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Mackiewicz J, Tomczak J, Lisek M, Sakowicz A, Guo F, Boczek T. NFATc4 Knockout Promotes Neuroprotection and Retinal Ganglion Cell Regeneration After Optic Nerve Injury. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04129-0. [PMID: 38639863 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04129-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), neurons transmitting visual information via the optic nerve, fail to regenerate their axons after injury. The progressive loss of RGC function underlies the pathophysiology of glaucoma and other optic neuropathies, often leading to irreversible blindness. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify the regulators of RGC survival and the regenerative program. In this study, we investigated the role of the family of transcription factors known as nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), which are expressed in the retina; however, their role in RGC survival after injury is unknown. Using the optic nerve crush (ONC) model, widely employed to study optic neuropathies and central nervous system axon injury, we found that NFATc4 is specifically but transiently up-regulated in response to mechanical injury. In the injured retina, NFATc4 immunolocalized primarily to the ganglionic cell layer. Utilizing NFATc4-/- and NFATc3-/- mice, we demonstrated that NFATc4, but not NFATc3, knockout increased RGC survival, improved retina function, and delayed axonal degeneration. Microarray screening data, along with decreased immunostaining of cleaved caspase-3, revealed that NFATc4 knockout was protective against ONC-induced degeneration by suppressing pro-apoptotic signaling. Finally, we used lentiviral-mediated NFATc4 delivery to the retina of NFATc4-/- mice and reversed the pro-survival effect of NFATc4 knockout, conclusively linking the enhanced survival of injured RGCs to NFATc4-dependent mechanisms. In summary, this study is the first to demonstrate that NFATc4 knockout may confer transient RGC neuroprotection and decelerate axonal degeneration after injury, providing a potent therapeutic strategy for optic neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Mackiewicz
- Department of Molecular Neurochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Julia Tomczak
- Department of Molecular Neurochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Malwina Lisek
- Department of Molecular Neurochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Agata Sakowicz
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Feng Guo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
| | - Tomasz Boczek
- Department of Molecular Neurochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
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Mackiewicz J, Lisek M, Boczek T. Targeting CaN/NFAT in Alzheimer's brain degeneration. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1281882. [PMID: 38077352 PMCID: PMC10701682 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1281882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of cognitive functions. While the exact causes of this debilitating disorder remain elusive, numerous investigations have characterized its two core pathologies: the presence of β-amyloid plaques and tau tangles. Additionally, multiple studies of postmortem brain tissue, as well as results from AD preclinical models, have consistently demonstrated the presence of a sustained inflammatory response. As the persistent immune response is associated with neurodegeneration, it became clear that it may also exacerbate other AD pathologies, providing a link between the initial deposition of β-amyloid plaques and the later development of neurofibrillary tangles. Initially discovered in T cells, the nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) is one of the main transcription factors driving the expression of inflammatory genes and thus regulating immune responses. NFAT-dependent production of inflammatory mediators is controlled by Ca2+-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin (CaN), which dephosphorylates NFAT and promotes its transcriptional activity. A substantial body of evidence has demonstrated that aberrant CaN/NFAT signaling is linked to several pathologies observed in AD, including neuronal apoptosis, synaptic deficits, and glia activation. In view of this, the role of NFAT isoforms in AD has been linked to disease progression at different stages, some of which are paralleled to diminished cognitive status. The use of classical inhibitors of CaN/NFAT signaling, such as tacrolimus or cyclosporine, or adeno-associated viruses to specifically inhibit astrocytic NFAT activation, has alleviated some symptoms of AD by diminishing β-amyloid neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation. In this article, we discuss the recent findings related to the contribution of CaN/NFAT signaling to the progression of AD and highlight the possible benefits of targeting this pathway in AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tomasz Boczek
- Department of Molecular Neurochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
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Kolbe MR, Hohmann T, Hohmann U, Maronde E, Golbik R, Prell J, Illert J, Strauss C, Dehghani F. Elucidation of GPR55-Associated Signaling behind THC and LPI Reducing Effects on Ki67-Immunoreactive Nuclei in Patient-Derived Glioblastoma Cells. Cells 2023; 12:2646. [PMID: 37998380 PMCID: PMC10670585 DOI: 10.3390/cells12222646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
GPR55 is involved in many physiological and pathological processes. In cancer, GPR55 has been described to show accelerating and decelerating effects in tumor progression resulting from distinct intracellular signaling pathways. GPR55 becomes activated by LPI and various plant-derived, endogenous, and synthetic cannabinoids. Cannabinoids such as THC exerted antitumor effects by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation or inducing apoptosis. Besides its effects through CB1 and CB2 receptors, THC modulates cellular responses among others via GPR55. Previously, we reported a reduction in Ki67-immunoreactive nuclei of human glioblastoma cells after GPR55 activation in general by THC and in particular by LPI. In the present study, we investigated intracellular mechanisms leading to an altered number of Ki67+ nuclei after stimulation of GPR55 by LPI and THC. Pharmacological analyses revealed a strongly involved PLC-IP3 signaling and cell-type-specific differences in Gα-, Gβγ-, RhoA-ROCK, and calcineurin signaling. Furthermore, immunochemical visualization of the calcineurin-dependent transcription factor NFAT revealed an unchanged subcellular localization after THC or LPI treatment. The data underline the cell-type-specific diversity of GPR55-associated signaling pathways in coupling to intracellular G proteins. Furthermore, this diversity might determine the outcome and the individual responsiveness of tumor cells to GPR55 stimulation by cannabin oids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Richard Kolbe
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Grosse Steinstrasse 52, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany; (M.R.K.); (T.H.); (U.H.)
| | - Tim Hohmann
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Grosse Steinstrasse 52, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany; (M.R.K.); (T.H.); (U.H.)
| | - Urszula Hohmann
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Grosse Steinstrasse 52, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany; (M.R.K.); (T.H.); (U.H.)
| | - Erik Maronde
- Department of Anatomy II, Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany;
| | - Ralph Golbik
- Charles Tanford Protein Centre, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Straße 3a, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany;
| | - Julian Prell
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (J.P.); (J.I.); (C.S.)
| | - Jörg Illert
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (J.P.); (J.I.); (C.S.)
| | - Christian Strauss
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Str. 40, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (J.P.); (J.I.); (C.S.)
| | - Faramarz Dehghani
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Grosse Steinstrasse 52, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany; (M.R.K.); (T.H.); (U.H.)
