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Berríos-Cárcamo P, Núñez S, Castañeda J, Gallardo J, Bono MR, Ezquer F. Two-Month Voluntary Ethanol Consumption Promotes Mild Neuroinflammation in the Cerebellum but Not in the Prefrontal Cortex, Hippocampus, or Striatum of Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4173. [PMID: 38673763 PMCID: PMC11050159 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084173] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic ethanol exposure often triggers neuroinflammation in the brain's reward system, potentially promoting the drive for ethanol consumption. A main marker of neuroinflammation is the microglia-derived monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1) in animal models of alcohol use disorder in which ethanol is forcefully given. However, there are conflicting findings on whether MCP1 is elevated when ethanol is taken voluntarily, which challenges its key role in promoting motivation for ethanol consumption. Here, we studied MCP1 mRNA levels in areas implicated in consumption motivation-specifically, the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum-as well as in the cerebellum, a brain area highly sensitive to ethanol, of C57BL/6 mice subjected to intermittent and voluntary ethanol consumption for two months. We found a significant increase in MCP1 mRNA levels in the cerebellum of mice that consumed ethanol compared to controls, whereas no significant changes were observed in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, or striatum or in microglia isolated from the hippocampus and striatum. To further characterize cerebellar neuroinflammation, we measured the expression changes in other proinflammatory markers and chemokines, revealing a significant increase in the proinflammatory microRNA miR-155. Notably, other classical proinflammatory markers, such as TNFα, IL6, and IL-1β, remained unaltered, suggesting mild neuroinflammation. These results suggest that the onset of neuroinflammation in motivation-related areas is not required for high voluntary consumption in C57BL/6 mice. In addition, cerebellar susceptibility to neuroinflammation may be a trigger to the cerebellar degeneration that occurs after chronic ethanol consumption in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Berríos-Cárcamo
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610615, Chile; (J.G.); (F.E.)
| | - Sarah Núñez
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Sede Los Leones 7510602, Chile;
- Centro Ciencia & Vida, Santiago 8580702, Chile
| | - Justine Castañeda
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (J.C.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Javiera Gallardo
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610615, Chile; (J.G.); (F.E.)
| | - María Rosa Bono
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (J.C.); (M.R.B.)
| | - Fernando Ezquer
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago 7610615, Chile; (J.G.); (F.E.)
- Research Center for the Development of Novel Therapeutics Alternatives for Alcohol Use Disorders, Santiago 7610658, Chile
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2
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Kebschull JM, Casoni F, Consalez GG, Goldowitz D, Hawkes R, Ruigrok TJH, Schilling K, Wingate R, Wu J, Yeung J, Uusisaari MY. Cerebellum Lecture: the Cerebellar Nuclei-Core of the Cerebellum. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:620-677. [PMID: 36781689 PMCID: PMC10951048 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01506-0] [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] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
The cerebellum is a key player in many brain functions and a major topic of neuroscience research. However, the cerebellar nuclei (CN), the main output structures of the cerebellum, are often overlooked. This neglect is because research on the cerebellum typically focuses on the cortex and tends to treat the CN as relatively simple output nuclei conveying an inverted signal from the cerebellar cortex to the rest of the brain. In this review, by adopting a nucleocentric perspective we aim to rectify this impression. First, we describe CN anatomy and modularity and comprehensively integrate CN architecture with its highly organized but complex afferent and efferent connectivity. This is followed by a novel classification of the specific neuronal classes the CN comprise and speculate on the implications of CN structure and physiology for our understanding of adult cerebellar function. Based on this thorough review of the adult literature we provide a comprehensive overview of CN embryonic development and, by comparing cerebellar structures in various chordate clades, propose an interpretation of CN evolution. Despite their critical importance in cerebellar function, from a clinical perspective intriguingly few, if any, neurological disorders appear to primarily affect the CN. To highlight this curious anomaly, and encourage future nucleocentric interpretations, we build on our review to provide a brief overview of the various syndromes in which the CN are currently implicated. Finally, we summarize the specific perspectives that a nucleocentric view of the cerebellum brings, move major outstanding issues in CN biology to the limelight, and provide a roadmap to the key questions that need to be answered in order to create a comprehensive integrated model of CN structure, function, development, and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus M Kebschull
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Filippo Casoni
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, and San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - G Giacomo Consalez
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, and San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniel Goldowitz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Richard Hawkes
- Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Tom J H Ruigrok
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Karl Schilling
- Department of Anatomy, Anatomy & Cell Biology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, 53115, Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany
| | - Richard Wingate
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Joshua Wu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Joanna Yeung
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Marylka Yoe Uusisaari
- Neuronal Rhythms in Movement Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-Son, Kunigami-Gun, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan.
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Batsikadze G, Pakusch J, Klein M, Ernst TM, Thieme A, Nicksirat SA, Steiner KM, Nio E, Genc E, Maderwald S, Deuschl C, Merz CJ, Quick HH, Mark MD, Timmann D. Mild Deficits in Fear Learning: Evidence from Humans and Mice with Cerebellar Cortical Degeneration. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0365-23.2023. [PMID: 38176906 PMCID: PMC10897646 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0365-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional brain imaging studies in humans suggest involvement of the cerebellum in fear conditioning but do not allow conclusions about the functional significance. The main aim of the present study was to examine whether patients with cerebellar degeneration show impaired fear conditioning and whether this is accompanied by alterations in cerebellar cortical activations. To this end, a 2 d differential fear conditioning study was conducted in 20 cerebellar patients and 21 control subjects using a 7 tesla (7 T) MRI system. Fear acquisition and extinction training were performed on day 1, followed by recall on day 2. Cerebellar patients learned to differentiate between the CS+ and CS-. Acquisition and consolidation of learned fear, however, was slowed. Additionally, extinction learning appeared to be delayed. The fMRI signal was reduced in relation to the prediction of the aversive stimulus and altered in relation to its unexpected omission. Similarly, mice with cerebellar cortical degeneration (spinocerebellar ataxia type 6, SCA6) were able to learn the fear association, but retrieval of fear memory was reduced. In sum, cerebellar cortical degeneration led to mild abnormalities in the acquisition of learned fear responses in both humans and mice, particularly manifesting postacquisition training. Future research is warranted to investigate the basis of altered fMRI signals related to fear learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgi Batsikadze
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Johanna Pakusch
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Michael Klein
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Thomas Michael Ernst
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Andreas Thieme
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Seyed Ali Nicksirat
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Katharina Marie Steiner
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- LVR-Hospital Essen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Enzo Nio
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Erhan Genc
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), 44139 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Stefan Maderwald
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Cornelius Deuschl
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology and C-TNBS, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Josef Merz
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Harald H Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Melanie D Mark
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Dagmar Timmann
- Department of Neurology and Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), Essen University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
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Kumar M, Tyagi N, Faruq M. The molecular mechanisms of spinocerebellar ataxias for DNA repeat expansion in disease. Emerg Top Life Sci 2023; 7:289-312. [PMID: 37668011 DOI: 10.1042/etls20230013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a heterogenous group of neurodegenerative disorders which commonly inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. They cause muscle incoordination due to degeneration of the cerebellum and other parts of nervous system. Out of all the characterized (>50) SCAs, 14 SCAs are caused due to microsatellite repeat expansion mutations. Repeat expansions can result in toxic protein gain-of-function, protein loss-of-function, and/or RNA gain-of-function effects. The location and the nature of mutation modulate the underlying disease pathophysiology resulting in varying disease manifestations. Potential toxic effects of these mutations likely affect key major cellular processes such as transcriptional regulation, mitochondrial functioning, ion channel dysfunction and synaptic transmission. Involvement of several common pathways suggests interlinked function of genes implicated in the disease pathogenesis. A better understanding of the shared and distinct molecular pathogenic mechanisms in these diseases is required to develop targeted therapeutic tools and interventions for disease management. The prime focus of this review is to elaborate on how expanded 'CAG' repeats contribute to the common modes of neurotoxicity and their possible therapeutic targets in management of such devastating disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Kumar
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Road, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Nishu Tyagi
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Road, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Mohammed Faruq
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Road, Delhi 110007, India
