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Li K, Cao JF, Gong Y, Xiong L, Wu M, Qi Y, Ying X, Liu D, Ma X, Zhang X. Rapamycin improves the survival of epilepsy model cells by blocking phosphorylation of mTOR base on computer simulations and cellular experiments. Neurochem Int 2024; 176:105746. [PMID: 38641027 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105746] [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: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Epilepsy is a chronic brain dysfunction characterized by recurrent epileptic seizures. Rapamycin is a naturally occurring macrolide from Streptomyces hygroscopicus, and rapamycin may provide a protective effect on the nervous system by affecting mTOR. Therefore, we investigated the pharmacologic mechanism of rapamycin treating epilepsy through bioinformatics analysis, cellular experiments and supercomputer simulation. METHODS Bioinformatics analysis was used to analyze targets of rapamycin treating epilepsy. We established epilepsy cell model by HT22 cells. RT-qPCR, WB and IF were used to verify the effects of rapamycin on mTOR at gene level and protein level. Computer simulations were used to model and evaluate the stability of rapamycin binding to mTOR protein. RESULTS Bioinformatics indicated mTOR played an essential role in signaling pathways of cell growth and cell metabolism. Cellular experiments showed that rapamycin could promote cell survival, and rapamycin did not have an effect on mRNA expression of mTOR. However, rapamycin was able to significantly inhibit the phosphorylation of mTOR at protein level. Computer simulations indicated that rapamycin was involved in the treatment of epilepsy through regulating phosphorylation of mTOR at protein level. CONCLUSION We found that rapamycin was capable of promoting the survival of epilepsy cells by inhibiting the phosphorylation of mTOR at protein level, and rapamycin did not have an effect on mRNA expression of mTOR. In addition to the traditional study that rapamycin affects mTORC1 complex by acting on FKBP12, this study found rapamycin could also directly block the phosphorylation of mTOR, therefore affecting the assembly of mTORC1 complex and mTOR signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kezhou Li
- College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China; Pancreatic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun-Feng Cao
- Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China; College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Li Xiong
- Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Mei Wu
- Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Qi
- Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | | | | | - Xuntai Ma
- Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China; The First Affiliated Hospital of Clinical Medical College of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China.
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China.
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Scheper M, Sørensen FNF, Ruffolo G, Gaeta A, Lissner LJ, Anink JJ, Korshunova I, Jansen FE, Riney K, van Hecke W, Mühlebner A, Khodosevich K, Schubert D, Palma E, Mills JD, Aronica E. Impaired GABAergic regulation and developmental immaturity in interneurons derived from the medial ganglionic eminence in the tuberous sclerosis complex. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:80. [PMID: 38714540 PMCID: PMC11076412 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02737-7] [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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/10/2024]
Abstract
GABAergic interneurons play a critical role in maintaining neural circuit balance, excitation-inhibition regulation, and cognitive function modulation. In tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), GABAergic neuron dysfunction contributes to disrupted network activity and associated neurological symptoms, assumingly in a cell type-specific manner. This GABAergic centric study focuses on identifying specific interneuron subpopulations within TSC, emphasizing the unique characteristics of medial ganglionic eminence (MGE)- and caudal ganglionic eminence (CGE)-derived interneurons. Using single-nuclei RNA sequencing in TSC patient material, we identify somatostatin-expressing (SST+) interneurons as a unique and immature subpopulation in TSC. The disrupted maturation of SST+ interneurons may undergo an incomplete switch from excitatory to inhibitory GABAergic signaling during development, resulting in reduced inhibitory properties. Notably, this study reveals markers of immaturity specifically in SST+ interneurons, including an abnormal NKCC1/KCC2 ratio, indicating an imbalance in chloride homeostasis crucial for the postsynaptic consequences of GABAergic signaling as well as the downregulation of GABAA receptor subunits, GABRA1, and upregulation of GABRA2. Further exploration of SST+ interneurons revealed altered localization patterns of SST+ interneurons in TSC brain tissue, concentrated in deeper cortical layers, possibly linked to cortical dyslamination. In the epilepsy context, our research underscores the diverse cell type-specific roles of GABAergic interneurons in shaping seizures, advocating for precise therapeutic considerations. Moreover, this study illuminates the potential contribution of SST+ interneurons to TSC pathophysiology, offering insights for targeted therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirte Scheper
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Frederik N F Sørensen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gabriele Ruffolo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, 00163, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gaeta
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Lilian J Lissner
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Jasper J Anink
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Irina Korshunova
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Floor E Jansen
- Department of Child Neurology, Brain Center University Medical Center, Member of ERN EpiCare, 3584 BA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kate Riney
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia
- Neurosciences Unit, Queensland Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia
| | - Wim van Hecke
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Angelika Mühlebner
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Konstantin Khodosevich
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dirk Schubert
- Department of Cognitive Neurosciences, Radboudumc, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, 6525 HR, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Palma
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, 00185, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, 00163, Rome, Italy
| | - James D Mills
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Bucks, SL9 0RJ, UK
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN), Heemstede, The Netherlands
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Sprissler R, Hammer M, Labiner D, Joshi N, Alan A, Weinand M. Leukocyte differential gene expression prognostic value for high versus low seizure frequency in temporal lobe epilepsy. BMC Neurol 2024; 24:16. [PMID: 38166692 PMCID: PMC10759702 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-023-03459-1] [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: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study was performed to test the hypothesis that systemic leukocyte gene expression has prognostic value differentiating low from high seizure frequency refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). METHODS A consecutive series of patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy was studied. Based on a median baseline seizure frequency of 2.0 seizures per month, low versus high seizure frequency was defined as ≤ 2 seizures/month and > 2 seizures/month, respectively. Systemic leukocyte gene expression was analyzed for prognostic value for TLE seizure frequency. All differentially expressed genes were analyzed, with Ingenuity® Pathway Analysis (IPA®) and Reactome, to identify leukocyte gene expression and biological pathways with prognostic value for seizure frequency. RESULTS There were ten males and six females with a mean age of 39.4 years (range: 16 to 62 years, standard error of mean: 3.6 years). There were five patients in the high and eleven patients in the low seizure frequency cohorts, respectively. Based on a threshold of twofold change (p < 0.001, FC > 2.0, FDR < 0.05) and expression within at least two pathways from both Reactome and Ingenuity® Pathway Analysis (IPA®), 13 differentially expressed leukocyte genes were identified which were all over-expressed in the low when compared to the high seizure frequency groups, including NCF2, HMOX1, RHOB, FCGR2A, PRKCD, RAC2, TLR1, CHP1, TNFRSF1A, IFNGR1, LYN, MYD88, and CASP1. Similar analysis identified four differentially expressed genes which were all over-expressed in the high when compared to the low seizure frequency groups, including AK1, F2R, GNB5, and TYMS. CONCLUSIONS Low and high seizure frequency TLE are predicted by the respective upregulation and downregulation of specific leukocyte genes involved in canonical pathways of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) inhibition, and AMPA and NMDA receptor signaling. Furthermore, high seizure frequency-TLE is distinguished prognostically from low seizure frequency-TLE by differentially increased specific leukocyte gene expression involved in GABA inhibition and NMDA receptor signaling. High and low seizure frequency patients appear to represent two mechanistically different forms of temporal lobe epilepsy based on leukocyte gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Sprissler
- Center for Applied Genetics and Genomic Medicine, RII, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Michael Hammer
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - David Labiner
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Neil Joshi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Albert Alan
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Martin Weinand
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Kitchigina V, Shubina L. Oscillations in the dentate gyrus as a tool for the performance of the hippocampal functions: Healthy and epileptic brain. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 125:110759. [PMID: 37003419 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The dentate gyrus (DG) is part of the hippocampal formation and is essential for important cognitive processes such as navigation and memory. The oscillatory activity of the DG network is believed to play a critical role in cognition. DG circuits generate theta, beta, and gamma rhythms, which participate in the specific information processing performed by DG neurons. In the temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), cognitive abilities are impaired, which may be due to drastic alterations in the DG structure and network activity during epileptogenesis. The theta rhythm and theta coherence are especially vulnerable in dentate circuits; disturbances in DG theta oscillations and their coherence may be responsible for general cognitive impairments observed during epileptogenesis. Some researchers suggested that the vulnerability of DG mossy cells is a key factor in the genesis of TLE, but others did not support this hypothesis. The aim of the review is not only to present the current state of the art in this field of research but to help pave the way for future investigations by highlighting the gaps in our knowledge to completely appreciate the role of DG rhythms in brain functions. Disturbances in oscillatory activity of the DG during TLE development may be a diagnostic marker in the treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Kitchigina
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region 142290, Russia.
| | - Liubov Shubina
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region 142290, Russia
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Impact of Raptor and Rictor Deletion on Hippocampal Pathology Following Status Epilepticus. J Mol Neurosci 2022; 72:1243-1258. [PMID: 35618880 PMCID: PMC9571976 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-022-02030-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal hyperactivation of the mTOR signaling pathway may play a role in driving the pathological sequelae that follow status epilepticus. Animal studies using pharmacological tools provide support for this hypothesis, however, systemic inhibition of mTOR-a growth pathway active in every mammalian cell-limits conclusions on cell type specificity. To circumvent the limitations of pharmacological approaches, we developed a viral/genetic strategy to delete Raptor or Rictor, inhibiting mTORC1 or mTORC2, respectively, from excitatory hippocampal neurons after status epilepticus in mice. Raptor or Rictor was deleted from roughly 25% of hippocampal granule cells, with variable involvement of other hippocampal neurons, after pilocarpine status epilepticus. Status epilepticus induced the expected loss of hilar neurons, sprouting of granule cell mossy fiber axons and reduced c-Fos activation. Gene deletion did not prevent these changes, although Raptor loss reduced the density of c-Fos-positive granule cells overall relative to Rictor groups. Findings demonstrate that mTOR signaling can be effectively modulated with this approach and further reveal that blocking mTOR signaling in a minority (25%) of granule cells is not sufficient to alter key measures of status epilepticus-induced pathology. The approach is suitable for producing higher deletion rates, and altering the timing of deletion, which may lead to different outcomes.
