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Wibawa P, Walterfang M, Malpas CB, Glikmann‐Johnston Y, Poudel G, Razi A, Hannan AJ, Velakoulis D, Georgiou‐Karistianis N. Selective perforant-pathway atrophy in Huntington disease: MRI analysis of hippocampal subfields. Eur J Neurol 2023; 30:2650-2660. [PMID: 37306313 PMCID: PMC10946817 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15918] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While individuals with Huntington disease (HD) show memory impairment that indicates hippocampal dysfunction, the available literature does not consistently identify structural evidence for involvement of the whole hippocampus but rather suggests that hippocampal atrophy may be confined to certain hippocampal subregions. METHODS We processed T1-weighted MRI from IMAGE-HD study using FreeSurfer 7.0 and compared the volumes of the hippocampal subfields among 36 early motor symptomatic (symp-HD), 40 pre-symptomatic (pre-HD), and 36 healthy control individuals across three timepoints over 36 months. RESULTS Mixed-model analyses revealed significantly lower subfield volumes in symp-HD, compared with pre-HD and control groups, in the subicular regions of the perforant-pathway: presubiculum, subiculum, dentate gyrus, tail, and right molecular layer. These adjoining subfields aggregated into a single principal component, which demonstrated an accelerated rate of atrophy in the symp-HD. Volumes between pre-HD and controls did not show any significant difference. In the combined HD groups, CAG repeat length and disease burden score were associated with presubiculum, molecular layer, tail, and perforant-pathway subfield volumes. Hippocampal left tail and perforant-pathway subfields were associated with motor onset in the pre-HD group. CONCLUSIONS Hippocampal subfields atrophy in early symptomatic HD affects key regions of the perforant-pathway, which may implicate the distinctive memory impairment at this stage of illness. Their volumetric associations with genetic and clinical markers suggest the selective susceptibility of these subfields to mutant Huntingtin and disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Wibawa
- NeuropsychiatryRoyal Melbourne HospitalParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry CenterUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Mark Walterfang
- NeuropsychiatryRoyal Melbourne HospitalParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry CenterUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Charles B. Malpas
- NeuropsychiatryRoyal Melbourne HospitalParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry CenterUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Yifat Glikmann‐Johnston
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Govinda Poudel
- Mary Mackillop Institute for Health ResearchAustralian Catholic UniversityFitzroyVictoriaAustralia
| | - Adeel Razi
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Anthony J. Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Dennis Velakoulis
- NeuropsychiatryRoyal Melbourne HospitalParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry CenterUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Nellie Georgiou‐Karistianis
- School of Psychological Sciences and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental HealthMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
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Klonarakis M, De Vos M, Woo E, Ralph L, Thacker JS, Gil-Mohapel J. The three sisters of fate: Genetics, pathophysiology and outcomes of animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 135:104541. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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3
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Wiprich MT, Bonan CD. Purinergic Signaling in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Huntington's Disease. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:657338. [PMID: 34276284 PMCID: PMC8281137 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.657338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a devastating, progressive, and fatal neurodegenerative disorder inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. This condition is characterized by motor dysfunction (chorea in the early stage, followed by bradykinesia, dystonia, and motor incoordination in the late stage), psychiatric disturbance, and cognitive decline. The neuropathological hallmark of HD is the pronounced neuronal loss in the striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen). The striatum is related to the movement control, flexibility, motivation, and learning and the purinergic signaling has an important role in the control of these events. Purinergic signaling involves the actions of purine nucleotides and nucleosides through the activation of P2 and P1 receptors, respectively. Extracellular nucleotide and nucleoside-metabolizing enzymes control the levels of these messengers, modulating the purinergic signaling. The striatum has a high expression of adenosine A2A receptors, which are involved in the neurodegeneration observed in HD. The P2X7 and P2Y2 receptors may also play a role in the pathophysiology of HD. Interestingly, nucleotide and nucleoside levels may be altered in HD animal models and humans with HD. This review presents several studies describing the relationship between purinergic signaling and HD, as well as the use of purinoceptors as pharmacological targets and biomarkers for this neurodegenerative disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Talita Wiprich
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Carla Denise Bonan
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina e Ciências da Saúde, Escola de Medicina, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Laboratório de Neuroquímica e Psicofarmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Doenças Cerebrais, Excitotoxicidade e Neuroproteção, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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4
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Tomczyk M, Glaser T, Slominska EM, Ulrich H, Smolenski RT. Purine Nucleotides Metabolism and Signaling in Huntington's Disease: Search for a Target for Novel Therapies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126545. [PMID: 34207177 PMCID: PMC8234552 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a multi-system disorder that is caused by expanded CAG repeats within the exon-1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene that translate to the polyglutamine stretch in the HTT protein. HTT interacts with the proteins involved in gene transcription, endocytosis, and metabolism. HTT may also directly or indirectly affect purine metabolism and signaling. We aimed to review existing data and discuss the modulation of the purinergic system as a new therapeutic target in HD. Impaired intracellular nucleotide metabolism in the HD affected system (CNS, skeletal muscle and heart) may lead to extracellular accumulation of purine metabolites, its unusual catabolism, and modulation of purinergic signaling. The mechanisms of observed changes might be different in affected systems. Based on collected findings, compounds leading to purine and ATP pool reconstruction as well as purinergic receptor activity modulators, i.e., P2X7 receptor antagonists, may be applied for HD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Tomczyk
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland;
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (R.T.S.)
| | - Talita Glaser
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (T.G.); (H.U.)
| | - Ewa M. Slominska
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland;
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (T.G.); (H.U.)
| | - Ryszard T. Smolenski
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland;
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (R.T.S.)
