Molecular mechanisms involved in the actions of apotransferrin upon the central nervous system: Role of the cytoskeleton and of second messengers

Remyelinating effect driven by transferrin-loaded extracellular vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are involved in diverse cellular functions, playing a significant role in cell-to-cell communication in both physiological conditions and pathological scenarios. Therefore, EVs represent a promising therapeutic strategy. Oligodendrocytes (OLs) are myelinating glial cells developed from oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and damaged in chronic demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Glycoprotein transferrin (Tf) plays a critical role in iron homeostasis and has pro-differentiating effects on OLs in vivo and in vitro. In the current work, we evaluated the use of EVs as transporters of Tf to the central nervous system (CNS) through the intranasal (IN) route. For the in vitro mechanistic studies, we used rat plasma EVs. Our results show that EVTf enter OPCs through clathrin-caveolae and cholesterol-rich lipid raft endocytic pathways, releasing the cargo and exerting a pro-maturation effect on OPCs. These effects were also observed in vivo using the animal model of demyelination induced by cuprizone (CPZ). In this model, IN administered Tf-loaded EVs isolated from mouse plasma reached the brain parenchyma, internalizing into OPCs, promoting their differentiation, and accelerating remyelination. Furthermore, in vivo experiments demonstrated that EVs protected the Tf cargo and significantly reduced the amount of Tf required to induce remyelination as compared to soluble Tf. Collectively, these findings unveil EVs as functional nanocarriers of Tf to induce remyelination.

Iron Metabolism in Oligodendrocytes and Astrocytes, Implications for Myelination and Remyelination

Iron is a key nutrient for normal central nervous system (CNS) development and function; thus, iron deficiency as well as iron excess may result in harmful effects in the CNS. Oligodendrocytes and astrocytes are crucial players in brain iron equilibrium. However, the mechanisms of iron uptake, storage, and efflux in oligodendrocytes and astrocytes during CNS development or under pathological situations such as demyelination are not completely understood. In the CNS, iron is directly required for myelin production as a cofactor for enzymes involved in ATP, cholesterol and lipid synthesis, and oligodendrocytes are the cells with the highest iron levels in the brain which is linked to their elevated metabolic needs associated with the process of myelination. Unlike oligodendrocytes, astrocytes do not have a high metabolic requirement for iron. However, these cells are in close contact with blood vessel and have a strong iron transport capacity. In several pathological situations, changes in iron homoeostasis result in altered cellular iron distribution and accumulation and oxidative stress. In inflammatory demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, reactive astrocytes accumulate iron and upregulate iron efflux and influx molecules, which suggest that they are outfitted to take up and safely recycle iron. In this review, we will discuss the participation of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes in CNS iron homeostasis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of iron uptake, storage, and efflux in oligodendrocytes and astrocytes is necessary for planning effective strategies for iron management during CNS development as well as for the treatment of demyelinating diseases.

Pharmacological approaches to intervention in hypomyelinating and demyelinating white matter pathology

White matter disease afflicts both developing and mature central nervous systems. Both cell intrinsic and extrinsic dysregulation result in profound changes in cell survival, axonal metabolism and functional performance. Experimental models of developmental white matter (WM) injury and demyelination have not only delineated mechanisms of signaling and inflammation, but have also paved the way for the discovery of pharmacological approaches to intervention. These reagents have been shown to enhance protection of the mature oligodendrocyte cell, accelerate progenitor cell recruitment and/or differentiation, or attenuate pathological stimuli arising from the inflammatory response to injury. Here we highlight reports of studies in the CNS in which compounds, namely peptides, hormones, and small molecule agonists/antagonists, have been used in experimental animal models of demyelination and neonatal brain injury that affect aspects of excitotoxicity, oligodendrocyte development and survival, and progenitor cell function, and which have been demonstrated to attenuate damage and improve WM protection in experimental models of injury. The molecular targets of these agents include growth factor and neurotransmitter receptors, morphogens and their signaling components, nuclear receptors, as well as the processes of iron transport and actin binding. By surveying the current evidence in non-immune targets of both the immature and mature WM, we aim to better understand pharmacological approaches modulating endogenous oligodendroglia that show potential for success in the contexts of developmental and adult WM pathology. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Oligodendrocytes in Health and Disease'.

