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Pei Q, Zhao Q, Lang C, Feng S, Meng J, Tan G, Cui W, Zhang C, Luo X, Xu L, Chen J. Alleviating Severe Cytoskeletal Destruction of Spinal Motor Neurons: Another Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid in Spinal Cord Injury. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:1456-1468. [PMID: 38472087 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00746] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment remains a major challenge. Spinal motor neurons (MNs) are seriously injured in the early stage after SCI, but this has not received sufficient attention. Oxidative stress is known to play a crucial role in SCI pathology. Our studies demonstrated that oxidative stress can cause severe damage to the cytoskeleton of spinal MNs. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been shown to have beneficial effects on SCI, but the mechanism remains unclear, and no study has investigated the effect of DHA on oxidative stress-induced spinal MN injury. Here, we investigated the effect of DHA on spinal MN injury through in vivo and in vitro experiments, focusing on the cytoskeleton. We found that DHA not only promoted spinal MN survival but, more importantly, alleviated the severe cytoskeletal destruction of these neurons induced by oxidative stress in vitro and in mice with SCI in vivo. In addition, the mechanisms involved were investigated and elucidated. These results not only suggested a beneficial role of DHA in spinal MN cytoskeletal destruction caused by oxidative stress and SCI but also indicated the important role of the spinal MN cytoskeleton in the recovery of motor function after SCI. Our study provides new insights for the formulation of SCI treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinqin Pei
- Central laboratory, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
| | - Qiurong Zhao
- Central laboratory, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
| | - Chunhui Lang
- Chongqing Municipality Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
| | - Shilong Feng
- Department of Orthopedics, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
| | - Juanjuan Meng
- Central laboratory, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
| | - Guangjiao Tan
- Central laboratory, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
| | - Wei Cui
- Central laboratory, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Chongqing Municipality Clinical Research Center for Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
| | - Xiaohe Luo
- Central laboratory, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
| | - Lixin Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
- Chongqing Municipality Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
- Chongqing Municipality Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
- Chongqing Municipality Clinical Research Center for Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing 404000, China
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Asakawa K, Handa H, Kawakami K. Dysregulated TDP-43 proteostasis perturbs excitability of spinal motor neurons during brainstem-mediated fictive locomotion in zebrafish. Dev Growth Differ 2023; 65:446-452. [PMID: 37452624 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12879] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Spinal motor neurons (SMNs) are the primary target of degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Degenerating motor neurons accumulate cytoplasmic TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) aggregates in most ALS cases. This SMN pathology can occur without mutation in the coding sequence of the TDP-43-encoding gene, TARDBP. Whether and how wild-type TDP-43 drives pathological changes in SMNs in vivo remains largely unexplored. In this study, we develop a two-photon calcium imaging setup in which tactile-evoked neural responses of motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord can be monitored using the calcium indicator GCaMP. We devise a piezo-assisted tactile stimulator that reproducibly evokes a brainstem descending neuron upon tactile stimulation of the head. A direct comparison between caudal primary motor neurons (CaPs) with or without TDP-43 overexpression in contiguous spinal segments demonstrates that CaPs overexpressing TDP-43 display attenuated Ca2+ transients during fictive escape locomotion evoked by the tactile stimulation. These results show that excessive amounts of TDP-43 protein reduce the neuronal excitability of SMNs and potentially contribute to asymptomatic pathological lesions of SMNs and movement disorders in patients with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhide Asakawa
- Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Handa
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Future Medical Research, Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Kawakami
- Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
- The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima, Japan
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Tokutake K, Takeuchi M, Kurimoto S, Saeki S, Asami Y, Onaka K, Saeki M, Aoyama T, Hasegawa Y, Hirata H. A Therapeutic Strategy for Lower Motor Neuron Disease and Injury Integrating Neural Stem Cell Transplantation and Functional Electrical Stimulation in a Rat Model. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8760. [PMID: 35955890 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Promising treatments for upper motor neuron disease are emerging in which motor function is restored by brain–computer interfaces and functional electrical stimulation. At present, such technologies and procedures are not applicable to lower motor neuron disease. We propose a novel therapeutic strategy for lower motor neuron disease and injury integrating neural stem cell transplantation with our new functional electrical stimulation control system. In a rat sciatic nerve transection model, we transplanted embryonic spinal neural stem cells into the distal stump of the peripheral nerve to reinnervate denervated muscle, and subsequently demonstrated that highly responsive limb movement similar to that of a healthy limb could be attained with a wirelessly powered two-channel neurostimulator that we developed. This unique technology, which can reinnervate and precisely move previously denervated muscles that were unresponsive to electrical stimulation, contributes to improving the condition of patients suffering from intractable diseases of paralysis and traumatic injury.