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5
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Glaser T, Andrejew R, Oliveira-Giacomelli Á, Ribeiro DE, Bonfim Marques L, Ye Q, Ren WJ, Semyanov A, Illes P, Tang Y, Ulrich H. Purinergic Receptors in Basal Ganglia Diseases: Shared Molecular Mechanisms between Huntington's and Parkinson's Disease. Neurosci Bull 2020; 36:1299-1314. [PMID: 33026587 PMCID: PMC7674528 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-020-00582-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's (HD) and Parkinson's diseases (PD) are neurodegenerative disorders caused by the death of GABAergic and dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia leading to hyperkinetic and hypokinetic symptoms, respectively. We review here the participation of purinergic receptors through intracellular Ca2+ signaling in these neurodegenerative diseases. The adenosine A2A receptor stimulates striatopallidal GABAergic neurons, resulting in inhibitory actions on GABAergic neurons of the globus pallidus. A2A and dopamine D2 receptors form functional heteromeric complexes inducing allosteric inhibition, and A2A receptor activation results in motor inhibition. Furthermore, the A2A receptor physically and functionally interacts with glutamate receptors, mainly with the mGlu5 receptor subtype. This interaction facilitates glutamate release, resulting in NMDA glutamate receptor activation and an increase of Ca2+ influx. P2X7 receptor activation also promotes glutamate release and neuronal damage. Thus, modulation of purinergic receptor activity, such as A2A and P2X7 receptors, and subsequent aberrant Ca2+ signaling, might present interesting therapeutic potential for HD and PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talita Glaser
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Roberta Andrejew
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Ágatha Oliveira-Giacomelli
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Deidiane Elisa Ribeiro
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Lucas Bonfim Marques
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Qing Ye
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Acupuncture and Chronobiology, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Wen-Jing Ren
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Acupuncture and Chronobiology, Chengdu, 610075, China
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, 04107, Germany
| | - Alexey Semyanov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997, Russia
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, 119992, Russia
| | - Peter Illes
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, 04107, Germany
- International Collaborative Centre on Big Science Plan for Purine Signaling, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Yong Tang
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Acupuncture and Chronobiology, Chengdu, 610075, China
- International Collaborative Centre on Big Science Plan for Purine Signaling, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610075, China
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 748, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
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6
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Mann T, Zilles K, Klawitter F, Cremer M, Hawlitschka A, Palomero-Gallagher N, Schmitt O, Wree A. Acetylcholine Neurotransmitter Receptor Densities in the Striatum of Hemiparkinsonian Rats Following Botulinum Neurotoxin-A Injection. Front Neuroanat 2018; 12:65. [PMID: 30147647 PMCID: PMC6095974 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2018.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholinergic neurotransmission has a pivotal function in the caudate-putamen, and is highly associated with the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. Here, we investigated long-term changes in the densities of the muscarinic receptor subtypes M1, M2, M3 (mAchRs) and the nicotinic receptor subtype α4β2 (nAchRs) in the striatum of the 6-OHDA-induced hemiparkinsonian (hemi-PD) rat model using quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography. Hemi-PD rats exhibited an ipsilateral decrease in striatal mAchR densities between 6 and 16%. Moreover, a massive and constant decrease in striatal nAchR density by 57% was found. A second goal of the study was to disclose receptor-related mechanisms for the positive motor effect of intrastriatally injected Botulinum neurotoxin-A (BoNT-A) in hemi-PD rats in the apomorphine rotation test. Therefore, the effect of intrastriatally injected BoNT-A in control and hemi-PD rats on mAchR and nAchR densities was analyzed and compared to control animals or vehicle-injected hemi-PD rats. BoNT-A administration slightly reduced interhemispheric differences of mAchR and nAchR densities in hemi-PD rats. Importantly, the BoNT-A effect on striatal nAchRs significantly correlated with behavioral testing after apomorphine application. This study gives novel insights of 6-OHDA-induced effects on striatal mAchR and nAchR densities, and partly explains the therapeutic effect of BoNT-A in hemi-PD rats on a cellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Mann
- Rostock University Medical Center, Institute of Anatomy, Rostock, Germany
| | - Karl Zilles
- Research Centre Jülich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-1, Jülich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,JARA-Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen, Germany
| | - Felix Klawitter
- Rostock University Medical Center, Institute of Anatomy, Rostock, Germany
| | - Markus Cremer
- Research Centre Jülich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-1, Jülich, Germany
| | | | - Nicola Palomero-Gallagher
- Research Centre Jülich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-1, Jülich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Oliver Schmitt
- Rostock University Medical Center, Institute of Anatomy, Rostock, Germany
| | - Andreas Wree
- Rostock University Medical Center, Institute of Anatomy, Rostock, Germany
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7
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Blum D, Chern Y, Domenici MR, Buée L, Lin CY, Rea W, Ferré S, Popoli P. The Role of Adenosine Tone and Adenosine Receptors in Huntington's Disease. J Caffeine Adenosine Res 2018; 8:43-58. [PMID: 30023989 PMCID: PMC6049521 DOI: 10.1089/caff.2018.0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by a mutation in the IT15 gene that encodes for the huntingtin protein. Mutated hungtingtin, although widely expressed in the brain, predominantly affects striato-pallidal neurons, particularly enriched with adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR), suggesting a possible involvement of adenosine and A2AR is the pathogenesis of HD. In fact, polymorphic variation in the ADORA2A gene influences the age at onset in HD, and A2AR dynamics is altered by mutated huntingtin. Basal levels of adenosine and adenosine receptors are involved in many processes critical for neuronal function and homeostasis, including modulation of synaptic activity and excitotoxicity, the control of neurotrophin levels and functions, and the regulation of protein degradation mechanisms. In the present review, we critically analyze the current literature involving the effect of altered adenosine tone and adenosine receptors in HD and discuss why therapeutics that modulate the adenosine system may represent a novel approach for the treatment of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Blum
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172 - JPArc, LabEx DISTALZ, Lille, France
| | - Yijuang Chern
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Maria Rosaria Domenici
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Luc Buée
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR-S 1172 - JPArc, LabEx DISTALZ, Lille, France
| | - Chien-Yu Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - William Rea
- Integrative Neurobiology Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sergi Ferré
- Integrative Neurobiology Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Patrizia Popoli
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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8
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Garret M, Du Z, Chazalon M, Cho YH, Baufreton J. Alteration of GABAergic neurotransmission in Huntington's disease. CNS Neurosci Ther 2018; 24:292-300. [PMID: 29464851 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by cell dysfunction and death in the brain, leading to progressive cognitive, psychiatric, and motor impairments. Despite molecular and cellular descriptions of the effects of the HD mutation, no effective pharmacological treatment is yet available. In addition to well-established alterations of glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurotransmitter systems, it is becoming clear that the GABAergic systems are also impaired in HD. GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, and GABAergic neurotransmission has been postulated to be modified in many neurological and psychiatric diseases. In addition, GABAergic neurotransmission is the target of many drugs that are in wide clinical use. Here, we summarize data demonstrating the occurrence of alterations of GABAergic markers in the brain of HD carriers as well as in rodent models of the disease. In particular, we pinpoint HD-related changes in the expression of GABAA receptors (GABAA Rs). On the basis that a novel GABA pharmacology of GABAA Rs established with more selective drugs is emerging, we argue that clinical treatments acting specifically on GABAergic neurotransmission may be an appropriate strategy for improving symptoms linked to the HD mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurice Garret
- Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France.,CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - Zhuowei Du
- Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France.,CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - Marine Chazalon
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Université de Bordeaux, UMR 5293, Bordeaux, France.,Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, CNRS, UMR 5293, Bordeaux, France
| | - Yoon H Cho
- Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France.,CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jérôme Baufreton
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Université de Bordeaux, UMR 5293, Bordeaux, France.,Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives, CNRS, UMR 5293, Bordeaux, France
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9
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Mann T, Zilles K, Dikow H, Hellfritsch A, Cremer M, Piel M, Rösch F, Hawlitschka A, Schmitt O, Wree A. Dopamine, Noradrenaline and Serotonin Receptor Densities in the Striatum of Hemiparkinsonian Rats following Botulinum Neurotoxin-A Injection. Neuroscience 2018; 374:187-204. [PMID: 29421436 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.01.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) that causes a dopamine (DA) deficit in the caudate-putamen (CPu) accompanied by compensatory changes in other neurotransmitter systems. These changes result in severe motor and non-motor symptoms. To disclose the role of various receptor binding sites for DA, noradrenaline, and serotonin in the hemiparkinsonian (hemi-PD) rat model induced by unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) injection, the densities of D1, D2/D3, α1, α2, and 5HT2A receptors were longitudinally visualized and measured in the CPu of hemi-PD rats by quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography. We found a moderate increase in D1 receptor density 3 weeks post lesion that decreased during longer survival times, a significant increase of D2/D3 receptor density, and 50% reduction in 5HT2A receptor density. α1 receptor density remained unaltered in hemi-PD and α2 receptors demonstrated a slight right-left difference increasing with post lesion survival. In a second step, the possible role of receptors on the known reduction of apomorphine-induced rotations in hemi-PD rats by intrastriatally injected Botulinum neurotoxin-A (BoNT-A) was analyzed by measuring the receptor densities after BoNT-A injection. The application of this neurotoxin reduced D2/D3 receptor density, whereas the other receptors mainly remained unaltered. Our results provide novel data for an understanding of the postlesional plasticity of dopaminergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic receptors in the hemi-PD rat model. The results further suggest a therapeutic effect of BoNT-A on the impaired motor behavior of hemi-PD rats by reducing the interhemispheric imbalance in D2/D3 receptor density.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Mann
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Gertrudenstraße 9, D-18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - K Zilles
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-1, Research Center Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany; JARA - Translational Brain Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, D-52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - H Dikow
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Gertrudenstraße 9, D-18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - A Hellfritsch
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Gertrudenstraße 9, D-18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - M Cremer
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine INM-1, Research Center Jülich, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - M Piel
- Institute of Nuclear Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Fritz-Strassmann-Weg 2, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - F Rösch
- Institute of Nuclear Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Fritz-Strassmann-Weg 2, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - A Hawlitschka
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Gertrudenstraße 9, D-18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - O Schmitt
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Gertrudenstraße 9, D-18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - A Wree
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, Gertrudenstraße 9, D-18057 Rostock, Germany.
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10
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Plank AC, Canneva F, Raber KA, Urbach YK, Dobner J, Puchades M, Bjaalie JG, Gillmann C, Bäuerle T, Riess O, Nguyen HHP, von Hörsten S. Early Alterations in Operant Performance and Prominent Huntingtin Aggregation in a Congenic F344 Rat Line of the Classical CAG n51trunc Model of Huntington Disease. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:11. [PMID: 29422836 PMCID: PMC5788972 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The transgenic rat model of Huntington disease expressing a fragment of mutant HTT (tgHD rat) has been thoroughly characterized and reproduces hallmark symptoms of human adult-onset HD. Pursuing the optimization of this model for evaluation of translational therapeutic approaches, the F344 inbred rat strain was considered as advantageous genetic background for the expression of the HD transgenic construct. In the present study, a novel congenic line of the SPRDtgHD transgenic model of HD, carrying 51 CAG repeats, was generated on the F344 rat genetic background. To assess the behavioral phenotype, classical assays investigating motor function, emotion, and sensorimotor gating were applied, along with automated screening of metabolic and activity parameters as well as operant conditioning tasks. The neuropathological phenotype was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging. F344tgHD rats displayed markedly reduced anxiety-like behavior in the social interaction test and elevated impulsivity traits already at 3 months of age. Neuropathologically, reduced striatal volume and pronounced aggregation of mutant huntingtin in several brain regions were detected at later disease stage. In conclusion, the congenic F344tgHD model reproduces key aspects of the human HD phenotype, substantiating its value for translational therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Christine Plank
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fabio Canneva
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kerstin A Raber
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yvonne K Urbach
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Julia Dobner
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maja Puchades
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan G Bjaalie
- Neural Systems Laboratory, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Clarissa Gillmann
- Preclinical Imaging Platform Erlangen, Institute of Radiology, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tobias Bäuerle
- Preclinical Imaging Platform Erlangen, Institute of Radiology, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Olaf Riess
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Clinics Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Hoa H P Nguyen
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University Clinics Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Center, University Clinics Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
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Gonçalves J, Violante IR, Sereno J, Leitão RA, Cai Y, Abrunhosa A, Silva AP, Silva AJ, Castelo-Branco M. Testing the excitation/inhibition imbalance hypothesis in a mouse model of the autism spectrum disorder: in vivo neurospectroscopy and molecular evidence for regional phenotypes. Mol Autism 2017; 8:47. [PMID: 28932379 PMCID: PMC5605987 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-017-0166-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Excitation/inhibition (E/I) imbalance remains a widely discussed hypothesis in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The presence of such an imbalance may potentially define a therapeutic target for the treatment of cognitive disabilities related to this pathology. Consequently, the study of monogenic disorders related to autism, such as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), represents a promising approach to isolate mechanisms underlying ASD-related cognitive disabilities. However, the NF1 mouse model showed increased γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission, whereas the human disease showed reduced cortical GABA levels. It is therefore important to clarify whether the E/I imbalance hypothesis holds true. We hypothesize that E/I may depend on distinct pre- and postsynaptic push-pull mechanisms that might be are region-dependent. Methods In current study, we assessed two critical components of E/I regulation: the concentration of neurotransmitters and levels of GABA(A) receptors. Measurements were performed across the hippocampi, striatum, and prefrontal cortices by combined in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and molecular approaches in this ASD-related animal model, the Nf1+/− mouse. Results Cortical and striatal GABA/glutamate ratios were increased. At the postsynaptic level, very high receptor GABA(A) receptor expression was found in hippocampus, disproportionately to the small reduction in GABA levels. Gabaergic tone (either by receptor levels change or GABA/glutamate ratios) seemed therefore to be enhanced in all regions, although by a different mechanism. Conclusions Our data provides support for the hypothesis of E/I imbalance in NF1 while showing that pre- and postsynaptic changes are region-specific. All these findings are consistent with our previous physiological evidence of increased inhibitory tone. Such heterogeneity suggests that therapeutic approaches to address neurochemical imbalance in ASD may need to focus on targets where convergent physiological mechanisms can be found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Gonçalves