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Wang T, Huang X, Dai LX, Zhan KM, Wang J. Investigation of altered spontaneous brain activity in patients with bronchial asthma using the percent amplitude of fluctuation method: a resting-state functional MRI study. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1228541. [PMID: 38098762 PMCID: PMC10719853 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1228541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To explore the regions of aberrant spontaneous brain activity in asthma patients and their potential impacts using the Percent amplitude of fluctuation (PerAF) analysis method. Patients and methods In this study, a total of 31 bronchial asthma (BA) patients were ultimately included, comprising 17 males and 14 females. Subsequently, 31 healthy control subjects (HCS) were recruited, consisting of 17 males and 14 females, and they were matched with the BA group based on age, sex, and educational status. The PerAF analysis technique was employed to study the differences in spontaneous brain activity between the two groups. The SPM12 toolkit was used to carry out a two sample t-test on the collected fMRI data, in order to examine the differences in PerAF values between the asthma patients and the healthy controls. We employed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) to evaluate the cognitive and emotional states of the two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to ascertain the relationship between changes in the PerAF values within specific brain regions and cognitive as well as emotional conditions. Results Compared with the healthy control group, areas of the brain with reduced PerAF in asthma patients included the inferior cerebellum, fusiform gyrus, right inferior orbital frontal gyrus, left middle orbital frontal gyrus, left/right middle frontal gyrus (MFG), dorsal lateral superior frontal gyrus (SFGdl), left superior temporal gyrus (STG), precuneus, right inferior parietal lobule (IPL), and left/right angular gyrus. BA patients exhibit mild cognitive impairments and a propensity for emotional disturbances. Furthermore, the perAF values of the SFGdl region are significantly positively correlated with the results of the MoCA cognitive assessment, while negatively correlated with the HAMD evaluation. Conclusion Through the application of PerAF analysis methods, we discovered that several brain regions in asthma patients that control the amplitude of respiration, vision, memory, language, attention, and emotional control display abnormal changes in intrinsic brain activity. This helps characterize the neural mechanisms behind cognitive, sensory, and motor function impairments in asthma patients, providing valuable insights for potential therapeutic targets and disease management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- The Second Department of Respiratory Disease, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
| | - Li-xue Dai
- The Second Department of Respiratory Disease, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
| | - Kang-min Zhan
- Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- The Second Department of Respiratory Disease, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
| | - Jun Wang
- The Second Department of Respiratory Disease, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
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6
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Manto M, Mitoma H. Recent Advances in Immune-Mediated Cerebellar Ataxias: Pathogenesis, Diagnostic Approaches, Therapies, and Future Challenges-Editorial. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1626. [PMID: 38137074 PMCID: PMC10741786 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13121626] [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: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical category of immune-mediated cerebellar ataxias (IMCAs) has been established after 3 decades of clinical and experimental research. The cerebellum is particularly enriched in antigens (ion channels and related proteins, synaptic adhesion/organizing proteins, transmitter receptors, glial cells) and is vulnerable to immune attacks. IMCAs include various disorders, including gluten ataxia (GA), post-infectious cerebellitis (PIC), Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD), opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (OMS), and anti-GAD ataxia. Other disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), Behçet disease, and collagen vascular disorders may also present with cerebellar symptoms when lesions are localized to cerebellar pathways. The triggers of autoimmunity are established in GA (gluten sensitivity), PIC and MFS (infections), PCD (malignancy), and OMS (infections or malignant tumors). Patients whose clinical profiles do not match those of classic types of IMCAs are now included in the spectrum of primary autoimmune cerebellar ataxia (PACA). Recent remarkable progress has clarified various characteristics of these etiologies and therapeutic strategies in terms of immunotherapies. However, it still remains to be elucidated as to how immune tolerance is broken, leading to autoimmune insults of the cerebellum, and the consecutive sequence of events occurring during cerebellar damage caused by antibody- or cell-mediated mechanisms. Antibodies may specifically target the cerebellar circuitry and impair synaptic mechanisms (synaptopathies). The present Special Issue aims to illuminate what is solved and what is unsolved in clinical practice and the pathophysiology of IMCAs. Immune ataxias now represent a genuine category of immune insults to the central nervous system (CNS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Manto
- Service de Neurologie, Médiathèque Jean Jacquy, CHU-Charleroi, 6000 Charleroi, Belgium
- Service des Neurosciences, Université de Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Hiroshi Mitoma
- Department of Medical Education, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan;
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Morrison LM, Huang H, Handler HP, Fu M, Bushart DD, Pappas SS, Orr HT, Shakkottai VG. Increased intrinsic membrane excitability is associated with hypertrophic olivary degeneration in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.23.563657. [PMID: 37961407 PMCID: PMC10634770 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.23.563657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
One of the characteristic areas of brainstem degeneration across multiple spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) is the inferior olive (IO), a medullary nucleus that plays a key role in motor learning. In addition to its vulnerability in SCAs, the IO is also susceptible to a distinct pathology known as hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD). Clinically, HOD has been exclusively observed after lesions in the brainstem disrupt inhibitory afferents to the IO. Here, for the first time, we describe HOD in another context: spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). Using the genetically-precise SCA1 knock-in mouse model (SCA1-KI; both sexes used), we assessed SCA1-associated changes in IO neuron structure and function. Concurrent with degeneration, we found that SCA1-KI IO neurons are hypertrophic, exhibiting early dendrite lengthening and later somatic expansion. Unlike in previous descriptions of HOD, we observed no clear loss of IO inhibitory innervation; nevertheless, patch-clamp recordings from brainstem slices reveal that SCA1-KI IO neurons are hyperexcitable. Rather than synaptic disinhibition, we identify increases in intrinsic membrane excitability as the more likely mechanism underlying this novel SCA1 phenotype. Specifically, transcriptome analysis indicates that SCA1-KI IO hyperexcitability is associated with a reduced medullary expression of ion channels responsible for spike afterhyperpolarization (AHP) in IO neurons - a result that has a functional consequence, as SCA1-KI IO neuron spikes exhibit a diminished AHP. These results reveal membrane excitability as a potential link between disparate causes of IO degeneration, suggesting that HOD can result from any cause, intrinsic or extrinsic, that increases excitability of the IO neuron membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan M. Morrison
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Haoran Huang
- Medical Scientist Training Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
- College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - Hillary P. Handler
- Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, University of Minnesota Fairview Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Min Fu
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - David D. Bushart
- College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
| | - Samuel S. Pappas
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Harry T. Orr
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Vikram G. Shakkottai
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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Asemi-Rad A, Ghiyamihoor F, Consalez GG, Marzban H. Ablation of Projection Glutamatergic Neurons in the Lateral Cerebellar Nuclei Alters Motor Coordination in Vglut2-Cre+ Mice. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023:10.1007/s12311-023-01575-9. [PMID: 37289359 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-023-01575-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Cerebellar nuclei (CN) constitute the sole cerebellar output to the rest of the central nervous system and play a central role in cerebellar circuits. Accumulating evidence from both human genetics and animal studies point to a crucial role for CN connectivity in neurological diseases, including several types of ataxia. However, because of the compact and restricted topography and close functional connection between the CN and the cerebellar cortex, identifying cerebellar deficits exclusively linked to CN is challenging. In this study, we have experimentally ablated large projection glutamatergic neurons of the lateral CN and evaluated the impact of this selective manipulation on motor coordination in mice. To this end, through stereotaxic surgery, we injected the lateral CN of Vglut2-Cre+ mice with an adeno-associated virus (AAV) encoding a Cre-dependent diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR), followed by an intraperitoneal injection of diphtheria toxin (DT) to ablate the glutamatergic neurons of the lateral nucleus. Double immunostaining of cerebellar sections with anti-SMI32 and -GFP antibodies revealed GFP expression and provided evidence of SMI32+ neuron degeneration at the site of AAV injection in the lateral nucleus of Vglut2-Cre+ mice. No changes were observed in Vglut2-Cre negative mice. Analysis of motor coordination by rotarod test indicated that the latency to fall was significantly different before and after AAV/DT injection in the Vglut2-Cre+ group. Elapsed time and number of steps in the beam walking test were significantly higher in AAV/DT injected Vglut2-Cre+ AAV/DT mice compared to controls. We demonstrate for the first time that partial degeneration of glutamatergic neurons in the lateral CN is sufficient to induce an ataxic phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Asemi-Rad
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Rady Faculty of Health science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Farshid Ghiyamihoor
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Rady Faculty of Health science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - G Giacomo Consalez
- Division of Neuroscience, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Hassan Marzban
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
