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Cardinale A, de Iure A, Picconi B. Neuroinflammation and Dyskinesia: A Possible Causative Relationship? Brain Sci 2024; 14:514. [PMID: 38790492 PMCID: PMC11118841 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050514] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Levodopa (L-DOPA) treatment represents the gold standard therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. L-DOPA therapy shows many side effects, among them, L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias (LIDs) remain the most problematic. Several are the mechanisms underlying these processes: abnormal corticostriatal neurotransmission, pre- and post-synaptic neuronal events, changes in gene expression, and altered plasticity. In recent years, researchers have also suggested non-neuronal mechanisms as a possible cause for LIDs. We reviewed recent clinical and pre-clinical studies on neuroinflammation contribution to LIDs. Microglia and astrocytes seem to play a strategic role in LIDs phenomenon. In particular, their inflammatory response affects neuron-glia communication, synaptic activity and neuroplasticity, contributing to LIDs development. Finally, we describe possible new therapeutic interventions for dyskinesia prevention targeting glia cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Cardinale
- Experimental Neurophysiology Laboratory, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, 00166 Rome, Italy; (A.C.); (A.d.I.)
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, Università Telematica San Raffaele, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio de Iure
- Experimental Neurophysiology Laboratory, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, 00166 Rome, Italy; (A.C.); (A.d.I.)
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, Università Telematica San Raffaele, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Picconi
- Experimental Neurophysiology Laboratory, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, 00166 Rome, Italy; (A.C.); (A.d.I.)
- Department of Human Sciences and Quality of Life Promotion, Università Telematica San Raffaele, 00166 Rome, Italy
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2
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Yu SJ, Wang Y, Shen H, Bae EK, Li Y, Sambamurti K, Tones MA, Zaleska MM, Hoffer BJ, Greig NH. DPP-4 inhibitors sitagliptin and PF-00734,200 mitigate dopaminergic neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation and behavioral impairment in the rat 6-OHDA model of Parkinson's disease. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-024-01116-0. [PMID: 38563864 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01116-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological studies report an elevated risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that is mitigated in those prescribed dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. With an objective to characterize clinically translatable doses of DPP-4 inhibitors (gliptins) in a well-characterized PD rodent model, sitagliptin, PF-00734,200 or vehicle were orally administered to rats initiated either 7-days before or 7-days after unilateral medial forebrain bundle 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioning. Measures of dopaminergic cell viability, dopamine content, neuroinflammation and neurogenesis were evaluated thereafter in ipsi- and contralateral brain. Plasma and brain incretin and DPP-4 activity levels were quantified. Furthermore, brain incretin receptor levels were age-dependently evaluated in rodents, in 6-OHDA challenged animals and human subjects with/without PD. Cellular studies evaluated neurotrophic/neuroprotective actions of combined incretin administration. Pre-treatment with oral sitagliptin or PF-00734,200 reduced methamphetamine (meth)-induced rotation post-lesioning and dopaminergic degeneration in lesioned substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and striatum. Direct intracerebroventricular gliptin administration lacked neuroprotective actions, indicating that systemic incretin-mediated mechanisms underpin gliptin-induced favorable brain effects. Post-treatment with a threefold higher oral gliptin dose, likewise, mitigated meth-induced rotation, dopaminergic neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, and augmented neurogenesis. These gliptin-induced actions associated with 70-80% plasma and 20-30% brain DPP-4 inhibition, and elevated plasma and brain incretin levels. Brain incretin receptor protein levels were age-dependently maintained in rodents, preserved in rats challenged with 6-OHDA, and in humans with PD. Combined GLP-1 and GIP receptor activation in neuronal cultures resulted in neurotrophic/neuroprotective actions superior to single agonists alone. In conclusion, these studies support further evaluation of the repurposing of clinically approved gliptins as a treatment strategy for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong-Jin Yu
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Yun Wang
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, 35053, Taiwan.
