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Jurkowski MP, Bettio L, K Woo E, Patten A, Yau SY, Gil-Mohapel J. Beyond the Hippocampus and the SVZ: Adult Neurogenesis Throughout the Brain. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:576444. [PMID: 33132848 PMCID: PMC7550688 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.576444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Convincing evidence has repeatedly shown that new neurons are produced in the mammalian brain into adulthood. Adult neurogenesis has been best described in the hippocampus and the subventricular zone (SVZ), in which a series of distinct stages of neuronal development has been well characterized. However, more recently, new neurons have also been found in other brain regions of the adult mammalian brain, including the hypothalamus, striatum, substantia nigra, cortex, and amygdala. While some studies have suggested that these new neurons originate from endogenous stem cell pools located within these brain regions, others have shown the migration of neurons from the SVZ to these regions. Notably, it has been shown that the generation of new neurons in these brain regions is impacted by neurologic processes such as stroke/ischemia and neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, numerous factors such as neurotrophic support, pharmacologic interventions, environmental exposures, and stem cell therapy can modulate this endogenous process. While the presence and significance of adult neurogenesis in the human brain (and particularly outside of the classical neurogenic regions) is still an area of debate, this intrinsic neurogenic potential and its possible regulation through therapeutic measures present an exciting alternative for the treatment of several neurologic conditions. This review summarizes evidence in support of the classic and novel neurogenic zones present within the mammalian brain and discusses the functional significance of these new neurons as well as the factors that regulate their production. Finally, it also discusses the potential clinical applications of promoting neurogenesis outside of the classical neurogenic niches, particularly in the hypothalamus, cortex, striatum, substantia nigra, and amygdala.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal P Jurkowski
- Island Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Luis Bettio
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Emma K Woo
- Island Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Anna Patten
- Centre for Interprofessional Clinical Simulation Learning (CICSL), Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Suk-Yu Yau
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
| | - Joana Gil-Mohapel
- Island Medical Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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2
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Troncoso-Escudero P, Sepulveda D, Pérez-Arancibia R, Parra AV, Arcos J, Grunenwald F, Vidal RL. On the Right Track to Treat Movement Disorders: Promising Therapeutic Approaches for Parkinson's and Huntington's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:571185. [PMID: 33101007 PMCID: PMC7497570 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.571185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Movement disorders are neurological conditions in which patients manifest a diverse range of movement impairments. Distinct structures within the basal ganglia of the brain, an area involved in movement regulation, are differentially affected for every disease. Among the most studied movement disorder conditions are Parkinson’s (PD) and Huntington’s disease (HD), in which the deregulation of the movement circuitry due to the loss of specific neuronal populations in basal ganglia is the underlying cause of motor symptoms. These symptoms are due to the loss principally of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra (SN) par compacta and the GABAergic neurons of the striatum in PD and HD, respectively. Although these diseases were described in the 19th century, no effective treatment can slow down, reverse, or stop disease progression. Available pharmacological therapies have been focused on preventing or alleviating motor symptoms to improve the quality of life of patients, but these drugs are not able to mitigate the progressive neurodegeneration. Currently, considerable therapeutic advances have been achieved seeking a more efficacious and durable therapeutic effect. Here, we will focus on the new advances of several therapeutic approaches for PD and HD, starting with the available pharmacological treatments to alleviate the motor symptoms in both diseases. Then, we describe therapeutic strategies that aim to restore specific neuronal populations or their activity. Among the discussed strategies, the use of Neurotrophic factors (NTFs) and genetic approaches to prevent the neuronal loss in these diseases will be described. We will highlight strategies that have been evaluated in both Parkinson’s and Huntington’s patients, and also the ones with strong preclinical evidence. These current therapeutic techniques represent the most promising tools for the safe treatment of both diseases, specifically those aimed to avoid neuronal loss during disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Troncoso-Escudero
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.,Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Center for Geroscience, Brain Health, and Metabolism, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Denisse Sepulveda
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.,Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Center for Geroscience, Brain Health, and Metabolism, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Pérez-Arancibia
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.,Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Center for Geroscience, Brain Health, and Metabolism, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandra V Parra
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.,Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Program of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Center for Geroscience, Brain Health, and Metabolism, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javiera Arcos
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.,Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Center for Geroscience, Brain Health, and Metabolism, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe Grunenwald
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.,Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Center for Geroscience, Brain Health, and Metabolism, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rene L Vidal
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.,Faculty of Medicine, Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Center for Geroscience, Brain Health, and Metabolism, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
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3
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Amidfar M, de Oliveira J, Kucharska E, Budni J, Kim YK. The role of CREB and BDNF in neurobiology and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Life Sci 2020; 257:118020. [PMID: 32603820 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia worldwide. β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) is currently assumed to be the main cause of synaptic dysfunction and cognitive impairments in AD, but the molecular signaling pathways underlying its neurotoxic consequences have not yet been completely explored. Additional investigations regarding these pathways will contribute to development of new therapeutic targets. In context, developing evidence suggest that Aβ decreases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mostly by lowering phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB) protein. In fact, it has been observed that brain or serum levels of BDNF appear to be beneficial markers for cognitive condition. In addition, the participation of transcription mediated by CREB has been widely analyzed in the memory process and AD development. Designing pharmacologic or genetic therapeutic approaches based on the targeting of CREB-BDNF signaling could be a promising treatment potential for AD. In this review, we summarize data demonstrating the role of CREB-BDNF signaling pathway in cognitive status and mediation of Aβ toxicity in AD. Finally, we also focus on the developing intervention methods for improvement of cognitive decline in AD based on targeting of CREB-BDNF pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jade de Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Bioquímica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ewa Kucharska
- Jesuit University Ignatianum in Krakow, Faculty of Education, Institute of Educational Sciences, Poland
| | - Josiane Budni
- Laboratório de Neurologia Experimental, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Yong-Ku Kim
- Departments of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
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4
