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Afsordeh N, Pournajaf S, Mirnajafi-Zadeh J, Pourgholami MH. The potential of dibenzazepine carboxamides in cancer therapy. Front Pharmacol 2025; 16:1564911. [PMID: 40223925 PMCID: PMC11985771 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1564911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2025] [Accepted: 03/17/2025] [Indexed: 04/15/2025] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with most conventional treatments lacking efficacy and having significant challenges like drug resistance. Finding new molecules is quite challenging in terms of cost, time and setbacks. Hence, drug repurposing is considered sensible for skipping the long process of drug development. Dibenzazepine carboxamides, as traditional anticonvulsants, primarily function by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels, which not only mitigate seizures but also influence mood disorders through modulation of serotonin and dopamine. Recent studies have uncovered their anticancer properties, demonstrated by both in vitro and in vivo experiments. This review comprehensively examines dibenzazepine's pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and clinical applications, focusing on their emerging role in oncology. By highlighting the anticancer mechanisms of action-including apoptosis induction, inhibition of HDAC, Wnt/β-Catenin signaling, and Voltage-gated sodium channels, we suggest further research to fully elucidate their therapeutic potential and application in cancer treatment.
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Zhao S, Chen R, An Y, Zhang Y, Ma C, Gao Y, Lu Y, Yang F, Bai X, Zhang J. Optineurin overexpression ameliorates neurodegeneration through regulating neuroinflammation and mitochondrial quality in a murine model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Aging Neurosci 2025; 17:1522073. [PMID: 39990107 PMCID: PMC11842329 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2025.1522073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2025] [Indexed: 02/25/2025] Open
Abstract
Introduction Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of motor neurons (MNs). Genetic mutations in Optineurin (OPTN) and Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) have been identified as causal factors for ALS. OPTN immunopositive inclusions have been confirmed in the cases of ALS with SOD1 mutations. However, the role of the OPTN gene in ALS caused by SOD1 mutations is ambiguous. Methods The murine Optn lentivirus and empty vector lentivirus were injected into SOD1 G93A mice after discovering variations in Optn expression over time. The phenotype onset date, life span, locomotor activity, and pathological changes in the spinal cord were determined and recorded subsequently. In addition, the influences on cellular apoptosis, mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, and neuroinflammation were further investigated. Results Optn expression was increased in the spinal cord of SOD1 G93A mice at the pre-symptomatic phase, but decreased after disease onset. Optn overexpression led to a 9.7% delay in the onset of disease and improved motor performance in SOD1 G93A mice. Optn overexpression also ameliorated the MNs loss by 46.8%. Moreover, all these ameliorating effects induced by Optn overexpression might be due to the inhibition of cellular apoptosis, improvement of mitochondrial quality, regulation of mitochondrial dynamics, promotion of mitophagy, and anti-inflammatory properties. Conclusion Our data demonstrate that Optn overexpression protects MNs, inhibites cellular apoptosis, improves mitochondrial quality and regulates neuroinflamation in SOD1 G93A mice at the pre-symptomatic stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumin Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
| | - Ranran Chen
- Department of Neurology, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
| | - Yi An
- Department of Neurology, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
| | - Cheng Ma
- Medical Research Center, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
| | - Ying Gao
- Department of Neurology, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
| | - Yanchao Lu
- Department of Neurology, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
| | - Fei Yang
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
- Intensive Care Unit, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
| | - Xue Bai
- Department of Neurology, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
- Medical Research Center, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
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Hong Z, Yi S, Deng M, Zhong Y, Zhao Y, Li L, Zhou H, Xiao Y, Hu X, Niu L. Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Modifies Disease Progression in SOD1G93A Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ULTRASONICS, FERROELECTRICS, AND FREQUENCY CONTROL 2025; 72:191-201. [PMID: 40030850 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2024.3525143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2025]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressively worsening neurodegenerative condition with very few treatment options available. Ultrasound neuromodulation offers promising benefits for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of ultrasound neuromodulation on ALS remain unclear. A head-mounted ultrasound neuromodulation system was developed to noninvasively stimulate the motor cortex of symptomatic mice carrying the G93A human SOD1 mutation (SOD $1^{\text {G93A}}$ ) for four weeks. Motor performance was assessed through the rotarod locomotor test, grip strength test, and open field test. In addition, the effect of ultrasound stimulation on the elastic modulus of gastrocnemius muscle atrophy was measured using real-time shear wave elastography (SWE). Subsequently, the brain tissues of the mice were harvested. Gastrocnemius morphology was examined using hematoxylin-eosin and Gomori aldehyde-fuchsin (GAF) staining. The number of neurons and the phenotype of microglia in the motor cortex were observed by immunohistochemical analysis. Ultrasound therapy delayed disease onset by 10.7% and increased the lifespan by 6.7% in SOD $1^{\text {G93A}}$ mice by reduction of neuronal loss and enhancement of M2 microglia in the motor cortex. Furthermore, we found significant improvements in motor function for ultrasound-treated mice. More importantly, ultrasound stimulation ameliorated gastrocnemius muscle atrophy in the SOD $1^{\text {G93A}}$ mice. These results revealed the neuroprotective effects of ultrasound against the disease pathogenesis of SOD $1^{\text {G93A}}$ mice. Transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation provides an innovative tool for the intervention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Mohan M, Mannan A, Nauriyal A, Singh TG. Emerging targets in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): The promise of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter modulation. Behav Brain Res 2025; 476:115242. [PMID: 39243983 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115242] [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: 08/13/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative primarily affecting motor neurons, leading to disability and neuronal death, and ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporter due to their role in drug efflux and modulation of various cellular pathways contributes to the pathogenesis of ALS. In this article, we extensively investigated various molecular and mechanistic pathways linking ALS transporter to the pathogenesis of ALS; this involves inflammatory pathways such as Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK), Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase/Protein Kinase B (PI3K/Akt), Toll-Like Receptor (TLR), Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β (GSK-3β), Nuclear Factor Kappa-B (NF-κB), and Cyclooxygenase (COX). Oxidative pathways such as Astrocytes, Glutamate, Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), Sirtuin 1 (SIRT-1), Forkhead box protein O (FOXO), Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Additionally, we delve into the role of autophagic pathways like TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and lastly, the apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, by understanding these intricate interactions, we aim to develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting ABC transporters, improving drug delivery, and ultimately offering a promising avenue for treating ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maneesh Mohan
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, 140401, Punjab, India
| | - Ashi Mannan
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, 140401, Punjab, India
| | - Aayush Nauriyal
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, 140401, Punjab, India
| | - Thakur Gurjeet Singh
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Rajpura, 140401, Punjab, India.