Expression of mutant human DISC1 in mice supports abnormalities in differentiation of oligodendrocytes

Abnormalities in oligodendrocyte (OLG) differentiation and OLG gene expression deficit have been described in schizophrenia (SZ). Recent studies revealed a critical requirement for Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) in neural development. Transgenic mice with forebrain restricted expression of mutant human DISC1 (ΔhDISC1) are characterized by neuroanatomical and behavioral abnormalities reminiscent of some features of SZ. We sought to determine whether the expression of ΔhDISC1 may influence the development of OLGs in this mouse model. OLG- and cell cycle-associated gene and protein expression were characterized in the forebrain of ΔhDISC1 mice during different stages of neurodevelopment (E15 and P1 days) and in adulthood. The results suggest that the expression of ΔhDISC1 exerts a significant influence on oligodendrocyte differentiation and function, evidenced by premature OLG differentiation and increased proliferation of their progenitors. Additional findings showed that neuregulin 1 and its receptors may be contributing factors to the observed upregulation of OLG genes. Thus, OLG function may be perturbed by mutant hDISC1 in a model system that provides new avenues for studying aspects of the pathogenesis of SZ.

Modulation of Peptidyl Arginine Deiminase 2 and Implication for Neurodegeneration

PURPOSE

To demonstrate that elevated pressure increases the peptidyl arginine deiminase 2 (PAD2) expression in cultured astrocytes in vitro that can be modulated by pharmacological agents modulating intracellular calcium.

METHODS

Isolated rat brain astrocytes were subjected to pressure treatment. Western and immunohistochemical analyses detected PAD2 protein expression. Calcium measurements were achieved employing fluorescence-based microscopic imaging and quantification system. Experiments were repeated with human optic nerve head-derived astrocytes.

RESULTS

PAD2 has recently been shown to be associated with glaucomatous optic nerve. Astrocytes subjected to pressure (25-100 mmHg) show elevated level of PAD2, increased intracellular calcium, and concomitant citrullination but not significant cell death. PAD2 expression in response to elevated pressure may play a role in glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Pressure-treated astrocytes were also subjected to thapsigargin (50-250 nM) treatment, but it is unclear whether this had any further effect in increasing PAD2 expression. Conversely, treatment with calcium chelating agent BAPTA-AM (50-250 nM) results in decreased intracellular calcium concentration and PAD2.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest calcium modulation could be exploited as therapeutic strategy to modulate pressure-induced PAD2 expression and citrullination.

Eicosapentaenoic acid stimulates the expression of myelin proteins in rat brain

We have previously demonstrated that, in C6 glioma cells, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) stimulates the expression of proteolipid protein (PLP) via cAMP-mediated pathways. In this study, we investigated whether n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can affect myelinogenesis in vivo. A single dose of either EPA or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was injected intracerebroventricularly into 2-day-old rats, which were then killed after 3 days post-injection (p.i.). Total RNA was isolated from the medulla, cerebellum, and cortex, and the expression of myelin-specific mRNAs was analyzed by real-time PCR. The levels of PLP, myelin basic protein, and myelin oligodendrocyte protein mRNAs increased in nearly all brain regions of DHA- and EPA-treated animals, but the effect was more pronounced in EPA-treated rats. The enhancement in PLP transcript levels was followed by an increase in PLP translation in EPA-treated rats. A further indicator of accelerated myelination was the increase in 2'-3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) protein levels. In EPA-treated rats, the increased expression of myelin genes coincided with a decrease of cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB)-DNA binding in the cerebellum and cortex (1 hr p.i.). After 16 hr, this effect was still present in the same cerebral regions even though the decrease in EPA-treated rats was less pronounced than in controls. The down-regulation of CREB activity was due to a decrease in the levels of CREB phosphorylation. In conclusion, our data suggest that EPA stimulates the expression of specific myelin proteins through decreased CREB phosphorylation. These results corroborate the clinical studies of the n-3 PUFA beneficial effects on several demyelinating diseases.