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Siu M, Sengupta Ghosh A, Lewcock JW. Dual Leucine Zipper Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Neurodegeneration. J Med Chem 2018; 61:8078-8087. [PMID: 29863360 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK, MAP3K12) is an essential driver of the neuronal stress response that regulates neurodegeneration in models of acute neuronal injury and chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS. In this review, we provide an overview of DLK signaling mechanisms and describe selected small molecules that have been utilized to inhibit DLK kinase activity in vivo. These compounds represent valuable tools for understanding the role of DLK signaling and evaluating the potential for DLK inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to prevent neuronal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Siu
- Genentech, Inc. , 1 DNA Way , South San Francisco , California 94080 , United States
| | | | - Joseph W Lewcock
- Denali Therapeutics , 151 Oyster Point Boulevard , South San Francisco , California 94080 , United States
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5
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Ning C, Wang HMD, Gao R, Chang YC, Hu F, Meng X, Huang SY. Marine-derived protein kinase inhibitors for neuroinflammatory diseases. Biomed Eng Online 2018; 17:46. [PMID: 29690896 PMCID: PMC5916827 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-018-0477-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is primarily characterized by overexpression of proinflammatory mediators produced by glial activation or immune cell infiltration. Several kinases have been shown to be critical mediators in neuroinflammation. One of the largest groups of kinases is protein kinases, which have been the second most studied group of drug targets after G-protein-coupled receptors. Thus far, most of the approved kinase inhibitor drugs are adenosine triphosphate-competitive inhibitors with various off-target liabilities because of cross-reactivities; however, marine-derived compounds provide opportunities for discovering allosteric kinase inhibitors. This review summarizes the potential of marine-derived protein kinase inhibitors in the field of neuroinflammatory diseases, such as Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, multiple sclerosis, and pain. The previous studies from 1990 to 2017 in this review have shown that marine-derived protein kinase inhibitors have great potential to elicit anti-neuroinflammatory or neuroprotective responses in in vitro and in vivo models of neuroinflammatory diseases. This suggests that further exploration and investigation of these marine-derived protein kinase inhibitors on neuroinflammatory diseases are warranted. Therefore, this review may inspire further discovery of new protein kinase inhibitors from a marine origin and additional neuroscience studies focusing on these valuable marine-derived protein kinase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Ning
- College of Light Industry, Liaoning University, Shenyang, 110036, China
| | - Hui-Min David Wang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan.,College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, 362000, China
| | - Rong Gao
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Zhejiang, 314006, China.,Jiaxing Deqin Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Zhejiang, 314006, China
| | - Yu-Chia Chang
- Greenhouse Systems Technology Center, Central Region Campus, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Nantou, 540, Taiwan
| | - Fengqing Hu
- College of Light Industry, Liaoning University, Shenyang, 110036, China
| | - Xianjun Meng
- College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.
| | - Shi-Ying Huang
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, 362000, China. .,Fujian Province Key Laboratory for the Development of Bioactive Material from Marine Algae, Quanzhou, 362000, China. .,Key Laboratory of Inshore Resources Biotechnology (Quanzhou Normal University) Fujian Province University, Quanzhou, 362000, China.
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6
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Honeycutt JB, Garcia JV. Humanized mice: models for evaluating NeuroHIV and cure strategies. J Neurovirol 2017; 24:185-191. [PMID: 28831774 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-017-0567-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 07/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
While the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic was initially characterized by a high prevalence of severe and widespread neurological pathologies, the development of better treatments to suppress viremia over years and even decades has mitigated many of the severe neurological pathologies previously observed. Despite effective treatment, mild neurocognitive impairment and premature cognitive aging are observed in HIV-infected individuals, suggesting a changing but ongoing role of HIV infection in the central nervous system (CNS). Although current therapies are effective in suppressing viremia, they are not curative and patients must remain on life-long treatment or risk recrudescence of virus. Important for the development and evaluation of a cure for HIV will be animal models that recapitulate critical aspects of infection in vivo. In the following, we seek to summarize some of the recent developments in humanized mouse models and their usefulness in modeling HIV infection of the CNS and HIV cure strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna B Honeycutt
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for AIDS Research, University of North Carolina (UNC), School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - J Victor Garcia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for AIDS Research, University of North Carolina (UNC), School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Deng P, Anderson JD, Yu AS, Annett G, Fink KD, Nolta JA. Engineered BDNF producing cells as a potential treatment for neurologic disease. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2016; 16:1025-33. [PMID: 27159050 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2016.1183641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been implicated in wide range of neurological diseases and injury. This neurotrophic factor is vital for neuronal health, survival, and synaptic connectivity. Many therapies focus on the restoration or enhancement of BDNF following injury or disease progression. AREAS COVERED The present review will focus on the mechanisms in which BDNF exerts its beneficial functioning, current BDNF therapies, issues and potential solutions for delivery of neurotrophic factors to the central nervous system, and other disease indications that may benefit from overexpression or restoration of BDNF. EXPERT OPINION Due to the role of BDNF in neuronal development, maturation, and health, BDNF is implicated in numerous neurological diseases making it a prime therapeutic agent. Numerous studies have shown the therapeutic potential of BDNF in a number of neurodegenerative disease models and in acute CNS injury, however clinical translation has fallen short due to issues in delivering this molecule. The use of MSC as a delivery platform for BDNF holds great promise for clinical advancement of neurotrophic factor restoration. The ease with which MSC can be engineered opens the door to the possibility of using this cell-based delivery system to advance a BDNF therapy to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Deng
- a Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures , University of California Davis Health Systems , Sacramento , CA , USA.,b Genome Center, MIND Institute, and Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine , University of California , Davis , CA , USA
| | - Johnathon D Anderson
- a Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures , University of California Davis Health Systems , Sacramento , CA , USA
| | - Abigail S Yu
- b Genome Center, MIND Institute, and Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine , University of California , Davis , CA , USA
| | - Geralyn Annett
- a Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures , University of California Davis Health Systems , Sacramento , CA , USA
| | - Kyle D Fink
- a Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures , University of California Davis Health Systems , Sacramento , CA , USA
| | - Jan A Nolta
- a Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures , University of California Davis Health Systems , Sacramento , CA , USA
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8