- The Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM), Rady Faculty of Health science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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Xie ST, Fan WC, Zhao XS, Ma XY, Li ZL, Zhao YR, Yang F, Shi Y, Rong H, Cui ZS, Chen JY, Li HZ, Yan C, Zhang Q, Wang JJ, Zhang XY, Gu XP, Ma ZL, Zhu JN. Proinflammatory activation of microglia in the cerebellum hyperexcites Purkinje cells to trigger ataxia. Pharmacol Res 2023; 191:106773. [PMID: 37068531 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Specific medications to combat cerebellar ataxias, a group of debilitating movement disorders characterized by difficulty with walking, balance and coordination, are still lacking. Notably, cerebellar microglial activation appears to be a common feature in different types of ataxic patients and rodent models. However, direct evidence that cerebellar microglial activation in vivo is sufficient to induce ataxia is still lacking. Here, by employing chemogenetic approaches to manipulate cerebellar microglia selectively and directly, we found that specific chemogenetic activation of microglia in the cerebellar vermis directly leads to ataxia symptoms in wild-type mice and aggravated ataxic motor deficits in 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP) mice, a classic mouse model of cerebellar ataxia. Mechanistically, cerebellar microglial proinflammatory activation induced by either chemogenetic M3D(Gq) stimulation or 3-AP modeling hyperexcites Purkinje cells (PCs), which consequently triggers ataxia. Blockade of microglia-derived TNF-α, one of the most important proinflammatory cytokines, attenuates the hyperactivity of PCs driven by microglia. Moreover, chemogenetic inhibition of cerebellar microglial activation or suppression of cerebellar microglial activation by PLX3397 and minocycline reduces the production of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, to effectively restore the overactivation of PCs and alleviate motor deficits in 3-AP mice. These results suggest that cerebellar microglial activation may aggravate the neuroinflammatory response and subsequently induce dysfunction of PCs, which in turn triggers ataxic motor deficits. Our findings thus reveal a causal relationship between proinflammatory activation of cerebellar microglia and ataxic motor symptoms, which may offer novel evidence for therapeutic intervention for cerebellar ataxias by targeting microglia and microglia-derived inflammatory mediators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Tao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wen-Chu Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xian-Sen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Yang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ze-Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan-Ran Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fa Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Rong
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhi-San Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun-Yi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong-Zhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chao Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qipeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian-Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Yang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Xiao-Ping Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Zheng-Liang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Jing-Ning Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, and Department of Anesthesiology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
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10
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Louis ED, Martuscello RT, Gionco JT, Hartstone WG, Musacchio JB, Portenti M, McCreary M, Kuo SH, Vonsattel JPG, Faust PL. Histopathology of the cerebellar cortex in essential tremor and other neurodegenerative motor disorders: comparative analysis of 320 brains. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 145:265-283. [PMID: 36607423 PMCID: PMC10461794 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02535-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, numerous morphologic changes have been identified in the essential tremor (ET) cerebellar cortex, distinguishing ET from control brains. These findings have not been fully contextualized within a broader degenerative disease spectrum, thus limiting their interpretability. Building off our prior study and now doubling the sample size, we conducted comparative analyses in a postmortem series of 320 brains on the severity and patterning of cerebellar cortex degenerative changes in ET (n = 100), other neurodegenerative disorders of the cerebellum [spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs, n = 47, including 13 SCA3 and 34 SCA1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 14); Friedreich's ataxia (FA, n = 13); multiple system atrophy (MSA), n = 29], and other disorders that may involve the cerebellum [Parkinson's disease (PD), n = 62; dystonia, n = 19] versus controls (n = 50). We generated data on 37 quantitative morphologic metrics, grouped into 8 broad categories: Purkinje cell (PC) loss, heterotopic PCs, PC dendritic changes, PC axonal changes (torpedoes), PC axonal changes (other than torpedoes), PC axonal changes (torpedo-associated), basket cell axonal hypertrophy, and climbing fiber-PC synaptic changes. Principal component analysis of z scored raw data across all diagnoses (11,651 data items) revealed that diagnostic groups were not uniform with respect to pathology. Dystonia and PD each differed from controls in only 4/37 and 5/37 metrics, respectively, whereas ET differed in 21, FA in 10, SCA3 in 10, MSA in 21, and SCA1/2/6/7/8/14 in 27. Pathological changes were generally on the milder end of the degenerative spectrum in ET, FA and SCA3, and on the more severe end of that spectrum in SCA1/2/6/7/8/14. Comparative analyses across morphologic categories demonstrated differences in relative expression, defining distinctive patterns of changes in these groups. In summary, we present a robust and reproducible method that identifies somewhat distinctive signatures of degenerative changes in the cerebellar cortex that mark each of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elan D Louis
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390-8813, USA.
| | - Regina T Martuscello
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - John T Gionco
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Whitney G Hartstone
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jessica B Musacchio
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marisa Portenti
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Morgan McCreary
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, 75390-8813, USA
| | - Sheng-Han Kuo
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jean-Paul G Vonsattel
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Phyllis L Faust
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
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11
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Salimi A, Shabani M, Nikjou A, Choupani M, Biniyaz M. Exploring the possible mitoprotective and neuroprotective potency of thymoquinone, betanin, and vitamin D against cytarabine-induced mitochondrial impairment and neurotoxicity in rats' brain. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2023; 37:e23256. [PMID: 36419121 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23256] [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: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
It has been suggested that cytarabine (Ara-C) induces toxicity via mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Therefore, we hypothesized that mitochondrial protective agents and antioxidants can reduce cytarabine-induced neurotoxicity. For this purpose, 48 male Wistar rats were assigned into eight equal groups include control group, Ara-C (70 mg/kg, i.p.) group, Ara-C plus betanin (25 mg/kg, i.p.) group, Ara-C plus vitamin D (500 U/kg, i.p.) group, Ara-C plus thymoquinone (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) group, betanin group, vitamin group, and thymoquinone group. The activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), the concentrations of antioxidants (reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione), oxidative stress (malondialdehyde) biomarkers, mitochondrial toxicity parameters as well as histopathological alteration in brain tissues were measured. Our results demonstrated that Ara-C exposure significantly declines the brain enzymes activity (AChE and BChE), levels of antioxidant biomarkers (GSH), and mitochondrial functions, but markedly elevate the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers (MDA) and mitochondrial toxicity. Almost all of the previously mentioned parameters (especially mitochondrial toxicity) were retrieved by betanin, vitamin D, and thymoquinone compared to Ara-C group. These findings conclusively indicate that betanin, vitamin D, and thymoquinone administration provide adequate protection against Ara-C-induced neurotoxicity through modulations of oxidative, antioxidant activities, and mitochondrial protective (mitoprotective) effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Salimi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.,Traditional Medicine and Hydrotherapy Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Mohammad Shabani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Amirreza Nikjou
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Mahshid Choupani
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran.,Traditional Medicine and Hydrotherapy Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Mohana Biniyaz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
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12
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Chin PW, Augustine GJ. The cerebellum and anxiety. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1130505. [PMID: 36909285 PMCID: PMC9992220 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1130505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the cerebellum is traditionally known for its role in motor functions, recent evidence points toward the additional involvement of the cerebellum in an array of non-motor functions. One such non-motor function is anxiety behavior: a series of recent studies now implicate the cerebellum in anxiety. Here, we review evidence regarding the possible role of the cerebellum in anxiety-ranging from clinical studies to experimental manipulation of neural activity-that collectively points toward a role for the cerebellum, and possibly a specific topographical locus within the cerebellum, as one of the orchestrators of anxiety responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Wern Chin
- Program in Neuroscience & Mental Health, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - George J Augustine
- Program in Neuroscience & Mental Health, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
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13
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Altamura C, Viticchi G, Rizzo AC, Maggio P, Brunelli N, Marcosano M, Lazzaro VD, Fiacco F, Agostoni EC, Silvestrini M, Vernieri F. Stroke territory and atherosclerosis in ischemic stroke patients with a history of migraine with aura. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1142424. [PMID: 36923493 PMCID: PMC10008946 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1142424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The mechanisms subtending the increased stroke risk in migraine with aura (MA) are not fully understood. Our study aims to evaluate if the clinical profile in stroke patients with MA differentiates from those without MA. Methods We retrieved the prospective registered electronic clinical dossiers of adult patients younger than 60 years with acute ischemic stroke admitted in four hospitals between January 2016 and June 2022. Patients were classified by the history of MA (MA+ and MA-). Results We identified 851 stroke patients (59 MA+, 6.9%). Compared to MA-, MA+ patients were characterized by younger age (44.0 ± 10.6 vs 50.1 ± 8.2 years), female sex (59.3% vs 29.0%), and affected by cryptogenic (OR 2.594 95% CI 1.483-4.537), and cerebellar stroke (OR 3.218 95% CI 1.657-6.250; p ≤ 0.001 for all comparisons). After adjusting for age and sex, MA+ patients presented less frequently hypertension (OR 0.349 95% CI 0.167-0.470; p=0.005) and dyslipidemia (OR 0.523 95% CI 0.280-0.974; p = 0.041). After adjusting also for risk factors, the MA+ group had less frequently symptomatic large vessel stenosis (OR 0.126 95% CI 0.017-0,924; p = 0.042) and clinical atherosclerosis (OR 0.103 95% CI 0.014-0.761; p = 0.026), while intima-media thickness did not differ (p = 0.395). Discussion Cryptogenic and cerebellar stroke and fewer vascular risk factors and clinical atherosclerosis seem to characterize stroke patients with MA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Altamura