Apotransferrin decreases the response of oligodendrocyte progenitors to PDGF and inhibits the progression of the cell cycle

In the CNS, transferrin (Tf) is expressed by the oligodendroglial cells (OLGcs) and is essential for their development. We have previously shown that apotransferrin (aTf) accelerates maturation of OLGcs in vivo as well as in vitro. The mechanisms involved in this action appear to be complex and have not been completely elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate if Tf participates in the regulation of the cell cycle of oligodendroglial progenitor cells (OPcs). Primary cultures of OPcs were treated with aTf and/or with different combinations of mitogenic factors. Cell cycle progression was studied by BrdU incorporation, flow cytometry and by the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins. Apotransferrin decreased the number of BrdU+ cells, increasing the cell cycle time and decreasing the number of cells in S phase. The cell cycle inhibitors p27kip1, p21cip1 and p53 were increased, and in agreement with these results, the activity of the complexes involved in G1-S progression (cyclin D/CDK4, cyclin E/CDK2), was dramatically decreased. Apotransferrin also inhibited the mitogenic effects of PDGF and PDGF/IGF on OPcs, but did not affect their proliferation rate in the presence of bFGF, bFGF/PDGF or bFGF/IGF. Our results indicate that inhibition of the progression of the cell cycle of OPcs by aTf, even in the presence of PDGF, leads to an early beginning of the differentiation program, evaluated by different maturation markers (O4, GC and MBP) and by morphological criteria. The modulation by aTf of the response of OPcs to PDGF supports the idea that this glycoprotein might act as a key regulator of the OLGc lineage progression.

Overexpression of human transferrin in two oligodendroglial cell lines enhances their differentiation

We have previously demonstrated that the addition of apotransferrin (aTf) to oligodendroglial cell (OLGc) primary cultures accelerates their maturation. Cells treated with aTf developed a multipolar morphology and displayed increased expression of mature OLGc markers. In this work, we studied the effect of Tf overexpression in two OLGc lines, N19 and N20.1. The former cells exhibit characteristics of OLGc precursors (O2A), while N20.1 cells express markers of more mature OLGcs. Using the complete cDNA of the human Tf gene, we obtained clones overexpressing Tf in both cell lines. These clones were evaluated for the expression of OLGc differentiation markers. In agreement with our previous results, we found that in the cells overexpressing Tf, there was an increased O(4), GC, and MBP immunoreactivity. To study the myelinogenic potential of these cells, we co-cultured N19 and N20.1 Tf-transfected cells together with cortical neurons. There was a dramatic increase in the morphological differentiation of the OLGcs accompanied by enhanced GC and MBP expression. The OLGcs appeared to establish contact with neurites and extend their processes along them. Only two MBP isoforms were detected in Tf-overexpressing clones, while all the isoforms were present in the co-cultures, suggesting that there was a modulation of MBP expression by neurons. Concomitantly, we found an increase in several proteins involved in axon-glia interaction, such as MAG, N-CAM, and F3/Contactin. This co-culture system represents a potentially powerful tool to study neuron-glia interactions that occur during myelinogenesis and the role of Tf in this process.

Cellular iron status influences the functional relationship between microglia and oligodendrocytes

Previously, we have reported that there is a spatiotemporal relationship between iron accumulation in microglia and oligodendrocytes during normal development and in remyelination following injury. This in vivo observation has prompted us to develop a cell culture model to test the relationship between iron status of microglia and survival of oligodendrocytes. We found that conditioned media from iron-loaded microglia increases the survival of oligodendrocytes; but conditioned media from iron loaded activated microglia is toxic to oligodendrocytes. In the trophic condition, one of the proteins released by iron-loaded microglia is H-ferritin, and transfecting the microglia with siRNA for H-ferritin blocks the trophic response on oligodendrocytes. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activation decreases the amount of H-ferritin that is released from microglia and increases the release of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1. LPS activation of iron-enriched microglia results in the activation of NF-kB and greater release of cytokines when compared with that of control microglia; whereas treating microglia with an iron chelator is associated with less NF-kB activation and less release of cytokines. These results indicate that microglia play an important role in iron homoeostasis and that their iron status can influence how microglia influence growth and survival of oligodendrocytes. The results further indicate that ferritin, released by microglia, is a significant source of iron for oligodendrocytes.