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Sensitive period for rescuing parvalbumin interneurons connectivity and social behavior deficits caused by TSC1 loss. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3653. [PMID: 34135323 PMCID: PMC8209106 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23939-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mechanistic Target Of Rapamycin Complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway controls several aspects of neuronal development. Mutations in regulators of mTORC1, such as Tsc1 and Tsc2, lead to neurodevelopmental disorders associated with autism, intellectual disabilities and epilepsy. The correct development of inhibitory interneurons is crucial for functional circuits. In particular, the axonal arborisation and synapse density of parvalbumin (PV)-positive GABAergic interneurons change in the postnatal brain. How and whether mTORC1 signaling affects PV cell development is unknown. Here, we show that Tsc1 haploinsufficiency causes a premature increase in terminal axonal branching and bouton density formed by mutant PV cells, followed by a loss of perisomatic innervation in adult mice. PV cell-restricted Tsc1 haploinsufficient and knockout mice show deficits in social behavior. Finally, we identify a sensitive period during the third postnatal week during which treatment with the mTOR inhibitor Rapamycin rescues deficits in both PV cell innervation and social behavior in adult conditional haploinsufficient mice. Our findings reveal a role of mTORC1 signaling in the regulation of the developmental time course and maintenance of cortical PV cell connectivity and support a mechanistic basis for the targeted rescue of autism-related behaviors in disorders associated with deregulated mTORC1 signaling.
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Jiang X, Lupien-Meilleur A, Tazerart S, Lachance M, Samarova E, Araya R, Lacaille JC, Rossignol E. Remodeled cortical inhibition prevents motor seizures in generalized epilepsy. Ann Neurol 2019; 84:436-451. [PMID: 30048010 DOI: 10.1002/ana.25301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Deletions of CACNA1A, encoding the α1 subunit of CaV 2.1 channels, cause epilepsy with ataxia in humans. Whereas the deletion of Cacna1a in γ-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) interneurons (INs) derived from the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) impairs cortical inhibition and causes generalized seizures in Nkx2.1Cre ;Cacna1ac/c mice, the targeted deletion of Cacna1a in somatostatin-expressing INs (SOM-INs), a subset of MGE-derived INs, does not result in seizures, indicating a crucial role of parvalbumin-expressing (PV) INs. Here we identify the cellular and network consequences of Cacna1a deletion specifically in PV-INs. METHODS We generated PVCre ;Cacna1ac/c mutant mice carrying a conditional Cacna1a deletion in PV neurons and evaluated the cortical cellular and network outcomes of this mutation by combining immunohistochemical assays, in vitro electrophysiology, 2-photon imaging, and in vivo video-electroencephalographic recordings. RESULTS PVCre ;Cacna1ac/c mice display reduced cortical perisomatic inhibition and frequent absences but only rare motor seizures. Compared to Nkx2.1Cre ;Cacna1ac/c mice, PVCre ;Cacna1ac/c mice have a net increase in cortical inhibition, with a gain of dendritic inhibition through sprouting of SOM-IN axons, largely preventing motor seizures. This beneficial compensatory remodeling of cortical GABAergic innervation is mTORC1-dependent and its inhibition with rapamycin leads to a striking increase in motor seizures. Furthermore, we show that a direct chemogenic activation of cortical SOM-INs prevents motor seizures in a model of kainate-induced seizures. INTERPRETATION Our findings provide novel evidence suggesting that the remodeling of cortical inhibition, with an mTOR-dependent gain of dendritic inhibition, determines the seizure phenotype in generalized epilepsy and that mTOR inhibition can be detrimental in epilepsies not primarily due to mTOR hyperactivation. Ann Neurol 2018;84:436-451.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Jiang
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center.,Department of Neurosciences and the Central Nervous System Research Group, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Sabrina Tazerart
- Department of Neurosciences and the Central Nervous System Research Group, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Elena Samarova
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center.,Department of Neurosciences and the Central Nervous System Research Group, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Roberto Araya
- Department of Neurosciences and the Central Nervous System Research Group, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jean-Claude Lacaille
- Department of Neurosciences and the Central Nervous System Research Group, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Elsa Rossignol
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center.,Department of Neurosciences and the Central Nervous System Research Group, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Abstract
Remodeled Cortical Inhibition Prevents Motor Seizures in Generalized Epilepsy Jiang X, Lupien-Meilleur A, Tazerart S, Lachance M, Samarova E, Araya R, Lacaille JC, Rossignol E. Ann Neurol. 2018 Sep;84(3):436-451. OBJECTIVE Deletions of CACNA1A, encoding the α1 subunit of CaV 2.1 channels, cause epilepsy with ataxia in humans. Whereas the deletion of Cacna1a in γ-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) interneurons (INs) derived from the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) impairs cortical inhibition and causes generalized seizures in Nkx2.1Cre;Cacna1ac/c mice, the targeted deletion of Cacna1a in somatostatin-expressing INs (SOM-INs), a subset of MGE-derived INs, does not result in seizures, indicating a crucial role of parvalbumin-expressing (PV) INs. Here, we identify the cellular and network consequences of Cacna1a deletion specifically in PV-INs. METHODS We generated PVCre;Cacna1ac/c mutant mice carrying a conditional Cacna1a deletion in PV neurons and evaluated the cortical cellular and network outcomes of this mutation by combining immunohistochemical assays, in vitro electrophysiology, 2-photon imaging, and in vivo video-electroencephalographic recordings. RESULTS PVCre;Cacna1ac/c mice display reduced cortical perisomatic inhibition and frequent absences, but only rare motor seizures. Compared to Nkx2.1Cre;Cacna1ac/c mice, PVCre;Cacna1ac/c mice have a net increase in cortical inhibition, with a gain of dendritic inhibition through sprouting of SOM-IN axons, largely preventing motor seizures. This beneficial compensatory remodeling of cortical GABAergic innervation is mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)-dependent, and its inhibition with rapamycin leads to a striking increase in motor seizures. Furthermore, we show that a direct chemogenic activation of cortical SOM-INs prevents motor seizures in a model of kainate-induced seizures. INTERPRETATION Our findings provide novel evidence suggesting that the remodeling of cortical inhibition, with an mTOR-dependent gain of dendritic inhibition, determines the seizure phenotype in generalized epilepsy and that mTOR inhibition can be detrimental in epilepsies not primarily due to mTOR hyperactivation.