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Headache and Neurosonology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Roma, Italy
- *Correspondence: Claudia Altamura ✉
| | | | - Angelo Cascio Rizzo
- Neurology and Stroke Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Maggio
- Neurology Unit, ASST Bergamo Est, Seriate, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Brunelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Headache and Neurosonology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Roma, Italy
| | - Marilena Marcosano
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Headache and Neurosonology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Roma, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Roma, Italy
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Fabrizio Vernieri
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Headache and Neurosonology, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Roma, Italy
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14
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Bizzoca A, Jirillo E, Flace P, Gennarini G. Overall Role of Contactins Expression in Neurodevelopmental Events and Contribution to Neurological Disorders. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2022; 22:CNSNDDT-EPUB-128217. [PMID: 36515028 DOI: 10.2174/1871527322666221212160048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodegenerative disorders may depend upon a misregulation of the pathways which sustain neurodevelopmental control. In this context, this review article focuses on Friedreich ataxia (FA), a neurodegenerative disorder resulting from mutations within the gene encoding the Frataxin protein, which is involved in the control of mitochondrial function and oxidative metabolism. OBJECTIVE The specific aim of the present study concerns the FA molecular and cellular substrates, for which available transgenic mice models are proposed, including mutants undergoing misexpression of adhesive/morphoregulatory proteins, in particular belonging to the Contactin subset of the immunoglobulin supergene family. METHODS In both mutant and control mice, neurogenesis was explored by morphological/morphometric analysis through the expression of cell type-specific markers, including -tubulin, the Contactin-1 axonal adhesive glycoprotein, as well as the Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP). RESULTS Specific consequences were found to arise from the chosen misexpression approach, consisting of a neuronal developmental delay associated with glial upregulation. Protective effects against the arising phenotype resulted from antioxidants (essentially epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)) administration, which was demonstrated through the profiles of neuronal (-tubulin and Contactin 1) as well as glial (GFAP) markers, in turn indicating the concomitant activation of neurodegeneration and neuro repair processes. The latter also implied activation of the Notch-1 signaling. CONCLUSION Overall, this study supports the significance of changes in morphoregulatory proteins expression in the FA pathogenesis and of antioxidant administration in counteracting it, which, in turn, allows to devise potential therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Bizzoca
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences, and Sensory Organs. Medical School. University of Bari. Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11. I-70124 Bari. Italy
| | - Emilio Jirillo
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences, and Sensory Organs. Medical School. University of Bari. Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11. I-70124 Bari. Italy
| | - Paolo Flace
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences, and Sensory Organs. Medical School. University of Bari. Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11. I-70124 Bari. Italy
| | - Gianfranco Gennarini
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences, and Sensory Organs. Medical School. University of Bari. Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11. I-70124 Bari. Italy
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15
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Beeraka NM, Nikolenko VN, Khaidarovich ZF, Valikovna OM, Aliagayevna RN, Arturovna ZL, Alexandrovich KA, Mikhaleva LM, Sinelnikov MY. Recent Investigations on the Functional Role of Cerebellar Neural Networks in Motor Functions & Nonmotor Functions -Neurodegeneration. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:1865-1878. [PMID: 35272590 PMCID: PMC9886798 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x20666220310121441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebellum is a well-established primary brain center in charge of controlling sensorimotor functions and non-motor functions. Recent reports depicted the significance of cerebellum in higher-order cognitive functions, including emotion-processing, language, reward-related behavior, working memory, and social behavior. As it can influence diverse behavioral patterns, any defects in cerebellar functions could invoke neuropsychiatric diseases as indicated by the incidence of alexithymia and induce alterations in emotional and behavioral patterns. Furthermore, its defects can trigger motor diseases, such as ataxia and Parkinson's disease (PD). In this review, we have extensively discussed the role of cerebellum in motor and non-motor functions and how the cerebellum malfunctions in relation to the neural circuit wiring as it could impact brain function and behavioral outcomes in patients with neuropsychiatric diseases. Relevant data regarding cerebellar non-motor functions have been vividly described, along with anatomy and physiology of these functions. In addition to the defects in basal ganglia, the lack of activity in motor related regions of the cerebellum could be associated with the severity of motor symptoms. All together, this review delineates the importance of cerebellar involvement in patients with PD and unravels a crucial link for various clinical aspects of PD with specific cerebellar sub-regions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vladimir N. Nikolenko
- Address correspondence to these authors at the Department of Human Anatomy,I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia; Department of Human Anatomy, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia; E-mail:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mikhail Y. Sinelnikov
- Address correspondence to these authors at the Department of Human Anatomy,I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia; Department of Human Anatomy, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia; E-mail:
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16
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Li M, Liu F, Hao X, Fan Y, Li J, Hu Z, Shi J, Fan L, Zhang S, Ma D, Guo M, Xu Y, Shi C. Rare KCND3 Loss-of-Function Mutation Associated With the SCA19/22. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:919199. [PMID: 35813061 PMCID: PMC9261871 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.919199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia 19/22 (SCA19/22) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations of the KCND3 gene, which encodes the Kv4. 3 protein. Currently, only 22 KCND3 single-nucleotide mutation sites of SCA19/22 have been reported worldwide, and detailed pathogenesis remains unclear. In this study, Sanger sequencing was used to screen 115 probands of cerebellar ataxia families in 67 patients with sporadic cerebellar ataxia and 200 healthy people to identify KCND3 mutations. Mutant gene products showed pathogenicity damage, and the polarity was changed. Next, we established induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from SCA19/22 patients. Using a transcriptome sequencing technique, we found that protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum was significantly enriched in SCA19/22-iPS-derived neurons and was closely related to endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and apoptosis. In addition, Western blotting of the SCA19/22-iPS-derived neurons showed a reduction in Kv4.3; but, activation of transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and C/EBP homologous protein was increased. Therefore, the c.1130 C>T (p.T377M) mutation of the KCND3 gene may mediate misfold and aggregation of Kv4.3, which activates the ERS and further induces neuron apoptosis involved in SCA19/22.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjie Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fen Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Hao
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Fan
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiadi Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhengwei Hu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Shi
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, Basic Medical College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Liyuan Fan
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Dongrui Ma
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mengnan Guo
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuming Xu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, Basic Medical College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- The Henan Medical Key Laboratory of Hereditary Neurodegenerative Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Diseases Prevention and Treatment, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Changhe Shi
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Institute of Neuroscience, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- The Henan Medical Key Laboratory of Hereditary Neurodegenerative Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- The Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Diseases Prevention and Treatment, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Changhe Shi
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17
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Botta S, Chemiakine A, Gennarino VA. Dual antibody strategy for high-resolution imaging of murine Purkinje cells and their dendrites across multiple layers. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101427. [PMID: 35707684 PMCID: PMC9189630 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being among the largest neurons in the mammalian brain, Purkinje cells are difficult to visualize and trace via immunofluorescence because their dendritic arbors extend through several cerebellar layers. This protocol describes a two-antibody strategy we developed to study Purkinje cell morphology in mice. With it, one can reconstruct three-dimensional images of Purkinje cells at single-neuron resolution across multiple layers. The substantially improved image quality reveals subtle defects, enabling more meaningful morphological analysis. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Gennarino et al. (2015).