- National Institute On Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
| | - Hui Shen
- National Institute On Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Eun-Kyung Bae
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Yazhou Li
- National Institute On Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Kumar Sambamurti
- Department of Neurosciences, the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | | | | | - Barry J Hoffer
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Nigel H Greig
- National Institute On Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
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3
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Sánchez-Yépez J, Acevedo-Huergo T, Mendoza-Trejo MS, Corona R, Hernández-Plata I, Viñuela-Berni V, Giordano M, Rodríguez VM. Early and transitory hypoactivity and olfactory alterations after chronic atrazine exposure in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Neurotoxicology 2024; 101:68-81. [PMID: 38340903 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2024.01.004] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Several studies have shown that chronic exposure to the herbicide atrazine (ATR) causes alterations in locomotor activity and markers of the dopaminergic systems of male rats. However, few studies have evaluated the sex-dependent effects of atrazine exposure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether chronic ATR exposure causes alterations in behavioral performance and dopaminergic systems of female rats. At weaning, two groups of rats were exposed to 1 or 10 mg ATR/kg body weight daily thorough the food, while the control group received food without ATR for 14 months. Spontaneous locomotor activity was evaluated monthly for 12 months, while anxiety, egocentric and spatial memory, motor coordination, and olfactory function tasks were evaluated between 13 and 14 months of ATR exposure. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and monoamine content in brain tissue were assessed at the end of ATR treatment. Female rats treated with 1 or 10 mg ATR showed vertical hypoactivity compared to the control group only in the first month of ATR exposure. Impairments in olfactory functions were found due to ATR exposure. Nevertheless, no alterations in anxiety, spatial and egocentric memory, or motor coordination tasks were observed, while the levels of TH and dopamine and its metabolites in brain tissue were similar among groups. These results suggest that female rats could present greater sensitivity to the neurotoxic effects of ATR on spontaneous locomotor activity in the early stages of development. However, they are unaffected by chronic ATR exposure later in life compared to male rats. More studies are necessary to unravel the sex-related differences observed after chronic ATR exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Sánchez-Yépez
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Triana Acevedo-Huergo
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Maria Soledad Mendoza-Trejo
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Rebeca Corona
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Isela Hernández-Plata
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Verónica Viñuela-Berni
- Departamento de Neurobiología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Magda Giordano
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Verónica M Rodríguez
- Departamento de Neurobiología Conductual y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico.
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4
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Verkhratsky A, Butt A, Li B, Illes P, Zorec R, Semyanov A, Tang Y, Sofroniew MV. Astrocytes in human central nervous system diseases: a frontier for new therapies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:396. [PMID: 37828019 PMCID: PMC10570367 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01628-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Astroglia are a broad class of neural parenchymal cells primarily dedicated to homoeostasis and defence of the central nervous system (CNS). Astroglia contribute to the pathophysiology of all neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders in ways that can be either beneficial or detrimental to disorder outcome. Pathophysiological changes in astroglia can be primary or secondary and can result in gain or loss of functions. Astroglia respond to external, non-cell autonomous signals associated with any form of CNS pathology by undergoing complex and variable changes in their structure, molecular expression, and function. In addition, internally driven, cell autonomous changes of astroglial innate properties can lead to CNS pathologies. Astroglial pathophysiology is complex, with different pathophysiological cell states and cell phenotypes that are context-specific and vary with disorder, disorder-stage, comorbidities, age, and sex. Here, we classify astroglial pathophysiology into (i) reactive astrogliosis, (ii) astroglial atrophy with loss of function, (iii) astroglial degeneration and death, and (iv) astrocytopathies characterised by aberrant forms that drive disease. We review astroglial pathophysiology across the spectrum of human CNS diseases and disorders, including neurotrauma, stroke, neuroinfection, autoimmune attack and epilepsy, as well as neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, metabolic and neuropsychiatric disorders. Characterising cellular and molecular mechanisms of astroglial pathophysiology represents a new frontier to identify novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexei Verkhratsky
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling/School of Health and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- Achucarro Centre for Neuroscience, IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, LT-01102, Vilnius, Lithuania.
| | - Arthur Butt
- Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Baoman Li
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Peter Illes
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling/School of Health and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Rudolf Boehm Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Leipzig, 04109, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Robert Zorec
- Celica Biomedical, Lab Cell Engineering, Technology Park, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology-Molecular Cell Physiology, Institute of Pathophysiology, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alexey Semyanov
- Department of Physiology, Jiaxing University College of Medicine, 314033, Jiaxing, China
| | - Yong Tang
- International Joint Research Centre on Purinergic Signalling/School of Health and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
- Key Laboratory of Acupuncture for Senile Disease (Chengdu University of TCM), Ministry of Education/Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China.