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Feng L, Lo H, Hong Z, Zheng J, Yan Y, Ye Z, Chen X, Pan X. Microglial LRRK2-mediated NFATc1 attenuates α-synuclein immunotoxicity in association with CX3CR1-induced migration and the lysosome-initiated degradation. Glia 2023; 71:2266-2284. [PMID: 37300531 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24422] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Synucleinopathies refer to a range of neurodegenerative diseases caused by abnormal α-synuclein (α-Syn) deposition, including Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Their pathogenesis is strongly linked to microglial dysfunction and neuroinflammation, which involves the leucine-rich-repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2)-regulated nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT). Of the NFAT family, NFATc1 has been found to be increasingly translocated into the nucleus in α-syn stimulation. However, the specific role of NFATc1-mediated intracellular signaling in PD remains elusive in regulating microglial functions. In the current study, we crossbred LRRK2 or NFATc1 conditional knockout mice with Lyz2Cre mice to generate mice with microglia-specific deletion of LRRK2 or NFATc1, and by stereotactic injection of fibrillary α-Syn, we generated PD models in these mice. We found that LRRK2 deficiency enhanced microglial phagocytosis in the mice after α-Syn exposure and that genetic inhibition of NFATc1 markedly diminished phagocytosis and α-Syn elimination. We further demonstrated that LRRK2 negatively regulated NFATc1 in α-Syn-treated microglia, in which microglial LRRK2-deficiency facilitated NFATc1 nuclear translocation, CX3CR1 upregulation, and microglia migration. Additionally, NFATc1 translocation upregulated the expression of Rab7 and promoted the formation of late lysosomes, resulting in α-Syn degradation. In contrast, the microglial NFATc1 deficiency impaired CX3CR1 upregulation and the formation of Rab7-mediated late lysosomes. These findings highlight the critical role of NFATc1 in modulating microglial migration and phagocytosis, in which the LRRK2-NFATc1 signaling pathway regulates the expression of microglial CX3CR1 and endocytic degradative Rab7 to attenuate α-synuclein immunotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjuan Feng
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hsuan Lo
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaoxiang Hong
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Neurology, The University of HongKong Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiahao Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yuhong Yan
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zucheng Ye
- Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaochun Chen
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaodong Pan
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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Shanmugam S, Patel D, Rodriguez AL, Walchale A, Liu X, Bergeson SE, Mahimainathan L, Narasimhan M, Henderson GI. Ethanol inhibition of undifferentiated rat neural progenitor cell replication can be prevented by chlorogenic acid via the NFATc4/CSE signaling pathway. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 47:1530-1543. [PMID: 37364904 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal ethanol exposure hinders oxidative stress-mediated neuroblast/neural progenitor cell proliferation by inhibiting G1-S transition, a process vital to neocortical development. We previously showed that ethanol elicits this redox imbalance by repressing cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), the rate-limiting enzyme in the transsulfuration pathway in fetal brain and cultured cerebral cortical neurons. However, the mechanism by which ethanol impacts the CSE pathway in proliferating neuroblasts is not known. We conducted experiments to define the effects of ethanol on CSE regulation and the molecular signaling events that control this vital pathway. This enabled us to develop an intervention to prevent the ethanol-associated cytostasis. METHODS Spontaneously immortalized undifferentiated E18 rat neuroblasts from brain cerebral cortex were exposed to ethanol to mimic an acute consumption pattern in humans. We performed loss- and gain-of-function studies to evaluate whether NFATc4 is a transcriptional regulator of CSE. The neuroprotective effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA) against the effects of ethanol were assessed using ROS and GSH/GSSG assays as measures of oxidative stress, transcriptional activation of NFATc4, and expression of NFATc4 and CSE by qRT-PCR and immunoblotting. RESULTS Ethanol treatment of E18-neuroblast cells elicited oxidative stress and significantly reduced CSE expression with a concomitant decrease in NFATc4 transcriptional activation and expression. In parallel, inhibition of the calcineurin/NFAT pathway by FK506 exaggerated ethanol-induced CSE loss. In contrast, NFATc4 overexpression prevented loss of ethanol-induced CSE. CGA increased and activated NFATc4, amplified CSE expression, rescued ethanol-induced oxidative stress, and averted the cytostasis of neuroblasts by rescuing cyclin D1 expression. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that ethanol can perturb CSE-dependent redox homeostasis by impairing the NFATc4 signaling pathway in neuroblasts. Notably, ethanol-associated impairments were rescued by genetic or pharmacological activation of NFATc4. Furthermore, we found a potential role for CGA in mitigating the ethanol-related neuroblast toxicity with a compelling connection to the NFATc4/CSE pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dhyanesh Patel
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, TTUHSC, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | | | - Aashlesha Walchale
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, TTUHSC, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Xiaobo Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, TTUHSC, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Susan E Bergeson
- Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, TTUHSC, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Lenin Mahimainathan
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | | | - George I Henderson
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, TTUHSC, Lubbock, Texas, USA
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Fodder K, Murthy M, Rizzu P, Toomey CE, Hasan R, Humphrey J, Raj T, Lunnon K, Mill J, Heutink P, Lashley T, Bettencourt C. Brain DNA methylomic analysis of frontotemporal lobar degeneration reveals OTUD4 in shared dysregulated signatures across pathological subtypes. Acta Neuropathol 2023:10.1007/s00401-023-02583-z. [PMID: 37149835 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02583-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is an umbrella term describing the neuropathology of a clinically, genetically and pathologically heterogeneous group of diseases, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Among the major FTLD pathological subgroups, FTLD with TDP-43 positive inclusions (FTLD-TDP) and FTLD with tau-positive inclusions (FTLD-tau) are the most common, representing about 90% of the cases. Although alterations in DNA methylation have been consistently associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, little is known for FTLD and its heterogeneous subgroups and subtypes. The main goal of this study was to investigate DNA methylation variation in FTLD-TDP and FTLD-tau. We used frontal cortex genome-wide DNA methylation profiles from three FTLD cohorts (142 FTLD cases and 92 controls), generated using the Illumina 450K or EPIC microarrays. We performed epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) for each cohort followed by meta-analysis to identify shared differentially methylated loci across FTLD subgroups/subtypes. In addition, we used weighted gene correlation network analysis to identify co-methylation signatures associated with FTLD and other disease-related traits. Wherever possible, we also incorporated relevant gene/protein expression data. After accounting for a conservative Bonferroni multiple testing correction, the EWAS meta-analysis revealed two differentially methylated loci in FTLD, one annotated to OTUD4 (5'UTR-shore) and the other to NFATC1 (gene body-island). Of these loci, OTUD4 showed consistent upregulation of mRNA and protein expression in FTLD. In addition, in the three independent co-methylation networks, OTUD4-containing modules were enriched for EWAS meta-analysis top loci and were strongly associated with the FTLD status. These co-methylation modules were enriched for genes implicated in the ubiquitin system, RNA/stress granule formation and glutamatergic synaptic signalling. Altogether, our findings identified novel FTLD-associated loci, and support a role for DNA methylation as a mechanism involved in the dysregulation of biological processes relevant to FTLD, highlighting novel potential avenues for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Fodder
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Megha Murthy
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Patrizia Rizzu
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christina E Toomey
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Rahat Hasan
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jack Humphrey
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Towfique Raj
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katie Lunnon
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Peter Heutink
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
- Alector, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Conceição Bettencourt
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
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Identification of PAX6 and NFAT4 as the Transcriptional Regulators of the Long Noncoding RNA Mrhl in Neuronal Progenitors. Mol Cell Biol 2022; 42:e0003622. [PMID: 36317923 PMCID: PMC9670966 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00036-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) Mrhl has been shown to be involved in coordinating meiotic commitment of mouse spermatogonial progenitors and differentiation events in mouse embryonic stem cells. Here, we characterized the interplay of Mrhl with lineage-specific transcription factors during mouse neuronal lineage development. Our results demonstrate that Mrhl is expressed in the neuronal progenitor populations in mouse embryonic brains and in retinoic acid-derived radial-glia-like neuronal progenitor cells. Depletion of Mrhl leads to early differentiation of neuronal progenitors to a more committed state. A master transcription factor, PAX6, directly binds to the Mrhl promoter at a major site in the distal promoter, located at 2.9 kb upstream of the transcription start site (TSS) of Mrhl. Furthermore, NFAT4 occupies the Mrhl-proximal promoter at two sites, at 437 base pairs (bp) and 143 bp upstream of the TSS. Independent knockdown studies for PAX6 and NFAT4 confirm that they regulate Mrhl expression in neuronal progenitors. We also show that PAX6 and NFAT4 associate with each other in the same chromatin complex. NFAT4 occupies the Mrhl promoter in PAX6-bound chromatin, implying possible coregulation of Mrhl. Our studies are crucial for understanding how lncRNAs are regulated by major lineage-specific transcription factors, in order to define specific development and differentiation events.
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Chen YR, Zhang SX, Fang M, Zhang P, Zhou YF, Yu X, Zhang XN, Chen G. Egr2 contributes to age-dependent vulnerability to sevoflurane-induced cognitive deficits in mice. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2022; 43:2828-2840. [PMID: 35577909 PMCID: PMC9622904 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-022-00915-5] [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: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Sevoflurane inhalation is prone to initiate cognitive deficits in infants. The early growth response-2 (Egr-2) gene is DNA-binding transcription factor, involving in cognitive function. In this study we explored the molecular mechanisms underlying the vulnerability to cognitive deficits after sevoflurane administration. Six-day-old (young) and 6-week-old (early adult) mice received anesthesia with 3% sevoflurane for 2 h daily for 3 days. We showed that multiple exposures of sevoflurane induced significant learning ability impairment in young but not early adult mice, assessed in Morris water maze test on postnatal days 65. The integrated differential expression analysis revealed distinct transcription responses of Egr family members in the hippocampus of the young and early adult mice after sevoflurane administration. Particularly, Egr2 was significantly upregulated after sevoflurane exposure only in young mice. Microinjection of Egr2 shRNA recombinant adeno-associated virus into the dentate gyrus alleviated sevoflurane-induced cognitive deficits, and abolished sevoflurane-induced dendritic spins loss and BDNF downregulation in young mice. On the contrary, microinjection of the Egr2 overexpression virus in the dentate gyrus aggravated learning ability impairment induced by sevoflurane in young mice but not early adult mice. Furthermore, we revealed that sevoflurane markedly upregulated the nuclear factors of activated T-cells NFATC1 and NFATC2 in young mice, which were involved in Egr2 regulation. In conclusion, Egr2 serves as a critical factor for age-dependent vulnerability to sevoflurane-induced cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye-Ru Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Shu-Xia Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Man Fang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310022, China
| | - Piao Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - You-Fa Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xin Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiang-Nan Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of the Ministry of Health of China, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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9
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Zhen H, Zheng M, Geng H, Song Q, Gao L, Yuan Z, Deng H, Pang Q, Zhao B. The feedback loop between calcineurin, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, and nuclear factor of activated T-cells regulates the number of GABAergic neurons during planarian head regeneration. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:988803. [PMID: 36172263 PMCID: PMC9510629 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.988803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Disturbances in the excitatory/inhibitory balance of brain neural circuits are the main source of encephalopathy during neurodevelopment. Changes in the function of neural circuits can lead to depolarization or repeat rhythmic firing of neurons in a manner similar to epilepsy. GABAergic neurons are inhibitory neurons found in all the main domains of the CNS. Previous studies suggested that DjCamkII and DjCaln play a crucial role in the regulation of GABAergic neurons during planarian regeneration. However, the mechanisms behind the regeneration of GABAergic neurons have not been fully explained. Herein, we demonstrated that DjCamkII and DjCaln were mutual negative regulation during planarian head regeneration. DjNFAT exerted feedback positive regulation on both DjCaln and DjCamkII. Whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that DjNFAT was predominantly expressed in the pharynx and parenchymal cells in intact planarian. Interestingly, during planarian head regeneration, DjNFAT was predominantly located in the newborn brain. Down-regulation of DjNFAT led to regeneration defects in the brain including regenerative brain became small and the lateral nerves cannot be regenerated completely, and a decreasein the number of GABAergic neurons during planarian head regeneration. These findings suggest that the feedback loop between DjCaln, DjCamkII, and DjNFAT is crucial for the formation of GABAergic neurons during planarian head regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhen
- Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Shandong University of Technology, Nantong, China
| | - Mingyue Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huazhi Geng
- Zibo Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Zibo, China
| | - Qian Song
- Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Shandong University of Technology, Nantong, China
| | - Lili Gao
- Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Shandong University of Technology, Nantong, China
| | - Zuoqing Yuan
- Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Shandong University of Technology, Nantong, China
| | - Hongkuan Deng
- Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Shandong University of Technology, Nantong, China
| | - Qiuxiang Pang
- Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Shandong University of Technology, Nantong, China
| | - Bosheng Zhao
- Laboratory of Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Shandong University of Technology, Nantong, China
- *Correspondence: Bosheng Zhao,
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10
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D'Angeli V, Monzón‐Casanova E, Matheson LS, Gizlenci Ö, Petkau G, Gooding C, Berrens RV, Smith CWJ, Turner M. Polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 regulates the activation of mouse CD8 T cells. Eur J Immunol 2022; 52:1058-1068. [PMID: 35460072 PMCID: PMC9546061 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202149781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The RNA-binding protein polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 (PTBP1) has been found to have roles in CD4 T-cell activation, but its function in CD8 T cells remains untested. We show it is dispensable for the development of naïve mouse CD8 T cells, but is necessary for the optimal expansion and production of effector molecules by antigen-specific CD8 T cells in vivo. PTBP1 has an essential role in regulating the early events following activation of the naïve CD8 T cell leading to IL-2 and TNF production. It is also required to protect activated CD8 T cells from apoptosis. PTBP1 controls alternative splicing of over 400 genes in naïve CD8 T cells in addition to regulating the abundance of ∼200 mRNAs. PTBP1 is required for the nuclear accumulation of c-Fos, NFATc2, and NFATc3, but not NFATc1. This selective effect on NFAT proteins correlates with PTBP1-promoted expression of the shorter Aβ1 isoform and exon 13 skipped Aβ2 isoform of the catalytic A-subunit of calcineurin phosphatase. These findings reveal a crucial role for PTBP1 in regulating CD8 T-cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa D'Angeli
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signalling and DevelopmentThe Babraham InstituteCambridgeUK
- IONTAS, The Works, Unity CampusCambridgeCB22 3EFUK
| | - Elisa Monzón‐Casanova
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signalling and DevelopmentThe Babraham InstituteCambridgeUK
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Oxford Biomedica (UK) LtdOxfordOX4 6LTUK
| | - Louise S. Matheson
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signalling and DevelopmentThe Babraham InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Özge Gizlenci
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signalling and DevelopmentThe Babraham InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Georg Petkau
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signalling and DevelopmentThe Babraham InstituteCambridgeUK
| | - Clare Gooding
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Rebecca V. Berrens
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge InstituteUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Martin Turner
- Laboratory of Lymphocyte Signalling and DevelopmentThe Babraham InstituteCambridgeUK
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11
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Zhang J, Xia K, Ahn M, Jha SC, Blanchett R, Crowley JJ, Szatkiewicz JP, Zou F, Zhu H, Styner M, Gilmore JH, Knickmeyer RC. Genome-Wide Association Analysis of Neonatal White Matter Microstructure. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:933-948. [PMID: 33009551 PMCID: PMC7786356 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa266] [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: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A better understanding of genetic influences on early white matter development could significantly advance our understanding of neurological and psychiatric conditions characterized by altered integrity of axonal pathways. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) phenotypes in 471 neonates. We used a hierarchical functional principal regression model (HFPRM) to perform joint analysis of 44 fiber bundles. HFPRM revealed a latent measure of white matter microstructure that explained approximately 50% of variation in our tractography-based measures and accounted for a large proportion of heritable variation in each individual bundle. An intronic SNP in PSMF1 on chromosome 20 exceeded the conventional GWAS threshold of 5 x 10-8 (p = 4.61 x 10-8). Additional loci nearing genome-wide significance were located near genes with known roles in axon growth and guidance, fasciculation, and myelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - K Xia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - M Ahn
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - S C Jha
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - R Blanchett
- Genetics and Genome Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - J J Crowley
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - J P Szatkiewicz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - F Zou
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - H Zhu
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - M Styner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - J H Gilmore
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - R C Knickmeyer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Sciences and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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12