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Shaykevich A, Chae D, Silverman I, Bassali J, Louloueian N, Siegman A, Bandyopadhyaya G, Goel S, Maitra R. Impact of carbamazepine on SMARCA4 (BRG1) expression in colorectal cancer: modulation by KRAS mutation status. Invest New Drugs 2024; 42:229-239. [PMID: 38446332 PMCID: PMC10944448 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-024-01418-2] [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: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
SMARCA4 is a gene traditionally considered a tumor suppressor. Recent research has however found that SMARCA4 likely promotes cancer growth and is a good target for cancer treatment. The drug carbamazepine, an autophagy inducer, was used on colorectal cancer cell lines, HCT1116 and Hke3 (KRAS mutant and wildtype). Our study finds that Carbamazepine affects SMARCA4 levels and that this effect is different depending on the KRAS mutation status. This study analyzes the effect of carbamazepine on early-stage autophagy via ULK1 as well as simulates the docking of carbamazepine on KRAS, depending on the mutation status. Our study highlights the therapeutic uses of carbamazepine on cancer, and we propose that carbamazepine in conjunction with other chemotherapies may prove useful in targeting KRAS-mutated colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Shaykevich
- Department of Biology, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, 10033, USA
| | - Danbee Chae
- Department of Biology, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, 10033, USA
| | - Isaac Silverman
- Department of Biology, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, 10033, USA
| | - Jeremy Bassali
- Department of Biology, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, 10033, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sanjay Goel
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Radhashree Maitra
- Department of Biology, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, 10033, USA.
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Huo D, Liang W, Wang D, Liu Q, Wang H, Wang Y, Zhang C, Cong C, Su X, Tan X, Zhang W, Han L, Zhang D, Wang M, Feng H. Roflupram alleviates autophagy defects and reduces mutant hSOD1-induced motor neuron damage in cell and mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuropharmacology 2024; 247:109812. [PMID: 38218579 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109812] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal and incurable disease involving motor neuron (MN) degeneration and is characterized by ongoing myasthenia and amyotrophia in adults. Most ALS patients die of respiratory muscle paralysis after an average of 3-5 years. Defective autophagy in MNs is considered an important trigger of ALS pathogenesis. Roflupram (ROF) was demonstrated to activate autophagy in microglial cells and exert protective effects against Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, our research aimed to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of ROF in treating ALS both in vivo and in vitro. We found that ROF could delay disease onset and prolong the survival of hSOD1-G93A transgenic mice. Moreover, ROF protected MNs in the anterior horn of the spinal cord, activated the AMPK/ULK1 signaling pathway, increased autophagic flow, and reduced SOD1 aggregation. In an NSC34 cell line stably transfected with hSOD1-G93A, ROF protected against cellular damage caused by hSOD1-G93A. Moreover, we have demonstrated that ROF inhibited gliosis in ALS model mice. Collectively, our study suggested that ROF is neuroprotective in ALS models and the AMPK/ULK1 signaling pathway is a potential therapeutic target in ALS, which increases autophagic flow and reduces SOD1 aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Huo
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Weiwei Liang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Di Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Qiaochu Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Hongyong Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Chunting Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei City, Anhui Province, PR China
| | - Chaohua Cong
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai No. 9 People's Hospital, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Xiaoli Su
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Xingli Tan
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Wenmo Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Ling Han
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Ming Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China
| | - Honglin Feng
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, PR China.