| | - Michael V Sofroniew
- Department of Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Elabi OF, Espa E, Skovgård K, Fanni S, Cenci MA. Ropinirole Cotreatment Prevents Perivascular Glial Recruitment in a Rat Model of L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia. Cells 2023; 12:1859. [PMID: 37508522 PMCID: PMC10378233 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopamine replacement therapy for Parkinson's disease is achieved using L-DOPA or dopamine D2/3 agonists, such as ropinirole. Here, we compare the effects of L-DOPA and ropinirole, alone or in combination, on patterns of glial and microvascular reactivity in the striatum. Rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesions were treated with therapeutic-like doses of L-DOPA (6 mg/kg), an equipotent L-DOPA-ropinirole combination (L-DOPA 3 mg/kg plus ropinirole 0.5 mg/kg), or ropinirole alone. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the reactivity of microglia (ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1, IBA-1) and astroglia (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP), as well as blood vessel density (rat endothelial cell antigen 1, RECA-1) and albumin extravasation. L-DOPA monotreatment and L-DOPA-ropinirole cotreatment induced moderate-severe dyskinesia, whereas ropinirole alone had negligible dyskinetic effects. Despite similar dyskinesia severity, striking differences in perivascular microglia and astroglial reactivity were found between animals treated with L-DOPA vs. L-DOPA-ropinirole. The former exhibited a marked upregulation of perivascular IBA-1 cells (in part CD68-positive) and IBA-1-RECA-1 contact points, along with an increased microvessel density and strong perivascular GFAP expression. None of these markers were significantly upregulated in animals treated with L-DOPA-ropinirole or ropinirole alone. In summary, although ropinirole cotreatment does not prevent L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia, it protects from maladaptive gliovascular changes otherwise associated with this disorder, with potential long-term benefits to striatal tissue homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osama F Elabi
- Basal Ganglia Pathophysiology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Elena Espa
- Basal Ganglia Pathophysiology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Katrine Skovgård
- Basal Ganglia Pathophysiology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Silvia Fanni
- Basal Ganglia Pathophysiology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Maria Angela Cenci
- Basal Ganglia Pathophysiology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden
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Huang ZP, Liu SF, Zhuang JL, Li LY, Li MM, Huang YL, Chen YH, Chen XR, Lin S, Ye LC, Chen CN. Role of microglial metabolic reprogramming in Parkinson's disease. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 213:115619. [PMID: 37211170 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by damage to nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Key pathogenic mechanisms underlying PD include alpha-synuclein misfolding and aggregation, impaired protein clearance, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. However, to date, no study has confirmed the specific pathogenesis of PD. Similarly, current PD treatment methods still have shortcomings. Although some emerging therapies have proved effective for PD, the specific mechanism still needs further clarification. Metabolic reprogramming, a term first proposed by Warburg, is applied to the metabolic energy characteristics of tumor cells. Microglia have similar metabolic characteristics. Pro-inflammatory M1 type and anti-inflammatory M2 type are the two types of activated microglia, which exhibit different metabolic patterns in glucose, lipid, amino acid, and iron metabolism. Additionally, mitochondrial dysfunction may be involved in microglial metabolic reprogramming by activating various signaling mechanisms. Functional changes in microglia resulting from metabolic reprogramming can cause changes in the brain microenvironment, thus playing an important role in neuroinflammation or tissue repair. The involvement of microglial metabolic reprogramming in PD pathogenesis has been confirmed. Neuroinflammation and dopaminergic neuronal death can effectively be reduced by inhibiting certain metabolic pathways in M1 microglia or reverting M1 cells to the M2 phenotype. This review summarizes the relationship between microglial metabolic reprogramming and PD and provides strategies for PD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Ping Huang
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province 362000, China
| | - Shu-Fen Liu
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province 362000, China
| | - Jian-Long Zhuang
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Quanzhou Women's and Children's Hospital, Quanzhou, China
| | - Lin-Yi Li
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province 362000, China
| | - Mi-Mi Li
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province 362000, China
| | - Ya-Li Huang
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province 362000, China
| | - Yan-Hong Chen
- Department of Neurology, Shishi General Hospital, Quanzhou, Fujian Province 362000, China
| | - Xiang-Rong Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Second Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Shu Lin
- Center of Neurological and Metabolic Research, Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province 362000, China; Group of Neuroendocrinology, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, 384 Victoria St, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Li-Chao Ye
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province 362000, China.
| | - Chun-Nuan Chen
- Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province 362000, China.
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The Vitamin D Receptor as a Potential Target for the Treatment of Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases Such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases: A Narrative Review. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040660. [PMID: 36831327 PMCID: PMC9954016 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The vitamin D receptor (VDR) belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors. The VDR is expressed in diverse brain regions and has been implicated in the neuroprotective, antiaging, prosurvival, and anti-inflammatory action of vitamin D. Accordingly, a relationship between vitamin D insufficiency and susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases has been suggested. However, due to the multitargeted mechanisms of vitamin D and its often overlapping genomic and nongenomic effects, the role of the VDR in brain pathologies remains obscure. In this narrative review, we present progress in deciphering the molecular mechanism of nuclear VDR-mediated vitamin D effects on prosurvival and anti-inflammatory signaling pathway activity within the central nervous system. In line with the concept of the neurovascular unit in pathomechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, a discussion of the role of the VDR in regulating the immune and vascular brain systems is also included. Next, we discuss the results of preclinical and clinical studies evaluating the significance of vitamin D status and the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in the treatment of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, emphasizing the possible role of the VDR in these phenomena. Finally, the associations of some VDR polymorphisms with higher risks and severity of these neurodegenerative disorders are briefly summarized.
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The complex role of inflammation and gliotransmitters in Parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 176:105940. [PMID: 36470499 PMCID: PMC10372760 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105940] [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: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of the role of innate and adaptive immune cell function in brain health and how it goes awry during aging and neurodegenerative diseases is still in its infancy. Inflammation and immunological dysfunction are common components of Parkinson's disease (PD), both in terms of motor and non-motor components of PD. In recent decades, the antiquated notion that the central nervous system (CNS) in disease states is an immune-privileged organ, has been debunked. The immune landscape in the CNS influences peripheral systems, and peripheral immunological changes can alter the CNS in health and disease. Identifying immune and inflammatory pathways that compromise neuronal health and survival is critical in designing innovative and effective strategies to limit their untoward effects on neuronal health.