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Wang F, Chen F, Wang G, Wei S, Fang F, Kang D, Lin Y. Rapamycin provides anti-epileptogenic effect in a rat model of post-traumatic epilepsy via deactivation of mTOR signaling pathway. Exp Ther Med 2018; 15:4763-4770. [PMID: 29904395 PMCID: PMC5996717 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.6004] [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: 06/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway has attracted much attention in recent years. However, the contribution of mTOR activation to the development of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) remains largely unknown. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the activation of mTOR signaling in a rat model of FeCl2-induced PTE, and to explore the potential effect of its specific inhibitor rapamycin. The results indicated that the expression levels of p-mTOR and p-P70S6K, the overactivation biomarkers of mTOR signaling, increased significantly in hippocampal and perilesional cortex following PTE induction. Notably, they were significantly decreased in the aformementioned brain regions following rapamycin treatment. Furthermore, the frequency and number of behavioral seizures and epileptic brain injury were also greatly reduced. These results suggest that hyperactivation of the mTOR signaling pathway is a crucial mechanism of PTE development, and it may be considered a novel therapeutic target for PTE treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
| | - Fuxiang Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
| | - Genbo Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
| | - Shushan Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
| | - Fu Fang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
| | - Dezhi Kang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
| | - Yuanxiang Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
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Talos DM, Jacobs LM, Gourmaud S, Coto CA, Sun H, Lim KC, Lucas TH, Davis KA, Martinez-Lage M, Jensen FE. Mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 and 2 in human temporal lobe epilepsy. Ann Neurol 2018; 83:311-327. [PMID: 29331082 DOI: 10.1002/ana.25149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a chronic epilepsy syndrome defined by seizures and progressive neurological disabilities, including cognitive impairments, anxiety, and depression. Here, human TLE specimens were investigated focusing on the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) and complex 2 (mTORC2) activities in the brain, given that both pathways may represent unique targets for treatment. METHODS Surgically resected hippocampal and temporal lobe samples from therapy-resistant TLE patients were analyzed by western blotting to quantify the expression of established mTORC1 and mTORC2 activity markers and upstream or downstream signaling pathways involving the two complexes. Histological and immunohistochemical techniques were used to assess hippocampal and neocortical structural abnormalities and cell-specific expression of individual biomarkers. Samples from patients with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type II served as positive controls. RESULTS We found significantly increased expression of phospho-mTOR (Ser2448), phospho-S6 (Ser235/236), phospho-S6 (Ser240/244), and phospho-Akt (Ser473) in TLE samples compared to controls, consistent with activation of both mTORC1 and mTORC2. Our work identified the phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathways as potential mTORC1 and mTORC2 upstream activators. In addition, we found that overactive mTORC2 signaling was accompanied by induction of two protein kinase B-dependent prosurvival pathways, as evidenced by increased inhibitory phosphorylation of forkhead box class O3a (Ser253) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (Ser9). INTERPRETATION Our data demonstrate that mTOR signaling is significantly dysregulated in human TLE, offering new targets for pharmacological interventions. Specifically, clinically available drugs that suppress mTORC1 without compromising mTOR2 signaling, such as rapamycin and its analogs, may represent a new group of antiepileptogenic agents in TLE patients. Ann Neurol 2018;83:311-327.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delia M Talos
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Leah M Jacobs
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Sarah Gourmaud
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Carlos A Coto
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Hongyu Sun
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.,Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Kuei-Cheng Lim
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Timothy H Lucas
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kathryn A Davis
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Maria Martinez-Lage
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Frances E Jensen
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
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Brain Injury-Induced Synaptic Reorganization in Hilar Inhibitory Neurons Is Differentially Suppressed by Rapamycin. eNeuro 2017; 4:eN-NWR-0134-17. [PMID: 29085896 PMCID: PMC5659239 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0134-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Following traumatic brain injury (TBI), treatment with rapamycin suppresses mammalian (mechanistic) target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity and specific components of hippocampal synaptic reorganization associated with altered cortical excitability and seizure susceptibility. Reemergence of seizures after cessation of rapamycin treatment suggests, however, an incomplete suppression of epileptogenesis. Hilar inhibitory interneurons regulate dentate granule cell (DGC) activity, and de novo synaptic input from both DGCs and CA3 pyramidal cells after TBI increases their excitability but effects of rapamycin treatment on the injury-induced plasticity of interneurons is only partially described. Using transgenic mice in which enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) is expressed in the somatostatinergic subset of hilar inhibitory interneurons, we tested the effect of daily systemic rapamycin treatment (3 mg/kg) on the excitability of hilar inhibitory interneurons after controlled cortical impact (CCI)-induced focal brain injury. Rapamycin treatment reduced, but did not normalize, the injury-induced increase in excitability of surviving eGFP+ hilar interneurons. The injury-induced increase in response to selective glutamate photostimulation of DGCs was reduced to normal levels after mTOR inhibition, but the postinjury increase in synaptic excitation arising from CA3 pyramidal cell activity was unaffected by rapamycin treatment. The incomplete suppression of synaptic reorganization in inhibitory circuits after brain injury could contribute to hippocampal hyperexcitability and the eventual reemergence of the epileptogenic process upon cessation of mTOR inhibition. Further, the cell-selective effect of mTOR inhibition on synaptic reorganization after CCI suggests possible mechanisms by which rapamycin treatment modifies epileptogenesis in some models but not others.
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Moradi M, Sivadasan R, Saal L, Lüningschrör P, Dombert B, Rathod RJ, Dieterich DC, Blum R, Sendtner M. Differential roles of α-, β-, and γ-actin in axon growth and collateral branch formation in motoneurons. J Cell Biol 2017; 216:793-814. [PMID: 28246119 PMCID: PMC5346967 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201604117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
α-, β-, and γ-actin differentially regulate cytoskeletal dynamics and stability in axons of motoneurons. Locally translated α-actin contributes to stable actin filaments in axonal branches, whereas β- and γ-actin give rise to highly dynamic filaments that modulate growth cone dynamics. Axonal branching and terminal arborization are fundamental events during the establishment of synaptic connectivity. They are triggered by assembly of actin filaments along axon shafts giving rise to filopodia. The specific contribution of the three actin isoforms, Actα, Actβ, and Actγ, to filopodia stability and dynamics during this process is not well understood. Here, we report that Actα, Actβ, and Actγ isoforms are expressed in primary mouse motoneurons and their transcripts are translocated into axons. shRNA-mediated depletion of Actα reduces axonal filopodia dynamics and disturbs collateral branch formation. Knockdown of Actβ reduces dynamic movements of growth cone filopodia and impairs presynaptic differentiation. Ablation of Actβ or Actγ leads to compensatory up-regulation of the two other isoforms, which allows maintenance of total actin levels and preserves F-actin polymerization. Collectively, our data provide evidence for specific roles of different actin isoforms in spatial regulation of actin dynamics and stability in axons of developing motoneurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehri Moradi
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, University of Wuerzburg, 97078 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Rajeeve Sivadasan
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, University of Wuerzburg, 97078 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Lena Saal
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, University of Wuerzburg, 97078 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Lüningschrör
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, University of Wuerzburg, 97078 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Dombert
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, University of Wuerzburg, 97078 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Reena Jagdish Rathod
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, University of Wuerzburg, 97078 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Daniela C Dieterich
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Medical Faculty, University of Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Robert Blum
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, University of Wuerzburg, 97078 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Michael Sendtner
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, University of Wuerzburg, 97078 Wuerzburg, Germany
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Chi X, Huang C, Li R, Wang W, Wu M, Li J, Zhou D. Inhibition of mTOR Pathway by Rapamycin Decreases P-glycoprotein Expression and Spontaneous Seizures in Pharmacoresistant Epilepsy. J Mol Neurosci 2017; 61:553-562. [PMID: 28229367 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-017-0897-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been demonstrated to mediate multidrug resistance in various tumors by inducing P-glycoprotein (P-gp) overexpression. Here, we investigated the correlation between the mTOR pathway and P-gp expression in pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Temporal cortex specimens were obtained from patients with refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) and age-matched controls who underwent surgeries at West China Hospital of Sichuan University between June 2014 and May 2015. We established a rat model of epilepsy kindled by coriaria lactone (CL) and screened pharmacoresistant rats (non-responders) using phenytoin. Non-responders were treated for 4 weeks with vehicle only or with the mTOR pathway inhibitor rapamycin at doses of 1, 3, and 6 mg/kg. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of phospho-S6 (P-S6) and P-gp at different time points (1 h, 8 h, 1 day, 3 days, 1 weeks, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks) after the onset of treatment. Overexpression of P-S6 and P-gp was detected in both refractory mTLE patients and non-responder rats. Rapamycin showed an inhibitory effect on P-S6 and P-gp expression 1 week after treatment in rats. In addition, the expression levels of P-S6 and P-gp in the 6 mg/kg group were significantly lower than those in the 1 mg/kg or the 3 mg/kg group at the same time points (all P < 0.05). Moreover, rapamycin decreased the duration and number of CL-induced seizures, as well as the stage of non-responders (all P < 0.05). The current study indicates that the mTOR signaling pathway plays a critical role in P-gp expression in drug-resistant epilepsy. Inhibition of the mTOR pathway by rapamycin may be a potential therapeutic approach for pharmacoresistant epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaosa Chi
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37th Guoxuexiang Road, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37th Guoxuexiang Road, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, China
| | - Rui Li
- Key Lab of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, MOH, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37th Guoxuexiang Road, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, China
| | - Mengqian Wu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37th Guoxuexiang Road, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, China
| | - Jinmei Li
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37th Guoxuexiang Road, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, China
| | - Dong Zhou
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37th Guoxuexiang Road, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, China.