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Cunha-Oliveira T, Montezinho L, Simões RF, Carvalho M, Ferreiro E, Silva FSG. Mitochondria: A Promising Convergent Target for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2024; 13:248. [PMID: 38334639 PMCID: PMC10854804 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons, for which current treatment options are limited. Recent studies have shed light on the role of mitochondria in ALS pathogenesis, making them an attractive therapeutic intervention target. This review contains a very comprehensive critical description of the involvement of mitochondria and mitochondria-mediated mechanisms in ALS. The review covers several key areas related to mitochondria in ALS, including impaired mitochondrial function, mitochondrial bioenergetics, reactive oxygen species, metabolic processes and energy metabolism, mitochondrial dynamics, turnover, autophagy and mitophagy, impaired mitochondrial transport, and apoptosis. This review also highlights preclinical and clinical studies that have investigated various mitochondria-targeted therapies for ALS treatment. These include strategies to improve mitochondrial function, such as the use of dichloroacetate, ketogenic and high-fat diets, acetyl-carnitine, and mitochondria-targeted antioxidants. Additionally, antiapoptotic agents, like the mPTP-targeting agents minocycline and rasagiline, are discussed. The paper aims to contribute to the identification of effective mitochondria-targeted therapies for ALS treatment by synthesizing the current understanding of the role of mitochondria in ALS pathogenesis and reviewing potential convergent therapeutic interventions. The complex interplay between mitochondria and the pathogenic mechanisms of ALS holds promise for the development of novel treatment strategies to combat this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Cunha-Oliveira
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Liliana Montezinho
- Center for Investigation Vasco da Gama (CIVG), Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - Rui F. Simões
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marcelo Carvalho
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Ferreiro
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Filomena S. G. Silva
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Mitotag Lda, Biocant Park, 3060-197 Cantanhede, Portugal
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Zhao S, Chen R, Gao Y, Lu Y, Bai X, Zhang J. Fundamental roles of the Optineurin gene in the molecular pathology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1319706. [PMID: 38178841 PMCID: PMC10764443 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1319706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons (MNs) in the brain and spinal cord. It is caused by multiple factors, including mutations in any one of several specific genes. Optineurin (OPTN) mutation is an essential cause of some familial and sporadic ALS. Besides, as a multifunctional protein, OPTN is highly expressed and conserved in the central nervous system. OPTN exerts its functions by interacting with various proteins, often acting as an adaptor to provide a link between two or more core proteins related to autophagy and inflammation, etc. OPTN mutation mainly results in its function deficiency, which alters these interactions, leading to functional impairment in many processes. Meanwhile, OPTN immunopositive inclusions are also confirmed in the cases of ALS due to C9ORF72, FUS, TARDBP, and SOD1 mutations. Therefore, OPTN gene may play fundamental roles in the molecular pathology of ALS in addition to OPTN mutation. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the ALS pathology of OPTN defect, such as mitophagy disorder, neuroinflammation, neuronal axonal degeneration, vesicular transport dysfunction, etc., which will provide a reference for research on the pathogenesis and treatment of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumin Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Center, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
| | - Ranran Chen
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Center, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
| | - Ying Gao
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Center, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
| | - Yanchao Lu
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Center, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
| | - Xue Bai
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Center, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Medical Research Center, Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
- Chifeng Clinical Medical College of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Chifeng, China
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Yang Y, Yuan R, Lu Y, Zhu C, Zhang C, Lue H, Zhang X. The engagement of autophagy in maniac disease. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:3684-3692. [PMID: 37438945 PMCID: PMC10651947 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14353] [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: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Mania is a prevalent psychiatric disorder with undefined pathological mechanism. Here, we reviewed current knowledge indicating the potential involvement of autophagy dysregulation in mania and further discussed whether targeting autophagy could be a promising strategy for mania therapy. DISCUSSIONS Accumulating evidence indicated the involvement of autophagy in the pathology of mania. One of the most well-accepted mechanisms underlying mania, circadian dysregulation, showed mutual interaction with autophagy dysfunction. In addition, several first-line drugs for mania therapy were found to regulate neuronal autophagy. Besides, deficiencies in mitochondrial quality control, neurotransmission, and ion channel, which showed causal links to mania, were intimately associated with autophagy dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS Although more efforts should be made to either identify the key pathology of mania, the current evidence supported that autophagy dysregulation may act as a possible mechanism involved in the onset of mania-like symptoms. It is therefore a potential strategy to treat manic disorder by correting autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidong Yang
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Renxiang Yuan
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yangyang Lu
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Chenze Zhu
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Chen Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Haifeng Lue
- School of PharmacyHangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouChina
| | - Xiangnan Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang UniversityJinhuaChina