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9
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Palmas MF, Etzi M, Pisanu A, Camoglio C, Sagheddu C, Santoni M, Manchinu MF, Pala M, Fusco G, De Simone A, Picci L, Mulas G, Spiga S, Scherma M, Fadda P, Pistis M, Simola N, Carboni E, Carta AR. The Intranigral Infusion of Human-Alpha Synuclein Oligomers Induces a Cognitive Impairment in Rats Associated with Changes in Neuronal Firing and Neuroinflammation in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172628. [PMID: 36078036 PMCID: PMC9454687 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex pathology causing a plethora of non-motor symptoms besides classical motor impairments, including cognitive disturbances. Recent studies in the PD human brain have reported microgliosis in limbic and neocortical structures, suggesting a role for neuroinflammation in the development of cognitive decline. Yet, the mechanism underlying the cognitive pathology is under investigated, mainly for the lack of a valid preclinical neuropathological model reproducing the disease’s motor and non-motor aspects. Here, we show that the bilateral intracerebral infusion of pre-formed human alpha synuclein oligomers (H-αSynOs) within the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) offers a valid model for studying the cognitive symptoms of PD, which adds to the classical motor aspects previously described in the same model. Indeed, H-αSynOs-infused rats displayed memory deficits in the two-trial recognition task in a Y maze and the novel object recognition (NOR) test performed three months after the oligomer infusion. In the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of H-αSynOs-infused rats the in vivo electrophysiological activity was altered and the expression of the neuron-specific immediate early gene (IEG) Npas4 (Neuronal PAS domain protein 4) and the AMPA receptor subunit GluR1 were decreased. The histological analysis of the brain of cognitively impaired rats showed a neuroinflammatory response in cognition-related regions such as the ACC and discrete subareas of the hippocampus, in the absence of any evident neuronal loss, supporting a role of neuroinflammation in cognitive decline. We found an increased GFAP reactivity and the acquisition of a proinflammatory phenotype by microglia, as indicated by the increased levels of microglial Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) as compared to vehicle-infused rats. Moreover, diffused deposits of phospho-alpha synuclein (p-αSyn) and Lewy neurite-like aggregates were found in the SNpc and striatum, suggesting the spreading of toxic protein within anatomically interconnected areas. Altogether, we present a neuropathological rat model of PD that is relevant for the study of cognitive dysfunction featuring the disease. The intranigral infusion of toxic oligomeric species of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) induced spreading and neuroinflammation in distant cognition-relevant regions, which may drive the altered neuronal activity underlying cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michela Etzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Augusta Pisanu
- National Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Chiara Camoglio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Claudia Sagheddu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Michele Santoni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maria Francesca Manchinu
- Istituto Di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica Del Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, 09040 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Mauro Pala
- Istituto Di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica Del Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, 09040 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Giuliana Fusco
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Luca Picci
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giovanna Mulas
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Saturnino Spiga
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Maria Scherma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paola Fadda
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Pistis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Nicola Simola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Ezio Carboni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Anna R. Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09040 Cagliari, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Imbriani P, Martella G, Bonsi P, Pisani A. Oxidative stress and synaptic dysfunction in rodent models of Parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 173:105851. [PMID: 36007757 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multifactorial disorder involving a complex interplay between a variety of genetic and environmental factors. In this scenario, mitochondrial impairment and oxidative stress are widely accepted as crucial neuropathogenic mechanisms, as also evidenced by the identification of PD-associated genes that are directly involved in mitochondrial function. The concept of mitochondrial dysfunction is closely linked to that of synaptic dysfunction. Indeed, compelling evidence supports the role of mitochondria in synaptic transmission and plasticity, although many aspects have not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we will provide a brief overview of the most relevant evidence obtained in different neurotoxin-based and genetic rodent models of PD, focusing on mitochondrial impairment and synaptopathy, an early central event preceding overt nigrostriatal neurodegeneration. The identification of early deficits occurring in PD pathogenesis is crucial in view of the development of potential disease-modifying therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Imbriani
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Plasticity, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Martella
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Plasticity, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Bonsi
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Plasticity, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Pisani
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
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11
