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Fukuyama Y, Kubo M, Harada K. Neurotrophic Natural Products. PROGRESS IN THE CHEMISTRY OF ORGANIC NATURAL PRODUCTS 2024; 123:1-473. [PMID: 38340248 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-42422-9_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Neurotrophins (NGF, BDNF, NT3, NT4) can decrease cell death, induce differentiation, as well as sustain the structure and function of neurons, which make them promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. However, neurotrophins have not been very effective in clinical trials mostly because they cannot pass through the blood-brain barrier owing to being high-molecular-weight proteins. Thus, neurotrophin-mimic small molecules, which stimulate the synthesis of endogenous neurotrophins or enhance neurotrophic actions, may serve as promising alternatives to neurotrophins. Small-molecular-weight natural products, which have been used in dietary functional foods or in traditional medicines over the course of human history, have a great potential for the development of new therapeutic agents against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. In this contribution, a variety of natural products possessing neurotrophic properties such as neurogenesis, neurite outgrowth promotion (neuritogenesis), and neuroprotection are described, and a focus is made on the chemistry and biology of several neurotrophic natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiyasu Fukuyama
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima, 770-8514, Japan.
| | - Miwa Kubo
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima, 770-8514, Japan
| | - Kenichi Harada
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Tokushima, 770-8514, Japan
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Lee JM, Choi YJ, Yoo MC, Yeo SG. Central Facial Nervous System Biomolecules Involved in Peripheral Facial Nerve Injury Responses and Potential Therapeutic Strategies. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12051036. [PMID: 37237902 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12051036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Peripheral facial nerve injury leads to changes in the expression of various neuroactive substances that affect nerve cell damage, survival, growth, and regeneration. In the case of peripheral facial nerve damage, the injury directly affects the peripheral nerves and induces changes in the central nervous system (CNS) through various factors, but the substances involved in these changes in the CNS are not well understood. The objective of this review is to investigate the biomolecules involved in peripheral facial nerve damage so as to gain insight into the mechanisms and limitations of targeting the CNS after such damage and identify potential facial nerve treatment strategies. To this end, we searched PubMed using keywords and exclusion criteria and selected 29 eligible experimental studies. Our analysis summarizes basic experimental studies on changes in the CNS following peripheral facial nerve damage, focusing on biomolecules that increase or decrease in the CNS and/or those involved in the damage, and reviews various approaches for treating facial nerve injury. By establishing the biomolecules in the CNS that change after peripheral nerve damage, we can expect to identify factors that play an important role in functional recovery from facial nerve damage. Accordingly, this review could represent a significant step toward developing treatment strategies for peripheral facial palsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Min Lee
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - You Jung Choi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung Chul Yoo
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Geun Yeo
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
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Smiley JF, Bleiwas C, Canals-Baker S, Williams SZ, Sears R, Teixeira CM, Wilson DA, Saito M. Neonatal ethanol causes profound reduction of cholinergic cell number in the basal forebrain of adult animals. Alcohol 2021; 97:1-11. [PMID: 34464696 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In animal models that mimic human third-trimester fetal development, ethanol causes substantial cellular apoptosis in the brain, but for most brain structures, the extent of permanent neuron loss that persists into adulthood is unknown. We injected ethanol into C57BL/6J mouse pups at postnatal day 7 (P7) to model human late-gestation ethanol toxicity, and then used stereological methods to investigate adult cell numbers in several subcortical neurotransmitter systems that project extensively in the forebrain to regulate arousal states. Ethanol treatment caused especially large reductions (34-42%) in the cholinergic cells of the basal forebrain, including cholinergic cells in the medial septal/vertical diagonal band nuclei (Ch1/Ch2) and in the horizontal diagonal band/substantia innominata/nucleus basalis nuclei (Ch3/Ch4). Cell loss was also present in non-cholinergic basal forebrain cells, as demonstrated by 34% reduction of parvalbumin-immunolabeled GABA cells and 25% reduction of total Nissl-stained neurons in the Ch1/Ch2 region. In contrast, cholinergic cells in the striatum were reduced only 12% by ethanol, and those of the brainstem pedunculopontine/lateral dorsal tegmental nuclei (Ch5/Ch6) were not significantly reduced. Similarly, ethanol did not significantly reduce dopamine cells of the ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra or serotonin cells in the dorsal raphe nucleus. Orexin (hypocretin) cells in the hypothalamus showed a modest reduction (14%). Our findings indicate that the basal forebrain is especially vulnerable to alcohol exposure in the late gestational period. Reduction of cholinergic and GABAergic projection neurons from the basal forebrain that regulate forebrain arousal may contribute to the behavioral and cognitive deficits associated with neonatal ethanol exposure.