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Liu W, Zhu SO, Guo YL, Tu LF, Zhen YQ, Zhao RY, Ou-Yang L, Kurihara H, He RR, Liu B. BL-918, a small-molecule activator of ULK1, induces cytoprotective autophagy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis therapy. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2023; 44:524-537. [PMID: 36042292 PMCID: PMC9958028 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-022-00972-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one of the most common fatal neurodegenerative diseases in adults. ALS pathogenesis is associated with toxic SOD1 aggregates generated by mutant SOD1. Since autophagy is responsible for the clearance of toxic protein aggregates including SOD1 aggregates, autophagy induction has been considered as a potential strategy for treating ALS. Autophagic signaling is initiated by unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) complex. We previously identified that BL-918 as a specific ULK1 activator, which exerted cytoprotective effect against Parkinson's disease in vitro and in vivo. In this study we investigated whether BL-918 exerted a therapeutic effect against ALS, and characterized its pharmacokinetic profile in rats. In hSODG93A-NSC34 cells, treatment with BL-918 (5, 10 μM) dose-dependently induced ULK1-dependent autophagy, and eliminated toxic SOD1 aggregates. In SODG93A mice, administration of BL-918 (40, 80 mg/kg, b.i.d., i.g.) dose-dependently prolonged lifespan and improved the motor function, and enhanced the clearance of SOD1 aggregates in spinal cord and cerebral cortex through inducing autophagy. In the pharmacokinetic study conducted in rats, we found BL-918 and its 2 metabolites (M8 and M10) present in spinal cord and brain; after intragastric and intravenous administration, BL-918 reached the highest blood concentration compared to M8 and M10. Collectively, ULK1 activator BL-918 displays a therapeutic potential on ALS through inducing cytoprotective autophagy. This study provides a further clue for autophagic dysfunction in ALS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Shi-Ou Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yu-Lin Guo
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Long-Fang Tu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yong-Qi Zhen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Rong-Yan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Liang Ou-Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Hiroshi Kurihara
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Rong-Rong He
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Nishimune H, Stanford KG, Chen J, Odum JD, Rorie AD, Rogers RS, Wheatley JL, Geiger PC, Stanford JA. Forelimb Resistance Exercise Protects Against Neuromuscular Junction Denervation in the SOD1-G93A Rat Model of ALS. Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis 2022; 12:145-155. [PMID: 36444378 PMCID: PMC9700444 DOI: 10.2147/dnnd.s388455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The symptoms of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) include muscle weakness and eventual paralysis. These symptoms result from denervation of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and motor neuron cell death in the brain and spinal cord. Due to the "dying back" pattern of motor neuron degeneration, protecting NMJs should be a therapeutic priority. Although exercise has the potential to protect against NMJ denervation, its use in ALS has been controversial. Most preclinical studies have focused on aerobic exercise, which report that exercise can be beneficial at moderate intensities. The effects of resistance exercise on NMJ preservation in limb muscles have not been explored. METHODS We trained male SOD1-G93A rats, which model ALS, to perform a unilateral isometric forelimb resistance exercise task. This task allows within-animal comparisons of trained and untrained forelimbs. We then determined the effects of isometric resistance exercise on NMJ denervation and AMP kinase (AMPK) activation in forelimb muscles. RESULTS Our results revealed that SOD1-G93A rats were able to learn and perform the task similarly to wildtype rats, even after loss of body weight. SOD1-G93A rats exhibited significantly greater NMJ innervation in their trained vs their untrained forelimb biceps muscles. Measures of activated (phosphorylated) AMPK (pAMPK) were also greater in the trained vs untrained forelimb triceps muscles. DISCUSSION These results demonstrate that isometric resistance exercise may protect against NMJ denervation in ALS. Future studies are required to determine the extent to which our findings generalize to female SOD1-G93A rats and to other subtypes of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Nishimune
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Neurobiology of Aging, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kimberly G Stanford
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - James D Odum
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Alexander D Rorie
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Robert S Rogers
- Departments of Physiology and Basic Sciences, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Joplin, MO, USA
| | - Joshua L Wheatley
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Paige C Geiger
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - John A Stanford
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
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12
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Zhou Q, He L, Hu J, Gao Y, Shen D, Ni Y, Qin Y, Liang H, Liu J, Le W, Chen S. Increased expression of coronin-1a in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target. Front Med 2022; 16:723-735. [PMID: 35648369 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-021-0905-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease. At present, no definite ALS biomarkers are available. In this study, exosomes from the plasma of patients with ALS and healthy controls were extracted, and differentially expressed exosomal proteins were compared. Among them, the expression of exosomal coronin-1a (CORO1A) was 5.3-fold higher than that in the controls. CORO1A increased with disease progression at a certain proportion in the plasma of patients with ALS and in the spinal cord of ALS mice. CORO1A was also overexpressed in NSC-34 motor neuron-like cells, and apoptosis, oxidative stress, and autophagic protein expression were evaluated. CORO1A overexpression resulted in increased apoptosis and oxidative stress, overactivated autophagy, and hindered the formation of autolysosomes. Moreover, CORO1A activated Ca2+-dependent phosphatase calcineurin, thereby blocking the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes. The inhibition of calcineurin activation by cyclosporin A reversed the damaged autolysosomes. In conclusion, the role of CORO1A in ALS pathogenesis was discovered, potentially affecting the disease onset and progression by blocking autophagic flux. Therefore, CORO1A might be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinming Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Lu He
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jin Hu
- Department of Neurology, the First Hospital of Jiaxing & the Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314000, China
| | - Yining Gao
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Dingding Shen
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226007, China
| | - You Ni
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yuening Qin
- Department of Dermatology, The People's Hospital of Rushan, Weihai, 264500, China
| | - Huafeng Liang
- Department of Neurology, Xinrui Hospital, Wuxi, 214000, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Weidong Le
- Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences-Sichuan Provincial Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, China.
| | - Sheng Chen
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226007, China.
