambino Gesù", Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Giulia Tozzi
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Children's Hospital and Research Institute "Bambino Gesù", Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Lorena Travaglini
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Children's Hospital and Research Institute "Bambino Gesù", Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Torraco
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Children's Hospital and Research Institute "Bambino Gesù", Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Anna Pastore
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Children's Hospital and Research Institute "Bambino Gesù", Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Marco Sparaco
- Division of Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliera, "G. Rummo", Via Pacevecchia 53, 82100 Benevento, Italy.
| | - Sara Petrillo
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Children's Hospital and Research Institute "Bambino Gesù", Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Rosalba Carrozzo
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Children's Hospital and Research Institute "Bambino Gesù", Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Enrico Bertini
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Children's Hospital and Research Institute "Bambino Gesù", Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
| | - Fiorella Piemonte
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Children's Hospital and Research Institute "Bambino Gesù", Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
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D’Oria V, Petrini S, Travaglini L, Priori C, Piermarini E, Petrillo S, Carletti B, Bertini E, Piemonte F. Frataxin deficiency leads to reduced expression and impaired translocation of NF-E2-related factor (Nrf2) in cultured motor neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2013; 14:7853-65. [PMID: 23574943 PMCID: PMC3645720 DOI: 10.3390/ijms14047853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Revised: 03/29/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA), a neurodegenerative disease caused by the decreased expression of frataxin, a mitochondrial protein responsible of iron homeostasis. Under conditions of oxidative stress, the activation of the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor (Nrf2) triggers the antioxidant cellular response by inducing antioxidant response element (ARE) driven genes. Increasing evidence supports a role for the Nrf2-ARE pathway in neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we analyzed the expression and the distribution of Nrf2 in silenced neurons for frataxin gene. Decreased Nrf2 mRNA content and a defective activation after treatment with pro-oxidants have been evidenced in frataxin-silenced neurons by RT-PCR and confocal microscopy. The loss of Nrf2 in FRDA may greatly enhance the cellular susceptibility to oxidative stress and make FRDA neurons more vulnerable to injury. Our findings may help to focus on this promising target, especially in its emerging role in the neuroprotective response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina D’Oria
- Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Research Laboratories, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome 00165, Italy; E-Mails: (V.D.); (S.P.)
| | - Stefania Petrini
- Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Research Laboratories, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome 00165, Italy; E-Mails: (V.D.); (S.P.)
| | - Lorena Travaglini
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S’Onofrio, 4, Rome 00165, Italy; E-Mails: (L.T.); (C.P.); (E.P.); (S.P.); (B.C.); (E.B.)
| | - Chiara Priori
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S’Onofrio, 4, Rome 00165, Italy; E-Mails: (L.T.); (C.P.); (E.P.); (S.P.); (B.C.); (E.B.)
| | - Emanuela Piermarini
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S’Onofrio, 4, Rome 00165, Italy; E-Mails: (L.T.); (C.P.); (E.P.); (S.P.); (B.C.); (E.B.)
| | - Sara Petrillo
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S’Onofrio, 4, Rome 00165, Italy; E-Mails: (L.T.); (C.P.); (E.P.); (S.P.); (B.C.); (E.B.)
| | - Barbara Carletti
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S’Onofrio, 4, Rome 00165, Italy; E-Mails: (L.T.); (C.P.); (E.P.); (S.P.); (B.C.); (E.B.)
| | - Enrico Bertini
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S’Onofrio, 4, Rome 00165, Italy; E-Mails: (L.T.); (C.P.); (E.P.); (S.P.); (B.C.); (E.B.)
| | - Fiorella Piemonte
- Unit for Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S’Onofrio, 4, Rome 00165, Italy; E-Mails: (L.T.); (C.P.); (E.P.); (S.P.); (B.C.); (E.B.)
