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Liu Y, Tan Y, Cheng G, Ni Y, Xie A, Zhu X, Yin C, Zhang Y, Chen T. Customized Intranasal Hydrogel Delivering Methylene Blue Ameliorates Cognitive Dysfunction against Alzheimer's Disease. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2307081. [PMID: 38395039 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202307081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
The accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein aggregates is a key pathogenic event in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and induces mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species overproduction. However, the treatment of AD remains challenging owning to the hindrance caused by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the complex pathology of AD. Nasal delivery represents an effective means of circumventing the BBB and delivering drugs to the brain. In this study, black phosphorus (BP) is used as a drug carrier, as well as an antioxidant, and loaded with a tau aggregation inhibitor, methylene blue (MB), to obtain BP-MB. For intranasal (IN) delivery, a thermosensitive hydrogel is fabricated by cross-linking carboxymethyl chitosan and aldehyde Pluronic F127 (F127-CHO) micelles. The BP-MB nanocomposite is incorporated into the hydrogel to obtain BP-MB@Gel. BP-MB@Gel could be injected intranasally, providing high nasal mucosal retention and controlled drug release. After IN administration, BP-MB is continuously released and delivered to the brain, exerting synergistic therapeutic effects by suppressing tau neuropathology, restoring mitochondrial function, and alleviating neuroinflammation, thus inducing cognitive improvements in mouse models of AD. These findings highlight a potential strategy for brain-targeted drug delivery in the management of the complex pathologies of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Liu
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
| | - Yun Tan
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Guopan Cheng
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
| | - Yaqiong Ni
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Aihua Xie
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
| | - Xiaozhen Zhu
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
| | - Chao Yin
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Micro & Nano Materials Interface Science, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Tongkai Chen
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
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Lipp HP, Krackow S, Turkes E, Benner S, Endo T, Russig H. IntelliCage: the development and perspectives of a mouse- and user-friendly automated behavioral test system. Front Behav Neurosci 2024; 17:1270538. [PMID: 38235003 PMCID: PMC10793385 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1270538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
IntelliCage for mice is a rodent home-cage equipped with four corner structures harboring symmetrical double panels for operant conditioning at each of the two sides, either by reward (access to water) or by aversion (non-painful stimuli: air-puffs, LED lights). Corner visits, nose-pokes and actual licks at bottle-nipples are recorded individually using subcutaneously implanted transponders for RFID identification of up to 16 adult mice housed in the same home-cage. This allows for recording individual in-cage activity of mice and applying reward/punishment operant conditioning schemes in corners using workflows designed on a versatile graphic user interface. IntelliCage development had four roots: (i) dissatisfaction with standard approaches for analyzing mouse behavior, including standardization and reproducibility issues, (ii) response to handling and housing animal welfare issues, (iii) the increasing number of mouse models had produced a high work burden on classic manual behavioral phenotyping of single mice. and (iv), studies of transponder-chipped mice in outdoor settings revealed clear genetic behavioral differences in mouse models corresponding to those observed by classic testing in the laboratory. The latter observations were important for the development of home-cage testing in social groups, because they contradicted the traditional belief that animals must be tested under social isolation to prevent disturbance by other group members. The use of IntelliCages reduced indeed the amount of classic testing remarkably, while its flexibility was proved in a wide range of applications worldwide including transcontinental parallel testing. Essentially, two lines of testing emerged: sophisticated analysis of spontaneous behavior in the IntelliCage for screening of new genetic models, and hypothesis testing in many fields of behavioral neuroscience. Upcoming developments of the IntelliCage aim at improved stimulus presentation in the learning corners and videotracking of social interactions within the IntelliCage. Its main advantages are (i) that mice live in social context and are not stressfully handled for experiments, (ii) that studies are not restricted in time and can run in absence of humans, (iii) that it increases reproducibility of behavioral phenotyping worldwide, and (iv) that the industrial standardization of the cage permits retrospective data analysis with new statistical tools even after many years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Peter Lipp
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sven Krackow
- Institute of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Emir Turkes
- Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Seico Benner
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki, Japan
