1
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Bergmans S, Noel NCL, Masin L, Harding EG, Krzywańska AM, De Schutter JD, Ayana R, Hu CK, Arckens L, Ruzycki PA, MacDonald RB, Clark BS, Moons L. Age-related dysregulation of the retinal transcriptome in African turquoise killifish. Aging Cell 2024:e14192. [PMID: 38742929 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14192] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Age-related vision loss caused by retinal neurodegenerative pathologies is becoming more prevalent in our ageing society. To understand the physiological and molecular impact of ageing on retinal homeostasis, we used the short-lived African turquoise killifish, a model known to naturally develop central nervous system (CNS) ageing hallmarks and vision loss. Bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) of three age groups (6-, 12-, and 18-week-old) identified transcriptional ageing fingerprints in the killifish retina, unveiling pathways also identified in the aged brain, including oxidative stress, gliosis, and inflammageing. These findings were comparable to observations in the ageing mouse retina. Additionally, transcriptional changes in genes related to retinal diseases, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, were observed. The cellular heterogeneity in the killifish retina was characterized, confirming the presence of all typical vertebrate retinal cell types. Data integration from age-matched samples between the bulk and scRNAseq experiments revealed a loss of cellular specificity in gene expression upon ageing, suggesting potential disruption in transcriptional homeostasis. Differential expression analysis within the identified cell types highlighted the role of glial/immune cells as important stress regulators during ageing. Our work emphasizes the value of the fast-ageing killifish in elucidating molecular signatures in age-associated retinal disease and vision decline. This study contributes to the understanding of how age-related changes in molecular pathways may impact CNS health, providing insights that may inform future therapeutic strategies for age-related pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Bergmans
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Neural Circuit Development & Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nicole C L Noel
- University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Luca Masin
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Neural Circuit Development & Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen G Harding
- John F Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Julie D De Schutter
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Neural Circuit Development & Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rajagopal Ayana
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Section, Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chi-Kuo Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, USA
| | - Lut Arckens
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Section, Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Philip A Ruzycki
- John F Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Ryan B MacDonald
- University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Brian S Clark
- John F Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
- Center of Regenerative Medicine, Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Lieve Moons
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Neural Circuit Development & Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
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2
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Gan QX, Peng MY, Wei HB, Chen LL, Chen XY, Li ZH, An GQ, Ma YT. Gastrodia elata polysaccharide alleviates Parkinson's disease via inhibiting apoptotic and inflammatory signaling pathways and modulating the gut microbiota. Food Funct 2024; 15:2920-2938. [PMID: 38385354 DOI: 10.1039/d3fo05169b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common, chronic, and progressive degenerative disease of the central nervous system for which there is no effective treatment. Gastrodia elata is a well-known food and medicine homologous resource with neuroprotective potential. Gastrodia elata polysaccharide (GEP), which is a highly active and safe component in Gastrodia elata, is an important ingredient in the development of functional products. In this study, GEP was administered to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mice over 3 weeks to investigate its neuroprotective effects. The results showed that GEP significantly alleviated the motor dysfunction of PD mice, inhibited the accumulation of α-synuclein, and reduced the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. Moreover, GEP increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and decreased the cleaved-caspase-3 level, suggesting that GEP may ameliorate PD by preventing MPTP-induced mitochondrial apoptosis. GEP also significantly inhibited the increase of GFAP and decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the brain of PD mice, which may be the result of the inhibition of neuroinflammation by the inactivation of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, the neuroprotective effects of GEP involve the gut-brain axis, as it has been shown that GEP regulated the dysbiosis of PD-related gut microbiota such as Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Faecalibacterium, increased the content of microbial metabolites SCFAs in the colon and increased the level of occludin that repairs the intestinal barrier of PD mice. In conclusion, this study is expected to provide a theoretical basis for the development and application of functional products with GEP from the perspective of neuroprotective effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Xia Gan
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese, Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Mao-Yao Peng
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese, Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Hao-Bo Wei
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese, Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Lin-Lin Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese, Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese, Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Zi-Han Li
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese, Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Guang-Qin An
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese, Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yun-Tong Ma
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese, Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing Technology, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1166, Liutai Road, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, 611137, China