Apotransferrin and the cytoskeleton of oligodendroglial cells

Apotransferrin (aTf), has been shown to accelerate the differentiation of oligodendroglial cells (OLGcs) in primary cultures and to increase the expression of different components of the myelin cytoskeleton (CSK). We examined the incorporation and distribution of human aTf (aTfh) exogenously added to OLGcs cultures and its effects on the CSK of the OLGcs. When OLGcs treated with aTfh were extracted with a CSK-stabilizing buffer containing detergent, aTfh was found in the soluble fraction. In vitro experiments showed that purified tubulin was not altered by the addition of aTfh. In OLGc primary cultures treated with aTfh, this glycoprotein showed a punctate distribution pattern along the OLGc processes. Treatment of the cultures with colchicine, cytochalasin, or taxol induced a displacement of the immunoreactivity of aTfh toward the OLGc soma. Analysis of the effects of aTfh on the cell distribution of tyrosinated and detyrosinated tubulin and STOP (stable tubule only polypeptide), showed that aTfh added to OLGc cultures promoted changes suggesting a stabilizing effect on the microtubules (MT) at the tip of the processes. Kinesin and dynein were found to colocalize with the aTfh, indicating that these motors participate in the transport of the added glycoprotein. Moreover, after treatment with aTfh, clathrin immunoreactivity was displaced from the OLGc body toward the cell processes. These results indicate that although aTfh added to OLGcs does not interact directly with CSK components, it seems to be transported in clathrin coated vesicles from the cell body to the tips of the OLGc processes where it promotes their stabilization. This mechanism may be of importance in the increased formation of the myelin membrane induced by aTf.

Apotransferrin induces cAMP/CREB pathway and cell cycle exit in immature oligodendroglial cells

We have demonstrated previously that a single intracranial injection of apotransferrin (aTf) in neonatal rats increases myelination and accelerates differentiation of oligodendroglial cells (OLGc). In addition, we have shown through in vitro experiments that OLGc isolated from 4-day-old rats (OLGc-4) treated with aTf were more differentiated than were controls although aTf had no effect upon OLGc isolated from 10-day-old animals (OLGc-10). In the present work, we analyzed the role of second messengers in the effect of aTf upon the maturation of OLGc at different stages of development. We isolated OLGc-4 and OLGc-10 from rat brain using a Percoll density gradient and briefly treated the cells with a pulse of aTf or kept them in culture during 2 days in the presence or absence of aTf. In OLGc-4, after a short pulse of aTf, there was an increase in the levels of cyclic AMP (cAMP), in the phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and in the DNA-binding capacity of cAMP-responsive transcription factors. Treatment of OLGc-4 with aTf diminished bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and changed levels of p27 and cyclin D1. This glycoprotein seemed to act on OLGc through the cAMP pathway only at early stages of development and on a certain sensitive cell population, accelerating their differentiation, probably as a consequence of premature withdrawal from the cell cycle.

What turns CREB on?

The transactivation domain of the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) consists of two major domains. The glutamine-rich Q2 domain, which interacts with the general transcription factor TAFII130/135, is sufficient for the recruitment of a functional RNA polymerase II complex and allows basal transcriptional activity. The kinase-inducible domain, however, mediates signal-induced activation of CREB-mediated transcription. It is generally believed that recruitment of the coactivators CREB-binding protein (CBP) and p300 after signal-induced phosphorylation of this domain at serine-133 strongly enhances CREB-dependent transcription. Transcriptional activity of CREB can also be potentiated by phosphoserine-133-independent mechanisms, and not all stimuli that provoke phosphorylation of serine-133 stimulate CREB-dependent transcription. This review presents an overview of the diversity of stimuli that induce CREB phosphorylation at Ser-133, focuses on phosphoserine-133-dependent and -independent mechanisms that affect CREB-mediated transcription, and discusses different models that may explain the discrepancy between CREB Ser-133 phosphorylation and activation of CREB-mediated transcription.