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13
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Ichikawa R, Masuda S, Nakahara J, Kobayashi M, Yamashita R, Uomoto S, Kanami O, Hara E, Ito Y, Shibutani M, Yoshida T. Inhibition of autophagy with expression of NADPH oxidase subunit p22phox in preneoplastic lesions in a high-fat diet and streptozotocin-related hepatocarcinogenesis rat model. J Toxicol Sci 2022; 47:289-300. [PMID: 35786680 DOI: 10.2131/jts.47.289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
To study the effects of autophagy inducer carbamazepine (CBZ) in a high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-related early hepatocarcinogenesis model, we determined autophagic flux by immunohistochemical analysis of autophagy marker expression in preneoplastic liver foci and compared that with the expression of the NADPH oxidase subunit. Male F344 rats were fed a basal diet or HFD and subjected to two-stage hepatocarcinogenesis; diabetes mellitus was induced via STZ administration. Several STZ-treated, HFD-fed rats were administered CBZ (a total of five doses every one or two days) at week 7 and 8. STZ-treated, HFD-fed rats decreased β cells in the islet of Langerhans and increased adipophilin-positive lipid droplets in the liver; moreover, they had a larger area of glutathione S-transferase placental form-immunopositive preneoplastic liver foci, which was associated with inhibition of autophagy and induction of the NADPH oxidase subunit, as demonstrated by increased immunohistochemical expression of an autophagosome receptor marker microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-binding protein p62, and of an NADPH oxidase subunit p22phox in the preneoplastic foci. An increased trend of an autophagy phagophore marker LC3 in preneoplastic foci was also detected. CBZ administration could induce autophagy and impair p22phox expression, as shown by altered expression of autophagy regulators (Atg5, Atg6, Lamp1, Lamp2, and Lc3), NADPH oxidase subunits (P22phox and P67phox), and antioxidant enzymes Gpx1 and Gpx2. These results suggest that inhibition of autophagy and induction of p22phox might contribute to HFD/STZ-related early hepatocarcinogenesis in rats; however, the effects of CBZ administration on the STZ/HFD-increased preneoplastic foci were marginal in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Ichikawa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
| | - Sosuke Masuda
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
| | - Junta Nakahara
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
| | - Mio Kobayashi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.,Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
| | - Risako Yamashita
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
| | - Suzuka Uomoto
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
| | - Ohshima Kanami
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
| | - Erika Hara
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
| | - Yuko Ito
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.,Pathogenetic Veterinary Science, United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University
| | - Makoto Shibutani
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.,Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
| | - Toshinori Yoshida
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology.,Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
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14
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Liu W, Wang G, Wang Z, Wang G, Huang J, Liu B. Repurposing small-molecule drugs for modulating toxic protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:1994-2007. [PMID: 35395400 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are often age-related disorders that can cause dementia in people, usually over 65 years old, are still lacking effective therapies. Some NDs have recently been linked to toxic protein aggregates, for example Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington disease; therefore, mulating toxic protein aggregates would be a promising therapeutic strategy. Moreover, drug repurposing, in other words exploiting drugs that are already in use for another indication, has been attracting mounting attention for potential therapeutic purposes in NDs. Thus, in this review, we focus on summarizing a series of repurposed small-molecule drugs for eliminating or inhibiting toxic protein aggregates and further discuss their intricate molecular mechanisms to improve the current ND treatment. Taken together, these findings will shed new light on exploiting more repurposed small-molecule drugs targeting different types of toxic proteins to fight NDs in the future. Teaser: Drug repurposing has been gaining attention to yield therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and Precision Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Gang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and Precision Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhiwen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and Precision Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Guan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and Precision Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | | | - Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and Precision Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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15
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Bottero V, Santiago JA, Quinn JP, Potashkin JA. Key Disease Mechanisms Linked to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Spinal Cord Motor Neurons. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:825031. [PMID: 35370543 PMCID: PMC8965442 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.825031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with no modifying treatments available. The molecular mechanisms underpinning disease pathogenesis are not fully understood. Recent studies have employed co-expression networks to identify key genes, known as “switch genes”, responsible for dramatic transcriptional changes in the blood of ALS patients. In this study, we directly investigate the root cause of ALS by examining the changes in gene expression in motor neurons that degenerate in patients. Co-expression networks identified in ALS patients’ spinal cord motor neurons revealed 610 switch genes in seven independent microarrays. Switch genes were enriched in several pathways, including viral carcinogenesis, PI3K-Akt, focal adhesion, proteoglycans in cancer, colorectal cancer, and thyroid hormone signaling. Transcription factors ELK1 and GATA2 were identified as key master regulators of the switch genes. Protein-chemical network analysis identified valproic acid, cyclosporine, estradiol, acetaminophen, quercetin, and carbamazepine as potential therapeutics for ALS. Furthermore, the chemical analysis identified metals and organic compounds including, arsenic, copper, nickel, and benzo(a)pyrene as possible mediators of neurodegeneration. The identification of switch genes provides insights into previously unknown biological pathways associated with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Bottero
- Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Therapeutics, Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, North Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | | | - Judith A. Potashkin
- Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Therapeutics, Discipline of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, North Chicago, IL, United States
- *Correspondence: Judy A. Potashkin
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16