- CiBIT, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology-Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (CNC.IBILI) Research Unit, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Inês R Violante
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - José Sereno
- CiBIT, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology-Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (CNC.IBILI) Research Unit, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ricardo A Leitão
- Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology-Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (CNC.IBILI) Research Unit, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Laboratory of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ying Cai
- Department of Neurobiology, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, Brain Research Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Antero Abrunhosa
- CiBIT, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology-Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (CNC.IBILI) Research Unit, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Paula Silva
- Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology-Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (CNC.IBILI) Research Unit, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Laboratory of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Alcino J Silva
- Department of Neurobiology, Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, Brain Research Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Miguel Castelo-Branco
- CiBIT, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology-Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (CNC.IBILI) Research Unit, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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12
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El Massioui N, Lamirault C, Yagüe S, Adjeroud N, Garces D, Maillard A, Tallot L, Yu-Taeger L, Riess O, Allain P, Nguyen HP, von Hörsten S, Doyère V. Impaired Decision Making and Loss of Inhibitory-Control in a Rat Model of Huntington Disease. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:204. [PMID: 27833538 PMCID: PMC5080295 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive deficits associated with Huntington disease (HD) are generally dominated by executive function disorders often associated with disinhibition and impulsivity/compulsivity. Few studies have directly examined symptoms and consequences of behavioral disinhibition in HD and its relation with decision-making. To assess the different forms of impulsivity in a transgenic model of HD (tgHD rats), two tasks assessing cognitive/choice impulsivity were used: risky decision-making with a rat gambling task (RGT) and intertemporal choices with a delay discounting task (DD). To assess waiting or action impulsivity the differential reinforcement of low rate of responding task (DRL) was used. In parallel, the volume as well as cellular activity of the amygdala was analyzed. In contrast to WT rats, 15 months old tgHD rats exhibited a poor efficiency in the RGT task with difficulties to choose advantageous options, a steep DD curve as delays increased in the DD task and a high rate of premature and bursts responses in the DRL task. tgHD rats also demonstrated a concomitant and correlated presence of both action and cognitive/choice impulsivity in contrast to wild type (WT) animals. Moreover, a reduced volume associated with an increased basal cellular activity of the central nucleus of amygdala indicated a dysfunctional amygdala in tgHD rats, which could underlie inhibitory dyscontrol. In conclusion, tgHD rats are a good model for impulsivity disorder that could be used more widely to identify potential pharmacotherapies to treat these invasive symptoms in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole El Massioui
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay (Neuro-PSI), UMR 9197, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay Orsay, France
| | - Charlotte Lamirault
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay (Neuro-PSI), UMR 9197, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay Orsay, France
| | - Sara Yagüe
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay (Neuro-PSI), UMR 9197, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay Orsay, France
| | - Najia Adjeroud
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay (Neuro-PSI), UMR 9197, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Université Paris Sud, Université Paris SaclayOrsay, France; Neuropsychological Unit, Department of Neurology, CHU AngersFrance
| | - Daniel Garces
- The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY) New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexis Maillard
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay (Neuro-PSI), UMR 9197, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay Orsay, France
| | - Lucille Tallot
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay (Neuro-PSI), UMR 9197, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay Orsay, France
| | - Libo Yu-Taeger
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of TuebingenTuebingen, Germany; Center for Rare Diseases, University of TuebingenTuebingen, Germany
| | - Olaf Riess
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of TuebingenTuebingen, Germany; Center for Rare Diseases, University of TuebingenTuebingen, Germany
| | - Philippe Allain
- Neuropsychological Unit, Department of Neurology, CHU Angers France
| | - Huu Phuc Nguyen
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of TuebingenTuebingen, Germany; Center for Rare Diseases, University of TuebingenTuebingen, Germany
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- Experimental Therapy, Franz Penzoldt Center, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nürnberg Germany
| | - Valérie Doyère
- Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay (Neuro-PSI), UMR 9197, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Université Paris Sud, Université Paris Saclay Orsay, France
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13
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Current status of PET imaging in Huntington's disease. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2016; 43:1171-82. [PMID: 26899245 PMCID: PMC4844650 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-016-3324-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To review the developments of recent decades and the current status of PET molecular imaging in Huntington’s disease (HD). Methods A systematic review of PET studies in HD was performed. The MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane and Scopus databases were searched for articles in all languages published up to 19 August 2015 using the major medical subject heading “Huntington Disease” combined with text and key words “Huntington Disease”, “Neuroimaging” and “PET”. Only peer-reviewed, primary research studies in HD patients and premanifest HD carriers, and studies in which clinical features were described in association with PET neuroimaging results, were included in this review. Reviews, case reports and nonhuman studies were excluded. Results A total of 54 PET studies were identified and analysed in this review. Brain metabolism ([18F]FDG and [15O]H2O), presynaptic ([18F]fluorodopa, [11C]β-CIT and [11C]DTBZ) and postsynaptic ([11C]SCH22390, [11C]FLB457 and [11C]raclopride) dopaminergic function, phosphodiesterases ([18F]JNJ42259152, [18F]MNI-659 and [11C]IMA107), and adenosine ([18F]CPFPX), cannabinoid ([18F]MK-9470), opioid ([11C]diprenorphine) and GABA ([11C]flumazenil) receptors were evaluated as potential biomarkers for monitoring disease progression and for assessing the development and efficacy of novel disease-modifying drugs in premanifest HD carriers and HD patients. PET studies evaluating brain restoration and neuroprotection were also identified and described in detail. Conclusion Brain metabolism, postsynaptic dopaminergic function and phosphodiesterase 10A levels were proven to be powerful in assessing disease progression. However, no single technique may be currently considered an optimal biomarker and an integrative multimodal imaging approach combining different techniques should be developed for monitoring potential neuroprotective and preventive treatment in HD.
