Expression Patterns of TRPC1 in Cortical Lesions from Patients with Focal Cortical Dysplasia

Balloon cells in malformations of cortical development: friends or foes?

Balloon cells (BCs) are specific pathological marker of cortical malformations during brain development, often associated with epilepsy and development delay. Although a large number of studies have investigated the role of BCs in these diseases, the specific function of BCs as either epileptogenic or antiepileptic remains controversial. Therefore, we reviewed literatures on BCs, delved into the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways, and updated their profile in several aspects. Firstly, BCs are heterogeneous and some of them show progenitor/stem cell characteristics. Secondly, BCs are relatively silent in electrophysiology but not completely isolated from their surroundings. Notably, abnormal mTOR signaling and aberrant immunogenic process have been observed within BCs-containing malformations of cortical development (MCDs). The question whether BCs function as the evildoer or the defender in BCs-containing MCDs is further discussed. Importantly, this review provides perspectives on future investigations of the potential role of BCs in epilepsy.

H2S inhibits LiCl/pilocarpine-induced seizures and promotes neuroprotection by regulating TRPV2 expression via the AC3/cAMP/PKA pathway

It is widely acknowledged that epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent and atypical neuronal discharges, resulting in transient dysfunction within the brain. The protective role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in epilepsy has been elucidated by recent studies, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. To investigate this, the concentration of H2S was measured by spectrophotometry and a fluorescent probe in LiCl/Pilocarpine (LiCl/Pilo)-induced seizures in rats. The localization of proteins was examined using immunofluorescence. Electroencephalogram and behavioral tests were employed to evaluate the occurrence of seizures. Neuropathological changes in the hippocampus were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining, Nissl staining, and transmission electron microscopy. Through proteomics and bioinformatics analysis, we identified the differential proteins in the hippocampus of rats following H2S intervention. Protein changes were detected through western blotting. The results showed that H2S treatment significantly alleviated seizures and minimized post-seizures neurological damage in rats. Proteomics analysis revealed adenylate cyclase 3 (AC3) as a protein potentially targeted by H2S. Moreover, the AC3 activator forskolin reversed the downregulation effect of H2S on the AC3/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA)/transient receptor potential vanilloid 2 (TRPV2) signaling pathway. In conclusion, H2S targets and downregulates the expression of AC3, thereby modulating the AC3/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway to regulate the expression of TRPV2 in LiCl/Pilo-induced seizures, ultimately leading to seizure inhibition and neuroprotection.

EGb 761 reduces Ca2+ influx and apoptosis after pentylenetetrazole treatment in a neuroblastoma cell line

Background

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have been found to have significant implications in neuronal outgrowth, survival, inflammatory neurogenic pain, and various epileptogenic processes. Moreover, there is a growing body of evidence indicating that transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have a significant impact on epilepsy and its drug-resistant subtypes.

Objective

We postulated that EGb 761 would modulate TRPA1 channels, thereby exhibiting anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in a neuroblastoma cell line. Our rationale was to investigate the impact of EGb 761 in a controlled model of pentylenetetrazole-induced generalized epilepsy.

Methodology

We evaluated the neuroprotective, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects of EGb 761 both before and after the pentylenetetrazole application in a neuroblastoma cell line. Specifically, we focused on the effects of EGB 761 on the activity of Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels.

Results

EGb 761 applications both before and after the pentylenetetrazole incubation period reduced Ca release and restored apoptosis, ROS changes, mitochondrial depolarization and caspase levels, suggesting a prominent prophylactic and therapeutic effect of EGb 761 in the pentylenetetrazole-induced epileptogenesis process.

Conclusion

Our basic mechanistic framework for elucidating the pathophysiological significance of fundamental ion mechanisms in a pentylenetetrazole treated neuroblastoma cell line provided compelling evidence for the favorable efficacy and safety profile of Egb 761 in human-relevant in vitro model of epilepsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the combined effects of EGb 761 and pentylenetetrazole on TRP channels and measure their activation level in a relevant model of human epileptic diseases.

Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Channels in Pain, Neuropsychiatric Disorders, and Epilepsy

Pharmacomodulation of membrane channels is an essential topic in the study of physiological conditions and disease status. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are one such family of nonselective cation channels that have an important influence. In mammals, TRP channels consist of seven subfamilies with a total of twenty-eight members. Evidence shows that TRP channels mediate cation transduction in neuronal signaling, but the full implication and potential therapeutic applications of this are not entirely clear. In this review, we aim to highlight several TRP channels which have been shown to mediate pain sensation, neuropsychiatric disorders, and epilepsy. Recent findings suggest that TRPM (melastatin), TRPV (vanilloid), and TRPC (canonical) are of particular relevance to these phenomena. The research reviewed in this paper validates these TRP channels as potential targets of future clinical treatment and offers patients hope for more effective care.

Functional Importance of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Channels in Neurological Disorders

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are transmembrane protein complexes that play important roles in the physiology and pathophysiology of both the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nerve system (PNS). TRP channels function as non-selective cation channels that are activated by several chemical, mechanical, and thermal stimuli as well as by pH, osmolarity, and several endogenous or exogenous ligands, second messengers, and signaling molecules. On the pathophysiological side, these channels have been shown to play essential roles in the reproductive system, kidney, pancreas, lung, bone, intestine, as well as in neuropathic pain in both the CNS and PNS. In this context, TRP channels have been implicated in several neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and epilepsy. Herein, we focus on the latest involvement of TRP channels, with a special emphasis on the recently identified functional roles of TRP channels in neurological disorders related to the disruption in calcium ion homeostasis.

Therapeutic potential of pharmacological agents targeting TRP channels in CNS disorders

Central nervous system (CNS) disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson disease (PD), stroke, epilepsy, depression, and bipolar disorder have a high impact on both medical and social problems due to the surge in their prevalence. All of these neuronal disorders share some common etiologies including disruption of Ca²⁺ homeostasis and accumulation of misfolded proteins. These misfolded proteins further disrupt the intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis by disrupting the activity of several ion channels including transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. TRP channel families include non-selective Ca²⁺ permeable channels, which act as cellular sensors activated by various physio-chemical stimuli, exogenous, and endogenous ligands responsible for maintaining the intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis. TRP channels are abundantly expressed in the neuronal cells and disturbance in their activity leads to various neuronal diseases. Under the pathological conditions when the activity of TRP channels is perturbed, there is a disruption of the neuronal homeostasis through increased inflammatory response, generation of reactive oxygen species, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, there is a potential of pharmacological interventions targeting TRP channels in CNS disorders. This review focuses on the role of TRP channels in neurological diseases; also, we have highlighted the current insights into the pharmacological modulators targeting TRP channels.

Evidence of a Role for the TRPC Subfamily in Mediating Oxidative Stress in Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) represents one of the most common multifactorial neurodegenerative disorders affecting the elderly population. It is associated with the aggregation of α-synuclein protein and the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta of the brain. The disease is mainly represented by motor symptoms, such as resting tremors, postural instability, rigidity, and bradykinesia, that develop slowly over time. Parkinson's disease can also manifest as disturbances in non-motor functions. Although the pathology of PD has not yet been fully understood, it has been suggested that the disruption of the cellular redox status may contribute to cellular oxidative stress and, thus, to cell death. The generation of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen intermediates, as well as the dysfunction of dopamine metabolism, play important roles in the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. In this context, the transient receptor potential channel canonical (TRPC) sub-family plays an important role in neuronal degeneration. Additionally, PD gene products, including DJ-1, SNCA, UCH-L1, PINK-1, and Parkin, also interfere with mitochondrial function leading to reactive oxygen species production and dopaminergic neuronal vulnerability to oxidative stress. Herein, we discuss the interplay between these various biochemical and molecular events that ultimately lead to dopaminergic signaling disruption, highlighting the recently identified roles of TRPC in PD.

Glutamine metabolism in the proliferation of GS-expression pituitary tumor cells

OBJECTIVE

Many cancer cells cannot survive without exogenous glutamine (Gln)，however, cancer cells expressed glutamine synthetase (GS) do not have this restriction. Previous metabolomics studies have indicated that glutamine metabolism is altered during pituitary tumorigenesis. However, the main role of Gln in pituitary adenoma (PA) pathophysiology remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of GS and the main role of Gln in human PAs.