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14
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Christenson Wick Z, Leintz CH, Xamonthiene C, Huang BH, Krook-Magnuson E. Axonal sprouting in commissurally projecting parvalbumin-expressing interneurons. J Neurosci Res 2017; 95:2336-2344. [PMID: 28151564 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Previous research has shown that in vivo on-demand optogenetic stimulation of inhibitory interneurons expressing parvalbumin (PV) is sufficient to suppress seizures in a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Surprisingly, this intervention was capable of suppressing seizures when PV-expressing interneurons were stimulated ipsilateral or contralateral to the presumed seizure focus, raising the possibility of commissural inhibition in TLE. There are mixed reports regarding commissural PV interneuron projections in the healthy hippocampus, and it was previously unknown whether these connections would be maintained or modified following the network reorganization associated with TLE. Using retrograde labeling and viral vector technology in both sexes and the intrahippocampal kainate mouse model of TLE, we therefore examined these issues. Our results reveal that healthy controls possess a population of commissurally projecting hippocampal PV interneurons. Two weeks post kainate injection, we observed a slight, but not statistically significant decrease in retrogradely labeled PV interneurons in the hippocampus contralateral to kainate and tracer injection. By 6 months post kainate, however, there was a significant increase in retrogradely labeled PV interneurons, suggesting commissural inhibitory axonal sprouting. Using viral green fluorescent protein expression selectively in PV neurons, we demonstrated sprouting of commissural PV projections in the dentate gyrus of the kainate-injected hippocampus 6 months post kainate. These findings indicate that PV interneurons supply direct inhibition to the contralateral hippocampus and undergo sprouting in a mouse model of TLE. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caara H Leintz
- Neuroscience Department, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
| | | | - Bin H Huang
- Neuroscience Department, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
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15
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Botterill JJ, Nogovitsyn N, Caruncho HJ, Kalynchuk LE. Selective plasticity of hippocampal GABAergic interneuron populations following kindling of different brain regions. J Comp Neurol 2016; 525:389-406. [PMID: 27362579 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Revised: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The vulnerability and plasticity of hippocampal GABAergic interneurons is a topic of broad interest and debate in the field of epilepsy. In this experiment, we used the electrical kindling model of epilepsy to determine whether seizures that originate in different brain regions have differential effects on hippocampal interneuron subpopulations. Long-Evans rats received 99 electrical stimulations of the hippocampus, amygdala, or caudate nucleus, followed by sacrifice and immunohistochemical or western blot analyses. We analyzed markers of dendritic (somatostatin), perisomatic (parvalbumin), and interneuron-selective (calretinin) inhibition, as well as an overall indicator (GAD67) of interneuron distribution across all major hippocampal subfields. Our results indicate that kindling produces selective effects on the number and morphology of different functional classes of GABAergic interneurons. In particular, limbic kindling appears to enhance dendritic inhibition, indicated by a greater number of somatostatin-immunoreactive (-ir) cells in the CA1 pyramidal layer and robust morphological sprouting in the dentate gyrus. We also found a reduction in the number of interneuron-selective calretinin-ir cells in the dentate gyrus of hippocampal-kindled rats, which suggests a possible reduction of synchronized dendritic inhibition. In contrast, perisomatic inhibition indicated by parvalbumin immunoreactivity appears to be largely resilient to the effects of kindling. Finally, we found a significant induction in the number of GAD67-cells in caudate-kindled rats in the dentate gyrus and CA3 hippocampal subfields. Taken together, our results demonstrate that kindling has subfield-selective effects on the different functional classes of hippocampal GABAergic interneurons. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:389-406, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Botterill
- Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - N Nogovitsyn
- Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - H J Caruncho
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - L E Kalynchuk
- Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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16
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Alexander A, Maroso M, Soltesz I. Organization and control of epileptic circuits in temporal lobe epilepsy. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2016; 226:127-54. [PMID: 27323941 PMCID: PMC5140277 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2016.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
When studying the pathological mechanisms of epilepsy, there are a seemingly endless number of approaches from the ultrastructural level-receptor expression by EM-to the behavioral level-comorbid depression in behaving animals. Epilepsy is characterized as a disorder of recurrent seizures, which are defined as "a transient occurrence of signs and/or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain" (Fisher et al., 2005). Such abnormal activity typically does not occur in a single isolated neuron; rather, it results from pathological activity in large groups-or circuits-of neurons. Here we choose to focus on two aspects of aberrant circuits in temporal lobe epilepsy: their organization and potential mechanisms to control these pathological circuits. We also look at two scales: microcircuits, ie, the relationship between individual neurons or small groups of similar neurons, and macrocircuits, ie, the organization of large-scale brain regions. We begin by summarizing the large body of literature that describes the stereotypical anatomical changes in the temporal lobe-ie, the anatomical basis of alterations in microcircuitry. We then offer a brief introduction to graph theory and describe how this type of mathematical analysis, in combination with computational neuroscience techniques and using parameters obtained from experimental data, can be used to postulate how microcircuit alterations may lead to seizures. We then zoom out and look at the changes which are seen over large whole-brain networks in patients and animal models, and finally we look to the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Alexander
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - M Maroso
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - I Soltesz
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.
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17
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Abstract
Somatostatin-expressing GABAergic neurons constitute a major class of inhibitory neurons in the mammalian cortex and are characterized by dense wiring into the local network and high basal firing activity that persists in the absence of synaptic input. This firing provides both GABA type A receptor (GABAAR)- and GABABR-mediated inhibition that operates at fast and slow timescales. The activity of somatostatin-expressing neurons is regulated by brain state, during learning and in rewarded behaviour. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of how this class of cells can control network activity, with specific reference to how this is constrained by their anatomical and electrophysiological properties.
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18
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Citraro R, Leo A, Constanti A, Russo E, De Sarro G. mTOR pathway inhibition as a new therapeutic strategy in epilepsy and epileptogenesis. Pharmacol Res 2016; 107:333-343. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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19
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Butler CR, Boychuk JA, Smith BN. Differential effects of rapamycin treatment on tonic and phasic GABAergic inhibition in dentate granule cells after focal brain injury in mice. Exp Neurol 2016; 280:30-40. [PMID: 27018320 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Revised: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The cascade of events leading to post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains unclear. Altered inhibition in the hippocampal formation and dentate gyrus is a hallmark of several neurological disorders, including TBI and PTE. Inhibitory synaptic signaling in the hippocampus is predominately driven by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission, and is prominently mediated by postsynaptic type A GABA receptors (GABAAR's). Subsets of these receptors involved in tonic inhibition of neuronal membranes serve a fundamental role in maintenance of inhibitory state, and GABAAR-mediated tonic inhibition is altered functionally in animal models of both TBI and epilepsy. In this study, we assessed the effect of mTOR inhibition on hippocampal hilar inhibitory interneuron loss and synaptic and tonic GABAergic inhibition of dentate gyrus granule cells (DGCs) after controlled cortical impact (CCI) to determine if mTOR activation after TBI modulates GABAAR function. Hilar inhibitory interneuron density was significantly reduced 72h after CCI injury in the dorsal two-thirds of the hemisphere ipsilateral to injury compared with the contralateral hemisphere and sham controls. Rapamycin treatment did not alter this reduction in cell density. Synaptic and tonic current measurements made in DGCs at both 1-2 and 8-13weeks post-injury indicated reduced synaptic inhibition and THIP-induced tonic current density in DGCs ipsilateral to CCI injury at both time points post-injury, with no change in resting tonic GABAAR-mediated currents. Rapamycin treatment did not alter the reduced synaptic inhibition observed in ipsilateral DGCs 1-2weeks post-CCI injury, but further reduced synaptic inhibition of ipsilateral DGCs at 8-13weeks post-injury. The reduction in THIP-induced tonic current after injury, however, was prevented by rapamycin treatment at both time points. Rapamycin treatment thus differentially modifies CCI-induced changes in synaptic and tonic GABAAR-mediated currents in DGCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corwin R Butler
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Jeffery A Boychuk
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Epilepsy Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Center for Advanced Translational Stroke Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Bret N Smith
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Epilepsy Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC), University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, United States.