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Cristina Cardia M, Francesca Palmas M, Casula L, Pisanu A, Marceddu S, Valenti D, Sinico C, Pini E, Scerba MT, Tweedie D, Greig NH, Rosa Carta A, Lai F. Nanocrystals as an effective strategy to improve Pomalidomide bioavailability in rodent. Int J Pharm 2022; 625:122079. [PMID: 35932932 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Pomalidomide (POM) is an FDA-approved immunomodulatory imide drug (IMiDs) an it is effectively used in the treatment of multiple myeloma. IMiDs are analogs of the drug thalidomide and they have been repurposed for the treatment of several diseases such as psoriatic arthritis and Kaposi Sarcoma. In recent years, IMiDs have been also evaluated as a new treatment for neurological disorders with an inflammatory and neuroinflammatory component. POM draws particular interest for its potent anti-TNF-α activity at significantly lower concentrations than the parent compound thalidomide. However, POM's low water solubility underpins its low gastrointestinal permeability resulting in irregular and poor absorption. The purpose of this work was to prepare a POM nanocrystal-based formulation that could efficiently improve POM's plasma and brain concentration after intraperitoneal injection. POM nanocrystals prepared as a nanosuspension by the media milling method showed a mean diameter of 219 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.21. POM's nanocrystal solubility value (22.97 µg/mL) in phosphate buffer was about 1.58 folds higher than the POM raw powder. Finally, in vivo studies conducted in adult Male Sprague-Dawley rats indicated that POM nanocrystal ensured higher and longer-lasting drug levels in plasma and brain when compared with POM coarse suspension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina Cardia
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Unit of Drug Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Luca Casula
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Unit of Drug Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Augusta Pisanu
- National Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Salvatore Marceddu
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA-CNR), Baldinca (Sassari), Italy
| | - Donatella Valenti
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Unit of Drug Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Chiara Sinico
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Unit of Drug Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Elena Pini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
| | - Michael T Scerba
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Anna Rosa Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Francesco Lai
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Unit of Drug Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
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12
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Gopinath A, Mackie P, Hashimi B, Buchanan AM, Smith AR, Bouchard R, Shaw G, Badov M, Saadatpour L, Gittis A, Ramirez-Zamora A, Okun MS, Streit WJ, Hashemi P, Khoshbouei H. DAT and TH expression marks human Parkinson's disease in peripheral immune cells. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2022; 8:72. [PMID: 35672374 PMCID: PMC9174333 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-022-00333-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is marked by a loss of dopamine neurons, decreased dopamine transporter (DAT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression. However, this validation approach cannot be used for diagnostic, drug effectiveness or investigational purposes in human patients because midbrain tissue is accessible postmortem. PD pathology affects both the central nervous and peripheral immune systems. Therefore, we immunophenotyped blood samples of PD patients for the presence of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and discovered that DAT+/TH+ monocytic MDSCs, but not granulocytic MDSCs are increased, suggesting a targeted immune response to PD. Because in peripheral immune cells DAT activity underlies an immune suppressive mechanism, we investigated whether expression levels of DAT and TH in the peripheral immune cells marks PD. We found drug naïve PD patients exhibit differential DAT+/TH+ expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) compared to aged/sex matched healthy subjects. While total PBMCs are not different between the groups, the percentage of DAT+/TH+ PBMCs was significantly higher in drug naïve PD patients compared to healthy controls irrespective of age, gender, disease duration, disease severity or treatment type. Importantly, treatment for PD negatively modulates DAT+/TH+ expressing PBMCs. Neither total nor the percentage of DAT+/TH+ PBMCs were altered in the Alzheimer's disease cohort. The mechanistic underpinning of this discovery in human PD was revealed when these findings were recapitulated in animal models of PD. The reverse translational experimental strategy revealed that alterations in dopaminergic markers in peripheral immune cells are due to the disease associated changes in the CNS. Our study demonstrates that the dopaminergic machinery on peripheral immune cells displays an association with human PD, with exciting implications in facilitating diagnosis and investigation of human PD pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adithya Gopinath
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Phillip Mackie
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Basil Hashimi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Aidan R Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Gerry Shaw
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- EnCor Biotechnology, Inc, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Martin Badov
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Leila Saadatpour
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Aryn Gittis
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Adolfo Ramirez-Zamora
- Department of Neurology, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, UF Health, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Michael S Okun
- Department of Neurology, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, UF Health, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Wolfgang J Streit
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Parastoo Hashemi
- University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Habibeh Khoshbouei
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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13