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Carletti B, Piemonte F, Rossi F. Neuroprotection: the emerging concept of restorative neural stem cell biology for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Curr Neuropharmacol 2012; 9:313-7. [PMID: 22131940 PMCID: PMC3131722 DOI: 10.2174/157015911795596603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2010] [Revised: 05/02/2010] [Accepted: 05/26/2010] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
During the past decades Neural Stem Cells have been considered as an alternative source of cells to replace lost neurons and NSC transplantation has been indicated as a promising treatment for neurodegenerative disorders. Nevertheless, the current understanding of NSC biology suggests that, far from being mere spare parts for cell replacement therapies, NSCs could play a key role in the pharmacology of neuroprotection and become protagonists of innovative treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we review this new emerging concept of NSC biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Carletti
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative diseases, Children's Hospital and Research Institute "Bambino Gesù", Rome, Italy
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Bertini E, Ciccolella M, Catteruccia M, Benedetti S, D’Amico A, Fattori F, Letizia Salsano M, Carletti B, Tozzi G, Piemonte F, Moroni I, Pantaleoni C. P3.1 Brown–Vialetto–Van Laere and Fazio Londe overlap sindromes: A clinical, biochemical and genetic study in 6 patients. Neuromuscul Disord 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2011.06.895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Williams IM, Carletti B, Leto K, Magrassi L, Rossi F. Cerebellar granule cells transplanted in vivo can follow physiological and unusual migratory routes to integrate into the recipient cortex. Neurobiol Dis 2008; 30:139-49. [PMID: 18308579 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2008.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2007] [Revised: 01/04/2008] [Accepted: 01/08/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
CNS repair by cell transplantation requires new neurons to integrate into complex recipient networks. We assessed how the migratory route of transplanted granule neurons and the developmental stage of the host rat cerebellum influence engraftment. In both embryonic and postnatal hosts, granule cells can enter the cerebellar cortex and achieve correct placement along their natural migratory pathway. Donor neurons can also reach the internal granular layer from the white matter and integrate following an unusual developmental pattern. Although the frequency of correct positioning declines in parallel with cortical development, in mature recipients correct homing is more frequent through the unusual path. Following depletion of granule cell precursors in the host, more granule neurons engraft, but their ability for achieving correct placement is unchanged. Therefore, while the cerebellar environment remains receptive for granule cells even after the end of development, their full integration is partially hindered by the mature cortical architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Martin Williams
- Department of Neuroscience and "Rita Levi Montalcini Centre for Brain Repair", National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Italy
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Abstract
In the past few years, genetic fate mapping experiments have changed our vision of cerebellar development, particularly in redefining the origin of gabaergic and glutamatergic neurons of the cerebellar cortex and highlighting the precise spatio-temporal sequence of their generation. Here the authors review cerebellar neurogenesis and discuss the fate mapping studies with other new information stemming from transplantation experiments, in an effort to link the developmental potential of neural progenitor populations of the cerebellum with their spatio-temporal origin. NEUROSCIENTIST 14(1):91—100, 2008.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Carletti
- Department of Neuroscience and Rita Levi Montalcini Centre for Brain Repair, National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Italy.
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De Marchis S, Bovetti S, Carletti B, Hsieh YC, Garzotto D, Peretto P, Fasolo A, Puche AC, Rossi F. Generation of distinct types of periglomerular olfactory bulb interneurons during development and in adult mice: implication for intrinsic properties of the subventricular zone progenitor population. J Neurosci 2007; 27:657-64. [PMID: 17234597 PMCID: PMC6672783 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2870-06.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle develops from residual progenitors of the embryonic lateral ganglionic eminence (LGE) and maintains neurogenic activity throughout life. Precursors from LGE/SVZ migrate to the olfactory bulb (OB) where they differentiate into local interneurons, principally in the granule layer and glomerular layer (GL). By in situ dye labeling, we show that neonatal and adult SVZ progenitors differentially contribute to neurochemically distinct types of periglomerular interneurons in the GL. Namely, calbindin-positive periglomerular cells are preferentially generated during early life, whereas calretinin- and tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing neurons are mainly produced at later ages. Furthermore, homochronic/heterochronic transplantation demonstrates that progenitor cells isolated from the LGE or SVZ at different stages (embryonic day 15 and postnatal days 2 and 30) engraft into the SVZ of neonatal or adult mice, migrate to the OB, and differentiate into local interneurons, including granule and periglomerular cells as well as other types of interneurons. The total number of integrated cells and the relative proportion of granule or periglomerular neurons change, according to the donor age, whereas they are weakly influenced by the recipient age. Analysis of the neurochemical phenotypes acquired by transplanted cells in the GL shows that donor cells of different ages also differentiate according to their origin, regardless of the host age. This suggests that progenitor cells at different ontogenetic stages are intrinsically directed toward specific lineages. Neurogenic processes occurring during development and in adult OB are not equivalent and produce different types of periglomerular interneurons as a consequence of intrinsic properties of the SVZ progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia De Marchis
- Department of Animal and Human Biology, University of Turin, I-10123 Turin, Italy.