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Pollock K, Dahlenburg H, Nelson H, Fink KD, Cary W, Hendrix K, Annett G, Torrest A, Deng P, Gutierrez J, Nacey C, Pepper K, Kalomoiris S, D Anderson J, McGee J, Gruenloh W, Fury B, Bauer G, Duffy A, Tempkin T, Wheelock V, Nolta JA. Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Genetically Engineered to Overexpress Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Improve Outcomes in Huntington's Disease Mouse Models. Mol Ther 2016; 24:965-77. [PMID: 26765769 PMCID: PMC4881765 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2016.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal degenerative autosomal dominant neuropsychiatric disease that causes neuronal death and is characterized by progressive striatal and then widespread brain atrophy. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a lead candidate for the treatment of HD, as it has been shown to prevent cell death and to stimulate the growth and migration of new neurons in the brain in transgenic mouse models. BDNF levels are reduced in HD postmortem human brain. Previous studies have shown efficacy of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC)/BDNF using murine MSCs, and the present study used human MSCs to advance the therapeutic potential of the MSC/BDNF platform for clinical application. Double-blinded studies were performed to examine the effects of intrastriatally transplanted human MSC/BDNF on disease progression in two strains of immune-suppressed HD transgenic mice: YAC128 and R6/2. MSC/BDNF treatment decreased striatal atrophy in YAC128 mice. MSC/BDNF treatment also significantly reduced anxiety as measured in the open-field assay. Both MSC and MSC/BDNF treatments induced a significant increase in neurogenesis-like activity in R6/2 mice. MSC/BDNF treatment also increased the mean lifespan of the R6/2 mice. Our genetically modified MSC/BDNF cells set a precedent for stem cell-based neurotherapeutics and could potentially be modified for other neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and some forms of Parkinson's disease. These cells provide a platform delivery system for future studies involving corrective gene-editing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari Pollock
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Heather Dahlenburg
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Haley Nelson
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Kyle D Fink
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Whitney Cary
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Kyle Hendrix
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Geralyn Annett
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Audrey Torrest
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Peter Deng
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Joshua Gutierrez
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Catherine Nacey
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Karen Pepper
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Stefanos Kalomoiris
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Johnathon D Anderson
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Jeannine McGee
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - William Gruenloh
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Brian Fury
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Gerhard Bauer
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Alexandria Duffy
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Theresa Tempkin
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Vicki Wheelock
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Jan A Nolta
- Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures, University of California Davis Health System, Sacramento, California, USA
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9
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Rossignol J, Fink KD, Crane AT, Davis KK, Bombard MC, Clerc S, Bavar AM, Lowrance SA, Song C, Witte S, Lescaudron L, Dunbar GL. Reductions in behavioral deficits and neuropathology in the R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease following transplantation of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells is dependent on passage number. Stem Cell Res Ther 2015; 6:9. [PMID: 25971780 PMCID: PMC4429666 DOI: 10.1186/scrt545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Revised: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/16/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by an expanded CAG repeat (greater than 38) on the short arm of chromosome 4, resulting in loss and dysfunction of neurons in the neostriatum and cortex, leading to cognitive decline, motor dysfunction, and death, typically occurring 15 to 20 years after the onset of motor symptoms. Although an effective treatment for HD has remained elusive, current studies using transplants of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells provides considerable promise. This study further investigates the efficacy of these transplants with a focus on comparing how passage number of these cells may affect subsequent efficacy following transplantation. Methods In this study, mesenchymal stem cells isolated from the bone-marrow of mice (BM MSCs), were labeled with Hoechst after low (3 to 8) or high (40 to 50) numbers of passages and then transplanted intrastriatally into 5-week-old R6/2 mice, which carries the N-terminal fragment of the human HD gene (145 to 155 repeats) and rapidly develops symptoms analogous to the human form of the disease. Results It was observed that the transplanted cells survived and the R6/2 mice displayed significant behavioral and morphological sparing compared to untreated R6/2 mice, with R6/2 mice receiving high passage BM MSCs displaying fewer deficits than those receiving low-passage BM MSCs. These beneficial effects are likely due to trophic support, as an increase in brain derived neurotrophic factor mRNA expression was observed in the striatum following transplantation of BM MSCs. Conclusion The results from this study demonstrate that BM MSCs hold significant therapeutic value for HD, and that the amount of time the cells are exposed to in vitro culture conditions can alter their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Rossignol
- Field Neurosciences Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center, Program in Neuroscience, 1280 East Campus Drive, HP Building Room 2336, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA. .,College of Medicine, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
| | - Kyle D Fink
- Field Neurosciences Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center, Program in Neuroscience, 1280 East Campus Drive, HP Building Room 2336, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA. .,Faculté des Science et des Techniques, Université de Nantes, 44300, Nantes, France. .,INSERM U1064, ITUN, 44093, Nantes, France.
| | - Andrew T Crane
- Field Neurosciences Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center, Program in Neuroscience, 1280 East Campus Drive, HP Building Room 2336, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
| | - Kendra K Davis
- Field Neurosciences Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center, Program in Neuroscience, 1280 East Campus Drive, HP Building Room 2336, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
| | - Matthew C Bombard
- Field Neurosciences Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center, Program in Neuroscience, 1280 East Campus Drive, HP Building Room 2336, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
| | - Steven Clerc
- Field Neurosciences Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center, Program in Neuroscience, 1280 East Campus Drive, HP Building Room 2336, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
| | - Angela M Bavar
- Field Neurosciences Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center, Program in Neuroscience, 1280 East Campus Drive, HP Building Room 2336, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
| | - Steven A Lowrance
- Field Neurosciences Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center, Program in Neuroscience, 1280 East Campus Drive, HP Building Room 2336, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
| | - Cheng Song
- Field Neurosciences Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center, Program in Neuroscience, 1280 East Campus Drive, HP Building Room 2336, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
| | - Steven Witte
- Field Neurosciences Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center, Program in Neuroscience, 1280 East Campus Drive, HP Building Room 2336, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA.
| | - Laurent Lescaudron
- Faculté des Science et des Techniques, Université de Nantes, 44300, Nantes, France. .,INSERM U791, Laboratoire d'Ingenierie Osteo-Articulaire et Dentaire (LIOAD), 44042, Nantes, France.
| | - Gary L Dunbar
- Field Neurosciences Laboratory for Restorative Neurology, Brain Research and Integrative Neuroscience Center, Program in Neuroscience, 1280 East Campus Drive, HP Building Room 2336, Mount Pleasant, MI, 48859, USA. .,Field Neurosciences Institute, Saginaw, MI, 48604, USA.
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10
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Ma DL, Lin S, Leung KH, Zhong HJ, Liu LJ, Chan DSH, Bourdoncle A, Mergny JL, Wang HMD, Leung CH. An oligonucleotide-based label-free luminescent switch-on probe for RNA detection utilizing a G-quadruplex-selective iridium(III) complex. NANOSCALE 2014; 6:8489-8494. [PMID: 24816304 DOI: 10.1039/c4nr00541d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We report herein the synthesis and application of a novel G-quadruplex-selective luminescent iridium(iii) complex for the construction of an oligonucleotide-based, label-free, rapid and convenient luminescent RNA detection platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dik-Lung Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China.
