1
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Radulescu CI, Doostdar N, Zabouri N, Melgosa-Ecenarro L, Wang X, Sadeh S, Pavlidi P, Airey J, Kopanitsa M, Clopath C, Barnes SJ. Age-related dysregulation of homeostatic control in neuronal microcircuits. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:2158-2170. [PMID: 37919424 PMCID: PMC10689243 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01451-z] [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: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal homeostasis prevents hyperactivity and hypoactivity. Age-related hyperactivity suggests homeostasis may be dysregulated in later life. However, plasticity mechanisms preventing age-related hyperactivity and their efficacy in later life are unclear. We identify the adult cortical plasticity response to elevated activity driven by sensory overstimulation, then test how plasticity changes with age. We use in vivo two-photon imaging of calcium-mediated cellular/synaptic activity, electrophysiology and c-Fos-activity tagging to show control of neuronal activity is dysregulated in the visual cortex in late adulthood. Specifically, in young adult cortex, mGluR5-dependent population-wide excitatory synaptic weakening and inhibitory synaptogenesis reduce cortical activity following overstimulation. In later life, these mechanisms are downregulated, so that overstimulation results in synaptic strengthening and elevated activity. We also find overstimulation disrupts cognition in older but not younger animals. We propose that specific plasticity mechanisms fail in later life dysregulating neuronal microcircuit homeostasis and that the age-related response to overstimulation can impact cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola I Radulescu
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Nazanin Doostdar
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Nawal Zabouri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Leire Melgosa-Ecenarro
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Xingjian Wang
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Sadra Sadeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | - Pavlina Pavlidi
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Joe Airey
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
| | | | - Claudia Clopath
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Samuel J Barnes
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK.
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2
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Lissek T. Activity-Dependent Induction of Younger Biological Phenotypes. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2022; 6:e2200119. [PMID: 35976161 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200119] [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: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
In several mammalian species, including humans, complex stimulation patterns such as cognitive and physical exercise lead to improvements in organ function, organism health and performance, as well as possibly longer lifespans. A framework is introduced here in which activity-dependent transcriptional programs, induced by these environmental stimuli, move somatic cells such as neurons and muscle cells toward a state that resembles younger cells to allow remodeling and adaptation of the organism. This cellular adaptation program targets several process classes that are heavily implicated in aging, such as mitochondrial metabolism, cell-cell communication, and epigenetic information processing, and leads to functional improvements in these areas. The activity-dependent gene program (ADGP) can be seen as a natural, endogenous cellular reprogramming mechanism that provides deep insight into the principles of inducible improvements in cell and organism function and can guide the development of therapeutic approaches for longevity. Here, these ADGPs are analyzed, exemplary critical molecular nexus points such as cAMP response element-binding protein, myocyte enhancer factor 2, serum response factor, and c-Fos are identified, and it is explored how one may leverage them to prevent, attenuate, and reverse human aging-related decline of body function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Lissek
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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3
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de Bartolomeis A, Barone A, Buonaguro EF, Tomasetti C, Vellucci L, Iasevoli F. The Homer1 family of proteins at the crossroad of dopamine-glutamate signaling: An emerging molecular "Lego" in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. A systematic review and translational insight. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 136:104596. [PMID: 35248676 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Once considered only scaffolding proteins at glutamatergic postsynaptic density (PSD), Homer1 proteins are increasingly emerging as multimodal adaptors that integrate different signal transduction pathways within PSD, involved in motor and cognitive functions, with putative implications in psychiatric disorders. Regulation of type I metabotropic glutamate receptor trafficking, modulation of calcium signaling, tuning of long-term potentiation, organization of dendritic spines' growth, as well as meta- and homeostatic plasticity control are only a few of the multiple endocellular and synaptic functions that have been linked to Homer1. Findings from preclinical studies, as well as genetic studies conducted in humans, suggest that both constitutive (Homer1b/c) and inducible (Homer1a) isoforms of Homer1 play a role in the neurobiology of several psychiatric disorders, including psychosis, mood disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and addiction. On this background, Homer1 has been proposed as a putative novel target in psychopharmacological treatments. The aim of this review is to summarize and systematize the growing body of evidence on Homer proteins, highlighting the role of Homer1 in the pathophysiology and therapy of mental diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea de Bartolomeis
- Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy.
