Fibroblast growth factor 19 as a countermeasure to muscle and locomotion dysfunctions in experimental cerebral palsy

Neonatal resveratrol treatment in cerebral palsy model recovers neurodevelopment impairments by restoring the skeletal muscle morphology and decreases microglial activation in the cerebellum

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the main motor disorder in childhood resulting from damage to the developing brain. Treatment perspectives are required to reverse the primary damage caused by the early insult and consequently to recover motor skills. Resveratrol has been shown to act as neuroprotection with benefits to skeletal muscle. This study aimed to investigate the effects of neonatal resveratrol treatment on neurodevelopment, skeletal muscle morphology, and cerebellar damage in CP model. Wistar rat pups were allocated to four experimental groups (n = 15/group) according CP model and treatment: Control+Saline (CS), Control+Resveratrol (CR), CP + Saline (CPS), and CP + Resveratrol (CPR). CP model associated anoxia and sensorimotor restriction. CP group showed delay in the disappearance of the palmar grasp reflex (p < 0.0001) and delay in the appearance of reflexes of negative geotaxis (p = 0.01), and free-fall righting (p < 0.0001), reduced locomotor activity and motor coordination (p < 0.05) than CS group. These motor skills impairments were associated with a reduction in muscle weight (p < 0.001) and area and perimeter of soleus end extensor digitorum longus muscle fibers (p < 0.0001), changes in muscle fibers typing pattern (p < 0.05), and the cerebellum showed signs of neuroinflammation due to elevated density and percentage of activated microglia in the CPS group compared to CS group (p < 0.05). CP animals treated with resveratrol showed anticipation of the appearance of negative geotaxis and free-fall righting reflexes (p < 0.01), increased locomotor activity (p < 0.05), recovery muscle fiber types pattern (p < 0.05), and reversal of the increase in density and the percentage of activated microglia in the cerebellum (p < 0.01). Thus, we conclude that neonatal treatment with resveratrol can contribute to the recovery of the delay neurodevelopment resulting from experimental CP due to its action in restoring the skeletal muscle morphology and reducing neuroinflammation from cerebellum.

Resveratrol Reduces Neuroinflammation and Hippocampal Microglia Activation and Protects Against Impairment of Memory and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Experimental Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor and postural impairments. However, early brain injury can promote deleterious effects on the hippocampus, impairing memory. This study aims to investigate the effects of resveratrol treatment on memory, anxiety-like behavior, and neuroinflammation markers in rats with CP. Male Wistar rats were subjected to perinatal anoxia (P0-P1) and sensory-motor restriction (P2-P28). They were treated with resveratrol (10 mg/kg, 0.1 ml/100 g) or saline from P3-P21, being divided into four experimental groups: CS (n = 15), CR (n = 15), CPS (n = 15), and CPR (n = 15). They were evaluated in the tests of novel object recognition (NORT), T-Maze, Light-Dark Box (LDB), and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM). Compared to the CS group, the CPS group has demonstrated a reduced discrimination index on the NORT (p < 0.0001) and alternation on the T-Maze (p < 0.01). In addition, the CPS group showed an increase in permanence time on the dark side in LDB (p < 0.0001) and on the close arms of the EPM (p < 0.001). The CPR group demonstrated an increase in the object discrimination index (p < 0.001), on the alternation (p < 0.001), on the permanence time on the light side (p < 0.0001), and on the open arms (p < 0.001). The CPR group showed a reduction in gene expression of IL-6 (p = 0.0175) and TNF-α (p = 0.0007) and an increase in Creb-1 levels (p = 0.0020). The CPS group showed an increase in the activated microglia and a reduction in cell proliferation in the hippocampus, while CPR animals showed a reduction of activated microglia and an increase in cell proliferation. These results demonstrate promising effects of resveratrol in cerebral palsy behavior impairment through reduced neuroinflammation in the hippocampus.