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Restored presynaptic synaptophysin and cholinergic inputs contribute to the protective effects of physical running on spatial memory in aged mice. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 132:104586. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
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Protto V, Soligo M, De Stefano ME, Farioli‐Vecchioli S, Marlier LNJL, Nisticò R, Manni L. Electroacupuncture in rats normalizes the diabetes‐induced alterations in the septo‐hippocampal cholinergic system. Hippocampus 2019; 29:891-904. [DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Protto
- Institute of Translational PharmacologyConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Rome Italy
| | - Marzia Soligo
- Institute of Translational PharmacologyConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Rome Italy
| | - Maria Egle De Stefano
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”Sapienza University Rome Italy
| | | | | | - Robert Nisticò
- Pharmacology of Synaptic Disease Lab, European Brain Research Institute (EBRI) Rome Italy
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Rome Tor Vergata Rome Italy
| | - Luigi Manni
- Institute of Translational PharmacologyConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Rome Italy
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Vetreno RP, Crews FT. Adolescent binge ethanol-induced loss of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons and neuroimmune activation are prevented by exercise and indomethacin. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0204500. [PMID: 30296276 PMCID: PMC6175501 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons mature in adolescence coinciding with development of adult cognitive function. Preclinical studies using the rodent model of adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE; 5.0 g/kg, i.g., 2-days on/2-days off from postnatal day [P]25 to P55) reveal persistent increases of brain neuroimmune genes that are associated with cognitive dysfunction. Adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure also reduces basal forebrain expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), an enzyme critical for acetylcholine synthesis in cholinergic neurons similar to findings in the post-mortem human alcoholic basal forebrain. We report here that AIE decreases basal forebrain ChAT+IR neurons in both adult female and male Wistar rats following early or late adolescent ethanol exposure. In addition, we find reductions in ChAT+IR somal size as well as the expression of the high-affinity nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA) and the low-affinity NGF receptor p75NTR, both of which are expressed on cholinergic neurons. The decrease in cholinergic neuron marker expression was accompanied by increased phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 (pNF-κB p65) consistent with increased neuroimmune signaling. Voluntary wheel running from P24 to P80 prevented AIE-induced cholinergic neuron shrinkage and loss of cholinergic neuron markers (i.e., ChAT, TrkA, and p75NTR) as well as the increase of pNF-κB p65 in the adult basal forebrain. Administration of the anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin (4.0 mg/kg, i.p prior to each ethanol exposure) during AIE also prevented the loss of basal forebrain cholinergic markers and the concomitant increase of pNF-κB p65. In contrast, treatment with the proinflammatory immune activator lipopolysaccharide (1.0 mg/kg, i.p. on P70) caused a loss of cholinergic neuron markers that was paralleled by increased pNF-κB p65 in the basal forebrain. These novel findings are consistent with AIE causing lasting activation of the neuroimmune system that contributes to the persistent loss of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan P. Vetreno
- The Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Fulton T. Crews
- The Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
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Villarroel-Campos D, Schiavo G, Lazo OM. The many disguises of the signalling endosome. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:3615-3632. [PMID: 30176054 PMCID: PMC6282995 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Neurons are highly complex and polarised cells that must overcome a series of logistic challenges to maintain homeostasis across their morphological domains. A very clear example is the propagation of neurotrophic signalling from distal axons, where target-released neurotrophins bind to their receptors and initiate signalling, towards the cell body, where nuclear and cytosolic responses are integrated. The mechanisms of propagation of neurotrophic signalling have been extensively studied and, eventually, the model of a 'signalling endosome', transporting activated receptors and associated complexes, has emerged. Nevertheless, the exact nature of this organelle remains elusive. In this Review, we examine the evidence for the retrograde transport of neurotrophins and their receptors in endosomes, outline some of their diverse physiological and pathological roles, and discuss the main interactors, morphological features and trafficking destinations of a highly flexible endosomal signalling organelle with multiple molecular signatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Villarroel-Campos
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK
| | - Giampietro Schiavo