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Kato H, Naito M, Saito T, Hideyama T, Suzuki Y, Kimura T, Kwak S, Aizawa H. Prolyl Isomerase Pin1 Expression in the Spinal Motor Neurons of Patients With Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. J Clin Neurol 2022; 18:463-469. [PMID: 35796272 PMCID: PMC9262457 DOI: 10.3988/jcn.2022.18.4.463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disease. Selective deficiency of edited adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 2 (ADAR2), a key molecule in the acquisition of Ca2+ resistance in motor neurons, has been reported in sporadic ALS (sALS) spinal motor neurons. Since ADAR2 activity is positively regulated by prolyl isomerase Protein never in mitosis gene A interacting-1 (Pin1), a known phosphorylation-dependent peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, we investigated Pin1 expression in spinal motor neurons in sALS. Methods Specimens of the spinal cord were obtained from the lumbar region in eight sALS patients and age-matched five controls after postmortem examinations. The specimens were double stained with anti-Pin1 and anti-TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) antibodies, and examined under a fluorescence microscope. Results This study analyzed 254 and 422 spinal motor neurons from 8 sALS patients and 5 control subjects, respectively. The frequency of motor neurons with high cytoplasmic Pin1 expression from the spinal cord did not differ significantly between sALS specimens without cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions and control specimens. However, in sALS specimens, neurons for which the Pin1 immunoluminescence intensity in the cytoplasm was at least twice that in the background were more common in specimens with cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions (p<0.05 in χ2 test). Conclusions In sALS, neurons with higher expression levels of Pin1 levels had more TDP-43 inclusions. Despite the feedback mechanism between Pin1 and ADAR2 being unclear, since Pin1 positively regulates ADAR2, our results suggest that higher Pin1 expression levels in motor neurons with TDP-43 pathology from sALS patients represent a compensatory mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruhisa Kato
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Makiko Naito
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoko Saito
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuto Hideyama
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Asahikawa Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Takashi Kimura
- Department of Neurology, Asahikawa Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Shin Kwak
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Aizawa
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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Lee TK, Lee JC, Tae HJ, Kim HI, Shin MC, Ahn JH, Park JH, Kim DW, Hong S, Choi SY, Cho JH, Won MH. Therapeutic Effects of Risperidone against Spinal Cord Injury in a Rat Model of Asphyxial Cardiac Arrest: A Focus on Body Temperature, Paraplegia, Motor Neuron Damage, and Neuroinflammation. Vet Sci 2021; 8:230. [PMID: 34679060 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8100230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac arrest (CA) causes severe spinal cord injury and evokes spinal cord disorders including paraplegia. It has been reported that risperidone, an antipsychotic drug, effectively protects neuronal cell death from transient ischemia injury in gerbil brains. However, until now, studies on the effects of risperidone on spinal cord injury after asphyxial CA (ACA) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are not sufficient. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of risperidone on hind limb motor deficits and neuronal damage/death in the lumbar part of the spinal cord following ACA in rats. Mortality, severe motor deficits in the hind limbs, and the damage/death (loss) of motor neurons located in the anterior horn were observed two days after ACA/CPR. These symptoms were significantly alleviated by risperidone (an atypical antipsychotic) treatment after ACA. In vehicle-treated rats, the immunoreactivities of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), as pro-inflammatory cytokines, were increased, and the immunoreactivities of IL-4 and IL-13, as anti-inflammatory cytokines, were reduced with time after ACA/CPR. In contrast, in risperidone-treated rats, the immunoreactivity of the pro-inflammatory cytokines was significantly decreased, and the anti-inflammatory cytokines were enhanced compared to vehicle-treated rats. In brief, risperidone treatment after ACA/CPR in rats significantly improved the survival rate and attenuated paralysis, the damage/death (loss) of motor neurons, and inflammation in the lumbar anterior horn. Thus, risperidone might be a therapeutic agent for paraplegia by attenuation of the damage/death (loss) of spinal motor neurons and neuroinflammation after ACA/CPR.