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Botta
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Alexei Chemiakine
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Vincenzo A. Gennarino
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Initiative for Columbia Ataxia and Tremor, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Corresponding author
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Hörner M, Groh J, Klein D, Ilg W, Schöls L, Santos SD, Bergmann A, Klebe S, Cauhape M, Branchu J, El Hachimi KH, Stevanin G, Darios F, Martini R. CNS-associated T-lymphocytes in a mouse model of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia type 11 (SPG11) are therapeutic targets for established immunomodulators. Exp Neurol 2022; 355:114119. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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19
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De Benedictis A, Rossi-Espagnet MC, de Palma L, Carai A, Marras CE. Networking of the Human Cerebellum: From Anatomo-Functional Development to Neurosurgical Implications. Front Neurol 2022; 13:806298. [PMID: 35185765 PMCID: PMC8854219 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.806298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past, the cerebellum was considered to be substantially involved in sensory-motor coordination. However, a growing number of neuroanatomical, neuroimaging, clinical and lesion studies have now provided converging evidence on the implication of the cerebellum in a variety of cognitive, affective, social, and behavioral processes as well. These findings suggest a complex anatomo-functional organization of the cerebellum, involving a dense network of cortical territories and reciprocal connections with many supra-tentorial association areas. The final architecture of cerebellar networks results from a complex, highly protracted, and continuous development from childhood to adulthood, leading to integration between short-distance connections and long-range extra-cerebellar circuits. In this review, we summarize the current evidence on the anatomo-functional organization of the cerebellar connectome. We will focus on the maturation process of afferent and efferent neuronal circuitry, and the involvement of these networks in different aspects of neurocognitive processing. The final section will be devoted to identifying possible implications of this knowledge in neurosurgical practice, especially in the case of posterior fossa tumor resection, and to discuss reliable strategies to improve the quality of approaches while reducing postsurgical morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro De Benedictis
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Alessandro De Benedictis
| | - Maria Camilla Rossi-Espagnet
- Neuroradiology Unit, Imaging Department, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca de Palma
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Carai
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Efisio Marras
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Rome, Italy
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20
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Bagnato S. The role of plasticity in the recovery of consciousness. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2022; 184:375-395. [PMID: 35034750 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-819410-2.00020-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Disorders of consciousness (DOCs), i.e., coma, vegetative state, and minimally conscious state are the consequences of a severe brain injury that disrupts the brain ability to generate consciousness. Recovery from DOCs requires functional and structural changes in the brain. The sites where these plastic changes take place vary according to the pathophysiology of the DOC. The ascending reticular activating system of the brainstem and its complex connections with the thalamus and cortex are involved in the pathophysiology of coma. Subcortical structures, such as the striatum and globus pallidus, together with thalamocortical and corticothalamic projections, the basal forebrain, and several networks among different cortical areas are probably involved in vegetative and minimally conscious states. Some mechanisms of plasticity that allegedly operate in each of these sites to promote recovery of consciousness will be discussed in this chapter. While some mechanisms of plasticity work at a local level, others produce functional changes in complex neuronal networks, for example by entraining neuronal oscillations. The specific mechanisms of brain plasticity represent potential targets for future treatments aiming to restore consciousness in patients with severe DOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Bagnato
- Unit of Neurophysiology and Unit for Severe Acquired Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation Department, Giuseppe Giglio Foundation, Cefalù (PA), Italy.
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21
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From Molecules to Behavior in Long-Term Inorganic Mercury Intoxication: Unraveling Proteomic Features in Cerebellar Neurodegeneration of Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010111. [PMID: 35008538 PMCID: PMC8745249 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mercury is a severe environmental pollutant with neurotoxic effects, especially when exposed for long periods. Although there are several evidences regarding mercury toxicity, little is known about inorganic mercury (IHg) species and cerebellum, one of the main targets of mercury associated with the neurological symptomatology of mercurial poisoning. Besides that, the global proteomic profile assessment is a valuable tool to screen possible biomarkers and elucidate molecular targets of mercury neurotoxicity; however, the literature is still scarce. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of long-term exposure to IHg in adult rats’ cerebellum and explore the modulation of the cerebellar proteome associated with biochemical and functional outcomes, providing evidence, in a translational perspective, of new mercury toxicity targets and possible biomarkers. Fifty-four adult rats were exposed to 0.375 mg/kg of HgCl2 or distilled water for 45 days using intragastric gavage. Then, the motor functions were evaluated by rotarod and inclined plane. The cerebellum was collected to quantify mercury levels, to assess the antioxidant activity against peroxyl radicals (ACAPs), the lipid peroxidation (LPO), the proteomic profile, the cell death nature by cytotoxicity and apoptosis, and the Purkinje cells density. The IHg exposure increased mercury levels in the cerebellum, reducing ACAP and increasing LPO. The proteomic approach revealed a total 419 proteins with different statuses of regulation, associated with different biological processes, such as synaptic signaling, energy metabolism and nervous system development, e.g., all these molecular changes are associated with increased cytotoxicity and apoptosis, with a neurodegenerative pattern on Purkinje cells layer and poor motor coordination and balance. In conclusion, all these findings feature a neurodegenerative process triggered by IHg in the cerebellum that culminated into motor functions deficits, which are associated with several molecular features and may be related to the clinical outcomes of people exposed to the toxicant.
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22
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Liu CJ, Ammon W, Siless V, Fogarty M, Wang R, Atzeni A, Aganj I, Iglesias JE, Zöllei L, Fischl B, Schmahmann JD, Wang H. Quantification of volumetric morphometry and optical property in the cortex of human cerebellum at micrometer resolution. Neuroimage 2021; 244:118627. [PMID: 34607020 PMCID: PMC8603939 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The surface of the human cerebellar cortex is much more tightly folded than the cerebral cortex. Volumetric analysis of cerebellar morphometry in magnetic resonance imaging studies suffers from insufficient resolution, and therefore has had limited impact on disease assessment. Automatic serial polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (as-PSOCT) is an emerging technique that offers the advantages of microscopic resolution and volumetric reconstruction of large-scale samples. In this study, we reconstructed multiple cubic centimeters of ex vivo human cerebellum tissue using as-PSOCT. The morphometric and optical properties of the cerebellar cortex across five subjects were quantified. While the molecular and granular layers exhibited similar mean thickness in the five subjects, the thickness varied greatly in the granular layer within subjects. Layer-specific optical property remained homogenous within individual subjects but showed higher cross-subject variability than layer thickness. High-resolution volumetric morphometry and optical property maps of human cerebellar cortex revealed by as-PSOCT have great potential to advance our understanding of cerebellar function and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao J Liu
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
| | - William Ammon
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
| | - Viviana Siless
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
| | - Morgan Fogarty
- Imaging Science Program, Washington University McKelvey School of Engineering, St. Louis, MO 63130, and Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, United States
| | - Ruopeng Wang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
| | - Alessia Atzeni
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Iman Aganj
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
| | - Juan Eugenio Iglesias
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States; Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, United Kingdom; MIT HST, Computer Science and AI Lab, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Lilla Zöllei
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States
| | - Bruce Fischl
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States; MIT HST, Computer Science and AI Lab, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Jeremy D Schmahmann
- Ataxia Center, Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and Cerebellar Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States
| | - Hui Wang
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, United States.