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK.,Discoveries Centre for Regenerative and Precision Medicine, University College London Campus, UK
| | - Oscar Marcelo Lazo
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, UK
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Huang PY, Shih YH, Tseng YJ, Ko TL, Fu YS, Lin YY. Xenograft of human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells from Wharton's jelly as a potential therapy for rat pilocarpine-induced epilepsy. Brain Behav Immun 2016; 54:45-58. [PMID: 26732826 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2015.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/24/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the effects of intra-hippocampal transplantation of human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs) on pilocarpine-treated rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following three groups: (1) a normal group of rats receiving only PBS, (2) a status epilepticus (SE) group of rats with pilocarpine-induced SE and PBS injected into the hippocampi, and (3) a SE+HUMSC group of SE rats with HUMSC transplantation. Spontaneous recurrent motor seizures (SRMS) were monitored using simultaneous video and electroencephalographic recordings at two to four weeks after SE induction. The results showed that the number of SRMS within two to four weeks after SE was significantly decreased in SE+HUMSCs rats compared with SE rats. All of the rats were sacrificed on Day 29 after SE. Hippocampal morphology and volume were evaluated using Nissl staining and magnetic resonance imaging. The results showed that the volume of the dorsal hippocampus was smaller in SE rats compared with normal and SE+HUMSCs rats. The pyramidal neuron loss in CA1 and CA3 regions was more severe in the SE rats than in normal and SE+HUMSCs rats. No significant differences were found in the hippocampal neuronal loss or in the number of dentate GABAergic neurons between normal and SE+HUMSCs rats. Compared with the SE rats, the SE+HUMSCs rats exhibited a suppression of astrocyte activity and aberrant mossy fiber sprouting. Implanted HUMSCs survived in the hippocampus and released cytokines, including FGF-6, amphiregulin, glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factors receptor (GITR), MIP-3β, and osteoprotegerin. In an in vitro study, exposure of cortical neurons to glutamate showed a significant decrease in cell viability, which was preventable by co-culturing with HUMSCs. Above all, the expression of human osteoprotegerin and amphiregulin were significantly increased in the media of the co-culture of neurons and HUMSCs. Our results demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of HUMSC transplantation for the development of epilepsy, which are likely due to the ability of the cells to produce neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, HUMSC transplantation may be an effective therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Yu Huang
- Institute of Physiology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yang-Hsin Shih
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jhan Tseng
- Division of medical research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, HsinChu Branch, Taiwan
| | - Tsui-Ling Ko
- Department of Optometry, Shu-Zen College of Medicine and Management, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Show Fu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Yung-Yang Lin
- Institute of Physiology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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9
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Chemogenetic Inactivation of Dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex Neurons Disrupts Attentional Behavior in Mouse. Neuropsychopharmacology 2016; 41. [PMID: 26224620 PMCID: PMC4748426 DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Attention is disrupted commonly in psychiatric disorders, yet mechanistic insight remains limited. Deficits in this function are associated with dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) excitotoxic lesions and pharmacological disinhibition; however, a causal relationship has not been established at the cellular level. Moreover, this association has not yet been examined in a genetically tractable species such as mice. Here, we reveal that dACC neurons causally contribute to attention processing by combining a chemogenetic approach that reversibly suppresses neural activity with a translational, touchscreen-based attention task in mice. We virally expressed inhibitory hM4Di DREADD (designer receptor exclusively activated by a designer drug) in dACC neurons, and examined the effects of this inhibitory action with the attention-based five-choice serial reaction time task. DREADD inactivation of the dACC neurons during the task significantly increased omission and correct response latencies, indicating that the neuronal activities of dACC contribute to attention and processing speed. Selective inactivation of excitatory neurons in the dACC not only increased omission, but also decreased accuracy. The effect of inactivating dACC neurons was selective to attention as response control, motivation, and locomotion remain normal. This finding suggests that dACC excitatory neurons play a principal role in modulating attention to task-relevant stimuli. This study establishes a foundation to chemogenetically dissect specific cell-type and circuit mechanisms underlying attentional behaviors in a genetically tractable species.