| | - Annarita Barone
- Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Filomena Buonaguro
- Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Carmine Tomasetti
- Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Licia Vellucci
- Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Felice Iasevoli
- Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, University School of Medicine "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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4
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Grinman E, Nakahata Y, Avchalumov Y, Espadas I, Swarnkar S, Yasuda R, Puthanveettil SV. Activity-regulated synaptic targeting of lncRNA ADEPTR mediates structural plasticity by localizing Sptn1 and AnkB in dendrites. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/16/eabf0605. [PMID: 33863727 PMCID: PMC8051873 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf0605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Activity-dependent structural plasticity at the synapse requires specific changes in the neuronal transcriptome. While much is known about the role of coding elements in this process, the role of the long noncoding transcriptome remains elusive. Here, we report the discovery of an intronic long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)-termed ADEPTR-that is up-regulated and synaptically transported in a cAMP/PKA-dependent manner in hippocampal neurons, independently of its protein-coding host gene. Loss of ADEPTR function suppresses activity-dependent changes in synaptic transmission and structural plasticity of dendritic spines. Mechanistically, dendritic localization of ADEPTR is mediated by molecular motor protein Kif2A. ADEPTR physically binds to actin-scaffolding regulators ankyrin (AnkB) and spectrin (Sptn1) via a conserved sequence and is required for their dendritic localization. Together, this study demonstrates how activity-dependent synaptic targeting of an lncRNA mediates structural plasticity at the synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eddie Grinman
- Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | | | - Yosef Avchalumov
- Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Isabel Espadas
- Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Supriya Swarnkar
- Department of Neuroscience, Scripps Research, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
| | - Ryohei Yasuda
- Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA
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5
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The aging mouse brain: cognition, connectivity and calcium. Cell Calcium 2021; 94:102358. [PMID: 33517250 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2021.102358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a complex process that differentially impacts multiple cognitive, sensory, neuronal and molecular processes. Technological innovations now allow for parallel investigation of neuronal circuit function, structure and molecular composition in the brain of awake behaving adult mice. Thus, mice have become a critical tool to better understand how aging impacts the brain. However, a more granular systems-based approach, which considers the impact of age on key features relating to neural processing, is required. Here, we review evidence probing the impact of age on the mouse brain. We focus on a range of processes relating to neuronal function, including cognitive abilities, sensory systems, synaptic plasticity and calcium regulation. Across many systems, we find evidence for prominent age-related dysregulation even before 12 months of age, suggesting that emerging age-related alterations can manifest by late adulthood. However, we also find reports suggesting that some processes are remarkably resilient to aging. The evidence suggests that aging does not drive a parallel, linear dysregulation of all systems, but instead impacts some processes earlier, and more severely, than others. We propose that capturing the more fine-scale emerging features of age-related vulnerability and resilience may provide better opportunities for the rejuvenation of the aged brain.
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Effects of Gestational Inflammation with Postpartum Enriched Environment on Age-Related Changes in Cognition and Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity-Related Proteins. Neural Plast 2020. [DOI: 10.1155/2020/9082945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence indicates that exposure to inflammation during pregnancy intensifies the offspring’s cognitive impairment during aging, which might be correlated with changes in some synaptic plasticity-related proteins. In addition, an enriched environment (EE) can significantly exert a beneficial impact on cognition and synaptic plasticity. However, it is unclear whether gestational inflammation combined with postnatal EE affects the changes in cognition and synaptic plasticity-related proteins during aging. In this study, pregnant mice were intraperitoneally injected with lipopolysaccharides (LPS, 50 μg/kg) or normal saline at days 15–17 of pregnancy. At 21 days after delivery, some LPS-treated mice were randomly selected for EE treatment. At the age of 6 and 18 months, Morris water maze (MWM) and western blotting were, respectively, used to evaluate or measure the ability of spatial learning and memory and the levels of postsynaptic plasticity-related proteins in the hippocampus, including postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) GluA1 subunit, and Homer-1b/c. The results showed that 18-month-old control mice had worse spatial learning and memory and lower levels of these synaptic plasticity-related proteins (PSD-95, GluA1, and Homer-1b/c) than the 6-month-old controls. Gestational LPS exposure exacerbated these age-related changes of cognition and synaptic proteins, but EE could alleviate the treatment effect of LPS. In addition, the performance during learning and memory periods in the MWM correlated with the hippocampal levels of PSD-95, GluA1, and Homer-1b/c. Our results suggested that gestational inflammation accelerated age-related cognitive impairment and the decline of PSD-95, GluA1, and Homer-1b/c protein expression, and postpartum EE could alleviate these changes.