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20
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Althaus AL, Zhang H, Parent JM. Axonal plasticity of age-defined dentate granule cells in a rat model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 86:187-96. [PMID: 26644085 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Revised: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dentate granule cell (DGC) mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) is thought to underlie the creation of aberrant circuitry which promotes the generation or spread of spontaneous seizure activity. Understanding the extent to which populations of DGCs participate in this circuitry could help determine how it develops and potentially identify therapeutic targets for regulating aberrant network activity. In this study, we investigated how DGC birthdate influences participation in MFS and other aspects of axonal plasticity using the rat pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) model of mTLE. We injected a retrovirus (RV) carrying a synaptophysin-yellow fluorescent protein (syp-YFP) fusion construct to birthdate DGCs and brightly label their axon terminals, and compared DGCs born during the neonatal period with those generated in adulthood. We found that both neonatal and adult-born DGC populations participate, to a similar extent, in SE-induced MFS within the dentate gyrus inner molecular layer (IML). SE did not alter hilar MF bouton density compared to sham-treated controls, but adult-born DGC bouton density was greater in the IML than in the hilus after SE. Interestingly, we also observed MF axonal reorganization in area CA2 in epileptic rats, and these changes arose from DGCs generated both neonatally and in adulthood. These data indicate that both neonatal and adult-generated DGCs contribute to axonal reorganization in the rat pilocarpine mTLE model, and indicate a more complex relationship between DGC age and participation in seizure-related plasticity than was previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Althaus
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - H Zhang
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - J M Parent
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
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21
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Butler CR, Boychuk JA, Smith BN. Effects of Rapamycin Treatment on Neurogenesis and Synaptic Reorganization in the Dentate Gyrus after Controlled Cortical Impact Injury in Mice. Front Syst Neurosci 2015; 9:163. [PMID: 26640431 PMCID: PMC4661228 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2015.00163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) is one consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). A prominent cell signaling pathway activated in animal models of both TBI and epilepsy is the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Inhibition of mTOR with rapamycin has shown promise as a potential modulator of epileptogenesis in several animal models of epilepsy, but cellular mechanisms linking mTOR expression and epileptogenesis are unclear. In this study, the role of mTOR in modifying functional hippocampal circuit reorganization after focal TBI induced by controlled cortical impact (CCI) was investigated. Rapamycin (3 or 10 mg/kg), an inhibitor of mTOR signaling, was administered by intraperitoneal injection beginning on the day of injury and continued daily until tissue collection. Relative to controls, rapamycin treatment reduced dentate granule cell area in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the injury two weeks post-injury. Brain injury resulted in a significant increase in doublecortin immunolabeling in the dentate gyrus ipsilateral to the injury, indicating increased neurogenesis shortly after TBI. Rapamycin treatment prevented the increase in doublecortin labeling, with no overall effect on Fluoro-Jade B staining in the ipsilateral hemisphere, suggesting that rapamycin treatment reduced posttraumatic neurogenesis but did not prevent cell loss after injury. At later times post-injury (8–13 weeks), evidence of mossy fiber sprouting and increased recurrent excitation of dentate granule cells was detected, which were attenuated by rapamycin treatment. Rapamycin treatment also diminished seizure prevalence relative to vehicle-treated controls after TBI. Collectively, these results support a role for adult neurogenesis in PTE development and suggest that suppression of epileptogenesis by mTOR inhibition includes effects on post-injury neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corwin R Butler
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Jeffery A Boychuk
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky Lexington, KY, USA ; Epilepsy Center, University of Kentucky Lexington, KY, USA ; Center for Advanced Translational Stroke Science, University of Kentucky Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Bret N Smith
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky Lexington, KY, USA ; Epilepsy Center, University of Kentucky Lexington, KY, USA ; Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC), University of Kentucky Lexington, KY, USA
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22
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Hanna-El-Daher L, Béard E, Henry H, Tenenbaum L, Braissant O. Mild guanidinoacetate increase under partial guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency strongly affects brain cell development. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 79:14-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Revised: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Long-term seizure suppression and optogenetic analyses of synaptic connectivity in epileptic mice with hippocampal grafts of GABAergic interneurons. J Neurosci 2015; 34:13492-504. [PMID: 25274826 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0005-14.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies in rodent epilepsy models suggest that GABAergic interneuron progenitor grafts can reduce hyperexcitability and seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Although integration of the transplanted cells has been proposed as the underlying mechanism for these disease-modifying effects, prior studies have not explicitly examined cell types and synaptic mechanisms for long-term seizure suppression. To address this gap, we transplanted medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) cells from embryonic day 13.5 VGAT-Venus or VGAT-ChR2-EYFP transgenic embryos into the dentate gyrus (DG) of adult mice 2 weeks after induction of TLE with pilocarpine. Beginning 3-4 weeks after status epilepticus, we conducted continuous video-electroencephalographic recording until 90-100 d. TLE mice with bilateral MGE cell grafts in the DG had significantly fewer and milder electrographic seizures, compared with TLE controls. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the transplants contained multiple neuropeptide or calcium-binding protein-expressing interneuron types and these cells established dense terminal arborizations onto the somas, apical dendrites, and axon initial segments of dentate granule cells (GCs). A majority of the synaptic terminals formed by the transplanted cells were apposed to large postsynaptic clusters of gephyrin, indicative of mature inhibitory synaptic complexes. Functionality of these new inhibitory synapses was demonstrated by optogenetically activating VGAT-ChR2-EYFP-expressing transplanted neurons, which generated robust hyperpolarizations in GCs. These findings suggest that fetal GABAergic interneuron grafts may suppress pharmacoresistant seizures by enhancing synaptic inhibition in DG neural circuits.
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24
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Zhang W, Thamattoor AK, LeRoy C, Buckmaster PS. Surviving mossy cells enlarge and receive more excitatory synaptic input in a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Hippocampus 2014; 25:594-604. [PMID: 25488607 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Numerous hypotheses of temporal lobe epileptogenesis have been proposed, and several involve hippocampal mossy cells. Building on previous hypotheses we sought to test the possibility that after epileptogenic injuries surviving mossy cells develop into super-connected seizure-generating hub cells. If so, they might require more cellular machinery and consequently have larger somata, elongate their dendrites to receive more synaptic input, and display higher frequencies of miniature excitatory synaptic currents (mEPSCs). To test these possibilities pilocarpine-treated mice were evaluated using GluR2-immunocytochemistry, whole-cell recording, and biocytin-labeling. Epileptic pilocarpine-treated mice displayed substantial loss of GluR2-positive hilar neurons. Somata of surviving neurons were 1.4-times larger than in controls. Biocytin-labeled mossy cells also were larger in epileptic mice, but dendritic length per cell was not significantly different. The average frequency of mEPSCs of mossy cells recorded in the presence of tetrodotoxin and bicuculline was 3.2-times higher in epileptic pilocarpine-treated mice as compared to controls. Other parameters of mEPSCs were similar in both groups. Average input resistance of mossy cells in epileptic mice was reduced to 63% of controls, which is consistent with larger somata and would tend to make surviving mossy cells less excitable. Other intrinsic physiological characteristics examined were similar in both groups. Increased excitatory synaptic input is consistent with the hypothesis that surviving mossy cells develop into aberrantly super-connected seizure-generating hub cells, and soma hypertrophy is indirectly consistent with the possibility of axon sprouting. However, no obvious evidence of hyperexcitable intrinsic physiology was found. Furthermore, similar hypertrophy and hyper-connectivity has been reported for other neuron types in the dentate gyrus, suggesting mossy cells are not unique in this regard. Thus, findings of the present study reveal epilepsy-related changes in mossy cell anatomy and synaptic input but do not strongly support the hypothesis that mossy cells develop into seizure-generating hub cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
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25
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Liu YQ, Yu F, Liu WH, He XH, Peng BW. Dysfunction of hippocampal interneurons in epilepsy. Neurosci Bull 2014; 30:985-998. [PMID: 25370443 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-014-1478-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA)-containing interneurons are crucial to both development and function of the brain. Down-regulation of GABAergic inhibition may result in the generation of epileptiform activity. Loss, axonal sprouting, and dysfunction of interneurons are regarded as mechanisms involved in epileptogenesis. Recent evidence suggests that network connectivity and the properties of interneurons are responsible for excitatory-inhibitory neuronal circuits. The balance between excitation and inhibition in CA1 neuronal circuitry is considerably altered during epileptic changes. This review discusses interneuron diversity, the causes of interneuron dysfunction in epilepsy, and the possibility of using GABAergic neuronal progenitors for the treatment of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Qiang Liu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Fang Yu
- Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Wan-Hong Liu
- Department of Immunology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xiao-Hua He
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Bi-Wen Peng
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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26
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Yamawaki R, Thind K, Buckmaster PS. Blockade of excitatory synaptogenesis with proximal dendrites of dentate granule cells following rapamycin treatment in a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. J Comp Neurol 2014; 523:281-97. [PMID: 25234294 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Revised: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway with rapamycin blocks granule cell axon (mossy fiber) sprouting after epileptogenic injuries, including pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. However, it remains unclear whether axons from other types of neurons sprout into the inner molecular layer and synapse with granule cell dendrites despite rapamycin treatment. If so, other aberrant positive-feedback networks might develop. To test this possibility stereological electron microscopy was used to estimate the numbers of excitatory synapses in the inner molecular layer per hippocampus in pilocarpine-treated control mice, in mice 5 days after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus, and after status epilepticus and daily treatment beginning 24 hours later with rapamycin or vehicle for 2 months. The optical fractionator method was used to estimate numbers of granule cells in Nissl-stained sections so that numbers of excitatory synapses in the inner molecular layer per granule cell could be calculated. Control mice had an average of 2,280 asymmetric synapses in the inner molecular layer per granule cell, which was reduced to 63% of controls 5 days after status epilepticus, recovered to 93% of controls in vehicle-treated mice 2 months after status epilepticus, but remained at only 63% of controls in rapamycin-treated mice. These findings reveal that rapamycin prevented excitatory axons from synapsing with proximal dendrites of granule cells and raise questions about the recurrent excitation hypothesis of temporal lobe epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Yamawaki