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11
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Steiner JP, Nath A. Neurotrophin strategies for neuroprotection: are they sufficient? J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2014; 9:182-94. [PMID: 24609976 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-014-9533-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
As people are living longer, the prevalance of neurodegenerative diseases continues to rise resulting in huge socio-economic consequences. Despite major advancements in studying the pathophysiology of these diseases and a large number of clinical trials currently there is no effective treatment for these illnesses. All neuroprotective strategies have either failed or have shown only a minimal effect. There has been a major shift in recent years exploring the potential of neuroregenerative approaches. While the concept of using neurotropins for therapeutic purposes has been in existence for many years, new modes of delivery and expression of this family of molecules makes this approach now feasilble. Further neurotropin mimetics and receptor agonists are also being developed. The use of small molecules to induce the expression of neurotropins including repurposing of FDA approved drugs for this approach is another strategy being pursued. In the review we examine these new developments and discuss the potential for such approaches in the context of the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph P Steiner
- NINDS Translational Neuroscience Center, National Institutes of Health, Room 7C-105; Bldg 10, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA,
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12
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Abstract
Changes in the level and activity of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been described in a number of neurodegenerative disorders since early 1990s. However, only in Huntington disease (HD) gain- and loss-of-function experiments have mechanistically linked these abnormalities with the genetic defect.In this chapter we will describe how huntingtin protein, whose mutation causes HD, is involved in the physiological control of BDNF synthesis and transport in neurons and how both processes are simultaneously disrupted in HD. We will describe the underlying molecular mechanisms and discuss pre-clinical data concerning the impact of the experimental manipulation of BDNF levels on HD progression. These studies have revealed that a major loss of BDNF protein in the brain of HD patients may contribute to the clinical manifestations of the disease. The experimental strategies under investigation to increase brain BDNF levels in animal models of HD will also be described, with a view to ultimately improving the clinical treatment of this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Zuccato
- Department of Biosciences and Centre for Stem cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Viotti 3/5, 20133, Milan, Italy,
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13
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Ruan L, Lau BWM, Wang J, Huang L, Zhuge Q, Wang B, Jin K, So KF. Neurogenesis in neurological and psychiatric diseases and brain injury: from bench to bedside. Prog Neurobiol 2013; 115:116-37. [PMID: 24384539 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2013] [Revised: 12/08/2013] [Accepted: 12/12/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Researchers who have uncovered the presence of stem cells in an adult's central nervous system have not only challenged the dogma that new neurons cannot be generated during adulthood, but also shed light on the etiology and disease mechanisms underlying many neurological and psychiatric disorders. Brain trauma, neurodegenerative diseases, and psychiatric disorders pose enormous burdens at both personal and societal levels. Although medications for these disorders are widely used, the treatment mechanisms underlying the illnesses remain largely elusive. In the past decade, an increasing amount of evidence indicate that adult neurogenesis (i.e. generating new CNS neurons during adulthood) may be involved in the pathology of different CNS disorders, and thus neurogenesis may be a potential target area for treatments. Although new neurons were shown to be a major player in mediating treatment efficacy of neurological and psychotropic drugs on cognitive functions, it is still debatable if the altered production of new neurons can cause the disorders. This review hence seeks to discuss pre and current clinical studies that demonstrate the functional impact adult neurogenesis have on neurological and psychiatric illnesses while examining the related underlying disease mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linhui Ruan
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disorder Research, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China; Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA.
| | - Benson Wui-Man Lau
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, PR China
| | - Jixian Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Lijie Huang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disorder Research, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China; Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Qichuan Zhuge
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disorder Research, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Brian Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Kunlin Jin
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Aging and Neurological Disorder Research, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China; Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA.
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; The State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; GMH Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR China.
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Diamanti D, Mori E, Incarnato D, Malusa F, Fondelli C, Magnoni L, Pollio G. Whole gene expression profile in blood reveals multiple pathways deregulation in R6/2 mouse model. Biomark Res 2013; 1:28. [PMID: 24252798 PMCID: PMC4177605 DOI: 10.1186/2050-7771-1-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Huntington Disease (HD) is a progressive neurological disorder, with pathological manifestations in brain areas and in periphery caused by the ubiquitous expression of mutant Huntingtin protein. Transcriptional dysregulation is considered a key molecular mechanism responsible of HD pathogenesis but, although numerous studies investigated mRNA alterations in HD, so far none evaluated a whole gene expression profile in blood of R6/2 mouse model. Findings To discover novel pathogenic mechanisms and potential peripheral biomarkers useful to monitor disease progression or drug efficacy, a microarray study was performed in blood of R6/2 at manifest stage and wild type littermate mice. This approach allowed to propose new peripheral molecular processes involved in HD and to suggest different panels of candidate biomarkers. Among the discovered deregulated processes, we focused on specific ones: complement and coagulation cascades, PPAR signaling, cardiac muscle contraction, and dilated cardiomyopathy pathways. Selected genes derived from these pathways were additionally investigated in other accessible tissues to validate these matrices as source of biomarkers, and in brain, to link central and peripheral disease manifestations. Conclusions Our findings validated the skeletal muscle as suitable source to investigate peripheral transcriptional alterations in HD and supported the hypothesis that immunological alteration may contribute to neurological degeneration. Moreover, the identification of altered signaling in mouse blood enforce R6/2 transgenic mouse as a powerful HD model while suggesting novel disease biomarkers for pre-clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Diamanti
- Siena Biotech S,p,A,, strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo, Siena 35, 53100, Italy.