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7
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Narukawa M, Kamiyoshihara A, Izu H, Fujii T, Matsubara K, Misaka T. Efficacy of Long-Term Feeding of α-Glycerophosphocholine for Aging-Related Phenomena in Old Mice. Gerontology 2020; 66:275-285. [PMID: 31968334 DOI: 10.1159/000504962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Glycerophosphocholine (GPC) is a natural source of choline. It reportedly prevents aging-related decline in cognitive function, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Although it is understood that aging influences taste sensitivity and energy regulation, whether GPC exerts antiaging effects on such phenomena requires further elucidation. Here, we used old C57BL/6J mice that were fed a GPC-containing diet, to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the prevention of a decline in cognitive function associated with aging and examine the beneficial effects of GPC intake on aging-related phenomena, such as taste sensitivity and energy regulation. We confirmed that GPC intake reduces the aging-related decline in the expression levels of genes related to long-term potentiation. Although we did not observe an improvement in aging-related decline in taste sensitivity, there was a notable improvement in the expression levels of β-oxidation-associated genes in old mice. Our results suggest that the prevention of aging-related decline in cognitive function by GPC intake may be associated with the improvement of gene expression levels of long-term potentiation. Furthermore, GPC intake may positively influence lipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masataka Narukawa
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Aya Kamiyoshihara
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hanae Izu
- Quality and Evaluation Research Division, National Research Institute of Brewing, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Fujii
- Quality and Evaluation Research Division, National Research Institute of Brewing, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan.,Faculty of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Fukushima University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kiminori Matsubara
- Department of Human Life Science Education, Graduate School of Education, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Takumi Misaka
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan,
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8
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Liang Q, Cai C, Duan D, Hu X, Hua W, Jiang P, Zhang L, Xu J, Gao Z. Postnatal Vitamin D Intake Modulates Hippocampal Learning and Memory in Adult Mice. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:141. [PMID: 29666565 PMCID: PMC5891641 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Vitamin D (VD) is a neuroactive steroid crucial for brain development, function and homeostasis. Its deficiency is associated with numerous brain conditions. As such, VD and its variants are routinely taken by a broad of groups with/without known VD deficiency. In contrast, the harmful effects of VD overdose have been poorly studied. Similarly, the developmental stage-specific VD deficiency and overdose have been rarely explored. In the present work, we showed that postnatal VD supplementation enhanced the motor function transiently in the young adult, but not in the older one. Postnatal VD intake abnormality did not impact the anxiety and depressive behavior but was detrimental to spatial learning and hippocampus-dependent memory. At the molecular level we failed to observe an obvious and constant change with the neural development and activity-related genes examined. However, disrupted developmental expression dynamics were observed for most of the genes, suggesting that the altered neural development dynamics and therefore aberrant adult plasticity might underlie the functional deficits. Our work highlights the essence of VD homeostasis in neural development and adult brain function. Further studies are needed to determine the short- and long-term effects VD intake status may have on brain development, homeostasis, and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiujuan Liang
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.,Advanced Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunhui Cai
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.,Advanced Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongxia Duan
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyu Hu
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanhao Hua
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.,Advanced Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peicheng Jiang
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liu Zhang
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Xu
- East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengliang Gao
- Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.,Advanced Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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9
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Currais A, Farrokhi C, Dargusch R, Armando A, Quehenberger O, Schubert D, Maher P. Fisetin Reduces the Impact of Aging on Behavior and Physiology in the Rapidly Aging SAMP8 Mouse. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2018; 73:299-307. [PMID: 28575152 PMCID: PMC5861950 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glx104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is rarely addressed in the context of aging even though there is an overlap in pathology. We previously used a phenotypic screening platform based on old age-associated brain toxicities to identify the flavonol fisetin as a potential therapeutic for AD and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Based on earlier results with fisetin in transgenic AD mice, we hypothesized that fisetin would be effective against brain aging and cognitive dysfunction in rapidly aging senescence-accelerated prone 8 (SAMP8) mice, a model for sporadic AD and dementia. An integrative approach was used to correlate protein expression and metabolite levels in the brain with cognition. It was found that fisetin reduced cognitive deficits in old SAMP8 mice while restoring multiple markers associated with impaired synaptic function, stress, and inflammation. These results provide further evidence for the potential benefits of fisetin for the treatment of age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Currais
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Catherine Farrokhi
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Richard Dargusch
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Aaron Armando
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | | | - David Schubert
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
| | - Pamela Maher
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California