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Leto K, Carletti B, Williams IM, Magrassi L, Rossi F. Different types of cerebellar GABAergic interneurons originate from a common pool of multipotent progenitor cells. J Neurosci 2006; 26:11682-94. [PMID: 17093090 PMCID: PMC6674781 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3656-06.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Different cerebellar phenotypes are generated according to a precise spatiotemporal schedule, in which projection neurons precede local interneurons. Glutamatergic neurons develop from the rhombic lip, whereas GABAergic neurons originate from the ventricular neuroepithelium. Progenitors in these germinal layers are committed toward specific phenotypes already at early ontogenetic stages. GABAergic interneurons are thought to derive from a subset of ventricular zone cells, which migrate in the white matter and proliferate up to postnatal life. During this period, different interneuron categories are produced according to an inside-out sequence, from the deep nuclei to the molecular layer (we show here that nuclear interneurons are also born during late embryonic and early postnatal days, after glutamatergic and GABAergic projection neurons). To ask whether distinct interneuron phenotypes share common precursors or derive from multiple fate-restricted progenitors, we examined the behavior of embryonic and postnatal rat cerebellar cells heterotopically/heterochronically transplanted to syngenic hosts. In all conditions, donor cells achieved a high degree of integration in the cerebellar cortex and deep nuclei and acquired GABAergic interneuron phenotypes appropriate for the host age and engraftment site. Therefore, contrary to other cerebellar types, which derive from dedicated precursors, GABAergic interneurons are produced by a common pool of progenitors, which maintain their full developmental potentialities up to late ontogenetic stages and adopt mature identities in response to local instructive cues. In this way, the numbers and types of inhibitory interneurons can be set by spatiotemporally patterned signals to match the functional requirements of developing cerebellar circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketty Leto
- Department of Neuroscience and Rita Levi Montalcini Centre for Brain Repair, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy, and
| | - Barbara Carletti
- Department of Neuroscience and Rita Levi Montalcini Centre for Brain Repair, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy, and
| | - Ian Martin Williams
- Department of Neuroscience and Rita Levi Montalcini Centre for Brain Repair, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy, and
| | - Lorenzo Magrassi
- Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Rossi
- Department of Neuroscience and Rita Levi Montalcini Centre for Brain Repair, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy, and
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Abstract
Repair of CNS injury or degeneration by cell replacement may lead to significant functional recovery only through faithful reconstruction of the original anatomical architecture. This is particularly relevant for point-to-point systems, where precisely patterned connections have to be re-established to regain adaptive function. Despite the major interest recently drawn on cell therapies, little is known about the mechanisms and the potentialities for specific integration of new neurons in the mature CNS. Major findings and concepts about this issue will be reviewed here, with special focus on work dealing with the Purkinje cell transplantation in the rodent cerebellum. These studies show that the adult CNS may provide some efficient information to direct cell engraftment and process outgrowth. On their side, immature cells may be able to induce adaptive changes in their adult partners to facilitate their incorporation in the recipient network. Despite the rather high degree of specific integration achieved in several different CNS regions, these processes are usually defective and long-distance connections are not rewired. Thus, although some potentialities for cell replacement exist in the mature CNS, full incorporation of new neurons in adult circuits is rarely observed. Indeed, intrinsic mechanisms for growth control as well as injury-induced changes in the properties and architecture of the nervous tissue contribute to hamper repair processes. As a consequence, crucial to obtain successful cell replacement and integration in the mature CNS is a deep understanding of the basic biological mechanisms that regulate the interactions between newly added elements and the recipient environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piercesare Grimaldi
- Department of Neuroscience and Rita Levi Montalcini Centre for Brain Repair, University of Turin, Corso Raffaello 30, I-10125 Turin, Italy