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
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Giorgi FS, Biagioni F, Lenzi P, Frati A, Fornai F. The role of autophagy in epileptogenesis and in epilepsy-induced neuronal alterations. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2014; 122:849-62. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-014-1312-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Domínguez HJ, Napolitano JG, Fernández-Sánchez MT, Cabrera-García D, Novelli A, Norte M, Fernández JJ, Daranas AH. Belizentrin, a Highly Bioactive Macrocycle from the Dinoflagellate Prorocentrum belizeanum. Org Lett 2014; 16:4546-9. [DOI: 10.1021/ol502102f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Humberto J. Domínguez
- Institute
for Bio-Organic Chemistry “Antonio González”,
Center for Biomedical Research of the Canary Islands,
and ∥Department of Chemical
Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and §Department of Psychology, Institute
of Biotechnology of Asturias, Campus “El Cristo”, University of Oviedo, Oviedo 33006, Spain
| | - José G. Napolitano
- Institute
for Bio-Organic Chemistry “Antonio González”,
Center for Biomedical Research of the Canary Islands,
and ∥Department of Chemical
Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and §Department of Psychology, Institute
of Biotechnology of Asturias, Campus “El Cristo”, University of Oviedo, Oviedo 33006, Spain
| | - M. Teresa Fernández-Sánchez
- Institute
for Bio-Organic Chemistry “Antonio González”,
Center for Biomedical Research of the Canary Islands,
and ∥Department of Chemical
Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and §Department of Psychology, Institute
of Biotechnology of Asturias, Campus “El Cristo”, University of Oviedo, Oviedo 33006, Spain
| | - David Cabrera-García
- Institute
for Bio-Organic Chemistry “Antonio González”,
Center for Biomedical Research of the Canary Islands,
and ∥Department of Chemical
Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and §Department of Psychology, Institute
of Biotechnology of Asturias, Campus “El Cristo”, University of Oviedo, Oviedo 33006, Spain
| | - Antonello Novelli
- Institute
for Bio-Organic Chemistry “Antonio González”,
Center for Biomedical Research of the Canary Islands,
and ∥Department of Chemical
Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and §Department of Psychology, Institute
of Biotechnology of Asturias, Campus “El Cristo”, University of Oviedo, Oviedo 33006, Spain
| | - Manuel Norte
- Institute
for Bio-Organic Chemistry “Antonio González”,
Center for Biomedical Research of the Canary Islands,
and ∥Department of Chemical
Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and §Department of Psychology, Institute
of Biotechnology of Asturias, Campus “El Cristo”, University of Oviedo, Oviedo 33006, Spain
| | - José J. Fernández
- Institute
for Bio-Organic Chemistry “Antonio González”,
Center for Biomedical Research of the Canary Islands,
and ∥Department of Chemical
Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and §Department of Psychology, Institute
of Biotechnology of Asturias, Campus “El Cristo”, University of Oviedo, Oviedo 33006, Spain
| | - Antonio Hernández Daranas
- Institute
for Bio-Organic Chemistry “Antonio González”,
Center for Biomedical Research of the Canary Islands,
and ∥Department of Chemical
Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and §Department of Psychology, Institute
of Biotechnology of Asturias, Campus “El Cristo”, University of Oviedo, Oviedo 33006, Spain
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Lasarge CL, Danzer SC. Mechanisms regulating neuronal excitability and seizure development following mTOR pathway hyperactivation. Front Mol Neurosci 2014; 7:18. [PMID: 24672426 PMCID: PMC3953715 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2014.00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway regulates a variety of neuronal functions, including cell proliferation, survival, growth, and plasticity. Dysregulation of the pathway is implicated in the development of both genetic and acquired epilepsies. Indeed, several causal mutations have been identified in patients with epilepsy, the most prominent of these being mutations in PTEN and tuberous sclerosis complexes 1 and 2 (TSC1, TSC2). These genes act as negative regulators of mTOR signaling, and mutations lead to hyperactivation of the pathway. Animal models deleting PTEN, TSC1, and TSC2 consistently produce epilepsy phenotypes, demonstrating that increased mTOR signaling can provoke neuronal hyperexcitability. Given the broad range of changes induced by altered mTOR signaling, however, the mechanisms underlying seizure development in these animals remain uncertain. In transgenic mice, cell populations with hyperactive mTOR have many structural abnormalities that support recurrent circuit formation, including somatic and dendritic hypertrophy, aberrant basal dendrites, and enlargement of axon tracts. At the functional level, mTOR hyperactivation is commonly, but not always, associated with enhanced synaptic transmission and plasticity. Moreover, these populations of abnormal neurons can affect the larger network, inducing secondary changes that may explain paradoxical findings reported between cell and network functioning in different models or at different developmental time points. Here, we review the animal literature examining the link between mTOR hyperactivation and epileptogenesis, emphasizing the impact of enhanced mTOR signaling on neuronal form and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candi L Lasarge
- Department of Anesthesia, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Steve C Danzer
- Department of Anesthesia, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH, USA ; Department of Anesthesia, University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH, USA ; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Abstract
Development of the nervous system requires efficient extension and guidance of axons and dendrites culminating in synapse formation. Axonal growth and navigation during embryogenesis are controlled by extracellular cues. Many of the same extracellular signals also regulate axonal branching. The emergence of collateral branches from the axon augments the complexity of nervous system innervation and provides an additional mechanism for target selection. Rho-family GTPases play an important role in regulating intracellular cytoskeletal and signaling pathways that facilitate axonal morphological changes. RhoA/G and Rac1 GTPase functions are complex and they can induce or inhibit branch formation, depending on neuronal type, cell context or signaling mechanisms. Evidence of a role of Cdc42 in axon branching is mostly lacking. In contrast, Rac3 has thus far been implicated in the regulation of axon branching. Future analysis of the upstream regulators and downstream effectors mediating the effects of Rho-family GTPase will provide insights into the cellular processes effected, and shed light on the sometimes opposing roles of these GTPases in the regulation of axon branching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirela Spillane
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center; Center for Neural Repair and Rehabilitation; Temple University; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology; Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Gianluca Gallo
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center; Center for Neural Repair and Rehabilitation; Temple University; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology; Philadelphia, PA USA
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Overexpression of MAP-2 via formation of microtubules plays an important role in the sprouting of mossy fibers in epileptic rats. J Mol Neurosci 2014; 53:103-8. [PMID: 24390958 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-013-0204-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 12/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the changes of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) in epileptic dentate gyrus and significance in epilepsy. Alterations in MAP-2 immunoreactivity (MAP2-IR) in kindling model of epilepsy were investigated in rats with survival times ranging from 3 to 30 days. Nissl staining and electron microscopic studies were used to explore more deeply. Electron microscopic was employed to detect tubulin formation and assembly. Immunohistochemical assay was used to examine co-localization of tubulin and MMP-2. Results indicated that MAP2-IR obviously enhanced in dendrites of granule cells 3 days after kindling and remained enhanced up to 14 days (P < 0.01). It returned to control patterns 20 to 30 days after kindling (P < 0.01). Nissl staining demonstrated a negative correlation between enhancement of MAP-2 and degeneration of hilar neurons (r = -0.9274). Electron microscopic studies showed that microtubules of dendrite in dentate molecular increased 3 days after kindling and obviously increased 14 days after kindling (P < 0.05). Tubulin protein showed a well co-localization with MMP-2 protein. Treatment of paclitaxel significantly decreased tubulin formation and assembly compared with untreated group (P < 0.01). Sprouting of dentate granule cell axons and synaptic contacts between nerve terminal and dendrite were discovered. Overexpression of MAP-2 via formation of microtubules plays an important role in the sprouting of mossy fibers in epileptic rats.
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Buckmaster PS. Does mossy fiber sprouting give rise to the epileptic state? ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 813:161-8. [PMID: 25012375 DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-8914-1_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Many patients with temporal lobe epilepsy display structural changes in the seizure initiating zone, which includes the hippocampus. Structural changes in the hippocampus include granule cell axon (mossy fiber) sprouting. The role of mossy fiber sprouting in epileptogenesis is controversial. A popular view of temporal lobe epileptogenesis contends that precipitating brain insults trigger transient cascades of molecular and cellular events that permanently enhance excitability of neuronal networks through mechanisms including mossy fiber sprouting. However, recent evidence suggests there is no critical period for mossy fiber sprouting after an epileptogenic brain injury. Instead, findings from stereological electron microscopy and rapamycin-delayed mossy fiber sprouting in rodent models of temporal lobe epilepsy suggest a persistent, homeostatic mechanism exists to maintain a set level of excitatory synaptic input to granule cells. If so, a target level of mossy fiber sprouting might be determined shortly after a brain injury and then remain constant. Despite the static appearance of synaptic reorganization after its development, work by other investigators suggests there might be continual turnover of sprouted mossy fibers in epileptic patients and animal models. If so, there may be opportunities to reverse established mossy fiber sprouting. However, reversal of mossy fiber sprouting is unlikely to be antiepileptogenic, because blocking its development does not reduce seizure frequency in pilocarpine-treated mice. The challenge remains to identify which, if any, of the many other structural changes in the hippocampus are epileptogenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul S Buckmaster
- Departments of Comparative Medicine and Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA,
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A reorganized GABAergic circuit in a model of epilepsy: evidence from optogenetic labeling and stimulation of somatostatin interneurons. J Neurosci 2013; 33:14392-405. [PMID: 24005292 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2045-13.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Axonal sprouting of excitatory neurons is frequently observed in temporal lobe epilepsy, but the extent to which inhibitory interneurons undergo similar axonal reorganization remains unclear. The goal of this study was to determine whether somatostatin (SOM)-expressing neurons in stratum (s.) oriens of the hippocampus exhibit axonal sprouting beyond their normal territory and innervate granule cells of the dentate gyrus in a pilocarpine model of epilepsy. To obtain selective labeling of SOM-expressing neurons in s. oriens, a Cre recombinase-dependent construct for channelrhodopsin2 fused to enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (ChR2-eYFP) was virally delivered to this region in SOM-Cre mice. In control mice, labeled axons were restricted primarily to s. lacunosum-moleculare. However, in pilocarpine-treated animals, a rich plexus of ChR2-eYFP-labeled fibers and boutons extended into the dentate molecular layer. Electron microscopy with immunogold labeling demonstrated labeled axon terminals that formed symmetric synapses on dendritic profiles in this region, consistent with innervation of granule cells. Patterned illumination of ChR2-labeled fibers in s. lacunosum-moleculare of CA1 and the dentate molecular layer elicited GABAergic inhibitory responses in dentate granule cells in pilocarpine-treated mice but not in controls. Similar optical stimulation in the dentate hilus evoked no significant responses in granule cells of either group of mice. These findings indicate that under pathological conditions, SOM/GABAergic neurons can undergo substantial axonal reorganization beyond their normal territory and establish aberrant synaptic connections. Such reorganized circuitry could contribute to functional deficits in inhibition in epilepsy, despite the presence of numerous GABAergic terminals in the region.