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Zhao FY, Xu SL, Zhang CF, Liu J, Zhang Y, Yang J, Xing XQ. PDGF mediates pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration by regulating NFATc2. Mol Med Rep 2020; 23:39. [PMID: 33179105 PMCID: PMC7684858 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The reconstruction of pulmonary vascular structure caused by the proliferation and migration of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) is the central link in the formation of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) can regulate the proliferation and migration of PASMCs. At the same time, nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFATs) plays an important role in the development of PAH. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports yet regarding whether PDGF regulates NFATc2 to increase the proliferation of PASMCs. The present study aimed to investigate whether PDGF affects the proliferation and migration of PASMCs by regulating NFAT, and to study the pathogenesis of PAH. PASMCs were treated with recombinant PDGF; Cell Counting Kit-8 and clone formation experiments showed that PDGF enhanced the cell viability and proliferation of PASMCs. Cell cycle distribution and molecular markers related to cell proliferation (cyclin D1, CDK4 and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen) were detected by flow cytometry, and the results indicated that PDGF promoted the division of PAMSCs. The scratch migration and Transwell migration assays showed that the migratory ability of PASMCs was enhanced following PDGF treatment. Changes in NFATs (NFATc1-5) after PDGF treatment were evaluated by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting; NFATc2 showed the most significant results. Finally, PDGF-treated cells were treated with an NFAT pathway inhibitor, cyclosporin A, or a small interfering RNA targeting NFATc2, and changes in cell proliferation and migration were evaluated to assess the role of NFATc2 in PDGF-induced cell proliferation and migration. In conclusion, PDGF may regulate PASMC proliferation and migration by regulating the expression of NFAT, further leading to the occurrence of PAH. It is proposed that NFATc2 could be used as a potential target for PAH treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Yun Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650051, P.R. China
| | - Shuang-Lan Xu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The Second People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan 650021, P.R. China
| | - Chun-Fang Zhang
- Department of Geriatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212000, P.R. China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The Second People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan 650021, P.R. China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650051, P.R. China
| | - Jiao Yang
- First Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, P.R. China
| | - Xi-Qian Xing
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The Second People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan 650021, P.R. China
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13
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Kim C, Beilina A, Smith N, Li Y, Kim M, Kumaran R, Kaganovich A, Mamais A, Adame A, Iba M, Kwon S, Lee WJ, Shin SJ, Rissman RA, You S, Lee SJ, Singleton AB, Cookson MR, Masliah E. LRRK2 mediates microglial neurotoxicity via NFATc2 in rodent models of synucleinopathies. Sci Transl Med 2020; 12:eaay0399. [PMID: 33055242 PMCID: PMC8100991 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aay0399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Synucleinopathies are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by abnormal α-synuclein deposition that include Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy. The pathology of these conditions also includes neuronal loss and neuroinflammation. Neuron-released α-synuclein has been shown to induce neurotoxic, proinflammatory microglial responses through Toll-like receptor 2, but the molecular mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Here, we show that leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) plays a critical role in the activation of microglia by extracellular α-synuclein. Exposure to α-synuclein was found to enhance LRRK2 phosphorylation and activity in mouse primary microglia. Furthermore, genetic and pharmacological inhibition of LRRK2 markedly diminished α-synuclein-mediated microglial neurotoxicity via lowering of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 expression in mouse cultures. We determined that LRRK2 promoted a neuroinflammatory cascade by selectively phosphorylating and inducing nuclear translocation of the immune transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 2 (NFATc2). NFATc2 activation was seen in patients with synucleinopathies and in a mouse model of synucleinopathy, where administration of an LRRK2 pharmacological inhibitor restored motor behavioral deficits. Our results suggest that modulation of LRRK2 and its downstream signaling mediator NFATc2 might be therapeutic targets for treating synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyoun Kim
- Molecular Neuropathology Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Alexandria Beilina
- Cell Biology and Gene Expression Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nathan Smith
- Cell Biology and Gene Expression Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Redox Biology Center, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Yan Li
- Protein/Peptide Sequencing Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Minhyung Kim
- Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Ravindran Kumaran
- Cell Biology and Gene Expression Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Alice Kaganovich
- Cell Biology and Gene Expression Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Adamantios Mamais
- Cell Biology and Gene Expression Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Anthony Adame
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Michiyo Iba
- Molecular Neuropathology Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Somin Kwon
- Molecular Neuropathology Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Won-Jae Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, and Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Soo-Jean Shin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, and Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Robert A Rissman
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sungyong You
- Departments of Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Seung-Jae Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Research Institute, and Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Andrew B Singleton
- Molecular Genetics Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mark R Cookson
- Cell Biology and Gene Expression Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Molecular Neuropathology Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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14
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Yang X, Xu X, Cai X, He J, Lu P, Guo Q, Wang G, Zhu H, Wang H, Xue C. Gene set enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction network analysis after sciatic nerve injury. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2020; 8:988. [PMID: 32953788 PMCID: PMC7475449 DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-4958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Background Peripheral nerves are able to regenerate spontaneously after injury. An increasing number of studies have investigated the mechanism of peripheral nerve regeneration and attempted to find potential therapeutic targets. The various bioinformatics analysis tools available, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks can effectively screen the crucial targets of neuroregeneration. Methods GSEA and PPI networks were constructed through ingenuity pathway analysis and sequential gene expression validation ex vitro to investigate the molecular processes at 1, 4, 7, and 14 days following sciatic nerve transection in rats. Results Immune response and the activation of related canonical pathways were classified as crucial biological events. Additionally, neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 4-like (NEDD4L), neuregulin 1 (NRG1), nuclear factor of activated T cells 2 (NFATC2), midline 1 (MID1), GLI family zinc finger 2 (GLI2), and ventral anterior homeobox 1 (VAX1), which were jointly involved in both immune response and axonal regeneration, were screened and their mRNA and protein expressions following nerve injury were validated. Among them, the expression of VAX1 continuously increased following nerve injury, and it was considered to be a potential therapeutic target. Conclusions The combined use of GSEA and PPI networks serves as a valuable way to identify potential therapeutic targets for neuroregeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Yang
