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Plank AC, Canneva F, Raber KA, Urbach YK, Dobner J, Puchades M, Bjaalie JG, Gillmann C, Bäuerle T, Riess O, Nguyen HHP, von Hörsten S. Early Alterations in Operant Performance and Prominent Huntingtin Aggregation in a Congenic F344 Rat Line of the Classical CAG n51trunc Model of Huntington Disease. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:11. [PMID: 29422836 PMCID: PMC5788972 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The transgenic rat model of Huntington disease expressing a fragment of mutant HTT (tgHD rat) has been thoroughly characterized and reproduces hallmark symptoms of human adult-onset HD. Pursuing the optimization of this model for evaluation of translational therapeutic approaches, the F344 inbred rat strain was considered as advantageous genetic background for the expression of the HD transgenic construct. In the present study, a novel congenic line of the SPRDtgHD transgenic model of HD, carrying 51 CAG repeats, was generated on the F344 rat genetic background. To assess the behavioral phenotype, classical assays investigating motor function, emotion, and sensorimotor gating were applied, along with automated screening of metabolic and activity parameters as well as operant conditioning tasks. The neuropathological phenotype was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging. F344tgHD rats displayed markedly reduced anxiety-like behavior in the social interaction test and elevated impulsivity traits already at 3 months of age. Neuropathologically, reduced striatal volume and pronounced aggregation of mutant huntingtin in several brain regions were detected at later disease stage. In conclusion, the congenic F344tgHD model reproduces key aspects of the human HD phenotype, substantiating its value for translational therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Christine Plank
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fabio Canneva
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kerstin A Raber
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yvonne K Urbach
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Julia Dobner
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maja Puchades
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan G Bjaalie
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Clarissa Gillmann
- Preclinical Imaging Platform Erlangen, Institute of Radiology, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tobias Bäuerle
- Preclinical Imaging Platform Erlangen, Institute of Radiology, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Olaf Riess
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Clinics Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Hoa H P Nguyen
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Clinics Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
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Thangaratnarajah C, Dinger K, Vohlen C, Klaudt C, Nawabi J, Lopez Garcia E, Kwapiszewska G, Dobner J, Nüsken KD, van Koningsbruggen-Rietschel S, von Hörsten S, Dötsch J, Alejandre Alcázar MA. Novel role of NPY in neuroimmune interaction and lung growth after intrauterine growth restriction. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2017; 313:L491-L506. [PMID: 28572154 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00432.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [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: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are at risk for chronic lung disease. Using a rat model, we showed in our previous studies that altered lung structure is related to IL-6/STAT3 signaling. As neuropeptide Y (NPY), a coneurotransmitter of the sympathetic nervous system, regulates proliferation and immune response, we hypothesized that dysregulated NPY after IUGR is linked to IL-6, impaired myofibroblast function, and alveolar growth. IUGR was induced in rats by isocaloric low-protein diet; lungs were analyzed on embryonic day (E) 21, postnatal day (P) 3, P12, and P23. Finally, primary neonatal lung myofibroblasts (pnF) and murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) were used to assess proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and IL-6 expression. At E21, NPY and IL-6 expression was decreased, and AKT/PKC and STAT3/AMPKα signaling was reduced. Early reduction of NPY/IL-6 was associated with increased chord length in lungs after IUGR at P3, indicating reduced alveolar formation. At P23, however, IUGR rats exhibited a catch-up of body weight and alveolar growth coupled with more proliferating myofibroblasts. These structural findings after IUGR were linked to activated NPY/PKC, IL-6/AMPKα signaling. Complementary, IUGR-pnF showed increased survival, impaired migration, and reduced IL-6 compared with control-pnF (Co-pnF). In contrast, NPY induced proliferation, migration, and increased IL-6 synthesis in fibroblasts. Additionally, NPY-/- mice showed reduced IL-6 signaling and less proliferation of lung fibroblasts. Our study presents a novel role of NPY during alveolarization: NPY regulates 1) IL-6 and lung STAT3/AMPKα signaling, and 2) proliferation and migration of myofibroblasts. These new insights in pulmonary neuroimmune interaction offer potential strategies to enable lung growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chansutha Thangaratnarajah
- Translational Experimental Pediatrics, Experimental Pulmonology, University Hospital for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Katharina Dinger
- Translational Experimental Pediatrics, Experimental Pulmonology, University Hospital for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Christina Vohlen
- Translational Experimental Pediatrics, Experimental Pulmonology, University Hospital for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,University Hospital for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Christian Klaudt
- Translational Experimental Pediatrics, Experimental Pulmonology, University Hospital for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jawed Nawabi
- Translational Experimental Pediatrics, Experimental Pulmonology, University Hospital for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Eva Lopez Garcia
- Translational Experimental Pediatrics, Experimental Pulmonology, University Hospital for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Julia Dobner
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Centre, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kai D Nüsken
- University Hospital for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Silke van Koningsbruggen-Rietschel
- Pediatric Pulmonology, University Hospital for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; and
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Centre, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jörg Dötsch
- University Hospital for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Miguel A Alejandre Alcázar
- Translational Experimental Pediatrics, Experimental Pulmonology, University Hospital for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; .,University Hospital for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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Dobner J, Kaser S. Body mass index and the risk of infection - from underweight to obesity. Clin Microbiol Infect 2017; 24:24-28. [PMID: 28232162 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2017.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [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] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nutritional status is a well-known risk factor for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Recent studies suggest that dietary intake also affects immune function and as a consequence infection risk. AIMS This reviews aims to give an overview on the effect of body weight on infection rate at different periods of life. SOURCES Clinically relevant prospective, cross-sectional and case-control community-based studies are summarized. CONTENT In children and adolescents underweight is a significant risk factor for infection especially in developing countries, probably reflecting malnutrition and poor hygienic standards. Data from industrialized countries suggest that infection rate is also increased in obese children and adolescents. Similarly, several studies suggest a U-shaped increased infection rate in both underweight and obese adults. In the latter, infections of the skin and respiratory tract as well as surgical-site infections have consistently been reported to be more common than in normal-weight participants. Paradoxically, mortality of critically ill patients was reduced in obesity in some studies. IMPLICATIONS Several studies in children or adults suggest that both underweight and obesity are associated with increased infection risk. However, confounding factors such as malnutrition, hygienic status and underlying disease or co-morbidities might aggravate accurate assessment of the impact of body weight on infection risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Dobner
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Metabolic Research, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - S Kaser
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Metabolic Research, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; Department of Internal Medicine 1, Medical University Innsbruck, Austria.