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Mou Y, Dein J, Chen Z, Jagdale M, Li XJ. MFN2 Deficiency Impairs Mitochondrial Transport and Downregulates Motor Protein Expression in Human Spinal Motor Neurons. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:727552. [PMID: 34602978 PMCID: PMC8482798 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.727552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is one of the most common genetically inherited neurological disorders and CMT type 2A (CMT 2A) is caused by dominant mutations in the mitofusin-2 (MFN2) gene. MFN2 is located in the outer mitochondrial membrane and is a mediator of mitochondrial fusion, with an essential role in maintaining normal neuronal functions. Although loss of MFN2 induces axonal neuropathy, the detailed mechanism by which MFN2 deficiency results in axonal degeneration of human spinal motor neurons remains largely unknown. In this study, we generated MFN2-knockdown human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines using lentivirus expressing MFN2 short hairpin RNA (shRNA). Using these hESC lines, we found that MFN2 loss did not affect spinal motor neuron differentiation from hESCs but resulted in mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction as determined by live-cell imaging. Notably, MFN2-knockodwn spinal motor neurons exhibited CMT2A disease-related phenotypes, including extensive perikaryal inclusions of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNfH), frequent axonal swellings, and increased pNfH levels in long-term cultures. Importantly, MFN2 deficit impaired anterograde and retrograde mitochondrial transport within axons, and reduced the mRNA and protein levels of kinesin and dynein, indicating the interfered motor protein expression induced by MFN2 deficiency. Our results reveal that MFN2 knockdown induced axonal degeneration of spinal motor neurons and defects in mitochondrial morphology and function. The impaired mitochondrial transport in MFN2-knockdown spinal motor neurons is mediated, at least partially, by the altered motor proteins, providing potential therapeutic targets for rescuing axonal degeneration of spinal motor neurons in CMT2A disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongchao Mou
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL, United States.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Joshua Dein
- MD Program, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL, United States
| | - Zhenyu Chen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL, United States.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Mrunali Jagdale
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL, United States.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Xue-Jun Li
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, Rockford, IL, United States.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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Qian X, Du Y, Jiang G, Lin F, Yao L. Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) Protein Insufficiency Exacerbates Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury. Front Physiol 2019; 10:559. [PMID: 31139093 PMCID: PMC6527877 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The survival of motor neuron (SMN) protein is ubiquitously involved in spliceosome assembly and ribonucleoprotein biogenesis. SMN protein is expressed in kidney and can affect cell death processes. However, the role of SMN in acute kidney injury (AKI) is largely unknown. In the current study, we found that the expression of SMN in the kidney was significantly reduced in both clinical ischemic AKI and a mouse model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). We then used SMN heterozygous knockout (SMN+/-) mice and found that the declines in renal function, tubular injury, and tubular cell apoptosis after experimental IRI were significantly more severe in SMN+/- mice than those in their wild-type littermates. Concomitantly, the canonical transcription factor nuclear factor-κb (NFκb) signaling was enhanced in ischemic SMN+/- mice. In vitro, cobalt dichloride (CoCl2) treatment reduced SMN expression in proximal tubular epithelial cells. In addition, CoCl2-induced apoptosis and activation of NFκb signaling pathway were enhanced by transient transfection of a small-interfering RNA (siRNA) against SMN while attenuated by transient transfection of a full-length SMN plasmid. Taken together, this study for the first time supported the protective role of SMN in ischemic AKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Qian
- Renal Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Centre for Rare Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Yichao Du
- Sichuan Provincial Academician (Expert) Workstation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Gengru Jiang
- Renal Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Centre for Rare Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Fujun Lin