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Westerholz S, de Lima AD, Voigt T. Thyroid hormone-dependent development of early cortical networks: temporal specificity and the contribution of trkB and mTOR pathways. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:121. [PMID: 23964198 PMCID: PMC3734363 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Early in neocortical network development, triiodothyronine (T3) promotes GABAergic neurons' population increase, their somatic growth and the formation of GABAergic synapses. In the presence of T3, GABAergic interneurons form longer axons and conspicuous axonal arborizations, with an increased number of putative synaptic boutons. Here we show that the increased GABAergic axonal growth is positively correlated with the proximity to non-GABAergic neurons (non-GABA). A differential innervation emerges from a T3-dependent decrease of axonal length in fields with low density of neuronal cell bodies, combined with an increased bouton formation in fields with high density of neuronal somata. T3 addition to deprived networks after the first 2 weeks of development did not rescue deficits in the GABAergic synaptic bouton distribution, or in the frequency and duration of spontaneous bursts. During the critical 2-week-period, GABAergic signaling is depolarizing as revealed by calcium imaging experiments. Interestingly, T3 enhanced the expression of the potassium-chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2), and accelerated the developmental shift from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing GABAergic signaling in non-GABA. The T3-related increase of spontaneous network activity was remarkably reduced after blockade of either tropomyosin-receptor kinase B (trkB) or mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. T3-dependent increase in GABAergic neurons' soma size was mediated mainly by mTOR signaling. Conversely, the T3-dependent selective increase of GABAergic boutons near non-GABAergic cell bodies is mediated by trkB signaling only. Both trkB and mTOR signaling mediate T3-dependent reduction of the GABAergic axon extension. The circuitry context is relevant for the interaction between T3 and trkB signaling, but not for the interactions between T3 and mTOR signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sören Westerholz
- Institute of Physiology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Germany
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Heng K, Haney MM, Buckmaster PS. High-dose rapamycin blocks mossy fiber sprouting but not seizures in a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia 2013; 54:1535-41. [PMID: 23848506 DOI: 10.1111/epi.12246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The role of granule cell axon (mossy fiber) sprouting in temporal lobe epileptogenesis is unclear and controversial. Rapamycin suppresses mossy fiber sprouting, but its reported effects on seizure frequency are mixed. The present study used high-dose rapamycin to more completely block mossy fiber sprouting and to measure the effect on seizure frequency. METHODS Mice were treated with pilocarpine to induce status epilepticus. Beginning 24 h later and continuing for 2 months, vehicle or rapamycin (10 mg/kg/day) was administered. Starting 1 month after status epilepticus, mice were monitored by video 9 h per day, every day, for 1 month to measure the frequency of spontaneous motor seizures. At the end of seizure monitoring, a subset of mice was prepared for anatomic analysis. Mossy fiber sprouting was measured as the proportion of the granule cell layer and molecular layer that displayed black labeling in Timm-stained sections. KEY FINDINGS Extensive mossy fiber sprouting developed in mice that experienced status epilepticus and were treated with vehicle. In rapamycin-treated mice, mossy fiber sprouting was blocked almost to the level of naive controls. Seizure frequency was similar in vehicle-treated and rapamycin-treated mice. SIGNIFICANCE These findings suggest that mossy fiber sprouting is not necessary for epileptogenesis in the mouse pilocarpine model. They also reveal that rapamycin does not have antiseizure or antiepileptogenic effects in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Heng
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5342, USA
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Macias M, Blazejczyk M, Kazmierska P, Caban B, Skalecka A, Tarkowski B, Rodo A, Konopacki J, Jaworski J. Spatiotemporal characterization of mTOR kinase activity following kainic acid induced status epilepticus and analysis of rat brain response to chronic rapamycin treatment. PLoS One 2013; 8:e64455. [PMID: 23724051 PMCID: PMC3665782 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Accepted: 04/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a protein kinase that senses nutrient availability, trophic factors support, cellular energy level, cellular stress, and neurotransmitters and adjusts cellular metabolism accordingly. Adequate mTOR activity is needed for development as well as proper physiology of mature neurons. Consequently, changes in mTOR activity are often observed in neuropathology. Recently, several groups reported that seizures increase mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase activity, and such increased activity in genetic models can contribute to spontaneous seizures. However, the current knowledge about the spatiotemporal pattern of mTOR activation induced by proconvulsive agents is rather rudimentary. Also consequences of insufficient mTOR activity on a status epilepticus are poorly understood. Here, we systematically investigated these two issues. We showed that mTOR signaling was activated by kainic acid (KA)-induced status epilepticus through several brain areas, including the hippocampus and cortex as well as revealed two waves of mTOR activation: an early wave (2 h) that occurs in neurons and a late wave that predominantly occurs in astrocytes. Unexpectedly, we found that pretreatment with rapamycin, a potent mTOR inhibitor, gradually (i) sensitized animals to KA treatment and (ii) induced gross anatomical changes in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matylda Macias
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Neurobiology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Blazejczyk
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Neurobiology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Bartosz Caban
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Skalecka
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Neurobiology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartosz Tarkowski
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Neurobiology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Rodo
- Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jan Konopacki
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Jacek Jaworski
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Neurobiology, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disorder associated with significant morbidity and mortality, but the only available drug therapies target its symptoms rather than the underlying cause. The process that links brain injury or other predisposing factors to the subsequent emergence of epilepsy is termed epileptogenesis. Substantial research has focused on elucidating the mechanisms of epileptogenesis so as to identify more specific targets for intervention, with the hope of preventing epilepsy before seizures emerge. Recent work has yielded important conceptual advances in this field. We suggest that such insights into the mechanisms of epileptogenesis converge at the level of cortical circuit dysfunction.
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Nerve growth factor-induced formation of axonal filopodia and collateral branches involves the intra-axonal synthesis of regulators of the actin-nucleating Arp2/3 complex. J Neurosci 2013; 32:17671-89. [PMID: 23223289 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1079-12.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nerve growth factor (NGF) induces collateral branching along sensory axons by promoting the formation of axonal filopodia dependent on the actin-nucleating Arp2/3 complex. This study shows that chicken embryonic sensory axons contain mRNAs for the actin-nucleating Arp2/3 complex activator WAVE1 and the complex stabilizer cortactin. NGF increases the axonal levels of WAVE1 and cortactin through localized protein synthesis even in axons isolated from the cell body. Inhibition of protein synthesis in severed axons impairs NGF-induced branching, the formation of axonal filopodia, and the initiation of Arp2/3-dependent axonal actin patches, which serve as precursors to the emergence of filopodia. Overexpression of WAVE1 or cortactin in axons not treated with NGF increased the rate of actin patch formation and the frequency of the emergence of filopodia from actin patches, respectively. Antisense inhibition of cortactin mRNA translation in isolated axons blocked NGF-induced filopodia. NGF also activated the Rac1 GTPase, which drives WAVE1 activity, in a protein synthesis-independent manner. Similarly, inhibition of protein synthesis did not impair the effects of NGF on the axonal microtubule cytoskeleton during branching. The effects of NGF on Rac1 activity and increases in axonal levels of WAVE1 and cortactin were both dependent on phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. Collectively, the data indicate that NGF promotes sensory axon branching through regulation of the actin cytoskeleton using both canonical signaling mechanisms and intra-axonal protein synthesis downstream of PI3K signaling. Finally, we present experimental evidence of axonal mRNA translation in sensory axons in the living embryonic spinal cord.
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Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 activation negatively regulates Polo-like kinase 2-mediated homeostatic compensation following neonatal seizures. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:5199-204. [PMID: 23479645 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1208010110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeostatic plasticity is characterized by compensatory changes in synaptic strength and intrinsic membrane properties in response to chronic changes in neuronal activity. Neonatal seizures are a naturally occurring source of neuronal overactivation and can lead to long-term epilepsy and cognitive deficits. Using a rodent model of hypoxia-induced neonatal seizures that results in a persistent increase in AMPA receptor (AMPAR) function in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, we aimed to determine whether there was any evidence of an opposing endogenous homeostatic antiepileptic response. Given that this model results in long-term epilepsy, we also examined mechanisms whereby this homeostasis fails. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from neurons in slices removed at intervals following seizure onset revealed an initial up-regulation of AMPAR function that was followed by a transient dynamic attenuation of this enhancement by 48-72 h, although AMPAR function was still increased compared with nonseizure control baseline. This secondary down-regulation of enhanced AMPAR function was coincident with a marked transient increase in expression and function of the Polo-like kinase 2 (PLK2), which has previously been implicated in homeostatic down-regulation of neuronal excitability in cell/slice culture models. The effects were transient and at 1 wk AMPAR function once again became up-regulated, simultaneous with a decrease in PLK2 expression and function. This negative regulation was mediated by subacute postseizure increases in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Application of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin prevented post-hypoxic seizure impairment of homeostasis, suggesting that homeostatic plasticity mechanisms may be potentially modifiable therapeutic targets in epileptogenesis.