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10
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Lum JS, Pan B, Deng C, Huang XF, Ooi L, Newell KA. Effects of short- and long-term aripiprazole treatment on Group I mGluRs in the nucleus accumbens: Comparison with haloperidol. Psychiatry Res 2018; 260:152-157. [PMID: 29195167 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.11.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The D2 receptor partial agonist, aripiprazole, has shown increased therapeutic efficacy for schizophrenia, autism and Tourette's syndrome compared to traditional antipsychotics such as the D2 receptor antagonist, haloperidol. Recent evidence suggests this superior profile may be associated with downstream effects on glutamatergic synapses. Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and their endogenous modulators, Norbin and Homer1, are regulated by D2 receptor activity, particularly within the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a target region of aripiprazole and haloperidol. This study sought to evaluate the effects of aripiprazole on Group 1 mGluRs, Norbin and Homer1 in the NAc, in comparison to haloperidol. Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered daily doses of aripiprazole (2.25mg/kg), haloperidol (0.3mg/kg) or vehicle for 1 or 10-weeks. Immunoblot analyses revealed Group 1 mGluR protein levels were not altered following 1-week and 10-week aripiprazole or haloperidol treatment, compared to vehicle treated rodents. However, 1-week aripiprazole and haloperidol treatment significantly elevated Homer1a and Norbin protein expression, respectively. After 10 weeks of treatment, aripiprazole, but not haloperidol, significantly increased Norbin expression. These findings indicate the antipsychotics, aripiprazole and haloperidol, exert differential temporal effects on Norbin and Homer1 expression that may have consequences on synaptic glutamatergic transmission underlying their therapeutic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy S Lum
- Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Institute, 405 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales 2010, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Bo Pan
- Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Antipsychotic Research Laboratory, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Department of Pharmacy, Medical Academy, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chao Deng
- Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Antipsychotic Research Laboratory, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Xu-Feng Huang
- Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Lezanne Ooi
- Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | - Kelly A Newell
- Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia; Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia; Centre for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
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11
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Means JC, Gerdes BC, Kaja S, Sumien N, Payne AJ, Stark DA, Borden PK, Price JL, Koulen P. Caspase-3-Dependent Proteolytic Cleavage of Tau Causes Neurofibrillary Tangles and Results in Cognitive Impairment During Normal Aging. Neurochem Res 2016; 41:2278-88. [PMID: 27220334 PMCID: PMC4965284 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-016-1942-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are important for understanding how pathological signaling cascades change neural circuitry and with time interrupt cognitive function. Here, we introduce a non-genetic preclinical model for aging and show that it exhibits cleaved tau protein, active caspases and neurofibrillary tangles, hallmarks of AD, causing behavioral deficits measuring cognitive impairment. To our knowledge this is the first report of a non-transgenic, non-interventional mouse model displaying structural, functional and molecular aging deficits associated with AD and other tauopathies in humans with potentially high impact on both new basic research into pathogenic mechanisms and new translational research efforts. Tau aggregation is a hallmark of tauopathies, including AD. Recent studies have indicated that cleavage of tau plays an important role in both tau aggregation and disease. In this study we use wild type mice as a model for normal aging and resulting age-related cognitive impairment. We provide evidence that aged mice have increased levels of activated caspases, which significantly correlates with increased levels of truncated tau and formation of neurofibrillary tangles. In addition, cognitive decline was significantly correlated with increased levels of caspase activity and tau truncated by caspase-3. Experimentally induced inhibition of caspases prevented this proteolytic cleavage of tau and the associated formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Our study shows the strength of using a non-transgenic model to study structure, function and molecular mechanisms in aging and age related diseases of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Means
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vision Research Center, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2411 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Bryan C Gerdes
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vision Research Center, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2411 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Simon Kaja
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vision Research Center, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2411 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 S First Ave., Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
| | - Nathalie Sumien
- Center for Neuroscience Discovery, Institute for Healthy Aging, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX, 76107, USA
| | - Andrew J Payne
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vision Research Center, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2411 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Danny A Stark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vision Research Center, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2411 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Priscilla K Borden
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vision Research Center, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2411 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Price
- Department of Neurology and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2411 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5007 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA
| | - Peter Koulen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Vision Research Center, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2411 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA.