- Renal Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Centre for Rare Disease, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Yao
- Sichuan Provincial Academician (Expert) Workstation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
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Bucchia M, Merwin SJ, Re DB, Kariya S. Limitations and Challenges in Modeling Diseases Involving Spinal Motor Neuron Degeneration in Vitro. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:61. [PMID: 29559895 PMCID: PMC5845677 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic conditions involving degeneration of spinal motor neurons (MNs), such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, sarcopenia, and spinal cord injury, mostly occur in individuals whose spinal MNs are fully mature. There is currently no effective treatment to prevent death or promote axonal regeneration of the spinal MNs affected in these patients. To increase our understanding and find a cure for such conditions, easily controllable and monitorable cell culture models allow for a better dissection of certain molecular and cellular events that cannot be teased apart in whole organism models. To date, various types of spinal MN cultures have been described. Yet these models are all based on the use of immature neurons or neurons uncharacterized for their degree of maturity after being isolated and cultured. Additionally, studying only MNs cannot give a comprehensive and complete view of the neurodegenerative processes usually involving other cell types. To date, there is no confirmed in vitro model faithfully emulating disease or injury of the mature spinal MNs. In this review, we summarize the different limitations of currently available culture models, and discuss the challenges that have to be overcome for developing more reliable and translational platforms for the in vitro study of spinal MN degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Bucchia
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Samantha J Merwin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Diane B Re
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Shingo Kariya
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
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Cortés D, Robledo-Arratia Y, Hernández-Martínez R, Escobedo-Ávila I, Bargas J, Velasco I. Transgenic GDNF Positively Influences Proliferation, Differentiation, Maturation and Survival of Motor Neurons Produced from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2016; 10:217. [PMID: 27672361 PMCID: PMC5018488 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2016.00217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are pluripotent and thus can differentiate into every cell type present in the body. Directed differentiation into motor neurons (MNs) has been described for pluripotent cells. Although neurotrophic factors promote neuronal survival, their role in neuronal commitment is elusive. Here, we developed double-transgenic lines of mouse ESC (mESC) that constitutively produce glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and also contain a GFP reporter, driven by HB9, which is expressed only by postmitotic MNs. After lentiviral transduction, ESC lines integrated and expressed the human GDNF (hGDNF) gene without altering pluripotency markers before differentiation. Further, GDNF-ESC showed significantly higher spontaneous release of this neurotrophin to the medium, when compared to controls. To study MN induction, control and GDNF cell lines were grown as embryoid bodies and stimulated with retinoic acid and Sonic Hedgehog. In GDNF-overexpressing cells, a significant increase of proliferative Olig2+ precursors, which are specified as spinal MNs, was found. Accordingly, GDNF increases the yield of cells with the pan motor neuronal markers HB9, monitored by GFP expression, and Isl1. At terminal differentiation, almost all differentiated neurons express phenotypic markers of MNs in GDNF cultures, with lower proportions in control cells. To test if the effects of GDNF were present at early differentiation stages, exogenous recombinant hGDNF was added to control ESC, also resulting in enhanced MN differentiation. This effect was abolished by the co-addition of neutralizing anti-GDNF antibodies, strongly suggesting that differentiating ESC are responsive to GDNF. Using the HB9::GFP reporter, MNs were selected for electrophysiological recordings. MNs differentiated from GDNF-ESC, compared to control MNs, showed greater electrophysiological maturation, characterized by increased numbers of evoked action potentials (APs), as well as by the appearance of rebound APs, sag inward rectification, spike frequency adaptation and spontaneous synaptic potentials. Upon challenge with kainate, GDNF-overexpressing cells are more resistant to excitotoxicity than control MNs. Together these data indicate that GDNF promotes proliferation of MN-committed precursors, promotes neuronal differentiation, enhances maturation, and confers neuroprotection. GDNF-expressing ESC can be useful in studies of development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Cortés