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Palmas MF, Ena A, Burgaletto C, Casu MA, Cantarella G, Carboni E, Etzi M, De Simone A, Fusco G, Cardia MC, Lai F, Picci L, Tweedie D, Scerba MT, Coroneo V, Bernardini R, Greig NH, Pisanu A, Carta AR. Repurposing Pomalidomide as a Neuroprotective Drug: Efficacy in an Alpha-Synuclein-Based Model of Parkinson's Disease. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:305-324. [PMID: 35072912 PMCID: PMC9130415 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01182-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Marketed drugs for Parkinson's disease (PD) treat disease motor symptoms but are ineffective in stopping or slowing disease progression. In the quest of novel pharmacological approaches that may target disease progression, drug-repurposing provides a strategy to accelerate the preclinical and clinical testing of drugs already approved for other medical indications. Here, we targeted the inflammatory component of PD pathology, by testing for the first time the disease-modifying properties of the immunomodulatory imide drug (IMiD) pomalidomide in a translational rat model of PD neuropathology based on the intranigral bilateral infusion of toxic preformed oligomers of human α-synuclein (H-αSynOs). The neuroprotective effect of pomalidomide (20 mg/kg; i.p. three times/week 48 h apart) was tested in the first stage of disease progression by means of a chronic two-month administration, starting 1 month after H-αSynOs infusion, when an already ongoing neuroinflammation is observed. The intracerebral infusion of H-αSynOs induced an impairment in motor and coordination performance that was fully rescued by pomalidomide, as assessed via a battery of motor tests three months after infusion. Moreover, H-αSynOs-infused rats displayed a 40-45% cell loss within the bilateral substantia nigra, as measured by stereological counting of TH + and Nissl-stained neurons, that was largely abolished by pomalidomide. The inflammatory response to H-αSynOs infusion and the pomalidomide treatment was evaluated both in CNS affected areas and peripherally in the serum. A reactive microgliosis, measured as the volume occupied by the microglial marker Iba-1, was present in the substantia nigra three months after H-αSynOs infusion as well as after H-αSynOs plus pomalidomide treatment. However, microglia differed for their phenotype among experimental groups. After H-αSynOs infusion, microglia displayed a proinflammatory profile, producing a large amount of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α. In contrast, pomalidomide inhibited the TNF-α overproduction and elevated the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Moreover, the H-αSynOs infusion induced a systemic inflammation with overproduction of serum proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, that was largely mitigated by pomalidomide. Results provide evidence of the disease modifying potential of pomalidomide in a neuropathological rodent model of PD and support the repurposing of this drug for clinical testing in PD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna Ena
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Chiara Burgaletto
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppina Cantarella
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Ezio Carboni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Michela Etzi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alfonso De Simone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuliana Fusco
- Centre for Misfolding Diseases, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maria Cristina Cardia
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesco Lai
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Luca Picci
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute On Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michael T Scerba
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute On Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Valentina Coroneo
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Renato Bernardini
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Nigel H Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute On Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Augusta Pisanu
- National Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Anna R Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
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14
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Cacabelos R, Carrera I, Martínez O, Alejo R, Fernández-Novoa L, Cacabelos P, Corzo L, Rodríguez S, Alcaraz M, Nebril L, Tellado I, Cacabelos N, Pego R, Naidoo V, Carril JC. Atremorine in Parkinson's disease: From dopaminergic neuroprotection to pharmacogenomics. Med Res Rev 2021; 41:2841-2886. [PMID: 34106485 DOI: 10.1002/med.21838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Atremorine is a novel bioproduct obtained by nondenaturing biotechnological processes from a genetic species of Vicia faba. Atremorine is a potent dopamine (DA) enhancer with powerful effects on the neuronal dopaminergic system, acting as a neuroprotective agent in Parkinson's disease (PD). Over 97% of PD patients respond to a single dose of Atremorine (5 g, p.o.) 1 h after administration. This response is gender-, time-, dose-, and genotype-dependent, with optimal doses ranging from 5 to 20 g/day, depending upon disease severity and concomitant medication. Drug-free patients show an increase in DA levels from 12.14 ± 0.34 pg/ml to 6463.21 ± 1306.90 pg/ml; and patients chronically treated with anti-PD drugs show an increase in DA levels from 1321.53 ± 389.94 pg/ml to 16,028.54 ± 4783.98 pg/ml, indicating that Atremorine potentiates the dopaminergic effects of conventional anti-PD drugs. Atremorine also influences the levels of other neurotransmitters (adrenaline, noradrenaline) and hormones which are regulated by DA (e.g., prolactin, PRL), with no effect on serotonin or histamine. The variability in Atremorine-induced DA response is highly attributable to pharmacogenetic factors. Polymorphic variants in pathogenic (SNCA, NUCKS1, ITGA8, GPNMB, GCH1, BCKDK, APOE, LRRK2, ACMSD), mechanistic (DRD2), metabolic (CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A4/5, NAT2), transporter (ABCB1, SLC6A2, SLC6A3, SLC6A4) and pleiotropic genes (APOE) influence the DA response to Atremorine and its psychomotor and brain effects. Atremorine enhances DNA methylation and displays epigenetic activity via modulation of the pharmacoepigenetic network. Atremorine is a novel neuroprotective agent for dopaminergic neurons with potential prophylactic and therapeutic activity in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramón Cacabelos
- Department of Genomic Medicine, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, Spain
| | - Iván Carrera
- Department of Health Biotechnology, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, Spain
| | - Olaia Martínez
- Department of Medical Epigenetics, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, Spain
| | | | | | - Pablo Cacabelos
- Department of Digital Diagnosis, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, Spain
| | - Lola Corzo
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, Spain
| | - Susana Rodríguez
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, Spain
| | - Margarita Alcaraz
- Department of Genomic Medicine, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, Spain
| | - Laura Nebril
- Department of Genomic Medicine, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, Spain
| | - Iván Tellado
- Department of Digital Diagnosis, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, Spain
| | - Natalia Cacabelos
- Department of Medical Documentation, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, Spain
| | - Rocío Pego
- Department of Neuropsychology, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, Spain
| | - Vinogran Naidoo
- Department of Neuroscience, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, Spain