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5007 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA.
- Department of Basic Medical Science, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2411 Holmes St., Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA.
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12
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Molecular evidence of synaptic pathology in the CA1 region in schizophrenia. NPJ SCHIZOPHRENIA 2016; 2:16022. [PMID: 27430010 PMCID: PMC4944906 DOI: 10.1038/npjschz.2016.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2016] [Revised: 05/21/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Alterations of postsynaptic density (PSD)95-complex proteins in schizophrenia ostensibly induce deficits in synaptic plasticity, the molecular process underlying cognitive functions. Although some PSD95-complex proteins have been previously examined in the hippocampus in schizophrenia, the status of other equally important molecules is unclear. This is especially true in the cornu ammonis (CA)1 hippocampal subfield, a region that is critically involved in the pathophysiology of the illness. We thus performed a quantitative immunoblot experiment to examine PSD95 and several of its associated proteins in the CA1 region, using post mortem brain samples derived from schizophrenia subjects with age-, sex-, and post mortem interval-matched controls (n=20/group). Our results indicate a substantial reduction in PSD95 protein expression (-61.8%). Further analysis showed additional alterations to the scaffold protein Homer1 (Homer1a: +42.9%, Homer1b/c: -24.6%), with a twofold reduction in the ratio of Homer1b/c:Homer1a isoforms (P=0.011). Metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1) protein levels were significantly reduced (-32.7%), and Preso, a protein that supports interactions between Homer1 or PSD95 with mGluR1, was elevated (+83.3%). Significant reduction in synaptophysin (-27.8%) was also detected, which is a validated marker of synaptic density. These findings support the presence of extensive molecular abnormalities to PSD95 and several of its associated proteins in the CA1 region in schizophrenia, offering a small but significant step toward understanding how proteins in the PSD are altered in the schizophrenia brain, and their relevance to overall hippocampal and cognitive dysfunction in the illness.
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Shifting towards a model of mGluR5 dysregulation in schizophrenia: Consequences for future schizophrenia treatment. Neuropharmacology 2015; 115:73-91. [PMID: 26349010 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5), encoded by the GRM5 gene, represents a compelling novel drug target for the treatment of schizophrenia. mGluR5 is a postsynaptic G-protein coupled glutamate receptor strongly linked with several critical cellular processes that are reported to be disrupted in schizophrenia. Accordingly, mGluR5 positive allosteric modulators show encouraging therapeutic potential in preclinical schizophrenia models, particularly for the treatment of cognitive dysfunctions against which currently available therapeutics are largely ineffective. More work is required to support the progression of mGluR5-targeting drugs into the clinic for schizophrenia treatment, although some obstacles may be overcome by comprehensively understanding how mGluR5 itself is involved in the neurobiology of the disorder. Several processes that are necessary for the regulation of mGluR5 activity have been identified, but not examined, in the context of schizophrenia. These processes include protein-protein interactions, dimerisation, subcellular trafficking, the impact of genetic variability or mutations on protein function, as well as epigenetic, post-transcriptional and post-translational processes. It is essential to understand these aspects of mGluR5 to determine whether they are affected in schizophrenia pathology, and to assess the consequences of mGluR5 dysfunction for the future use of mGluR5-based drugs. Here, we summarise the known processes that regulate mGluR5 and those that have already been studied in schizophrenia, and discuss the consequences of this dysregulation for current mGluR5 pharmacological strategies. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors, 5 years on'.