Vesicle transport in oligodendrocytes: probable role of Rab40c protein

Intracellular membrane trafficking plays an essential role in the structural and functional organization of oligodendrocytes, which synthesize a large amount of membrane to form myelin. Rab proteins are key components in intracellular vesicular transport. We cloned a novel Rab protein from an oligodendrocyte cDNA library, designating it Rab40c because of its homology with Rab40a and Rab40b. The DNA sequence of Rab40c shows an 843-base pair open reading frame. The deduced amino acid sequence is a protein with 281 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 31,466 Da and an isoelectric point of 9.83. Rab40c presents a number of distinct structural features including a carboxyl terminal extension and amino acid substitutions in the consensus sequence of the GTP-binding motifs. The carboxyl terminal region contains motifs that permit isoprenylation and palmitoylation. Binding studies indicate that Rab40c binds guanosine 5'-0-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) with a K(d) of 21 microM and has a higher affinity for guanosine triphosphate (GTP) than for guanosine diphosphate (GDP). Rab40c is localized in the perinuclear recycling compartment, suggesting its involvement in endocytic events such as receptor recycling. The importance of this recycling in myelin formation is suggested by the increase in both Rab40c mRNA and Rab40c protein as oligodendrocytes differentiate.

Apotransferrin promotes the differentiation of two oligodendroglial cell lines

We have previously shown that addition of apotransferrin (aTf) accelerates maturation of oligodendroglial cells (OLGcs) in primary cultures. In this work, we examined the effect of aTf on two conditionally immortalized cell lines: N19 and N20.1. These cells proliferate at 34 degrees C and differentiate into mature OLGcs at 39 degrees C. In vitro addition of aTf to both cell lines at the differentiation temperature for 7 days showed increased expression of galactocerebroside, O4, and myelin basic protein (MBP) and a drop in the percentage of BrdU+ cells. The effect on MBP expression was particularly interesting in the less mature N19 cells. These cells do not express either MBP mRNAs or proteins, so aTf induced, rather than modulated, MBP expression in this cell line. In addition, even though MBP mRNAs for all four isoforms were induced, only the 17 and 21.5 kDa appeared to be translated. OLGc differentiation has been shown to be stimulated by the cAMP-CREB pathway. In N19 cells, following a pulse of aTf, there was a 10-fold increase in cAMP levels accompanied by elevated levels of pCREB. In the more mature N20.1 cells, there were no changes in cAMP levels. We conclude that addition of aTf to immature OLGc lines can enhance their expression of differentiated markers, such as MBP. The action of aTf on MBP gene expression in the least mature line is likely to be mediated by the cAMP pathway. In the N20.1 cells, it appears that different signals and/or mechanisms are involved in modulating myelin lipid and MBP expression. The results suggest that aTf can influence OLGc gene expression and differentiation through multiple mechanisms depending on the maturation of the cell.

Calcium signaling dysfunction in schizophrenia: a unifying approach

The present paper demonstrates a remarkable pervasiveness of underlying Ca(2+) signaling motifs among the available biochemical findings in schizophrenic patients and among the major molecular hypotheses of this disease. In addition, the paper reviews the findings suggesting that Ca(2+) is capable of inducing structural and cognitive deficits seen in schizophrenia. The evidence of the ability of antipsychotic drugs to affect Ca(2+) signaling is also presented. Based on these data, it is proposed that altered Ca(2+) signaling may constitute the central unifying molecular pathology in schizophrenia. According to this hypothesis schizophrenia can result from alterations in multiple proteins and other molecules as long as these alterations lead to abnormalities in certain key aspects of intracellular Ca(2+) signaling cascades.