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3
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Bergmans S, Noel NCL, Masin L, Harding EG, Krzywańska AM, De Schutter JD, Ayana R, Hu CK, Arckens L, Ruzycki PA, MacDonald RB, Clark BS, Moons L. Age-related dysregulation of the retinal transcriptome in African turquoise killifish. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.21.581372. [PMID: 38559206 PMCID: PMC10979842 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.21.581372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Age-related vision loss caused by retinal neurodegenerative pathologies is becoming more prevalent in our ageing society. To understand the physiological and molecular impact of ageing on retinal homeostasis, we used the short-lived African turquoise killifish, a model known to naturally develop central nervous system (CNS) ageing hallmarks and vision loss. Bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of three age groups (6-, 12-, and 18-week-old) identified transcriptional ageing fingerprints in the killifish retina, unveiling pathways also identified in the aged brain, including oxidative stress, gliosis, and inflammageing. These findings were comparable to observations in ageing mouse retina. Additionally, transcriptional changes in genes related to retinal diseases, such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, were observed. The cellular heterogeneity in the killifish retina was characterised, confirming the presence of all typical vertebrate retinal cell types. Data integration from age-matched samples between the bulk and scRNA-seq experiments revealed a loss of cellular specificity in gene expression upon ageing, suggesting potential disruption in transcriptional homeostasis. Differential expression analysis within the identified cell types highlighted the role of glial/immune cells as important stress regulators during ageing. Our work emphasises the value of the fast-ageing killifish in elucidating molecular signatures in age-associated retinal disease and vision decline. This study contributes to the understanding of how age-related changes in molecular pathways may impact CNS health, providing insights that may inform future therapeutic strategies for age-related pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Bergmans
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology division, Neural circuit development & regeneration research group, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nicole C L Noel
- University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK, EC1V 9EL
| | - Luca Masin
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology division, Neural circuit development & regeneration research group, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen G Harding
- Washington University School of Medicine, John F Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63110 United States of America
| | | | - Julie D De Schutter
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology division, Neural circuit development & regeneration research group, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rajagopal Ayana
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology section, Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chi-Kuo Hu
- Stony Brook University, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 11790 Stony Brook, United States of America
| | - Lut Arckens
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology section, Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Philip A Ruzycki
- Washington University School of Medicine, John F Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63110 United States of America
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Genetics, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63110 United States of America
| | - Ryan B MacDonald
- University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK, EC1V 9EL
| | - Brian S Clark
- Washington University School of Medicine, John F Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63110 United States of America
- Washington University School of Medicine, Department of Developmental Biology, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63110 United States of America
- Washington University School of Medicine, Center of Regenerative Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, 63110 United States of America
| | - Lieve Moons
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology division, Neural circuit development & regeneration research group, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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4
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Di Fraia D, Marino A, Lee JH, Kelmer Sacramento E, Baumgart M, Bagnoli S, Tomaz da Silva P, Kumar Sahu A, Siano G, Tiessen M, Terzibasi-Tozzini E, Gagneur J, Frydman J, Cellerino A, Ori A. Impaired biogenesis of basic proteins impacts multiple hallmarks of the aging brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.07.20.549210. [PMID: 38260253 PMCID: PMC10802395 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.20.549210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Aging and neurodegeneration entail diverse cellular and molecular hallmarks. Here, we studied the effects of aging on the transcriptome, translatome, and multiple layers of the proteome in the brain of a short-lived killifish. We reveal that aging causes widespread reduction of proteins enriched in basic amino acids that is independent of mRNA regulation, and it is not due to impaired proteasome activity. Instead, we identify a cascade of events where aberrant translation pausing leads to reduced ribosome availability resulting in proteome remodeling independently of transcriptional regulation. Our research uncovers a vulnerable point in the aging brain's biology - the biogenesis of basic DNA/RNA binding proteins. This vulnerability may represent a unifying principle that connects various aging hallmarks, encompassing genome integrity and the biosynthesis of macromolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Di Fraia
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Antonio Marino
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Jae Ho Lee
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Mario Baumgart
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | | | - Pedro Tomaz da Silva
- School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
- Munich Center for Machine Learning, Munich, Germany
| | - Amit Kumar Sahu
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | | | - Max Tiessen
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | | | - Julien Gagneur
- School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
- Computational Health Center, Helmholtz Center Munich, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Judith Frydman