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular-Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoMexico City, Mexico; Laboratorio de Reprogramación Celular del Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México en el Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurología "Manuel Velasco Suárez"Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yolanda Robledo-Arratia
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular-Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Hernández-Martínez
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular-Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Itzel Escobedo-Ávila
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular-Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José Bargas
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular-Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Iván Velasco
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular-Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoMexico City, Mexico; Laboratorio de Reprogramación Celular del Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México en el Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurología "Manuel Velasco Suárez"Mexico City, Mexico
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Matsumoto-Miyazaki J, Asano Y, Ikegame Y, Kawasaki T, Nomura Y, Shinoda J. Acupuncture Reduces Excitability of Spinal Motor Neurons in Patients with Spastic Muscle Overactivity and Chronic Disorder of Consciousness Following Traumatic Brain Injury. J Altern Complement Med 2016; 22:895-902. [PMID: 27575577 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2016.0180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Spastic hypertonia usually occurs in patients with chronic disorders of consciousness (DOC) following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Spinal motor neuron excitability has been reported to increase in patients with brain damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of acupuncture on spinal motor neuron excitability in patients with DOC following TBI by using evoked electromyography. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Eleven male patients (mean age, 33 ± 14 years) with refractory muscle spasticity of the upper extremity accompanying chronic DOC following TBI and admitted to Chubu Medical Center for Prolonged Traumatic Brain Dysfunction were included. DESIGN A crossover study design was used. Changes in variables in the acupuncture session were compared with those in the control session in the same patients. INTERVENTION Acupuncture treatment was performed at GV 26, Ex-HN 3, bilateral LI 4, and ST 36 for 10 minutes. OUTCOME MEASURES F-wave was recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle. The main outcome measure was F/M amplitude ratio (F-wave amplitude/M-wave amplitude), calculated as an index for spinal motor neuron excitability. F-waves were recorded before treatment (baseline), 10 minutes after needle insertion (phase 1), and 10 minutes after needle removal (phase 2). The same procedure was followed in the control session without acupuncture on a separate day. RESULTS F/M ratio was significantly reduced from baseline to phase 1 (p < 0.001) and phase 2 (p < 0.001) in the acupuncture session, whereas no significant changes were observed in the control session. Changes in F/M ratio from baseline to phase 1 and phase 2 were greater in the acupuncture session than the control session (p = 0.001 and <0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION The excitability of the spinal motor neurons in patients with DOC following TBI was reduced after acupuncture treatment, suggesting that it is beneficial for reducing spastic muscle hypertonia in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Matsumoto-Miyazaki
- 1 Chubu Medical Center for Prolonged Traumatic Brain Dysfunction , Kizawa Memorial Hospital, Minokamo, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Asano
- 1 Chubu Medical Center for Prolonged Traumatic Brain Dysfunction , Kizawa Memorial Hospital, Minokamo, Gifu, Japan .,2 Department of Clinical Brain Sciences, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine , Minokamo, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yuka Ikegame
- 1 Chubu Medical Center for Prolonged Traumatic Brain Dysfunction , Kizawa Memorial Hospital, Minokamo, Gifu, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kawasaki
- 1 Chubu Medical Center for Prolonged Traumatic Brain Dysfunction , Kizawa Memorial Hospital, Minokamo, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yuichi Nomura
- 1 Chubu Medical Center for Prolonged Traumatic Brain Dysfunction , Kizawa Memorial Hospital, Minokamo, Gifu, Japan
| | - Jun Shinoda
- 1 Chubu Medical Center for Prolonged Traumatic Brain Dysfunction , Kizawa Memorial Hospital, Minokamo, Gifu, Japan .,2 Department of Clinical Brain Sciences, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine , Minokamo, Gifu, Japan