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The GM2 gangliosidoses: Unlocking the mysteries of pathogenesis and treatment. Neurosci Lett 2021; 764:136195. [PMID: 34450229 PMCID: PMC8572160 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Louis ED, Faust PL. Essential Tremor Within the Broader Context of Other Forms of Cerebellar Degeneration. THE CEREBELLUM 2021; 19:879-896. [PMID: 32666285 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-020-01160-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Essential tremor (ET) has recently been reconceptualized by many as a degenerative disease of the cerebellum. Until now, though, there has been no attempt to frame it within the context of these diseases. Here, we compare the clinical and postmortem features of ET with other cerebellar degenerations, thereby placing it within the broader context of these diseases. Action tremor is the hallmark feature of ET. Although often underreported in the spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), action tremors occur, and it is noteworthy that in SCA12 and 15, they are highly prevalent, often severe, and can be the earliest disease manifestation, resulting in an initial diagnosis of ET in many cases. Intention tremor, sometimes referred to as "cerebellar tremor," is a common feature of ET and many SCAs. Other features of cerebellar dysfunction, gait ataxia and eye motion abnormalities, are seen to a mild degree in ET and more markedly in SCAs. Several SCAs (e.g., SCA5, 6, 14, and 15), like ET, follow a milder and more protracted disease course. In ET, numerous postmortem changes have been localized to the cerebellum and are largely confined to the cerebellar cortex, preserving the cerebellar nuclei. Purkinje cell loss is modest. Similarly, in SCA3, 12, and 15, Purkinje cell loss is limited, and in SCA12 and 15, there is preservation of cerebellar nuclei and relative sparing of other central nervous system regions. Both clinically and pathologically, there are numerous similarities and intersection points between ET and other disorders of cerebellar degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elan D Louis
- Department of Neurology and Therapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Phyllis L Faust
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
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25
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Hommersom MP, Buijsen RAM, van Roon-Mom WMC, van de Warrenburg BPC, van Bokhoven H. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Modelling of Spinocerebellar Ataxias. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 18:441-456. [PMID: 34031815 PMCID: PMC8930896 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-021-10184-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) constitute a large group of phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous disorders that mainly present with dysfunction of the cerebellum as their main hallmark. Although animal and cell models have been highly instrumental for our current insight into the underlying disease mechanisms of these neurodegenerative disorders, they do not offer the full human genetic and physiological context. The advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and protocols to differentiate these into essentially every cell type allows us to closely model SCAs in a human context. In this review, we systematically summarize recent findings from studies using hiPSC-based modelling of SCAs, and discuss what knowledge has been gained from these studies. We conclude that hiPSC-based models are a powerful tool for modelling SCAs as they contributed to new mechanistic insights and have the potential to serve the development of genetic therapies. However, the use of standardized methods and multiple clones of isogenic lines are essential to increase validity and reproducibility of the insights gained. Graphical Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina P Hommersom
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke M C van Roon-Mom
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bart P C van de Warrenburg
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Hans van Bokhoven
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
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26
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Reflections on Cerebellar Neuropathology in Classical Scrapie. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11050649. [PMID: 33924986 PMCID: PMC8146067 DOI: 10.3390/biom11050649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In this review, the most important neuropathological changes found in the cerebella of sheep affected by classical natural scrapie are discussed. This disease is the oldest known of a group of unconventional “infections” caused by toxic prions of different origins. Scrapie is currently considered a “transmissible spongiform encephalopathy” (due to its neuropathological characteristics and its transmission), which is the paradigm of prion pathologies as well as many encephalopathies (prion-like) that present aberrant deposits of insoluble protein with neurotoxic effects due to errors in their catabolization (“misfolding protein diseases”). The study of this disease is, therefore, of great relevance. Our work data from the authors’ previous publications as well as other research in the field. The four most important types of neuropathological changes are neuron abnormalities and loss, neurogliosis, tissue vacuolization (spongiosis) and pathological or abnormal prion protein (PrP) deposits/deposition. These findings were analyzed and compared to other neuropathologies. Various aspects related to the presentation and progression of the disease, the involution of different neuronal types, the neuroglial responses and the appearance of abnormal PrP deposits are discussed. The most important points of controversy in scrapie neuropathology are presented.
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Stezin A, Bhardwaj S, Khokhar S, Hegde S, Jain S, Bharath RD, Saini J, Pal PK. In vivo microstructural white matter changes in early spinocerebellar ataxia 2. Acta Neurol Scand 2021; 143:326-332. [PMID: 33029780 DOI: 10.1111/ane.13359] [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: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE White matter (WM) integrity of Spinocerebellar ataxia 2 (SCA2) is poorly understood, more so in the early stages of SCA2. In this study, we evaluated the microstructural integrity of the WM tracts with an emphasis on the nature of in vivo pathological involvement in early SCA2. MATERIALS AND METHODS We evaluated the MRI images of 26 genetically proven SCA2 patients with disease duration <5 years and 24 age- and gender-matched healthy controls using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) to identify the WM tract changes and their clinico-genetic correlates (age at onset, duration of disease, ataxia severity and CAG repeat length) using standard methodology. RESULTS The mean age at onset and duration of disease were 28.7 ± 8.51 years and 3.5 ± 0.69 months, respectively. The mean CAG repeat length was 42.5 ± 4.6, and the ataxia severity score was 16.1 ± 4.9. Altered DTI scalars signifying degeneration was present in the bilateral anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), corticospinal tract (CST), inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF and ILF), uncinate fasciculus (UF), cingulum, corpus callosum (CC), forceps major and forceps minor (corrected p < .05). DTI scalars representing demyelination was seen in the superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP) and cerebellar WM. There was a significant correlation of SARA score with axial diffusivity of the bilateral cingulum, ATR, CST, forceps minor, IFOF, ILF, SLF and SCP on the right side (corrected p < .05). CONCLUSION Extensive WM involvement is present in early SCA2. The DTI scalars indicate degeneration and demyelination and may have clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Stezin
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Department of Neurology National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore India
| | - Sujas Bhardwaj
- Department of Neurology National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore India
| | - Sunil Khokhar
- Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore India
| | - Shantala Hegde
- Department of Clinical Neuropsychology National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore India
| | - Sanjeev Jain
- Department of Psychiatry National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore India
| | - Rose Dawn Bharath
- Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore India
| | - Jitender Saini
- Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore India
| | - Pramod Kumar Pal
- Department of Neurology National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore India
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28
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Zyuz'kov GN, Miroshnichenko LAE, Simanina EV, Stavrova LA, Polykova TYE. Intracellular signaling molecules of nerve tissue progenitors as pharmacological targets for treatment of ethanol-induced neurodegeneration. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2021; 33:305-315. [PMID: 33559456 DOI: 10.1515/jbcpp-2020-0317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The development of approaches to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases caused by alcohol abuse by targeted pharmacological regulation of intracellular signaling transduction of progenitor cells of nerve tissue is promising. We studied peculiarities of participation of NF-кB-, сАМР/РКА-, JAKs/STAT3-, ERK1/2-, p38-pathways in the regulation of neural stem cells (NSC) and neuronal-committed progenitors (NCP) in the simulation of ethanol-induced neurodegeneration in vitro and in vivo. METHODS In vitro, the role of signaling molecules (NF-кB, сАМР, РКА, JAKs, STAT3, ERK1/2, p38) in realizing the growth potential of neural stem cells (NSC) and neuronal-committed progenitors (NCP) in ethanol-induced neurodegeneration modeled in vitro and in vivo was studied. To do this, the method of the pharmacological blockade with the use of selective inhibitors of individual signaling molecules was used. RESULTS Several of fundamental differences in the role of certain intracellular signaling molecules (SM) in proliferation and specialization of NSC and NCP have been revealed. It has been shown that the effect of ethanol on progenitors is accompanied by the formation of a qualitatively new pattern of signaling pathways. Data have been obtained on the possibility of stimulation of nerve tissue regeneration in ethanol-induced neurodegeneration by NF-кB and STAT3 inhibitors. It has been found that the blockage of these SM stimulates NSC and NCP in conditions of ethanol intoxication and does not have a «negative» effect on the realization of the growth potential of intact progenitors (which will appear de novo during therapy). CONCLUSIONS The results may serve as a basis for the development of fundamentally new drugs to the treatment of alcoholic encephalopathy and other diseases of the central nervous system associated with alcohol abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gleb Nikolaevich Zyuz'kov
- Goldberg Research Institute of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russian Federation
| | - Larisa Arkad Evna Miroshnichenko
- Goldberg Research Institute of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russian Federation
| | - Elena Vladislavovna Simanina
- Goldberg Research Institute of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russian Federation
| | - Larisa Alexandrovna Stavrova
- Goldberg Research Institute of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russian Federation
| | - Tatyana Yur Evna Polykova
- Goldberg Research Institute of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Russian Federation
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29
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Bizzoca A, Caracciolo M, Corsi P, Magrone T, Jirillo E, Gennarini G. Molecular and Cellular Substrates for the Friedreich Ataxia. Significance of Contactin Expression and of Antioxidant Administration. Molecules 2020; 25:E4085. [PMID: 32906751 PMCID: PMC7570916 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, the neural phenotype is explored in rodent models of the spinocerebellar disorder known as the Friedreich Ataxia (FA), which results from mutations within the gene encoding the Frataxin mitochondrial protein. For this, the M12 line, bearing a targeted mutation, which disrupts the Frataxin gene exon 4 was used, together with the M02 line, which, in addition, is hemizygous for the human Frataxin gene mutation (Pook transgene), implying the occurrence of 82-190 GAA repeats within its first intron. The mutant mice phenotype was compared to the one of wild type littermates in regions undergoing differential profiles of neurogenesis, including the cerebellar cortex and the spinal cord by using neuronal (β-tubulin) and glial (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein) markers as well as the Contactin 1 axonal glycoprotein, involved in neurite growth control. Morphological/morphometric analyses revealed that while in Frataxin mutant mice the neuronal phenotype was significantly counteracted, a glial upregulation occurred at the same time. Furthermore, Contactin 1 downregulation suggested that changes in the underlying gene contributed to the disorder pathogenesis. Therefore, the FA phenotype implies an alteration of the developmental profile of neuronal and glial precursors. Finally, epigallocatechin gallate polyphenol administration counteracted the disorder, indicating protective effects of antioxidant administration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Gianfranco Gennarini
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sensory Organs, Medical School, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 11. I-70124 Bari, Italy; (A.B.); (M.C.); (P.C.); (T.M.); (E.J.)