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xi Xu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xiaodong Cai
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jin He
- School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Panjian Lu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Qi Guo
- Department of Hand Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Hongkui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Chengbin Xue
- Jiangsu Clinical Medicine Center of Tissue Engineering and Nerve Injury Repair, Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
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15
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Ting SM, Zhao X, Zheng X, Aronowski J. Excitatory pathway engaging glutamate, calcineurin, and NFAT upregulates IL-4 in ischemic neurons to polarize microglia. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2020; 40:513-527. [PMID: 30890073 PMCID: PMC7026849 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x19838189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Excitotoxicity and microglia/macrophage over-activation are the important pathogenic steps in brain damage caused by ischemic stroke. Recent studies from our group suggest that the neurons in ischemic penumbra generate an anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-4 (IL-4). This neuron-produced IL-4 could subsequently convert surrounding microglia/macrophages to a reparative (M2)-phenotype. The present study was designed to establish the mechanisms by which neurons under transient ischemic condition produce/secrete IL-4. We employed primary rat cortical neurons and a validated in vitro ischemic injury model involving transient oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). We discovered that only sublethal OGD induces IL-4 production/secretion by neurons. We then showed that excitotoxic stimulus (an integral component of OGD-mediated damage) involving N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), and not kainate receptor, triggers neuronal IL-4 production/release. Of note, oxidative stress or pro-apoptotic stimuli did not induce IL-4 production by neurons. Next, using the calcineurin inhibitor FK506, we implicated this phosphatase in activation of the nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT; a transcription factor activated through calcineurin-mediated dephosphorylation) and propose that this pathway is involved in transcriptional upregulation of the IL-4 synthesis in NMDA-treated neurons. Finally, using a transfer of culture medium from NMDA-conditioned neuron to microglia, we showed that the neuronal IL-4 can polarize microglia toward a restorative, phagocytic phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-Ming Ting
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xiurong Zhao
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xueping Zheng
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jaroslaw Aronowski
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USA
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16
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Kitamura N, Shindo M, Ohtsuka J, Nakamura A, Tanokura M, Hiroi T, Kaminuma O. Identification of novel interacting regions involving calcineurin and nuclear factor of activated T cells. FASEB J 2020; 34:3197-3208. [PMID: 31909857 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201902229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) leads to the transcription of diverse inducible genes involved in many biological processes; therefore, aberrant NFAT expression is responsible for the development and exacerbation of various disorders. Since five isoforms of NFAT (NFATc1-c4, NFAT5) exhibit distinct and overlapping functions, selective control of a part, but not all, of NFAT family members is desirable. By comparing the binding activity of each NFATc1-c4 with its regulatory enzyme, calcineurin (CN), using a quantitative immunoprecipitation assay, we found a new CN-binding region (CNBR) selectively functioning in NFATc1 and NFATc4. This region, termed CNBR3, is located between two preexisting CNBR1 and CNBR2, within the Ca2+ regulatory domain. The nuclear translocation of NFATc1 but not NFATc2 in T cells was suppressed by ectopic expression of CNBR3 and, accordingly, NFATc1-dependent cytokine expression was downregulated. Through competition assays using NFATc1-derived partial peptides and mass spectrometry with photoaffinity technology, we identified 18 amino acids in NFATc1 (Arg258 to Pro275 ) and 13 amino acids in CN catalytic subunit (CNA) (Asn77 to Gly89 ) responsible for CNA/CNBR3 binding in which Cys263 and Asp82 , respectively, played crucial roles. The possible selective regulation of NFAT-mediated biological processes by targeting this new CN/NFAT-binding region is suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Kitamura
- Allergy and Immunology Project, The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mayumi Shindo
- Center for Basic Technology Research, The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jun Ohtsuka
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Nakamura
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaru Tanokura
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takachika Hiroi
- Allergy and Immunology Project, The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Osamu Kaminuma
- Allergy and Immunology Project, The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Disease Model, Research Institute of Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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Tarasova EO, Gaydukov AE, Balezina OP. Calcineurin and Its Role in Synaptic Transmission. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2018; 83:674-689. [PMID: 30195324 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297918060056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Calcineurin (CaN) is a serine/threonine phosphatase widely expressed in different cell types and structures including neurons and synapses. The most studied role of CaN is its involvement in the functioning of postsynaptic structures of central synapses. The role of CaN in the presynaptic structures of central and peripheral synapses is less understood, although it has generated a considerable interest and is a subject of a growing number of studies. The regulatory role of CaN in synaptic vesicle endocytosis in the synapse terminals is actively studied. In recent years, new targets of CaN have been identified and its role in the regulation of enzymes and neurotransmitter secretion in peripheral neuromuscular junctions has been revealed. CaN is the only phosphatase that requires calcium and calmodulin for activation. In this review, we present details of CaN molecular structure and give a detailed description of possible mechanisms of CaN activation involving calcium, enzymes, and endogenous and exogenous inhibitors. Known and newly discovered CaN targets at pre- and postsynaptic levels are described. CaN activity in synaptic structures is discussed in terms of functional involvement of this phosphatase in synaptic transmission and neurotransmitter release.