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Hall JM, Savage LM. Exercise leads to the re-emergence of the cholinergic/nestin neuronal phenotype within the medial septum/diagonal band and subsequent rescue of both hippocampal ACh efflux and spatial behavior. Exp Neurol 2016; 278:62-75. [PMID: 26836322 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Revised: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Exercise has been shown to improve cognitive functioning in a range of species, presumably through an increase in neurotrophins throughout the brain, but in particular the hippocampus. The current study assessed the ability of exercise to restore septohippocampal cholinergic functioning in the pyrithiamine-induced thiamine deficiency (PTD) rat model of the amnestic disorder Korsakoff Syndrome. After voluntary wheel running or sedentary control conditions (stationary wheel attached to the home cage), PTD and control rats were behaviorally tested with concurrent in vivo microdialysis, at one of two time points: 24-h or 2-weeks post-exercise. It was found that only after the 2-week adaption period did exercise lead to an interrelated sequence of events in PTD rats that included: (1) restored spatial working memory; (2) rescued behaviorally-stimulated hippocampal acetylcholine efflux; and (3) within the medial septum/diagonal band, the re-emergence of the cholinergic (choline acetyltransferase [ChAT+]) phenotype, with the greatest change occurring in the ChAT+/nestin+ neurons. Furthermore, in control rats, exercise followed by a 2-week adaption period improved hippocampal acetylcholine efflux and increased the number of neurons co-expressing the ChAT and nestin phenotype. These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism by which exercise can modulate the mature cholinergic/nestin neuronal phenotype leading to improved neurotransmitter function as well as enhanced learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Hall
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Binghamton University, State University of New York, United States
| | - Lisa M Savage
- Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Binghamton University, State University of New York, United States.
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Akagi M, Matsui N, Akae H, Hirashima N, Fukuishi N, Fukuyama Y, Akagi R. Nonpeptide neurotrophic agents useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. J Pharmacol Sci 2015; 127:155-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2014.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
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Transient disturbances in contextual fear memory induced by Aβ(25–35) in rats are accompanied by cholinergic dysfunction. Behav Brain Res 2014; 259:152-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2013] [Revised: 11/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Huang Z, Ha G, Petitto J. Reversal of Neuronal Atrophy: Role of Cellular Immunity in Neuroplasticity and Aging. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 2. [PMID: 25505790 DOI: 10.4172/2329-6895.1000170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that neuroimmunological changes in the brain can modify intrinsic brain processes that are involved in regulating neuroplasticity. Increasing evidence suggests that in some forms of motor neuron injury, many neurons do not die, but reside in an atrophic state for an extended period of time. In mice, facial motor neurons in the brain undergo a protracted period of degeneration or atrophy following resection of their peripheral axons. Reinjuring the proximal nerve stump of the chronically resected facial nerve stimulates a robust reversal of motor neuron atrophy which results in marked increases in both the number and size of injured motor neurons in the facial motor nucleus. In this brief review, we describe research from our lab which indicates that the reversal of atrophy in this injury model is dependent on normal cellular immunity. The role of T cells in this unique form of neuroplasticity following injury and in brain aging, are discussed. The potential role of yet undiscover intrinsic actions of recombination activating genes in the brain are considered. Further research using the facial nerve reinjury model could identify molecular signals involved in neuroplasticity, and lead to new ways to stimulate neuroregenerative processes in neurotrauma and other forms of brain insult and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Huang
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Grace Ha