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Burnstock G. An introduction to the roles of purinergic signalling in neurodegeneration, neuroprotection and neuroregeneration. Neuropharmacology 2015; 104:4-17. [PMID: 26056033 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2015.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Revised: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Purinergic signalling appears to play important roles in neurodegeneration, neuroprotection and neuroregeneration. Initially there is a brief summary of the background of purinergic signalling, including release of purines and pyrimidines from neural and non-neural cells and their ectoenzymatic degradation, and the current characterisation of P1 (adenosine), and P2X (ion channel) and P2Y (G protein-coupled) nucleotide receptor subtypes. There is also coverage of the localization and roles of purinoceptors in the healthy central nervous system. The focus is then on the roles of purinergic signalling in trauma, ischaemia, stroke and in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, as well as multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuroprotective mechanisms involving purinergic signalling are considered and its involvement in neuroregeneration, including the role of adult neural stem/progenitor cells. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Purines in Neurodegeneration and Neuroregeneration'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Burnstock
- Autonomic Neuroscience Centre, University College Medical School, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
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15
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Matusch A, Saft C, Elmenhorst D, Kraus PH, Gold R, Hartung HP, Bauer A. Cross sectional PET study of cerebral adenosine A₁ receptors in premanifest and manifest Huntington's disease. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2014; 41:1210-20. [PMID: 24566949 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-014-2724-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2013] [Accepted: 01/30/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To study cerebral adenosine receptors (AR) in premanifest and manifest stages of Huntington's disease (HD). METHODS We quantified the cerebral binding potential (BP ND) of the A₁AR in carriers of the HD CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion using the radioligand [(18) F]CPFPX and PET. Four groups were investigated: (i) premanifest individuals far (preHD-A; n = 7) or (ii) near (preHD-B; n = 6) to the predicted symptom onset, (iii) manifest HD patients (n = 8), and (iv) controls (n = 36). RESULTS Cerebral A₁AR values of preHD-A subjects were generally higher than those of controls (by up to 31%, p < .01, in the thalamus on average). Across stages a successive reduction of A₁AR BPND was observed to the levels of controls in preHD-B and undercutting controls in manifest HD by down to 25%, p < .01, in the caudatus and amygdala. There was a strong correlation between A₁AR BP ND and years to onset. Before onset of HD, the assumed annual rates of change of A₁AR density were -1.2% in the caudatus, -1.7% in the thalamus and -3.4% in the amygdala, while the corresponding volume losses amounted to 0.6%, 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Adenosine receptors switch from supra to subnormal levels during phenoconversion of HD. This differential regulation may play a role in the pathophysiology of altered energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Matusch
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-2), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany,
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16
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Lee CF, Chern Y. Adenosine receptors and Huntington's disease. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2014; 119:195-232. [PMID: 25175968 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-801022-8.00010-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Adenosine regulates important pathophysiological functions via four distinct adenosine receptor subtypes (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3). The A1 and A2A adenosine receptors (A1R and A2AR) are major targets of caffeine and have been extensively investigated. Huntington's disease (HD) is a dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by an abnormal CAG expansion in the Huntingtin gene. Since the first genetic HD model was created almost two decades ago, tremendous progress regarding the function of the adenosine receptors in HD has been made. Chronic intake of caffeine was recently shown to be positively associated with the disease onset of HD. Moreover, genetic polymorphism of A2AR is believed to impact the age of onset. Given the importance of adenosine receptors as drug targets for human diseases, this review highlights the recent findings that delineate the roles of adenosine receptors in HD and discusses their potential for serving as drug targets and/or biomarkers for HD. Adenosine is a purine nucleoside that regulates important physiological functions via four different adenosine receptors (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3). These adenosine receptors have seven transmembrane domains and belong to the G protein-coupled receptor family. The functions of the A1 adenosine receptor (A1R) and A2A adenosine receptor (A2AR) have been investigated relative to HD. In this review, we summarize the recent findings regarding the role of adenosine receptors in HD and discuss the potential application of adenosine receptors as drug targets and biomarkers for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-fei Lee
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yijuang Chern
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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17
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Kim W, Seo H. Baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist, enhances ubiquitin-proteasome system functioning and neuronal survival in Huntington’s disease model mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 443:706-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2013.12.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2013] [Accepted: 12/05/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Beglinger LJ, Adams WH, Langbehn D, Fiedorowicz JG, Jorge R, Biglan K, Caviness J, Olson B, Robinson RG, Kieburtz K, Paulsen JS. Results of the citalopram to enhance cognition in Huntington disease trial. Mov Disord 2013; 29:401-5. [PMID: 24375941 DOI: 10.1002/mds.25750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Revised: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to evaluate citalopram for executive functioning in Huntington's disease (HD). METHODS The study was randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. Thirty-three adults with HD, cognitive complaints, and no depression (Hamilton Depression [HAM-D] rating scale ≤ 12) were administered citalopram 20 mg or placebo (7 visits, 20 weeks), with practice and placebo run-ins. The primary outcome was change in executive functioning. RESULTS The intent to treat analysis was controlled for practice effects, comparing visits 1 and 2 to visits 5 and 6 for citalopram versus placebo. There were no significant benefits on the executive function composite (treatment-placebo mean difference -0.167; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.361 to 0.028; P = .092). Citalopram participants showed improved clinician-rated depression symptoms on the HAM-D (t = -2.02; P = 0.05). There were no group differences on motor ratings, self-reported executive functions, psychiatric symptoms, or functional status. CONCLUSIONS There was no evidence that short-term treatment with citalopram improved executive functions in HD. Despite excluding patients with active depression, participants on citalopram showed improved mood, raising the possibility of efficacy for subsyndromal depression in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh J Beglinger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Neurological program, Elks Rehab Hospital, Boise, Idaho, USA
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Manuel-Apolinar L, Rocha L, Damasio L, Tesoro-Cruz E, Zarate A. Role of prenatal undernutrition in the expression of serotonin, dopamine and leptin receptors in adult mice: implications of food intake. Mol Med Rep 2013; 9:407-12. [PMID: 24337628 PMCID: PMC3896523 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2013.1853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2013] [Accepted: 11/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Perturbations in the levels of serotonin expression have a significant impact on behavior and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neuropsychiatric disorders including anxiety, mood and appetite. Fetal programming is a risk factor for the development of metabolic diseases during adulthood. Moreover, previous studies have shown that serotonin (5-HT), dopamine and leptin are important in energy balance. In the present study, the impact of maternal malnutrition-induced prenatal undernutrition (UN) was investigated in mice and the expression of 5-HT1A, dopamine (D)1, D2 and Ob-Rb receptors was analyzed in the hypothalamus during adulthood. The UN group showed a low birth weight compared with the control group. With regard to receptor expression, 5-HT1A in the UN group was increased in the hypothalamus and D1 was reduced, whereas D2 showed an increase from postnatal day (P)14 in the arcuate nucleus. Ob-Rb receptor expression was increased in the hypothalamus at P14 and P90. These observations indicated that maternal caloric restriction programs a postnatal body weight gain in offspring with an increased food intake in early postnatal life which continues into adulthood. In addition, UN in mice was found to be affected by Ob-Rb, 5-HT1A and D1/2 receptor expression, indicating that these observations may be associated with hyperphagia and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Manuel-Apolinar
- Endocrine Research Unit, National Medical Center, Mexican Social Security Institute, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luisa Rocha
- Department of Pharmacobiology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Leticia Damasio
- Endocrine Research Unit, National Medical Center, Mexican Social Security Institute, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Arturo Zarate
- Endocrine Research Unit, National Medical Center, Mexican Social Security Institute, Mexico City, Mexico
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Villar-Menéndez I, Blanch M, Tyebji S, Pereira-Veiga T, Albasanz JL, Martín M, Ferrer I, Pérez-Navarro E, Barrachina M. Increased 5-Methylcytosine and Decreased 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine Levels are Associated with Reduced Striatal A2AR Levels in Huntington’s Disease. Neuromolecular Med 2013; 15:295-309. [DOI: 10.1007/s12017-013-8219-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Accepted: 01/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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21
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Passingham RE. What we can and cannot tell about the wiring of the human brain. Neuroimage 2013; 80:14-7. [PMID: 23321152 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Revised: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
It was 20 years ago that Crick and Jones lamented the fact that human neuroanatomy was backward. They would be astonished to read the contents of this issue. At that time they had not foreseen what could be achieved by the combination of diffusion imaging and the study of resting state covariance. This paper assesses what can and cannot be done with the methods that we now have.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard E Passingham
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK.