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alessandro Cellerino
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
- BIO@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Ori
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena, Germany
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5
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Borgonovo J, Allende-Castro C, Medinas DB, Cárdenas D, Cuevas MP, Hetz C, Concha ML. Immunohistochemical characterisation of the adult Nothobranchius furzeri intestine. Cell Tissue Res 2024; 395:21-38. [PMID: 38015266 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-023-03845-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Nothobranchius furzeri is emerging as an exciting vertebrate organism in the field of biomedicine, developmental biology and ecotoxicology research. Its short generation time, compressed lifespan and accelerated ageing make it a versatile model for longitudinal studies with high traceability. Although in recent years the use of this model has increased enormously, there is still little information on the anatomy, morphology and histology of its main organs. In this paper, we present a description of the digestive system of N. furzeri, with emphasis on the intestine. We note that the general architecture of the intestinal tissue is shared with other vertebrates, and includes a folding mucosa, an outer muscle layer and a myenteric plexus. By immunohistochemical analysis, we reveal that the mucosa harbours the same type of epithelial cells observed in mammals, including enterocytes, goblet cells and enteroendocrine cells, and that the myenteric neurons express neurotransmitters common to other species, such as serotonin, substance P and tyrosine hydroxylase. In addition, we detect the presence of a proliferative compartment at the base of the intestinal folds. The description of the normal intestinal morphology provided here constitutes a baseline information to contrast with tissue alterations in future lines of research assessing pathologies, ageing-related diseases or damage caused by toxic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Borgonovo
- Integrative Biology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Geroscience, Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camilo Allende-Castro
- Integrative Biology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Geroscience, Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, Chile
| | - Danilo B Medinas
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Geroscience, Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, Chile
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Deyanira Cárdenas
- Integrative Biology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Geroscience, Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, Chile
- Medical Technology School, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Paz Cuevas
- Integrative Biology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Geroscience, Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, Chile
- Medical Technology School, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudio Hetz
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Santiago, Chile
- Center for Geroscience, Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, Chile
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
| | - Miguel L Concha
- Integrative Biology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
- Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Santiago, Chile.
- Center for Geroscience, Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, Chile.
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6
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Bergmans S, Raes L, Moons L, De Groef L. A review on neurodegeneration in the fast-ageing killifish, the first animal model to study the natural occurrence of neuronal cell loss. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 91:102065. [PMID: 37666433 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102065] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Thanks to medical and technological improvements, our world population has become ever-greying. In consequence, the incidence and prevalence of age-related central nervous system neuropathies, such as Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), are increasing tremendously. Despite many research efforts, the precise aetiology of these age-related neurodegenerative disorders remains elusive, highlighting the urgent need for more effective treatments. Current preclinical research mainly uses animal models that do not fully recapitulate the complex cellular context in which these diseases occur, thereby lacking good construct validity. Indeed, most investigations are performed using relatively young animals, thereby ignoring the ageing environment in which neurodegenerative diseases manifest. This points out a major hiatus in current research: a vertebrate model organism that combines the complex disease context (onset, spreading and further manifestation into functional impairment) with an ageing environment. In recent years, the African turquoise killifish has emerged as a promising novel animal model to study age-related neurodegenerative disorders that combines these essential features. In this review, we bundle all reported findings up till now and provide a detailed overview of the neurodegenerative events within the central nervous system of this teleost fish, with a focus on PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Bergmans
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Neural Circuit Development & Regeneration research group, Naamsestraat 61, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Raes
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Cellular Communication & Neurodegeneration research group, Naamsestraat 61, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Neural Circuit Development & Regeneration research group, Naamsestraat 61, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Cellular Communication & Neurodegeneration research group, Naamsestraat 61, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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7