| | - Juan C Carril
- Department of Genomics & Pharmacogenomics, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo, Spain
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15
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Gu J, Barrera J, Yun Y, Murphy SK, Beach TG, Woltjer RL, Serrano GE, Kantor B, Chiba-Falek O. Cell-Type Specific Changes in DNA Methylation of SNCA Intron 1 in Synucleinopathy Brains. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:652226. [PMID: 33994928 PMCID: PMC8113398 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.652226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy body (DLB) are the most common synucleinopathies. SNCA gene is a major genetic risk factor for these diseases group, and dysregulation of its expression has been implicated in the genetic etiologies of several synucleinopathies. DNA methylation at CpG island (CGI) within SNCA intron 1 has been suggested as a regulatory mechanism of SNCA expression, and changes in methylation levels at this region were associated with PD and DLB. However, the role of DNA methylation in the regulation of SNCA expression in a cell-type specific manner and its contribution to the pathogenesis of PD and DLB remain poorly understood, and the data are conflicting. Here, we employed a bisulfite pyrosequencing technique to profile the DNA methylation across SNCA intron 1 CGI in PD and DLB compared to age- and sex-matched normal control subjects. We analyzed homogenates of bulk post-mortem frozen frontal cortex samples and a subset of neuronal and glia nuclei sorted by the fluorescence-activated nuclei sorting (FANS) method. Bulk brain tissues showed no significant difference in the overall DNA methylation across SNCA intron 1 CGI region between the neuropathological groups. Sorted neuronal nuclei from PD frontal cortex showed significant lower levels of DNA methylation at this region compared to normal controls, but no differences between DLB and control, while sorted glia nuclei exhibited trends of decreased overall DNA methylation in DLB only. In conclusion, our data suggested disease-dependent cell-type specific differential DNA methylation within SNCA intron 1 CGI. These changes may affect SNCA dysregulation that presumably mediates disease-specific risk. Our results can be translated into the development of the SNCA intron 1 CGI region as an attractive therapeutics target for gene therapy in patients who suffer from synucleinopathies due to SNCA dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Gu
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Julio Barrera
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Young Yun
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Susan K. Murphy
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Thomas G. Beach
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, United States
| | - Randy L. Woltjer
- Layton Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Department of Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Geidy E. Serrano
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ, United States
| | - Boris Kantor
- Viral Vector Core, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Ornit Chiba-Falek
- Division of Translational Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
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16
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Jung YJ, Tweedie D, Scerba MT, Kim DS, Palmas MF, Pisanu A, Carta AR, Greig NH. Repurposing Immunomodulatory Imide Drugs (IMiDs) in Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:656921. [PMID: 33854417 PMCID: PMC8039148 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.656921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation represents a common trait in the pathology and progression of the major psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Neuropsychiatric disorders have emerged as a global crisis, affecting 1 in 4 people, while neurological disorders are the second leading cause of death in the elderly population worldwide (WHO, 2001; GBD 2016 Neurology Collaborators, 2019). However, there remains an immense deficit in availability of effective drug treatments for most neurological disorders. In fact, for disorders such as depression, placebos and behavioral therapies have equal effectiveness as antidepressants. For neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, drugs that can prevent, slow, or cure the disease have yet to be found. Several non-traditional avenues of drug target identification have emerged with ongoing neurological disease research to meet the need for novel and efficacious treatments. Of these novel avenues is that of neuroinflammation, which has been found to be involved in the progression and pathology of many of the leading neurological disorders. Neuroinflammation is characterized by glial inflammatory factors in certain stages of neurological disorders. Although the meta-analyses have provided evidence of genetic/proteomic upregulation of inflammatory factors in certain stages of neurological disorders. Although the mechanisms underpinning the connections between neuroinflammation and neurological disorders are unclear, and meta-analysis results have shown high sensitivity to factors such as disorder severity and sample type, there is significant evidence of neuroinflammation associations across neurological disorders. In this review, we summarize the role of neuroinflammation in psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder, as well as in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, and introduce current research on the potential of immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs) as a new treatment strategy for these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoo Jin Jung
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Stanford Neurosciences Interdepartmental Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - David Tweedie
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Michael T. Scerba
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Dong Seok Kim
- AevisBio, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, United States
- Aevis Bio, Inc., Daejeon, South Korea
| | | | - Augusta Pisanu
- National Research Council, Institute of Neuroscience, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Anna R. Carta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Nigel H. Greig
- Drug Design & Development Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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17