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - John Petitto
- Departments of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Meola DM, Huang Z, King M, Petitto JM. Loss of cholinergic phenotype in septohippocampal projection neurons: relation to brain versus peripheral IL-2 deficiency. Neurosci Lett 2013; 539:60-4. [PMID: 23416322 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2013.01.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2012] [Revised: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In the peripheral immune system, IL-2 is essential for immune homeostasis, normal T regulatory cell function, and self-tolerance. IL-2 knockout (IL-2KO) mice develop spontaneous autoimmunity characterized by increased T cell trafficking to multiple organs. The IL-2 gene is also expressed in the brain, and in vitro studies have shown that IL-2 is a potent modulator of acetylcholine release from septohippocampal neurons and exerts trophic effects on septal neurons in culture. We previously described the apparent loss of cholinergic cell bodies in the medial septum of IL-2KO mice. Here we investigated if loss of brain-derived IL-2, or autoimmunity stemming from loss of peripheral IL-2, is responsible for the alteration in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) expression in the medial septum of IL-2KO mice. To accomplish this objective, we compared ChAT-positive neurons between wild-type (WT) mice, IL-2KO mice, and congenic mice with a double gene deletion for the IL-2 gene and the recombinase activating gene-2 (RAG-2) which are referred to as IL-2KO/RAG-2KO mice (congenic mice which lack mature T and B cells as well as peripheral and brain-derived IL-2). We found that the loss of ChAT staining did not coincide with an overall loss of cells in the medial septum, suggesting that loss of brain IL-2 results in a change in cholinergic phenotype unrelated to cell death. No differences were noted in the endogenous expression of cytokines and chemokines tested in the medial septum. Evaluation of BDNF and NGF levels between WT and IL-2KO mice in medial septal homogenates revealed that IL-2KO mice have markedly higher levels of NGF in the medial septum compared to WT mice. Our findings suggest that brain-derived IL-2 plays an essential role in the maintainance of septohippocampal projection neurons in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Meola
- Department of Psychiatry, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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15
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Cabeza C, Figueroa A, Lazo OM, Galleguillos C, Pissani C, Klein A, Gonzalez-Billault C, Inestrosa NC, Alvarez AR, Zanlungo S, Bronfman FC. Cholinergic abnormalities, endosomal alterations and up-regulation of nerve growth factor signaling in Niemann-Pick type C disease. Mol Neurodegener 2012; 7:11. [PMID: 22458984 PMCID: PMC3395862 DOI: 10.1186/1750-1326-7-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2011] [Accepted: 03/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurotrophins and their receptors regulate several aspects of the developing and mature nervous system, including neuronal morphology and survival. Neurotrophin receptors are active in signaling endosomes, which are organelles that propagate neurotrophin signaling along neuronal processes. Defects in the Npc1 gene are associated with the accumulation of cholesterol and lipids in late endosomes and lysosomes, leading to neurodegeneration and Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease. The aim of this work was to assess whether the endosomal and lysosomal alterations observed in NPC disease disrupt neurotrophin signaling. As models, we used i) NPC1-deficient mice to evaluate the central cholinergic septo-hippocampal pathway and its response to nerve growth factor (NGF) after axotomy and ii) PC12 cells treated with U18666A, a pharmacological cellular model of NPC, stimulated with NGF. RESULTS NPC1-deficient cholinergic cells respond to NGF after axotomy and exhibit increased levels of choline acetyl transferase (ChAT), whose gene is under the control of NGF signaling, compared to wild type cholinergic neurons. This finding was correlated with increased ChAT and phosphorylated Akt in basal forebrain homogenates. In addition, we found that cholinergic neurons from NPC1-deficient mice had disrupted neuronal morphology, suggesting early signs of neurodegeneration. Consistently, PC12 cells treated with U18666A presented a clear NPC cellular phenotype with a prominent endocytic dysfunction that includes an increased size of TrkA-containing endosomes and reduced recycling of the receptor. This result correlates with increased sensitivity to NGF, and, in particular, with up-regulation of the Akt and PLC-γ signaling pathways, increased neurite extension, increased phosphorylation of tau protein and cell death when PC12 cells are differentiated and treated with U18666A. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the NPC cellular phenotype causes neuronal dysfunction through the abnormal up-regulation of survival pathways, which causes the perturbation of signaling cascades and anomalous phosphorylation of the cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Cabeza