Creatine supplementation increases postnatal growth and strength and prevents overexpression of pro-inflammatory interleukin 6 in the hippocampus in an experimental model of cerebral palsy

ABSTRACTObjectives: The aim of this study was thus to evaluate the effect of Cr supplementation on morphological changes and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus and on developmental parameters. Methods: Male Wistar rat pups were submitted to an experimental model of CP. Cr was administered via gavage from the 21st to the 28th postnatal day, and in water after the 28th, until the end of the experiment. Body weight (BW), food consumption (FC), muscle strength, and locomotion were evaluated. Expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were assessed in the hippocampus by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Iba1 immunoreactivity was assessed by immunocytochemistry in the hippocampal hilus. Results: Experimental CP caused increased density and activation of microglial cells, and overexpression of IL-6. The rats with CP also presented abnormal BW development and impairment of strength and locomotion. Cr supplementation was able to reverse the overexpression of IL-6 in the hippocampus and mitigate the impairments observed in BW, strength, and locomotion. Discussion: Future studies should evaluate other neurobiological characteristics, including changes in neural precursor cells and other cytokines, both pro- and anti-inflammatory.

Sarcopenia and Diabetes: A Detrimental Liaison of Advancing Age

Sarcopenia is an age-related clinical complaint characterized by the progressive deterioration of skeletal muscle mass and strength over time. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with faster and more relevant skeletal muscle impairment. Both conditions influence each other, leading to negative consequences on glycemic control, cardiovascular risk, general health status, risk of falls, frailty, overall quality of life, and mortality. PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for research articles, scientific reports, observational studies, clinical trials, narrative and systematic reviews, and meta-analyses to review the evidence on the pathophysiology of di-abetes-induced sarcopenia, its relevance in terms of glucose control and diabetes-related outcomes, and diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The review comprehensively addresses key elements for the clinical definition and diagnostic criteria of sarcopenia, the pathophysiological correlation be-tween T2D, sarcopenia, and related outcomes, a critical review of the role of antihyperglycemic treatment on skeletal muscle health, and perspectives on the role of specific treatment targeting myokine signaling pathways involved in glucose control and the regulation of skeletal muscle metabolism and trophism. Prompt diagnosis and adequate management, including lifestyle inter-vention, health diet programs, micronutrient supplementation, physical exercise, and pharmaco-logical treatment, are needed to prevent or delay skeletal muscle deterioration in T2D.

Neonatal treatment with resveratrol decreases postural and strength impairments and improves mitochondrial function in the somatosensory cortex rats submitted to cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by postural, motor, and cognitive disorders, being one of the main causes of physical and intellectual disability in childhood. To minimize functional impairments, the use of resveratrol as a therapeutic strategy is highlighted due to its neuroprotective and antioxidant effects in different regions of the brain. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of neonatal treatment with resveratrol on postural development, motor function, oxidative balance, and mitochondrial biogenesis in the brain of rats submitted to a cerebral palsy model. Neonatal treatment with resveratrol attenuated deficits in somatic growth, postural development, and muscle strength in rats submitted to cerebral palsy. Related to oxidative balance, resveratrol in cerebral palsy decreased the levels of MDA and carbonyls. Related to mitochondrial biogenesis, was observed in animals with cerebral palsy treated with resveratrol, an increase in mRNA levels of TFAM, in association with the increase of citrate synthase activity. The data demonstrated a promising effect of neonatal resveratrol treatment, improving postural and muscle deficits induced by cerebral palsy. These findings were associated with improvements in oxidative balance and mitochondrial biogenesis in the brain of rats submitted to cerebral palsy.

FGF19 improves sevoflurane-induced cognitive dysfunction in rats through the PGC-1α/BDNF/FNDC5 pathway