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Pouladi MA, Brillaud E, Xie Y, Conforti P, Graham RK, Ehrnhoefer DE, Franciosi S, Zhang W, Poucheret P, Compte E, Maurel JC, Zuccato C, Cattaneo E, Néri C, Hayden MR. NP03, a novel low-dose lithium formulation, is neuroprotective in the YAC128 mouse model of Huntington disease. Neurobiol Dis 2012; 48:282-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2012.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2012] [Revised: 06/25/2012] [Accepted: 06/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Conforti P, Camnasio S, Mutti C, Valenza M, Thompson M, Fossale E, Zeitlin S, MacDonald ME, Zuccato C, Cattaneo E. Lack of huntingtin promotes neural stem cells differentiation into glial cells while neurons expressing huntingtin with expanded polyglutamine tracts undergo cell death. Neurobiol Dis 2012; 50:160-70. [PMID: 23089356 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2012.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2012] [Revised: 10/10/2012] [Accepted: 10/13/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects muscle coordination and diminishes cognitive abilities. The genetic basis of the disease is an expansion of CAG repeats in the Huntingtin (Htt) gene. Here we aimed to generate a series of mouse neural stem (NS) cell lines that carried varying numbers of CAG repeats in the mouse Htt gene (Hdh CAG knock-in NS cells) or that had Hdh null alleles (Hdh knock-out NS cells). Towards this end, Hdh CAG knock-in mouse ES cell lines that carried an Htt gene with 20, 50, 111, or 140 CAG repeats or that were Htt null were neuralized and converted into self-renewing NS cells. The resulting NS cell lines were immunopositive for the neural stem cell markers NESTIN, SOX2, and BLBP and had similar proliferative rates and cell cycle distributions. After 14 days in vitro, wild-type NS cells gave rise to cultures composed of 70% MAP2(+) neurons and 30% GFAP(+) astrocytes. In contrast, NS cells with expanded CAG repeats underwent neuronal cell death, with only 38%±15% of the MAP2(+) cells remaining at the end of the differentiation period. Cell death was verified by increased caspase 3/7 activity on day 14 of the neuronal differentiation protocol. Interestingly, Hdh knock-out NS cells treated using the same neuronal differentiation protocol showed a dramatic increase in the number of GFAP(+) cells on day 14 (61%±20% versus 24%±10% in controls), and a massive decrease of MAP2(+) neurons (30%±11% versus 64%±17% in controls). Both Hdh CAG knock-in NS cells and Hdh knock-out NS cells showed reduced levels of Bdnf mRNA during neuronal differentiation, in agreement with data obtained previously in HD mouse models and in post-mortem brain samples from HD patients. We concluded that Hdh CAG knock-in and Hdh knock-out NS cells have potential as tools for investigating the roles of normal and mutant HTT in differentiated neurons and glial cells of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Conforti
- Center for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, 20113 Milan, Italy
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17
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Sontag EM, Lotz GP, Agrawal N, Tran A, Aron R, Yang G, Necula M, Lau A, Finkbeiner S, Glabe C, Marsh JL, Muchowski PJ, Thompson LM. Methylene blue modulates huntingtin aggregation intermediates and is protective in Huntington's disease models. J Neurosci 2012; 32:11109-19. [PMID: 22875942 PMCID: PMC3546821 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0895-12.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2012] [Revised: 06/08/2012] [Accepted: 06/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder with no disease-modifying treatments available. The disease is caused by expansion of a CAG trinucleotide repeat and manifests with progressive motor abnormalities, psychiatric symptoms, and cognitive decline. Expression of an expanded polyglutamine repeat within the Huntingtin (Htt) protein impacts numerous cellular processes, including protein folding and clearance. A hallmark of the disease is the progressive formation of inclusions that represent the culmination of a complex aggregation process. Methylene blue (MB), has been shown to modulate aggregation of amyloidogenic disease proteins. We investigated whether MB could impact mutant Htt-mediated aggregation and neurotoxicity. MB inhibited recombinant protein aggregation in vitro, even when added to preformed oligomers and fibrils. MB also decreased oligomer number and size and decreased accumulation of insoluble mutant Htt in cells. In functional assays, MB increased survival of primary cortical neurons transduced with mutant Htt, reduced neurodegeneration and aggregation in a Drosophila melanogaster model of HD, and reduced disease phenotypes in R6/2 HD modeled mice. Furthermore, MB treatment also promoted an increase in levels of BDNF RNA and protein in vivo. Thus, MB, which is well tolerated and used in humans, has therapeutic potential for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Mitchell Sontag
- Departments of Biological Chemistry
- Psychiatry and Human Behavior
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Gregor P. Lotz
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, California 94158
- Departments of Neurology and
| | | | - Andrew Tran
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Rebecca Aron
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, California 94158
- Departments of Neurology and
| | - Guocheng Yang
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, California 94158
- Departments of Neurology and
| | | | | | - Steven Finkbeiner
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, California 94158
- Departments of Neurology and
- Taube-Koret Center for Huntington's Disease Research, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158
- Medical Scientist Training Program and
- Neuroscience Program, University of California, San Francisco, California 94141, and
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Charles Glabe
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California 92697
| | | | - Paul J. Muchowski
- Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, San Francisco, California 94158
- Departments of Neurology and
- Biochemistry and Biophysics and
- Taube-Koret Center for Huntington's Disease Research, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158
| | - Leslie M. Thompson
- Departments of Biological Chemistry
- Psychiatry and Human Behavior
- Neurobiology and Behavior and
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, California 92697
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Norata GD, Pulakazhi Venu VK, Callegari E, Paloschi V, Catapano AL. Effect of Tie-2 conditional deletion of BDNF on atherosclerosis in the ApoE null mutant mouse. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2012; 1822:927-35. [PMID: 22386878 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2012.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2011] [Revised: 01/26/2012] [Accepted: 02/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The reduced expression (haplodeficiency) of the main brain derived neurotrophic factor receptor, namely TrkB is associated with reduced atherosclerosis, smooth muscle cells accumulation and collagen content in the lesion. These data support the concept that brain derived neurotrophic factor of vascular origin may contribute to atherosclerosis. However, to date, no experimental approach was possible to investigate this issue due to the lethality of brain derived neurotrophic factor null mice. To overcome these limitations, we generated a mouse model with a conditional deletion of brain derived neurotrophic factor in endothelial cells (Tie-2 Cre recombinase) on an atherosclerotic prone background (apolipoprotein E knock out) and investigated the effect of conditional brain derived neurotrophic factor deficiency on atherosclerosis. Despite brain derived neurotrophic factor reduction in the vascular wall, mice with conditional deletion of brain derived neurotrophic factor did not develop larger atherosclerotic lesion compared to controls. Smooth muscle cell content as well as the distribution of total and fibrillar collagen was similar in the atherosclerotic lesions from mice with brain derived neurotrophic factor conditional deficiency compared to controls. Finally an extended gene expression analysis failed to identify pro-atherogenic gene expression patterns among the animal with brain derived neurotrophic factor deficiency. In spite of the reduced brain derived neurotrophic factor expression, similar atherosclerosis development was observed in the brain derived neurotrophic factor conditional deficient mouse compared to controls. These pieces of evidence indicate that endothelial derived-brain derived neurotrophic factor is not a pro-atherogenic factor and would rather suggest to investigate the role of other TrkB activators on atherosclerosis.
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NGF and nitrosative stress in patients with Huntington's disease. J Neurol Sci 2012; 315:133-6. [PMID: 22251933 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2011.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2011] [Revised: 12/20/2011] [Accepted: 12/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder caused by expansion of polyglutamine repeats in the huntingtin gene and characterised by the loss of striatal and cortical neurons. Few studies to date have focussed on peripheral neurotrophic-factor levels in patients with HD. OBJECTIVE To measure plasma NGF levels in Huntington's disease and investigate their correlation with disease intensity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nineteen patients with HD and nineteen age- and sex-matched healthy subjects took part in this cross-sectional study. Plasma levels of NGF, BDNF, GDNF, nitrotyrosine, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured; lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were determined and white blood cell (WBC) counts were evaluated. RESULTS NGF levels were significantly lower, nitrotyrosine levels were higher and LDH activity was greater in HD patients than in healthy subjects. There was no significant difference in MPO levels or WBC counts, whereas the MPO/WBC ratio was considerably higher in HD patients. The data obtained suggested that biochemical and haematological changes correlated with disease severity. CONCLUSION NGF levels are lower in HD patients than in healthy subjects. However, further research is required to confirm the role of NGF in HD.
