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Christensen EK, Konomi-Pilkati A, Rombach J, Comaposada-Baro R, Wang H, Li Y, Sørensen AT. Detection of endogenous NPY release determined by novel GRAB sensor in cultured cortical neurons. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1221147. [PMID: 37545877 PMCID: PMC10399118 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1221147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is an abundantly expressed peptide in the nervous system. Its widespread distribution along with its receptors, both centrally and peripherally, indicates its broad functions in numerous biological processes. However, the low endogenous concentration and diffuse distribution of NPY make it challenging to study its actions and dynamics directly and comprehensively. Studies on the role of NPY have primarily been limited to exogenous application, transgene expression, or knock-out in biological systems, which are often combined with pharmacological probes to delineate the involvement of specific NPY receptors. Therefore, to better understand the function of NPY in time and space, direct visualization of the real-time dynamics of endogenous NPY is a valuable and desired tool. Using the first-generation and newly developed intensiometric green fluorescent G-protein-coupled NPY sensor (GRAB NPY1.0), we, for the first time, demonstrate and characterize the direct detection of endogenously released NPY in cultured cortical neurons. A dose-dependent fluorescent signal was observed upon exogenous NPY application in nearly all recorded neurons. Pharmacologically evoked neuronal activity induced a significant increase in fluorescent signal in 32% of neurons, reflecting the release of NPY, despite only 3% of all neurons containing NPY. The remaining pool of neurons expressing the sensor were either non-responsive or displayed a notable decline in the fluorescent signal. Such decline in fluorescent signal was not rescued in cortical cultures transduced with an NPY overexpression vector, where 88% of the neurons were NPY-positive. Overexpression of NPY did, however, result in sensor signals that were more readily distinguishable. This may suggest that biological factors, such as subtle changes in intracellular pH, could interfere with the fluorescent signal, and thereby underestimate the release of endogenous NPY when using this new sensor in its present configuration. However, the development of next-generation NPY GRAB sensor technology is expected soon, and will eventually enable much-wanted studies on endogenous NPY release dynamics in both cultured and intact biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Kragelund Christensen
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ainoa Konomi-Pilkati
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Joscha Rombach
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Raquel Comaposada-Baro
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Huan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Yulong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Peking University School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Andreas Toft Sørensen
- Molecular Neuropharmacology and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Li W, Pergande MR, Crutchfield CA, Searle BC, Backlund PS, Picache JA, Burkert K, Yanjanin-Farhat NM, Blank PS, Toth CL, Wassif CA, Porter FD, Cologna SM. A differential proteomics study of cerebrospinal fluid from individuals with Niemann-Pick disease, Type C1. Proteomics 2023; 23:e2200378. [PMID: 36638187 PMCID: PMC10918788 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202200378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Niemann-Pick, type C1 (NPC1) is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease, which belongs to the family of lysosomal diseases. In NPC1, endo/lysosomal accumulation of unesterified cholesterol and sphingolipids arise from improper intracellular trafficking resulting in multi-organ dysfunction. With the proximity between the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), performing differential proteomics provides a means to shed light to changes occurring in the brain. In this study, CSF samples obtained from NPC1 individuals and unaffected controls were used for protein biomarker identification. A subset of these individuals with NPC1 are being treated with miglustat, a glycosphingolipid synthesis inhibitor. Of the 300 identified proteins, 71 proteins were altered in individuals with NPC1 compared to controls including cathepsin D, and members of the complement family. Included are a report of 10 potential markers for monitoring therapeutic treatment. We observed that pro-neuropeptide Y (NPY) was significantly increased in NPC1 individuals relative to healthy controls; however, individuals treated with miglustat displayed levels comparable to healthy controls. In further investigation, NPY levels in a NPC1 mouse model corroborated our findings. We posit that NPY could be a potential therapeutic target for NPC1 due to its multiple roles in the central nervous system such as attenuating neuroinflammation and reducing excitotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenping Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago
| | | | - Christopher A. Crutchfield
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Brian C. Searle
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University Medical Center
| | - Peter S. Backlund
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Jaqueline A. Picache
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Kathryn Burkert
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Nicole M. Yanjanin-Farhat
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Paul S. Blank
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Cynthia L. Toth
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Christopher A. Wassif
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
| | - Forbes D. Porter
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health
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Cattaneo S, Verlengia G, Marino P, Simonato M, Bettegazzi B. NPY and Gene Therapy for Epilepsy: How, When,... and Y. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 13:608001. [PMID: 33551745 PMCID: PMC7862707 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.608001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a neuropeptide abundantly expressed in the mammalian central and peripheral nervous system. NPY is a pleiotropic molecule, which influences cell proliferation, cardiovascular and metabolic function, pain and neuronal excitability. In the central nervous system, NPY acts as a neuromodulator, affecting pathways that range from cellular (excitability, neurogenesis) to circuit level (food intake, stress response, pain perception). NPY has a broad repertoire of receptor subtypes, each activating specific signaling pathways in different tissues and cellular sub-regions. In the context of epilepsy, NPY is thought to act as an endogenous anticonvulsant that performs its action through Y2 and Y5 receptors. In fact, its overexpression in the brain with the aid of viral vectors can suppress seizures in animal models of epilepsy. Therefore, NPY-based gene therapy may represent a novel approach for the treatment of epilepsy patients, particularly for pharmaco-resistant and genetic forms of the disease. Nonetheless, considering all the aforementioned aspects of NPY signaling, the study of possible NPY applications as a therapeutic molecule is not devoid of critical aspects. The present review will summarize data related to NPY biology, focusing on its anti-epileptic effects, with a critical appraisal of key elements that could be exploited to improve the already existing NPY-based gene therapy approaches for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Cattaneo
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Verlengia
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Pietro Marino
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pediatrics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Barbara Bettegazzi
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.,San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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Szczygieł JA, Danielsen KI, Melin E, Rosenkranz SH, Pankratova S, Ericsson A, Agerman K, Kokaia M, Woldbye DPD. Gene Therapy Vector Encoding Neuropeptide Y and Its Receptor Y2 for Future Treatment of Epilepsy: Preclinical Data in Rats. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:232. [PMID: 33343295 PMCID: PMC7746806 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.603409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy to treat pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy in humans is now being developed using an AAV vector (CG01) that encodes the combination of neuropeptide Y and its antiepileptic receptor Y2. With this in mind, the present study aimed to provide important preclinical data on the effects of CG01 on the duration of transgene expression, cellular tropism, and potential side effects on body weight and cognitive function. The CG01 vector was administered unilaterally into the dorsal and ventral hippocampus of adult male rats and expression of both transgenes was found to remain elevated without a sign of decline at 6 months post-injection. CG01 appeared to mediate expression selectively in hippocampal neurons, without expression in astrocytes or oligodendrocytes. No effects were seen on body weight as well as on short- or long-term memory as revealed by testing in the Y-maze or Morris water maze tests. Thus these data show that unilateral CG01 vector treatment as future gene therapy in pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy patients should result in stable and long-term expression predominantly in neurons and be well tolerated without side effects on body weight and cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kira Iben Danielsen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Experimental Epilepsy Group, Epilepsy Centre, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Esbjörn Melin
- Experimental Epilepsy Group, Epilepsy Centre, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | - Merab Kokaia
- Experimental Epilepsy Group, Epilepsy Centre, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
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