- Physiology Department, Millennium Nucleus in Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Transcription factor LIM homeobox 7 (Lhx7) maintains subtype identity of cholinergic interneurons in the mammalian striatum. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2012; 109:3119-24. [PMID: 22315402 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1109251109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The generation and maintenance of a plethora of neuronal subtypes is essential for normal brain function. Nevertheless, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that maintain the defining characteristics of neurons following their initial postmitotic specification. Using conditional gene ablation in mice, we demonstrate here that the homeodomain protein LIM homeobox (Lhx)7 is essential for maintaining the morphological and molecular characteristics of cholinergic interneurons of the striatum. Lhx7-depleted cholinergic interneurons extinguish expression of several subtype-specific markers, including choline acetyl transferase and Isl1, and are respecified into Lhx6-expressing mature GABAergic interneurons. Additional expression studies support a model where Lhx7 controls the choice between cholinergic or GABAergic identity by gating a cross inhibitory regulation between Isl1 and Lhx6. By demonstrating that the switch between alternative striatal interneuron fates depends on persistent activity of a single transcription factor, we provide evidence that the intrinsic plasticity of mammalian forebrain neuronal subtypes is maintained after the initial specification and lineage commitment and possibly throughout life.
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Lopez-Coviella I, Mellott TJ, Schnitzler AC, Blusztajn JK. BMP9 protects septal neurons from axotomy-evoked loss of cholinergic phenotype. PLoS One 2011; 6:e21166. [PMID: 21695154 PMCID: PMC3113905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2010] [Accepted: 05/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cholinergic projection from the septum to the hippocampus is crucial for normal cognitive function and degeneration of cells and nerve fibers within the septohippocampal pathway contributes to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 9 is a cholinergic differentiating factor during development both in vivo and in vitro. Methodology/Principal Findings To determine whether BMP9 could protect the adult cholinergic septohippocampal pathway from axotomy-evoked loss of the cholinergic phenotype, we performed unilateral fimbria-fornix transection in mice and treated them with a continuous intracerebroventricular infusion of BMP9 for six days. The number of choline acetyltransferase (CHAT)-positive cells was reduced by 50% in the medial septal nucleus ipsilateral to the lesion as compared to the intact, contralateral side, and BMP9 infusion prevented this loss in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, BMP9 prevented most of the decline of hippocampal acetylcholine levels ipsilateral to the lesion, and markedly increased CHAT, choline transporter CHT, NGF receptors p75 (NGFR-p75) and TrkA (NTRK1), and NGF protein content in both the lesioned and unlesioned hippocampi. In addition, BMP9 infusion reduced bilaterally hippocampal levels of basic FGF (FGF2) protein. Conclusions/Significance These data indicate that BMP9 administration can prevent lesion-evoked impairment of the cholinergic septohippocampal neurons in adult mice and, by inducing NGF, establishes a trophic environment for these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Lopez-Coviella
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Tiffany J. Mellott
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Aletta C. Schnitzler
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jan K. Blusztajn
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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