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20
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Castiglioni V, Onorati M, Rochon C, Cattaneo E. Induced pluripotent stem cell lines from Huntington's disease mice undergo neuronal differentiation while showing alterations in the lysosomal pathway. Neurobiol Dis 2011; 46:30-40. [PMID: 22227000 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2011.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2011] [Revised: 12/13/2011] [Accepted: 12/17/2011] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an excessive expansion of a CAG trinucleotide repeat in the gene encoding the protein huntingtin, resulting in an elongated stretch of glutamines near the N-terminus of the protein. Here we report the derivation of a collection of 11 induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines generated through somatic reprogramming of fibroblasts obtained from the R6/2 transgenic HD mouse line. We show that CAG expansion has no effect on reprogramming efficiency, cell proliferation rate, brain-derived neurotrophic factor level, or neurogenic potential. However, genes involved in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, which is altered in HD, are also affected in HD-iPS cell lines. Furthermore, we found a lysosomal gene upregulation and an increase in lysosome number in HD-iPS cell lines. These observations suggest that iPS cells from HD mice replicate some but not all of the molecular phenotypes typically observed in the disease; additionally, they do not manifest increased cell death propensity either under self-renewal or differentiated conditions. More studies will be necessary to transform a revolutionary technology into a powerful platform for drug screening approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Castiglioni
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Centre for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9-20133 Milano, Italy
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21
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1H NMR based metabolomics of CSF and blood serum: A metabolic profile for a transgenic rat model of Huntington disease. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2011; 1812:1371-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2011.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2011] [Revised: 07/19/2011] [Accepted: 08/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited, relentlessly progressive neurodegenerative disease with an invariably fatal outcome. HD is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, and is characterized pathologically by the loss of cortical and striatal neurons, and clinically by involuntary choreiform movements accompanied by progressive cognitive impairment and emotional lability. The disorder is caused by an expanded cystosine adenine guanine (CAG) tri-nucleotide repeat encoding polyglutamine (polyQ) in the first exon of the Huntingtin gene. There is a correlation between the number of CAG repeats and disease onset, such that in patients with CAG repeat lengths of 36 to 60, disease symptoms typically manifest after 35 years of age, whereas CAG repeat lengths >60 yield the more severe juvenile form of the disease. Even though mutant huntingtin is expressed throughout the brain, it is characterized by the selective degeneration of medium spiny neurons of the caudate and putamen, which heralds more widespread neuronal degeneration with disease progression. The mechanisms of cell dysfunction and death in HD have been the subjects of a number of studies, which have led to therapeutic strategies largely based on the amelioration of mutant huntingtin-related metabolic impairment and cellular toxicity. Each of these approaches has aimed to delay or stop the preferential degeneration of medium spiny neurons early in the disease course. Yet, in later stages of the disease, after cell death has become prominent, cell replacement therapy (whether by direct cell transplantation or by the mobilization of endogenous progenitors) may comprise a stronger potential avenue for therapy. In this review, we will consider recent progress in the transplantation of fetal striatal cells to the HD brain, as well as emerging alternative sources for human striatal progenitor cells. We will then consider the potential application of gene therapy toward the induction of striatal neurogenesis and neuronal recruitment, with an eye toward its potential therapeutic use in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdellatif Benraiss
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY USA
| | - Steven A. Goldman
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642 USA
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Fahnestock M. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor: the link between amyloid-β and memory loss. FUTURE NEUROLOGY 2011. [DOI: 10.2217/fnl.11.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a critical molecule for learning and memory. Brain BDNF levels correlate with cognitive status. BDNF is downregulated in Alzheimer’s disease, in age-related cognitive impairment and in a variety of other neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders exhibiting cognitive deficits. BDNF is downregulated in the Alzheimer’s disease brain by soluble, aggregated amyloid-β, acting via a pathway involving the transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein, which activates BDNF transcript IV. The complete pathway by which BDNF is downregulated is still unclear, and the diagnostic and therapeutic use of BDNF in neurodegenerative disease has not yet been exploited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Fahnestock
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
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24
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Zuccato C, Marullo M, Vitali B, Tarditi A, Mariotti C, Valenza M, Lahiri N, Wild EJ, Sassone J, Ciammola A, Bachoud-Lèvi AC, Tabrizi SJ, Di Donato S, Cattaneo E. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with Huntington's disease. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22966. [PMID: 21857974 PMCID: PMC3155522 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2011] [Accepted: 07/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Reduced Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels have been described in a number of patho-physiological conditions, most notably, in Huntington's disease (HD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Since BDNF is also produced in blood, we have undertaken the measurement of its peripheral levels in the attempt to identify a possible link with HD prognosis and/or its progression. Here we evaluated BDNF level in 398 blood samples including 138 controls, 56 preHD, and 204 HD subjects. We found that BDNF protein levels were not reliably different between groups, whether measured in plasma (52 controls, 26 preHD, 105 HD) or serum (39 controls, 5 preHD, 29 HD). Our experience, and a re-analysis of the literature highlighted that intra-group variability and methodological aspects affect this measurement, especially in serum. We also assessed BDNF mRNA levels in blood samples from 47 controls, 25 preHD, and 70 HD subjects, and found no differences among the groups. We concluded that levels of BDNF in human blood were not informative (mRNA levels or plasma protein level) nor reliable (serum protein levels) as HD biomarkers. We also wish to warn the scientific community in interpreting the significance of changes measured in BDNF protein levels in serum from patients suffering from different conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Zuccato