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a serious central nervous system complication characterized by impaired memory, reduced information processing ability, and anxiety. Recently, the role of FGF19 in neurological diseases has been reported. However, the effect and mechanisms of FGF19 in improving symptoms of POCD remain unknown. This study aimed to identify the role and exploring the underlying mechanisms of FGF19 in POCD. Here, rats were separated into four different groups, including control, sevoflurane (sev), sev + AAV-empty, and sev + AAV-FGF19 group. Then, the Morris water maze (MWM) test was applied to identify the effect of FGF19 on POCD rats. The result proved that FGF19 improved sevoflurane induced cognitive dysfunction in rats. Subsequently, the expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-10 were detected to verify the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of FGF19 in POCD rats. Furthermore, DHE fluorescent staining assay showed that FGF19 could inhibit sevoflurane-induced oxidative stress in POCD rats. Besides, NISSL staining and TUNEL assay were applied to reveal that FGF19 could alleviate hippocampal neuron injury induced by sevoflurane in rats. Moreover, mechanistic studies confirmed that FGF19 improved symptoms of POCD by mediated PGC-1α/BDNF/FNDC5 pathway. Together, these results suggested that FGF19 improves sevoflurane-induced POCD in rats through the PGC-1α/BDNF/FNDC5 pathway.

Neonatal kaempferol exposure attenuates gait and strength deficits and prevents altered muscle phenotype in a rat model of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is characterized by brain damage at a critical period of development of the central nervous system, and, as a result, motor, behavioural and learning deficits are observed in those affected. Flavonoids such as kaempferol have demonstrated potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties for neurological disorders. This study aimed to assess the effects of neonatal treatment with kaempferol on the body development, grip strength, gait performance and morphological and biochemical phenotype of skeletal muscle in rats subjected to a model of CP. The groups were formed by randomly allocating male Wistar rats after birth to four groups as follows: C = control treated with vehicle, K = control treated with kaempferol, CP = CP treated with vehicle and CPK = CP treated with kaempferol. The model of CP involved perinatal anoxia and sensorimotor restriction of the hind paws during infancy, from the second to the 28th day of postnatal life. Treatment with kaempferol (1 mg/kg) was performed intraperitoneally during the neonatal period. Body weight and length, muscle strength, gait kinetics and temporal and spatial parameters were evaluated in the offspring. On the 36th day of postnatal life, the animals were euthanized for soleus muscle dissection. The muscle fibre phenotype was assessed using the myofibrillar ATPase technique, and the muscle protein expression was measured using the Western blot technique. A reduction in the impact of CP on body phenotype was observed, and this also attenuated deficits in muscle strength and gait. Treatment also mitigated the impact on muscle phenotype by preventing a reduction in the proportion of oxidative fibres and in the histomorphometric parameters in the soleus muscle of rats in the CP group. The results demonstrate that neonatal treatment with kaempferol attenuated gait deficits and impaired muscle strength and muscle maturation in rats subjected to a model of CP.

Creatine supplementation to improve the peripheral and central inflammatory profile in cerebral palsy

This opinion paper presents a brief review on the potential use of Creatine (Cr) to improve the inflammatory profile in individuals with Cerebral Palsy (CP). CP is a condition that causes muscle atrophy followed by reduced strength and altered muscle tone. The prevalence of chronic diseases is higher in people with CP due to this, which are often associated with peripheral inflammation, but there are no studies that have evaluated central inflammation in this condition. Nevertheless, the anti-inflammatory action of Cr has already been observed in different types of studies. Thus, the use of experimental models of CP to evaluate the expression of the inflammatory markers, especially in the brain, as well as approaches to reduce the impairments already observed becomes essential. Results obtained in these preclinical studies may contribute to the quality of therapeutic strategies offered to children suffering from CP, the most common cause of chronic motor disability in childhood.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5: Diverse roles in cancer

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) and the associated signaling components in the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway regulate cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion. Of the IGFBPs, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP5) is the most evolutionarily conserved with a dynamic range of IGF-dependent and -independent functions, and studies on the actions of IGFBP5 in cancer have been somewhat paradoxical. In cancer, the IGFBPs respond to external stimuli to modulate disease progression and therapeutic responsiveness in a context specific manner. This review discusses the different roles of IGF signaling and IGFBP5 in disease with an emphasis on discoveries within the last twenty years, which underscore a need to clarify the IGF-independent actions of IGFBP5, the impact of its subcellular localization, the differential activities of each of the subdomains, and the response to elements of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Additionally, recent advances addressing the role of IGFBP5 in resistance to cancer therapeutics will be discussed. A better understanding of the contexts in which IGFBP5 functions will facilitate the discovery of new mechanisms of cancer progression that may lead to novel therapeutic opportunities.