Hsp70 promotes synaptic transmission in brain slices damaged by contact with blood clot

Pharmacological Tools to Activate Microglia and their Possible use to Study Neural Network Patho-physiology

BACKGROUND

Microglia are the resident immunocompetent cells of the CNS and also constitute a unique cell type that contributes to neural network homeostasis and function. Understanding microglia cell-signaling not only will reveal their diverse functions but also will help to identify pharmacological and non-pharmacological tools to modulate the activity of these cells.

METHODS

We undertook a search of bibliographic databases for peer-reviewed research literature to identify microglial activators and their cell-specificity. We also looked for their effects on neural network function and dysfunction.

RESULTS

We identified several pharmacological targets to modulate microglial function, which are more or less specific (with the proper control experiments). We also identified pharmacological targets that would require the development of new potent and specific modulators. We identified a wealth of evidence about the participation of microglia in neural network function and their alterations in pathological conditions.

CONCLUSION

The identification of specific microglia-activating signals provides experimental tools to modulate the activity of this heterogeneous cell type in order to evaluate its impact on other components of the nervous system, and it also helps to identify therapeutic approaches to ease some pathological conditions related to microglial dysfunction.

Mystixin-7 Peptide Protects Ionotropic Glutamatergic Mechanisms against Glutamate-Induced Excitotoxicity In Vitro

Hyperactivation of the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid type glutamate receptors (NMDARs) causes glutamate excitotoxicity, a process potentially important for many neurological diseases. This study aims to investigate protective effects of the synthetic corticotrophin-releasing factor-like peptide, mystixin-7 (MTX), on model glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in vitro. The technique online monitoring of electrophysiological parameters (excitatory glutamatergic alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic (AMPAR) and NMDAR-dependent postsynaptic mechanisms) in the olfactory cortex slices was used. Application of L-glutamate in toxic concentration (20 mM) on slices evoked hyperactivation of NMDARs and weaker activation of the AMPARs. Upon further action agonist, the excessive activation of glutamate receptors was replaced by their irreversible blockade. Pretreatment of the slices using MTX in different concentrations (50 and 100 mg/mL) protected both NMDARs and AMPARs from glutamate-induced damage. An enzymatic treatment of MTX reduced hyperactivation of both NMDARs and AMPARs. The present study demonstrated that MTX minipeptide protected the functioning of both NMDARs and AMPARs against glutamate-induced damage. The MTX peptide is a prospective candidate for elaborated medication in treatment of neurological diseases.

Mystixin-7 mini-peptide protects ionotropic glutamatergic mechanisms against oxygen-glucose deprivation in vitro

The aim of the present study was to explore the neuroprotective effects of the mystixin-7 mini-peptide (MTX, a synthetic corticotropin-releasing-factor-like, 7-amino-acid peptide) on an in vitro oxygen glucose deprivation model (OGD, 10min). The study used a technique of on-line monitoring of changes in α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic receptor (AMPAR) and N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR)-mediated field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in the olfactory cortex slices in the OGD model. OGD resulted in an irreversible blockade of both AMPAR and NMDAR activity. Pretreatment of slices by MTX and their subsequent exposure to OGD resulted in decreased activity of these postsynaptic mechanisms (AMPARs, 71%; NMDARs, 68% as compared to baseline), but they were not blocked altogether. The degree protection of activity of both AMPARs and NMDARs had dose-dependent manner, with a maximal effect at 100mg/mL. These protective effects were retained after the removal of MTX from the bathing medium. To evaluate the protective efficacy of MTX on NMDARs, the slices were pretreated by MTX and exposed to OGD and then treated with l-glutamate (1mM). NMDARs' response to application of l-glutamate was minimal at higher concentrations of MTX and maximal at lower concentrations. These findings indicate that the molecules of MTX interact with a certain amount of NMDARs, and thereby protect them from the OGD. Pretreatment of slices with MTX contributed to the protection of network activity against OGD and promoted the development of the learning process in the form of long-term potentiation. To specify the protective effects of MTX, it was denatured by trypsin. The proteolytic cleavage of MTX resulted to a significant decrease in the activity of both AMPARs and NMDARs against OGD as compared with that of the native peptide. Together, these findings provide further insight into the protective potential of the MTX mini-peptide. We believe that the data presented can be the basis for the development of therapeutics MTX-based medications for the treatment of the ischemic stroke.