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Affiliation(s)
- E O Tarasova
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - A E Gaydukov
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, 119991, Russia. .,Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - O P Balezina
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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18
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Immediate-Early Promoter-Driven Transgenic Reporter System for Neuroethological Research in a Hemimetabolous Insect. eNeuro 2018; 5:eN-MNT-0061-18. [PMID: 30225346 PMCID: PMC6140108 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0061-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Genes expressed in response to increased neuronal activity are widely used as activity markers in recent behavioral neuroscience. In the present study, we established transgenic reporter system for whole-brain activity mapping in the two-spotted cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, a hemimetabolous insect used in neuroethology and behavioral ecology. In the cricket brain, a homolog of early growth response-1 (Gryllus egr-B) was rapidly induced as an immediate-early gene (IEG) in response to neuronal hyperexcitability. The upstream genomic fragment of Gryllus egr-B contains potential binding sites for transcription factors regulated by various intracellular signaling pathways, as well as core promoter elements conserved across insect/crustacean egr-B homologs. Using the upstream genomic fragment of Gryllus egr-B, we established an IEG promoter-driven transgenic reporter system in the cricket. In the brain of transgenic crickets, the reporter gene (a nuclear-targeted destabilized EYFP) was induced in response to neuronal hyperexcitability. Inducible expression of reporter protein was detected in almost all neurons after neuronal hyperexcitability. Using our novel reporter system, we successfully detected neuronal activation evoked by feeding in the cricket brain. Our IEG promoter-driven activity reporting system allows us to visualize behaviorally relevant neural circuits at cellular resolution in the cricket brain.
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19
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Methamphetamine toxicity-induced calcineurin activation, nuclear translocation of nuclear factor of activated T-cells and elevation of cyclooxygenase 2 levels are averted by calpastatin overexpression in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Neurotoxicology 2018; 67:287-295. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2018.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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20
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Vihma H, Timmusk T. Sumoylation regulates the transcriptional activity of different human NFAT isoforms in neurons. Neurosci Lett 2018; 653:302-307. [PMID: 28595951 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.05.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In the nervous system, four calcium/calcineurin-regulated members of the nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) family of transcription factors, NFATc1-c4, are involved in many developmental and functional processes, such as corticogenesis, synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission, that all need precise gene regulation. Therefore it is important to understand molecular events that contribute to the regulation of the transcriptional activity of specific NFAT isoforms. Previously, we have shown that there are a number of alternative splice variants of NFAT genes expressed in the brain and that neuronal activity leads to isoform-specific transactivation capacities of different human NFAT proteins. Here we looked at the effect of sumoylation as a possible regulator of the transcriptional activity of different human NFAT isoforms in rat primary cortical and hippocampal neurons in response to membrane depolarization and compared the results to those obtained from non-neuronal HEK293-FT and BHK-21 cells in response to calcium signaling. Our results show that in primary hippocampal neurons, sumoylation represses the transcriptional activity of NFATc1, NFATc2, and NFATc3 isoforms, whereas in cortical neurons, transactivation capacity of only NFATc1 and NFATc2 is repressed by sumoylation. In non-neuronal cells, however, transcriptional activity of all four NFAT isoforms is repressed by sumoylation in HEK293-FT cells, while only NFATc1 and NFATc2 isoforms are affected by sumoylation in BHK-21 cells. Altogether, our results show that sumoylation represses the transcription activation capacities of NFAT isoforms and that the effect is cell type-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Vihma
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Tõnis Timmusk
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia.
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Marballi KK, Gallitano AL. Immediate Early Genes Anchor a Biological Pathway of Proteins Required for Memory Formation, Long-Term Depression and Risk for Schizophrenia. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:23. [PMID: 29520222 PMCID: PMC5827560 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
While the causes of myriad medical and infectious illnesses have been identified, the etiologies of neuropsychiatric illnesses remain elusive. This is due to two major obstacles. First, the risk for neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, is determined by both genetic and environmental factors. Second, numerous genes influence susceptibility for these illnesses. Genome-wide association studies have identified at least 108 genomic loci for schizophrenia, and more are expected to be published shortly. In addition, numerous biological processes contribute to the neuropathology underlying schizophrenia. These include immune dysfunction, synaptic and myelination deficits, vascular abnormalities, growth factor disruption, and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction. However, the field of psychiatric genetics lacks a unifying model to explain how environment may interact with numerous genes to influence these various biological processes and cause schizophrenia. Here we describe a biological cascade of proteins that are activated in response to environmental stimuli such as stress, a schizophrenia risk factor. The central proteins in this pathway are critical mediators of memory formation and a particular form of hippocampal synaptic plasticity, long-term depression (LTD). Each of these proteins is also implicated in schizophrenia risk. In fact, the pathway includes four genes that map to the 108 loci associated with schizophrenia: GRIN2A, nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATc3), early growth response 1 (EGR1) and NGFI-A Binding Protein 2 (NAB2); each of which contains the "Index single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)" (most SNP) at its respective locus. Environmental stimuli activate this biological pathway in neurons, resulting in induction of EGR immediate early genes: EGR1, EGR3 and NAB2. We hypothesize that dysfunction in any of the genes in this pathway disrupts the normal activation of Egrs in response to stress. This may result in insufficient electrophysiologic, immunologic, and neuroprotective, processes that these genes normally mediate. Continued adverse environmental experiences, over time, may thereby result in neuropathology that gives rise to the symptoms of schizophrenia. By combining multiple genes associated with schizophrenia susceptibility, in a functional cascade triggered by neuronal activity, the proposed biological pathway provides an explanation for both the polygenic and environmental influences that determine the complex etiology of this mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketan K. Marballi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Amelia L. Gallitano
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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Kurauchi Y, Kinoshita R, Mori A, Sakamoto K, Nakahara T, Ishii K. MEK/ERK- and calcineurin/NFAT-mediated mechanism of cerebral hyperemia and brain injury following NMDA receptor activation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 488:329-334. [PMID: 28495529 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.05.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation increases regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and induces neuronal injury, but similarities between these processes are poorly understood. In this study, by measuring rCBF in vivo, we identified a clear correlation between cerebral hyperemia and brain injury. NMDA receptor activation induced brain injury as a result of rCBF increase, which was attenuated by an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase or calcineurin. Moreover, NMDA induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT) in neurons. Therefore, a MEK/ERK- and calcineurin/NFAT-mediated mechanism of neurovascular coupling underlies the pathophysiology of neurovascular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Kurauchi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan.