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Abstract
The circadian pattern of seizures in people with epilepsy (PWE) was first described two millennia ago. However, these phenomena have not received enough scientific attention, possibly due to the lack of promising hypotheses to address the interaction between seizure generation and a physiological clock. To propose testable hypotheses at the molecular level, interactions between circadian rhythm, especially transcription factors governing clock genes expression, and the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling pathway, the major signaling pathway in epilepsy, will be reviewed. Then, two closely related hypotheses will be proposed: (1) Rhythmic activity of hyperactivated mTOR signaling molecules results in rhythmic increases in neuronal excitability. These rhythmic increases in excitability periodically exceed the seizure threshold, displaying the behavioral seizures. (2) Oscillation of neuronal excitability in SCN modulates the rhythmic excitability in the hippocampus through subiculum via long-range projections. Findings from published results, their implications, and proposals for new experiments will be discussed. These attempts may ignite further discussion on what we still need to learn about the rhythmicity of spontaneous seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Hoon Cho
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA, USA
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41
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Multiple roles for mammalian target of rapamycin signaling in both glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission. J Neurosci 2012; 32:11441-52. [PMID: 22895726 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1283-12.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in neurons integrates a variety of extracellular signals to produce appropriate translational responses. mTOR signaling is hyperactive in neurological syndromes in both humans and mouse models that are characterized by epilepsy, autism, and cognitive disturbances. In addition, rapamycin, a clinically important immunosuppressant, is a specific and potent inhibitor of mTOR signaling. While mTOR is known to regulate growth and synaptic plasticity of glutamatergic neurons, its effects on basic parameters of synaptic transmission are less well studied, and its role in regulating GABAergic transmission is unexplored. We therefore performed an electrophysiological and morphological comparison of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in which mTOR signaling was either increased by loss of the repressor Pten or decreased by treatment with rapamycin. We found that hyperactive mTOR signaling increased evoked synaptic responses in both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons by ∼50%, due to an increase in the number of synaptic vesicles available for release, the number of synapses formed, and the miniature event size. Prolonged (72 h) rapamycin treatment prevented these abnormalities and also decreased synaptic transmission in wild-type glutamatergic, but not GABAergic, neurons. Further analyses suggested that hyperactivation of the mTOR pathway also impairs presynaptic function, possibly by interfering with vesicle fusion. Despite this presynaptic impairment, the net effect of Pten loss is enhanced synaptic transmission in both GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons, which has numerous implications, depending on where in the brain mutations of an mTOR suppressor gene occur.
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Russo E, Citraro R, Constanti A, De Sarro G. The mTOR Signaling Pathway in the Brain: Focus on Epilepsy and Epileptogenesis. Mol Neurobiol 2012; 46:662-81. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-012-8314-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2012] [Accepted: 07/13/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Xing XL, Sha LZ, Yao Y, Shen Y, Wu LW, Xu Q. Spatio-temporal expression study of phosphorylated 70-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6k) in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 27:7-10. [PMID: 22734207 DOI: 10.1016/s1001-9294(12)60015-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the spatio-temporal expression of p70S6k activation in hippocampus in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. METHODS Temporal lobe epilepsy model was established by stereotaxically unilateral and intrahippocampal injection of kainite acid (KA) in adult male C57BL/6 mice. Latent and chronic epileptogenesis were represented by mice 5 days after KA injection (n = 5) and mice 5 weeks after KA injection (n = 8), respectively. Control mice (n = 5) were injected with saline. Immunohistochemical assays were performed on brain sections of the mice. RESULTS Hippocampus both ipsilateral and contralateral to the KA injection displayed significantly up-regulated pS6 immunoreactivity in dispersed granule cells in 5-day and 5-week model mice. CONCLUSION The activation of p70S6k is mainly located in the dentate gyrus in KA-induced mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy, indicating that the activation may be related with the disperse degree and hypertrophy of granule cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Liang Xing
- National Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
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Sosunov AA, Wu X, McGovern RA, Coughlin DG, Mikell CB, Goodman RR, McKhann GM. The mTOR pathway is activated in glial cells in mesial temporal sclerosis. Epilepsia 2012; 53 Suppl 1:78-86. [PMID: 22612812 DOI: 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2012.03478.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key protein kinase that regulates basic cellular processes, including development and growth. Mutations in mTOR cause tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a condition that is characterized by developmental brain malformations (cortical tubers) and epilepsy. Although considerable insight has been gained recently into the pathologic dysfunction of mTOR in tubers in TSC-related epilepsy, data on the mTOR cascade in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) are lacking. Immunohistochemical investigation with confocal microscopy was performed to evaluate mTOR cascade and to correlate its activity with cellular alterations observed in surgically resected samples of human neocortex and hippocampus in MTLE. We compared results in human tissue to findings in the rat pilocarpine model of sclerotic MTLE. In nonsclerotic and control hippocampus, many neurons in the CA1 subfield expressed high levels of phospho-S6 (p-S6), a reliable marker of mTOR activation. In nonsclerotic and control hippocampus, as well as in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) normal human neocortex, protoplasmic astrocytes did not express p-S6. In contrast, in sclerotic hippocampus, prominent p-S6 immunostaining was observed mainly in astrocytes and microglia located in the areas of neuronal loss and astrogliosis, whereas neurons in preserved areas of CA1 expressed significantly lower levels of p-S6 immunopositivity than neurons in nonsclerotic or control CA1 subfields. In surgically resected neocortex with chronic astroglial scar tissue, only microglia revealed moderate p-S6 immunoreactivity. Different from human sclerotic epileptic hippocampus, astrogliosis in the chronic rat pilocarpine model of epilepsy was not characterized by glial cells with mTOR activation. The mTOR cascade is activated in astroglial cells in sclerotic MTLE, but not in astrocytes in chronic neocortical scarring or in the pilocarpine model of MTLE. These findings suggest that the astroglial "scar" in sclerotic MTLE has active, ongoing cellular changes. Targeting mTOR in MTLE may provide new pathways for the medical therapy of epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander A Sosunov
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Neurological Institute, Columbia University, 710 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, U.S.A
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Factors affecting outcomes of pilocarpine treatment in a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy Res 2012; 102:153-9. [PMID: 22721955 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2012.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2012] [Revised: 05/21/2012] [Accepted: 05/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Pilocarpine-treated mice are an increasingly used model of temporal lobe epilepsy. However, outcomes of treatment can be disappointing, because many mice die or fail to develop status epilepticus. To improve animal welfare and outcomes of future experiments we analyzed results of previous pilocarpine treatments to identify factors that correlate with development of status epilepticus and survival. All treatments were performed by one investigator with mice of the FVB background strain. Results from 2413 mice were evaluated for effects of sex, age, body weight, and latency between administration of atropine methyl bromide and pilocarpine. All parameters correlated with effects on outcomes. Best results were obtained from male mice, 6-7 weeks old, and 21-25 g, with pilocarpine administered 18-30 min after atropine methyl bromide. In that group only 23% failed to develop status epilepticus, and 64% developed status epilepticus and survived. Those results are substantially better than that of the total sample in which 31% failed to develop status epilepticus and only 34% developed status epilepticus and survived.
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Abstract
Text of Abstract Liability to develop posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) correlates in a general way with trauma dose. While contusion of the brain produces an admixture of extravasated blood, edema fluid and necrotic tissue at the site of skull trauma and in regions remote from the direct force, an unpredictable cascade of shearing injury, torsion and rotation and a myriad of physiological changes occur in structures subject to the mechanical pressure wave. Animal models mimic components of injury, some more thoroughly than others. Designing a treatment that is a prophylaxis for the development of PTE awaits understanding the mechanisms of epileptogenesis initiated by trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. James Willmore
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
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O'Dell CM, Das A, Wallace G, Ray SK, Banik NL. Understanding the basic mechanisms underlying seizures in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and possible therapeutic targets: a review. J Neurosci Res 2012; 90:913-24. [PMID: 22315182 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.22829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2011] [Revised: 10/05/2011] [Accepted: 10/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Despite years of research, epilepsy remains a poorly understood disorder. In the past several years, work has been conducted on a variety of projects with the goal of better understanding the pathogenesis and progression of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), in particular, and how to exploit those properties to generate innovative therapies for treatment of refractory epilepsies. This review seeks to give an overview of common morphological and biochemical changes associated with epilepsy and proposed treatments to address those changes. Furthering the understanding of ictogenesis and epileptogenesis remains an important goal for scientists seeking to find more effective treatments for MTLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey M O'Dell
- Division of Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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