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Vasconcelos-Ferreira A, Carmo-Silva S, Codêsso JM, Silva P, Martinez ARM, França MC, Nóbrega C, Pereira de Almeida L. The autophagy-enhancing drug carbamazepine improves neuropathology and motor impairment in mouse models of Machado-Joseph disease. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2021; 48:e12763. [PMID: 34432315 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), is the most common autosomal dominantly-inherited ataxia worldwide and is characterised by the accumulation of mutant ataxin-3 (mutATXN3) in different brain regions, leading to neurodegeneration. Currently, there are no available treatments able to block disease progression. In this study, we investigated whether carbamazepine (CBZ) would activate autophagy and mitigate MJD pathology. METHODS The autophagy-enhancing activity of CBZ and its effects on clearance of mutATXN3 were evaluated using in vitro and in vivo models of MJD. To investigate the optimal treatment regimen, a daily or intermittent CBZ administration was applied to MJD transgenic mice expressing a truncated human ATXN3 with 69 glutamine repeats. Motor behaviour tests and immunohistology was performed to access the alleviation of MJD-associated motor deficits and neuropathology. A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the CBZ effect in MJD patients. RESULTS We found that CBZ promoted the activation of autophagy and the degradation of mutATXN3 in MJD models upon short or intermittent, but not daily prolonged, treatment regimens. CBZ up-regulated autophagy through activation of AMPK, which was dependent on the myo-inositol levels. In addition, intermittent CBZ treatment improved motor performance, as well as prevented neuropathology in MJD transgenic mice. However, in patients, no evident differences in SARA scale were found, which was not unexpected given the small number of patients included in the study. CONCLUSIONS Our data support the autophagy-enhancing activity of CBZ in the brain and suggest this pharmacological approach as a promising therapy for MJD and other polyglutamine disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Vasconcelos-Ferreira
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sara Carmo-Silva
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - José Miguel Codêsso
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Patrick Silva
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | | | - Clévio Nóbrega
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luís Pereira de Almeida
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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17
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Xu X, Shen D, Gao Y, Zhou Q, Ni Y, Meng H, Shi H, Le W, Chen S, Chen S. A perspective on therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: can disease progression be curbed? Transl Neurodegener 2021; 10:29. [PMID: 34372914 PMCID: PMC8353789 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-021-00250-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease involving both upper and lower motor neurons, leading to paralysis and eventually death. Symptomatic treatments such as inhibition of salivation, alleviation of muscle cramps, and relief of spasticity and pain still play an important role in enhancing the quality of life. To date, riluzole and edaravone are the only two drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of ALS in a few countries. While there is adequate consensus on the modest efficacy of riluzole, there are still open questions concerning the efficacy of edaravone in slowing the disease progression. Therefore, identification of novel therapeutic strategies is urgently needed. Impaired autophagic process plays a critical role in ALS pathogenesis. In this review, we focus on therapies modulating autophagy in the context of ALS. Furthermore, stem cell therapies, gene therapies, and newly-developed biomaterials have great potentials in alleviating neurodegeneration, which might halt the disease progression. In this review, we will summarize the current and prospective therapies for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojiao Xu
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China.,Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences-Sichuan Provincial Hospital, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Dingding Shen
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200020, China
| | - Yining Gao
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200020, China
| | - Qinming Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200020, China
| | - You Ni
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200020, China
| | - Huanyu Meng
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200020, China
| | - Hongqin Shi
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200020, China.,Department of Neurology, Xinrui Hospital, Wuxi, 214028, China
| | - Weidong Le
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China. .,Institute of Neurology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences-Sichuan Provincial Hospital, Chengdu, 610031, China. .,Center for Clinical Research on Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116021, China.
| | - Shengdi Chen
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200020, China.
| | - Sheng Chen
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200020, China.
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18
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Xu F, Tautenhahn HM, Dirsch O, Dahmen U. Modulation of Autophagy: A Novel "Rejuvenation" Strategy for the Aging Liver. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:6611126. [PMID: 33628363 PMCID: PMC7889356 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6611126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aging is a natural life process which leads to a gradual decline of essential physiological processes. For the liver, it leads to alterations in histomorphology (steatosis and fibrosis) and function (protein synthesis and energy generation) and affects central hepatocellular processes (autophagy, mitochondrial respiration, and hepatocyte proliferation). These alterations do not only impair the metabolic capacity of the liver but also represent important factors in the pathogenesis of malignant liver disease. Autophagy is a recycling process for eukaryotic cells to degrade dysfunctional intracellular components and to reuse the basic substances. It plays a crucial role in maintaining cell homeostasis and in resisting environmental stress. Emerging evidence shows that modulating autophagy seems to be effective in improving the age-related alterations of the liver. However, autophagy is a double-edged sword for the aged liver. Upregulating autophagy alleviates hepatic steatosis and ROS-induced cellular stress and promotes hepatocyte proliferation but may aggravate hepatic fibrosis. Therefore, a well-balanced autophagy modulation strategy might be suitable to alleviate age-related liver dysfunction. Conclusion. Modulation of autophagy is a promising strategy for "rejuvenation" of the aged liver. Detailed knowledge regarding the most devastating processes in the individual patient is needed to effectively counteract aging of the liver without causing obvious harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengming Xu
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena 07747, Germany
| | - Hans-Michael Tautenhahn
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena 07747, Germany
| | - Olaf Dirsch
- Institute of Pathology, Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH, Chemnitz 09111, Germany
| | - Uta Dahmen
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, Jena 07747, Germany
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19
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The neuroprotective effects of activated α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor against mutant copper-zinc superoxide dismutase 1-mediated toxicity. Sci Rep 2020; 10:22157. [PMID: 33335227 PMCID: PMC7746719 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79189-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective and progressive loss of motor neurons. Although many drugs have entered clinical trials, few have shown effectiveness in the treatment of ALS. Other studies have shown that the stimulation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) can have neuroprotective effects in some models of neurodegenerative disease, as well as prevent glutamate-induced motor neuronal death. However, the effect of α7 nAChR agonists on ALS-associated mutant copper-zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) aggregates in motor neurons remains unclear. In the present study, we examined whether α7 nAChR activation had a neuroprotective effect against SOD1G85R-induced toxicity in a cellular model for ALS. We found that α7 nAChR activation by PNU282987, a selective agonist of α7 nAChR, exhibited significant neuroprotective effects against SOD1G85R-induced toxicity via the reduction of intracellular protein aggregates. This reduction also correlated with the activation of autophagy through the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. Furthermore, the activation of α7 nAChRs was found to increase the biogenesis of lysosomes by inducing translocation of the transcription factor EB (TFEB) into the nucleus. These results support the therapeutic potential of α7 nAChR activation in diseases that are characterized by SOD1G85R aggregates, such as ALS.