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Center for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Marullo
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Center for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Vitali
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Center for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessia Tarditi
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Center for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Caterina Mariotti
- Division of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Neurological Institute-IRCCS “Carlo Besta”, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Valenza
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Center for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nayana Lahiri
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
| | - Edward J. Wild
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Sarah J. Tabrizi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stefano Di Donato
- Division of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Neurological Institute-IRCCS “Carlo Besta”, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Cattaneo
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Center for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Gil-Mohapel J, Simpson JM, Ghilan M, Christie BR. Neurogenesis in Huntington's disease: Can studying adult neurogenesis lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies? Brain Res 2011; 1406:84-105. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2011.06.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2011] [Revised: 06/14/2011] [Accepted: 06/15/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Takeda K, Naguro I, Nishitoh H, Matsuzawa A, Ichijo H. Apoptosis signaling kinases: from stress response to health outcomes. Antioxid Redox Signal 2011; 15:719-61. [PMID: 20969480 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2010.3392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Apoptosis is a highly regulated process essential for the development and homeostasis of multicellular organisms. Whereas caspases, a large family of intracellular cysteine proteases, play central roles in the execution of apoptosis, other proapoptotic and antiapoptotic regulators such as the members of the Bcl-2 family are also critically involved in the regulation of apoptosis. A large body of evidence has revealed that a number of protein kinases are among such regulators and regulate cellular sensitivity to various proapoptotic signals at multiple steps in apoptosis. However, recent progress in the analysis of these apoptosis signaling kinases demonstrates that they generally act as crucial regulators of diverse cellular responses to a wide variety of stressors, beyond their roles in apoptosis regulation. In this review, we have cataloged apoptosis signaling kinases involved in cellular stress responses on the basis of their ability to induce apoptosis and discuss their roles in stress responses with particular emphasis on health outcomes upon their dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohsuke Takeda
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Strategic Approach to Drug Discovery and Development in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Global Center of Excellence Program and Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Corporation, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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Battaglia G, Cannella M, Riozzi B, Orobello S, Maat-Schieman ML, Aronica E, Busceti CL, Ciarmiello A, Alberti S, Amico E, Sassone J, Sipione S, Bruno V, Frati L, Nicoletti F, Squitieri F. Early defect of transforming growth factor β1 formation in Huntington's disease. J Cell Mol Med 2011; 15:555-71. [PMID: 20082658 PMCID: PMC3922377 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01011.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A defective expression or activity of neurotrophic factors, such as brain- and glial-derived neurotrophic factors, contributes to neuronal damage in Huntington’s disease (HD). Here, we focused on transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β1), a pleiotropic cytokine with an established role in mechanisms of neuroprotection. Asymptomatic HD patients showed a reduction in TGF-β1 levels in the peripheral blood, which was related to trinucleotide mutation length and glucose hypometabolism in the caudate nucleus. Immunohistochemical analysis in post-mortem brain tissues showed that TGF-β1 was reduced in cortical neurons of asymptomatic and symptomatic HD patients. Both YAC128 and R6/2 HD mutant mice showed a reduced expression of TGF-β1 in the cerebral cortex, localized in neurons, but not in astrocytes. We examined the pharmacological regulation of TGF-β1 formation in asymptomatic R6/2 mice, where blood TGF-β1 levels were also reduced. In these R6/2 mice, both the mGlu2/3 metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist, LY379268, and riluzole failed to increase TGF-β1 formation in the cerebral cortex and corpus striatum, suggesting that a defect in the regulation of TGF-β1 production is associated with HD. Accordingly, reduced TGF-β1 mRNA and protein levels were found in cultured astrocytes transfected with mutated exon 1 of the human huntingtin gene, and in striatal knock-in cell lines expressing full-length huntingtin with an expanded glutamine repeat. Taken together, our data suggest that serum TGF-β1 levels are potential biomarkers of HD development during the asymptomatic phase of the disease, and raise the possibility that strategies aimed at rescuing TGF-β1 levels in the brain may influence the progression of HD.
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McConoughey SJ, Basso M, Niatsetskaya ZV, Sleiman SF, Smirnova NA, Langley BC, Mahishi L, Cooper AJL, Antonyak MA, Cerione RA, Li B, Starkov A, Chaturvedi RK, Beal MF, Coppola G, Geschwind DH, Ryu H, Xia L, Iismaa SE, Pallos J, Pasternack R, Hils M, Fan J, Raymond LA, Marsh JL, Thompson LM, Ratan RR. Inhibition of transglutaminase 2 mitigates transcriptional dysregulation in models of Huntington disease. EMBO Mol Med 2011; 2:349-70. [PMID: 20665636 PMCID: PMC3068019 DOI: 10.1002/emmm.201000084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin protein, Huntington's disease leads to striatal degeneration via the transcriptional dysregulation of a number of genes, including those involved in mitochondrial biogenesis. Here we show that transglutaminase 2, which is upregulated in HD, exacerbates transcriptional dysregulation by acting as a selective corepressor of nuclear genes; transglutaminase 2 interacts directly with histone H3 in the nucleus. In a cellular model of HD, transglutaminase inhibition de-repressed two established regulators of mitochondrial function, PGC-1α and cytochrome c and reversed susceptibility of human HD cells to the mitochondrial toxin, 3-nitroproprionic acid; however, protection mediated by transglutaminase inhibition was not associated with improved mitochondrial bioenergetics. A gene microarray analysis indicated that transglutaminase inhibition normalized expression of not only mitochondrial genes but also 40% of genes that are dysregulated in HD striatal neurons, including chaperone and histone genes. Moreover, transglutaminase inhibition attenuated degeneration in a Drosophila model of HD and protected mouse HD striatal neurons from excitotoxicity. Altogether these findings demonstrate that selective TG inhibition broadly corrects transcriptional dysregulation in HD and defines a novel HDAC-independent epigenetic strategy for treating neurodegeneration.