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Vogel A, Ueberbach T, Wilken-Schmitz A, Hahnefeld L, Franck L, Weyer MP, Jungenitz T, Schmid T, Buchmann G, Freudenberg F, Brandes RP, Gurke R, Schwarzacher SW, Geisslinger G, Mittmann T, Tegeder I. Repetitive and compulsive behavior after Early-Life-Pain associated with reduced long-chain sphingolipid species. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:155. [PMID: 37635256 PMCID: PMC10463951 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01106-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pain in early life may impact on development and risk of chronic pain. We developed an optogenetic Cre/loxP mouse model of "early-life-pain" (ELP) using mice with transgenic expression of channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) under control of the Advillin (Avil) promoter, which drives expression of transgenes predominantly in isolectin B4 positive non-peptidergic nociceptors in postnatal mice. Avil-ChR2 (Cre +) and ChR2-flfl control mice were exposed to blue light in a chamber once daily from P1-P5 together with their Cre-negative mother. RESULTS ELP caused cortical hyperexcitability at P8-9 as assessed via multi-electrode array recordings that coincided with reduced expression of synaptic genes (RNAseq) including Grin2b, neurexins, piccolo and voltage gated calcium and sodium channels. Young adult (8-16 wks) Avil-ChR2 mice presented with nociceptive hypersensitivity upon heat or mechanical stimulation, which did not resolve up until one year of age. The persistent hypersensitivy to nociceptive stimuli was reflected by increased calcium fluxes in primary sensory neurons of aged mice (1 year) upon capsaicin stimulation. Avil-ChR2 mice behaved like controls in maze tests of anxiety, social interaction, and spatial memory but IntelliCage behavioral studies revealed repetitive nosepokes and corner visits and compulsive lickings. Compulsiveness at the behavioral level was associated with a reduction of sphingomyelin species in brain and plasma lipidomic studies. Behavioral studies were done with female mice. CONCLUSION The results suggest that ELP may predispose to chronic "pain" and compulsive psychopathology in part mediated by alterations of sphingolipid metabolism, which have been previously described in the context of addiction and psychiatric diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Vogel
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Timo Ueberbach
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Annett Wilken-Schmitz
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lisa Hahnefeld
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, 60596, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), 60596, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Luisa Franck
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Marc-Philipp Weyer
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tassilo Jungenitz
- Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience Center, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tobias Schmid
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
- Partner Site Frankfurt, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Giulia Buchmann
- Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Florian Freudenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Goethe-University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ralf P Brandes
- Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Robert Gurke
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, 60596, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), 60596, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stephan W Schwarzacher
- Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience Center, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Gerd Geisslinger
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, 60596, Frankfurt, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), 60596, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thomas Mittmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Irmgard Tegeder
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany.
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Yanagida K, Shimizu T. Lysophosphatidic acid, a simple phospholipid with myriad functions. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 246:108421. [PMID: 37080433 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a simple phospholipid consisting of a phosphate group, glycerol moiety, and only one hydrocarbon chain. Despite its simple chemical structure, LPA plays an important role as an essential bioactive signaling molecule via its specific six G protein-coupled receptors, LPA1-6. Recent studies, especially those using genetic tools, have revealed diverse physiological and pathological roles of LPA and LPA receptors in almost every organ system. Furthermore, many studies are illuminating detailed mechanisms to orchestrate multiple LPA receptor signaling pathways and to facilitate their coordinated function. Importantly, these extensive "bench" works are now translated into the "bedside" as exemplified by approaches targeting LPA1 signaling to combat fibrotic diseases. In this review, we discuss the physiological and pathological roles of LPA signaling and their implications for clinical application by focusing on findings revealed by in vivo studies utilizing genetic tools targeting LPA receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Yanagida
- Department of Lipid Life Science, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Takao Shimizu
- Department of Lipid Life Science, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Institute of Microbial Chemistry, Tokyo, Japan