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20
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Xu F, Hua C, Tautenhahn HM, Dirsch O, Dahmen U. The Role of Autophagy for the Regeneration of the Aging Liver. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103606. [PMID: 32443776 PMCID: PMC7279469 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Age is one of the key risk factors to develop malignant diseases leading to a high incidence of hepatic tumors in the elderly population. The only curative treatment for hepatic tumors is surgical removal, which initiates liver regeneration. However, liver regeneration is impaired with aging, leading to an increased surgical risk for the elderly patient. Due to the increased risk, those patients are potentially excluded from curative surgery. Aging impairs autophagy via lipofuscin accumulation and inhibition of autophagosome formation. Autophagy is a recycling mechanism for eukaryotic cells to maintain homeostasis. Its principal function is to degrade endogenous bio-macromolecules for recycling cellular substances. A number of recent studies have shown that the reduced regenerative capacity of the aged remnant liver can be restored by promoting autophagy. Autophagy can be activated via multiple mTOR-dependent and mTOR-independent pathways. However, inducing autophagy through the mTOR-dependent pathway alone severely impairs liver regeneration. In contrast, recent observations suggest that inducing autophagy via mTOR-independent pathways might be promising in promoting liver regeneration. Conclusion: Activation of autophagy via an mTOR-independent autophagy inducer is a potential therapy for promoting liver regeneration, especially in the elderly patients at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengming Xu
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany; (F.X.); (C.H.); (H.-M.T.)
| | - Chuanfeng Hua
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany; (F.X.); (C.H.); (H.-M.T.)
| | - Hans-Michael Tautenhahn
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany; (F.X.); (C.H.); (H.-M.T.)
| | - Olaf Dirsch
- Institute of Pathology, Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH, 09111 Chemnitz, Germany;
| | - Uta Dahmen
- Department of General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany; (F.X.); (C.H.); (H.-M.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-03641-9325350
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21
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Elsherbiny NM, Abdel-Mottaleb Y, Elkazaz AY, Atef H, Lashine RM, Youssef AM, Ezzat W, El-Ghaiesh SH, Elshaer RE, El-Shafey M, Zaitone SA. Carbamazepine Alleviates Retinal and Optic Nerve Neural Degeneration in Diabetic Mice via Nerve Growth Factor-Induced PI3K/Akt/mTOR Activation. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1089. [PMID: 31736682 PMCID: PMC6838003 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Diabetic retinopathy causes loss of vision in adults at working-age. Few therapeutic options are available for treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Carbamazepine (CARB), a widely used antiepileptic drug, was recently accounted for its neuroprotective effect. Nerve growth factor (NGF) activates various cascades among which, PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway has a vital action in NGF-mediated neuronal differentiation and survival. This study evaluated the effect of CARB in the treatment of diabetic retina and unveiled some of the underlying molecular mechanisms. Main Methods: Alloxan diabetes model was induced in 36 albino well-acclimatized mice. After establishment of the diabetic model in 9 weeks, mice were assigned to treatment groups: (1) saline, (2) alloxan-diabetic, (3 and 4) alloxan+CARB (25 or 50 mg per kg p.o) for 4 weeks. After completion of the therapeutic period, mice were sacrificed and eyeballs were enucleated. Retinal levels of NGF and PI3K/Akt were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Further, total and phosphorylated TrKA, PI3K, Akt, mTOR as well as Caspase-3 were measured by Western blot analysis. Key Findings: Histopathological examination demonstrated that CARB attenuated vacuolization and restored normal thickness and organization of retinal cell layers. In addition, CARB increased pTrKA/TrKA ratio and ameliorated diabetes-induced reduction of NGF mRNA and immunostaining in retina. Additionally, it augmented the mRNA expression of PI3K and Akt, as well as the protein level of the phosphorylated PI3/Akt/mTOR. Significance: Results highlighted, for the first time, the neuronal protective effect for CARB in diabetic retina, which is mediated, at least in part, by activation of the NGF/PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nehal M. Elsherbiny
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yousra Abdel-Mottaleb
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Industries, Future University in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amany Y. Elkazaz
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Portsaid University, Port Said, Egypt
| | - Hoda Atef
- Department of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Rehab M. Lashine
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Amal M. Youssef
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Wessam Ezzat
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sabah H. El-Ghaiesh
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rabie E. Elshaer
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed El-Shafey
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
- Physiological Sciences Department, Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sawsan A. Zaitone
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
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Imaging Hypoxic Stress and the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis with Dimethyloxalylglycine in a Mice Model. Neuroscience 2019; 415:31-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 06/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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23
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Qi W, Yan L, Liu Y, Zhou X, Li R, Wang Y, Bai L, Chen J, Nie X. Simvastatin aggravates impaired autophagic flux in NSC34-hSOD1G93A cells through inhibition of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthesis. Neuroscience 2019; 409:130-141. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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24