METHODS

We used cell proliferation assay and flow cytometry to assess the effect of Gln depletion on three different pituitary cell lines and human primary PA cells. Then investigated the expression level of Gln synthetase (GS) in 24 human PA samples. At last, we used LC-MS/MS to identify the differences in metabolites of PA cells after the blockage of both endogenous and exogenous Gln.

RESULTS

PA cell lines showed different sensitivities to Gln starvation, and the sensitivity is correlated with GS expression level. GS expressed in 21 out of the 24 human PA samples. Furthermore, a positive p53 and ki-67 index was correlated with a higher GS expression level (p<0.05). Removal of both endogenous and exogenous Gln from GS-expressing PA cells resulted in blockage of nucleotide metabolism and cell cycle arrest.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that GS is needed for PA cells to proliferation during Gln deprivation, and most human PA cells express GS and might have a negative response to exogenous Gln depletion. Moreover, Gln is mainly responsible for nucleotide metabolism in the proliferation of GS-expressing pituitary tumor cells.

SCP2-mediated cholesterol membrane trafficking promotes the growth of pituitary adenomas via Hedgehog signaling activation

Background

Metabolic reprogramming is an important characteristic of tumors. In the progression of pituitary adenomas (PA), abnormal glucose metabolism has been confirmed by us before. However, whether cholesterol metabolism is involved in the process of PA remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether abnormal cholesterol metabolism could affect the progression of PA.

Methods

We analyzed the expression of sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP2) in 40 surgical PA samples. In vitro experiments and xenograft models were used to assess the effects of SCP2 and cholesterol on proliferation of PA. The incidence of hypercholesterolemia between 140 PA patients and 100 heathy controls were compared.

Results

We found an upregulation of SCP2 in PA samples, especially in tumors with high proliferation index. Forced expression of SCP2 promoted PA cell lines proliferation in vitro. Furthermore, SCP2 regulated cholesterol trafficking from cytoplasm to membrane in GH3 cells, and extracellularly treating GH3 cells and primary PA cells with methyl-β-cyclodextrin/cholesterol complex to mimic membrane cholesterol concentration enhanced cell proliferation, which suggested a proliferative effect of cholesterol. Mechanistically, cholesterol induced activation of PKA/SUFU/GLI1 signaling via smoothened receptor, which was well-known as Hedgehog signaling, resulting in inhibiting apoptosis and promoting cell cycle. Accordingly, activation of Hedgehog signaling was also confirmed in primary PA cells and surgical PA samples. In vivo, SCP2 overexpression and high cholesterol diet could promote tumor growth. Intriguingly, the incidence of hypercholesterolemia was significantly higher in PA patients than healthy controls.

Conclusions

Our data indicated that dysregulated cholesterol metabolism could promote PA growth by activating Hedgehog signaling, supporting a potential tumorigenic role of cholesterol metabolism in PA progression.

Review of Transient Receptor Potential Canonical (TRPC5) Channel Modulators and Diseases

Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels are highly homologous, nonselective cation channels that form many homo- and heterotetrameric channels. These channels are highly abundant in the brain and kidney and have been implicated in numerous diseases, such as depression, addiction, and chronic kidney disease, among others. Historically, there have been very few selective modulators of the TRPC family in order to fully understand their role in disease despite their physiological significance. However, that has changed recently and there has been a significant increase in interest in this family of channels which has led to the emergence of selective tool compounds, and even preclinical drug candidates, over the past few years. This review will cover these new advancements in the discovery of TRPC modulators and the emergence of newly reported structural information which will undoubtedly lead to even greater advancements.

Remarkable Progress with Small-Molecule Modulation of TRPC1/4/5 Channels: Implications for Understanding the Channels in Health and Disease

Proteins of the TRPC family can form many homo- and heterotetrameric cation channels permeable to Na⁺, K⁺ and Ca2+. In this review, we focus on channels formed by the isoforms TRPC1, TRPC4 and TRPC5. We review evidence for the formation of different TRPC1/4/5 tetramers, give an overview of recently developed small-molecule TRPC1/4/5 activators and inhibitors, highlight examples of biological roles of TRPC1/4/5 channels in different tissues and pathologies, and discuss how high-quality chemical probes of TRPC1/4/5 modulators can be used to understand the involvement of TRPC1/4/5 channels in physiological and pathophysiological processes.