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Lee BH, Kim YK. BDNF mRNA expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was decreased in depressive patients who had or had not recently attempted suicide. J Affect Disord 2010; 125:369-73. [PMID: 20207421 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2010.01.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2009] [Revised: 01/30/2010] [Accepted: 01/31/2010] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent reports have suggested a pathophysiological role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in major depression and suicide. We evaluate BDNF mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with major depression who had or had not recently attempted suicide. METHODS BDNF mRNA expression was examined in PBMCs of 30 major depressed patients without recent suicide attempts, 30 major depressed patients with recent suicide attempts, and 30 healthy controls. All patients were diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and they were either medication-naïve or medication-free. BDNF mRNA expression was measured using real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS BDNF mRNA expression was significantly decreased in PBMCs of MDD patients, with or without a history of suicide attempts, when compared with healthy controls (Z=-5.233, p<0.001). Suicidal MDD patients had more decrease in BDNF mRNA expression (chi(2)=45.881, df=2, p<0.001). LIMITATIONS The sample size of the present study was relatively small. Although suicidal MDD patients had higher HDRS scores than non-suicidal patients, the comparison of BDNF mRNA between them could not be adjusted for HDRS score. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that the BDNF mRNA expression is reduced in PBMCs of patients with major depression. This alteration of BDNF mRNA expression was noteworthy in recent suicide attempters. Such a decrease in BDNF mRNA might be associated with BDNF decrease in serum or plasma, and might also correspond to a BDNF decline in the brains of MDD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bun-Hee Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Ansan Hospital, 516, Gojan Dong, Ansan City, Kyunggi Province, 425-707 Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Zuccato C, Valenza M, Cattaneo E. Molecular Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutical Targets in Huntington's Disease. Physiol Rev 2010; 90:905-81. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00041.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 626] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the gene encoding for huntingtin protein. A lot has been learned about this disease since its first description in 1872 and the identification of its causative gene and mutation in 1993. We now know that the disease is characterized by several molecular and cellular abnormalities whose precise timing and relative roles in pathogenesis have yet to be understood. HD is triggered by the mutant protein, and both gain-of-function (of the mutant protein) and loss-of-function (of the normal protein) mechanisms are involved. Here we review the data that describe the emergence of the ancient huntingtin gene and of the polyglutamine trait during the last 800 million years of evolution. We focus on the known functions of wild-type huntingtin that are fundamental for the survival and functioning of the brain neurons that predominantly degenerate in HD. We summarize data indicating how the loss of these beneficial activities reduces the ability of these neurons to survive. We also review the different mechanisms by which the mutation in huntingtin causes toxicity. This may arise both from cell-autonomous processes and dysfunction of neuronal circuitries. We then focus on novel therapeutical targets and pathways and on the attractive option to counteract HD at its primary source, i.e., by blocking the production of the mutant protein. Strategies and technologies used to screen for candidate HD biomarkers and their potential application are presented. Furthermore, we discuss the opportunities offered by intracerebral cell transplantation and the likely need for these multiple routes into therapies to converge at some point as, ideally, one would wish to stop the disease process and, at the same time, possibly replace the damaged neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Zuccato
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Centre for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Valenza
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Centre for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Cattaneo
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Centre for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Marullo M, Zuccato C, Mariotti C, Lahiri N, Tabrizi SJ, Di Donato S, Cattaneo E. Expressed Alu repeats as a novel, reliable tool for normalization of real-time quantitative RT-PCR data. Genome Biol 2010; 11:R9. [PMID: 20109193 PMCID: PMC2847721 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2010-11-1-r9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2009] [Revised: 01/05/2010] [Accepted: 01/28/2010] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Expressed Alu repeats are a reliable, accurate and universal reference for use in RT-qPCR normalization of human genes We describe a novel strategy for mRNA normalization in quantitative real-time PCR that is based on expressed Alu repeat amplification as a measure for the mRNA fraction. We show that expressed Alu repeat amplification is a fast, accurate normalization tool that can be successfully used for quantification of selected mRNA in the human transcriptome. This result is particularly important for clinical diagnosis and biomarker validation studies based on mRNA detection in human blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Marullo
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Center for Stem Cell Research, University of Milan, 9 Via Balzaretti, Milan, 20133, Italy.
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Chico LK, Van Eldik LJ, Watterson DM. Targeting protein kinases in central nervous system disorders. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2009; 8:892-909. [PMID: 19876042 PMCID: PMC2825114 DOI: 10.1038/nrd2999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Protein kinases are a growing drug target class in disorders in peripheral tissues, but the development of kinase-targeted therapies for central nervous system (CNS) diseases remains a challenge, largely owing to issues associated specifically with CNS drug discovery. However, several candidate therapeutics that target CNS protein kinases are now in various stages of preclinical and clinical development. We review candidate compounds and discuss selected CNS protein kinases that are emerging as important therapeutic targets. In addition, we analyse trends in small-molecule properties that correlate with key challenges in CNS drug discovery, such as blood-brain barrier penetrance and cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism, and discuss the potential of future approaches that will integrate molecular-fragment expansion with pharmacoinformatics to address these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura K Chico
- Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
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Abstract
Changes in the levels and activities of neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), have been described in a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington disease, Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. It is only in Huntington disease, however, that gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments have linked BDNF mechanistically with the underlying genetic defect. Altogether, these studies have led to the development of experimental strategies aimed at increasing BDNF levels in the brains of animals that have been genetically altered to mimic the aforementioned human diseases, with a view to ultimately influencing the clinical treatment of these conditions. In this article, we will review the current knowledge about the involvement of BDNF in a number of neurodegenerative diseases, with particular emphasis on Huntington disease, and will provide the rationale for and discuss the problems in proposing BDNF treatment as a beneficial and feasible therapeutic approach in the clinic.
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Sassone J, Colciago C, Cislaghi G, Silani V, Ciammola A. Huntington's disease: the current state of research with peripheral tissues. Exp Neurol 2009; 219:385-97. [PMID: 19460373 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2009.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2008] [Revised: 04/30/2009] [Accepted: 05/09/2009] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetically dominant condition caused by expanded CAG repeats. These repeats code for a glutamine tract in the HD gene product huntingtin (htt), which is a protein expressed in almost all tissues. Although most HD symptoms reflect preferential neuronal death in specific brain regions, even before the HD gene was identified numerous reports had described additional abnormalities in the peripheral tissues of HD patients, including weight loss, altered glucose homeostasis, and sub-cellular abnormalities in fibroblasts, lymphocytes and erythrocytes. Several years have elapsed since the HD mutation was discovered, and analyses of peripheral tissues from HD patients have helped to understand the molecular pathogenesis of the disease and revealed that the molecular mechanisms through which mutated htt leads to cell dysfunction are widely shared between central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral tissues. These studies show that in peripheral tissues, mutated htt causes accumulation of intracellular protein aggregates, impairment of energetic metabolism, transcriptional deregulation and hyperactivation of programmed cell-death mechanisms. Here, we review the current knowledge of peripheral tissue alterations in HD patients and in animal models of HD and focus on how this information can be used to identify potential therapeutic possibilities and biomarkers for disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Sassone
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Dino Ferrari Center, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, University of Milan Medical School, via Spagnoletto 3, 20149, Milan, Italy
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Gil JM, Rego AC. The R6 lines of transgenic mice: a model for screening new therapies for Huntington's disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 59:410-31. [PMID: 19118572 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2008.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2008] [Revised: 12/07/2008] [Accepted: 12/09/2008] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the HD gene that results in cortical and striatal degeneration, and mutant huntingtin aggregation. Current treatments are unsatisfactory. R6 transgenic mice replicate many features of the human condition, show early onset of symptoms and fast disease progression, being one of the most used models for therapy screening. Here we review the therapies that have been tested in these mice: environmental enrichment, inhibition of histone deacetylation and methylation, inhibition of misfolding and oligomerization, transglutaminase inhibition, rescue of metabolic impairment, amelioration of the diabetic phenotype, use of antioxidants, inhibition of excitotoxicity, caspase inhibition, transplantation, genetic manipulations, and restoration of neurogenesis. Although many of these treatments were beneficial in R6 mice, they may not be as effective in HD patients, and thus the search for a combination of therapies that will rescue the human condition continues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana M Gil
- Division of Medical Sciences, Island Medical Program, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada.
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