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Panda PK, Fahrner A, Vats S, Seranova E, Sharma V, Chipara M, Desai P, Torresi J, Rosenstock T, Kumar D, Sarkar S. Chemical Screening Approaches Enabling Drug Discovery of Autophagy Modulators for Biomedical Applications in Human Diseases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:38. [PMID: 30949479 PMCID: PMC6436197 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is an intracellular degradation pathway for malfunctioning aggregation-prone proteins, damaged organelles, unwanted macromolecules and invading pathogens. This process is essential for maintaining cellular and tissue homeostasis that contribute to organismal survival. Autophagy dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diverse human diseases, and therefore, therapeutic exploitation of autophagy is of potential biomedical relevance. A number of chemical screening approaches have been established for the drug discovery of autophagy modulators based on the perturbations of autophagy reporters or the clearance of autophagy substrates. These readouts can be detected by fluorescence and high-content microscopy, flow cytometry, microplate reader and immunoblotting, and the assays have evolved to enable high-throughput screening and measurement of autophagic flux. Several pharmacological modulators of autophagy have been identified that act either via the classical mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway or independently of mTOR. Many of these autophagy modulators have been demonstrated to exert beneficial effects in transgenic models of neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, infectious diseases, liver diseases, myopathies as well as in lifespan extension. This review describes the commonly used chemical screening approaches in mammalian cells and the key autophagy modulators identified through these methods, and highlights the therapeutic benefits of these compounds in specific disease contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashanta Kumar Panda
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra Fahrner
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Somya Vats
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, India
| | - Elena Seranova
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Vartika Sharma
- Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Miruna Chipara
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Priyal Desai
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jorge Torresi
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Physiological Science, Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Rosenstock
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Physiological Science, Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dhiraj Kumar
- Cellular Immunology Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Sovan Sarkar
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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25
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Thellung S, Corsaro A, Nizzari M, Barbieri F, Florio T. Autophagy Activator Drugs: A New Opportunity in Neuroprotection from Misfolded Protein Toxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20040901. [PMID: 30791416 PMCID: PMC6412775 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20040901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this review is to critically analyze promises and limitations of pharmacological inducers of autophagy against protein misfolding-associated neurodegeneration. Effective therapies against neurodegenerative disorders can be developed by regulating the “self-defense” equipment of neurons, such as autophagy. Through the degradation and recycling of the intracellular content, autophagy promotes neuron survival in conditions of trophic factor deprivation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial and lysosomal damage, or accumulation of misfolded proteins. Autophagy involves the activation of self-digestive pathways, which is different for dynamics (macro, micro and chaperone-mediated autophagy), or degraded material (mitophagy, lysophagy, aggrephagy). All neurodegenerative disorders share common pathogenic mechanisms, including the impairment of autophagic flux, which causes the inability to remove the neurotoxic oligomers of misfolded proteins. Pharmacological activation of autophagy is typically achieved by blocking the kinase activity of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) enzymatic complex 1 (mTORC1), removing its autophagy suppressor activity observed under physiological conditions; acting in this way, rapamycin provided the first proof of principle that pharmacological autophagy enhancement can induce neuroprotection through the facilitation of oligomers’ clearance. The demand for effective disease-modifying strategies against neurodegenerative disorders is currently stimulating the development of a wide number of novel molecules, as well as the re-evaluation of old drugs for their pro-autophagic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Thellung
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna & Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), Università di Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Corsaro
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna & Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), Università di Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy.
| | - Mario Nizzari
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna & Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), Università di Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy.
| | - Federica Barbieri
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna & Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), Università di Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy.
| | - Tullio Florio
- Sezione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna & Centro di Eccellenza per la Ricerca Biomedica (CEBR), Università di Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy.
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy.
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26
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Zhang JJ, Zhou QM, Chen S, Le WD. Repurposing carbamazepine for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in SOD1-G93A mouse model. CNS Neurosci Ther 2018; 24:1163-1174. [PMID: 29656576 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS To investigate the effect and mechanisms of carbamazepine (CBZ) on the onset and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in SOD1-G93A mouse model. METHODS Starting from 64 days of age, SOD1-G93A mice were orally administered with CBZ at 200 mg/kg once daily until death. The disease onset and life span of SOD1-G93A mice were recorded. Motor neurons (MNs) in anterior horn of spinal cord were quantified by Nissl staining and SMI-32 immunostaining. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen (NADH), modified Gomori trichrome (MGT), and α-bungarotoxin-ATTO-488 staining were also performed to evaluate muscle and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) damage. Expressions of aggregated SOD1 protein and autophagy-related proteins were further detected by Western blot and immunofluorescent staining. RESULTS Carbamazepine treatment could delay the disease onset and extend life span of SOD1-G93A mice by about 14.5% and 13.9%, respectively. Furthermore, CBZ treatment reduced MNs loss by about 46.6% and ameliorated the altered muscle morphology and NMJ. Much more interestingly, mechanism study revealed that CBZ treatment activated autophagy via AMPK-ULK1 pathway and promoted the clearance of mutant SOD1 aggregation. CONCLUSION Our findings uncovered the therapeutic effects of CBZ against disease pathogenesis in SOD1-G93A mice, indicating a promising clinical utilization of CBZ in ALS therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Jing Zhang
- Liaoning Provincial Center for Clinical Research on Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,Chifeng Municipal Hospital, Chifeng, China
| | - Qin-Ming Zhou
- Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng Chen
- Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Dong Le
- Liaoning Provincial Center for Clinical Research on Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory for Research on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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