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Schulze-Krebs A, Canneva F, Schnepf R, Dobner J, Dieterich W, von Hörsten S. In situ enzymatic activity of transglutaminase isoforms on brain tissue sections of rodents: A new approach to monitor differences in post-translational protein modifications during neurodegeneration. Brain Res 2015; 1631:22-33. [PMID: 26616340 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2015.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [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: 12/11/2014] [Revised: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian transglutaminases (TGs) catalyze the irreversible post-translational modifications of proteins, the most prominent of which is the calcium-dependent formation of covalent acyl transfers between the γ-carboxamide group of glutamine and the ε-amino-group of lysine (GGEL-linkage). In the central nervous system, at least four TG isoforms are present and some of them are differentially expressed under pathological conditions in human patients. However, the precise TG-isoform-dependent enzymatic activities in the brain as well as their anatomical distribution are unknown. Specificity of the used biotinylated peptides was analyzed using an in vitro assay. Isoform-specific TG activity was evaluated in in vitro and in situ studies, using brain extracts and native brain tissue obtained from rodents. Our method allowed us to reveal in vitro and in situ TG-isoform-dependent enzymatic activity in brain extracts and tissue of rats and mice, with a specific focus on TG6. In situ activity of this isoform varied between BACHD mice in comparison to their wt controls. TG isozyme-specific activity can be detected by isoform-specific biotinylated peptides in brain tissue sections of rodents to reveal differences in the anatomical and/or subcellular distribution of TG activity. Our findings yield the basis for a broader application of this method for the screening of pathological expression and activity of TGs in a variety of animal models of human diseases, as in the case of neurodegenerative conditions such as Huntington׳s, Parkinson׳s and Alzheimer׳s, where protein modification is involved as a key mechanism of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Schulze-Krebs
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Fabio Canneva
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Rebecca Schnepf
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Julia Dobner
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Walburga Dieterich
- Department of Medicine 1, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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Canneva F, Golub Y, Distler J, Dobner J, Meyer S, von Hörsten S. DPP4-deficient congenic rats display blunted stress, improved fear extinction and increased central NPY. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 53:195-206. [PMID: 25635612 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4, CD26) are used for the treatment of type 2 diabetic patients and better glucose tolerance has been confirmed in functionally DPP4-deficient congenic rats (DPP4mut), along with immunological alterations and, interestingly, a stress-resilient phenotype. All these findings are in agreement with the "moonlighting" properties of DPP4, whose proteolytic action is responsible for the inactivation of a number of regulatory peptides including, but not limited to, neuropeptide Y (NPY). Among all candidate substrates, DPP4 displays highest affinity for NPY, an endogenous anxiolytic neurotransmitter that is suggested as a candidate biomarker in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. METHODS AND RESULTS Central and peripheral NPY levels were measured by ELISA in DPP4mut and DAwt rats revealing a significantly higher concentration of the peptide in the CSF of DPP4mut animals. This finding positively correlated with the blunted stress phenotype measured on an analgesia-meter. Additionally, when a classical fear-conditioning paradigm was investigated, short-term fear extinction was significantly potentiated in DPP4mut rats as compared to wt controls. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate a positive correlation between reduced stress-responsiveness and increased central NPY, in DPP4mut rats. Most interestingly, the behavioral phenotype extends to facilitation of fear extinction. These observations raise further interest in DPP4-modulating drugs for the potential effect on NPY metabolism, as a therapeutic tool for psychiatric conditions such as anxiety disorders and PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Canneva
- Department of Experimental Therapy, Präklinisches Experimentelles Tierzentrum, Univerisitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Yulia Golub
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Clinic of Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Joerg Distler
- Department of Experimental Therapy, Präklinisches Experimentelles Tierzentrum, Univerisitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Julia Dobner
- Department of Experimental Therapy, Präklinisches Experimentelles Tierzentrum, Univerisitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sandra Meyer
- Department of Experimental Therapy, Präklinisches Experimentelles Tierzentrum, Univerisitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- Department of Experimental Therapy, Präklinisches Experimentelles Tierzentrum, Univerisitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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Canneva F, Melis T, Leon W, Iulita F, Dobner J, Ducatenzeiler A, Schilling S, Hoersten S, Cuello C. P4‐280: Naive and pyroglutamated amyloid beta accumulation in the McGill‐R‐THY1‐APP rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2011.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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