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Tsui CC, Gabreski NA, Hein SJ, Pierchala BA. Lipid Rafts Are Physiologic Membrane Microdomains Necessary for the Morphogenic and Developmental Functions of Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor In Vivo. J Neurosci 2015; 35:13233-43. [PMID: 26400951 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2935-14.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) promotes PNS development and kidney morphogenesis via a receptor complex consisting of the glycerophosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored, ligand binding receptor GDNF family receptor α1 (GFRα1) and the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret. Although Ret signal transduction in vitro is augmented by translocation into lipid rafts via GFRα1, the existence and importance of lipid rafts in GDNF-Ret signaling under physiologic conditions is unresolved. A knock-in mouse was produced that replaced GFRα1 with GFRα1-TM, which contains a transmembrane (TM) domain instead of the GPI anchor. GFRα1-TM still binds GDNF and promotes Ret activation but does not translocate into rafts. In Gfrα1(TM/TM) mice, GFRα1-TM is expressed, trafficked, and processed at levels identical to GFRα1. Although Gfrα1(+/TM) mice are viable, Gfrα1(TM/TM) mice display bilateral renal agenesis, lack enteric neurons in the intestines, and have motor axon guidance deficits, similar to Gfrα1(-/-) mice. Therefore, the recruitment of Ret into lipid rafts by GFRα1 is required for the physiologic functions of GDNF in vertebrates. Significance statement: Membrane microdomains known as lipid rafts have been proposed to be unique subdomains in the plasma membrane that are critical for the signaling functions of multiple receptor complexes. Their existence and physiologic relevance has been debated. Based on in vitro studies, lipid rafts have been reported to be necessary for the function of the Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family of neurotrophic factors. The receptor for GDNF comprises the lipid raft-resident, glycerophosphatidylinositol-anchored receptor GDNF family receptor α1 (GFRα1) and the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret. Here we demonstrate, using a knock-in mouse model in which GFRα1 is no longer located in lipid rafts, that the developmental functions of GDNF in the periphery require the translocation of the GDNF receptor complex into lipid rafts.
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Mieda T, Suto N, Iizuka A, Matsuura S, Iizuka H, Takagishi K, Nakamura K, Hirai H. Mesenchymal stem cells attenuate peripheral neuronal degeneration in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 knockin mice. J Neurosci Res 2015; 94:246-52. [PMID: 26707550 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 02/10/2015] [Revised: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder in which an abnormally expanded polyglutamine tract is inserted into causative ataxin-1 proteins. We have previously shown that SCA1 knockin (SCA1-KI) mice over 6 months of age exhibit a degeneration of motor neuron axons and their encasing myelin sheaths, as reported in SCA1 patients. We examined whether axon degeneration precedes myelin degeneration or vice versa in SCA1-KI mice and then attempted to mitigate motor neuron degeneration by intrathecally administering mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Temporal examination of the diameters of motor neuron axons and their myelin sheaths revealed a decrease in diameter of the axon but not of the myelin sheaths in SCA1-KI mice as early as 1 month of age, which suggests secondary degeneration of the myelin sheaths. We injected MSCs into the intrathecal space of SCA1-KI mice at 1 month of age, which resulted in a significant suppression of degeneration of both motor neuron axons and myelin sheaths, even 6 months after the MSC injection. Thus, MSCs effectively suppressed peripheral nervous system degeneration in SCA1-KI mice. It has not yet been clarified how clinically administered MSCs exhibit significant therapeutic effects in patients with SCA1. The morphological evidence presented in this current mouse study might explain the mechanisms that underlie the therapeutic effects of MSCs that are observed in patients with SCA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tokue Mieda
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Nana Suto
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neural Repair, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Akira Iizuka
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neural Repair, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Serina Matsuura
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neural Repair, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Haku Iizuka
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Kenji Takagishi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Nakamura