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30
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Louis ED, Faust PL. Essential tremor: the most common form of cerebellar degeneration? CEREBELLUM & ATAXIAS 2020; 7:12. [PMID: 32922824 PMCID: PMC7427947 DOI: 10.1186/s40673-020-00121-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background The degenerative cerebellar ataxias comprise a large and heterogeneous group of neurological diseases whose hallmark clinical feature is ataxia, and which are accompanied, to variable degrees, by other features that are attributable to cerebellar dysfunction. Essential tremor (ET) is an exceptionally common neurological disease whose primary motor feature is action tremor, although patients often manifest intention tremor, mild gait ataxia and several other features of cerebellar dysfunction. Main Body In this paper, we review the abundant evidence derived from clinical, neuroimaging and postmortem studies, linking ET to cerebellar dysfunction. Furthermore, we review the combination of clinical, natural history and postmortem features suggesting that ET is neurodegenerative. We then compare the prevalence of ET (400 – 900 cases per 100,000) to that of the other cerebellar degenerations (ranging from <0.5 – 9 cases per 100,000, and in composite likely to be on the order of 20 cases per 100,000) and conclude that ET is 20 to 45 times more prevalent than all other forms of cerebellar degeneration combined. Conclusion Given the data we present, it is logical to conclude that ET is, by far, the most common form of cerebellar degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elan D Louis
- Department of Neurology and Therapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Phyllis L Faust
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY USA
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31
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Matejuk A, Ransohoff RM. Crosstalk Between Astrocytes and Microglia: An Overview. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1416. [PMID: 32765501 PMCID: PMC7378357 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on discoveries enabled by new technologies and analysis using novel computational tools, neuroscience can be re-conceived in terms of information exchange in dense networks of intercellular connections rather than in the context of individual populations, such as glia or neurons. Cross-talk between neurons and microglia or astrocytes has been addressed, however, the manner in which non-neuronal cells communicate and interact remains less well-understood. We review this intriguing crosstalk among CNS cells, focusing on astrocytes and microglia and how it contributes to brain development and neurodegenerative diseases. The goal of studying these intercellular communications is to promote our ability to combat incurable neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Matejuk
- Department of Immunology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Richard M Ransohoff
- Third Rock Ventures, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Limb ataxia after double hit in the Guillain-Mollaret triangle. Acta Neurol Belg 2020; 120:771-773. [PMID: 32112346 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-020-01313-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Ica R, Petrut A, Munteanu CVA, Sarbu M, Vukelić Ž, Petrica L, Zamfir AD. Orbitrap mass spectrometry for monitoring the ganglioside pattern in human cerebellum development and aging. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2020; 55:e4502. [PMID: 31961034 DOI: 10.1002/jms.4502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We have developed here a superior approach based on high-resolution (HR) mass spectrometry (MS) for monitoring the changes occurring with development and aging in the composition and structure of cerebellar gangliosidome. The experiments were focused on the comparative screening and structural analysis of gangliosides expressed in fetal and aged cerebellum by Orbitrap MS with nanoelectrospray ionization (nanoESI) in the negative ion mode. The employed ultrahigh-resolution MS platform allowed the discrimination, without the need of previous separation, of 159 ions corresponding to 120 distinct species in the native ganglioside mixtures from fetal and aged cerebellar biopsies, many more than detected before, when MS platforms of lower resolution were employed. A number of gangliosides, in particular polysialylated belonging to GT, GQ, GP, and GS classes, modified by O-fucosylation, O-acetylation, or CH3 COO- were discovered here, for the first time in human cerebellum. These components, found differently expressed in fetal and aged tissues, indicated that the ganglioside profile in cerebellum is development stage- and age-specific. Following the fragmentation analysis by high-energy collision-induced dissociation (HCD) tandem MS (MS/MS), we have also observed that the intimate structure of certain compounds has not changed during the development and aging of the brain, an aspect which could open new directions in the investigation of ganglioside biomarkers in cerebellar tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raluca Ica
- Department of Mass Spectrometry, National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
- Faculty of Physics, West University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alina Petrut
- Department of Mass Spectrometry, National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Cristian V A Munteanu
- Molecular Cell Biology Department, Institute of Biochemistry of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mirela Sarbu
- Department of Mass Spectrometry, National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Željka Vukelić
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ligia Petrica
- Department of Nephrology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alina D Zamfir
- Department of Mass Spectrometry, National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania
- Department for Research, Development, Innovation in Technical and Natural Sciences, "Aurel Vlaicu" University of Arad, Arad, Romania
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Mascalchi M, Vella A. Neuroimaging Biomarkers in SCA2 Gene Carriers. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21031020. [PMID: 32033120 PMCID: PMC7037189 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21031020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A variety of Magnetic Resonance (MR) and nuclear medicine (NM) techniques have been used in symptomatic and presymptomatic SCA2 gene carriers to explore, in vivo, the physiopathological biomarkers of the neurological dysfunctions characterizing the associated progressive disease that presents with a cerebellar syndrome, or less frequently, with a levodopa-responsive parkinsonian syndrome. Morphometry performed on T1-weighted images and diffusion MR imaging enable structural and microstructural evaluation of the brain in presymptomatic and symptomatic SCA2 gene carriers, in whom they show the typical pattern of olivopontocerebellar atrophy observed at neuropathological examination. Proton MR spectroscopy reveals, in the pons and cerebellum of SCA2 gene carriers, a more pronounced degree of abnormal neurochemical profile compared to other spinocerebellar ataxias with decreased NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr, increased mi/Cr ratios, and decreased NAA and increased mI concentrations. These neurochemical abnormalities are detectable also in presymtomatic gene carriers. Resting state functional MRI (rsfMRI) demonstrates decreased functional connectivity within the cerebellum and of the cerebellum with fronto-parietal cortices and basal ganglia in symptomatic SCA2 subjects. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (PET) shows a symmetric decrease of the glucose uptake in the cerebellar cortex, the dentate nucleus, the brainstem and the parahippocampal cortex. Single photon emission tomography and PET using several radiotracers have revealed almost symmetric nigrostriatal dopaminergic dysfunction irrespective of clinical signs of parkinsonism which are already present in presymtomatic gene carriers. Longitudinal small size studies have proven that morphometry and diffusion MR imaging can track neurodegeneration in SCA2, and hence serve as progression biomarkers. So far, such a capability has not been reported for proton MR spectroscopy, rsfMRI and NM techniques. A search for the best surrogate marker for future clinical trials represents the current challenge for the neuroimaging community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Mascalchi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-329-808-1701
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Characterization of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Patients with Cerebellar Ataxia: Downregulation of the Anti-Inflammatory Secretome Profile. Cells 2020; 9:cells9010212. [PMID: 31952198 PMCID: PMC7016790 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is a promising alternative approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, according to its neuroprotective and immunomodulatory potential. Despite numerous clinical trials involving autologous MSCs, their outcomes have often been unsuccessful. Several reports have indicated that MSCs from patients have low capacities in terms of the secretion of neurotrophic or anti-inflammatory factors, which might be associated with cell senescence or disease severity. Therefore, a new strategy to improve their capacities is required for optimal efficacy of autologous MSC therapy. In this study, we compared the secretory potential of MSCs among cerebellar ataxia patients (CA-MSCs) and healthy individuals (H-MSCs). Our results, including secretome analysis findings, revealed that CA-MSCs have lower capacities in terms of proliferation, oxidative stress response, motility, and immunomodulatory functions when compared with H-MSCs. The functional differences were validated in a scratch wound healing assay and neuron-glia co-cultures. In addition, the neuroprotective and immunoregulatory protein follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) was identified as one of the downregulated proteins in the CA-MSC secretome, with suppressive effects on proinflammatory microglial activation. Our study findings suggest that targeting aspects of the downregulated anti-inflammatory secretome, such as FSTL1, might improve the efficacy of autologous MSC therapy for CA.