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Carletti B, Rossi F. Selective rather than inductive mechanisms favour specific replacement of Purkinje cells by embryonic cerebellar cells transplanted to the cerebellum of adult Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd) mutant mice. Eur J Neurosci 2005; 22:1001-12. [PMID: 16176342 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.04314.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cell replacement after neuronal degeneration in the adult CNS depends on the availability of specific cues to direct specification, differentiation and integration of newly born neurons into mature circuits. Following recent reports indicating that neurogenic signals may be reactivated in the adult injured CNS, here we asked whether such signals are expressed in the cerebellum after Purkinje cell degeneration. Thus, we compared the fate of embryonic cerebellar cells transplanted to the cerebella of adult wild-type and Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd) mutant mice. Donor cells were dissected from beta-actin-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transgenic mice and transplanted as a single cell suspension. In both hosts, grafted cells generated all major cerebellar phenotypes, with a precise localization in the recipient cortex or white matter. Nevertheless, the phenotypic distributions showed striking quantitative differences. Most notably, in the pcd cerebellum there was a higher amount of Purkinje cells, while other phenotypes were less frequent. Analysis of cell proliferation by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrDU) incorporation revealed that in both hosts mitotic activity was strongly reduced shortly after transplantation, and virtually all donor Purkinje cells were actually generated before grafting. Together, these results indicate that some compensatory mechanisms operate in the pcd environment. However, the very low mitotic rate of transplanted cells suggests that the adult cerebellum, either wild-type or mutant, does not provide instructive neurogenic cues to direct the specification of uncommitted progenitors. Rather, specific replacement in mutant hosts is achieved through selective mechanisms that favour the survival and integration of donor Purkinje cells at the expense of other phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Carletti
- Department of Neuroscience and Rita Levi Montalcini Centre for Brain Repair, University of Turin, Corso Raffaello 30, I-10125 Turin, Italy
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Grimaldi P, Carletti B, Magrassi L, Rossi F. Fate restriction and developmental potential of cerebellar progenitors. Transplantation studies in the developing CNS. Progress in Brain Research 2005; 148:57-68. [PMID: 15661181 DOI: 10.1016/s0079-6123(04)48006-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The generation of cell diversity from undifferentiated progenitors is regulated by interdependent mechanisms, including cell intrinsic programs and environmental cues. This interaction can be investigated by means of heterochronic/heterotopic transplantation, which allows to examine the behaviour of precursor cells in an unusual environment. The cerebellum provides an ideal model to study cell specification, because its neurons originate according to a well-defined timetable and they can be are readily recognised by morphological features and specific markers. Cerebellar progenitors transplanted to the embryonic cerebellum develop fully mature cerebellar neurons, which often integrate in the host circuitry in a highly specific manner. In extracerebellar locations, cerebellar progenitors preferentially settle in caudal CNS regions where they exclusively acquire cerebellar identities. By contrast, neocortical precursors preferentially settle in rostral regions and fail to develop hindbrain phenotypes. The phenotypic repertoire generated by transplanted cerebellar progenitors is strictly dependent on their age. Embryonic progenitors originate all mature cerebellar cells, whereas postnatal ones exclusively generate later-born types, such as molecular layer interneurons and granule cells. Together, these observations foster the hypothesis that neural progenitors are first specified towards region-specific phenotypes along the rostro-caudal axis of the neural tube. Thereafter, the developmental potential of progenitor cells is progressively restricted towards later generated types. Such a progressive specification of precursor cells in space and time is stably transmitted to their progeny and it cannot be modified by local cues, when these cells are confronted with heterotopic and/or heterochronic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piercesare Grimaldi
- Department of Neuroscience and Rita Levi Montalcini Centre for Brain Repair, University of Turin, Corso Raffaello 30, I-10125 Turin, Italy