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The times they are a-changin': a proposal on how brain flexibility goes beyond the obvious to include the concepts of "upward" and "downward" to neuroplasticity. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:977-992. [PMID: 36575306 PMCID: PMC10005965 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01931-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Since the brain was found to be somehow flexible, plastic, researchers worldwide have been trying to comprehend its fundamentals to better understand the brain itself, make predictions, disentangle the neurobiology of brain diseases, and finally propose up-to-date treatments. Neuroplasticity is simple as a concept, but extremely complex when it comes to its mechanisms. This review aims to bring to light an aspect about neuroplasticity that is often not given enough attention as it should, the fact that the brain's ability to change would include its ability to disconnect synapses. So, neuronal shrinkage, decrease in spine density or dendritic complexity should be included within the concept of neuroplasticity as part of its mechanisms, not as an impairment of it. To that end, we extensively describe a variety of studies involving topics such as neurodevelopment, aging, stress, memory and homeostatic plasticity to highlight how the weakening and disconnection of synapses organically permeate the brain in so many ways as a good practice of its intrinsic physiology. Therefore, we propose to break down neuroplasticity into two sub-concepts, "upward neuroplasticity" for changes related to synaptic construction and "downward neuroplasticity" for changes related to synaptic deconstruction. With these sub-concepts, neuroplasticity could be better understood from a bigger landscape as a vector in which both directions could be taken for the brain to flexibly adapt to certain demands. Such a paradigm shift would allow a better understanding of the concept of neuroplasticity to avoid any data interpretation bias, once it makes clear that there is no morality with regard to the organic and physiological changes that involve dynamic biological systems as seen in the brain.
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Becker S, Nold A, Tchumatchenko T. Modulation of working memory duration by synaptic and astrocytic mechanisms. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010543. [PMID: 36191056 PMCID: PMC9560596 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Short-term synaptic plasticity and modulations of the presynaptic vesicle release rate are key components of many working memory models. At the same time, an increasing number of studies suggests a potential role of astrocytes in modulating higher cognitive function such as WM through their influence on synaptic transmission. Which influence astrocytic signaling could have on the stability and duration of WM representations, however, is still unclear. Here, we introduce a slow, activity-dependent astrocytic regulation of the presynaptic release probability in a synaptic attractor model of WM. We compare and analyze simulations of a simple WM protocol in firing rate and spiking networks with and without astrocytic regulation, and underpin our observations with analyses of the phase space dynamics in the rate network. We find that the duration and stability of working memory representations are altered by astrocytic signaling and by noise. We show that astrocytic signaling modulates the mean duration of WM representations. Moreover, if the astrocytic regulation is strong, a slow presynaptic timescale introduces a ‘window of vulnerability’, during which WM representations are easily disruptable by noise before being stabilized. We identify two mechanisms through which noise from different sources in the network can either stabilize or destabilize WM representations. Our findings suggest that (i) astrocytic regulation can act as a crucial determinant for the duration of WM representations in synaptic attractor models of WM, and (ii) that astrocytic signaling could facilitate different mechanisms for volitional top-down control of WM representations and their duration. The ability to form memories and recall them is one of the fascinating features of our brain. Working memory operates like a memory scratch pad storing ongoing information for further processing. Here, we present a computational model dissecting the influence of astrocytes on the stability and duration of working memories. We find that a long astrocytic time constant can influence the mean duration of working memory representations and generate a “window of vulnerability”, during which some memories are tagged for long-term survival while some are terminated. The fraction of memories in the survival and termination groups could be regulated by adjusting the strength of astrocytic feedback or its time constant. This indicates that astrocytic signaling can be viewed as a candidate mechanism for top-down control of working memory representations and their duration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Becker
- Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Theory of Neural Dynamics group, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andreas Nold
- Theory of Neural Dynamics group, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, Life and Brain Center, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tatjana Tchumatchenko
- Theory of Neural Dynamics group, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, Life and Brain Center, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Institute for Physiological Chemistry, Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- * E-mail:
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7