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neural Repair, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Hirai
- Department of Neurophysiology and Neural Repair, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
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Abstract
Motor neurons (MNs) are neuronal cells located in the central nervous system (CNS) controlling a variety of downstream targets. This function infers the existence of MN subtypes matching the identity of the targets they innervate. To illustrate the mechanism involved in the generation of cellular diversity and the acquisition of specific identity, this review will focus on spinal MNs (SpMNs) that have been the core of significant work and discoveries during the last decades. SpMNs are responsible for the contraction of effector muscles in the periphery. Humans possess more than 500 different skeletal muscles capable to work in a precise time and space coordination to generate complex movements such as walking or grasping. To ensure such refined coordination, SpMNs must retain the identity of the muscle they innervate. Within the last two decades, scientists around the world have produced considerable efforts to elucidate several critical steps of SpMNs differentiation. During development, SpMNs emerge from dividing progenitor cells located in the medial portion of the ventral neural tube. MN identities are established by patterning cues working in cooperation with intrinsic sets of transcription factors. As the embryo develop, MNs further differentiate in a stepwise manner to form compact anatomical groups termed pools connecting to a unique muscle target. MN pools are not homogeneous and comprise subtypes according to the muscle fibers they innervate. This article aims to provide a global view of MN classification as well as an up-to-date review of the molecular mechanisms involved in the generation of SpMN diversity. Remaining conundrums will be discussed since a complete understanding of those mechanisms constitutes the foundation required for the elaboration of prospective MN regeneration therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Stifani
- Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University Halifax, NS, Canada
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Racca C, Gardiol A, Eom T, Ule J, Triller A, Darnell RB. The Neuronal Splicing Factor Nova Co-Localizes with Target RNAs in the Dendrite. Front Neural Circuits 2010; 4:5. [PMID: 20407637 PMCID: PMC2856630 DOI: 10.3389/neuro.04.005.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2009] [Accepted: 02/01/2010] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Nova proteins are neuron-specific RNA binding proteins targeted by autoantibodies in a disorder manifest by failure of motor inhibition, and they regulate splicing and alternative 3' processing. Nova regulates splicing of RNAs encoding synaptic proteins, including the inhibitory glycine receptor alpha2 subunit (GlyRalpha2), and binds to others, including the GIRK2 channel. We found that Nova harbors functional NES and NLS elements, shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm, and that 50% of the protein localizes to the soma-dendritic compartment. Immunofluoresence and EM analysis of spinal cord motor neurons demonstrated that Nova co-localizes beneath synaptic contacts in dendrites with the same RNA, GlyRalpha2, whose splicing it regulates in the nucleus. HITS-CLIP identified intronic and 3' UTR sites where Nova binds to GlyRalpha2 and GIRK2 transcripts in the brain. This led directly to the identification of a 3' UTR localization element that mediates Nova-dependent localization of GIRK2 in primary neurons. These data demonstrate that HITS-CLIP can identify functional RNA localization elements, and they suggest new links between the regulation of nuclear RNA processing and mRNA localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Racca
- Biologie Cellulaire de la Synapse Normale et Pathologique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Ecole Normale SupérieureParis, France
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle UniversityNewcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Alejandra Gardiol
- Biologie Cellulaire de la Synapse Normale et Pathologique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Ecole Normale SupérieureParis, France
- The Wellcome Trust CR UK Gurdon Institute, University of CambridgeCambridge, UK
| | - Taesun Eom
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller UniversityNew York, NY, USA
| | - Jernej Ule
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller UniversityNew York, NY, USA
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular BiologyCambridge, UK
| | - Antoine Triller
- Biologie Cellulaire de la Synapse Normale et Pathologique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Ecole Normale SupérieureParis, France
| | - Robert B. Darnell
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller UniversityNew York, NY, USA
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