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Gelernter J, Sun N, Polimanti R, Pietrzak RH, Levey DF, Lu Q, Hu Y, Li B, Radhakrishnan K, Aslan M, Cheung KH, Li Y, Rajeevan N, Sayward F, Harrington K, Chen Q, Cho K, Honerlaw J, Pyarajan S, Lencz T, Quaden R, Shi Y, Hunter-Zinck H, Gaziano JM, Kranzler HR, Concato J, Zhao H, Stein MB. Genome-wide Association Study of Maximum Habitual Alcohol Intake in >140,000 U.S. European and African American Veterans Yields Novel Risk Loci. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 86:365-376. [PMID: 31151762 PMCID: PMC6919570 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.03.984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Revised: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Habitual alcohol use can be an indicator of alcohol dependence, which is associated with a wide range of serious health problems. METHODS We completed a genome-wide association study in 126,936 European American and 17,029 African American subjects in the Veterans Affairs Million Veteran Program for a quantitative phenotype based on maximum habitual alcohol consumption. RESULTS ADH1B, on chromosome 4, was the lead locus for both populations: for the European American sample, rs1229984 (p = 4.9 × 10-47); for African American, rs2066702 (p = 2.3 × 10-12). In the European American sample, we identified three additional genome-wide-significant maximum habitual alcohol consumption loci: on chromosome 17, rs77804065 (p = 1.5 × 10-12), at CRHR1 (corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1); the protein product of this gene is involved in stress and immune responses; and on chromosomes 8 and 10. European American and African American samples were then meta-analyzed; the associated region at CRHR1 increased in significance to 1.02 × 10-13, and we identified two additional genome-wide significant loci, FGF14 (p = 9.86 × 10-9) (chromosome 13) and a locus on chromosome 11. Besides ADH1B, none of the five loci have prior genome-wide significant support. Post-genome-wide association study analysis identified genetic correlation to other alcohol-related traits, smoking-related traits, and many others. Replications were observed in UK Biobank data. Genetic correlation between maximum habitual alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence was 0.87 (p = 4.78 × 10-9). Enrichment for cell types included dopaminergic and gamma-aminobutyric acidergic neurons in midbrain, and pancreatic delta cells. CONCLUSIONS The present study supports five novel alcohol-use risk loci, with particularly strong statistical support for CRHR1. Additionally, we provide novel insight regarding the biology of harmful alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Gelernter
- Psychiatry Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
| | - Ning Sun
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Epidemiology Research Center (CERC), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Biostatistics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Renato Polimanti
- Psychiatry Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Robert H Pietrzak
- Psychiatry Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Daniel F Levey
- Psychiatry Service, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Qiongshi Lu
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Yiming Hu
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Boyang Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Krishnan Radhakrishnan
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Epidemiology Research Center (CERC), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut
| | - Mihaela Aslan
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Epidemiology Research Center (CERC), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Kei-Hoi Cheung
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Epidemiology Research Center (CERC), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Yuli Li
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Epidemiology Research Center (CERC), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Yale Center for Medical Informatics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Nallakkandi Rajeevan
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Epidemiology Research Center (CERC), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Yale Center for Medical Informatics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Fred Sayward
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Epidemiology Research Center (CERC), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Yale Center for Medical Informatics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Kelly Harrington
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Quan Chen
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Epidemiology Research Center (CERC), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Biostatistics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Kelly Cho
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jacqueline Honerlaw
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Saiju Pyarajan
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Todd Lencz
- Department of Psychiatry, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Hempstead, New York; Department of Molecular Medicine, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Hempstead, New York; Department of Psychiatry, Division of Research, The Zucker Hillside Hospital Division of Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, New York; Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
| | - Rachel Quaden
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yunling Shi
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Haley Hunter-Zinck
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - J Michael Gaziano
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Henry R Kranzler
- Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISN) 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - John Concato
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Epidemiology Research Center (CERC), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Hongyu Zhao
- Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Epidemiology Research Center (CERC), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Biostatistics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Murray B Stein
- Psychiatry Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.
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Convergence of three parcellation approaches demonstrating cerebellar lobule volume deficits in Alcohol Use Disorder. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 24:101974. [PMID: 31419768 PMCID: PMC6704050 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in robust and reliable methods of MRI-derived cerebellar lobule parcellation volumetry present the opportunity to assess effects of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) on selective cerebellar lobules and relations with indices of nutrition and motor functions. In pursuit of this opportunity, we analyzed high-resolution MRI data acquired in 24 individuals with AUD and 20 age- and sex-matched controls with a 32-channel head coil using three different atlases: the online automated analysis pipeline volBrain Ceres, SUIT, and the Johns Hopkins atlas. Participants had also completed gait and balance examination and hematological analysis of nutritional and liver status, enabling testing of functional meaningfulness of each cerebellar parcellation scheme. Compared with controls, each quantification approach yielded similar patterns of group differences in regional volumes: All three approaches identified AUD-related deficits in total tissue and total gray matter, but only Ceres identified a total white matter volume deficit. Convergent volume differences occurred in lobules I-V, Crus I, VIIIB, and IX. Coefficients of variation (CVs) were <20% for 46 of 56 regions measured and in general were graded: Ceres<SUIT<Hopkins. The most robust correlations were identified between poorer stability in balancing on one leg and smaller lobule VI and Crus I volumes from the Ceres atlas. Lower values of two essential vitamins-thiamine (vitamin B1) and serum folate (vitamin B9)-along with lower red blood cell count, which are dependent on adequate levels of B vitamins, correlated with smaller gray matter volumes of lobule VI and Crus I. Higher γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels, possibly reflecting compromised liver function, correlated with smaller volumes of lobules VI and X. These initial results based on high resolution data produced with clinically practical imaging procedures hold promise for expanding our knowledge about the relevance of focal cerebellar morphology in AUD and other neuropsychiatric conditions.
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Aprigliano F, Martelli D, Kang J, Kuo SH, Kang UJ, Monaco V, Micera S, Agrawal SK. Effects of repeated waist-pull perturbations on gait stability in subjects with cerebellar ataxia. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2019; 16:50. [PMID: 30975168 PMCID: PMC6460671 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-019-0522-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Damage to the cerebellum can affect neural structures involved in locomotion, causing gait and balance disorders. However, the integrity of cerebellum does not seem to be critical in managing sudden and unexpected environmental changes such as disturbances during walking. The cerebellum also plays a functional role in motor learning. Only a few effective therapies exist for individuals with cerebellar ataxia. With these in mind, we aimed at investigating: (1) corrective response of participants with cerebellar ataxia (CA) to unexpected gait perturbations; and (2) the effectiveness of a perturbation-based training to improve their dynamic stability during balance recovery responses and steady walking. Specifically, we hypothesized that: (1) CA group can show a corrective behavior similar to that of a healthy control group; (2) the exposure to a perturbation-based treatment can exploit residual learning capability, thus improving their dynamic stability during balance recovery responses and steady locomotion. Methods Ten participants with cerebellar ataxia and eight age-matched healthy adults were exposed to a single perturbation-based training session. The Active Tethered Pelvic Assist Device applied unexpected waist-pull perturbations while participants walked on a treadmill. Spatio-temporal parameters and dynamic stability were determined during corrective responses and steady locomotion, before and after the training. The ANalysis Of VAriance was the main statistical test used to assess the effects of group (healthy vs CA) and training (baseline vs post) on spatio-temporal parameters of the gait and margin of stability. Results Data analysis revealed that individuals with cerebellar ataxia behaved differently from healthy volunteers: (1) they retained a wider base of support during corrective responses and steady gait both before and after the training; (2) due to the training, patients improved their anterior-posterior margin of stability during steady walking only. Conclusions Our results revealed that participants with cerebellar ataxia could still rely on their learning capability to modify the gait towards a safer behavior. However, they could not take advantage from their residual learning capability while managing sudden and unexpected perturbations. Accordingly, the proposed training paradigm can be considered as a promising approach to improve balance control during steady walking in these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dario Martelli
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jiyeon Kang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sheng-Han Kuo
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Un J Kang
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vito Monaco
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvestro Micera
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.,Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Translational Neuroengineering, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, École Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sunil K Agrawal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Abstract
The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a genetically heterogeneous group of autosomal dominantly inherited progressive disorders, the clinical hallmark of which is loss of balance and coordination accompanied by slurred speech; onset is most often in adult life. Genetically, SCAs are grouped as repeat expansion SCAs, such as SCA3/Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), and rare SCAs that are caused by non-repeat mutations, such as SCA5. Most SCA mutations cause prominent damage to cerebellar Purkinje neurons with consecutive cerebellar atrophy, although Purkinje neurons are only mildly affected in some SCAs. Furthermore, other parts of the nervous system, such as the spinal cord, basal ganglia and pontine nuclei in the brainstem, can be involved. As there is currently no treatment to slow or halt SCAs (many SCAs lead to premature death), the clinical care of patients with SCA focuses on managing the symptoms through physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Intense research has greatly expanded our understanding of the pathobiology of many SCAs, revealing that they occur via interrelated mechanisms (including proteotoxicity, RNA toxicity and ion channel dysfunction), and has led to the identification of new targets for treatment development. However, the development of effective therapies is hampered by the heterogeneity of the SCAs; specific therapeutic approaches may be required for each disease.
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