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22
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Ortiz AN, Osterhaus GL, Lauderdale K, Mahoney L, Fowler SC, von Hörsten S, Riess O, Johnson MA. Motor function and dopamine release measurements in transgenic Huntington's disease model rats. Brain Res 2012; 1450:148-56. [PMID: 22418060 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.02.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2011] [Revised: 02/01/2012] [Accepted: 02/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal, genetic, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by deficits in motor and cognitive function. Here, we have quantitatively characterized motor deficiencies and dopamine release dynamics in transgenic HD model rats. Behavioral analyses were conducted using a newly-developed force-sensing runway and a previously-developed force-plate actometer. Gait disturbances were readily observed in transgenic HD rats at 12 to 15months of age. Additionally, dopamine system challenge by ip injection of amphetamine also revealed that these rats were resistant to the expression of focused stereotypy compared to wild-type controls. Moreover, dopamine release, evoked by the application of single and multiple electrical stimulus pulses applied at different frequencies, and measured using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry at carbon-fiber microelectrodes, was diminished in transgenic HD rats compared to age-matched wild-type control rats. Collectively, these results underscore the potential contribution of dopamine release alterations to the expression of motor impairments in transgenic HD rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea N Ortiz
- Department of Chemistry and R. N. Adams Institute for Bioanalytical Chemistry, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
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Fielding SA, Brooks SP, Klein A, Bayram-Weston Z, Jones L, Dunnett SB. Profiles of motor and cognitive impairment in the transgenic rat model of Huntington's disease. Brain Res Bull 2011; 88:223-36. [PMID: 21963415 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2011.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2011] [Revised: 08/30/2011] [Accepted: 09/17/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The transgenic Huntington's disease (tgHD) rat strain provides a well regarded transgenic animal model of Huntington's disease, offering the prospect for a more detailed functional analysis in rats, along with neurological and therapeutic interventions, than is possible in the more widely available mouse models. In the present experiments, we compare the performance of heterozygous and homozygous tgHD rats against wildtype littermates on a range of motor and cognitive assessments in five separate cohorts of rats between 8 and 22 months of age. Male but not female heterozygous tgHD rats exhibit modest motor deficits in rotarod and staircase reaching tests, whereas most cognitive tests (including object recognition, exploration of novelty, delayed alternation, choice reaction time, and serial implicit learning tasks) revealed at best small or inconsistent deficits, in homozygous as well as heterozygous animals, up to 22 months of age. Thus, although we have observed modest but clear-cut deficits in motor phenotype, with a sex difference in line with previous reports, we have not established a robust cognitive impairment in this strain on a range of tasks sensitive to frontostriatal function, as required for testing novel (symptomatic, protective or reparative) therapeutics in a robust, valid, animal model of human Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven A Fielding
- The Brain Repair Group, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, UK
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Orrú M, Zanoveli JM, Quiroz C, Nguyen HP, Guitart X, Ferré S. Functional changes in postsynaptic adenosine A(2A) receptors during early stages of a rat model of Huntington disease. Exp Neurol 2011; 232:76-80. [PMID: 21867705 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2011.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2011] [Revised: 07/27/2011] [Accepted: 08/08/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving preferential loss of striatal GABAergic medium spiny neurons. Adenosine A(2A) receptors (A(2A)Rs) are present in the striatum at both presynaptic and post-synaptic levels. Blocking pre-synaptic A(2A)Rs, localized in glutamatergic terminals that contact striatal GABAergic dynorphinergic neurons, reduces glutamate release, which could be beneficial in HD. On the other hand, blockade of post-synaptic A(2A)Rs, localized in striatal GABAergic enkephalinergic neurons, could exacerbate the motor dysfunction. To evaluate the function of pre- or post-synaptic A(2A)Rs in HD we used selective antagonists for these receptors in a transgenic rat model of HD. Locomotor activity after systemic administration of the postsynaptic A(2A)R antagonist KW-6002 was used to investigate the function of post-synaptic A(2A)Rs. The role of pre-synaptic A(2A)Rs was instead evaluated by measuring the reduction of the electromyographic response of mastication muscles during electrical stimulation of the orofacial motor cortex after the systemic administration of the presynaptic A(2A)R antagonist SCH-442416. The ability of KW-6002 to produce locomotor activation was lost at 6 and 12 month-old of age in heterozygous and homozygous transgenic rats, but not in wild-type littermates. Nevertheless, no significant changes were observed up to 12 months of age in the potency of SCH-442416 to decrease the electromyographic response after cortical electrical stimulation. These results agree with a selective impairment of the striatal GABAergic enkephalinergic neuronal function during pre-symptomatic stages in HD. Since presynaptic A(2A)R function is not impaired, this receptor could probably be used as a target for the symptomatic treatment of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Orrú
- CNS Receptor-Receptor Interactions Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse, IRP, NIH, DHHS, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
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Gil-Mohapel J, Simpson JM, Ghilan M, Christie BR. Neurogenesis in Huntington's disease: Can studying adult neurogenesis lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies? Brain Res 2011; 1406:84-105. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2011.06.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2011] [Revised: 06/14/2011] [Accepted: 06/15/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Blockx I, Van Camp N, Verhoye M, Boisgard R, Dubois A, Jego B, Jonckers E, Raber K, Siquier K, Kuhnast B, Dollé F, Nguyen HP, Von Hörsten S, Tavitian B, Van der Linden A. Genotype specific age related changes in a transgenic rat model of Huntington's disease. Neuroimage 2011; 58:1006-16. [PMID: 21767653 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2011] [Revised: 06/29/2011] [Accepted: 07/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to characterize the transgenic Huntington rat model with in vivo imaging and identify sensitive and reliable biomarkers associated with early and progressive disease status. In order to do so, we performed a multimodality (DTI and PET) longitudinal imaging study, during which the same TgHD and wildtype (Wt) rats were repetitively scanned. Surprisingly, the relative ventricle volume was smaller but increased faster in TgHD compared to Wt animals. DTI (mean, axial, radial diffusivity) revealed subtle genotype-specific aging effects in the striatum and its surrounding white matter, already in the presymptomatic stage. Using ¹⁸F-FDG and ¹⁸F-Fallypride PET imaging, we were not able to demonstrate genotype-specific aging effects within the striatum. The outcome of this longitudinal study was somewhat surprising as it demonstrated a significant differential aging pattern in TgHD versus Wt animals. Although it seems that the TgHD rat model does not have a sufficient expression of disease yet at the age of 12 months, further validation of this model is highly beneficial since there is still an incomplete understanding of the early disease mechanisms of Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Blockx
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Belgium