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Bitar L, Uphaus T, Thalman C, Muthuraman M, Gyr L, Ji H, Domingues M, Endle H, Groppa S, Steffen F, Koirala N, Fan W, Ibanez L, Heitsch L, Cruchaga C, Lee JM, Kloss F, Bittner S, Nitsch R, Zipp F, Vogt J. Inhibition of the enzyme autotaxin reduces cortical excitability and ameliorates the outcome in stroke. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabk0135. [PMID: 35442704 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abk0135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Stroke penumbra injury caused by excess glutamate is an important factor in determining stroke outcome; however, several therapeutic approaches aiming to rescue the penumbra have failed, likely due to unspecific targeting and persistent excitotoxicity, which continued far beyond the primary stroke event. Synaptic lipid signaling can modulate glutamatergic transmission via presynaptic lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) 2 receptors modulated by the LPA-synthesizing molecule autotaxin (ATX) present in astrocytic perisynaptic processes. Here, we detected long-lasting increases in brain ATX concentrations after experimental stroke. In humans, cerebrospinal fluid ATX concentration was increased up to 14 days after stroke. Using astrocyte-specific deletion and pharmacological inhibition of ATX at different time points after experimental stroke, we showed that inhibition of LPA-related cortical excitability improved stroke outcome. In transgenic mice and in individuals expressing a single-nucleotide polymorphism that increased LPA-related glutamatergic transmission, we found dysregulated synaptic LPA signaling and subsequent negative stroke outcome. Moreover, ATX inhibition in the animal model ameliorated stroke outcome, suggesting that this approach might have translational potential for improving the outcome after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn Bitar
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Timo Uphaus
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Carine Thalman
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Muthuraman Muthuraman
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Luzia Gyr
- Transfer Group Anti-Infectives, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knoell Institute, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Haichao Ji
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- Department of Molecular and Translational Neuroscience, Cologne Excellence Cluster for Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Micaela Domingues
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Heiko Endle
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- Department of Molecular and Translational Neuroscience, Cologne Excellence Cluster for Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Sergiu Groppa
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Falk Steffen
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Nabin Koirala
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Wei Fan
- Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Laura Ibanez
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neurology, NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Laura Heitsch
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Carlos Cruchaga
- Department of Psychiatry, Department of Neurology, NeuroGenomics and Informatics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jin-Moo Lee
- Department of Neurology, Radiology, and Biomedical Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Florian Kloss
- Transfer Group Anti-Infectives, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knoell Institute, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan Bittner
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Robert Nitsch
- Institute of Translational Neuroscience, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Frauke Zipp
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Johannes Vogt
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN) and Immunotherapy (FZI), Rhine Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- Department of Molecular and Translational Neuroscience, Cologne Excellence Cluster for Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
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8
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Konings SC, Torres-Garcia L, Martinsson I, Gouras GK. Astrocytic and Neuronal Apolipoprotein E Isoforms Differentially Affect Neuronal Excitability. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:734001. [PMID: 34621153 PMCID: PMC8490647 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.734001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic changes and neuronal network dysfunction are among the earliest changes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4), the major genetic risk factor in AD, has been shown to be present at synapses and to induce hyperexcitability in mouse knock-in brain regions vulnerable to AD. ApoE in the brain is mainly generated by astrocytes, however, neurons can also produce ApoE under stress conditions such as aging. The potential synaptic function(s) of ApoE and whether the cellular source of ApoE might affect neuronal excitability remain poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the synaptic localization and effects on neuronal activity of the two main human ApoE isoforms from different cellular sources in control and AD-like in vitro cultured neuron models. In this study ApoE is seen to localize at or near to synaptic terminals. Additionally, we detected a cellular source-specific effect of ApoE isoforms on neuronal activity measured by live cell Ca2+ imaging. Neuronal activity increases after acute but not long-term administration of ApoE4 astrocyte medium. In contrast, ApoE expressed by neurons appears to induce the highest neuronal firing rate in the presence of ApoE3, rather than ApoE4. Moreover, increased neuronal activity in APP/PS1 AD transgenic compared to wild-type neurons is seen in the absence of astrocytic ApoE and the presence of astrocytic ApoE4, but not ApoE3. In summary, ApoE can target synapses and differentially induce changes in neuronal activity depending on whether ApoE is produced by astrocytes or neurons. Astrocytic ApoE induces the strongest neuronal firing with ApoE4, while the most active and efficient neuronal activity induced by neuronal ApoE is caused by ApoE3. ApoE isoforms also differentially affect neuronal activity in AD transgenic compared to wild-type neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine C Konings