| | - Rintaro Kinoshita
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Asami Mori
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Kenji Sakamoto
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Nakahara
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Kunio Ishii
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Kitasato University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
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Cervera-Juanes R, Wilhelm LJ, Park B, Grant KA, Ferguson B. Genome-wide analysis of the nucleus accumbens identifies DNA methylation signals differentiating low/binge from heavy alcohol drinking. Alcohol 2017; 60:103-113. [PMID: 27866807 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2016.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol-use disorders encompass a range of drinking levels and behaviors, including low, binge, and heavy drinking. In this regard, investigating the neural state of individuals who chronically self-administer lower doses of alcohol may provide insight into mechanisms that prevent the escalation of alcohol use. DNA methylation is one of the epigenetic mechanisms that stabilizes adaptations in gene expression and has been associated with alcohol use. Thus, we investigated DNA methylation, gene expression, and the predicted neural effects in the nucleus accumbens core (NAcc) of male rhesus macaques categorized as "low" or "binge" drinkers, compared to "alcohol-naïve" and "heavy" drinkers based on drinking patterns during a 12-month alcohol self-administration protocol. Using genome-wide CpG-rich region enrichment and bisulfite sequencing, the methylation levels of 2.6 million CpGs were compared between alcohol-naïve (AN), low/binge (L/BD), and heavy/very heavy (H/VHD) drinking subjects (n = 24). Through regional clustering analysis, we identified nine significant differential methylation regions (DMRs) that specifically distinguished ANs and L/BDs, and then compared those DMRs among H/VHDs. The DMRs mapped to genes encoding ion channels, receptors, cell adhesion molecules, and cAMP, NF-κβ and Wnt signaling pathway proteins. Two of the DMRs, linked to PDE10A and PKD2L2, were also differentially methylated in H/VHDs, suggesting an alcohol-dose independent effect. However, two other DMRs, linked to the CCBE1 and FZD5 genes, had L/BD methylation levels that significantly differed from both ANs and H/VHDs. The remaining five DMRs also differentiated L/BDs and ANs. However, H/VHDs methylation levels were not distinguishable from either of the two groups. Functional validation of two DMRs, linked to FZD5 and PDE10A, support their role in regulating gene expression and exon usage, respectively. In summary, the findings demonstrate that L/BD is associated with unique DNA methylation signatures in the primate NAcc, and that the methylation signatures identify synaptic genes that may play a role in preventing the escalation of alcohol use.
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The Emerging Roles of the Calcineurin-Nuclear Factor of Activated T-Lymphocytes Pathway in Nervous System Functions and Diseases. J Aging Res 2016; 2016:5081021. [PMID: 27597899 PMCID: PMC5002468 DOI: 10.1155/2016/5081021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing epidemics of metabolic diseases and increase in the older population have increased the incidences of neurodegenerative diseases. Evidence from murine and cell line models has implicated calcineurin-nuclear factor of activated T-lymphocytes (NFAT) signaling pathway, a Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent major proinflammatory pathway, in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Neurotoxins such as amyloid-β, tau protein, and α-synuclein trigger abnormal calcineurin/NFAT signaling activities. Additionally increased activities of endogenous regulators of calcineurin like plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA) and regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) also cause neuronal and glial loss and related functional alterations, in neurodegenerative diseases, psychotic disorders, epilepsy, and traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Treatment with calcineurin/NFAT inhibitors induces some degree of neuroprotection and decreased reactive gliosis in the central and peripheral nervous system. In this paper, we summarize and discuss the current understanding of the roles of calcineurin/NFAT signaling in physiology and pathologies of the adult and developing nervous system, with an emphasis on recent reports and cutting-edge findings. Calcineurin/NFAT signaling is known for its critical roles in the developing and adult nervous system. Its role in physiological and pathological processes is still controversial. However, available data suggest that its beneficial and detrimental effects are context-dependent. In view of recent reports calcineurin/NFAT signaling is likely to serve as a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases and conditions. This review further highlights the need to characterize better all factors determining the outcome of calcineurin/NFAT signaling in diseases and the downstream targets mediating the beneficial and detrimental effects.
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Kay LJ, Smulders-Srinivasan TK, Soundararajan M. Understanding the Multifaceted Role of Human Down Syndrome Kinase DYRK1A. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2016; 105:127-71. [PMID: 27567487 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The dual-specificity tyrosine (Y) phosphorylation-regulated kinase DYRK1A, also known as Down syndrome (DS) kinase, is a dosage-dependent signaling kinase that was originally shown to be highly expressed in DS patients as a consequence of trisomy 21. Although this was evident some time ago, it is only in recent investigations that the molecular roles of DYRK1A in a wide range of cellular processes are becoming increasingly apparent. Since initial knowledge on DYRK1A became evident through minibrain mnb, the Drosophila homolog of DYRK1A, this review will first summarize the scientific reports on minibrain and further expand on the well-established neuronal functions of mammalian and human DYRK1A. Recent investigations across the current decade have provided rather interesting and compelling evidence in establishing nonneuronal functions for DYRK1A, including its role in infection, immunity, cardiomyocyte biology, cancer, and cell cycle control. The latter part of this review will therefore focus in detail on the emerging nonneuronal functions of DYRK1A and summarize the regulatory role of DYRK1A in controlling Tau and α-synuclein. Finally, the emerging role of DYRK1A in Parkinson's disease will be outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Kay
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - T K Smulders-Srinivasan
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - M Soundararajan
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
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