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Renoir T, Zajac MS, Du X, Pang TY, Leang L, Chevarin C, Lanfumey L, Hannan AJ. Sexually dimorphic serotonergic dysfunction in a mouse model of Huntington's disease and depression. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22133. [PMID: 21760962 PMCID: PMC3132782 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2011] [Accepted: 06/15/2011] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in Huntington's disease (HD) patients. In the general population, women are more prone to develop depression and such susceptibility might be related to serotonergic dysregulation. There is yet to be a study of sexual dimorphism in the development and presentation of depression in HD patients. We investigated whether 8-week-old male and female R6/1 transgenic HD mice display depressive-like endophenotypes associated with serotonergic impairments. We also studied the behavioral effects of acute treatment with sertraline. We found that only female HD mice exhibited a decreased preference for saccharin as well as impaired emotionality-related behaviors when assessed on the novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT) and the forced-swimming test (FST). The exaggerated immobility time displayed by female HD in the FST was reduced by acute administration of sertraline. We also report an increased response to the 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT in inducing hypothermia and a decreased 5-HT(2A) receptor function in HD animals. While tissue levels of serotonin were reduced in both male and female HD mice, we found that serotonin concentration and hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) mRNA levels were higher in the hippocampus of males compared to female animals. Finally, the antidepressant-like effects of sertraline in the FST were blunted in male HD animals. This study reveals sex-specific depressive-related behaviors during an early stage of HD prior to any cognitive and motor deficits. Our data suggest a crucial role for disrupted serotonin signaling in mediating the sexually dimorphic depression-like phenotype in HD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Renoir
- Howard Florey Institute, Florey Neuroscience Institutes, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
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Rosenstock TR, Bertoncini CRA, Teles AV, Hirata H, Fernandes MJS, Smaili SS. Glutamate-induced alterations in Ca2+ signaling are modulated by mitochondrial Ca2+ handling capacity in brain slices of R6/1 transgenic mice. Eur J Neurosci 2011; 32:60-70. [PMID: 20608968 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2010.07268.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of CAGs repeats and characterized by alterations in mitochondrial functions. Although changes in Ca(2+) handling have been suggested, the mechanisms involved are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible alterations in Ca(2+) handling capacity and the relationship with mitochondrial dysfunction evaluated by NAD(P)H fluorescence, reactive oxygen species levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) measurements and respiration in whole brain slices from R6/1 mice of different ages, evaluated in situ by real-time real-space microscopy. We show that the cortex and striatum of the 9-month-old R6/1 transgenic mice present a significant sustained increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) induced by glutamate (Glu). This difference in Glu response was partially reduced in R6/1 when in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+), indicating that N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors participation in this response is more important in transgenic mice. In addition, Glu also lead to a decrease in NAD(P)H fluorescence, a loss in DeltaPsi(m) and a further increase in respiration, which may have evoked a decrease in mitochondrial Ca(2+) Ca(2+)(m) uptake capacity. Taken together, these results show that alterations in Ca(2+) homeostasis in transgenic mice are associated with a decrease in Ca(2+)(m) uptake mechanism with a diminished Ca(2+) handling ability that ultimately causes dysfunctions and worsening of the neurodegenerative and the disease processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- T R Rosenstock
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP/EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Jahanshahi A, Vlamings R, Kaya AH, Lim LW, Janssen ML, Tan S, Visser-Vandewalle V, Steinbusch HW, Temel Y. Hyperdopaminergic Status in Experimental Huntington Disease. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2010; 69:910-7. [DOI: 10.1097/nen.0b013e3181ee005d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Bode FJ, Stephan M, Wiehager S, Nguyen HP, Björkqvist M, von Hörsten S, Bauer A, Petersén A. Increased numbers of motor activity peaks during light cycle are associated with reductions in adrenergic alpha(2)-receptor levels in a transgenic Huntington's disease rat model. Behav Brain Res 2009; 205:175-82. [PMID: 19573560 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2009.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2009] [Revised: 06/18/2009] [Accepted: 06/22/2009] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the HD gene. Besides psychiatric, motor and cognitive symptoms, HD patients suffer from sleep disturbances. In order to screen a rat model transgenic for HD (tgHD rats) for sleep-wake cycle dysregulation, we monitored their circadian activity peaks in the present study. TgHD rats of both sexes showed hyperactivity during the dark cycle and more frequent light cycle activity peaks indicative for a disturbed sleep-wake cycle. Focusing on males at the age of 4 and 14 months, analyses of receptor levels in the hypothalamus and the basal forebrain revealed that 5-HT(2A)- and adrenergic alpha(2)-receptor densities in these regions were significantly altered in tgHD rats compared to their wild-type littermates. Adrenergic receptor densities correlated negatively with the light cycle hyperactivity peaks at later stages of the disease in male tgHD rats. Furthermore, reduced leptin levels, a feature associated with circadian misalignment, were present. Our study demonstrates that the male tgHD rat is a suitable model to investigate HD associated sleep alterations. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the role of adrenergic- and 5-HT(2A)-receptors as therapeutic targets for dysregulation of the circadian activity in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix J Bode
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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Brooks S, Fielding S, Döbrössy M, von Hörsten S, Dunnett S. Subtle but progressive cognitive deficits in the female tgHD hemizygote rat as demonstrated by operant SILT performance. Brain Res Bull 2009; 79:310-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2009.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2009] [Revised: 03/05/2009] [Accepted: 03/16/2009] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Bugos O, Bhide M, Zilka N. Beyond the rat models of human neurodegenerative disorders. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2009; 29:859-69. [PMID: 19263215 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-009-9367-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2008] [Accepted: 02/11/2009] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The rat is a model of choice in biomedical research for over a century. Currently, the rat presents the best "functionally" characterized mammalian model system. Despite this fact, the transgenic rats have lagged behind the transgenic mice as an experimental model of human neurodegenerative disorders. The number of transgenic rat models recapitulating key pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or human tauopathies is still limited. The reason is that the transgenic rats remain more difficult to produce than transgenic mice. The gene targeting technology is not yet established in rats due to the lack of truly totipotent embryonic stem cells and cloning technology. This extremely powerful technique has given the mouse a clear advantage over the rat in generation of new transgenic models. Despite these limitations, transgenic rats have greatly expanded the range of potential experimental approaches. The large size of rats permits intrathecal administration of drugs, stem cell transplantation, serial sampling of the cerebrospinal fluid, microsurgical techniques, in vivo nerve recordings, and neuroimaging procedures. Moreover, the rat is routinely employed to demonstrate therapeutic efficacy and to assess toxicity of novel therapeutic compounds in drug development. Here we suggest that the rat constitutes a slightly underestimated but perspective animal model well-suited for understanding the mechanisms and pathways underlying the human neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ondrej Bugos