- Experimental Dementia Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Laura Torres-Garcia
- Experimental Dementia Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Isak Martinsson
- Experimental Dementia Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Gunnar K Gouras
- Experimental Dementia Research Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Trehalose Reduces Nerve Injury Induced Nociception in Mice but Negatively Affects Alertness. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13092953. [PMID: 34578829 PMCID: PMC8469914 DOI: 10.3390/nu13092953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Trehalose, a sugar from fungi, mimics starvation due to a block of glucose transport and induces Transcription Factor EB- mediated autophagy, likely supported by the upregulation of progranulin. The pro-autophagy effects help to remove pathological proteins and thereby prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Enhancing autophagy also contributes to the resolution of neuropathic pain in mice. Therefore, we here assessed the effects of continuous trehalose administration via drinking water using the mouse Spared Nerve Injury model of neuropathic pain. Trehalose had no effect on drinking, feeding, voluntary wheel running, motor coordination, locomotion, and open field, elevated plus maze, and Barnes Maze behavior, showing that it was well tolerated. However, trehalose reduced nerve injury-evoked nociceptive mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity as compared to vehicle. Trehalose had no effect on calcium currents in primary somatosensory neurons, pointing to central mechanisms of the antinociceptive effects. In IntelliCages, trehalose-treated mice showed reduced activity, in particular, a low frequency of nosepokes, which was associated with a reduced proportion of correct trials and flat learning curves in place preference learning tasks. Mice failed to switch corner preferences and stuck to spontaneously preferred corners. The behavior in IntelliCages is suggestive of sedative effects as a “side effect” of a continuous protracted trehalose treatment, leading to impairment of learning flexibility. Hence, trehalose diet supplements might reduce chronic pain but likely at the expense of alertness.
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Tran BN, Valek L, Wilken-Schmitz A, Fuhrmann DC, Namgaladze D, Wittig I, Tegeder I. Reduced exploratory behavior in neuronal nucleoredoxin knockout mice. Redox Biol 2021; 45:102054. [PMID: 34198070 PMCID: PMC8254043 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.102054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleoredoxin is a thioredoxin-like redoxin that has been recognized as redox modulator of WNT signaling. Using a Yeast-2-Hybrid screen, we identified calcium calmodulin kinase 2a, Camk2a, as a prominent prey in a brain library. Camk2a is crucial for nitric oxide dependent processes of neuronal plasticity of learning and memory. Therefore, the present study assessed functions of NXN in neuronal Nestin-NXN-/- deficient mice. The NXN-Camk2a interaction was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation, and by colocalization in neuropil and dendritic spines. Functionally, Camk2a activity was reduced in NXN deficient neurons and restored with recombinant NXN. Proteomics revealed reduced oxidation in the hippocampus of Nestin-NXN-/- deficient mice, including Camk2a, further synaptic and mitochondrial proteins, and was associated with a reduction of mitochondrial respiration. Nestin-NXN-/- mice were healthy and behaved normally in behavioral tests of anxiety, activity and sociability. They had no cognitive deficits in touchscreen based learning & memory tasks, but omitted more trials showing a lower interest in the reward. They also engaged less in rewarding voluntary wheel running, and in exploratory behavior in IntelliCages. Accuracy was enhanced owing to the loss of exploration. The data suggested that NXN maintained the oxidative state of Camk2a and thereby its activity. In addition, it supported oxidation of other synaptic and mitochondrial proteins, and mitochondrial respiration. The loss of NXN-dependent pro-oxidative functions manifested in a loss of exploratory drive and reduced interest in reward in behaving mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao Ngoc Tran
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Goethe-University, Medical Faculty, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lucie Valek
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Goethe-University, Medical Faculty, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Annett Wilken-Schmitz
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Goethe-University, Medical Faculty, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - Dimitry Namgaladze
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Goethe-University, Medical Faculty, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ilka Wittig
- Functional Proteomics Group, Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology, Goethe-University, Medical Faculty, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Irmgard Tegeder
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Goethe-University, Medical Faculty, Frankfurt, Germany.