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Bagnoli S, Terzibasi Tozzini E, Cellerino A. Immunofluorescence and Aggresome Staining of Nothobranchius furzeri Cryosections. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2023; 2023:693-697. [PMID: 36878645 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot107791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a hallmark of many age-related pathologies and, in particular, of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The teleost Nothobranchius furzeri shows the shortest median life span among all vertebrate animal models and has recently gained popularity as a convenient model for experimental approaches to aging. Immunofluorescence staining is the primary technique used to visualize the distribution of proteins in fixed cells and tissues and it has proven to be a powerful tool to study aggregates and proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, immunofluorescence staining allows for precise localization of aggregates in specific cell types and can be used to identify the proteins constituting such aggregates. To facilitate the study of aggregate-related pathologies in the context of aging using the new model N. furzeri, we report a protocol to visualize general protein aggregates and specific proteins optimized for N. furzeri brain cryosections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bagnoli
- Laboratory of Biology (BIO@SNS), Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Eva Terzibasi Tozzini
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms Dep. (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121 Napoli, Italy
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8
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de Bakker DEM, Valenzano DR. Turquoise killifish: A natural model of age-dependent brain degeneration. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 90:102019. [PMID: 37482345 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) are naturally short-lived vertebrates that display a wide range of spontaneous age-related changes, including onset of cancer, reduced mobility, and cognitive decline. Here, we focus on describing the phenotypic spectrum of the aging killifish brain. As turquoise killifish age, their dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurons undergo a significant decline in number. Furthermore, brain aging in turquoise killifish is associated with several glial-specific changes, such as an increase in the astrocyte-covered surface area and an increase in the numbers of microglial cells, i.e. the brain-specific macrophage population. Killifish brains undergo age-dependent reduced proteasome activity and increased protein aggregation, including the aggregation of the Parkinson's disease marker α-synuclein. Parallel to brain degeneration, turquoise killifish develop spontaneous age-related gut dysbiosis, which has been proposed to affect human neurodegenerative disease. Finally, aged turquoise killifish display declined learning capacity. We argue that, taken together, the molecular, cellular and functional changes that spontaneously take place during aging in killifish brains are consistent with a robust degenerative process that shares remarkable similarities with human neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, we propose that turquoise killifish represent a powerful model of spontaneous brain degeneration which can be effectively used to explore the causal mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis E M de Bakker
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Dario R Valenzano
- Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745, Jena, Germany.
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9
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Van Houcke J, Mariën V, Zandecki C, Ayana R, Pepermans E, Boonen K, Seuntjens E, Baggerman G, Arckens L. A short dasatinib and quercetin treatment is sufficient to reinstate potent adult neuroregenesis in the aged killifish. NPJ Regen Med 2023; 8:31. [PMID: 37328477 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-023-00304-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The young African turquoise killifish has a high regenerative capacity, but loses it with advancing age, adopting several aspects of the limited form of mammalian regeneration. We deployed a proteomic strategy to identify pathways that underpin the loss of regenerative power caused by aging. Cellular senescence stood out as a potential brake on successful neurorepair. We applied the senolytic cocktail Dasatinib and Quercetin (D + Q) to test clearance of chronic senescent cells from the aged killifish central nervous system (CNS) as well as rebooting the neurogenic output. Our results show that the entire aged killifish telencephalon holds a very high senescent cell burden, including the parenchyma and the neurogenic niches, which could be diminished by a short-term, late-onset D + Q treatment. Reactive proliferation of non-glial progenitors increased substantially and lead to restorative neurogenesis after traumatic brain injury. Our results provide a cellular mechanism for age-related regeneration resilience and a proof-of-concept of a potential therapy to revive the neurogenic potential in an already aged or diseased CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolien Van Houcke
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Valerie Mariën
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Caroline Zandecki
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rajagopal Ayana
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elise Pepermans
- Centre for Proteomics, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Kurt Boonen
- Centre for Proteomics, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Health Unit, VITO, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Eve Seuntjens
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Geert Baggerman
- Centre for Proteomics, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Health Unit, VITO, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Lutgarde Arckens
- Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- KU Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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Bergmans S, Serneels PJ, Masin L, Moons L. Tissue stretching is a confounding factor for the evaluation of neurodegeneration in the fast-ageing killifish. Biogerontology 2023; 24:403-419. [PMID: 36913007 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-023-10026-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
The fast-ageing killifish has gained increasing attention as a promising gerontology model to study age-related processes and neurodegeneration. Interestingly, it is the first vertebrate model organism that shows physiological neuron loss at old age in its central nervous system (CNS), including its brain and retina. However, the fact that the killifish brain and retina are ever-growing tissues complicates studying neurodegenerative events in aged fish. Indeed, recent studies showed that the method of tissue sampling, either using sections or whole-organs, has a large effect on the observed cell densities in the fast-expanding CNS. Here, we elaborated on how these two sampling methods affect neuronal counts in the senescent retina and how this tissue grows upon ageing. Analysis of the different retinal layers in cryosections revealed age-dependent reduction in cellular density but evaluation of whole-mount retinas did not detect any neuron loss, as a result of an extremely fast retinal expansion with age. Using BrdU pulse-chase experiments, we showed that the young adult killifish retina mainly grows by cell addition. However, with increasing age, the neurogenic potency of the retina declines while the tissue keeps on growing. Further histological analyses revealed tissue stretching, including cell size increase, as the main driver of retinal growth at old age. Indeed, both cell size and inter-neuronal distance augment with ageing, thereby decreasing neuronal density. All in all, our findings urge the 'ageing science' community to consider cell quantification bias and employ tissue-wide counting methods to reliably quantify neuronal numbers in this unique gerontology model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Bergmans