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, AD Centre, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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Stone TW, Ceruti S, Abbracchio MP. Adenosine receptors and neurological disease: neuroprotection and neurodegeneration. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2009:535-87. [PMID: 19639293 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-89615-9_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Adenosine receptors modulate neuronal and synaptic function in a range of ways that may make them relevant to the occurrence, development and treatment of brain ischemic damage and degenerative disorders. A(1) adenosine receptors tend to suppress neural activity by a predominantly presynaptic action, while A(2A) adenosine receptors are more likely to promote transmitter release and postsynaptic depolarization. A variety of interactions have also been described in which adenosine A(1) or A(2) adenosine receptors can modify cellular responses to conventional neurotransmitters or receptor agonists such as glutamate, NMDA, nitric oxide and P2 purine receptors. Part of the role of adenosine receptors seems to be in the regulation of inflammatory processes that often occur in the aftermath of a major insult or disease process. All of the adenosine receptors can modulate the release of cytokines such as interleukins and tumor necrosis factor-alpha from immune-competent leukocytes and glia. When examined directly as modifiers of brain damage, A(1) adenosine receptor (AR) agonists, A(2A)AR agonists and antagonists, as well as A(3)AR antagonists, can protect against a range of insults, both in vitro and in vivo. Intriguingly, acute and chronic treatments with these ligands can often produce diametrically opposite effects on damage outcome, probably resulting from adaptational changes in receptor number or properties. In some cases molecular approaches have identified the involvement of ERK and GSK-3beta pathways in the protection from damage. Much evidence argues for a role of adenosine receptors in neurological disease. Receptor densities are altered in patients with Alzheimer's disease, while many studies have demonstrated effects of adenosine and its antagonists on synaptic plasticity in vitro, or on learning adequacy in vivo. The combined effects of adenosine on neuronal viability and inflammatory processes have also led to considerations of their roles in Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Huntington's disease and multiple sclerosis, as well as the brain damage associated with stroke. In addition to the potential pathological relevance of adenosine receptors, there are earnest attempts in progress to generate ligands that will target adenosine receptors as therapeutic agents to treat some of these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor W Stone
- Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
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Bode FJ, Stephan M, Suhling H, Pabst R, Straub RH, Raber KA, Bonin M, Nguyen HP, Riess O, Bauer A, Sjoberg C, Petersén A, von Hörsten S. Sex differences in a transgenic rat model of Huntington's disease: decreased 17beta-estradiol levels correlate with reduced numbers of DARPP32+ neurons in males. Hum Mol Genet 2008; 17:2595-609. [PMID: 18502785 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddn159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent clinical studies have highlighted that female sex hormones represent potential neuroprotective mediators against damage caused by acute and chronic brain diseases. This evidence has been confirmed by experimental studies documenting the protective role of female sex hormones both in vitro and in vivo, although these studies did not specifically focus on Huntington's disease (HD). We therefore investigated the onset and course of HD in female and male transgenic (tg) HD (CAG(n51)) and control rats across age and focused on three aspects: (i) behavioral and physiological alterations (energy expenditure, home-cage activity, emotional disturbance and motor dysfunction), (ii) morphological markers (numbers and characteristics of striatal DARPP32(+) medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) and dopamine receptor autoradiography) and (iii) peripheral sex hormone levels as well as striatal estrogen receptor expression. Independent of their sex, tgHD rats exhibited increased levels of food intake, elevated home-cage activity scores and anxiolytic-like behavior, whereas only males showed an impairment of motor function. In line with the latter finding, loss and atrophy of DARPP32(+) MSNs were apparent only in male tgHD rats. This result was associated with a decreased striatal dopamine D1 receptor density and lower plasma levels of 17beta-estradiol at the age of 14 months. As DARPP32(+) MSNs expressed both alpha- and beta-estrogen receptors and showed a correlation between cell numbers and 17beta-estradiol levels, our findings suggest sex-related differences in the HD phenotype pointing to a substantial neuroprotective effect of sex hormones and opening new perspectives on the therapy of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix J Bode
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Medical School of Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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Abstract
A number of proteins are known to interact with huntingtin (htt), the Huntington's disease (HD) protein. Understanding the function of these htt-associated proteins could help elucidate the pathogenesis of HD and the role that htt plays in the disease process. The present review focuses on one such protein, huntingtin-associated protein 1 (HAP1), which has proved to be involved in intracellular trafficking. Unlike huntingtin, which is expressed ubiquitously throughout the brain and body, HAP1 is enriched in neurons, suggesting that its dysfunction could contribute to the selective neuropathology in HD. HAP1 binds microtubule-dependent transporters that engage anterograde or retrograde transport and also associates with a variety of organelles and membrane receptors. This raises the interesting issue of how the HAP1 trafficking function is regulated. We discuss recent evidence for the involvement of HAP1 in intracellular trafficking as well as potential mechanisms that may regulate its trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Rong
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
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Galvan A, Wichmann T. GABAergic circuits in the basal ganglia and movement disorders. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2007; 160:287-312. [PMID: 17499121 DOI: 10.1016/s0079-6123(06)60017-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the basal ganglia, and GABAergic pathways dominate information processing in most areas of these structures. It is therefore not surprising that abnormalities of GABAergic transmission are key elements in pathophysiologic models of movement disorders involving the basal ganglia. These include hypokinetic diseases such as Parkinson's disease, and hyperkinetic diseases, such as Huntington's disease or hemiballism. In this chapter, we will briefly review the major anatomic features of the GABAergic pathways in the basal ganglia, and then describe in greater detail the changes of GABAergic transmission, which are known to occur in movement disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Galvan
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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Horn SC, Lalowski M, Goehler H, Dröge A, Wanker EE, Stelzl U. Huntingtin interacts with the receptor sorting family protein GASP2. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2006; 113:1081-90. [PMID: 16835690 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-006-0514-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2005] [Accepted: 04/05/2006] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Protein interaction networks are useful resources for the functional annotation of proteins. Recently, we have generated a highly connected protein-protein interaction network for Huntington's disease (HD) by automated yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening (Goehler et al., 2004). The network included several novel direct interaction partners for the disease protein huntingtin (htt). Some of these interactions, however, have not been validated by independent methods. Here we describe the verification of the interaction between htt and GASP2 (G protein-coupled receptor associated sorting protein 2), a protein involved in membrane receptor degradation. Using membrane-based and classical coimmunoprecipitation assays we demonstrate that htt and GASP2 form a complex in cotransfected mammalian cells. Moreover, we show that the two proteins colocalize in SH-SY5Y cells, raising the possibility that htt and GASP2 interact in neurons. As the GASP protein family plays a role in G protein-coupled receptor sorting, our data suggest that htt might influence receptor trafficking via the interaction with GASP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Horn
- Department of Neuroproteomics, Max-Delbrück-Centrum for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
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Bauer A, Zilles K, Matusch A, Holzmann C, Riess O, Von Hoersten S. Regional and subtype selective changes of neurotransmitter receptor density in a rat transgenic for the Huntington's disease mutation. J Neurochem 2005. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2005.03351.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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