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Carletti B, Grimaldi P, Magrassi L, Rossi F. Engraftment and differentiation of neocortical progenitor cells transplanted to the embryonic brain in utero. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 33:309-19. [PMID: 15475686 DOI: 10.1023/b:neur.0000044192.20397.7e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Transplantation of neural progenitors or stem cells is a most useful tool to investigate the relative contribution of cell-autonomous mechanisms and environmental cues in the regulation of cell specification and differentiation during CNS development. To assess the capability of neocortical progenitor cells to integrate into foreign brain regions, here we examined the fate of precursor cells isolated from the dorsal telencephalon of E12 ss-actin-EGFP transgenic mouse embryos after heterotopic/heterochronic transplantation to the E16 rat brain in utero. Our observations show that donor cells were able to penetrate, survive and produce mature cell types into wide regions of the host CNS. Namely, EGFP-positive cells acquired site-specific neuronal identities in many telencephalic regions, including neocortex, hippocampus, olfactory bulb and corpus striatum. In contrast, incorporation into more caudal sites was much less efficient. A fraction of donor cells formed large aggregates that remained segregated from the host milieu. Such aggregates contained mature neurons and glia, including some EGFP-negative elements of host origin, and developed the complex organization of the mature nervous tissue. On the other hand, transplanted cells that engrafted in the parenchyma of extratelencephalic regions predominantly generated glial types. The few neurons failed to acquire obvious site-specific phenotypic traits and did not integrate into the local host architecture. Altogether, our observations indicate that E12 neocortical progenitors are already committed towards regional identities and are unable to modify their phenotypic choices when exposed to heterotopic environmental conditions along different rostro-caudal domains of the embryonic CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Carletti
- Department of Neuroscience and Rita Levi Montalcini Centre for Brain Repai, University of Turin, Italy
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Carletti B, Rosti D, Barbaccia P. [Anterior sterenoclavicular luxation in a newborn infant]. Minerva Pediatr 1978; 30:1091-5. [PMID: 672850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Carletti B, Kehyayan E. [FSH and LH values in newborn infants]. Minerva Pediatr 1976; 28:2137-9. [PMID: 1012233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Carletti B. [Exploration of the pituitary activity of gonadotropins]. Minerva Pediatr 1976; 28:1262-6. [PMID: 781510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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17
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Carletti B, Kehyayan E. [Convulsions in malformations]. Minerva Pediatr 1973; 25:262-7. [PMID: 4633260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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18
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Carletti B, Kehyayan E. [General considerations on chronobiology and personal observations on some seasonal biorhythmic phenomena in pediatrics]. Minerva Pediatr 1972; 24:396-401. [PMID: 5014968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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19
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Carletti B, Kehyayan E. [On a case of abnormally long Y chromosome and nuclear formation similar to Barr chromatin]. Minerva Pediatr 1968; 20:1017-20. [PMID: 5740607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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20
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Carletti B, Kehyayan E. [Characteristics of urinary gonadotropins in 3-5-year-old children in relation to sex and season]. Minerva Pediatr 1968; 20:1014-6. [PMID: 5740606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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21
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Carletti B, Kehyayan E, Fraschini F. [Urinary elimination of LH in children from 3 to 8 years of age]. Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper 1964; 40:1416-9. [PMID: 5876861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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22
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Carletti B, Kehyayan E, Fraschini F. Remarkable seasonal variations of urinary gonadotrophin excretion in young girls. Experientia 1964; 20:383. [PMID: 5855679 DOI: 10.1007/bf02147975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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