Inhibition of the proteasome by lactacystin enhances oligodendroglial cell differentiation

We have used lactacystin, a specific inhibitor of the 26S proteasome, in oligodendroglial cell (OLGc) primary cultures to explore the possible participation of the proteasome-ubiquitin-dependent pathway in the decision of the OLGcs to arrest their proliferation and start differentiation. Addition of lactacystin at various concentrations to cultures containing a majority of OLGc was found to produce their withdrawal from the cell cycle and to induce their biochemical and morphological differentiation, with the appearance of extensive myelin-like sheets. The three classic proteolytic activities of the proteasome were significantly decreased in the lactacystin-treated cultures, and the immunocytochemical analysis showed an increase in the number of O4-, O1-, myelin basic protein-, and myelin proteolipid protein-positive cells and a decrease in A2B5-reacting cells. Quantitative immunochemical evaluation of the expression of certain proteins controlling the cell cycle showed an increase in p27kip1-, cyclin D-, and cdk4-positive cells, with a decrease in cyclin E- and cdk2-positive cells. In the lactacystin-treated OLGcs, there was a dose-dependent decrease in the number of cells incorporating bromodeoxyuridine and in the activity of the complexes cyclin D-cdk4 and cyclin E-cdk2. Furthermore, increased levels of expression of several STAT factors were found, suggesting that proteasome inhibition in OLGcs could stabilize signals of survival and differentiation that might be processed through the JAK/STAT signaling cascade.

Differential effects of apotransferrin on two populations of oligodendroglial cells

In the central nervous system (CNS), apotransferrin (aTf) is produced by oligodendroglial cells (OLGcs), and aTf is essential for cell survival. We previously demonstrated that a single intracranial injection of aTf in 3-day-old rats accelerates differentiation of OLGc and that aTf acts at early stages of development on certain populations of OLGcs, promoting accelerated maturation, with no effect on late markers of cell differentiation. The objective of the present study was to analyze OLGc maturation at two different stages of rat development, 4 and 10 days of age, in OLGcs isolated from the brain after intracranial injection of aTf at 3 days of age, and to explore the in vitro effect of aTf added to cultures of OLGc isolated from aTf-injected and control brains. The maturational cell stages were identified by immunocytochemistry with different OLGc markers and by analysis of their morphological complexity. The OLGcs isolated from 4- and 10-day-old animals intracranially injected with aTf were more differentiated than control cells. Treatment with aTf of the cultures of OLGcs that were isolated from 4-day-old saline-injected control animals induced their differentiation, while a similar treatment of the cultures of OLGcs that were isolated from 10-day-old animals did not induce further maturation of the cells. The results presented in the present report demonstrate that the in vivo effects of aTf on OLGc maturation can be reproduced in cultures and that the effects of aTf occur early in development during a narrow, transient "temporal window" within which OLGcs are sensitive to its action.

Exosome release is regulated by a calcium-dependent mechanism in K562 cells

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are endocytic structures that contain small vesicles formed by the budding of an endosomal membrane into the lumen of the compartment. Fusion of MVBs with the plasma membrane results in secretion of the small internal vesicles termed exosomes. K562 cells are a hematopoietic cell line that releases exosomes. The application of monensin (MON) generated large MVBs that were labeled with a fluorescent lipid. Exosome release was markedly enhanced by MON treatment, a Na+/H+ exchanger that induces changes in intracellular calcium (Ca2+). To explore the possibility that the effect of MON on exosome release was caused via an increase in Ca2+, we have used a calcium ionophore and a chelator of intracellular Ca2+. Our results indicate that increasing intracellular Ca2+ stimulates exosome secretion. Furthermore, MON-stimulated exosome release was completely eliminated by 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA-AM), implying a requirement for Ca2+ in this process. We have observed that the large MVBs generated in the presence of MON accumulated Ca2+ as determined by labeling with Fluo3-AM, suggesting that intralumenal Ca2+ might play a critical role in the secretory process. Interestingly, our results indicate that transferrin (Tf) stimulated exosome release in a Ca2+-dependent manner, suggesting that Tf might be a physiological stimulus for exosome release in K562 cells.