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Loss of Spatial Memory, Learning, and Motor Function During Normal Aging Is Accompanied by Changes in Brain Presenilin 1 and 2 Expression Levels. Mol Neurobiol 2014; 52:545-54. [PMID: 25204494 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-014-8877-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in presenilin (PS) proteins cause familial Alzheimer's disease. We herein tested the hypothesis that the expression levels of PS proteins are differentially affected during healthy aging, in the absence of pathological mutations. We used a preclinical model for aging to identify associations between PS expression and quantitative behavioral parameters for spatial memory and learning and motor function. We identified significant changes of PS protein expression in both cerebellum and forebrain that correlated with the performance in behavioral paradigms for motor function and memory and learning. Overall, PS1 levels were decreased, while PS2 levels were increased in aged mice compared with young controls. Our study presents novel evidence for the differential expression of PS proteins in a nongenetic model for aging, resulting in an overall increase of the PS2 to PS1 ratio. Our findings provide a novel mechanistic basis for molecular and functional changes during normal aging.
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Ménard C, Quirion R, Bouchard S, Ferland G, Gaudreau P. Glutamatergic signaling and low prodynorphin expression are associated with intact memory and reduced anxiety in rat models of healthy aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2014; 6:81. [PMID: 24847259 PMCID: PMC4019859 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The LOU/C/Jall (LOU) rat strain is considered a model of healthy aging due to its increased longevity, maintenance of stable body weight (BW) throughout life and low incidence of age-related diseases. However, aging LOU rat cognitive and anxiety status has yet to be investigated. In the present study, male and female LOU rat cognitive performances (6-42 months) were assessed using novel object recognition and Morris Water Maze tasks. Recognition memory remained intact in all LOU rats up to 42 months of age. As for spatial memory, old LOU rat performed similarly as young animals for learning acquisition, reversal learning, and retention. While LOU rat BW remained stable despite aging, 20-month-old ad-libitum-fed (OAL) male Sprague Dawley rats become obese. We determined if long-term caloric restriction (LTCR) prevents age-related BW increase and cognitive deficits in this rat strain, as observed in the obesity-resistant LOU rats. Compared to young animals, recognition memory was impaired in OAL but intact in 20-month-old calorie-restricted (OCR) rats. Similarly, OAL spatial learning acquisition was impaired but LTCR prevented the deficits. Exacerbated stress responses may favor age-related cognitive decline. In the elevated plus maze and open field tasks, LOU and OCR rats exhibited high levels of exploratory activity whereas OAL rats displayed anxious behaviors. Expression of prodynorphin (Pdyn), an endogenous peptide involved in stress-related memory impairments, was increased in the hippocampus of OAL rats. Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 and immediate early genes Homer 1a and Arc expression, both associated with successful cognitive aging, were unaltered in aging LOU rats but lower in OAL than OCR rats. Altogether, our results, supported by principal component analysis and correlation matrix, suggest that intact memory and low anxiety are associated with glutamatergic signaling and low Pdyn expression in the hippocampus of non-obese aging rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Ménard
- Neuroscience Division, Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Center Montreal, QC, Canada ; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Montreal, QC, Canada ; Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of Aging, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal Research Center Montreal, QC, Canada ; Department of Medicine, University of Montreal Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Rémi Quirion
- Neuroscience Division, Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Center Montreal, QC, Canada ; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvain Bouchard
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Guylaine Ferland
- Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal Research Center Montreal, QC, Canada ; Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Pierrette Gaudreau
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology of Aging, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal Research Center Montreal, QC, Canada ; Department of Medicine, University of Montreal Montreal, QC, Canada