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Neural Circuit Development & Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pieter-Jan Serneels
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Neural Circuit Development & Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luca Masin
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Neural Circuit Development & Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Neural Circuit Development & Regeneration Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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Bulavkina EV, Kudryavtsev AA, Goncharova MA, Lantsova MS, Shuvalova AI, Kovalev MA, Kudryavtseva AV. Multifaceted Nothobranchius. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2022; 87:1563-1578. [PMID: 36717447 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922120136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Annual killifish of the genus Nothobranchius are seeing a rapid increase in scientific interest over the years. A variety of aspects surrounding the egg-laying Cyprinodontiformes is being extensively studied, including their aging. Inhabiting drying water bodies of Africa rarely allows survival through more than one rainy season for the Nothobranchius populations. Therefore, there is no lifespan-related bias in natural selection, which has ultimately led to the decreased efficiency of DNA repair system. Aging of the Nothobranchius species is studied both under normal conditions and under the influence of potential geroprotectors, as well as genetic modifications. Most biogerontological studies are conducted using the species Nothobranchius furzeri (GRZ isolate), which has a lifespan of 3 to 7 months. However, the list of model species of Nothobranchius is considerably wider, and the range of advanced research areas with their participation extends far beyond gerontology. This review summarizes the most interesting and promising topics developing in the studies of the fish of Nothobranchius genus. Both classical studies related to lifespan control and rather new ones are discussed, including mechanisms of diapause, challenges of systematics and phylogeny, evolution of sex determination mechanisms, changes in chromosome count, occurrence of multiple repeated DNA sequences in the genome, cognitive and behavioral features and social stratification, as well as methodological difficulties in working with Nothobranchius.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizaveta V Bulavkina
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia.,Laboratory of Postgenomic Research, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Alexander A Kudryavtsev
- Laboratory of Postgenomic Research, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Margarita A Goncharova
- Laboratory of Postgenomic Research, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Margarita S Lantsova
- Laboratory of Postgenomic Research, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Anastasija I Shuvalova
- Laboratory of Postgenomic Research, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Maxim A Kovalev
- Laboratory of Postgenomic Research, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Anna V Kudryavtseva
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia. .,Laboratory of Postgenomic Research, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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McKay A, Costa EK, Chen J, Hu CK, Chen X, Bedbrook CN, Khondker RC, Thielvoldt M, Priya Singh P, Wyss-Coray T, Brunet A. An automated feeding system for the African killifish reveals the impact of diet on lifespan and allows scalable assessment of associative learning. eLife 2022; 11:e69008. [PMID: 36354233 PMCID: PMC9788828 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The African turquoise killifish is an exciting new vertebrate model for aging studies. A significant challenge for any model organism is the control over its diet in space and time. To address this challenge, we created an automated and networked fish feeding system. Our automated feeder is designed to be open-source, easily transferable, and built from widely available components. Compared to manual feeding, our automated system is highly precise and flexible. As a proof of concept for the feeding flexibility of these automated feeders, we define a favorable regimen for growth and fertility for the African killifish and a dietary restriction regimen where both feeding time and quantity are reduced. We show that this dietary restriction regimen extends lifespan in males (but not in females) and impacts the transcriptomes of killifish livers in a sex-specific manner. Moreover, combining our automated feeding system with a video camera, we establish a quantitative associative learning assay to provide an integrative measure of cognitive performance for the killifish. The ability to precisely control food delivery in the killifish opens new areas to assess lifespan and cognitive behavior dynamics and to screen for dietary interventions and drugs in a scalable manner previously impossible with traditional vertebrate model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew McKay
- Department of Genetics, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Biology Graduate Program, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Emma K Costa
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Neurosciences Interdepartmental Program, Stanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
| | - Jingxun Chen
- Department of Genetics, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Chi-Kuo Hu
- Department of Genetics, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Xiaoshan Chen
- Department of Genetics, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Claire N Bedbrook
- Department of Genetics, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Tony Wyss-Coray
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Anne Brunet
- Department of Genetics, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
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