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Valek L, Tran B, Wilken-Schmitz A, Trautmann S, Heidler J, Schmid T, Brüne B, Thomas D, Deller T, Geisslinger G, Auburger G, Tegeder I. Prodromal sensory neuropathy in Pink1 -/- SNCA A53T double mutant Parkinson mice. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2021; 47:1060-1079. [PMID: 33974284 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Parkinson's disease (PD) is frequently associated with a prodromal sensory neuropathy manifesting with sensory loss and chronic pain. We have recently shown that PD-associated sensory neuropathy in patients is associated with high levels of glucosylceramides. Here, we assessed the underlying pathology and mechanisms in Pink1-/- SNCAA53T double mutant mice. METHODS We studied nociceptive and olfactory behaviour and the neuropathology of dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), including ultrastructure, mitochondrial respiration, transcriptomes, outgrowth and calcium currents of primary neurons, and tissue ceramides and sphingolipids before the onset of a PD-like disease that spontaneously develops in Pink1-/- SNCAA53T double mutant mice beyond 15 months of age. RESULTS Similar to PD patients, Pink1-/- SNCAA53T mice developed a progressive prodromal sensory neuropathy with a loss of thermal sensitivity starting as early as 4 months of age. In analogy to human plasma, lipid analyses revealed an accumulation of glucosylceramides (GlcCer) in the DRGs and sciatic nerves, which was associated with pathological mitochondria, impairment of mitochondrial respiration, and deregulation of transient receptor potential channels (TRPV and TRPA) at mRNA, protein and functional levels in DRGs. Direct exposure of DRG neurons to GlcCer caused transient hyperexcitability, followed by a premature decline of the viability of sensory neurons cultures upon repeated GlcCer application. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that pathological GlcCer contribute to prodromal sensory disease in PD mice via mitochondrial damage and calcium channel hyperexcitability. GlcCer-associated sensory neuron pathology might be amenable to GlcCer lowering therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Valek
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Bao Tran
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Annett Wilken-Schmitz
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sandra Trautmann
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Juliana Heidler
- Functional Proteomics Group, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tobias Schmid
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Bernhard Brüne
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Dominique Thomas
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thomas Deller
- Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Gerd Geisslinger
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Frankfurt, Germany.,Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Georg Auburger
- Experimental Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Irmgard Tegeder
- Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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Low brain endocannabinoids associated with persistent non-goal directed nighttime hyperactivity after traumatic brain injury in mice. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14929. [PMID: 32913220 PMCID: PMC7483739 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71879-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a frequent cause of chronic headache, fatigue, insomnia, hyperactivity, memory deficits, irritability and posttraumatic stress disorder. Recent evidence suggests beneficial effects of pro-cannabinoid treatments. We assessed in mice levels of endocannabinoids in association with the occurrence and persistence of comparable sequelae after controlled cortical impact in mice using a set of long-term behavioral observations in IntelliCages, motor and nociception tests in two sequential cohorts of TBI/sham mice. TBI mice maintained lower body weights, and they had persistent low levels of brain ethanolamide endocannabinoids (eCBs: AEA, OEA, PEA) in perilesional and subcortical ipsilateral brain tissue (6 months), but rapidly recovered motor functions (within days), and average nociceptive responses were within normal limits, albeit with high variability, ranging from loss of thermal sensation to hypersensitivity. TBI mice showed persistent non-goal directed nighttime hyperactivity, i.e. they visited rewarding and non-rewarding operant corners with high frequency and random success. On successful visits, they made more licks than sham mice resulting in net over-licking. The lower the eCBs the stronger was the hyperactivity. In reward-based learning and reversal learning tasks, TBI mice were not inferior to sham mice, but avoidance memory was less stable. Hence, the major late behavioral TBI phenotype was non-goal directed nighttime hyperactivity and "over-licking" in association with low ipsilateral brain eCBs. The behavioral phenotype would agree with a "post-TBI hyperactivity disorder". The association with persistently low eCBs in perilesional and subcortical regions suggests that eCB deficiency contribute to the post-TBI psychopathology.
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