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Kaja S, Naumchuk Y, Grillo SL, Borden PK, Koulen P. Differential up-regulation of Vesl-1/Homer 1 protein isoforms associated with decline in visual performance in a preclinical glaucoma model. Vision Res 2014; 94:16-23. [PMID: 24219919 PMCID: PMC3890355 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2013.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2013] [Revised: 10/26/2013] [Accepted: 10/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is a multifactorial progressive ocular pathology, clinically presenting with damage to the retina and optic nerve, ultimately leading to blindness. Retinal ganglion cell loss in glaucoma ultimately results in vision loss. Vesl/Homer proteins are scaffolding proteins that are critical for maintaining synaptic integrity by clustering, organizing and functionally regulating synaptic proteins. Current anti-glaucoma therapies target IOP as the sole modifiable clinical parameters. Long-term pharmacotherapy and surgical treatment do not prevent gradual visual field loss as the disease progresses, highlighting the need for new complementary, alternative and comprehensive treatment approaches. Vesl/Homer expression was measured in the retinae of DBA/2J mice, a preclinical genetic glaucoma model with spontaneous mutations resulting in a phenotype reminiscent of chronic human pigmentary glaucoma. Vesl/Homer proteins were differentially expressed in the aged, glaucomatous DBA/2J retina, both at the transcriptional and translational level. Immunoreactivity for the long Vesl-1L/Homer 1c isoform, but not of the immediate early gene product Vesl-1S/Homer 1a was increased in the synaptic layers of the retina. This increased protein level of Vesl-1L/Homer 1c was correlated with phenotypes of increased disease severity and a decrease in visual performance. The increased expression of Vesl-1L/Homer 1c in the glaucomatous retina likely results in increased intracellular Ca(2+) release through enhancement of synaptic coupling. The ensuing Ca(2+) toxicity may thus activate neurodegenerative pathways and lead to the progressive loss of synaptic function in glaucoma. Our data suggest that higher levels of Vesl-1L/Homer 1c generate a more severe disease phenotype and may represent a viable target for therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Kaja
- Vision Research Center, Department Ophthalmology, University of Missouri - Kansas City, School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States.
| | - Yuliya Naumchuk
- Vision Research Center, Department Ophthalmology, University of Missouri - Kansas City, School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
| | - Stephanie L Grillo
- Vision Research Center, Department Ophthalmology, University of Missouri - Kansas City, School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
| | - Priscilla K Borden
- Vision Research Center, Department Ophthalmology, University of Missouri - Kansas City, School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
| | - Peter Koulen
- Vision Research Center, Department Ophthalmology, University of Missouri - Kansas City, School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States; Department of Basic Medical Science, University of Missouri - Kansas City, School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO 64108, United States
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Moore ED, Kooshki M, Wheeler KT, Metheny-Barlow LJ, Robbins ME. Differential expression of Homer1a in the hippocampus and cortex likely plays a role in radiation-induced brain injury. Radiat Res 2013; 181:21-32. [PMID: 24377717 DOI: 10.1667/rr13475.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Fractionated partial or whole-brain irradiation is the primary treatment for metastatic brain tumors. Despite reducing tumor burden and increasing lifespan, progressive, irreversible cognitive impairment occurs in >50% of the patients who survive >6 months after fractionated whole-brain irradiation. The exact mechanism(s) responsible for this radiation-induced brain injury are unknown; however, preclinical studies suggest that radiation modulates the extracellular receptor kinase signaling pathway, which is associated with cognitive impairment in many neurological diseases. In the study reported here, we demonstrated that the extracellular receptor kinase transcriptionally-regulated early response gene, Homer1a, was up-regulated transiently in the hippocampus and down-regulated in the cortex of young adult male Fischer 344 X Brown Norway rats at 48 h after 40 Gy of fractionated whole-brain irradiation. Two months after fractionated whole-brain irradiation, these changes in Homer1a expression correlated with a down-regulation of the hippocampal glutamate receptor 1 and protein kinase Cγ, and an up-regulation of cortical glutamate receptor 1 and protein kinase Cγ. Two drugs that prevent radiation-induced cognitive impairment in rats, the angiotensin type-1 receptor blocker, L-158,809, and the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, ramipril, reversed the fractionated whole-brain irradiation-induced Homer1a expression at 48 h in the hippocampus and cortex and restored glutamate receptor 1 and protein kinase Cγ to the levels in sham-irradiated controls at 2 months after fractionated whole-brain irradiation. These data indicate that Homer1a is, (1) a brain region specific regulator of radiation-induced brain injury, including cognitive impairment and (2) potentially a druggable target for preventing it.
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