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Fattorelli N, Martinez-Muriana A, Wolfs L, Geric I, De Strooper B, Mancuso R. Stem-cell-derived human microglia transplanted into mouse brain to study human disease. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:1013-1033. [PMID: 33424025 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-00447-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Microglia are critically involved in complex neurological disorders with a strong genetic component, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and frontotemporal dementia. Although mouse microglia can recapitulate aspects of human microglia physiology, they do not fully capture the human genetic aspects of disease and do not reproduce all human cell states. Primary cultures of human microglia or microglia derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are difficult to maintain in brain-relevant cell states in vitro. Here we describe MIGRATE (microglia in vitro generation refined for advanced transplantation experiments, which provides a combined in vitro differentiation and in vivo xenotransplantation protocol to study human microglia in the context of the mouse brain. This article details an accurate, step-by-step workflow that includes in vitro microglia differentiation from human PSCs, transplantation into the mouse brain and quantitative analysis of engraftment. Compared to current differentiation and xenotransplantation protocols, we present an optimized, faster and more efficient approach that yields up to 80% chimerism. To quantitatively assess engraftment efficiency by flow cytometry, access to specialized flow cytometry is required. Alternatively, the percentage of chimerism can be estimated by standard immunohistochemical analysis. The MIGRATE protocol takes ~40 d to complete, from culturing PSCs to engraftment efficiency assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Fattorelli
- Centre for Brain and Disease Research, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anna Martinez-Muriana
- Centre for Brain and Disease Research, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Leen Wolfs
- Centre for Brain and Disease Research, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ivana Geric
- Centre for Brain and Disease Research, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Leuven, Belgium.,Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart De Strooper
- Centre for Brain and Disease Research, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Leuven, Belgium. .,Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. .,UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Renzo Mancuso
- Centre for Brain and Disease Research, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Leuven, Belgium. .,Department of Neurosciences and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. .,Microglia and Inflammation in Neurological Disorders (MIND) Lab, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
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18
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Outeiro TF, Heutink P, Bezard E, Cenci AM. From iPS Cells to Rodents and Nonhuman Primates: Filling Gaps in Modeling Parkinson's Disease. Mov Disord 2020; 36:832-841. [PMID: 33200446 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is primarily known as a movement disorder because of typical clinical manifestations associated with the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. However, it is now widely recognized that PD is a much more complex condition, with multiple and severe nonmotor features implicating additional brain areas and organs in the disease process. Pathologically, typical forms of PD are characterized by the accumulation of α-synuclein-rich protein inclusions known as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, although other types of protein inclusions are also often present in the brain. Familial forms of PD have provided a wealth of information about molecular pathways leading to neurodegeneration, but only to add to the complexity of the problem and uncover new knowledge gaps. Therefore, modeling PD in the laboratory has become increasingly challenging. Here, we discuss knowledge gaps and challenges in the use of laboratory models for the study of a disease that is clinically heterogeneous and multifactorial. We propose that the combined use of patient-derived cells and animal models, along with current technological tools, will not only expand our molecular and pathophysiological understanding of PD, but also assist in the identification of therapeutic strategies targeting relevant pathogenic pathways. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago F Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany.,Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Peter Heutink
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Erwan Bezard
- Univ. de Bordeaux, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, Bordeaux, France.,CNRS, Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, UMR 5293, Bordeaux, France
| | - Angela M Cenci
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Basal Ganglia Pathophysiology Unit, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Cenci MA, Björklund A. Animal models for preclinical Parkinson's research: An update and critical appraisal. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2020; 252:27-59. [PMID: 32247366 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2020.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD) are essential to investigate pathogenic pathways at the whole-organism level. Moreover, they are necessary for a preclinical investigation of potential new therapies. Different pathological features of PD can be induced in a variety of invertebrate and vertebrate species using toxins, drugs, or genetic perturbations. Each model has a particular utility and range of applicability. Invertebrate PD models are particularly useful for high throughput-screening applications, whereas mammalian models are needed to explore complex motor and non-motor features of the human disease. Here, we provide a comprehensive review and critical appraisal of the most commonly used mammalian models of PD, which are produced in rats and mice. A substantial loss of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons is necessary for the animal to exhibit a hypokinetic motor phenotype responsive to dopaminergic agents, thus resembling clinical PD. This level of dopaminergic neurodegeneration can be induced using specific neurotoxins, environmental toxicants, or proteasome inhibitors. Alternatively, nigrostriatal dopamine degeneration can be induced via overexpression of α-synuclein using viral vectors or transgenic techniques. In addition, protein aggregation pathology can be triggered by inoculating preformed fibrils of α-synuclein in the substantia nigra or the striatum. Thanks to the conceptual and technical progress made in the past few years a vast repertoire of well-characterized animal models are currently available to address different aspects of PD in the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Angela Cenci
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Centre, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Anders Björklund
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Centre, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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